Han Shizu

Chapter 1442 The skyrocketing salt price

Han Palace, Chuigong Hall.

Zhang Yong entered with a stack of memorials, and presented them respectfully to Emperor Liu for review.

"What has the prince been up to lately?" Emperor Liu asked casually as he looked through the pages calmly.

Upon hearing the question, Zhang Yong cupped his hands and replied: "His Royal Highness is meeting with Wang Xiang and Shen Xiang to discuss matters such as the tax increase this year and the stabilization of salt prices."

"How much tax is expected to be collected by the Financial Secretary this autumn?" Emperor Liu asked.

Zhang Yong was obviously familiar with these matters, and answered without hesitation: "According to the tax amount set by the Ministry of Households at the beginning of autumn, the autumn taxes of all Daozhou states are about 900 million yuan. May!"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu was a little surprised, and said: "There are so many. I still remember that in the seventh year of the opening of the treasure, only 600 million yuan was collected from the national autumn tax. How can there be so many?"

Zhang Yong calmly explained his doubts to Emperor Liu: "Your Majesty, thanks to the good government of the imperial court to recuperate and rehabilitate, the farming season is correct in various places this year. The southern Daozhou is less affected by the Northern Expedition, and the tax amount has increased. The tax system reform, business tax and salt tax have increased considerably, so overall, the autumn tax is still nearly 3000 million guan!"

"It seems that the imperial court's financial and taxation reforms have achieved initial results!" Emperor Liu said, "If it really follows the financial plan, then the imperial court's financial difficulties will be eased!"

"I firmly believe that it will get better every year in the future!" Zhang Yong replied affirmatively.

Twenty-nine million guan is definitely a huge tax, but it is nothing to the entire empire.The stalls of the big man are spread too wide, even if they are restrained, but the stalls that have been spread can't be recovered, and they have to spend energy to maintain them.

The annual financial and taxation of the Han Dynasty is basically spent on the salaries of officials, the army, the nobles' salaries, and the administrative costs of government officials at all levels inside and outside.

However, this year's fiscal and taxation is somewhat difficult to fully maintain. It is still necessary to continue to fill in the shortfall caused by the Northern Expedition. With the imperial court's finances, plus, the internal funds still need to be repaid by the treasury
Therefore, although the finances of the big man are constantly returning to blood, they are far from affluent.The militaristic expansion abroad and the Northern Expedition did not last too long, but it took more time to restore the scars caused by the war.

"Now the price of salt in Beijing is already [-] cents a bucket!" Emperor Liu said cautiously.

Seeing Emperor Liu's question, Zhang Yong's face became obviously more serious, and he said: "Return to Your Majesty, so far, the price of salt in Beijing has reached 52 cents a bucket!"

Subconsciously raised his breath, Emperor Liu frowned and said, "It's indeed a bit high!"

The reform of the salt system in the Han Dynasty, in simple terms, is to loosen control, open the market, reduce the role of the government in it, and allow merchants to assume the role of circulation and sales.Among them, the government is only responsible for production, and delegates transportation and sales to qualified salt merchants. At the same time, it does a good job of supervision.

The direct reason for such a policy change lies in the financial problems of the imperial court, which is a way to open up financial resources. After all, everyone knows the huge profit of salt, and it is indeed a pity to maintain a low level of salt price in the past.

Through this method, the imperial court can obtain visible income while reducing the burden of operation and maintenance. Only by selling salt vouchers, it can obtain a one-time income of 300 million guan.

It took more than half a year from the spring decision, preparation to implementation, and the results were immediately apparent.The most intuitive change is the sharp rise in the price of salt, even a little crazy.

Even during the Northern Expedition last year, due to the pressure of material supply, the price of salt in Luoyang rose, but it was only about [-] yuan per bucket. After the new year, it even fell back to the normal [-] yuan.

However, since the imperial court launched the reform of the salt system, in the past six months or so, the price of this bucket of salt has risen more than double, almost three times that of spring.

Such a rise is somewhat exaggerated, and it has caused a lot of criticism. Although the capital is a prosperous place, the people are gradually complaining about the crazy rise in salt prices.

Regarding the rise in salt prices, the imperial court officials are well aware of it, especially Wang Pu, who is mainly in charge of this matter, is always paying attention.

However, for a long time, they have not intervened casually, but calmly watched its development. After all, before the policy was implemented, it had been expected, and the rise in salt prices was even expected.It can even be said that the imperial court played a leading role in promoting the rise of salt prices.

The nine years of Kaibao have not yet ended, but the imperial court's income from salt benefits is already very considerable.This income is regarded as additional income, which greatly makes up for the finances. At the same time, it can also be used to benefit salt workers and salt people everywhere.

In the past, when the imperial court maintained a low salt price, the people who were most squeezed were naturally the salt people from all over the place.With the implementation of the reform of the Yanba affairs, the government has become fatter, the treatment of the salt people has been improved, and the merchants who participated in it can also have enough food, but it is the people of the whole country who pay the bill.

Of course, although salt is a necessity for people's livelihood, it is not a staple food like rice and noodles. The demand is rigid, but the amount needed by each family can be adjusted.Therefore, even if the price rises a bit, the impact on the livelihood of the people will not be too serious.

If it can float up like a frog boiled in warm water, the reaction will not be so strong.However, the problem is that the rise is too fast and too crazy, so that the people do not have enough time to react and adapt.

It is also conceivable that in the past, it only cost 20 yuan, but now it costs three times the price to buy it. Anyone who changes it will be dissatisfied and complain. Salt.

You must know that in Xijing, a strong laborer earns an average of only three hundred cash per month. Therefore, a bucket of salt at fifty coins is definitely expensive for the common people.

Therefore, when people's grievances accumulate to a certain extent, the court can no longer turn a blind eye.In fact, the rise in salt prices was certainly driven by imperial policies, and merchants obviously played a huge role in promoting it. In this public grievance, "profiteers" also bore a lot of infamy instead of the imperial court.

Any reform, while solving old troubles, is often accompanied by the emergence of new problems. Since Emperor Liu came to power, the Great Han has undergone so many changes. On this issue, Emperor Liu and his ministers have a very clear understanding. with enough experience.

So far, the benefits of the reform of the salt affairs have been obvious, and the imperial court has begun to enjoy its benefits. Therefore, when problems began to emerge, as experts in governance, Zhao Pu and Wang Pu did not have any impatience, and tried to solve them. If it cannot be resolved, it will be relieved.

"Don't look at the small price of salt, but it is the livelihood of the people of Li people. Now the price of salt has risen, which is a bit excessive. The problem is caused by the government's policy. Since the people's grievances have been aroused, the court has to solve them to relieve the people's grievances and reassure people's hearts. !” Emperor Liu thought for a while and said.

Of course, it was just an instruction to show his attitude.For specific matters, Emperor Liu still intends to hand them over to the Political Affairs Hall and the Financial Secretary. He only cares about specific matters, and he only cares about the results. Today, Emperor Liu has completely entered the state of self-government.

"The public is filled with grievances, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has personally supervised the resolution of this matter. Thinking about it, the Financial Secretary will come up with some practical and effective measures as soon as possible!" Zhang Yong said.

"Wang Pu and Shen Yilun are doing things, I can rest assured!" Emperor Liu said so, looked at Zhang Yong, and ordered: "You should also keep an eye on this matter!"

"Yes!"

In fact, no matter how much it is changed, it is impossible to really change the course, and the rising salt price cannot really fall, at least the various classes and groups that have already obtained huge profits from it will not allow it. First of all, the Financial Secretary will Stand firm on this policy.

Even if forced by the people's situation, some measures are imposed, some regulations are added, and the salt price is slightly suppressed to make it fall back, it is impossible to maintain it at an extremely low level as in the past.

The price of salt, after all, is no more than the price of food.If there is such a crazy change in food prices, then there is no doubt that the court will hit hard and crack down, because this is something that can really affect people's livelihood and social issues.

The Han Empire is still a country based on agriculture. After so many years of development, except for the people in the towns, the average peasant family has some surplus grain, and the demand for grain and noodles is also very stable. Unless there is any disaster, the price of grain is very high. It is difficult to have an exaggerated increase.

If the price of salt is too high, the common people can bear it, and they will get used to it after a long time. If they cannot afford to eat, they may rebel, and the harm caused will be great.

Therefore, there is no need to produce results, Emperor Liu already knew in his heart that the price of salt in the future will still be maintained at a relatively high level until the common people accept and get used to it.

(End of this chapter)