After the Rebirth of the Red Chamber

"Governor of Liangjiang?" Shi Nai smiled playfully, "I remember that the current Governor of Liangjiang is a Jinshi in the first year of Tianqi, right?"

Liao Yudao: "Exactly. In that year, the sage ascended the throne, pardoned the world, and added Enke. Hong Bao was in this subject in one fell swoop, No. 7 in the second class."

Hu Zhan said: "That is a serious student of the Son of Heaven."

Under normal circumstances, the Enke opened in the year when the emperor ascended the throne, the selected ones will become the new emperor's confidantes.Hong Bao ranked No.7 in the second class, that is, No.10 in that subject, how could he not be valued by the saints?

After Hong Bao was selected as a Jinshi, he passed the examinations for Shujishi all the way, and entered the Imperial Academy.After the disbandment, because of his outstanding performance, he was assigned to the Ministry of Officials to watch the government.

Then, it was sent to the outside world to be the magistrate and magistrate, and he became the governor all the way.

Later, he was transferred to Beijing and worked as a servant in the Ministry of Officials for several years.

The year before last, the governor of Liangjiang was dismissed due to a crime, and the sage appointed Hong Bao as the new governor of Liangjiang.

Throughout Hong Bao's official career, there are only four words to describe it.

——Smooth wind and smooth water.

And who gave him all this?

Needless to say, he is naturally a saint.

Therefore, neither Shi Nai nor Liao Yu could figure out why Hong Bao dared to openly disobey the holy order when the sage's attitude was so obvious on the matter of the salt merchants?

Hu Zhan, on the other hand, didn't think so much, what he thought about was how to solve this matter.

"My lord, do you want someone to remind him?"

"No." Before Shi Nai could speak, Liao Yu spoke first, "Just report this matter to the sage, and we must not intervene at will."

"My lord?" Hu Zhan looked at Shi Nai.

Shi Nai nodded, "That's right, Hong Bao is the confidant of the sage, how to deal with it is up to the sage to decide."

Although Hu Zhan was unwilling, seeing that Shi Nai had made up his mind, he had no choice but to give up.

Seeing this, Liao Yu comforted him, "Lord Hu, don't be anxious. The salt merchant's matter concerns the people of the world. Even if a sage is kind, he will not allow anyone to play favoritism in this matter."

Saints really can't stand it.

The reason is not only because this matter is related to the salt consumption of the people all over the world, but also because the sage is old.

Since this autumn, the saint has clearly felt that his body is not as good as before.He wanted to leave a peaceful world for his grandson before he came to heaven.

Therefore, for those officials who practice favoritism and cheat, the means of the saints are a little less gentle than before, and appear to be much crueler.

At the first court meeting after Liao Yu reported the matter to the saint, seven censors impeached Hong Bao, governor of Liangjiang.

Shi Nai recognized two of them, they were the saint's confidantes.

The result of this impeachment can be imagined.Even if Hong Bao was in court, someone would protect him, but the sage had already made up his mind to deal with him, so who could protect him?

"Let the Ministry of Punishment send people there to dismiss Liangjiang Governor Hong Bao from his post and investigate."

The Minister of the Ministry of Punishments came out, "Chen, obey the order."

As soon as Hong Bao, the confidant of the saint, fell, the Jiangnan officialdom was in a state of panic, and no official dared to stand up for the Jiangnan salt merchants.

After all, no matter how good the money is, can it be better than an official position?As long as you keep the black yarn on your head, how much money do you want in the future?

The salt merchants once again asked for the Yamen of the Xunyan Yushi.

"Master Lin, show us a clear way."

They felt that since Lin Ruhai knew that this matter was promoted by a big man in Beijing, he must also know who this big man was.As long as they know who it is, they can use money to open the way.

Lin Ruhai has been dealing with them for so many years, how can he not understand what they mean?

But Lin Ruhai just pretended not to understand, and said hesitantly: "There is a way, but... it's not a clear way."

Several salt merchants looked at each other and said eagerly, "Please advise, sir."

Lin Ruhai suddenly shook his head again, "Forget it, forget it, you won't be willing to take this road either."

How can there be such an appetite?

The salt merchants were dying of anxiety.

They didn't know until now: money is not everything.In the face of absolute power, no matter how much money is thrown down, it is like throwing it into a bottomless pit, and you can't even hear a sound.

"Master Lin, just tell me. No matter what, let us listen, right?"

Lin Ruhai took a closer look at their expressions and confirmed, "Then I will tell you."

"Sir, please speak."

——Stop dawdling, okay?

Lin Ruhai stood up, twirling his beard, and said in a low voice, "I have a way to help you sell the salt in your hands at a low price. I just don't know if you are willing."

The salt merchants were silent.

The so-called parity is the lowest price in the market.

Today, the lowest price of table salt on the market is the kind produced in Guangzhou.

If you sell all the salt in your hand at this price, you may not even be able to earn back the money you spent on buying salt.

At this moment, they all began to suspect: Could it be that Mr. Lin had discussed with others to cheat them together?

Although they guessed right, they had no proof.

"My lord, is there no other way?"

Lin Ruhai shook his head and said: "I know what you mean, and I advise you to calm down. I won't talk about too many things. You go back first and think about it."

After he finished speaking, he picked up the gaiwan and took a sip of tea.

This is what it means to serve tea to see off guests.

The salt merchants had no choice but to resign.

Lin Ruhai watched them leave with an inexplicable smile on his face.

——He believed that among these salt merchants, someone would come to him soon.

However, Lin Ruhai didn't quite understand why Guangzhou would recycle salt from Jiangnan at a low price.

It's not that he refuted it, it's really that the salt hoarded by these salt merchants in the south of the Yangtze River is not as good as the salt produced in Guangzhou in terms of appearance and taste.Wouldn't it be a loss to recycle at a low price?

Yan Jin's staff also had this question.

"My lord, what should we do with so many Qingyans we collect?"

Although they have the technology in their hands to turn green salt into snow white, it must be consumed to a certain extent.Even if the purified salt can be sold again, it will definitely not recover the cost.

Yan Jin smiled, picked up the gaiwan and took a sip of Guangzhou's specialty herbal tea, and said leisurely: "Aren't those sea merchants from the Bai family and the Yuan family intending to sell salt overseas? I believe they are willing to make up for the price difference. .”

The staff said: "But what they want is a prescription for salt."

Yan Jin glanced at him and said, "Then let them dream."

The salt produced in Guangzhou can be said to be unique in the world today.For at least ten years, the imperial court will not allow this law to leak out.

In other words, during this period, anyone who wanted to sell salt had to buy it from the imperial court.It can be said that it is tantamount to nationalizing the salt industry with a strong prescription for salt control.

And after ten years, salt will be a common thing in the eyes of the world, and it will not have any impact if it is distributed to private individuals.

******

From the beginning of the layout to the successful conclusion.Shi Nai lasted for five years, and he was entrenched in the south of the Yangtze River, eradicating several generations of salt merchants in one fell swoop.There are those who are jealous inside and outside the court, some admire, and there are also those who grit their teeth and secretly hate.

Even the grandson couldn't help worrying about him, and he used Shang Yang, Wang Anshi and others to secretly warn him in his words.

Shi Nai couldn't help being startled, and his expression softened all of a sudden, "Thank you grandson for reminding me, I will definitely be more cautious in my actions in the future."

Taisun's intention was to let him not act so shockingly in the future, but his response only meant that he should act cautiously in the future.

The grandson couldn't help being a little annoyed, "Shaobao doesn't think about himself, doesn't he think about his wife and son?"

Among his wives, Shi Nai was the one he liked the most.This may be because Shi Nai was not born in the imperial examination, so he was not so demanding on those literati's character and respect for teachers.

Following Shi Nai's class, grandsons can bring up any doubts they have at any time. Even if they say something out of line, or even question the sages, Shi Nai doesn't take it seriously.

If it were the other masters, they would definitely have to make a long speech, emphasizing the authority of the sages to the grandson.

Taisun is fourteen or fifteen years old, exactly the age of rebellion, how can he listen to those things?

He can bear not to choke with those masters, even if he has political literacy, because he knows that the literati's pen can kill people without blood.

Therefore, in his heart, he did not want Shi Nai to end up like Wang Anshi or even Shang Yang.

Shi Nai's heart warmed, and he explained softly: "Your Highness's thoughts, I understand. However, please rest assured, Your Highness, I am not a saint like Shang Jun, and I don't have the consciousness of martyrdom."

Taisun looked at him dubiously for a long while, seeing that he did not seem to be cheating, then nodded, "It's good that Shaobao knows it well."

Then, he remembered the business of keeping Shi Nai today.

"By the way, Shaobao, there is only one thing that needs Shaobao's advice."

Shi Nai cupped his hands and said, "I don't dare to give advice, Your Highness, but say it's all right, I would like to go into details for Your Highness."

The grandson smacked his lips, frowned and said, "In two months, it will be the grandfather's birthday, but I'm still worrying about the birthday gift."

Shi Nai was taken aback, "Your Highness didn't ask the disciples to search for rare treasures?"

Hearing the word "Qizhen", Taisun couldn't help frowning, and said disapprovingly: "Nowadays the treasury is empty, and you are alone as the prince, you should lead by example and practice frugality, how can you be extravagant and wasteful?"

Shi Nai understood in seconds.

——It’s just too rare and precious.

"Then why don't you copy the "Book of Filial Piety" by yourself?"

This can be said to be a panacea for the elders to celebrate their birthdays. No matter how many times they are given, the elders will feel relieved.Moreover, in terms of public opinion, it is particularly dominant.

But Taisun was not happy.

"No, no." Taisun waved his hands again and again, "I asked someone to inquire about Gu. Eight out of ten of Gu's cousins ​​all copied the "Book of Filial Piety". If Gu is like them, it would be shameless." ?”

Shi Nai nodded, expressing his understanding.

—— Taisun is looking for a birthday gift that can stand out and save money.

He has always been thick-faced and dark-hearted, and now he can't help but feel a little guilty.

——In other words, he is a good prince, and he grew up choking on gold and swallowing jade. Just because he has studied with him for a few years, he has to plan carefully when giving a birthday gift.

In other words, the saint wouldn't hate him for this, would he?