The so-called brine purification method of mineral salt is a big concept.
Purification methods vary widely from company to company.
This salt-making method can produce such high-quality salt, how can it be casually shown or disclosed to others?
"I would like to ask again, how much salt can your salt mine produce every day?"
This is a more professional inquiry.
Lu Yingping wanted to determine whether it could be produced on a large scale.
It was only started in the first year of Yongle. For some reason, Mei Chen, the prefect of Huai'an Prefecture, suddenly increased the amount of salt collected.
They actually asked the Salt Transportation Bureau to collect an additional 10,000 stones of refined salt in a short period of time in addition to the usual purchases.
Isn't this difficult?
The Jiangnan coastal area, especially Huai'an Prefecture, was the main salt production area in the Ming Dynasty.
Production has only been so much over the years.
Where can I find so much salt?
I don't know if it was the imperial court's request or the magistrate Mei's own head-scratching.
But even if an official notice is posted, it won't be of much use.
How can making salt be so simple?
Indeed, there was a newly opened salt store outside that brought salt.
But the so-called salt is of terrible quality.
It is rough and contains many impurities, and is bitter and poisonous.
If it were the past, it would never be accepted.
But these are extraordinary times.
You can only collect it and mix it with salt to make up the number.
And their Salt Transportation Bureau used both hard and soft tactics to force the salt households under the jurisdiction of Huai'an Prefecture to increase production.
Besides, there is no better way.
But this new face in front of me sent five thousand kilograms of refined salt, which was a timely help.
This made Lu Yingping, who was under great pressure, seem to see a glimmer of hope.
"Oh, sir, you want to know the output of the small salt mine, right?"
After receiving a nod of confirmation from the other party, Zhang Leping thought about it silently.
"Sir, a small salt mine can provide at least about 60,000 kilograms of refined salt, or about 500 shi, per month."
"Five hundred dan per month... seems a bit small."
Lu Yingping muttered something when he heard this, feeling secretly sad.
"Sir, please don't sigh. The small salt mine was mined and refined only after the new year. Five hundred stones is the current production capacity. I will discuss with the big boss later and we can increase investment in the salt mine. Maybe the production capacity can be doubled."
"That's great. If you double your refined salt production capacity, it will also be an urgent need to solve our salt policy."
After Lu Yingping heard this, he was very happy.
"Sir, it's just the price of this salt..."
Seeing that the fire was almost done, Zhang Leping was ready to strike while the iron was hot and negotiate the price.
Talking about business.
Negotiation is about grasping the other party's psychology and pursuing victory.
"The quality of your salt...I can't put a price on it by myself right now."
If you can’t set a price, you can’t put it in the library?
"My lord, I can't put a price on it... Then I have to drag it back first."
Zhang Leping pretended to be disappointed.
He is a businessman by nature and is good at observing things.
If such good salt is not kept in the treasury, it will be a big loss if it is robbed by the salt gangs who engage in private salt operations.
"Hey... Second shopkeeper, don't panic. Let's tentatively price this batch of goods at 30 Wen/jin. How about that?"
The official price of salt collected by the Salt Transportation Department's Yamen generally ranges from fifteen to twenty cash per catty.
Of course, special refined salt is priceless and requires collective research and decision-making by several government acceptance officers.
Therefore, Lu Yingping's purchase at the maximum price is indeed fair and equitable.
Zhang Leping had learned about the official price of salt in advance, and of course he knew that Lu Yingping's offer of 30 wen/jin was fairly reasonable.
"Okay, let's keep this price for now."
Zhang Leping nodded, "But Mr. Lu, this notice says that the price will be increased by 30% in the near future. Let's follow the increase."
"With the premium, the little ones will also be able to respect the adults."
Zhang Leping almost said the last sentence in Lu Yingping's ear.
"Of course...of course..."
Lu Yingping smiled broadly, nodded understandingly and said:
"This batch of salt will be purchased for forty-five cents per catty of silver."
"How many pounds do you have here?"
The extra five cents/catty he secretly added was actually his winnings.
How could Zhang Leping not understand?
He glanced at Lu Yingping, then straightened his back and said loudly:
"Sir, the total amount of these two trucks is a little over 5,000 jins. The next batch will be delivered within three days and should be around 60,000 jins."
"Okay, then you wait a moment, I will immediately arrange for my subordinates to take the quantities and store them in the warehouse."
Hearing that there were 60,000 kilograms of refined salt behind him, Lu Yingping almost smiled.
"Thank you, sir."
Zhang Leping replied with a smile and cupped his hands.
Lu Yingping summoned several warehouse managers who were not on duty, and the yamen and others began to weigh and measure.
These petty officials are also happy to stay and work overtime, because their hard work will not be in vain.
Afterwards, Mr. Lu will give some colored points to the number of participants.
Here Zhang Leping arranged for five mine protection team members and two horsemen to also participate in moving salt into the warehouse.
After a while of busy work, there were a total of 5,200 kilograms of refined salt.
After storage and registration, a pass for two hundred and thirty-five taels of silver was issued.
"Second shopkeeper, the cash has been distributed in the account today. You can use this pass to get the cash at the Si Yamen account tomorrow morning."
Lu Yingping handed the pass stamped with the official seal to Zhang Leping.
"Okay, now that the money and goods have been cleared, I'll take my leave, Mr. Lu."
Zhang Leping took the pass, put him in his arms, and then said goodbye.
He took the mule carriage and mine protection team members and quickly left the salt storage office.
In the blink of an eye, this batch of salt was sold for two hundred and thirty-five taels of silver!
This is not a small amount!
The highest salary for a first-grade official in the Yongle Dynasty was 2,500 shi of rice per year.
Converted into silver taels, it is about one thousand taels.
A third-grade official has a salary of one thousand five hundred shi per year, which is equivalent to about two taels of silver.
It's six hundred taels.
And this salary is almost twice as high as that of the Hongwu Dynasty.
This is the output of three days of mining in the salt mine.
In the future, the production capacity will be greatly increased, and so much can be produced in one day.
Haha, you can really make a fortune.
Zhang Leping walked out of the salt reserve office and found Xu Qin.
He reported the entire transaction process in one piece.
The transaction process was nothing, sparse and ordinary.
The Huai'an Prefecture suddenly increased the amount of salt it purchased, and purchased it at a higher price to stimulate salt households to mine.
This thing seems a bit strange.
Maybe it has something to do with salt smuggling.
The salt monopoly in the Ming Dynasty was a system of "monopoly merchants leading to the shore".
That is, designated merchants, designated docks, and regional sales.
The imperial court does not allow cross-regional sales, otherwise it will be illegal salt, that is, illegally smuggled salt.
The main sales areas of Huaiyan are South Zhili and North Zhili.
The Huai'an government department openly collects salt for smuggling, and raising funds is probably only one aspect.
There may be other factors.
Taking a peek at the leopard, Xu Qin thought a lot.
"Leping, let's separate here. You take everyone to find a good inn, eat and drink, and have a good sleep. You can cash out the silver and return to the mine tomorrow morning to increase mining popularity and increase production."
"Sanlang and I are also in Huai'an City tonight. We have some things to do. You don't have to worry about us. Make arrangements for yourself."
Xu Qin thought for a while and ordered Zhang Leping.
"I understand, sir."
Zhang Leping readily agreed.
