Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Chapter 103 Disadvantages of the Salt Law
  Jia Cong was shocked. Yangzhou was so dangerous that even the people around him who patrolled the salt censor could not be safe. He quickly asked: "Can we find out who did it?"

Xu Qing shook his head and said: "After the incident, the people involved in the Yanyuan residence either disappeared or committed suicide. The clues have long been cut off, but there is no need to investigate this matter."

As he spoke, he pointed to the stack of name cards in front of Jia Cong and said: "Those who have the ability, courage, and motivation to do this cannot go beyond these eight families."

Jia Cong said: "As the saying goes, no harm can harm the family. What was the murderer's purpose in committing the crime?"

Xu Qingdao: "It's nothing more than a warning to Mr. Yanyuan not to push too hard on salt affairs. In fact, before the incident, there were threats such as flying stones and flying arrows to send letters. Mr. Lin is so loyal and loyal to the country, how can he accept it?" The gangsters threatened us, so the unspeakable things happened."

Jia Cong was furious, banged the case and stood up, saying: "Is it possible that there is no king's law? A few salt merchants dare to murder the relatives of important members of the imperial court. Are they going to rebel?"

Xu Qing hurriedly grabbed him and said in a low voice: "Third Master, please keep your voice down, and be careful that the walls have ears. This yamen is like a sieve for salt merchants. From the door, the clerk's office to the petty officials and officials in each hall and room, no one has taken it." Silver from the salt merchant’s filial piety.”

Jia Cong let out a deep breath, sat down angrily, and said, "Is there no way to cure them?"

Xu Qing smiled bitterly and said: "Salt merchants have been entrenched in Yangzhou for hundreds of years. They are deep-rooted and luxuriant. They are really iron-clad salt merchants and smooth salt officials. If there is a way, how can Mr. Lin survive until his family is ruined and his life is hanging by a thread? . Yangzhou is actually the Yangzhou of the salt merchants, not the Yangzhou of the imperial court."

Jia Cong frowned and said, "Sir, why do you need to enhance other people's ambitions and destroy your own prestige? My uncle is just trying to reform the salt law and increase salt classes, is that right?"

Xu Qing nodded: "The third master is talking about how to collect more salt lessons for the court."

“I once heard a wise man say that everything must have contradictions. You only need to identify the main contradictions and secondary contradictions, as well as the main and secondary aspects of the contradiction, grasp the key points, and prescribe the right medicine to solve the problem naturally. "

Jia Cong was a little dissatisfied. Later generations were able to complete such difficult reforms. In this era when monarchy was supreme and power was greater than law, how could they not change the salt law?

When Xu Qing heard this judgment for the first time, his heart was shaken, as if he was enlightened, and he murmured: "The main contradiction, the secondary contradiction, the main aspect and the secondary aspect of the contradiction..."

After staying for a long time, his eyes lit up and he said: "The third master's words are so inspiring! There is such a master in the world, who can express the sage's meaning of 'investigating things to gain knowledge' in one sentence! Listening to your words is worth ten years of reading."

Jia Cong smiled dryly and nodded. Of course you have never heard of such advanced theories.

"In this case, I will talk about the difficulties of salt administration and ask the third master for advice on what is the primary and what is secondary." Xu Qing said.

"You're welcome, sir. It doesn't hurt that we discuss the details together."

Xu Qingqing cleared his mind and said: "To talk about the difficulties of salt administration, the chief cause is the indiscriminate distribution of salt and the erosion of salt courses. In the land of Huaihe and Huaihe Rivers, all provincial governor's offices and state government offices do not want to profit from the salt industry. In addition to the salt quotas set by the Ministry of Household Affairs, salt quotations are also distributed without authorization. If the salt merchants do not buy them, they cannot sell salt here, so the salt merchants can only pay to subscribe."

"Secondly, there is collusion between officials and businessmen to falsely increase consumption. The local government entrusts the salt business to salt merchants, and the salt merchants cleverly create names in the supply, procurement, transportation and other links to inflate expenditures, resulting in huge losses to the salt class.

The eight major salt merchants had great eyes and hands, and had frequent contacts with many important ministers in the court. During his southern tour, the Supreme Emperor granted him the plaque of "Head of the Righteous Merchants". The old man of the Jiang family, a salt merchant, was even awarded the title of Guanglu Doctor by the Supreme Emperor, and was known as the "Head of the Righteous Merchants". Bu Yi was friends with the emperor, so the government turned a blind eye to the failure of the Salt Law. Matters involving the Salt Law were even more worrying. "

"Secondly, there are the eight major salt merchants who control the salt industry. The government has no idea how much salt they collect, how much salt they sell, how the price of salt is set, and how much it costs. They can only follow the salt quota approved by the Ministry of Household Affairs at the time of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The salt tax was charged for citations, but the Lianghuai Woben approved at that time was only 70 citations.

Little did they know that the current prosperity of the salt industry was long before the founding of the People's Republic of China. The salt output in the Huaihe River and Huaihe River areas has greatly increased, accounting for half of the country's total. The actual output has already reached more than 500 million yuan! The disparity is nothing more than a world of difference. "

Jia Cong secretly thought that the tax of 500 million yuan of salt was only 70 yuan. Even if the local government ate some, the difference was too much, and the people in the Ministry of Revenue were too damn irresponsible.

"Secondly, illegal salt is prevalent and banned repeatedly. Due to the system of monopoly merchants, many wealthy businessmen are unable to enter, and because they are greedy for the profits of the salt industry, they take risks, sell illegal salt, and gather green-skinned desperadoes to become salt lords. , often fighting with each other for territory and salt sources, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. What’s more, some of the eight major salt merchants are greedy and eat both black and white, making it even more difficult to control.”

"The above is what I have gained from working in salt industry for so many years. I wonder why the third master taught me?" Xu Qing took a sip of tea and looked at Jia Cong with a hopeful look on his face. Anyway, he couldn't solve these stubborn diseases. Yanyuan has no solution.

Jia Cong was confused after hearing this. None of these problems was not a big problem. If it were easy to solve, it would have been solved long ago, and it would not be left here until now. He was confused for a while, and he could not distinguish the priorities. Besides, He didn't know whether Xu Qing was a human or a ghost, so how could he tell the truth.

He said, "What you said really touches on the lifeblood of Yanwu. This matter is complicated and complicated. Cong still needs to think deeply. I'm sorry that I can't answer it at the moment."

Xu Qing showed an unexpected expression and said with a smile: "Third Master slowly thought about it. The lower official and Third Master hit it off immediately, so he spoke from the bottom of his heart. It was just a matter of talking when he was depressed. It takes a day to freeze three feet." Zhihan, how can these chronic diseases be solved in a short time?"

"Master Meng, let me tell you bluntly. If Cong has gained anything, I will ask for advice again." Jia Cong cupped his hands and said.

"You're welcome, Third Master. If Third Master is interested in discussing, I will accompany you at any time." Xu Qing is an old man in the officialdom. After thinking about it briefly, he knew that Jia Cong only said three words, and nodded secretly in his heart. Although Third Master Cong is old, Not big, but a bit concerned.

Jia Cong thought for a while, pointed to the stack of famous cards and said, "Tonight's banquet may not be that simple, but I need to ask for your advice."

Xu Qing smiled and said: "It's not complicated at all. First, they respect the third master as a nobleman of the sacred capital and Lord Lin's nephew. It is also their duty to fulfill the friendship of the landlord. Secondly, they must ask some questions about Lord Lin at the table. information."

Jia Cong said: "That's all? Then I'm too lazy to go."

Xu Qing said hurriedly: "How can you not go? This is a good opportunity to make a fortune."

When he heard about getting rich, Jia Cong became more interested and asked, "What do you mean?"

Xu Qing knew very well that Jia Cong was someone he valued today, and he came from a wealthy family, so he wanted to make friends with him, so he hurriedly explained: "None of these people have millions of dollars in wealth. Since I am inviting the third master to a banquet, how can I be empty-handed?"

At that time, the Third Master only needs to say a few cool words, tell them about Mr. Lin's improvement, and then vaguely reveal Mr. Lin's intention to reform the salt affairs. Are you afraid that those people will not be friends with you?

This is a good thing for picking up money for free. When the third master finishes his work and returns to Shenjing, they will not have to worry about the third master. "

Jia Cong was very happy to hear this, which was a good thing. With Lin Ruhai's banner, he could make a fortune.

"Cong, thank you for your advice."

Xu Qing said with a smile: "I only have to work for a few more years, so how dare I be thanked by Third Master? If Third Master doesn't mind, just call me Lao Xu."

Jia Cong also came up and said with a smile: "Then you and I will become brothers, how about it? This will prevent us from getting into trouble."

"If you don't give up, I will ask you to call me your worthy brother." Xu Qing said with a smile.

"That's what it's best for. I'll call you brother, and you'll be close to me."

The two laughed.

(End of this chapter)