Lu Nai saw the shortcomings of the salt affairs much more clearly than Lu Wanqing, but privileges are like opium. It is addictive and cannot be easily relieved. Therefore, this time the Qing Dynasty is about to end. Sichuan
When there was a new owner, Lu Nai took the initiative to visit Qiao Yu and wanted to buy him off first so that he could continue to maintain this privilege. To this end, he offered several million taels of silver, but Qiao Yu not only refused to accept it, but also
How could Lu Nai not feel depressed when he was told clearly that the salt affairs needed to be reformed?
"Adults are talking, children should stop interrupting!" Lu Nai scolded Lu Wanqing, then turned to Qiao Yu and smiled: "Governor, now that you have abolished Lijin, I think the price of salt can be reduced by twenty or thirty cents.
Or even more, I think we can lower the price of salt by ten or twenty cents first, then the mud-legged people will see the benefits, and then we will hand over the extra money to you. Don't you think this is the best of both worlds?"
When Qiao Yu saw how ignorant Lu Nai was, his face suddenly became slightly frosty, and he said coldly: "Mr. Lu, this time I tell you that the salt reform is not a discussion, but a notice, and I also read it.
For Wanqing's sake, I tell you such an important decision in advance. There is no other discussion. If you can prepare it first, I guarantee that you can earn more and get the money openly. You don't have to look at it anymore.
Those who flatter themselves as officials can continue to operate normally as long as they make a living and pay taxes. I would also like to advise you that it is painful to give up your privileges, but it is better to give up voluntarily than passively. Sooner or later, the common people cannot bear it anymore and rise up to resist. What can I say?
It’s too late, this is how the Qing Dynasty perished, let alone a few salt merchants!”
What Qiao Yu said was very weighty, like fists hitting Lu Nai's heart. In the past, the salt merchants relied on the network of relationships they had woven to firmly protect themselves. This power
Their power is beyond imagination, even if the emperor wants to deal with them, he will inevitably suffer backlash, and the tiger will have no way to eat them.
But now is the time of war, and the rules of the past are gone. The salt merchants are like turtles that have lost their shells. They are very fragile. If Qiao Yu steps on them at this time, there is no guarantee that they will not be completely destroyed. In fact,
Qiao Yu chose to solve the salt issue at this time because of this consideration.
If we don't change it now, when the world settles down, the salt merchants can rely on various relationships to reorganize the protective umbrella. Then Qiao Yu will not face the Sichuan salt merchants, but the entire world's salt merchants.
In China, not only Sichuan produces salt, there is sea salt along the coast, and there is also pool salt in Shaanxi. The power of the Lianghuai salt merchants is still greater than that of the Sichuan salt merchants.
Salt is a necessity for the people, and the price gap cannot be too big. If you sell it cheaper in Sichuan, what will happen in other places? If other places don’t lower prices, will the people agree? If other salt merchants are unwilling to give up their privileges, then there is only one
The solution is to prevent Sichuan from changing its policies and let everyone compete with each other. Only in this way can the bad government be maintained.
In fact, when Yuan Shikai came to power, he wanted to reform the salt affairs. In the end, he was collectively opposed by this interest group, and finally nothing was done. The salt affairs in the Republic of China continued the shortcomings of the Qing Dynasty, and the people suffered from it. Now the world is still in chaos.
Qiao Yu took advantage of the chaos to complete the reform, and you won't be able to oppose it at that time. Otherwise, you will wait for the people of Sichuan to tear you apart. Maybe you can also push other regions to reform the salt policy so that the people will no longer be salt slaves. This can be regarded as Qiao Yu.
This is one of Yu’s merits.
Lu Nai couldn't help but wonder what he should do. Should he listen to Qiao Yu or unite all the salt merchants to fight? The two thoughts were constantly at odds.
"Dad, you haven't heard how Qiao Yu changed the salt policy? Why are you so anxious to stop it? Maybe it can be better?"...
Lu Wanqing knew a little about Qiao Yu's reform plan. She naturally saw the benefits, and he took the initiative to tell his father the plan in advance, so that his father could make arrangements in advance and obviously get more benefits than others.
Maybe he could earn even more than he does now, so looking at my father's troubled expression, I really hated the iron, so I reminded him.
Lu Nai also reacted and asked hurriedly: "Governor Qiao, how do you plan to reform the salt policy?"
"It's very simple. Abolish the original monopoly system and adopt the method of free competition. As long as you have sufficient qualifications, you can open a well to boil salt. After paying a deposit of 500,000 taels of silver to the government, you can mine salt. How can you produce and sell it to the whole world?
It is up to the merchants to make their own decisions. The government only levies taxes on salt twice. Once when it leaves the factory, it is taxed at five cents per catty. It also levies a sales tax once at the place of sale, at three cents per catty. Other than that, no other tax is levied.
Regarding taxes, I plan to first reduce the price of salt to 70 cents this year, and then further reduce it to about 50 cents. Within three years, the salt price will be controlled at around 30 cents. In the end, the tax collected by the government will be even more.
Lower and then further control the price of salt, in short, it will no longer be difficult for the people to eat salt!"
"What about giving this business qualification to a few businessmen?" Lu Nai was gradually moved by the scene described by Qiao Yu. According to Qiao Yu, the government's tax for a pound of salt is only eight cents, and the cost is no more.
For less than ten cents, if you can buy thirty cents, you will make a lot of money, and Lu Nai also clearly knows what this salt price means to other provinces. The salt price of thirty cents is only one-third of that in other provinces.
First, if it is managed well, will Sichuan Salt be able to occupy a broader market? In that case, the profits will definitely be even more amazing. Therefore, Lu Nai couldn't help but be tempted. He knew that although Qiao Yu said it was free competition, he could suddenly
There are not many businessmen who can make further investments with half a million yuan, so I asked how many of them have such rights!
"Salt is different from other things. If it's too little, no one will eat it as a vegetable. If it's too much, no one will eat it as a vegetable. We will tentatively list it as one of ten. However, I have two points to explain. One is that the salary of salt workers must be improved. At least
To keep them fed and clothed, secondly, if Mr. Lu is going to run the salt business, it would be best to use more machines for production, which can reduce costs and make greater profits."
Lu Nai hurriedly nodded in agreement. In a short period of time, Lu Nai had already calculated that, based on ten salt merchants, the population supplied by well salt is close to 100 million, which is an average of 10 million people. Each person buys ten kilograms of salt.
, earning ten cents per kilogram of salt, one person can earn one hundred cents, and the net profit in a year can definitely reach five to six million yuan. Although the salt merchant is rich, it has been accumulated over generations, and the bulk of it has to be handed over to
The imperial court actually didn't get much money. According to current estimates, the profit has doubled, so he couldn't help but change his mind.
After Qiao Yu and Lu Nai finished talking, they left the father and daughter to talk alone. Lu Wanqing immediately took her father to her small courtyard and asked, "Dad, is mother's health okay?"
"Okay, I just miss you. You are such a little girl and your movies are so wild. How come you hooked up with Governor Qiao after a trip to Dazu? Not to mention that you two are a perfect match for your talents and looks. You also have great taste!"
Lu Wanqing's eyes widened when she heard that her father dared to tease her, "I have nothing to do with that conspirator, don't bring us together, but daddy, please hurry up and prepare how to make a lot of money!"
"Silly girl, Governor Qiao only revealed the news to dad because of your face. Otherwise, how could dad get such a good deal? This is true. What else are you planning to do?
"
As the father and daughter chatted, Qiao Yuzheng received an important piece of information. It turned out that there was a big turmoil in the Xu Mansion. Dozens of banks and pawnshops united with some local militia to launch an uprising and expel the city.
Other militia forces are now sending telegrams to Qiao Yu, hoping that Qiao Yu can enter the Syrian government as soon as possible to prevent the militia from counterattacking!