Zhu Houzhao breathed a sigh of relief. His father was rich now. He would have to ask for some later. The Black Dragon Army and the steel mill must have spent a lot of money. His father was reluctant to take out the money in the internal treasury. This money

If it is put into the national treasury, it is not just for you to spend it. If you spend it elsewhere, it may be embezzled by many people. Giving it to yourself can at least ensure that the money is spent wisely.

"Let's go to the window and take a look!" Zhu Youtang felt itchy in his heart as he listened to the increasingly fierce bidding outside, so he stood up and walked towards the window.

His father was interested, and Zhu Houzhao naturally would not be disappointed at this time, so he followed his father and walked over to the window. Zhu Houzhao saw a Shanxi businessman holding up a sign, and Qian Guangdou on the table waved a hammer and said loudly

"Sixty-seven thousand taels. No. 38 bids sixty-seven thousand taels. Is there anyone who bids more?"

As soon as the price came out, the auction house instantly became quiet. Although the Lianghuai Salt Farm is large and the transportation is convenient, how can you still make money when the cost is so high?

You must know that salt must be paid to the salt tax, and it must be paid when transporting salt. The Salt and Iron Department has tax collectors under each warehouse.

After deducting the money for buying the right to use it, deducting the transportation costs, and adding the money for shady gifts, the cost is very high. If the salt farm is worth 67,000 taels, the annual average is more than 13,000 taels.

taels. Based on the salt production of this salt farm, after deducting transportation costs and salt lessons, the annual profit is only about 300,000 taels.

In the past, with private salt and tax evasion, a salt farm with a monthly output of 80,000 shi of salt could earn more than one million taels, but now it is far less than that.

The current price of salt is about one cent of silver per catty, one tael of silver for one hundred catties of salt, one hundred and twenty catties of rock salt, one or two taels of silver for one rock salt, and one or two taels of silver for ten thousand shi.

Twelve to two thousand silver, this salt field produces 80,000 shi of salt per month, and can sell 100,000 taels of salt a month.

The transportation of these salt freights consumes one-third, which is the average of long-distance transportation. If it is transported to the frontier, it would be good to have one-half left. This is still the Lianghuai Salt Field. If it is replaced by other salt fields,

It is estimated that even one-third is not enough. In addition, the salt course fee will also cost one-quarter, and there will be only 40,000 to 50,000 taels left in a month.

Salt merchants can settle accounts, and Zhu Houzhao can also settle accounts. If the collection is based on the current production, the Ming Dynasty can receive more than 800,000 taels of salt from major salt farms in a month. This is only the amount of one month. In one year, the Ming Dynasty will

The number of salt lessons can soar to 10 million taels, which is already higher than the number of salt lessons during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty.

As the salt-drying technology matures, this quantity will continue to grow. Compared with the more than 3 million taels of salt courses before the imperial court, it can be seen how profitable the salt merchants are.

Zhu Houzhao calculated that according to the current salt price on the market, the right to use this salt field with 80,000 shi of salt produced in Lianghuai would cost at least 8 taels, or even 100,000 taels. Then the salt merchant would probably be able to keep the salt field for a year.

Earn four to five hundred thousand taels. This is already considered a huge profit industry, and it is a monopoly profit industry. Of course, it is far worse than before.

In the past, selling salt in the Ming Dynasty was not only violent, but also a source of profit, so everyone wanted to get involved.

Salt merchants, officials, nobles, and relatives invaded and occupied the nest, reaching out from top to bottom to take money, and all they took was the country's money. But this time it was different. It was the salt merchant who gave gifts and flowers.

How you spend the money is your business, but the country cannot lose a cent, so come on and hand it over obediently.

Turning his head to look at his father, Zhu Houzhao sighed helplessly when he saw how happy he was when he heard the asking price reached 70,000 taels. If his father knew that the annual salt class could collect more than 10,000 taels, he didn't know what he would do.

How happy are you? Of course, so much money is mainly due to Zhu Houzhao's improved salt drying method. Originally, the salt production of Lianghuai Salt Field was about 500,000 shi, but now it has more than doubled.

The price soon exceeded 80,000 taels. After 80,000 taels, the bidding slowed down. Obviously these businessmen were not fools.

"What if they go back and increase the price?" Zhu Youtang closed the folding fan, and the expression on his face suddenly became uneasy. He turned to look at Zhu Houzhao seriously, "They will raise the price of salt very high after they go back. How will the people's lives be improved?"

Isn’t it unbearable?”

Glancing at his father, Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He was indeed the Emperor Renzong in history. So much money did not go to his head. Especially when he was so poor, how could he think of not letting the people get away from him at this time?

Eat high-priced salt. Zhu Houzhao smiled and said, "Father, don't worry. I think the Salt and Iron Department should have thought about this, right?"

Zhu Houzhao said and turned to look at Qi You. Of course he said this at this time to give Qi You a chance to show off.

Qi You quickly took a step forward, "Go back to Your Majesty, Your Highness the Prince, the Salt and Iron Department is already working on formulating protective prices for salt in each province."

Glancing at Qi You and then at his son, Zhu Youtang smiled and said nothing. He understood what his son meant. He wanted Qi You to show off, and his purpose was obvious, which was to let Qi You work in the Salt and Iron Division.

I will work in this position for a few more years. You must know that this yamen is called the Salt and Iron Department. There is salt, but the iron has not yet been seen!

Zhu Youtang didn't believe that his son had created a salt and iron department to manage the salt, and that the iron was just for the sake of sound? It was simply impossible.

"Salt price protection?" Zhu Youtang was also willing to support his son, so he simply turned to Qi You and said, "Let's talk about it!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Qi You nodded quickly and said, "The Salt and Iron Department is planning to set a protective price for salt based on the distance, convenience of transportation, etc. After setting the protective price, all salt sold by salt merchants will not be allowed to exceed this protective price.

"Violators will be severely punished, ranging from fines to revoking the salt farm operating license."

Zhu Youtang was stunned for a moment, and then glanced at Qi You. He knew it was his son's handiwork, and it was like a link within a link.

In the past, this was very difficult to do. You didn’t know who had salt in their hands. If you set a price limit, the salt merchants would stop selling it. They would hoard it and wait for the price to rise. What’s worse, some people just hoarded it. But it’s different now.

Whose is it? Then check who it belongs to and make sure it is accurate. If you say you don’t have salt on your hands, then where did the salt you got from the salt farm go?

"But how do you know whether they will increase prices?" Zhu Youtang asked Qi You with interest, but he was actually asking Zhu Houzhao.

"The imperial court has a secret report system. Officials at all levels can serve as supervisors. Jinyi guards and garrison eunuchs from various places can also serve as supervisors. Even Qizhai in various places can also serve as supervisors." Zhu Houzhao spoke first before Qi You could speak this time.

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