Lu Nai originally thought that Qiao Yu was a powerful figure in Dongchuan, and that his power was similar to that of a big salt merchant like himself. However, after Qiao Yu declared independence, he immediately became the governor of Sichuan and gathered powerful generals under his command. Lu Nai immediately became not Lu Nai.
Nai can compare, and just before he arrived in Luzhou, he heard that Qiao Yu defeated more than 10,000 people's army. It seems that southern Sichuan will soon fall into their hands, and it won't take long for the whole of Sichuan to fall as well.
Once under his control, the identities of the two people suddenly become completely different.
Therefore, Lu Nai maintained a sense of respect for Qiao Yu and seemed very respectful. Especially when he saw Qiao Yu, he was even more surprised. He was really too young, only around 20 years old, regardless of his appearance.
The demeanor was still first-class. Lu Nai also saw his daughter. Not to mention that these two people stood together. They were really talented and beautiful. Lu Nai secretly applauded his precious daughter. This vision was really amazing. He
Several elders in the family also forced themselves to marry their daughters to the Zhang family, and now it seems that the Zhang family is nothing.
Qiao Yu didn't have these thoughts. He focused all his attention on salt. There were too many shortcomings in the salt policy of the Qing Dynasty, and too much profit was lost. He had to be able to control all these profits before he started construction.
There is capital.
"Mr. Lu, thank you for your hard work coming all the way. Your wife is working here and she is doing very well and is very capable!"
"Thank you very much, Governor, for the compliment. It is my blessing to be able to serve the Governor. I would like to thank you, the Governor!" After a few polite words, Lu Nai changed the subject: "Your Majesty, the place has been in chaos since the road protection movement.
Our salt merchants have also suffered a lot. One of the reasons I came here this time is to see my daughter, and the other is to invite the governor to march to Fushun as soon as possible and stabilize the local order. Several of our salt merchants are willing to pay one million taels of silver as compensation.
Used by laborers!"
When Qiao Yu heard that Lu Nai was going to pay one million taels of silver, he sneered in his heart. This man really regarded himself as a child who didn't understand anything. It was no exaggeration to say that the salt merchant's crotch was wet even when he farted.
Definitely one of the top wealthy groups in the Qing Dynasty. Sichuan's well salt supplied hundreds of millions of people throughout the southwest and its surrounding areas. The profits were so huge that it was indescribable. A mere one million taels was really too little.
"Mr. Lu, it is my duty to ensure local peace. Don't worry. However, the Southern Sichuan People's Army is everywhere and there are some troublesome things that need to be dealt with. I will definitely act as soon as possible!"
As soon as Lu Nai saw the other party's unkind expression, he knew that the price he offered was too low, so sweat broke out on his face.
"Mr. Governor, it's not that we are stingy, it's just that the local area is in turmoil and we can't make ends meet. Don't worry, as long as law and order is restored, your benefits will definitely be doubled!"
"Haha, Mr. Lu, take a sip of tea first, don't be anxious!"
Qiao Yu did not speak, but instead poured a cup of tea for Lu Nai. How could Lu Nai dare to take it? He regretted it. Even though the young man in front of him was young, he was not young at all. He kept glancing at the front.
His daughter Lu Wanqing, who was sitting aside, tried her best to signal her to say a nice word to her. Unexpectedly, Lu Wanqing turned her head to the side on purpose and did not look at him. Lu Nai was so angry that she secretly cursed the girl for being an extrovert. She was thinking about this before she could do anything.
Lover, don’t care about daddy anymore!
"Governor, what do you think about adding another one million taels?"
"Mr. Lu, you misunderstood. I am not a mountain king, nor one of those mediocre officials from the Manchu Qing Dynasty, nor do I know how to ask for favors. And you must also know that I started as a businessman in Chongqing, and the most important thing to me is rules.
, everything is done according to the rules, you salt merchants have paid all the taxes you should pay. If I still care about you asking for money, you can report me, but if you want to give me some money, just fool the salt tax.
, then it breaks the rules and I will never allow it!”….
When Lu Nai heard Qiao Yu's words, he was immediately surprised. Ever since the Lu family started operating the salt industry, the imperial court had treated the salt merchants as a small treasury where they could withdraw money at will. They also continued to pay filial piety. As for the salt tax, they never
If you don't pay in full, you won't be able to make much money. In recent years, the court has been short of money and has had to increase the salt tax again and again. However, this has not done any harm to the salt merchants. They have passed on these burdens to the common people by raising salt prices.
On the contrary, I made more money!
Now that Qiao Yu had talked to him about the rules and the salt tax, was he still dissatisfied with the money he was given? Lu Nai gritted his teeth and said, "My Lord Governor, I will add another 600,000 taels of silver. As long as the Governor can maintain the salt
We still have generous rewards under the industry system!”
"Mr. Lu, you don't need to pay more. Let me make it clear. The cost of a pound of salt is less than a penny. I was right!"
Lu Nai didn't know what Qiao Yu was doing when he mentioned this cost. He nodded subconsciously, and then shook his head: "Governor, you can't settle accounts like this. The sum of the money from various places and the taxes from the court is not worth dozens of pennies."
You will lose money!"
"That's right, but I have already issued a decree and canceled the fee. Your costs will definitely not be so high?"
"That is, that is, it is all due to the kindness of the Governor. We are grateful and will do our best to honor the Governor!"
"Mr. Lu, I abolished Lijin for the sake of the people of Sichuan. This is also the difference between the Republic of China and the Manchu Qing Dynasty. We are for the sake of the people and want to enable the people to live better. Now the people are enduring the high price of salt.
The price is high and life is extremely difficult. You know better than me what is going on. Let me tell Mr. Lu the truth. The salt policy must be reformed! This cannot be solved by just how much money you give me!"
In fact, the cost of table salt is not much. Sichuan's well salt is produced by extracting salt brine from the ground and heating and evaporating it. It is much more expensive than sea salt, but the cost of a pound of salt is less than a penny. If it can be improved
The process can be cheaper, but how much do people have to spend to buy salt? The current market price is more than 90 Wen, and the quality of Sichuan well salt is better than that of sea salt, which can reach about 100 Wen in some remote areas.
Able to reach higher.
A person needs to eat about ten kilograms of salt a year, and a family of three needs thirty kilograms. Calculated according to the price of salt, this salt will cost about two silver dollars. Even though there are only two silver dollars, many ordinary people make money all year round.
It is less than one or two silver dollars, and some years there is even a deficit. Therefore, most rural people are now busy for a year, paying various exorbitant taxes and land rent, leaving a little ration, and the remaining money is enough to buy some salt.
.
In later generations, there were house slaves and car slaves. Ordinary people in the Qing Dynasty were out-and-out salt slaves. To put it simply, in order to improve people's livelihood in the Qing Dynasty, the first priority was to lower the price of salt.
Then someone may ask again, why is the price of salt so ridiculously high? The problem lies in the layers of exploitation. Salt merchants rely on privileges to operate, but privileges are not so easy to obtain, so they naturally have to pay
With enough benefits from the court, officials at all levels are capable, and even some Jianghu gangs and those responsible for trafficking will take benefits. After all these people are settled, the cost of salt will reach more than 20 or 30 yuan, and then it will be sold outside.
There are also layers of lijin checkpoints. It can be said that the amount of salt can be doubled from the place of production to the place of sale. It is not surprising that ordinary people can buy a pound of salt for one hundred coins.
During the Xuantong period, the salt tax reached more than 40 million, which was definitely based on cruel and even crazy exploitation of the people. Any government with any conscience should not use this daily necessity to embarrass the people. It can also be seen from this
If the Qing Dynasty is not destroyed, heaven will not allow it!
It has become an inevitable choice for Qiao Yu to take action on the salt price. As a vested interest, Lu Nai's face became very abnormal. He forced a smile and said: "Governor Qiao, this salt business has been maintained for hundreds of years. How many people have
If you live by this, you'd better not change it casually, lest the people suffer!"
"Dad, please stop insisting. Salt reform is inevitable. Do you still want to earn that unscrupulous money?"