Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 209 Isn't it a win-win situation? (Second update)

Tian Jing's pupils shrank slightly.

What Xia Zhibai said was completely beyond his expectations.

When he came, he was prepared to make things difficult for Xia Zhibai, but Xia Zhibai just glossed over it. Now he is even concerned about the follow-up, which made Tian Jing a little hesitant.

See this.

Xia Zhibai said calmly: "Judging from Deputy Tian Yun's appearance, he probably hasn't considered it."

"But I suggest that the salt transport bureaus in various places should give it more consideration."

"There are many stove owners in the world."

"Many of them are young and strong. So many people are unemployed, which has a significant impact on the world."

"Perhaps in the past, such things have happened from time to time in the world, but the present is different. In the past, it was not so sudden, let alone on such a large scale. This time it is almost a direct warning that hundreds of thousands of stove owners will become unemployed. Even if the local gentry can take in a certain number of people, there are still many stove owners whose livelihoods have been cut off."

"This incident was caused by the local salt transport bureau."

"If it causes local unrest, Deputy Tian Yun thinks that the local chief secretary will take the blame on himself?"

Hear the words.

Tian Jing's expression finally changed.

With Xia Zhibai's reminder, Tian Jing suddenly realized the hidden dangers behind the huge profits.

The local gentry and those meritorious families did not directly cause those problems. Even if there were problems in the local area, it would be difficult for the court to blame them. Moreover, many of them were related to local government offices and meritorious ministers of local origin, so at most they would be lifted up and let go.

But their Salt Transport Bureau is different.

They are the ones who led and promoted all of this.

At least in your majesty's opinion, this is their fault.

If there really was a riot in the area, and it was "man-made", their Salt Transport Bureau would certainly not be able to escape responsibility.

Tian Jing broke out in a cold sweat.

He forced a dry smile and consoled himself: "Is Grand Secretary exaggerating? The promotion of steam engines is certainly related to salt officials like me, but it is also led by the court. Moreover, this is meant to cater to the will of the emperor and aims to reduce the court's expenditure on stoves."

"Besides."

"The country has just been settled, and there are many things to be done. It is the time to hire people. Even if there are really hundreds of thousands of stove owners who lose their jobs, the economic situation in the south can probably absorb them, and it will not cause such a big turmoil. And I don't agree with the Grand Secretary's statement that there are more people in the south and fewer people in the north."

“In my opinion, both the north and the south are short of people.”

"Releasing these cooks from salt production will also help other industries, right?"

Tian Jing still had some doubts.

He felt that Xia Zhibai was worrying too much.

The Ming Dynasty has been established for more than one or two hundred years, so how could its population be this large?
It is true that the North has experienced war for a long time, but has the South also been through it?

The South is also short of people. If so many people are displaced, they will soon be taken away by other people. How could it cause unrest?

Xia Zhibai shook his head and said calmly, "Vice President Tian Yun, this is the shortsightedness of many people in the world. They can only see part of the world and cannot see the whole world. In your opinion, everything you said is very practical, but you overlooked one thing, which is the 'Guo Huan case' that just happened in the world."

"You are also one of the beneficiaries."

"Since you are the beneficiary, you should know what is really happening in the world."

"Under your Majesty's thunderous measures, the world's wealthy merchants, as well as local landlords and gentry, have all been brutally liquidated by the court. Except for some dignitaries who are still in office, and some gentry who have deep roots in the local area, most of them have been plundered by the court. There is no surplus food at home, how can they support their families?"

"What's more, we have to support hundreds of thousands of people?"

"You have not taken into account the actual situation in the world."

"The economy in the south is indeed developed, but now after a round of liquidation, people can barely make ends meet. Your sudden reform of the salt administration has indeed helped reduce the burden on the court, but at the same time, it has also brought a lot of trouble to the local areas."

"If it doesn't cause any trouble, it's fine. But if it does, you will be held responsible."

"And you overlooked one thing."

"Lianghuai used to be the territory of Zhang Shicheng. Zhang Shicheng started out as a salt merchant and was very lenient with salt production. After the Ming Dynasty unified the country, it suppressed the Lianghuai region, causing the originally rich salt production to decline a lot. What you did was to directly kick out his rice bowl."

"How could they not have resentment?"

"The South should indeed gradually promote steam engines, but this should be done after the South's economy has recovered, not when the South's economy is already depressed. Wouldn't this exacerbate the unrest and uncertainty in the region?"

After hearing what Xia Zhibai said, Tian Jing could no longer sit still.

His face turned even paler.

He finally realized that Xia Zhibai was not trying to scare him anymore, but was stating a fact.

The South is indeed not suitable at the moment.

Due to the deliberate suppression by the imperial court, the South did not have enough land to accommodate the cooks, and the original local handicraft industry could not absorb so many people. If so many people were released, once something went wrong, based on his understanding of local officials and the character of those meritorious officials, they would most likely put all the problems on them.

Think of this.

Tian Jing suddenly felt a chill on his back.

Then, he looked at Xia Zhibai, and looked at this smiling man with a bitter smile. He finally understood why Xia Zhibai was so fearless. He was afraid that he had anticipated all this, so he didn't care about the steam engine drawings being leaked at all.

Tian Jing said: "What exactly do you want to do?!"

Tian Jing's voice was trembling. Xia Zhibai sat casually and said slowly: "I just want to know who you represent this time, or who you can represent."

"What does this matter?" Tian Jing looked doubtful and his eyes were evasive.

Xia Zhibai said: "It's not critical, but it's useful."

"If you only represent the Zhili Salt Transport Bureau, even if I give you a solution, I'm afraid it will be of no use. If you also represent the attitudes of other salt transport bureaus in the south, then we can sit down and discuss it."

"If you only represent one individual, then you can go back and prepare for your funeral."

"Who do you represent now?"

Xia Zhibai looked at Tian Jing.

Tian Jing's eyes changed, his face twisted, and finally relaxed. He said, "I can represent other salt transport offices, but as for some of the great families in the southern literati circle and some of the children of meritorious officials, I cannot represent them."

Xia Zhibai smiled and said, "That's enough."

"The solution I have for you is very simple."

"I will help you absorb the extra salt households, but I want you to convince other salt transport offices to jointly write a petition to allow the court to change the household registration of the salt households and allow these salt households to find other places to go."

"That's impossible." Tian Jing refused directly.

"The Salt Transport Department does not have such great power, especially to change the household registration of the stove households. That is the business of the Ministry of Household Affairs. We have no right to interfere. Moreover, the local governor will definitely not agree to let these stove households find other places."

"Your suggestion is totally unacceptable."

Although their Salt Transport Bureau has greater authority than the local authorities, it does not have the ability to interfere in the local affairs.

Xia Zhibai said calmly: "This is not something that can be done, but something that must be done. With the promotion of steam engines, it is obviously not appropriate for stove households to be listed separately. Continuing to allow stove households to be listed separately in the household registration will only make their living environment more and more difficult."

“This is something that is very easy to promote.”

"As for asking the kitchen owner to find another place, it is indeed not easy."

"Population is always a core resource of a region. Population loss will certainly cause anxiety among local officials. But now these 'extra' people have become an unstable factor. Why not move them out?"

“Although it’s hard to persuade.”

"But I believe that as long as we appeal to their emotions and reason, the local chief secretary may agree."

"And as you said, there are many officials involved in the southern salt enterprises. If it really caused unrest in the local area, how many people can stay out of it after your Majesty investigates it thoroughly? These people are already involved, so it is impossible for them to stay out of it."

"With them acting as a matchmaker, it may not be impossible to do it."

"Besides."

"I will lobby your majesty as well."

"Later, I will bring out the new steam engine blueprints. Then, local salt companies will be able to make further progress. You can even take this opportunity to do the big fish eat the small fish and the small fish eat the shrimp. Take advantage of this 'great cause' to eat up some small salt companies."

"This way."

"Wouldn't it be bigger and stronger?"

"It's a win-win."

"You can solve the potential risks in the local area, eliminate dissidents, and completely control the salt enterprises in your own hands. You can also use this to increase your influence on the salt market, and I can use this to win more population for the north. Although it will offend some people, the benefits of the salt policy are so limited."

"Someone has to suffer."

"As long as the result is good, why not do it?"

“And the reason why I launched the steam engine is to change the way of doing business in the past.”

"We will promote large enterprises throughout the country and no longer let merchants take the lead."

Hearing Xia Zhibai's words, Tian Jing's heart moved.

This does seem to work.

There are indeed too many salt factories in the south now. If we can take the opportunity to "rectify" them, close some salt factories, and concentrate most of the steam engines in the hands of a few companies, I am afraid that not many people can refuse the benefits that this will bring.

Tian Jing frowned and thought deeply.

He was a little undecided for a moment.

He also couldn't guess what Xia Zhibai was thinking. What benefit would it bring to him if Xia Zhibai did this?
Normally, shouldn't Xia Zhibai be happy to see them in trouble? Why is he still giving them advice now?
Isn’t Xia Zhibai missing the salt market in the south?

Xia Zhibai sat upright, picking up food and eating, as if he was not worried about Tian Jing's choice at all.

He really wasn't that worried.

The benefits are exciting.

In the past, salt markets were scattered.

However, due to the huge efficiency of the steam engine, the salt markets in various parts of the south were gradually integrated. If they could go a step further and allow a few salt companies to control the local salt industry, this would be a big piece of fat meat for many officials, and they would be able to share a much greater amount of profits.

No need to share with others.

a long time.

Tian Jing gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, I'll try."

(End of this chapter)