As soon as Zhang Yue's words came out, everyone present fell into deep thought.
What does it mean that businesses that are beneficial to the country but not beneficial to the people belong to the country?
What is a government-supervised commercial office?
Even Cai Xiang, the third envoy, and Fan Shidao, the deputy envoy of Yantie, also showed doubts. Zhang Yue had not discussed this matter with them in advance.
This is also Zhang Yue's risk, because if the matter is raised in the Third Division, then the process must be followed. First, it must be discussed in the Salt and Iron Division,
Deputy envoys Fan Shidao, Gou Yuan Diao Yue, Cai Kang, Lu Dafang, and Zhang Yue discussed the matter in a small area and then reported it to Cai Xiang.
After Cai Xiang considered it, he reported it to the court. As a woman in power, Empress Dowager Cao would generally be more cautious and would probably reject or ignore it. Even if she ignored it, she would still have to submit it to the Zhongshu for discussion and the Admonition Council would also put forward its opinions.
Nine of the ten proposals below were worn out in this process, and even the final ones could easily be changed beyond recognition.
Zhang Yuezhi was worried about this, so he ignored the matter and just waited for such an opportunity.
Now that the Third Secretary, Zhongshu, the Queen Mother, and the official family were all present, and the Queen Mother showed her appreciation for him, the atmosphere of the meeting was so good at this time. If Zhang Yue let this opportunity pass, he would really miss a good opportunity.
What was immature was that he did not discuss matters with Cai Xiang and Fan Shidao beforehand. This matter is a big taboo for the boss.
But at this time, the only choice is the lesser of the two powers.
Zhang Yue said: "This matter is just the humble opinion of a lower official. It was not discussed with the Third Secretary Envoy and the Deputy Envoy Yantie beforehand. I just raised it when the Empress Dowager asked about it."
When Zhang Yue said this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, because if Cai Xiang, Fan Shidao and other officials from the three departments had discussed it carefully, they would have studied it carefully. But Zhang Yue said that he was just a small third-division judge.
Han Qi asked Cai Xiang and Fan Shidao, "Is that so?"
Cai Xiang and Fan Shidao both nodded and said: "The Third Division has not discussed it."
Empress Dowager Cao smiled and said: "Then let's use bricks to attract jade. According to what I see, whether it is brick or jade must be discussed? Otherwise, who knows who is brick and jade? I remember when the late emperor was there, it was often said that Cai Qing and Ou Qing were the most important. Geng Qie speaks out and has nothing to hide from the Lord."
Cai Xiang, Ouyang Xiu, Bao Zheng, etc. are officials who like to be direct and admonishing.
As the superiors, the late emperor and Empress Dowager Cao feared most that the officials below were monolithic. The officials above suppressed the officials below and were not allowed to speak, so they expressed their encouragement to Zhang Yue's "throwing out ideas".
Han Qi didn't look displeased when he saw Cai Xiang, knowing that he was a gentleman of upright character, not to mention that it was Zhang Yue who was asked by the Empress Dowager on his own initiative, not by Zhang Yue on his own initiative.
Han Qi said: "The Queen Mother is a sage, since it is a public discussion, then we should have a clear path of speech and speak frankly in front of the Queen Mother's officials. What do you think?"
The Prime Minister and the three ministers were all present, and the discussion was in front of the emperor, not behind closed doors. Empress Dowager Cao also expressed her appreciation for Zhang Yue. No matter what she said next, she would at least see a change in the Empress Dowager's attitude.
All the big men in purple robes were thinking about how to speak. Zhang Yue and Fan Shidao stood aside.
But when he saw Zeng Gongliang sitting under Han Qi, he said: "The imperial court has good intentions in setting up a Jiaoyinpu under the Duyan Courtyard. It allows the three divisions to exercise the power of salt money at a low price, and the benefits derived from it are returned to the imperial court."
"But is it suspected of competing with the people for profit? In ancient times, those who were given a salary would not live up to their abilities, and they would not settle for the end. Those who have received the big should not take the small! Is it okay for the imperial court to intervene in business? It remains to be discussed by the government and the public. ."
Zeng Gongliang gave an answer that could advance or retreat. First, he affirmed the Empress Dowager's appreciation of Zhang Yue. He also pointed out euphemistically that the imperial court enjoyed tax revenue and did not get involved in profit-making matters, which meant that it did not compete with the people for profits.
Ouyang Xiudao: "Resolving salt official issues has long been in the interests of the people. It is done at the end, and the one who accepts the big one should choose the small one. As for the Jiaoyinpu under the capital salt courtyard, if the method of official supervision and business management is used, the country will get it. It’s profitable, and it doesn’t infringe on civil rights, so it’s very good.”
Ouyang Xiu praised Zhang Yue unconditionally.
Zhao Gaidao said: "I think the country will benefit from it, but it will not infringe on the civil rights. This is also the state not competing for benefits with the people."
Zhao Gai always speaks concisely and concisely, and it can be said that the lady must hit the mark without saying anything.
Zhang Yue saw Han Qi nodding almost invisible. Ouyang Xiudao: "What's more, the court is the people, and the benefits that go to the court also go to the people. In my opinion, it is for the benefit of the people? As for the important thing, it is a word of struggle. The benefits go to the court and do not infringe on the civil society."
After several prime ministers spoke, it was Cai Xiang's turn.
Cai Xiang was disgusted with Xue Xiangna and other Shaanxi Transportation Department's practice of making a lot of money themselves, filling their pockets, and finally dumping all the empty money on the Third Department. However, he also understood that Empress Dowager Cao did not care about the dispute between the Third Division and the Shaanxi Transportation Division. She was only concerned about the price of salt in Bianjing.
Cai Xiang made a long speech focusing on official business: "What is the official supervision of commercial affairs? Since the Shaanxi Yunsi and the Third Division are jointly responsible for this matter, why let businessmen take shares and use the capital, profit and credit of the imperial court to make them bigger. Even There is no need to set up a new yamen under Duyanyuan, which would be like overlapping bed and frame buildings. It can be directly assigned to the Salt and Iron Department. It is better to handle this matter directly with Duyanyuan."
…
"Although what Judge Zhang said was not well thought out, I have been thinking about the fastest way to lower the price of salt in Bianjing. As long as the Shaanxi Transportation Bureau is willing to issue salt banknotes, our Third Division can discuss it with them, but the Shaanxi Transportation Division and the Third Division They are all official offices of the imperial court, so there is no need for businessmen to get involved."
Fan Shidao said cautiously: "I agree with the Third Secretary's opinion!"
Zhang Yue hesitated that Cai Xiang meant to achieve full control of the imperial court. This was inconsistent with his original intention. In that case, it was not an official-supervised commercial operation, but an official-supervised official operation.
That would be out of shape.
In front of the boss, Zhang Yue is not qualified to intervene, let alone any proposal, and the boss will not change you beyond recognition, so you are not called a boss.
After everyone talked for a while, it was Han Qi's turn.
Han Qi said: "Everything will be successful if it is forewarned, and it will be ruined if it is not forewarned. It seems that Judge Zhang's words were not spoken in a hurry, but after careful consideration. I think we can do it for the time being. Let's lower the price of salt first and then look at the rest. What does the Empress Dowager think?"
Han Qi also regarded this as an expedient measure.
Zhang Yue could only sigh in his heart, when will life be happy?
The Queen Mother said: "When I was in the harem, I often heard that the late emperor was worried about the country and the people. Now I only know the difficulties of state affairs by listening to the words of several ministers. I shouldn't be too involved in the affairs of the court, but the late emperor entrusted me with it..."
Hearing that Empress Dowager Cao was a little choked up in her words, all the ministers said: "I would like to ask Empress Dowager to express my condolences."
Empress Dowager Cao said: "I heard that the rich prime minister will be dismissed immediately?"
Han Qi said: "That's true."
The Empress Dowager said: "That's good. Several of the princes have the final say in state affairs, so I can rest assured. What you said in this chapter is about setting up an exchange shop in the Salt Courtyard. I heard that although it does not seem to be a perfect solution, as long as the price of salt can be lowered, Come down and you can discuss it."
Everyone immediately retreated.
Walking out of the Rouyi Hall, I saw Han Qi thinking about the Queen Mother's instructions, and it seemed that Fu Bi wanted to withdraw the curtain and return to power when he returned to the court...
Thinking of this, Han Qi stopped and said to Cai Xiang: "If the salt banknotes from the Shaanxi Transportation Department are not enough, if we get to the Capital Salt Institute, can the salt banknotes be reduced to less than ten guan?"
Cai Xiang said: "Yes!"
Han Qi nodded and left immediately.
Zhang Yue and Fan Shidao followed Cai Xiang and left.
Zhang Yue couldn't help but said to Cai Xiang: "Provincial Lord, if the affairs of Jiaoyinpu are not handled by officials and supervised by merchants, I'm afraid it will be difficult to compete with the hundreds of Jiaoyinpu in the capital. How can you get used to it if you are an official? business?"
Cai Xiang said: "That's okay. You brought this up, and the Queen Mother personally approved it, so I'll leave it to you!"
"Subordinate?"
"You are the official who patrols the salt case in the capital, and the salt court in the capital should be under your jurisdiction! I just heard what Mr. Han said. As long as the price of salt can be reduced to less than ten guan, the rest of the department will cooperate with you. But Zhang If the judge gets stabbed in the future, can he show it to me first?"
Zhang Yue couldn't help but be shocked when he heard this.
After Cai Xiang left, Fan Shidao said to Zhang Yue: "The provincial governor is very generous. Since you have proposed this matter to the Queen Mother, you can handle it yourself without coming to the office to report it to me. If something goes wrong, don't come to me!"
After Cai Xiang and Fan Shidao, the look of embarrassment on Zhang Yue's face disappeared, and he became relaxed.
He once had an idea, if the Green Crops Law was implemented by the Rural Commercial Bank... If the Farmland Water Conservancy Law was implemented by a certain bureau... If the Market Change Law was implemented by...
He once wrote these thoughts in a letter to Wang Anshi...
At that time, he believed that Wang Anshi would definitely understand him and be able to understand him... In the end, he didn't even look at him, and fell into my trap. My heart was towards the bright moon, but the bright moon shone in the ditch.
After you make your own suggestions, you can win...
However, history tells us that what we want must be achieved step by step by ourselves. If officials and supervisors fail to manage business affairs, it would be the same if they could personally take charge.
After hearing that Zhang Yue had completed the matter, Xue Xiang's son Xue Shaopeng gave him 100,000 salt notes without saying a word. Zhang Yue also said that the other party bargained with him on this matter, but he did not expect Xue Shaopeng to be so forthcoming.
Xue Shaopeng told himself frankly that he was not optimistic that he could handle this matter from the beginning, but Zhang Yue was able to do it, which shows that he has the qualifications.
So Zhang Yue and Xue Shaopeng discussed the distribution of equity in the cross-border trade. The three companies still invested 200,000 guan before, and the proceeds from the salt purchase increased to 230,000 guan. As for the 100,000 seats of the Shaanxi Salt Transportation Division, they were calculated as five guan per seat. Make five hundred thousand strings.
Finally, Xue Shaopeng and Zhang Yue discussed and accumulated a total of 80,000 shares.
The Shaanxi Salt Transportation Division has 60,000 shares, the Third Division has 25,000 shares, and the remaining 5,000 shares will be used as dividends for the management of Jiaoyinpu. However, the shares only represent dividends, and the appointment of management personnel must go through the Salt and Iron Division.
After Zhang Yue reported the matter to Cai Xiang, Cai Xiang agreed without thinking.
In Cai Xiang's opinion, this is a temporary measure. After the price of salt recovers, it will not be a matter of a word to abolish it.
As for Han Qi, he was thinking about stabilizing the price of salt and how to get the Queen Mother to withdraw the curtain. For a while, no one paid much attention to this matter, which would have far-reaching consequences in the future.
As a result, a plaque announcing the salt exchange was hung at the Yamen of Duyanyuan. It was Zhang Yue's decision to change the name of Jiaoyinpu to Jiaoyinsuo.
The plaque was ignored for a while.
But the official document on the other side was seen by everyone who used money to buy salt banknotes.
It says 'Salt banknotes will be sold tomorrow' in big characters!
For a while, the merchants in Bianjing were shocked. The salt banknotes were finally sold by Duyanyuan.
