In order to stabilize the price of salt, the county government was ordered to build a shed to sell green salt, and dispatched a few clever government servants to greet them. One man walked to the middle of the road and beat a gong, which immediately attracted the people passing by to surround him. One hundred people shouted: "Xiao Liuzi,
Is there something important happening in the court?"
The yamen servant named Xiaoliuzi explained proudly: "My neighbors are doing well. Aren't we all short of salt? The imperial court is sympathetic to the suffering of the people and specially shipped a batch of green salt. The price is low and the quality is good. Come and see."
"
"Salt? Where is it?"
"have a look!"
Everyone immediately became interested. Chang'an City had been short of salt for several days, and everyone was already panicking.
The bags of salt were opened, revealing the high-quality rock salt inside. An old man shouted: "Xiao Liuzi, this is the best salt. Only officials and wealthy families can afford it. Where can we common people get the money for it?"
"Third Master is joking, this salt is specially prepared by the imperial court to solve everyone's difficulties. High-quality rock salt used to cost ten cents per catty, but salt of this quality in the Dongshi next door has risen to fifteen cents per catty. You don't know for sure.
You can buy it. The saint is kind and considerate of our sufferings. Now it only costs six cents a pound. If you miss it, it will be gone."
"Six cents, that's really not too expensive."
"How about buying some?"
"It's still expensive. You can just buy a salt stone and smash it back. That one is cheaper, it only costs four cents."
Salt stone is unprocessed salt ore. It has high impurities and a bitter taste, but for ordinary people, it can be used for a month if you want to replace it.
At this time, a middle-aged man came around curiously and inquired. After learning about the situation, he shouted: "Everyone, come here, let me tell you."
After speaking, he took out a white paper package, the size of a fist, and opened it carefully, revealing a snow-white, delicate object inside. Everyone couldn't see it, but they all stared at it curiously. The old man asked: "Mr. Lang, what is this?"
"Third Master, this is snowflake salt, please try it first."
The old man looked very prestigious, and everyone got out of the way. The old man stepped forward, twisted his fingers to taste some, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he said sincerely: "Good salt, pure taste, saltier than any salt I have ever tasted."
, there is no other taste, good salt, good salt, where did you buy this and what is the price?”
"Third Master, this is you." The middle-aged man gave a thumbs up and smiled, then carefully wrapped the white paper and hid it close to his body, and then explained: "Third Master, especially from my neighborhood, the salt just now is called snowflake salt.
It was developed by the Lord Protector himself, and it will be sold in department stores today. If you want it, hurry up and there are already many people rushing to buy it."
"Don't talk nonsense. You are not rich. This thing is so magical and of such high quality that I have never seen before. It must be expensive. How can you afford to buy it?" Third Master asked.
The middle-aged man smiled and said: "Third Master is very knowledgeable, but I'm afraid I may have miscalculated this time. Each household can only buy one pack of snowflake salt. The people in the Protector's Palace said that this pack is enough for a month, so it won't be used."
Another batch of the same salt will arrive every month, so there is no need to hoard it. What’s more important is the price. This pack only costs four cents.”
"Four articles?"
Everyone was shocked. The salt stone tasted weird and was of extremely poor quality. It would cost four cents a month to eat it. But now it was white and delicate. It looked like a good product and only cost four cents. The account was clear at a glance.
"Let's go to the department store."
"That's right, the Protector of the Country truly cares for the people."
"The Lord Protector has magical skills, and the snowflake salt developed by himself must be a good treasure."
"Let's go, let's go -"
After a while, all the people gathered around left, leaving only a group of government officials stunned in the sun.
…
The department store, the former Wanhua Building, has been renovated. The red lanterns are gone. It looks bright and simple. The first floor is crowded with people. Countless people are queuing up in long queues. They are all eagerly looking forward. They are looking ahead for fear of missing something.
The village guard team is maintaining order.
Jia Youcai and his people hurried over to help, and someone who knew him asked: "Steward Jia, there are so many people lining up to buy, are you going to run out of stock?"
"Don't worry, a hundred carts will be shipped. The Protector has specifically told us that each household will buy one pack. Each pack will be enough for each household for one month. The second batch will arrive in less than a month. You can rest assured."
"The prestige of the Protector of the Country!"
"The protector of the country is kind and righteous, and considerate of us ordinary people."
"For four cents a month, it's still the same fairy-like snowflake salt. I can't believe it. We can't be embarrassed. The price can be raised a little."
Jia Youcai was about to go in, but he quickly stopped when he heard these words. This was a good opportunity to promote the reputation of his young master. He looked at the speaker and smiled and said: "Don't dare. Lord Protector is benevolent and righteous. He knows that everyone's life is not easy, so he went out of his way to
I have told you that this batch of goods cannot make any money, and it is enough to sell them with a guaranteed capital, and everyone thinks of protecting the country."
"The Protector of the Country is righteous!"
Everyone shouted, their tone was simple and sincere.
Jia Youcai and a group of people hurried in to help, and the sales speed immediately accelerated a lot. But after hearing the news, more people came and the long queue at the gate increased instead of decreasing.
News of the four-coin package of snowflake salt swept through Chang'an City like the wind, attracting attention from all parties.
Not long after, Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng came over in a carriage after hearing the news. They stopped not far away and got out of the car to observe. There was a complicated look in their eyes. Wei Zheng couldn't help but said: "Prime Minister, why do I feel like something is going to happen?"
"Yeah, I don't feel too good either. What is Huai Dao doing?" Fang Xuanling couldn't understand either.
The two were silent again, speculating on various possibilities.
After a while, Wei Zheng solemnly said: "Prime Minister, no matter what Qin Huaidao does, this salt cannot be banned. You can eat it for four cents for a month, and it is the best salt. I have never seen salt that can be made like this."
It's delicate and has no bitterness. This is a business that benefits the people and is beneficial to the people. I won't allow anyone to stop it."
"Have you ever thought about a problem? As a result, other merchants will no longer be able to sell salt."
"If you can't sell it, you can't stop it. Other shops can lower their prices. If you have the ability, you can make snowflake salt like Qin Huaidao, and sell it for four cents a pack. Whoever dares to stop these people's livelihoods will be impeached by me." Wei Zheng said solemnly.
Of course Fang Xuanling would not stop him, but as the head of a hundred officials, he considered the problem more comprehensively and in depth. After hesitating for a moment, he looked around vigilantly and reminded in a voice that only Wei Zheng could hear: "The county government is reporting below.
, saying that the imperial court’s batch of disaster relief salt cost six cents per pound and no one bought it.”
"Which batch was shipped from Lizhou?"
Wei Zheng asked back, and when he saw Fang Xuanling nodding with a grimace, he immediately became angry and cursed: "You deserve it. That batch of salt was the compensation requested by Huai Dao, and he asked the governor of Lizhou, Warrior Xun, to help transport it. If he hadn't trusted Warrior Xun, Huai Dao would have
How could Tao let the other party do it for him? All he had to do was send his subordinates. The warrior Yun, the governor of Lizhou, was nothing, but he actually falsely accused Huaida of possessing a bow and arrow, and waited for the people who verified him to return to see how I would impeach him."
"Don't get angry. The current problem is that once snowflake salt comes out, other sea salts and green salts may no longer be interested in the future, and other salt merchants do not know how to make snowflake salt. Once the various merchants join forces, although they are not afraid of good intentions, there are still hidden dangers.
, and also if the batch of green salt seized by the imperial court cannot be sold, the Holy Lord will not be able to live with it, and it will only blame Huai Dao even more." Fang Xuanling reminded.
Wei Zheng sneered nonchalantly: "Business competition depends on one's own means. Who dares to jump out? But you are right. Once the snowflake salt is launched, the entire salt market will change. There is a good show this time. I
Remember that the Li family in Zhaojun and the Lu family in Fanyang are both selling salt, right?"
"You--"
How could Fang Xuanling not know that Wei Zheng was angry, and how could he not be dissatisfied? But the court could not be in chaos, and the people could not be in chaos. After thinking about it, he said: "Huaidao must have done this for his own reasons, and it is also a move that benefits the people."
, us old guys have to help."
"Fang Xiang——"
An internal guard of the Forbidden Army hurried over on horseback, cupped his hands and said: "Prime minister, your Majesty has invited me."
"What's the matter?" Fang Xuanling asked.
"Officials jointly submitted a letter to impeach the Protector of the Snowflake Salt for selling it at low prices, maliciously selling it, and disrupting the market. Your Majesty invited the Prime Minister and Mr. Wei to go to the Ganlu Hall to discuss the matter." The other party explained.
Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng exchanged glances, trouble was coming.
After getting on their respective carriages, Fang Xuanling worriedly told a close family member in a low voice: "Go to Qinjiazhuang quickly and inform the Lord Protector of the joint impeachment so that he can make preparations in advance."
"Here!" The other party bowed his hands, pulled the horse's head and hurried away.