As the largest salt field in the south of the Yangtze River, the Lianghuai Salt Field is home to more than 600 households of salt residents, which can almost form a small village. Less than five miles west of the Lianghuai Salt Field, a fort was built, and these people were stationed on the fort. A team of troops was stationed, firstly, to supervise the salt people making salt, and secondly, to prevent outsiders from entering.
After Su Xiaolou and his party rode horses over several hills, a silver-white tidal flat was divided into small squares of different sizes, spectacularly displayed in front of everyone, and further ahead was the blue water. , Su Xiaolou and his party galloped over, arriving at the Tunbao underground in less than a quarter of an hour.
As soon as everyone dismounted, some soldiers came forward impatiently to chase them away: "We can't afford the salt now, so hurry up and leave! Hurry up!"
Why bother to ask stubbornly: "I saw a lot of salt in it from a distance, how could there be no salt?"
"How come you salt merchants can't understand people's words? If the horse rider doesn't move, he will drag him down with ten sticks. You salt merchants are the only ones doing more business every day." The garrison soldiers threatened fiercely, and more garrison soldiers immediately surrounded them. Why bother looking at it with ill intentions.
The attitude of the small garrison troops was so arrogant. Why did they rebuke angrily: "How dare you abuse civilians? Who gave you the courage?" Who gave you the courage? Of course it’s the person above!
"I see you won't shed tears until you see the coffin. Hold him down and give me thirty big sticks before throwing him out." A group of soldiers came forward and before they even touched He Bi's clothes, they were hit by Zhen Dexiu with a Foshan Wu Wu. The shadow flew out with a kick. In an instant, the ground was filled with wailing. Why bother to take out the imperial envoy's waistband? The leading soldier was dumbfounded for a moment. His legs gave out and he knelt on the ground with a plop: "Sir, spare your life. I was ignorant and bumped into you. My lord, please spare my life.”
Why stand with your hands behind your back and spit out three words: "Open Tuen Mun!"
The leading soldier knelt on the ground, his body stiffened, and his eyes rolled around: "My lord and his party have come from a long way, and they are already exhausted. Let me prepare a table of good wine and food. Sir, you can go on a salt patrol after you have eaten." .” This is because I want to report the news.
The garrison soldier knelt on the ground, bared his big white teeth, and looked at He Biyi in a flattering manner, which made He Bii feel disgusted: "No, open the door, I will go to the salt field to have a look." After saying that, he got on his horse and ignored the leading garrison soldier.
The imperial envoy gave another order, and he could only bite the bullet and open the door. Why bother led the crowd towards the distant village. The leading garrison soldier quickly climbed onto his horse and followed humbly behind.
After getting closer, I discovered that in the village ahead, there was a big pot at the door of every house. At a glance, most of them were squatting in front of the stove with a middle-aged woman leading a few people, adding two handfuls of firewood from time to time. Of course, There are also many sick and elderly people. As for the men, they all rolled up their trouser legs and stepped on the beach to extract brine. Some people carried poles back and forth between the beach and the sea. Almost all the people working here were tanned and red, and their faces were full of fatigue. state.
Why bother asked about the method of making salt on a whim? The leader of the garrison stepped forward and talked non-stop: "This is how to make salt! It is simple to say that the salt people borrow water from the sea on their poles. , and then sprinkle the seawater evenly on the sand made by the volcanic sand on the seaside. After the seawater is almost splashed, start to dry it. After drying for more than an hour, the sand on the ground will dry, and a large amount of salt will adhere to the sand, and the surface will form Salt lumps mixed with sand will be scraped together by salt farmers with a plow and collected into wooden barrels. Then they will be thrown into a large pot, add a large amount of fresh water, and boil out all the salt in the sand. Like this." He nodded. It turned out that these women were boiling the salt in the sand.
"Then filter the salt water with gauze to get pure salt water. Finally, transfer the salt water to the sun salt pool. After the water evaporates, the coarse salt is ready." Several people walked to the sun salt pool, and the sun was scorching the earth. Everyone couldn't open their eyes because the strong light was reflected by the salt in the salt pool. Su Xiaolou walked in and saw that the salt was not pure white as usual, but slightly yellowish and had larger particles.
Su Xiaolou suddenly heard someone making a sound of "poof". Su Xiaolou looked around. His face was paralyzed and a mask of pain appeared on his face. There was always one particularly curious person among a group of people. This child seemed to be from a wealthy family. , I have never seen coarse salt. It would be a pity not to take a photo of such a memorable moment and laugh at him later. It is a pity that I don’t have a mobile phone.
"Sir, this is not edible. This coarse salt tastes bitter and needs to be purified before it can be eaten as fine salt." The technology for purifying fine salt in the Ming Dynasty was relatively mature. If this was done before the Ming Dynasty, Su Xiaolou would Relying on the technology of refining coarse salt, you can make a lot of money.
Seeing everyone turning to look at him, Bao Bao was embarrassed for a moment and angrily scolded the leader of the garrison: "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" The garrison looked aggrieved, but you didn't even ask! Besides, who is a good person who grabs salt and fills his mouth.
"Can't eat it?" Why bother sighing: "Poor people in remote places can't even eat low-priced coarse salt now, so they can only eat saltpeter with crystals on the stones in their latrines. They can only eat slightly better ones. Earth salt is just a handful of soil mixed into the vegetables.”
Why look at the busy fishermen? They are dressed in patched coarse linen clothes. They are all skinny but still have to lift the poles that have been bent by the sea water. The salt industry in Jiangnan relies on this group of hard-working people. The pole, pot after pot, was supported every drop of sweat and tear.
Lu Datong was also shocked. He had always despised his father for being useless. He had never cared about his father's government affairs, and he was not willing to engage in salt affairs. He only dreamed of the golden guards showing off their power in front of hundreds of officials.
Why bother asking: "How much monthly salary can these salt people receive every month for working so hard to cook salt?"
The eyes of the garrison soldiers were full of contempt: "These salt people stay here almost all year round, and they can't spend any money. As long as they make the prescribed fine salt, each person can receive three measures of food per month, which is enough for food and clothing."
"Enough for food and clothing?" Why Biyun asked with anger: "Why are all the salt people here so skinny and ragged, and even the houses they live in are dilapidated?"
"this……"
The garrison was choked by He Bi's words and was speechless for a moment.
Why continue to press and ask: "I will ask you again, do they really receive three measures of food every month?"
The garrison soldiers were so frightened that they knelt on the ground and nodded repeatedly: "Sir, as long as you are not lazy and slippery, three buckets of food per month will definitely be enough. Otherwise, if these salt people starve to death, you can recruit new salt people." The salt production technology is immature and we cannot produce so much salt every month, which is also troublesome for us.”
Su Xiaolou felt that although the garrison soldiers were disgusting, what they said was indeed reasonable, but why did he not believe what these watchdogs said? He walked up to a man carrying a pole to collect salt and sand, and asked: "Brother, what are you doing every day?" Can I receive three measures of food per month? Is the food at home enough?"
The little brother put down the pole to see why, and looked to the right at the garrison soldiers. There was obvious fear in his eyes. He tilted his head to the left sluggishly. When he wanted to tilt to the right, he started nodding again, then picked up the pole and started working in a hurry. went.
