"Your Majesty, isn't this a good thing?"

"It's not good, really. But the power of these salt merchants has become deeply entrenched, and they control them from top to bottom. Official salt can't be sold, and private salt can't be taxed. How do you say? ”

"This..."

Speaking of this, Fan Jingwen is also numb.

"So what should I do about it?"

"Check! Strict inspection! Send Tian Erplough to check! Check them out. ”

"This..."

Is it so aggressive?

"It's hard to check, right? The current investigation of the people will inevitably cause a strong backlash from the salt merchant group. I want to kill them all, but what about the salt that the people eat? After so many years of salt administration, can the imperial court establish a complete salt transportation mechanism in a short period of time? Moreover, how many officials have profited from it? ”

Fan Jingwen was silent. He couldn't be clearer about this.

Throughout the ages, when it comes to salt, it has been profiteering. Don't look at this thing, it doesn't seem to be expensive, but it's better in large quantities and stable. It's basically a sure-fire business. Even bribes for officials can be added to the salt sold to the common people.

If maladministration is not reformed, corrupt officials will not be killed.

Well, in fact, you can't finish killing it even if you change it. But at least it won't let the court fall into such an embarrassing field, and if you want to do something, you have to be restrained by these birdmen.

"Fan Qing, you know how big the role of the railway is, right? At this time, if there is a train from the capital to Shaanxi, and all kinds of materials can be reached in a few days, do you still need to drive to China and France? Are there still people who resell salt? As long as the imperial court stabilizes the price of salt within a very low range, will anyone still risk killing their heads to sell illicit salt? ”

"Keep all these folds, and the cabinet will not pay attention to them."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhu Youzhen intends to treat it coldly, does not refuse, does not express his position, and is irresponsible.

After Fan Jingwen left, Zhu Youzhen called someone.

His father-in-law, Zhou Kui.

"Your Majesty, see Your Majesty."

"Excuse me." Zhu Youzhen's tone was not very good.

Since he was scolded by Zhu Youzhen last time, Zhou Kui has been a lot more honest, but his character is like this, he doesn't do anything about itching. Anyway, his daughter is the queen, and the emperor can't kill himself, right? No, taking advantage of the New Year's Eve when Fangzhenghua returned to Beijing, he wanted to get some iron ingots from the Iron and Steel Group to sell. Fang Zhenghua was only beaten by Zhu Youzhen a few years ago, how could he agree to him.

"Did Fang Zhenghua promise you?"

"No, huh? Please atone for your sins, Your Majesty! Zhou Kui, who was thinking about what His Majesty had asked him to do, replied subconsciously, and then reacted that something was wrong. Hurriedly knelt down again and begged for mercy.

"Get up! You are my father-in-law, don't kneel down at every turn, let outsiders know how harsh I treat you? ”

Zhu Youzhen frowned and reprimanded.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhou Kui felt bad for a while when he heard this, and the emperor's father-in-law was not easy to be. If you don't make money, you will be scolded.

"Now there's something for you to do. If it is done, it will not be a problem to divide it into 10,000 taels of silver a year. Do you want to do it? ”

"!" Zhou Kui's eyes lit up, and he didn't ask any errands, so he agreed without hesitation.

Outside the palace

In a shop called China Salt Monopoly, it was crowded and bustling at this time.

They were all people from near and far, inside and outside the city, who had heard the news and came to buy salt.

The shop sells four pennies a pound of salt, and I have never seen it so big. Don't care if you have money or not, hoard him a few dozen catties first.

In charge of the store's business is Liu Daqiao, the shopkeeper from Global Commerce, who is standing in front of the door with a smile and looking at another salt shop not far away.

Compared with the bustle here, the salt shop he looked at seemed very deserted. Because their price is five pennies a pound.

Who wants to buy something expensive if it's cheap?

In the salt shop, a white and fat middle-aged man was standing at the door with his buddies and looking out, this person Xin Li is the shopkeeper of this salt shop, belonging to the Xiao family in Yangzhou.

"Shopkeeper, are we sure we won't reduce the price again?" The guy asked respectfully.

"No, the top doesn't agree."

"Aren't they losing money by selling like this?"

"Their salt was brought by train from Tianjin, and they didn't lose money, but they only made less money."

"Which one the hell is this? It's been a few days now, and the people on the official face don't come out to take care of it? ”

"Who knows, maybe it's another powerful person who is eyeing this piece of fat. You do your thing, and don't inquire less about what you shouldn't. The top has its own arrangement. ”

"Yes, shopkeeper."

In the next few days, the price of the monopoly on salt did not rise again, resulting in all the shops in the city not being able to sell salt. There was no news from the top for a long time, and the shopkeepers of each family were in a hurry.

Finally, after several tosses, a news came out from the cabinet that behind the salt works in Tianjin was the current national abbot Zhou Kui.

After learning about this, everyone began to scold, damn, this food is too ugly.

You can't just rely on being the emperor and his father-in-law will cut off our lives, right?

So the heads of the major salt merchants in Beijing jointly found Zhou Kui with generous gifts.

"Master Guo, you are high above the temple, and you don't know much about these businesses. This salt can't be sold like this, your salt comes from Tianjin, there is a train, and the transportation cost is naturally low. Selling it like this can knock out our business. But what's in it for you? There are only a few people in the whole capital, even if they all buy your salt, how much money can you make at the current price? ”

"Then I don't care, I just need to make money. What does it matter to me whether you live or die? I have already told the queen about this, as long as the queen blows the pillow wind, His Majesty will turn a blind eye and pass. Aren't you guys up there? Find a way to close my shop and arrest me and put me in jail! Zhou Kui sat on the Taishi chair in the hall, holding a bottle of nutrition thread in his hand, looking arrogant and very embarrassed.

My daughter is the queen, and I am a bull.

Don't you want to kill me?

Several representatives of salt merchants in the hall scolded in their hearts, and the shopkeeper Li, who had just spoken, spoke with a smiling face again.

"Yes, yes, what the grandfather said is very true! Looking at the entire city of Beijing, no one has the strength to compete with the grandfather for business. But that's what I'm thinking, so you can just listen to it and see if it makes sense. ”

"Although this salt is easy to sell and easy to produce, after all, no one eats this as rice and noodles. Do you see if your store's business has dropped a lot in the past two days? Everyone eats so much salt all year round, and there are so many people in the capital. Do the math, how much money can you make? ”

"And now sitting here with a few shopkeepers, the proprietor behind you must have heard of it, and together they basically control the salt trade of the entire Ming Dynasty. The capital is lost, and we don't feel distressed. But the business of the entire Ming Dynasty, two capitals and thirteen provinces, oh, will soon be two capitals and fifteen provinces. Isn't the grandfather of the country excited? ”

Zhou Kui's eyes slowly lit up, and his expression was no longer arrogant.

"What do you mean? Where else can I sell this salt? ”

"The owner behind us said that since the grandfather wants to enter the salt market, then we are all peers. We should take care of each other. ”

"How can I believe what you say?"

"If the father-in-law of the country is not at ease, you can go to Yangzhou to enjoy the scenery of the south of the Yangtze River, and several owners can also do their best to the friendship of the landlord. Wouldn't it be wonderful to taste new tea and ride a thin horse? ”

Zhou Kui's eyes are about to light up! He had already heard of the name of Yangzhou Skinny Horse, and he couldn't wait to fly over now.

"Ahem, let's talk about business. If the profits from salt are so great, would your proprietors be willing to let me in? ”

Damn, I'm not stupid, I know to ask. Shopkeeper Li scolded secretly.

It's just to stabilize you first, we have been operating the market for so many years, and you will enter if you say it? Even if I don't suppress you, whether you can stand still is a matter of two words.

"Since the father-in-law asked, the little one will not be hidden. With your status as the abbot, it is too late for ordinary people to catch up. Who would refuse to cooperate with you? ”

"Hahaha! You've got a good plan. The country's father-in-law agreed. There is still a problem at the moment. ”

"The price of this salt, I have promised the queen, it cannot exceed eight cents. The queen is kind-hearted and sympathetic to the people, so she doesn't agree. “

"Master Guo, what if you leave the capital?"

"That's it!"

Zhou Kui suddenly realized.

"As long as we have the same price, Bawen will be Bawen. Several of us suffered a loss. ”

"It's so good, so why when will you go down to Yangzhou?"

"The father-in-law of the country has to be free, he can do it at any time!"

"Then tomorrow!"

"That little one will send someone to pick you up tomorrow, and I'll retire for the time being."

"Okay!"

After a few people left, Zhou Kui smacked his lips, and while checking the gifts brought by a few people, he fantasized about the beautiful scenery of Jiangnan with anticipation.

"If Jiading Bo goes to Yangzhou, he must ask for His Majesty's approval." A young man walked out of the inner hall and said softly to Zhou Kui. The young man's words seemed to pour a basin of cold water on Zhou Kui's head, which made him calm down instantly.

This is the person sent by His Majesty to "help" him.