The Qing Dynasty government experienced the Opium War, the Gengzi indemnity, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement, etc., and the whole country was covered with bruises, one was poor and two white, and the treasury was basically impoverished. The Qing government also racked its brains in every possible way to increase taxes, and finally made a big fuss about the salt industry.

On the one hand, the government has severely cracked down on salt smugglers, and those who smuggle smuggled salt will be punished with double fines and confiscations once they are caught, and they will be imprisoned and beheaded. In the salt field, the imperial court also sent guards to wait with guns, and where the salt was collected, the guards supervised the registration of the weighing, and directly sent to Yangzhou Lianghuai Salt Transport Department into the warehouse; On the other hand, a large number of salt introductions are distributed, and those who rely on the salt issued by the government can sell them at will. The government has made greater gains in this way. As a result, the salt tax became an important financial pillar of the Qing government.

There are 10 salt producing areas in the country, and the two Huai salt producing areas dominated by Yancheng are the largest, with more than 30 salt farms along the Yellow Sea under its jurisdiction, known as "two Huai salt, the world is salty".

Yangzhou, located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the two Huai converge, the canal passes through the city, and the water transportation is very convenient.

Haiyan is distributed from Yancheng and other places to Yangzhou, and is set up to be transported to six southeastern provinces (Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Hunan and Jiangxi) by land and water.

As a result, Zeng Guofan was ordered by the imperial court to issue salt quotations in Shanghai.

One day in 1863, Zeng Guofan went to Hangzhou and met with the governor of Liangjiang, Master Ma. They were close friends.

When Master Ma saw Zeng Guofan coming, he folded his hands and said: Oh, my brother hasn't seen me for a long time, so don't come? You have made a great contribution to quelling the chaos, this time you are here, is it special or passing by?

Zeng Guofan also said with both hands: How to talk about the chaos is indispensable, but it is where it should be. This visit to your place is that the treasury is now empty, and at the order of the imperial court, salt quotations are issued to make up for the shortage of silver in the treasury. I am here to find someone with strength.

Master Ma smiled and said, "I see, come and sit down." First taste the 'West Lake Longjing' and take your time.

Master Ma made the tea and handed it to Zeng Guofan with both hands.

Zeng Guofan took the teacup and took a sip, and said: Hey, sweet and clear, of course, it is worthy of its name. Then put down the teacup and said: Nowadays, the treasury is empty, and the imperial court has to pay attention to salt and exchange white salt for silver. There are still 20,000 pieces of salt in the hands of the officials, each of which is 200 taels of silver, and each of them can carry 500 quintals of salt.

Master Ma sighed: That's not a small amount.

Zeng Guofan said: As an official, he is also worried about this matter, Jiangsu and Zhejiang are rich places, and I don't know if I can find powerful people.

Ma Dadao: As far as the official knows, there is still one person in Zhejiang besides Hu Xueyan, and it is Liu Yong of Gui'an County. As an official, he sent someone to invite him. Brother here for a little rest, enjoy the beautiful scenery of the West Lake, and it is not in vain to come to Hangzhou once.

Zeng Guofan was overjoyed when he heard it.

......

In front of Nanxun Liu Shunheng's silk line, two errand officers came. The messenger asked: Is your boss Liu Yong available?

Wang Baohe heard that the errand was looking for the owner, and he didn't dare to slack off. Then he said, "I'll call him."

Liu Yong came out and saw that it was two errand soldiers, and he muttered a little in his heart. Or Dao: Under Liu Yong is.

When the two officers saw that it was Liu Yong, they said: On the order of the Governor Chen, I have invited Boss Liu to the Governor's Mansion to discuss important matters.

Liu Yong said: Please wait for a while, and pay homage to your family next time, so as not to worry, and then go with the master.

When he got home, Liu Yong laughed and said to Hong Ying: Master Ma of the Governor's Mansion sent someone to invite me to go, saying that there is something important to discuss. I don't know what kind of medicine he sells in his gourd.

Hong Ying said anxiously: It can't be for the past, right?

Liu Yongdao: It doesn't seem like that. Could it be that somewhere else is suffering from disaster and reaching out to you? In any case, Master Ma still has to give this little face, so I'll take a trip.

Hong Yingdao: Then you go back quickly, so that I don't have to worry about it at home.

......

Liu Yong of the Governor's Mansion sat there very stiffly, not daring to look up at the two adults.

It was Master Ma who broke the deadlock first. said with a smile: Nowadays, the imperial court is in difficulty, and there is a lack of silver, as long as white salt. On behalf of the imperial court, Lord Zeng has 20,000 pieces of salt, I don't know what Boss Liu thinks?

Liu Yong heard that it was a salt introduction, and the last time the two hundred salt introductions had already tasted the sweetness, and he also knew that the imperial court was now cracking down on salt smugglers very severely. Selling salt is certainly a dream for many people. But he still pretended to be embarrassed and said: the country is in trouble, and it is natural for the people to do their best. However, except for a few salting industries, most of the salt is used for folk seasoning, and the visible amount is very small. The amount is so large that it is difficult to digest for a while. Once damp, it's worthless.

Zeng Guofan said with a smile: What Boss Liu said is also true. If Boss Liu is interested, he can be the official. In the future, salt quotations will no longer be issued in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Anhui. Boss Liu takes it all, and you can also get a 20% discount; Funds are tight and can be cashed out within three months. Boss Liu can take the salt and lead it to Yangzhou Lianghuai Salt Transport Envoy Si Ya to pick up the goods. It is also the meaning of the imperial court. I'll talk about that later.

Liu Yong said: Since the two adults said so, the contemptible people have nothing to say. For the sake of the faces of the two adults, the contemptible people agreed.

So, Liu Yong signed a contract with Zeng Guofan. Hurry back to Nanxun.

Liu Yong returned to Nanxun, did not go home, and went directly to Zhang Songxian's house.

When Zhang Songxian saw Liu Yong coming in, he immediately got up to greet him: Oh, brother, which gust of wind blew you here today?

Liu Yongdao: I have nothing to do at home, I want to come over to talk to my brother, I don't know how the salt industry is now?

Zhang Songxian said: Oh, no need to talk about it. Nowadays, the salt industry is controlled by the imperial court, many smugglers have been arrested, and official salt cannot be bought. Isn't it, I bought a lot of goods, and I am still waiting for the salt to go into the pot, otherwise it will stink, and I am really anxious.

Liu Yong said with a smile: That's a coincidence, I have 1,000 salt citations here, which are entrusted by friends, I don't know what the current market is?

Zhang Songxian stretched out his hand and said: If your friend is willing to make a move, then you can't ask for it. This number, five hundred taels. To tell the truth, it is difficult to buy this number in the market now.

Liu Yongdao: A word is a certainty, but you have to pick up the goods in Yangzhou with your own ticket.

Zhang Songxian said: No problem. It's also a big favor from my brother, otherwise my family will face heavy losses. Tomorrow, we will pay for one hand and deliver the goods with one hand. Liu Yongdao: That word is a certainty.

......

Liu Yong returned home happily.

Hong Ying saw Liu Yong coming back, and stepped forward and said: The master is back. It's peaceful, right?

Liu Yong said with a smile: It was God who picked our Liu family to make a fortune.

Hong Yingdao: What do you say, master?

Liu Yong looked like a seller, and said: It's a long story, and I'll talk to you slowly at night.

At night, Liu Yong and Hong Ying leaned on the bed. Liu Yong said to Hong Ying: Do you know what Lord Ma sent someone to clear me for this time?

Hong Ying pouted and said: If your master doesn't talk about it, how do I know. There are some things that are not easy to ask as a wife.

Liu Yong said with a smile: This time, the Governor sent someone to call me there, and I was also worried at first. As soon as I got there, the governor Zeng issued a salt guide on behalf of the imperial court, and I asked me to take all 20,000 sheets, two hundred taels and one piece, and pay it within three months.

Hong Ying said in surprise: I heard that Ying's sister-in-law said that salt on the street is often out of stock these days. But what to do with so much?

Liu Yong said with a smile: Brother Songxian's family has bought a lot of goods and is waiting for salt, just now he took 1,000 pieces at once, and took the initiative to give 500 taels a piece.

Hong Ying smiled and said: That's amazing.

Liu Yong said with a smile: It was God who gave the Liu family a fortune.

Hong Yingdao: People are doing it, and the sky is watching. It is the accumulation of virtue by the ancestors, and it is also done by the master. After speaking, he suddenly threw himself into Liu Yong's arms.

Liu Yong stroked Hong Ying's head, today I am going to Yangzhou to see the market there, now my family basically monopolizes the salt industry in several nearby provinces. Hurry up and finish the salt in your hand first, and the promise of the imperial court will also be fulfilled, and it is also a matter of concern.

Hong Yingdao: That's right. But sir, you must not be fascinated by the beauties of Yangzhou.

Liu Yong smiled and said: No matter how beautiful Yangzhou beauties are, how can they be as beautiful as my wife? As he spoke, he hugged Hong Ying tightly in his arms and kissed him.