The matter of the salt and iron monopoly had already spread throughout the Qin Dynasty, but at that time it was only targeted at the land of Old Qin, and the other merchants felt that this matter would not fall on them.
But no one expected that just a short time after arriving, Ying Zheng's decree would be issued, requiring all salt and iron merchants in Daqin to hand over their properties and implement the salt and iron monopoly policy.
In order to make these people obey the order, Ying Zheng also ordered the four major salt merchants of Qin Dynasty to send people to Xianyang to discuss the matter.
For a time, all the merchants commented on the matter and discussed how it would end.
After all, everyone knows that those merchants cannot easily hand over the "treasure pot" in their hands.
The four major salt merchants in Da Qin, the Zi family, the Rong family, the Li family and the Miao family also received the news.
The land of Old Qi is a holy land for salt production, and the Li family and the Miao family are both located in Qi. In order to show fairness, these people gathered in Langya County to discuss how to deal with this matter.
At this moment, in a magnificent courtyard, a group of people were sitting there. Some of them had neither sadness nor joy on their faces, and their emotions could not be seen.
Some people looked embarrassed and seemed to be very worried about the development of this matter.
Others seemed very calm and didn't care about these things at all, and were observing the situation of the other people with great interest.
"You guys, today is for discussion, why are you all silent?"
The speaker was Miao Yutang, the current leader of the Miao family. Although he was young, he was very capable. Since he took power, the Miao family's business has grown bigger and bigger.
This time, he also gathered everyone here because he wanted to unite others to fight against Great Qin's decree.
After saying that, he stood up and looked at Rong Ming, the Rong family member sitting next to him.
"Master Rong, I heard that you have a close personal relationship with the official in Xianyang City. Can you tell me whether there is room for change in this matter?"
Rong Ming, who was named, had a sad face, but now he was even more embarrassed.
He glanced at Miao Yutang, sighed deeply and said, "This matter... I'm afraid it's a little difficult to handle."
"There is news that the imperial court has made up its mind this time, and it is His Majesty's close confidant Zhang Han who is in charge of this matter. This person is quite capable. In the past few days, he has begun to investigate the power of various families."
"It was his suggestion to call me to Xianyang this time."
"Moreover, several officials who secretly communicated with me were imprisoned in Xianyang Prison."
"I always feel that His Majesty seems to have discovered something, so I have never dared to contact him again. I don't know what the situation is in Xianyang City today."
Rongming didn't know about Zhao Gao's slander of officials in the DPRK. He only knew that some officials were imprisoned just after someone informed him about the salt and iron monopoly.
Therefore, he thought of this, and when the news about His Majesty was confirmed this time, he was even more sure of what he was thinking.
His eyes were full of worry. He hesitated for a moment and then said: "I thought that this salt and iron sale was just for me and other salt merchants."
Miao Yutang didn't quite believe what he said, and even had a look of disdain in his eyes.
What he despises the most is a soft person like Rong Ming. Since he is in business, he must be tougher to fight for him, otherwise the Miao family will not be able to be the top of the four major salt merchants.
But now looking at Rong Ming's appearance, he even intends to kick Rong Ming out of the four major salt merchants and steal his business!
However, this is just what he is thinking about now, and he has not yet decided whether to do it or not.
After all, there is still Da Qin's decree here, so let's resolve this matter first.
"In your opinion, do you want to give up the profitable business in your hands?"
"If you ask me, the court just wants money, then each of our families will hand over part of their family property to the court, solve the current urgent needs of the court, and then we can buy the business in our hands."
"What do you think?"
No one said anything this time. After all, if the court was to be satisfied with the family property, it must be all of the family property, or more than 90% of the family property.
But this is all what they worked hard for. Who would be willing to hand it over like this?
That's more painful than cutting flesh!
Seeing that no one spoke, Miao Yutang continued: "I advise everyone, don't lose the big for the small."
"The current situation is unclear, and the imperial court only invited us to discuss it, so the initiative is still in our hands."
"But if we enter Xianyang City, no matter whether we want it or not, this matter must have an outcome. As for whether the outcome is good or bad, it is not something we can decide."
"I invite you all to come here this time because I want to discuss it together and use your family property to repay your safety."
The profound meaning of his words was not great, but they fell into everyone's heart.
No one is willing to give up their things. This time they are willing to come here to discuss together, just because they want to find a perfect solution.
But the result was still the same, and they felt a little reluctant.
After thinking for a moment, Rong Ming took the lead and said, "It would be great if I could use my family property to exchange for some temporary peace."
"But I'm worried that the court's attitude is unclear now. If their intentions are wrong, how should we respond?"
"Not for money?" Li Gaoyi, who was sitting there calmly, also spoke. He was not the head of the Li family, but he was the next head of the family.
This time the Li family sent him here, firstly to make friends with the merchants, and secondly to test him.
If he could keep the Li family, no one would have any objection to him being the head of the family.
Otherwise, he would either lose the Li family or lose his position as the head of the family.
"As the head of the Rong family says, does this court still want my life?!"
"In my opinion, this is just a bluff by the imperial court."
"As we all know, today's Qin Dynasty is different from the past. Taxes have increased year after year, and killings have become more and more frequent. People everywhere are complaining, and the court has no choice but to target the merchants."
"So, the imperial court just wants to scare us, and then like Master Miao, spend money to avoid disasters, in order to achieve their goals."
"And what the family heads are doing is not just salt. I know that the Miao family has secretly hoarded a lot of grain and fields."
"If the family property is given away, is this also a way for the Miao family to save their lives?"
The expression on Miao Yutang's face did not change at all, and he did not feel any displeasure because of Li Gaoyi's words.
"It's just to save your life, and I think everyone here is the same."
"Now that the world is exhausted and the old nobles everywhere are ready to stir up trouble, it will only be a matter of time before chaos breaks out in the world. Don't you think so?"
As he spoke, he glanced at everyone present.
No one refuted, because they all saw through this essence, and everyone had their own little calculations.
Seeing them like this, Miao Yutang had a wild smile on his face.
"You are only thinking about how to protect your own industry. Have you ever thought about why the imperial court has a monopoly on salt and iron?"
Rong Ming answered naturally: "For money."
"good."
Miao Yutang nodded, and then said: "But the imperial court has always paid taxes, why should it touch the merchants' money?"
Everyone was stunned, not understanding what he meant.
After a while, Miao Yutang said, "This shows that taxes are no longer sufficient for the court's expenditure."
"In other words, there is no more money to collect from taxes!"
