Wang Xijue did not answer Wang Wu in a hurry, but looked at the thin horses who were singing and dancing in front of him and taking off their gold-threaded clothes one by one, while gently pressing the arrow wounds on their faces with his hands.
"Mr. Ge, the salt merchants call this dance the Gold Stripping Dance. From a distance, the dance looks like pieces of gold foil peeling off to reveal real jade, hence the name."
"This is the method that Fan Xiaolian of the salt merchant Fan Mansion came up with. The concubines in his mansion happen to be all thin horses, so they are all offered now to make amends for you. If you like it, please give me a reward." If you want advice, you can go to Fan Mansion."
Zhen Yingsheng spoke up for Wang Xijue at this time.
At this time, Fan Shanjun just stood up and said with a flattering smile: "Let Mr. Ge laugh. Mr. Ge belongs to a wealthy family in Taicang. He has never seen anything."
Wang Xijue just smiled slightly.
As soon as he entered Yangzhou, he was amazed by the pomp of the salt merchants. Needless to say, the richness of delicacies from mountains and seas. The most important thing is that the houses and carriages are magnificent, and over-the-counter regulations can be seen everywhere. Even the horses used are much better than those of the military guards. The war horse is even better.
It's hard not to wonder if it was bought secretly from Taipus Temple at a high price.
Moreover, even "thin horses" are still raised in large numbers, and many of them are Han women who are recorded in the yellow books, and the prices are even clearly marked.
It was obvious that the imperial edict prohibiting Han women from selling themselves or being bought and sold became a piece of paper here.
What these salt merchants gave the court a little face was that they did not let these Han women sell directly in brothels, but sold them in the salt merchants' own homes. They did not say that they were selling, but only said that they were dedicated daughters.
Smell the fragrance of powder and look at the white jade.
Wang Xijue sighed: "Which official can withstand such a test after entering Yangzhou City?"
Finished.
Only then did Wang Xijue pick up the gift list directly in front of the table.
When Wang Xijue opened it, he saw that there were thousands of taels of silver, thousands of acres of fertile farmland, and hundreds of beautiful maids inside. There were so many gifts as if they were ordinary gifts, and they were so dazzling that he felt dazzled. He suddenly felt that these gifts were nothing more than sand. Generally, taking one or two for yourself should be considered very clean.
But Wang Xijue still has some determination.
After all, he doesn't lack these at home either.
Therefore, Wang Xijue only glanced at Wang Wu and said with a smile: "What are you keeping? If I keep these, can my ruined face recover quickly? I'm afraid that if the appearance is restored, my reputation will be ruined!"
Snapped!
Wang Xijue slapped the table as he spoke: "Do you really think that even an official can't stand such a test? They are just pickled things that will not be taken to life or to death!"
Wang Wu raised his hands and said yes.
Wang Xijue then looked at Fan Shanjun and others: "I'm waiting for you to give me an explanation!"
Afterwards, Wang Xijue left here.
"This is all a good thing you have done!"
Zhen Yingsong also said a word, then got up and left here.
Fan Shanjun, Ye Shanzong and other salt merchants were not in a panic at this time.
Fan Shanjun even asked calmly: "Do you think that Wang Ge is always pretending to be honest, or does he think we give him too little?"
"No matter what the situation is, since he wants to give an explanation, we will give him an explanation!"
"Each family will take another five hundred thousand taels of silver dollars, collect tens of millions of property, thousands of family members, thousands of hectares of land, and thousands of houses, and then give it to those families who are responsible for the crime, and then let the court Is it okay to copy these talkback guys?"
Ye Shanzong said nonchalantly at this time.
Fan Shanjun said: "Don't have too many, otherwise you will be easily targeted."
"Very true!"
Other salt merchants echoed.
After hearing this, Ye Shanzong stood up and said, "Then I will go see some officials in Yangzhou and discuss with them. We will quickly collect money and slaves."
Fan Shanjun and the salt merchants nodded.
On this day, just as Wang Xijue was about to leave Yangzhou early, he saw three salt merchants, Han Weiyue, Li Yuwen, and Ling Yunzheng, each of whom tied up dozens of young men with gorgeous clothes and faces as fair as girls and knelt in front of Wang Xijue.
"How is this going?"
Wang Xijue asked about Wang Wu.
Wang Wu replied: "They are here to plead guilty. They said that those who rode their horses against the ceremonial guard that day and shot the master and the guards with arrows were their children. Today, they specially escorted their own children to surrender and plead guilty."
"The student's inability to discipline his children has led to them causing such a big disaster. The student and the whole family are willing to plead guilty and face the law!"
At this time, Han Weiyao said something first.
Li Yuwen also followed: "It's all because of the students who are usually busy with business and neglect to discipline them. Instead, they are spoiled by the women at home and do not know the rules of the king. As a result, they have caused such a big disaster. Now I come to the pavilion." I surrender myself to plead guilty!"
Then, Ling Yunzheng also asked for punishment.
Wang Xijue looked at these people and did indeed see several familiar faces among the kneeling people.
"Why are there not Fan, Ye and other salt merchants who came to apologize?"
Wang Xijue asked.
Wang Wu replied: "It may have nothing to do with them."
"It seems like their tutors are better than these ones."
"Let the Chinese army Zhang Zhenchen take them into custody and confiscate the property and servants first, and then wait for His Majesty's disposal."
Wang Xijue gave instructions as he spoke, and then left Yangzhou City.
…
"His Majesty!"
As soon as he arrived in Nandu, Wang Xijue met Zhu Yijun first.
Zhu Yijun asked: "What's wrong with your face?"
Wang Xijue hurriedly told the reason.
After hearing this, Zhu Yijun's face sank, he smiled scornfully, and said: "It's really bold. There is a time when businessmen are not afraid of officials."
"Your Majesty, this only shows that officials have become businessmen, and businessmen have become officials."
Li Chengliang replied at this time.
Zhu Yijun looked at Wang Xijue: "I have to seek justice for you, and also to save face for the court. The dignified second minister was almost shot to death in broad daylight! I really don't know if this Yangzhou is still my Yangzhou!" "
"Your Majesty, calm down!"
At this time, Wang Xijue gave Zhu Yijun some advice and said:
"They have already given an explanation to the imperial court. Three salt merchants, Han, Li, and Ling, took the initiative to come to plead guilty to me. I have ordered their homes to be ransacked."
"This is an explanation, not justice."
Zhu Yijun replied.
Wang Xijue said: "Your Majesty is aware that there is no absolute justice in the world! This matter is naturally caused by the Yangzhou salt merchants who are against the imperial court, but it is impossible for the imperial court to confiscate all the salt merchants and exterminate their families just because a few salt merchants committed crimes. After all, the imperial court Not a bandit."
"You mean, just let this matter go?"
Zhu Yijun asked.
Wang Xijue cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, this matter can only be forgotten. Not to mention that I was only injured, even if I was killed by them, this matter can only be forgotten. After all, the salt is in their hands."
"Who said the salt is in their hands?"
Zhu Yijun asked.
Wang Xijue raised his head and glanced at Zhu Yijun: "What do you mean, Your Majesty?"
"Let me ask you, can you buy salt if you have money?"
Zhu Yijun asked.
Wang Xijue nodded: "Yes!"
Zhu Yijun asked again: "Can I grab the salt with a knife?"
Wang Xijue replied: "Yes!"
"What if you have a knife and money?"
Zhu Yijun asked.
Wang Xijue raised his head sharply.
"Your Majesty wants to shed a river of blood?!"
Shen Li on the side asked urgently.
Zhu Yijun did not answer Shen Li, but asked the ministers:
"I ask you again, now that the imperial court does not rely on the salt industry to support its army, does it still need salt merchants?"
"Of course you don't need it!"
"If the imperial court is not willing to make a certain profit, then no one in the world will want to make it either!"
Wang Lin replied at this time.
Seeing this, Shen Yiguan realized that he could no longer stand on the dry shore and let Shen Li and Wang Lin make faster progress than him, so he hurriedly said: "Your Majesty is wise!"
When Wang Lin, who was about to continue talking, saw this, he had to shut up and wait for Shen Guanyi to finish.
Shen Yiguan continued to elaborate: "In the opinion of a foolish minister, if the court does not use anything that can control the people for profit, then others cannot use it for profit either!"
"Otherwise, there will only be a country without a country, and a people without the people!"
"I believe that the Zaohu salt field in the world should be taken over immediately and become state-owned! The imperial court directly sets up a national commercial house to hire salt collectors to make salt, and then the imperial court and government agencies at all levels set up government-run commercial firms to sell it."
"All merchants can register with the government and obtain permission from the government to sell salt from the government-run salt bank. However, the government and government-run salt shops at all levels do not sell directly. They are only responsible for transporting salt and wholesale sales. Merchants selling salt have purchase and price restrictions. .”
"Only small traders are willing to buy salt and sell it. After all, after the purchase and price restrictions, the profit is meager. For the wealthy businessmen, it is not enough to work hard, but for the small traders, it can support their families! Such groceries on the street Small shops and small taverns in the countryside can also sell salt."
When Shen Guanyi said this, he raised his hand and said: "Your Majesty, there is no shortage of salt in the world. Whether it is well salt or sea salt, our court has already made it. If it is not possible, we can build another salt field overseas. Therefore, as long as the court does not seek its own benefits, If we don’t let the powerful and powerful officials pursue their own interests and only focus on benefiting the people, then the salt will be just like ordinary rice and noodles, and there is no need to take risks for it by private traders and thefts.”
"Shen Qing talked the most today. He seems to have been well prepared and organized. He agrees with me."
Zhu Yijun said something at this time.
Shen Yiguan took out the memorial he had already drafted from his sleeve: "I dare not hide it from Your Majesty. I have long wanted to manage the salt administration, so I drafted the memorial. I intend to wait until Your Majesty goes to Yangzhou to personally inspect the salt administration before submitting it to you. Your Majesty visited Yangzhou, but it is a pity that your Majesty was unable to go to Yangzhou, and now that the elder came back from Yangzhou and mentioned the abomination of the salt merchants, and your Majesty also mentioned the salt policy, I boldly presented the memorial."
Wang Lin glanced at Shen Yiguan in astonishment, his eyes filled with fire.
Afterwards, Wang Lin turned to Zhu Yijun and said, "Your Majesty! The great uncle copied Chen's ideas. What he played today is exactly the salt policy reform method that I mentioned to him when I was appreciating the plum blossoms in the snow a few days ago!"
"Your Majesty, I didn't copy it, it's just that I and Otsuka Zai coincided with each other!"
Shen Yiguan replied very calmly at this time.
Wang Lin looked at Shen Yiguan with raised eyebrows: "This is the imperial court, please don't make fun of me!"
Shen Yiguan looked at Ye Xianggao: "Your Majesty, my disciple Ye Xianggao can testify for me."
Ye Xianggao said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, I have never heard Enfu say this, but I just mentioned it to Enfu."
On the spot, the room suddenly became quieter.
Li Chengliang and Liu Wei glanced at each other, and then whispered to Liu Wei: "You must be careful in your words and deeds in the court, otherwise, your good ideas will be copied."
"Did Shen Yin County copy other people's ideas?"
Liu Wei asked.
Li Chengliang rolled his eyes at Liu Wei: "Is this important?"
(End of chapter)
