Zhangtai Palace.
Wang Wan stood in the middle of the hall, looking respectfully at Ying Zheng on the high platform, feeling a little anxious in his heart.
Having just come out of Xianyang Prison, he didn't even bother to change into court clothes, so he came directly to see Ying Zheng.
After telling His Majesty all about the "money robbery", His Majesty has remained silent until now, with no expression on his face, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.
After a while, Ying Zheng slowly raised his head and asked calmly: "Do you think this is okay?"
Wang Wan thought of Ran Fang's words, bowed forward and replied: "Your Majesty, I think this can be done."
"Salt and iron monopoly can not only control the production and sales of salt industry, but also control the price of salt. The imperial court will definitely gain a lot."
"People are powerless if they don't eat salt. Salt is a necessity of life, but today one stone of salt costs one hundred yuan, which is much higher than the price of food. There are 20 million people in the world. How big a benefit is this?"
"If the court controls salt, even if the price is reduced by half, it will be a huge benefit to the court."
"Now that the world is exhausted, Ran Fang's method can not only increase the wealth of the national treasury, but also reduce the burden of the people in disguise. It is definitely a thing that benefits the country and the people."
"This is what truly benefits the people and reduces their burdens."
After listening to Wang Wan's words, Ying Zheng looked at him with a somewhat obscure look. From the tone of his voice, he could also tell that this was what Ran Fang said.
However, Ying Zheng had a question. He asked in a deep voice: "Why control the salt industry instead of letting the court take over directly?"
Hearing this, Wang Wan's heart sank. Thinking of what Ran Fang said, he didn't even dare to raise his head and look into Ying Zheng's eyes.
Just now in prison, he asked Ran Fang the same question, and Ran Fang replied: "With such great interests in front of you, who wouldn't be tempted?"
"With your Majesty's character, there is no problem, but who can guarantee that all future monarchs will understand justice as well as your Majesty and put the interests of the people first?"
"When the time comes and the people are pushed into a place of injustice, who will make the decision for the people?"
"Besides, what the imperial court has to do is to manage the world, and merchants are the ones doing business, and they can't do anything for them."
"The most important thing is that the way to govern a country cannot be to put profits first and turn the court into a tool for making money. The country will be destroyed sooner or later."
"The imperial court only sent people to supervise and collect money, and let the vendors do the transportation and sales. The imperial court only needs to set the price, which saves trouble and maximizes profits."
After Ran Fang finished speaking, Wang Wan also expressed his opinion: "Nowadays, affairs in the government and the Central Government are busy. If more manpower and material resources are invested in the production of salt and iron, I am afraid that we will not be able to take care of both."
After listening to Wang Wanzhi's words, his expression flashed with embarrassment. In fact, he had just been tempted by the salt and iron monopoly. As Ran Fang said, the benefits were too great.
With such huge interests in front of you, who can not be tempted?
Unexpectedly, Ran Fang had already thought of this.
Ying Zheng didn't think there was anything wrong with Ran Fang's method.
All he sees in Ying Zheng’s eyes is the millions of years of the Qin Dynasty!
If someone wants to destroy his Great Qin, he won't let it go, even his own son!
"In your opinion, how should we do this?"
He said he was asking Wang Wan, but he was actually asking Ran Fang for his opinion.
Wang Wan also knew this truth. He thought for a while and said: "The imperial court only needs to control the salt ponds and other places, and strictly prohibit private production of salt by the private sector. Violators will be punished with treason!"
"But private people who produce salt can be hired, and these people must be managed and supervised by the court."
"The produced salt is then handed over to the imperial court to merchants who can sell salt. They sell it on their own, but the price must be controlled by the imperial court. If someone breaks the rules, they can be directly punished or even imprisoned."
"At the same time, these merchants also have to collect taxes, and in order to ensure the supply of salt to the people at the bottom, government-owned salt shops should be set up in various places to prevent salt merchants from hiding from the superiors and bullying the inferiors."
"It would be best to come up with a policy to declare the world's monopoly on salt and iron. In this way, even if someone wants to fish in troubled waters, they have to weigh the harshness of Qin's laws."
In fact, when he said this, Wang Wan was also beating a drum in his heart. This was the method given by Ran Fang, but after hearing this, he was even more shocked.
He even doubted in his heart whether this approach could be implemented?
But since His Majesty asked, he had to say it.
After saying that, he quietly waited for His Majesty's answer.
Ying Zheng's eyes flashed. He didn't expect Ran Fang to see the problem so thoroughly and think of all the details. In this way, even if the salt was not monopolized by the court, it was still completely controlled by the court.
Not only did it protect the interests of the people, but it also squeezed out the value of the merchants.
"Yes, this matter will be handled as you say."
"Invite Zhang Han and Li Si to enter the palace."
Zhao Gao had been standing beside Ying Zheng. After hearing this, he immediately bowed down and went to publicize the decree.
It wasn't until he walked out of the palace that he said to the young eunuch guarding the door: "Go and declare Zhang Han and Li Si to enter the palace."
Then he lowered his voice and said, "Tell Prime Minister Li Si that the salt and iron matter needs to be changed."
The little eunuch glanced at Zhao Gao, nodded and ran out of the palace.
In the palace, Wang Wan was not surprised by His Majesty's decision.
Zhang Han now holds the position of Shaofu, and he manages the special financial revenue of the court and the royal handicraft industry. It can be said that it is the emperor's private palace.
Moreover, he has won the trust of His Majesty, so it is most appropriate for him to do this.
After a while, Li Si and Zhang Han, dressed in official uniforms, arrived at Zhangtai Palace.
The two of them stood in the middle of the hall, bowed to Ying Zheng and said, "I'll see you, Your Majesty."
Ying Zheng nodded, which was regarded as a response.
After the ceremony, Li Si took the initiative and asked, "Your Majesty is in a hurry to recruit ministers to enter the palace. Why?"
Ying Zheng glanced at Wang Wan, and Wang Wan immediately understood. After handing over to Ying Zheng, he repeated what he had just discussed with His Majesty.
Li Si had just heard what the little eunuch said, and he was only slightly surprised, but not too shaken.
However, he also knew that Ran Fang must have brought up this matter, but he did not expect that His Majesty would let Zhang Han take charge of the matter.
Zhang Han, who heard this for the first time, couldn't take back the shocked expression on his face. He thought that His Majesty asked him to come here just for some small matter, but he didn't expect it to be such a big matter.
Although he has always been responsible for handling matters around His Majesty, he is only responsible for His Majesty's affairs. He never goes to court, and he never participates in major affairs of the court. This is the first time he is sent by His Majesty.
He knelt on the ground with a bang, not knowing what to say.
Wang Wan understood his reaction very well. After all, when she just heard it, her reaction was not much different from his, but she was more calm and couldn't tell.
After a few seconds, Zhang Han said in a deep voice: "I will obey the order and will not betray His Majesty's trust."
When Zhang Han stood up, Li Si stepped forward and bowed: "Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance. If those merchants are unwilling and arouse their resistance, I am afraid it will be detrimental to the Qin Dynasty."
"I think this matter should be discussed in the long term."
"His Majesty King Cai just said that we need to legislate first. It is better to wait for Qin Law and then send Lord Zhang to handle the matter. This will also convince those merchants."
Ying Zheng frowned slightly. In his opinion, this matter cannot be delayed, and the sooner the better.
But what Li Si said makes sense. Those wealthy businessmen are not stupid, and it is not that simple to take profits from them.
I'm afraid this matter won't go smoothly.
Everyone standing in the hall felt Ying Zheng's pressure, their hearts trembled, and no one dared to speak.
"You will be responsible for Qin Law, and I will make my own decisions on other matters."
"The others go out, Zhang Han stays."
List paused for a moment, but he didn't expect His Majesty to be wary of him now.
In this case, he couldn't say anything, so he could only bow and reply: "Here."
