Previously, after the court spread the news about the auction of the salt farm, Xinning Bo Tan Guozuo asked his wife Wang to enter the palace to ask for an audience with the Queen Mother Rensheng and wanted a letter of invitation.
But because of the last plea, Wang's two requests for permission were rejected by Rensheng on the grounds of lack of health. Tan Guozuo had no choice but to bring generous gifts to see the British Duke Zhang Rong.
The British Duke and Xin Ningbo were both natural allies in politics after they were both responsible for the Jingnan War. Tan Guozuo is an uneducated guy and an old dandy. Although the British Duke doesn't like him very much, Tan Guozuo is the type who never makes big mistakes but keeps making small mistakes, and no one can take him seriously. What's more, the friendship left by the older generation is still there, and the two families have been moving around.
Seeing Tan Guozuo come to visit, the British Duke pointed out to him: "As far as I know, this invitation letter is now in the hands of the Queen Mothers of the two palaces, Zhang Juzheng, Lu Tiaoyang, Wang Guoguang, Chen Zan, Ge Shouli, Qi Jiguang, Zhang Hong, Chen I have a few of them in my hand, and you can get them if you flatter one of them."
Tan Guozuo said with a sad face: "I don't know any of these people well. I just met Wang Guoguang a few times at Pinhua Tower, and I didn't even drink. Every time, I didn't know what was going on. Can it work there?" How about, Mr. Guo, please help me get one."
The British Duke was angry and funny, and pointed at his forehead and said: "The two empress dowagers don't count, the others are the emperor's ministers, the emperor asked them to post this post, just to make them a small fortune - Wang Guoguang's place The post, one thousand taels a piece, has been announced a long time ago, you can get it if you go with the money."
After hearing this, Tan Guozuo stuck out his tongue and said, "This post is like gold, it's so expensive!"
Unexpectedly, these words really tickled the British public. He showed off his post and showed it to Tan Guozuo: "Haha, I told you, this post is indeed golden."
When Tan Guozuo took it over and looked at it, he saw a post as big as a book page. It was made of gold and weighed half a catty. It looked old-fashioned. Text is embedded on it by rubbing silver, and it says that the British public are sincerely invited to attend the salt auction at Wuying Hall on the first day of October with this sticker. The signature is Wang Guoguang, the Prime Minister and Minister of Salt Affairs.
When the British public saw Tan Guozuo turning over and over to appreciate this post, he looked so envious that he was about to cry, and his vanity was greatly satisfied. The goatee, which had only a few strands left in it, laughed and said: "Zhang Jing is a very naughty dog! I heard that the emperor just asked him to make the post more beautiful, but this guy did something wrong! Give it to the Duke to beat him with gold, Marquis It's beaten with silver, if you get it, I heard that the count's can only be made of wood."
After hearing this, Tan Guozuo asked: "What about the civil and military officials? What about the merchants? Are they made of paper shells?"
Hearing this, the British Duke smiled and cupped his hands to the north and said: "Don't you know? The emperor's favor is so great! Except for the houses of the Duke, Marquis and Uncle, no one else has a share in this first big auction! I have long said that the Emperor He has shown favor to us honorable ministers, but how is it now? As expected!"
Tan Guozuo said in his heart that your courage was almost shattered after the reading. This can only fool the devil.
Seeing his disapproval, the British Duke continued: "From the fact that the bastard Duke Cheng was able to get the title of king, I feel that the emperor is definitely not like the previous emperor, who only listened to the words of the civil servants. This time there are many good things. All the princes have no part in it, so what else do you have to say!"
The review at the imperial meeting left a shadow in Tan Guozuo's heart, and he had different views on the emperor's will, but he was not here to tell the British public about this. Seeing the beautiful eyes of the old man narrowed into small slits, he also flattered the emperor a few words.
Seeing that the British public knew the inside story, he asked the British public how the auction was conducted. After the British Duke explained how to exchange land on nine sides for points, Tan Guozuo took a deep breath and said, "This... my family doesn't have land in the border town either?"
The British Duke sighed and said: "Although I have hundreds of hectares at home, it's hard to do everything. After getting the post, I have arranged for people to buy land - I don't know how much I can get in these two months."
Tan Guozuo slapped the table and said: "Then a landless person like me deserves to be bullied? I can only choose the nooks and crannies? Isn't it true that the more you have, the more you have, and the poorer you get, the poorer you get?"
After hearing this, the British Duke frowned and said: "I don't like to hear what you are saying. This salt farm was originally state-owned and belonged to the emperor's family. I won't give it to you all together. How can you say no? Now the emperor's kindness is so great that he can give it to the emperor." Each of our families has a golden rice bowl, why do you think you are so big when it comes to jujubes for free?!"
"There are still two months left. Can't you arrange for people to go to Ningxia and other distant places? I heard that the land there is abandoned and grass grows there. It's incredibly cheap. Well, I shouldn't tell you that. These." After saying that, he mentally gave himself a warning and stopped.
After hearing this, Tan Guozuo felt that using points to determine the order of selection was full of malice for him. He said fiercely: "It's so difficult to handle, why don't I want this salt farm? My family only has the earl salary and land rent, how can we starve to death?"
After hearing this, the British Duke sneered: "You don't know, do you? Haha, this salt field is just like the sacrificial field and the tomb field. No matter what crimes your descendants have committed, as long as they are not among the ten evils such as treason, no one can copy it." No! According to the regulations, the earl’s family is allowed to establish twenty hectares of land for sacrifices and graves. How much of this thousand acres of land will be left after excluding the expenses for sacrifices? If an unworthy descendant comes out in the future, there will be hundreds of families like us. Everyone drinks northwest wind?"
After hearing this, Tan Guozuo took a breath of cold air and hiccupped continuously. The British duke covered his nose and said, "You bastard, you eat garlic so early in the morning?"
Tan Guozuo blushed and stammered: "I ate... a bowl of noodles. Can you just put garlic on it? Hey! Don't talk about this. This is equivalent to a field sacrifice, really... really?" !”
The British public fanned the air with his hand and said disgustedly: "Can I lie to you? Zhang Jing said when he came to my house to deliver the note, as long as this salt farm is not bought and sold, it will be an inheritance for generations to come. Think about it, who has a door panel on his head? If you are caught, can you sell the sacrificial field? Unless the incense is cut off - no matter who is in charge, if you want to sell the sacrificial field, your fellow clan members are not allowed to tear it up for him?"
"You have tens of thousands of acres of land, how can you keep a cent if something goes wrong? Besides, the output of a thousand acres of land may not be as good as a small salt farm! I heard that several companies have already sold land in Gyeonggi, and I also I need to get money to buy a salt farm. After passing this village, there is no store next to it!"
After hearing this, Tan Guozuo said to himself that he had to buy a few pieces of this salt farm. Even if he was far away in Fujian, I would admit it. At most, I would subcontract it out and earn the rent from the salt farm. Thinking of this, I asked the British public whether the salt farm could be subcontracted.
British Justice said: "If you choose this salt farm, it will be your own business. You will manage your own business if you produce more or less. Of course you can sublease it. But since it is a business, of course you have to pay taxes. I heard that the tax is very low. In the first few years, the tax will be 15%." 1. If there is a disaster, there may be tax exemption.”
After hearing this, Tan Guozuo shouted: "Isn't fifteen tax per cent high? The commercial tax is only thirty per tax..."
Britain sneered and interrupted: "Then how much does it cost to clear customs for your business in other places? The salt from this salt factory must be stamped, and it can be sold after paying the tax once! Do you calculate this account, is the tax still high?"
Tan Guozuo had nothing to say after hearing this. I calculate my assets in my mind and see how much money I can spend on the salt farm. The British Duke rolled his eyes when he saw him settling the score, and then gave him a disgusted look.
After a while, Tan Guozuo smiled and said to Britain fairly: "In the past two years, the emperor has opened an imperial factory and an imperial store. He is not short of money to spend? Why did he sell all the salt fields?"
The British father-in-law glanced at him again and said, "What's wrong? You're not happy?" Tan Guozuo smiled dryly and said, "Then how can you not be happy? We're not just curious, so let's ask."
The British Duke sighed: "It's not easy for the emperor to be in charge of such a big family. How much worry does he have to worry about at such a young age! Do you think the money is enough? This year there have been floods in Huaiyang and Yangzhou, and there has been a severe drought in Shaanxi. In addition to the area near the capital in Northern Zhili, If there is more rain, it will also be a severe drought! The silver flowers are like a river, and there is not enough to fill the hole."
After hearing this, Tan Guozuo said: "Then use the money from selling the salt field this year to provide disaster relief. If there is another disaster next year, what will the emperor sell? The mine?"
The British man glanced at him and thought that this guy was also a little smart. He said in a low voice: "I invited Wang Guoguang to my house for dinner. We had a deep talk. This guy is trying to persuade the emperor to sell the mine. Maybe you really got it."
Hearing this, Tan Guozuo breathed heavily. Asked the British justice: "If it can really happen, it would be great if we save the money to buy a mine. I heard that the Royal Iron Works in northern Beijing has lost its coal consumption this year - if we can buy a big mine, wouldn't we make a fortune?"
The British public sneered and said: "The mine may not be auctioned. Even if Wang Guoguang's plan is really successful, it will definitely not be done in this way, and it cannot be treated like a sacrifice to a field. If you dare to bet, just keep your money and wait for the mine to be auctioned. Anyway, I don't dare. Bet - our family has borrowed 600,000 taels of silver, all of which will be used to build the salt farm!"
After a pause, he continued: "I heard from Wang Guoguang that the emperor is so worried about money. After the salt farm is auctioned this year, it is estimated that it will last for a few years. He said that the emperor told him privately that if he officially takes charge and there is no money, We need to issue shipping licenses, open customs from south to north, open trade routes to Japan, Korea, and even Southeast Asia, and auction 'franchises' once every five years!"
After hearing this, Tan Guozuo didn't understand what "franchise" meant. When the British Duke explained it clearly, he asked in a trembling voice: "This...is it okay for us, the honorable ministers, to come first?"
After hearing this, the British Duke smiled and said: "I would like to say that the emperor and our honorable ministers are the most considerate and considerate. Wang Guoguang said that if I are serious, I can start buying ships now and train the sailors and captains first. When the emperor officially takes charge, who will If there are many boats and the boats are big, whoever has the advantage will take advantage!"
After hearing this, Tan Guozuo was in awe of the British Duke's courage. With his little wealth, he could barely take pictures of the salt fields, and he couldn't even think about shipping. He asked in a low voice: "In this case, those guys in Jiangnan will not be able to change the world?"
After hearing this, the British Duke sneered: "Do you think the soldiers and martial arts that Qi Jiguang trained are just for show? Regardless of the emperor's young age, this Sheng Mo Sheng Mo is far-reaching and does not sound nice! Whoever dares to change the world will be turned into a fan!"
