The dim winter brings a bleak temperament to everything it envelopes, giving people the contradictory perception of a lightless day. The gradually cold wind wandered unscrupulously among the empty palace buildings. It seemed that it couldn't stand the fragrant conservatory, and it relentlessly tried to break through the defenses of the Han Palace through the eaves and doors.
"It's winter again!" Emperor Liu stood on the palace gate of the imperial city, boldly and relaxedly feeling the blowing of the winter wind, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and he let out a profound sigh.
Everyone who is familiar with Emperor Liu knows that he has begun to enter that inexplicable state again. His face is expressionless, but his gloomy eyes contain some complicated and unspeakable meanings, which seem to be sad or distressed. He was immersed in his own world and kept away from strangers. No one dared to disturb his melancholy and lonely atmosphere.
Outside the imperial city, as far as the eye can see, there is the Luoshui River that never abandons day and night, with three river bridges stretching over it, making it a spectacular sight. Looking further ahead, you can see the wide sky street that extends beyond the horizon. Although the street trees have become bleak, they are still straight and extend to the south.
The roads have not become deserted because of the arrival of winter. There are no interruptions in the number of carriages and horses, but both humans and animals seem to maintain an attitude of awe. This is the Street of Heaven, leading to the imperial city and the most powerful place of the Han Dynasty. On the smooth road to the peak, stepping onto this royal street feels like you are under great pressure, as if you can feel the eyes of the man standing at the pinnacle of power.
Of course, at this moment, Emperor Liu was staring at the scene outside the imperial city. Compared with Tokyo, the urban layout of Luoyang has not undergone fundamental changes. Even though it has been completely renewed, it still has an ancient flavor. It is inappropriate to describe it as late. Perhaps it can also be called the heritage, the heritage of the ancient capital of China.
"How is the public opinion in Beijing these days, and what's new?" After a long time, Emperor Liu spoke.
Generally, Emperor Liu would ask Zhang Dejun about this kind of question. Zhang Dejun also bowed and stood in the position of a follower. After hearing the question, he immediately replied selectively: "The Kaifeng Prefecture ordered the closure of five official salt shops. It is said that the remaining ones will also be closed gradually. Only a few large salt stacks are reserved for backup control!”
"Zhao Kuangyi moved very quickly!" Emperor Liu sighed: "How is the public sentiment? Is there still so much resentment?"
Zhang Dejun said respectfully: "After the price of salt has stabilized, public sentiment has eased, resentments have been relieved, and people are at peace!"
"Are you saying this to comfort me?" Emperor Liu turned his head and looked at Zhang Dejun.
Zhang Dejun said solemnly: "How dare you, a young man, to deceive the officials? If the officials have any questions, they can go out of the palace to inspect and inquire in person!"
Seeing this, Emperor Liu withdrew his gaze and returned to his serious look.
After some deliberation, the Financial Secretary finally came up with a set of supplementary measures to address the increasingly turbulent public opinion regarding the rising salt prices caused by the salt production reform.
Under the leadership of Prince Liu Yang and the assistance of prime ministers Wang Pu and Shen Yilun, new salt price management methods were implemented. Xijing still responded the most quickly and timely under the imperial policy.
The measures promulgated by the Financial Secretary mainly include two points.
First, the Yantie Yamen set a price limit for salt and used administrative orders to limit its crazy and disorderly rise. This is an official guidance price, and there are many aspects to consider, such as salt production, road distance, ease of transportation, economic level of various places, etc. It also satisfies the interests of the court's finances and taxation and circulation merchants, and keeps the salt price at a relative balance. level.
This price is set once every three years unless there are special circumstances. It is mainly divided into road-level administrative districts, and each road sets a price ceiling. This is not entirely reasonable. After all, even within a single district, there are great differences between places. But at least under the Tao-level administration, a unified price limit is controlled. Originally, there was consideration for more detailed control, but the actual conditions did not allow it at all.
The second is to think about the salt itself, continue to improve salt production technology and maintain production, and at the same time, strengthen the construction of salt warehouses in various places to maintain a certain amount of reserves for regulation.
Focusing on these two concepts, the Financial Secretary quickly introduced measures. Taking Xijing as an example, the price of salt in Gyeonggi Province was limited to 45 cents per capital. At the same time, the price of salt from the imperial salt field and salt mines also dropped to 20-25 cents.
Previously, there was an increase of 5 cents. When it is so expensive for salt merchants to get salt from the salt field, you can imagine what will happen when it is reflected in the specific salt price.
At the same time, the Xijing government also took out 100,000 rock salt from the official warehouse and put it into the market. The price immediately fell.
In fact, Xijing's cargo throughput is definitely not lacking in salt. It is just driven by interests. After an irrational growth, all parties in the interest chain also acted and jointly catalyzed the growth.
The fact that the court had ignored the situation before did not mean that it really did not care. When specific and powerful policies and measures were introduced, it also gave a warning to all stakeholders, so they all calmed down and began to operate under the guidance of the court. Those who are not calm and blinded by interests will have the door of their own prison open.
After such rectification, at least the price of salt in Luoyang has really stabilized. In the short and medium term, it will be fixed at 45 cents per bucket.
The public sentiment has also calmed down from the impetuousness. Although it has not dropped much compared to before, it has at least curbed the rising trend.
Previously, what caused panic and triggered public outrage was that prices rose too fast and too crazy, with no stopping trend in sight. Most people are ignorant and often have a certain fear of unknown things.
What's more, the older generation has experienced the horrific salt prices in the country's early years. You know, in the early years of the founding of the People's Republic of China, a bucket of salt in the capital cost about 200 yuan. In severe times, it even cost 300 yuan.
At that time, the country was just founded, the economy was stagnant, and there was a serious shortage of material supplies, including the supply of salt. Coupled with the chaos of the monetary system, all kinds of miscellaneous money and bad money were abundant. In addition, it was impossible for the court to keep running. The salt tax was a huge benefit.
At that time, the people's lives were really in dire straits, and they encountered greedy and cruel exploitation. Although the economic order was re-established under Emperor Liu's severe rectification, the high price of salt still lasted for several years. Although it was not as crazy as two or three hundred coins, it was not comparable to the low price later.
It was not until the imperial court captured Huainan and seized the Jiangbei Salt Fields from the Southern Tang Dynasty, coupled with the construction of salt fields along the eastern coast and the restoration and development of the Hedong Salt Ponds, that the production of salt increased and the common people of the Han Dynasty truly enjoyed affordable salt.
As the country moved toward unification, the economy experienced rapid and stable development, and salt production experienced explosive growth. Under Emperor Liu's instructions, the Han Dynasty had only maintained extremely low prices for more than ten years. This is the result of administrative intervention and benefits the people.
Although this salt reform has caused some problems, in the eyes of some Financial Secretary officials, it is a process of returning to normal.
In the past, the imperial court maintained a low salt price. The costs of producing, transporting, and selling salt accumulated, causing the imperial court to operate at a loss. At the same time, it inevitably exploited salt workers and salt people in various places.
The imperial court, which had always been a rich tax source, could no longer bring revenue to the imperial court. Although it benefited the people all over the world, this situation was abnormal, let alone an empire like the Han Dynasty. This also makes the Salt and Iron Envoys under the Financial Secretary somewhat unworthy of their name.
Previously, some people even suggested that the salt tax in the Tang Dynasty brought half the benefits to the world. This was used as an example to express dissatisfaction with the current salt production of the court.
Although the two are not comparable, they can also reflect some problems. Therefore, the salt reform is not just a means of raising money because of the national treasury deficit. Even if there are not so many stakeholders, there are still many people who want to promote the reform.
At present, the annual salt production of salt fields and salt mines in various parts of the Han Dynasty is about 7 million guan. Even based on the increased salt price, the court's revenue from salt tax is less than 2 million guan. This is certainly not a small amount. The amount is small, but compared with the overall finances of the imperial court, it is nothing.
At the same time, according to the method of collecting the two taxes of the Han Dynasty, when the salt tax, commercial tax and other taxes are more abundant, the tax amount on land income can naturally be more relaxed, and the benefits can also benefit the people.
Of course, this is only an ideal state. The imperial court is facing financial difficulties, and various expenditures continue to increase. It is benevolent and good governance to avoid increasing taxes. It is equally difficult to reduce taxes, especially in the main tax.
