The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Seeing that he could no longer disobey the decree, Xiong Gan said more euphemistically: "Your Majesty, how should we deal with the gentry who spent money to buy salt?

The imperial court established the Salt Law as a legal decree.

If you don't keep your word, how will the people trust the imperial court in the future? "

Ma Wensheng nodded heavily.

Liu Jian and others also thought it was reasonable.

The imperial court established a constitution, but it would be abolished in one sentence, and the newly promulgated Hongzhi banknotes would have even less credibility.

Li Dongyang pondered for a moment and said: "The gentry who spent money can return the money to the Salt Transportation Department with the help of salt quotations. The salt quotations given by the court will be invalid. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

Emperor Hongzhi knew the difference between the two.

Most of the people who asked for the gift were officials from the DPRK and the Central Government, so this move would not harm the interests of the gentry.

Soon, the ministers fell to their knees and begged: "Please, Your Majesty, treat everyone equally!"

The amount of salt can easily reach several million taels, and the amount of silver can easily reach tens of millions of taels.

Emperor Hongzhi said firmly: "Let the cabinet draft the decree based on what Li Qing's family said."

An excruciating cry sounded in the hall, and Yan Chengjin turned his head.

I saw Zhang Heling holding his head up, crying and rushing towards the pillar, and fell to the ground with a thud.

Everyone was confused.

Knowing that Zhang Heling had a lot of trouble, Emperor Hongzhi waved his hand and ordered Xiao Jing to drag him out.

Han Wen looked troubled and bowed: "Based on the annual tax on salt, the court has to pay a full 20 million taels of silver, but there is no remaining silver in the treasury to pay."

The imperial court wants to buy half of the salt in the world.

For a moment, the hall was silent.

Twenty million taels of silver were the summer tax for four years without food or drink.

Emperor Hongzhi sighed and took out all his money, but could not make up for it.

Even if I could make up for it, I wouldn't dare to transfer so much silver at once.

In order to prevent Tatar invasion, military pay is needed, and it will be attacked internally and externally.

The officials were overjoyed. Without money, they could not ban it.

At this moment, Yan Chengjin bowed slightly: "The Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce can pay, and I also ask the Ministry of Household Affairs to make an IOU."

Han Wen and Li Dongyang were on guard. How could this man be so kind?

Yan Chengjin continued: "The imperial court's sales of salt not only required transporting salt to the world, but also built salt-making workshops.

Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce has business all over the world, so why not let Liangxiang take care of it. "

Is that why you banned Shiohiki?

All the officials were furious. From now on, there will only be one Yanyin family left in the world.

I see.

"Your Majesty, no!"

"You really have ulterior motives!"

There was a sound of criticism in the hall.

Han Wen turned his head slightly and looked at Yan Chengjin: "The cost of transporting salt to all parts of the world is no less than 30% of the silver earned from selling salt. The farther you go, the more it will cost. How to calculate this amount of money?"

Yan Chengjin looked at Emperor Hongzhi: "I sincerely request your Majesty to order a 50-50 split between the imperial court and Liangxiang. These wastes will come from Liangxiang's 50%."

The average salt merchant can earn 40% of the silver after transporting the salt, which is an extremely high profit.

Yan Chengjin actually voluntarily lost money, only 50%?

The ministers thought it was strange that Yan Chengjin did not do loss-making business, but they could not figure out how to make money.

Li Dongyang and others looked thoughtful and quickly figured it out.

The money you make is earned at the banknote checkpoints. The bulk of the cost of transporting salt between shops is taxed when passing through the layers of banknote checkpoints.

Since it was sold by the imperial court, no taxes were levied.

"Your Majesty, the tax on selling salt is huge, and the Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce is just going to make it in vain?"

After Xie Qian gave some advice, all the officials suddenly realized.

Yan Chengjin bowed slightly: "Businessmen do not engage in loss-making transactions, and the profits are meager. Please allow your majesty."

Emperor Hongzhi pondered for a moment and had his own considerations: "Just follow what the Yan Qing family said!"

The amount of silver involved in Yan Yin was huge, and he believed that Yan Chengjin was too timid to be greedy.

It's safer to leave it to him than to send a eunuch to inspect it.

…

After getting off duty, he was escorted back to his house by Mou Bin.

Yan Chengjin ordered people to call Wang Busui: "In three days, we must collect 30 million taels of silver and give it to the court."

Wang Bu Sui blew on the tea and was so frightened that the tea cup fell to the ground: "Master, three thousand taels or thirty million taels?"

The difference between the two is like heaven and earth.

The wealthiest businessman in the world only has eight million taels of silver, which is equivalent to asking four such rich businessmen to spend all their money.

Yan Chengjin knew that Liangxiang's business gang could provide it.

Liangxiang operates many pillar industries such as silk, refined salt and antiques.

There are also drinks, auctions, rents for collapsed houses in the northwest, and all kinds of merchandise.

A small part of the money earned goes to the Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce to be divided up, and the majority goes to Liangxiang.

In the Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce's accounts, there were 10 million taels in circulation, and only he and Xie Yu knew about it.

"I've ordered you to do it even if you lose everything, so let's start with you."

Wang Busui cried: "Master, is there any benefit?"

"The salt sales business in the world will be managed by Liangxiang on behalf of the imperial court. The money owed to you will be converted into national debt and paid out after profits are made."

Sooner or later, this matter will be handed over to Wang Busui, and Yan Chengjin has no intention of keeping it secret.

"But... even if the gentry is willing to sell their land, they won't be able to raise so much money."

The summer tax of the imperial court is only five million taels, which is the tax of the whole world.

A chamber of commerce in Liangxiang just wants to spend 30 million taels? Even if you beat him to death, you won't be able to get it together.

Yan Chengjin came up with a backup plan: "Spread the news and tell Shanxi and Huizhou merchants that they can join the Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce within ten days. The more money you invest, the more you will get."

Without Yan Yin, salt merchants will definitely look for other businesses.

In fact, this is to send the silver they paid to join the Chamber of Commerce back to themselves.

Getting something for nothing.

Wang Bushui's face was stiff. You have thought about it a long time ago, right?

...

In the palace,

Emperor Hongzhi was waiting for news from Yan Chengjin.

Once the court issued an order, thousands of people would come to run for it. Without silver, how could he dare to issue an imperial decree.

"Has the silver of Yan Qing's family been collected?"

"It has not been paid to the Ministry of Revenue yet."

Thirty million taels of silver? All officials expressed doubts about Yan Chengjin's ability to raise money.

Emperor Hongzhi was worried that even when the court's treasury was at its fullest, there were still no thirty million taels of silver.

This is equivalent to putting two or three percent of the silver in the world into his pocket.

Is there so much silver?

At this time, Mou Bin rushed in: "Your Majesty, there are countless carriages outside the palace, full of silver!"

A moment later, Emperor Hongzhi and all officials came to the Meridian Gate, their eyes flickering.

A two-wheeled carriage loaded with four large boxes lined up from the beginning to the end of the street, no, it should be said that there was no end in sight.

No one had ever seen so much silver.

Yan Chengjin had never seen it before either. If it was laid out, it could go around the capital.

The gentry of the Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce sold their fields and land to collect a large sum of silver.

Including the silver transported back from Mangala, Yan Chengjin guessed that 20% of the silver in the Ming Dynasty was here.

"The Ministry of Revenue will count it?"

Han Wen was so excited that he could hardly control himself and murmured, "Okay...Okay."

The Wucheng Bingma Division and the Jinyiwei stepped forward, opened the wooden box, and took the carriage to the Beijing warehouse for counting.

All the officials looked at Yan Chengjin in a daze. You can actually collect 30 million taels.

Emperor Hongzhi asked in shock: "Where did Yan Qing's family get so much silver?"

"The Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce spent all its money and raised the proceeds from Shanxi merchants and Huizhou merchants."