Lu Nai saw the disadvantages of salt affairs much more thoroughly than Lu Wanqing. However, privilege is like opium and is addicted to it. How can it be removed at will? Therefore, this time the Qing Dynasty was about to be finished. Sichuan was going to change its new owner. Lu Nai took the initiative to visit Qiao Yu, wanting to bribe him first so that he could continue to maintain this privilege. For this reason, he took out millions of taels of silver. However, Qiao Yu not only refused to accept it, but also clearly told him that the salt affairs would be reformed. How could Lu Nai not feel depressed!

"Adults speak, kids, don't interrupt!" Lu Nai scolded Lu Wanqing, then turned to Qiao Yu and smiled: "Governor, now that you have sacked the likin, I think the price of salt can be reduced by 20 to 30 cents, or even more. I think it can be reduced by 10 to 20 cents first, so that the mud legs will see the benefits, and then we will give you the more money you earn. Do you think this is the best of both worlds?"

When Qiao Yu saw that Lu Nai was so ignorant, he immediately frost appeared on his face and said coldly: "Mr. Lu, this time I told you that the matter of salt reform is not an negotiation, but a notification. And I told you in advance such a major decision for Wanqing's sake. No other matters are discussed. If you can prepare first, I guarantee that you can earn more and get the money upright. No need to see that you are as flattered as before. As long as you pay taxes, you can operate normally. I also advise you that it is painful to give up privileges, but it is better to give up voluntarily than to give up passively. Sooner or later, the people can't bear it anymore and rise up and resist, and it's too late to say anything. The Qing Dynasty was so destructive, let alone a few salt merchants!"

Qiao Yu's words were very important, as if one fist had hit Lu Nai's heart. In the past, salt merchants firmly protected themselves with the woven network of relationships. The power of this power was beyond imagination. Even the emperor would inevitably be backfired if he wanted to deal with them. The tiger had no idea how to stop him.

However, it is now a time of chaos, and the rules of the past have disappeared. The salt merchants are like turtles that have lost their shells, very fragile. If Qiao Yu stepped on them at this time, it is difficult to guarantee that they will not be completely destroyed. In fact, Qiao Yu chose to solve the salt business problem at this time because of this consideration.

If we don’t take advantage of the current reform and wait until the world settles down, the salt merchants can reorganize the protective umbrellas with various relationships. In that case, Qiao Yu will not face the simplest of Sichuan salt merchants, but the salt merchants in the whole world. Not only Sichuan produces salt in China, there are sea salt along the coast, Shaanxi also has pool salt. The power of the salt merchants in Lianghuai is still above Sichuan salt merchants.

Salt is a necessity for the people, and the price gap cannot be too big. If you sell it in Sichuan, what should you do in other places? If other salt merchants are unwilling to give up their privileges, then there is only one way to make it impossible for you to change it in Sichuan. We will compete with each other. Only in this way can we maintain the bad policies.

In fact, when Yuan Shikai was in charge, he had to reform the salt affairs, but he was collectively opposed by this interest group and finally left it alone. The salt affairs of the Republic of China continued the drawbacks of the Qing Dynasty. The people suffered a lot. Now the world is in chaos. Qiao Yu took advantage of the chaos and reform, and he would not be able to object at that time. Otherwise, you would just wait for the Sichuan people to tear you down. Maybe you can also promote other regions to reform the salt affairs and prevent the people from becoming salt slaves. This is also a merit of Qiao Yu.

Lu Nai was constantly whispering in his heart. What should he do? Should he obey Qiao Yu or join forces with all salt merchants to fight? The two unstoppable confrontation.

"Dad, you haven't heard how Qiao Yu changed the salt administration yet? What are you anxious to stop him? Maybe it's better?"...

Lu Wanqing still knew a little about Qiao Yu's reform plan, so she naturally saw the benefits. He took the initiative to tell his father about the plan in advance, so that his father would be able to make arrangements in advance, and would obviously get more benefits than others, and maybe earn more than now. Therefore, looking at his father's entangled look, he was really a little disappointed and gave a reminder.

Lu Nai also reacted and asked hurriedly: "Governor Qiao, how are you planning to reform the salt administration!"

"It's very simple. Abolish the original monopoly system and adopt the method of free competition. As long as you have enough qualifications, you can open a well and boil salt. First, pay a deposit of 500,000 taels of silver to the government, and then you can mine salt. How to produce and sell it depends on the merchants themselves. The government only imposes taxes on salt twice. When leaving the factory, it will be levied once for five cents per catty. At the sales place, it will also be levied once for sales, with a sales tax of three cents per catty. In addition, no tax will be levied. I plan to reduce the salt price to seventy cents this year, and then further reduce it to about fifty cents. Within three years, the salt price will be controlled around thirty cents. In the end, the tax collected by the government will be reduced, and then further controlled the salt price. In short, it will be no longer difficult for the people to eat salt!"

"Why are you going to give a few businessmen the business qualification?" Lu Nai was gradually moved by the scene depicted by Qiao Yu. If Qiao Yu said, the government tax on a pound of salt was only eight cents, and the cost was only ten cents. If you could buy thirty cents, it would be a big profit. And Lu Nai also knew clearly what this salt price meant to other provinces. The price of thirty cents was only one-third of that of other provinces. If it was well managed, would Sichuan salt occupy a wider market? The profit would definitely be even more amazing. Therefore, Lu Nai couldn't help but be moved. He knew that although Qiao Yu was free to compete, he could give out 500,000 at once and not many merchants could further invest. Therefore, he asked again how many companies would have such rights!

"Salt is different from other things. If it is less, no one will eat it as a dish if it is too much. It is tentatively set to be within ten stores. However, I have two points to explain. One is that the treatment of salt workers must be improved, and at least they must be well fed and well-dressed. Second, if Mr. Lu is preparing to operate salt business, it is best to use more machines to produce it, which can reduce costs and make greater profits."

Lu Nai nodded quickly and said, "In a short time, Lu Nai had already calculated it. Just calculated based on ten salt merchants, the population supplied by well salt is nearly 100 million, and the average number is 10 million. Each person buys ten kilograms of salt and earns ten cents per kilogram. One person can earn 100 cents per kilogram. The net profit of a year can definitely reach 500,000 or 600,000 yuan. Although the salt merchants are rich, they have accumulated over generations and have to hand over the big part to the court. In fact, there is not much money they get. According to current estimates, the profit has doubled, so he has no choice but to change his mind.

After Qiao Yu and Lu Nai talked, they asked their father and daughter to have a chat alone. Lu Wanqing immediately took her father to her yard, "Dad, is her health okay?"

"Okay, I just miss you. You little girl is really wild. Why did you hook up with Governor Qiao after a trip to Dazu? Not to mention that you are so talented and beautiful, you have such a good vision!"

When Lu Wanqing heard that her father dared to joke with her, she immediately glared and said, "I have nothing to do with that conspirator. Don't get us together. Dad, hurry up and prepare how to make a lot of money!"

"Silly girl, Governor Qiao revealed the news to his father for your sake. Otherwise, where would his father have such a good deal? This is true, what else do you plan to ask for!"

The father and daughter were chatting, and Qiao Yu was receiving an important piece of information there. It turned out that there was a big turmoil in the Syrian Mansion. Dozens of ticket houses and pawnshops joined forces with some local civilian troops, launched an uprising, and expelled other civilian forces in the city. Now I sent a telegram to Qiao Yu, hoping that Qiao Yu could enter the Syrian Mansion as soon as possible to prevent the civilian army from counterattacking!

..
Chapter completed!