The central government has set up a "supervision institute" as the monopoly management agency for salt sales, and the salt of the whole country is purchased by the government and then sold at a higher price. Under the "direct monopoly" system, the forms of production and marketing of salt are all official collection, official transportation and official sales, and from then on, there is no more selfish salt to sell.

The Salt and Iron Envoy set up salt supervision institutes in the salt-producing areas, and set up a "pavilion" system for salt households across the country to carry out special management, responsible for the collection and export of salt, set the monopoly price of salt, and then authorized special government and merchant salt shops to sell salt goods. In the past, the price of salt used to climb to about 200 wen per bucket, and the price skyrocketed by 20 times.

In recent years, the sage and the queen have sympathized with the people's feelings, and ordered the prison to send people to personally teach the salt-making method in the "Qi Min Yaoshu" to the people who have the conditions to mine salt fields in various places, and they have been classified as "pavilion households", and the inland pond salt and well salt have also been exploited and developed to a certain extent. In the past few years, the price of salt has been slightly suppressed and lowered, and it is sold at a price of about 110 wen per bucket.

However, in Tingzhou, which is adjacent to Yizhou, which is rich in salt pans, the price of this salt is actually high, and now it has even skyrocketed to more than 30 times the price.

"The shopkeeper is fine, the people's girl dares to ask, who set the price of 300 yuan per bucket of salt?"

There was a thunderclap on the ground!

The old and weak women and children around her stared at her in horror and fear. Seeing that it was a young lady asking such a bold and arrogant question, she couldn't help but gasp and unconsciously took two steps back.

Next to him stood a young man dressed in coarse linen, and he was stunned and cast a surprised and admiring look at her.

Everyone knows that this monopoly salt shop is an official shop, and it is only supervised by the imperial government. The shopkeepers and servants who do things inside are helpless even if they are arrogant and domineering, and how dare the ordinary people put their beaks at will!

Yao Yun looked at the person collecting the money in front of him with a dignified gaze, and there was no fear in his eyes!

The shopkeeper who collected the money waved his hand impatiently and scolded rudely: "Where is the cheap woman, if you want to buy it, if you don't have money, get out, don't delay Lao Tzu's business here!" ”

"The folk girl is just a little confused, and I ask the shopkeeper to answer."

The burlap Langjun who was standing beside him also nodded approvingly, and echoed loudly: "Shopkeeper, this lady is right, she didn't break the law by asking a question, why bother talking so wildly, you can give an explanation to our people!" ”

"Another one to join in the fun, it's none of your business, get out of Lao Tzu!"

The black-faced shopkeeper snorted and grimaced, and glanced at the Biaoye Khan on one side.

Yao Yun was unmoved, and even took two more steps forward, and said resolutely aloud: "The salt prisons set up by the imperial court in various places are all set in advance, and even in a rich place like Chang'an, the imperial capital, each bucket of salt is only sold for one hundred and ten cents. Moreover, the saint and the queen mother promulgated the method of salt production in the "Qi Ming Yaoshu" very early, and the salt production in Yizhou is not a problem. How dare you be so blatant in your quest for profiteering, even to the ......"

A big man had already walked beside him, with a hideous face and ready to move, wanting to wave his hand to grab her.

Xiao Shishi had already prepared, and with a slight leap, he had already blocked in front of Yao Yun to protect her.

Unexpectedly, the young man in coarse linen who had just spoken for her also turned sideways slightly to protect her, and Ma Li blocked the thick arm that the man swung from.

The poor people who were watching behind him had already dared to be angry and did not dare to speak, and at this time, they got a helping hand and poured out their complaints in anger.

"It's, it's ......"

"Why do you sell it so expensive......

"Give us an explanation, give us an explanation......"

The shopkeeper raised the corners of his mean eyes, and scolded and said, "These three hundred dollars are the rules set by the prison court, you can go and investigate." Lao Tzu does things according to the rules, and he is not afraid of you to check if he dies!"

Yao Yun's eyes sank, looking at his convincing and sworn appearance, it didn't seem to be fake.

The burlap Langjun on the side also pursed his lips, thoughtful.

"Are you two still buying it? If you don't buy it, don't get in the way, get out of the way, don't delay Lao Tzu's business! ”

Yao Yun twisted her thin eyebrows and temporarily retreated to one side.

"The little lady is good, the little lady has courage, I really admire it!"

It was the burlap young man who greeted her.

She came back to her senses, smiled, and saluted him respectfully: "Thank you Lang Jun for protecting me, the little girl is grateful." ”

She was only now able to see his face. He has a square face, thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a clear and delicate voice, and he can be regarded as a handsome gentleman with a dignified appearance. However, the coarse linen clothes on his body did not match the scholarly and elegant temperament that was faintly revealed around him.

"My surname is Cui, and I am the ninth in the family, and my wife can call me Cui Jiulang." He looked at her with a smile and took the initiative to report his home.

"Jiulang is good, the little girl's surname is Yao, just call the little girl Yao Niangzi." She smiled softly and returned the salute respectfully.

"Hello Yao Niangzi, I heard Yao Niangzi mention the current salt price in Chang'an below, and also talked about the salt making method in "Qi Min's Technique", presumably Yao Niangzi has read a hundred books, and she is from Chang'an, and I want to listen carefully to Yao Niangzi's thoughts on salt tax!"

"Cui Jiulang is polite, the little girl is just temporarily living in Chang'an, and she happened to have heard of the salt tax law and "Qi Min's Technique", so she didn't dare to put her beak at will."

Yao Yun bowed respectfully, and wanted to turn around and leave, but he never thought that he would be dragged by his forearm.

Xiao Shishi's eyes quickly resisted his hand, and said with a calm face: "Cui Langjun is rude, my lady ......"

The man flicked his hand away in a panic, his face was confused, and he said slightly apologetically: "Yao Niangzi, yes, it's abrupt." In fact, I have been studying hard in the next few days, and I just happened to learn the salt tax law, so I want to seek some new ideas. I just saw that Yao Niangzi was talking eloquently and speaking freely, so you should have some ideas, so I asked Yao Niangzi about you. ”

Yao Yun was stunned, seeing that his eyes were burning and his voice was calm, could it be that he really came to ask.

She squinted and looked up at him, her lips slightly opened, and her voice was clear and pleasant, like a trickling stream wandering and washing her heart.

"Since Cui Langjun sincerely asks for the little girl, shouldn't he personally invite the little girl to drink a cup of tea?"

The man suddenly realized, and happily greeted her and walked to the alley on the other side.

"Thank you, thank you Mrs. Yao, Mrs. Yao, please."

I never thought that there was such an inconspicuous small tea stall at the end of this narrow alley. The man greeted her and found a place against the wall in the tea stall, and quickly ordered two pots of Tingzhou's characteristic hydrangea hair tips.

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Note: After the Anshi Rebellion of the Tang Dynasty, the Fifth Qi served as the salt and iron transit envoy and began to implement the "direct monopoly" system.