Borrow the day to change the day

() "Ministers and workers, you have two lists of the current output and price of salt in various places in Daming, the amount of grain required in each place, and the price of grain. Quota, as well as the grading reward standard for salt workers, and the ratio of exchanging grain for salt in China and France. These are related to the success or failure of the new salt policy, and I hope to discuss it wholeheartedly." Emperor Chongzhen sincerely asked his subordinates.

As far as the specific numbers are concerned, it has a lot to do with these transfer envoys.They didn't speak for a while, and the first and second leaders from various places discussed carefully.

Zhang Tongchang was beside them, listening to their discussions with sad faces, he couldn't help but secretly despise them.

After waiting for a while, Emperor Chongzhen estimated that the time was almost up, so he signaled for the chief minister of the cabinet.

As a result, Wen Tiren left the shift, turned to face his colleagues and said, "Now we will start to discuss the first item, the production of salt, which will be reported by the transshipment envoys and salt departments from various places, and all colleagues will revise it."

After Wen Tiren finished speaking, he turned to the supervisor of rites and gave a slight signal.

Cao Huachun ordered several eunuchs around him to prepare pen and ink, one to record the conclusion, and the other to record the details of the proposals of the ministers present.

Zhong Jinwei didn't read these two investigation reports beforehand, so he read them carefully at this time.However, he wasn't ready to speak.Even with these two reports, he still doesn't understand the real life of the people of Ming Dynasty, so it's not good to be wrong.

Wen Tiren waited for a while, and there was no transfer envoy and salt class to speak, so he called the roll directly.The person whose name was called had no choice but to report the negotiated number, and the others secretly revised their own numbers after hearing this.

The Ministry of Households had already estimated in advance, and once the number reported was seriously low, Bi Ziyan analyzed the number of salt workers, the amount of salt owed, and the amount of salt needed in the area under his jurisdiction, and shared it with everyone in the hall. Listen, let them revise the number again.

On the one hand, it was because what Bi Ziyan said was well-founded, and on the other hand, Bi Ziyan was their boss, so the people in the salt administration had to revise their numbers.

Bi Ziyan didn't let them go until they were about to cry.

Cabinet members and other ministers also made occasional remarks, but the protagonist was Bi Ziyan.It's not that they don't want to speak, but that Bi Ziyan behaved very differently from before.

In the past, everyone talked in general terms, and they could find loopholes to refute whatever they said.Now that we have prepared the actual data, we can talk about the data. Those who have not prepared in advance can only rely on this number and cannot make other opinions.

Besides, the new salt policy didn't have a great impact on them. The wealth of the big salt merchants had already made them jealous.Now that the interests of these salt merchants have been damaged, but the cost of using salt can be reduced, which is beneficial to the people and has a good reputation, naturally there will be fewer voices deliberately opposing it.

The person in charge of ceremonies was quickly recording. Cao Huachun knew that Emperor Chongzhen attached great importance to it. He personally walked to the eunuch who recorded it, and verified the content of the record while listening.

Zhou Yanru's forehead was sweating, but he couldn't affect the development of the matter at all, he could only be anxious.

The meeting was going on, Emperor Chongzhen saw the progress of the matter, everything was proceeding according to the plan, and he let go of a stone in his heart.

This salt policy reform is the most critical step in the one-stop plan.Relief to places in urgent need of food will greatly ease the plight of the court.

When the meeting went to the prices and sales areas of salt quotations in various places, it caused a lot of discussions.The interests of all parties naturally have a game, and the conclusion can only be reached after a balance is finally reached.

Zhou Yanru also took the opportunity to participate in this aspect, and won some benefits for the Lianghuai big salt merchants, so that they would not suffer too much loss.

The meeting lasted for a long time, and after all the discussions were over, it was already sunset.

Emperor Chongzhen asked Cao Huachun to read all the results of the discussions to the officials to confirm that they were correct.

Then, he raised his voice and said loudly: "I attach great importance to this matter of salt administration, and I hope that all the officials will pay attention and not neglect it."

After an afternoon of discussion, the ministers lost their spirits. When Emperor Chongzhen said, they had no choice but to express their opinion that they must do a good job in this matter.

Seeing their appearance, Emperor Chongzhen was not very relieved, so he said: "In order to ensure the smooth implementation of the salt policy, a national patrol salt censor is specially set up to supervise the output of salt and the exchange of salt imports in various places."

When the officials in the palace heard it, the whole country patrols the salt censor, this position has great power, I don't know if the emperor has already chosen someone.If not, you have to quickly recommend your own person.

Just as the civil servants were expecting, Emperor Chongzhen said, "Where is Zhang Tongchang?"

When Emperor Chongzhen said that he would set up a national tour salt censor, Zhang Tongchang already understood the purpose of calling himself to participate in the salt administration, but he didn't understand why he was chosen.

At this time, when Emperor Chongzhen called him, he hurried forward a few steps, bowed and answered Emperor Chongzhen: "The minister is here."

Emperor Chongzhen looked at the young man in front of him. He was about five feet three inches tall. He was not tall, but his whole personality was imposing, giving people a feeling of vigor.

Emperor Chongzhen's first impression of Zhang Tongchang was very good. He said: "The chief minister recommended you to me as the national censor of salt inspection. Share your worries, will you supervise the implementation of the new salt policy for me?"

When Zhang Tongchang heard that the emperor and the first assistant valued him so much, he also said that he had the style of his great-grandfather. He became agitated, his face turned red, and he bowed to Emperor Chongzhen: "I will never fail your majesty. There is one who does his best and dies."

Zhong Jinwei was also looking at Zhang Tongchang, seeing that a young guy also used this famous saying, he couldn't help being a little dumbfounded.

Zhou Yanru saw that the situation was not right, and went out to play again: "Your Majesty, I think Zhang Tongchang is too young and inexperienced, and I am afraid that he is not good enough to take on the important task of patrolling the salt and censor of the whole country..."

Zhou Yanru originally wanted to say that it would be more appropriate for him to be in charge, and it also seemed that the court valued it.Unexpectedly, before he could say it, Wen Tiren said: "Aren't you so young that you have become a cabinet minister? Young people, have the drive, and the new Yanzheng needs young people like Zhang Tongchang to come out to do things for Your Majesty is concerned."

Emperor Chongzhen responded with a smile on it: "Shoufu is right. You are all young and promising people. I still expect you to inject vitality into the officialdom of Daming, so that Daming can reproduce the customs of the early days of the founding of the country."

Zhou Yanru was helpless. He used to be proud of joining the cabinet at a young age, but now it has become an obstacle preventing him from achieving his goal.

After seeing Zhou Yanru return to his original position, Emperor Chongzhen said to Zhang Tongchang: "The job of patrolling salt censors across the country will be very hard and there will be many difficulties. You must be mentally prepared."

"I understand." Zhang Tongchang said while puffing out his chest, showing his fearlessness.

"When you are inspecting various places, if you encounter fluctuations in salt prices in various places and unreasonable rewards for salt workers, you can adjust it according to the actual situation. The range should not be too large, and you should report it to the court." Emperor Chongzhen authorized it again.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"What Zhou Qing said just now makes sense. After all, you are young, but there must be no mistakes in the salt administration. I asked Dongchang to pay attention to the salt administration in various places at the same time, just in case."

Zhang Tongchang naturally has no objections, he has confidence in himself.

But those transfer envoys and Yanke promotions were complaining in their hearts. They were very uncomfortable when they had an extra inspector to supervise them, but now they had a terrifying Dongchang supervisor, and they were even more distressed. They couldn't help but He gritted his teeth with hatred for Zhou Yanru who was involved in the East Factory, he would die if he didn't talk too much!

They didn't know that even if Zhou Yanru didn't say anything, Emperor Chongzhen would eventually let Dongchang participate.As soon as Zhou Yanru took the lead, he followed suit and arranged Dongchang, which was disliked by the officials, into it openly.

The meeting is here, it's almost over.The officials withdrew from the Wenhua Palace and hurried back to arrange their own affairs.Zhou Yanru hurried back to tell Liao Bin about the situation, and asked him to go back and explain the situation.And other officials with mental activities also sent their cronies to go to places where banknotes are concentrated to buy them in a big way to earn the difference.

You must know that due to the insufficient production of salt in many warehouse banknotes, the holders may have changed for several generations, and the salt has not been exchanged for Yinyin.As for the large salt merchants who are related to the exchange of salt, they can’t exchange all the banknotes in their hands, and they are not willing to exchange more, because if they exchange more, they will have to pay more taxes. It is better to exchange some and add some private salt. It's more affordable to sell.Therefore, the warehouse banknotes have been falling, almost into waste paper.

Now the imperial court is determined to increase production and exchange all warehouse notes.Therefore, buying Cangchao at a low price and replacing it with Yanyin can make a lot of money.Not many officials were not tempted, and rushed to buy them one after another.