Number of People

  Chapter 580 T-shaped scroll Feng Ziying's goal

   After Wang Jiuyu was sent away, Feng Ziying fell into deep thought.

   There is no doubt that Wang Jiuyu is just a figure on the bright side, and behind him there are people with more backgrounds.

   Want to run the salt farm, you, a private salt dealer, have such a big face?

  It is impossible to think about it.

  But it has to be said that the current imperial court does not have the energy for the development of the Dongfan Budai Salt Field.

   It involves the recruitment of manpower and the initial infrastructure construction, and the establishment of a route from Zhangzhou to Penghu to Dongfan, as well as attacks on the local indigenous mountain people that may be faced, etc., are quite cumbersome and complicated.

  Even Feng Ziying herself did not think about letting the government run it.

  At least not in the early stage.

  It is most appropriate to entrust these gentlemen with powerful backgrounds to operate the business, but only if they pay money.

  Feng Ziying is also under tremendous pressure to go south this time. The establishment of Yinzhuang needs money and the collection of franchise fees. It is also necessary to let these merchants pay the maximum amount of money. The mortgage of the customs tax still requires money.

  Everything needs silver, and the court is pressing so hard.

  In addition to Emperor Yonglong, Zheng Jizhi and Chai Ke are the most urgent.

   I almost stopped talking, as long as I can get the money back, no matter what method I use.

  Feng Ziying's previous consideration was to contact those gentry and merchants who were going to participate in maritime trade first.

   This amount of money should be the most stable. The groups who want to participate have already contacted the princes in the court through various lines, and they are basically clear. The next step is just some games on the specific price.

And these people are very well-informed. Knowing that the court is short of money, they will definitely take this opportunity to lower the price. That's why Feng Ziying won Shangfang's sword. , and the target group is also very clear, that is, Yangzhou salt merchants.

In fact, these salt merchants already have some feelings, so according to the news from Lin Ruhai and Wang Wenyan, these salt merchants are also very active recently, and they are constantly meeting and discussing, probably thinking about how to deal with this "killing" by the court. pig" behavior.

  Before it was a donation, how will it be this time? I guess these salt merchants have no idea, but there is no doubt that their intuition tells them that bleeding will inevitably happen this time.

   All in all, it is necessary to adopt multiple strategies to get money.

   Thinking of this only goal, Feng Ziying herself felt amused. This is now the vanguard who has succeeded in getting money for the Great Zhou court.

   Soon Wang Wenyan came in. Without Feng Ziying's instructions, Wang Wenyan had already arranged someone to follow Wang Jiuyu, but Feng Ziying was not worried about anything, but wanted to know who was behind Wang Jiuyu as soon as possible.

  After listening to Feng Ziying's introduction, Wang Wenyan gasped.

  Tuoken Dongfan is nothing more than that, it is going to hand over the saltworks to private individuals, which is obviously against the law of the court.

  The salt farms in Dazhou were all owned by the imperial court. From cooking salt to drying salt to producing salt, they handed it over to the salt transport yamen at a certain price, and then sold it to salt merchants who held salt quotations, and then the salt merchants sold it according to the region.

   This is the salt affairs regulation inherited from the Ming Dynasty in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and the salt field must be firmly in the hands of the imperial court.

   "My lord, I'm afraid you need to be cautious about this. The imperial court may not allow you to do this. Even if the imperial court is short of money, it can't make such an opening." Wang Wenyan shook his head repeatedly.

"Wen Yan, let me ask you a question, if I don't mention the Tuocen Dongfan, will the imperial court think of Dongfan?" Feng Ziying shook her head lightly, "I mentioned it, and the princes in the court still push it back and forth, thinking it is a burden , It’s not necessary at all, now I don’t want the imperial court to pay a penny, to persuade merchants to recruit refugees who have lost their land and go to Dongfan to cultivate. The frontier lands will be collected in half for 20 years, which will increase the land tax income for the court, and at the same time prevent foreign enemies from invading Dongfan, and even reduce the unstable pressure brought by the refugees, isn’t that good?”

  Feng Ziying's words left Wang Wenyan speechless.

"As for this salt field, the output of the Lianghuai Salt Field is insufficient. The price of salt in Nanzhi, Jiangxi, and Huguang has skyrocketed. Private salt sales have become popular. Local governments have responded. If the Dongfan Salt Field can be built, it will not cost a penny. Selling in Nanzhi and Liangzhe is also subject to the jurisdiction of the Salt Envoy, and handing over this right to gentry and merchants is nothing more than a franchise, whether it is five years or ten years, two years. Ten years is good, depending on the price, maybe someone can take out a million taels of silver to bet on this bet? Isn’t it satisfied that the court has so much silver for free, and it can also reduce the pressure on the salt supply?”

Feng Ziying smiled softly, "Wen Yan, the court is in trouble now. I was entrusted by the gentlemen to come to the south. The task is arduous and everything is not easy. If Wang Jiuyu, a private salt dealer, can make a good start for my trip, I think it will be fine." It can relieve me some pressure when dealing with these salt merchants and sea merchants, Wenyan, I have to rely on you to plan each item for me in detail."

Seeing Feng Ziying's resolute attitude, Wang Wenyan also knew that the other party must have made up his mind, and Feng Ziying's sentence was appointed by the court officials. Although he didn't say it clearly, there is probably a story. Bring out the details, and at the same time give various options and suggestions for the other party's reference.

"Since the young master has made up his mind, there will be no more words in classical Chinese. He will definitely prepare according to what the young master said, and will not disappoint the young master." Wang Wenyan stopped talking nonsense and nodded in agreement, "In addition, the situation of the salt merchants in Yangzhou To sum up, I have already prepared for you, well, basically they are concentrated in Shanshan and Huizhou merchants, the ratio is about 40 to 60, and they are distinguished according to their size and influence,..."

  Feng Ziying nodded while reading, "Well, I have to study it carefully, such a thick book, it seems that there are many stories about these salt merchants."

  Wang Wenyan responded with a smile: "Young master, these people have basically accumulated slowly over decades, even after several generations, and there are traces of them in Yangzhou City and even Nanzhi..."

  Feng Ziying smiled meaningfully, "Wen Yan, I'm afraid I'm going to be a villain this time."

  ******

"Don't be afraid of being a villain. Didn't you hear that being an official would rather be hated than pity?" Lin Ruhai put down the medicine cup with an unusually calm expression, "It's not that these salt merchants are unprepared. Over the years, they have made a lot of money and made a lot of money." Naturally, I also understand the rules of the court, but I always have a little fantasy, and I also rely on money to build some relationships in the court. I think I can rely on it, but I don’t think about it. The court is so difficult. Who will come here to show mercy to you because of this?"

  Feng Ziying sat aside respectfully, "Uncle is right, but my nephew has some different ideas."

   "Oh?" Lin Ruhai was slightly surprised.

  The prospective son-in-law Cheng Rili and Wang Wenyan collected and sorted out the various activities of these salt merchants, isn't it just to raise money for the court?

  The news he got was that the imperial household department was completely empty, and the emperor's internal treasury was also stretched, and the food and salaries of Xijiang, Liaodong, and Xuanda were urgently needed to be allocated, especially Gansu.

  Chai Ke came back to Beijing specifically for this purpose. Of course, it is also said that Chai Ke will succeed the left servant of the Ministry of War and will step down as the governor of the three sides. His future in-laws, the father of this son, may take over as the governor of the three sides.

   But there is also a stove, and anyone who sits on it will feel like sitting on pins and needles. No wonder Prince Teng would rather go to Denglai than Sanbian.

  Now you say you have different ideas, not to raise money, why are you making these preparations?

   "Uncle may have misunderstood, thinking that my nephew came here just to find these salt merchants to win the wind and make donations. Some elders and the emperor did have this intention before, but I don't think it's appropriate."

  Feng Ziying knows that his ideas may not be understood and accepted by many people, but he still intends to do so.

  Since Emperor Yonglong, Ye Xianggao, and Guan Yingzhen have handed over the full power to themselves, as long as they can get the money back, there is no need to worry about the method.

  And he wants to set an example for these merchants, especially the salt merchants who are considered fat sheep.

   To put it another way, at the very least, these businessmen must realize that they are trustworthy, law-abiding, and contractual.

  This era lacks this the most. Perhaps there is still some credibility and morality among businessmen, but if there is a disparity in strength between businessmen and the government, then it is difficult to say that there is any spirit of credibility and contract.

   It's just estimated that in Dazhou, many people can't understand it.

  Lin Ruhai's eyes were a little strange, and he didn't understand what his prospective son-in-law wanted to do.

  Feng Ziying carefully planned her words. To achieve the best effect, she must fully support and cooperate with her prospective father-in-law.

"Uncle, this is what I think. Since the imperial court has established regulations, whether it is salt merchants or marine merchants, they are operating under the imperial court's regulations. No matter how much money they make, it is allowed by the imperial court. If it feels inappropriate, the regulations should be adjusted instead of donations and losses. Of course, if someone colludes with private salt dealers, or salt farms, or even mixes salt with soil to harm the people, that is another matter. Something happened,..."

  Lin Ruhai couldn't help laughing, isn't this just going to be a **** and set up a memorial arch? You have to find a suitable reason for everything, um, it is in line with the imperial regulations.

   In a word, if you want people to take money out, you have to have a good reason, but this prospective son-in-law seems to be a bit morally clean? Not like it.

Seeing Lin Ruhai's expression, Feng Ziying knew that her explanation was superfluous and that the other party could not understand, so she could only shake her head and said in desperation: "In short, my nephew wants everyone to understand the court, at least what my nephew has decided Rules and regulations, every word that my nephew said must be done, and actions must be followed! Let them all believe this!"

  (end of this chapter)