Han Zhen did not stay in Shouguang for long.

The purpose of this visit is mainly to rectify the salt affairs of Guangling, and the inspection of Shouguang is just incidental.

On the second day, after arranging for the remaining three officials, a group of officials, and three hundred soldiers to change the guard to Changle to take up their posts, he took the monkey straight to Guangling.

Guangling is not a county or a town, because of the high salt production and many salt households, the imperial court set up salt affairs here.

Shandong has many coastal areas, is a large salt-producing province, Mi, Deng, Qing, Lai, Binzhou five places are equipped with salt farms, among which if the quality, when the salt production of Mizhou Taoluo field is the most.

In terms of quantity, Guangling should be the first.

The reason is very simple, there are coal mines in Qingzhou and Huaizhou.

And the coal mine in Qingzhou is in Shouguang.

Nowadays, whether it is Zhao Song or Western Xia, salt is made by boiling and brine.

The water in the brine is evaporated by fire, and when the concentration of the brine becomes high, the salt will be precipitated by itself.

Although this method also produces coarse salt, the purity is relatively high, and the disadvantage is that the cost is also high.

Guangling is backed by Shouguang Coal Mine, only more than 50 miles away, the cost of coal transportation is almost zero, the transportation is also fast, and the output is naturally higher.

Before the Song Dynasty, coal was not the main energy source, whether it was life or production, it was mostly logged as timber.

No, the technology was not enough to mine coal deep underground.

The use of coal in the Song Dynasty was actually forced out.

As the population of Tokyo City grew, so did the demand for wood.

By the time the population of the city exceeded one million, the trees in the dozens of miles around Kaifeng Mansion had already been cut down.

Not only Tokyo City, but other cities with a population of hundreds of thousands are also in the same predicament.

Thus, the world's first energy crisis appeared.

There is no firewood, people can't make fires to cook, and workshops can't operate......

The imperial court was forced to be in a hurry, so it switched to coal.

It is precisely under this demand that coal mining and smelting technology have been rapidly improved.

It turns out that you never know how much potential you have without pushing it.

More than 50 miles away, set off early in the morning, and arrived at noon.

Along the way, passing through the depression of the village.

After arriving in Guangling, on the contrary, the people were prosperous, and they did not seem to be affected by the military disasters and bandits in the slightest.

"It's amazing!"

The monkey rode on his war horse and looked at the big Zhuangzi not far away, with a surprised face.

At this moment, Han Zhen's sharp eyes found that on the small hill not far away, there was a little doll with a bare butt staring at them with wide eyes, looking at them curiously.

Han Zhen beckoned to him and shouted, "Little baby, come here!" ”

Instead of running away, the little doll really trotted all the way over.

The baby had dark cheeks and a snot hanging, only the upper half of his body was wearing a tattered shirt, the lower half of his body was bare, and he had a pair of straw sandals under his feet.

Coming to Han Zhen and the others, the little doll tilted her head and asked curiously: "Are you officers and soldiers?" ”

Han Zhen didn't answer and asked, "Aren't you afraid of us?" ”

"I'm not afraid!"

The little doll shook her head.

"Why?"

Han Zhen was interested and teased: "Aren't you afraid that we are bandits?" ”

The little doll said proudly: "My grandfather said, whether it is an official or a mountain king, you have to eat salt and sell salt." So no matter who comes, we salt farmers are not afraid, because we can make salt. ”

Hearing this, Han Zhen smiled slightly: "Your grandfather is a smart person!" ”

"Hey, hey."

Hearing outsiders praising their grandfather, the little doll grinned silly.

"Call your grandpa!"

Han Zhen said, took out a few pennies from his arms and threw them over.

The little doll has quick eyes and hands, and without waiting for the copper coin to land, it catches it accurately.

A few pennies is already a huge amount of money for a small child.

After getting the reward, the little baby immediately ran to the village with a smile.

Looking at the back of the little baby, the monkey sighed: "This baby's grandfather can see it thoroughly." ”

Salt and iron have been the most profitable business since ancient times, and there is no one.

Therefore, these salt farmers are almost chickens that can lay golden eggs, whether they are thieves or the imperial court, squeezing is squeezing, but they will not easily take the lives of salt farmers.

Han Zhen smiled: "The poor people also have their own wisdom. ”

After a while, a group of people walked out of the village and went straight to Han Zhen and the others.

At the head was an old man dressed in a coarse linen robe, with gray hair and a thin body, but he walked vigorously.

When he came to Han Zhen, the old man bowed and saluted: "I've seen Xianggong!" ”

The cowherd baby doesn't understand, but he does.

The young man in front of him was heroic and domineering, and his momentum was terrifying, and hundreds of soldiers behind him were dressed in iron armor and holding spears, all like wolves and tigers.

How can the thief have such momentum and sophisticated armament, he should be the elite soldiers who came to quell the rebellion from the imperial court, so he is called a fair.

Han Zhen looked around condescendingly, these people were all yellow and thin, and their clothes were not covered.

It's just slightly better than the original escape from Songshan Ridge.

In fact, the little doll was only half right.

It is one thing to be able to make salt, on the other hand, the salt households are so poor that they can't squeeze two taels of oil when they are thrown into the pot, and they are all so poor, and there is only one cheap life left, which one will rob them?

Retracting his gaze, Han Zhen asked, "Who are you?" ”

The old man replied truthfully: "The old man's name is Li Da, and he is the chief of Li Jiazhuang. ”

Han Zhen asked again: "How many salt households are there in Guangling?" ”

"I don't know how much, but the six villages around are all salt households, and it is estimated that there are more than 5,000 people." Li Da counted with his fingers.

Only more than 5,000 people?

Han Zhen and the monkey glanced at each other, and the same thought was born in their hearts.

Too little!

It seems that it is necessary to recruit fugitives.

You must know that the salt factory in Xiaowang Village has more than 2,000 workers.

As the main salt-producing base in the future, the 5,000 people are too few, and at least double to barely be enough.

Suppressing the thoughts in his heart, Han Zhen continued to ask quietly: "Some time ago, were there anti-thieves and bandits who came here?" ”

Since Zhang Wanxian occupies Shouguang, it is impossible to let go of Guangling, which is close at hand.

Even if he was stupid, Shi Wenhui would suggest that he take advantage of the situation to occupy Guangling.

"Yes!"

Li Da nodded.

Han Zhen's face remained unchanged, and his tone was indifferent: "Where is it now, how many people are there?" ”

"There are only more than 1,000 people, who first killed the officials of the salt prison, and lived here for nearly two months.

Li Da was also puzzled before, the gang of thieves was in a hurry when they fled, and they didn't even take all the food in the granary.

After seeing Han Zhen now, I understood the reason.

The original way is that the officers and soldiers are coming!

Salt households, like artisans in government-run workshops, were not allowed to farm, engage in business, or engage in other trades.

The only thing to do is to make salt.

The rations were distributed by the imperial court, there was no pay, and there were annual task indicators.

If the target is not met, the food will be deducted, and the worst will be whipped and beaten.

In addition, the salt supervision officials are extremely strict in the management and supervision of the salt factory, and the salt farmers must strip their clothes and be inspected when they leave the salt factory to avoid carrying illegal salt, so it is impossible to sell salt privately to subsidize their families.

(End of chapter)