Chapter 723 Shiohu

Cai Jing was delighted: "Both of you, one of your assignments is in the northeast and the other in the southwest. After today, it's hard to say whether we can see each other again. Even if we do, it should be after we return to the court, right?"

The two of them glared at Cai Jing hatefully: "The villain will succeed!"

Cai Jing didn't take it seriously: "You have all misunderstood Yunshi. This is really Yunshi giving you a chance to return to the court."

After saying this, he said seriously: "Envoy Yun said that he and you have never had any personal grudges, they are just fighting for the country."

"As long as there are two political ministers, we can protect the people's health and welfare. He said the same thing last year and he still says the same thing now."

"If there is no flaw in his administration, even if he is your superior, even if he dislikes you ten thousand and ten thousand times, he will still be unable to do anything to you, and he will still have to hold his nose and plead for your merit."

"The production technology of Yongping Supervision in Raozhou, Yongfeng Supervision in Chizhou, and Lead Mountain in Xinzhou is too backward and must be greatly improved, and new methods must be used to smelt copper."

"The four hundred thousand jins are only produced by the prison in Raozhou. The other two places also need to reach this amount. This year, the copper produced in the southeast needs to reach 1.2 million jins!"

"Don't be surprised, Grand Administrator Zeng. The construction of the Xinfa Factory has been completed in Raozhou. In May, 60,000 kilograms of refined copper was produced. There are still five months left. If we work hard, we can still do it."

Zeng Bu was shocked: "What new method can triple the copper production?"

Cai Jing said with a smile: "When the governor arrives in Raozhou, he will know."

Lu Jiawen's eyes turned red with jealousy: "Don't miss Cai, then... what about me?" There was a cry in his voice.

Cai Jing smiled and said: "It's not the prefect Lu who has to work hard for food, grass, work and materials. What you have to do is to manage the people well, distribute money and food, ensure that they have three meals a day, and keep them healthy and free from plague."

"The transport envoy said that it is not easy to raise food. If he knew that there were extravagant expenses, embezzlement of money and food, embezzlement and other illegal things in Changzhou, he would ignore others and only accuse the prefect!"

"Working service can be performed according to military law!"

"But the envoy also said that the most important thing in governing is fairness. Since something happens and it is done according to military law, then of course you have to be rewarded according to military merit! What do you think, Governor Lu? Do you dare to accept this military order?"

Lu Jiawen glanced at Zeng Bu bitterly, gritted his teeth and bowed to the end: "Jiawen dares to accept this, I hope you won't break your promise and get fat!"

Cai Jing nodded with satisfaction: "Prefect Zeng, what about you?"

Zeng Bu flicked his sleeves: "It's hard to be cheated. I have to see the new smelting method with my own eyes before I can believe it."

Cai Jing laughed loudly: "It's no problem, then let's each do our own thing, work diligently, and serve the Emperor and Song Dynasty well under the leadership of Yun Envoy."

…

Hangzhou Bay, passing through Yanguan County and Haiyan County, along the coastline to Shanghai at the mouth of the Yangtze River, is followed by Shayao, Luli, Jinshan, Pudong, Yuanbu, Qingdun... all large and small salt fields.

The official price of salt in the Song Dynasty was around thirty-five cents in various places. However, when officials collected salt from salt households, it was only half of the selling price, ranging from fifteen to seventeen cents.

The huge price difference has attracted countless private salt dealers and poor salt households to take desperate risks.

Salt administration was a difficult problem in the Song Dynasty.

However, Su You believes that this problem is purely caused by the government itself.

To stimulate production enthusiasm, commodity economy and joint production contracting will definitely be more effective than focusing exclusively on state-owned enterprises.

Luli Salt Farm, a major salt pavilion owner, Lu Zhongyuan, is preparing to inspect the salt pavilion he manages.

Today's salt farms still need to be boiled, which is called "boiling the sea." Seawater is introduced into the brine pond, and the concentration is increased step by step to obtain brine for boiling, and then salt can be obtained.

Due to the different tools for boiling salt in different places, table salt is also divided into several colors. If you use a bamboo plaque, it will be greener; if you use a clay pot, it will turn gray; if you use an iron pot, it will turn yellow... In fact, it contains impurities.

In a salt pavilion, those with an annual output of one thousand shi are generally called the upper households, those with an annual output of more than 500 shi are the middle households, and the rest are the lower households.

The upper households live a luxurious life, and they are also managers.

Colluded with the salt officials, embezzled official money issued by the state, suppressed the price of salt, issued usurious loans, and enriched his own pockets.

He even raised armed servants, colluded with private water bandits, controlled one party, and abused lynching. He was rich and powerful, and even the government did not dare to provoke him easily.

The poorest households, burdened with debts, endured cruel oppression and exploitation, worked hard for a year, and could not even get enough food and clothing.

Liu Yong, a great scholar, wrote very clearly in his "Song of Boiled Sea": "From the time when the salt water was boiling to the frost, it was nothing more than borrowing money to make money. When weighed in an official's official position, one min is often paid with ten min. The cycle goes on and on without rest. The official rent has not been paid, but the private rent is forced. The wife is expelled and the son is forced to work on the project. Even though he is a human being, he is a good person. Why do the people of the sea have to live in a family? They have a rich mother and a son who is not poor. This dynasty has not lost anything. May the emperor be kind enough to go to the seaside."

Qin Guan, a gifted scholar of the new generation, wrote a policy essay for Su You, "On the State", which mentioned: "As for picking mountains, boiling seas, and smelting, someday the officials will think that they are traitors and they will be dispatched." Trust me, I will change the law."

Lu Zhongyuan has been having a headache recently. Recently, the government has issued a decree that if the amount is less than 300 kilograms at a time, it is not considered smuggling. The mud-legged people are happy, but they feel a little sad.

To own the salt field, it is enough to complete the official examination. As for the family business, it is earned by deducting official money every year, renting it out, and buying salt from other households.

While Fang was having breakfast, the steward came over and reported: "Liu Erli wants to cause trouble again."

Lu Zhongyuan frowned: "What's the trouble?"

The steward said: "He is encouraging the unruly people and asking for an increase in salt prices!"

Lu Zhongyuan asked: "How much will it rise to?"

"Twenty cents, he said that the price of the official residence in Hangzhou was set by Xiao Su Taibao."

Lu Zhongyuan sneered: "Little Su Taibao, how many years can he stay in Hangzhou? Whether the salt work is completed or not, I don't think he can stay for a year! Go call the nursing home, isn't Liu Erli going to make trouble? Let’s have a good time with him!”

…

On a beach in the salt field, there are some broken reed mat shacks.

There are many such sheds, and many women in ragged clothes are busy in the sheds.

Inside the shed, there is a bamboo bed, broken straw mats, a few earthen pots, and a fire pit, which is a home.

The only thing that can be called a possession is an iron pot with a white crust on it. It is a pot for boiling salt.

The technology of Meishan iron casserole has now been spread. This pot is a product of the Taiping Prefecture Railway Supervisor. It cost Liu Erli two thousand dollars and is very expensive.

The tidal flats are covered with terrace-like salt pans. Men are using picks to lift seawater to high altitudes and pour it into brine ponds paved with grass ash and beach mud.

The weather is extremely hot, without rain, and windy. Although it is a disaster for farmers, it is a rare good day for salt farmers.

Sweat ran down the men's dark backs, leaving water stains on their short shirts.

On the edge of the water stain, another circle of salt flowers condensed.

Seawater cannot be boiled directly. If you want to treat brine, you must turn low-concentration seawater into high-concentration brine.

First, seawater is carried into the brine pond and poured together with the grass ash beach mud mixture that has settled and evaporated for many days to obtain brine soil.

The days passed day by day, and after ten days, the brine soil could be used properly.

Pick the brine soil into the frame, pour it with low-concentration brine, and repeat it many times. The salt in the brine soil melts into the brine, and finally becomes saturated brine.

The brine is settled in the pond, and then the clear brine is taken out and boiled on the stove until the salt crystallizes and fished out. The remaining dilute brine can be used to pour the brine soil.

This cycle is repeated, and the salt collected every year is sold to the government for fifteen to seventeen cents per pound.

Salt ponds in good locations are the property of wealthy households. For families like Liu Erli, it is difficult to even make brine. Sometimes they have to borrow brine from large households, which adds another layer of exploitation.

Ten kilograms of salt a day can be produced for half a year, and the total is only forty-five guan. To pay off the brine money owed to the big family and the rent for tools, a family of three can live for a year with 20 guan. It can be said that it is very stretched.
Chapter completed!