Chen Hua was also surprised and stunned, because the Fujian Salt Division was invaded by Japanese pirates. In recent years, the brine ponds have been abandoned more and more, and most of the kitchen workers have been scattered.
In his memory, the situation in the previous Fujian Salt Division was not so extreme.
Unexpectedly, in Lianghuai, all kinds of monsters and monsters exploited the kitchen workers so fiercely.
Chen Hua looked grim and said in a heavy voice: "I never thought that everyone's life would be so hard!"
Lao Zheng shook his head: "This is nothing. There is a strange phenomenon in our Lianghuai Salt Farm. The salt merchants who use diversion roots to transport salt, unless they have a profound background, cannot get the salt at all, and we all work hard to dry it." The salt cannot be sold!”
Chen Hua asked in surprise: "Why is this?"
Old Zheng said: "Dou Ma Tong and the others do not allow us to sell official salt. We sell private salt for them, the salt farm gentlemen, every day!"
Xu He thought for a while and understood the reason. The demand for official salt was obviously very high. The merchants who prepared to carry out salt according to the Kaizhong method could not get the salt, but people like Dou Matong did not sell official salt. This was Because official salt has to pay taxes, the superiors are pressing hard, and they say that the amount of salt is limited. Anyway, everyone from top to bottom is bribed, and no one will take care of it.
The remaining brine ponds and manpower are all invested in private salt. Private salt is their industry. Every point they make is pocketed and they don't have to pay taxes. Why not do it.
Moreover, according to his estimation, Lao Zhengtou and other kitchen workers don't actually want to show their official reputation, because most of the tax revenue will be passed on to them in the end.
Illegal salt has been banned by the imperial court in all dynasties, and even selling illegal salt is punishable by beheading. But even in the Wei Dynasty, this illicit salt has become a secret, and even the emperor and ministers want to share a cup. Geng, do you think this world can be free from chaos?
Xu He understood the truth, and so did Chen Hua, an official born in Zao. He frowned and said, "Then you can't support yourself by doing private business? You can sell it directly to merchants!"
In addition to the managers of the salt farm, the cook and his family, there is also a group of people named Zuishang.
They are professionals sent by major salt merchants to collect salt in the salt fields, and those who sell salt are called merchants.
Zuishang is responsible for collecting salt at the salt farm. What Chen Hua means is, why don't we sell salt directly to Zuishang and then directly bargain with Zuishang for the maximum benefit?
Old Zhengtou said sadly and angrily: "We, the cooks, have to pay not only for firewood, brine pool, kitchen room, and water, but also to sell the salt to the cook!"
"What?" Chen Hua was shocked, "What will happen if I don't sell?"
"Not selling?" Wang Zhu'er sneered and said, "Isn't Brother Ding a ready-made example? There are only a few men in his family, and there are also few people working. Aunt Ding is blind, and Juan'er is still young and can only help. His family lived a hard life while lighting fires, so Brother Ding secretly sold the salt to the merchants. Those people did not dare to offend the merchants, so they tortured Brother Ding. The old thief Dou took a fancy to Juan'er and even If we want Juaner to pay off the debt, what do we owe them? Why?"
After saying that, he pulled off Ding Erxiao's shirt. Immediately, Chen Hua and Xu He saw new wounds covering old wounds on Ding Erxiao's body. There was almost no good flesh on his body, which was simply shocking.
Chen Hua couldn't bear it any longer and slapped his hand on the table: "It's so heartless and crazy for the sake of wealth!"
After understanding the basic situation of the salt farm cooks, things turned back to the cause of the outbreak.
Xu He saw that it would be too late if he didn't show his attitude, so he said: "Let me tell you the ins and outs of this matter!"
He brought the eunuch You Xiao to Xu Dai and asked him to tell the truth about using the influence of the Xu family to gather private friends. Of course, he only claimed that it was the eunuch You Xiao's idea and did not find out the person behind it.
Chen Hua gave him a meaningful look. Xu He had already told him these things before. With his head, how could he not have thought that You Xiao was actually the shadow of Emperor Zhizheng? But as a minister, what should he say? You can't say anything, Xu He knows it, and he knows it too.
Wang Zhu'er became angry when he heard this. He pointed at Xu He's nose and cursed: "It's you people, it's you people who are drinking our Zao Ding's blood and eating our Zao Ding's meat. You actually have the nerve to show up here." Here, if Brother Ding hadn't stopped me, I would have torn you alive right now!"
Old Zhengtou heard this and scolded: "Zhu'er, don't speak yet. Let Mr. Xu speak first!"
Xu He bowed deeply and bowed to Lao Zhengtou, Wang Zhuer, and everyone present.
He said in a deep voice: "Actually, our Xu family has very different opinions on this matter. My eldest uncle and I are both opposed to this matter. I even discussed it with County Magistrate Chen before this matter broke out. If you don't believe me, everyone will ask him !”
Everyone looked at Chen Hua, who nodded solemnly.
Xu He continued: "But I am not here to shirk responsibility today. I want to tell you something!"
"First, our Xu family must try our best to prevent everyone from suffering from weapons again!"
At this time, someone sneered: "It's just you? Or is it your Xu family? The Xu family doesn't even have an official now, why should the imperial court not send troops?"
Xu He looked at the man and saw that the man was standing behind Wang Zhuer. He was obviously the impulsive member of the group.
Xu He smiled: "You may not know that my name is Xu He. I am the general magistrate of Yangzhou, that is, the student of Li Zhijie, the former magistrate of Hailing County. When the bandits invaded the city, I was rewarded by the imperial edict for my merits in defeating the bandits. Crown uniform! And I am very familiar with Mr. Zhang Jingxian of Huaiyang Haiphong Road. When I went to Yangzhou to take the government examination, it was Mr. Zhang who sent me there with his own soldiers on the Japanese preparedness ship of the Haiphong Road Yamen! "
There is too much information in this passage. The Zao Ding present probably has never heard of official positions such as general magistrate or Haiphong Road.
But this does not prevent them from realizing it.
First of all, this little boy actually received the imperial edict and was praised by the emperor. This alone is staggering.
This is someone whom His Majesty the Emperor values!
Maybe his words and deeds represent the emperor's wishes? Or, he can write directly to His Majesty the Emperor?
In this way, wouldn’t everyone’s suffering, sins, and huge grievances be heard directly by God?
Thinking of this, they couldn't help but look at Xu He with admiration.
Seeing this, Xu He struck while the iron was hot: "The second point is, the reason why I asked everyone to let Chen County Zun go first is because I know Chen County Zun very well. He is a good official who hates evil and prays for the people. With such a good Officer, why don’t we ask him to write down our grievances in a memorial and send it to heaven for hearing?”
When Chen Hua heard this, he almost spit out a mouthful of blood. Damn it, once this memorial is published, he will be fighting against the emperor, the prince, the king of Qi, the chief minister and the second minister of the cabinet.
Damn it, I want to go back to the water prison and rest quietly, is that okay?
