All the sea goods in his hands were sold at once. Qin Quan was also in a good mood, and he was smart enough to hug Liu Jin's thigh tightly. The demand for such a large order specially sent to the factory was very high.
It is stable, although the price will be lower, but the quantity is large, it is their favorite customer for doing business.
Who in Beijing knows the name of the glass factory?
There are also big customers like Xishan Coal, which everyone likes the most. They have money, large quantities, and stable demand. As long as they get involved, they will make money.
So after Qin Quan gave a few simple instructions to his men, he also started chatting with Liu Jin with a smile.
"Boss Qin, what kind of products do you sell best?"
Liu Jin came to the fish store not specifically to buy fish, but to inquire about various news and understand the market demand, so that he could follow the market changes in the future.
"These large yellow croakers, small yellow croakers, pomfret, and squid all sell very well, mainly because they are cheap and have a lot of meat. In this seafood business, price is very important. It is difficult to sell even if it is a penny more expensive, but it is easy to sell if it is a penny cheaper.
a lot of."
“As for the best-selling one, it’s actually this one~”
Qin Quan pointed at the various fish on the stall and said with a smile. When talking about the latter, he picked up a few dried salted fish and said.
"Is this dried salted fish?"
Liu Jin looked at it and said, these dried salted fish are dried here in Tianjin Port. Each salted fish has the label of Tianjin Port on it. Of course Liu Jin knows it.
"Yes, it is dried salted fish. This kind of dried fish is not too expensive, and it is easy to store for a long time and easy to transport. Of course, the most important thing is that there is a lot of salt on it. When cooking, put some dried fish in it.
Go in, it’s meaty and doesn’t need to be salted, so it’s the hottest seller.”
"However, the production of this kind of dried salted fish is too small, and it is often out of stock. Every time there is some, it is sold out quickly. After all, it is pickled with salt, and this salt is very expensive."
Qin Quan smiled and told Liu Jin that salt is still very precious in this era and the price is also very high. This kind of salted dried fish can leave salt for ordinary people, so it is naturally very popular.
"That's it~"
After hearing this, Liu Jin smiled and nodded.
Of course, Liu Jin knew this a long time ago, otherwise he would not have come up with something like dried salted fish. Now he is asking just to confirm his judgment.
As expected, salted fish is very popular in this era.
"It seems that the matter of setting up a salt farm by yourself must be settled as soon as possible. Without a salt farm, the salted fish would be too expensive. Those salt dealers are all cannibals who eat people without spitting out their bones. Salt is too expensive."
Thinking of this, Liu Jin couldn't help but want to build a salt farm.
It's just that the salt and iron in this era were exclusively owned by the imperial court. However, this salt and iron franchise not only did not bring much benefit to the imperial court, nor did it bring any benefits to the people. In the end, it was the salt merchants who benefited.
Relying on the salt and iron franchise, each of these salt merchants became extremely wealthy, cultivated a huge group of spokesmen, and slowly penetrated into the power center of the empire. By the late Ming Dynasty, they directly controlled the entire court, and finally
This beautiful river and mountain was ruined.
Setting up a salt farm is definitely not an easy task, and may even be impossible.
However, Liu Jin has the support of Prince Zhu Houzhao. Zhu Houzhao is now very enthusiastic about making money, and the time now is very good.
Not long ago, the case of theft of official grain was still being investigated. From time to time, big bosses in the court were found out, and these people found out were basically related to the big salt merchants, big families, and big businessmen in the Jiangnan area.
Inextricably linked, they are all their spokespersons.
This wave of blows was very heavy for them.
Before they could catch their breath, and while they were being suppressed, Liu Jin felt that there was a glimmer of hope that he could accomplish this matter. Before, Liu Jin would never have dared to mention this matter.
Because that would definitely be courting death, and those big salt merchants would never allow anyone to touch their interests.
"I don't know if Zhu Houzhao has forgotten this matter."
Liu Jin thought for a while and shook his head.
After chatting briefly with Boss Qin for a while, Liu Jin continued to wander around the Haiyu Store.
After visiting the Fish Shop, Liu Jin also returned to his home.
"Old Liu, you are back. Come into the palace with me quickly."
Liu Jin had just returned home when Zhu Houzhao came to the door in a hurry, as if there was something urgent.
"Enter the palace?"
Liu Jin was slightly stunned and said.
"Yes, I told my father about the salt farm you mentioned to me last time. My father has many things he wants to ask you."
He really came up with whatever he was thinking about. He was still thinking about the salt farm at Yuhui Bank. Unexpectedly, Zhu Houzhao came over to look for him immediately, also because of the salt farm.
After hearing Zhu Houzhao's words, Liu Jin did not waste time. It was a rare opportunity to see the palace of this era, so naturally he couldn't miss it.
Soon, following Zhu Houzhao, Liu Jin walked towards the palace.
Entering the palace, Liu Jin looked carefully as he walked. It was similar to what he saw when he went to the Forbidden City in later generations. There was not much difference, except that there were more palace guards everywhere.
In the study room of Yangxin Hall, Emperor Hongzhi was also thinking about salt.
"Xiao Jing, please ask someone to investigate the situation in the major salt farms in the south of the Yangtze River. In addition, investigate the salt merchants to see if what the prince said is true."
Emperor Hongzhi learned a lot about the salt industry from Zhu Houzhao. Since the fifth year of Hongzhi's reign, when the government should pay grain instead of silver, Emperor Hongzhi felt that he was doing the right thing in the salt industry.
In the past, it was difficult to maintain the policy of collecting grain and opening up the government. Without reforms, the frontier troops would not even have food to eat. After the policy was opened and the policy was opened, the court had an extra million taels of silver income every year, which greatly alleviated the court's financial difficulties.
, although it is still very difficult now.
"Yes~"
Xiao Jing replied respectfully.
Now Emperor Hongzhi likes to leave many things to himself. Through the imperial guards and factory guards, Emperor Hongzhi can learn more and clearer information, and slowly begins to rely on himself. Not long ago, he even allocated money from internal funds.
Five hundred thousand taels of silver were used for the office work of Jinyiwei and Factory Guards.
This shows that Emperor Hongzhi now attaches great importance to the strength of factory guards, which was something that he could not even think of before.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Prince would like to see you~"
"Xuan~"
At this time, Zhu Houzhao took Liu Jin to the study room of Yangxin Hall.
Entering the palace for the first time, Liu Jin was not as excited as expected, because he had been to the Forbidden City in later generations and had watched many palace dramas. However, Liu Jin was still very curious about Emperor Hongzhi's study, and he walked casually.
Take a look.
"Anything here will be regarded as a national treasure by future generations~"
"These hanging paintings also have words..."
In the study of Emperor Hongzhi, there are many kinds of calligraphy and paintings, which can be seen everywhere, as well as various kinds of porcelain, all of which are absolutely exquisite. This made Liu Jin's little eyes keep shining, and he didn't know what was going on in his mind.
Thinking about selling these things to future generations.
"Father~"
"Caomin Liu Jin pays homage to His Majesty~"
Zhu Houzhao and Liu Jin saluted Emperor Hongzhi respectively.
"No gifts, just a seat."
Emperor Hongzhi said very easily.
"Liu Jin, do you want to open a salt farm?"
Emperor Hongzhi had no intention of wasting time and asked directly as soon as he arrived.
"Yes, Your Majesty, please give me your permission."
Liu Jin nodded and replied.
"Then do you know that salt and iron are exclusively owned by the imperial court and are absolutely awarded to private individuals?"
Emperor Hongzhi said very seriously with no expression on his face.
"The grassroots know~"
Liu Jin looked at Emperor Hongzhi's face and felt a little confused about what Emperor Hongzhi was thinking.
"Since you know that, why do you still want to set up a salt farm?"
Emperor Hongzhi looked at Liu Jin and put down the pen and memorial in his hands.
"Your Majesty, the reason why ordinary people want to set up a salt farm is because it is beneficial to the country and the people."
Liu Jin thought for a while and replied.
"Is it good for the country and the people?"
Emperor Hongzhi smiled softly and continued: "Tell me what are the benefits?"
"As long as Your Majesty allows the grassroots to run the salt farm, I will pay a tax of two million taels of silver to the court every year. In addition, the grassroots can also guarantee that the annual dividends from the salt farm to His Highness will not be less than two million taels of silver."
Liu Jin thought for a while and said.
"Two million taels of silver?"
When Emperor Hongzhi heard this, he couldn't help but take a breath.
The imperial court's tax collection was only one million taels of silver per year. When Liu Jin opened a salt farm, he actually said that he would pay two million taels of silver to the imperial court, and the most important thing was that there was still profit.
Give Zhu Houzhao an annual dividend of no less than two million taels of silver.
"How much do you plan to sell this salt for per pound?"
After thinking about it, Emperor Hongzhi asked coldly, after paying so much tax and silver, and still making money, apart from the high price of selling salt, Emperor Hongzhi really couldn't figure out how Liu Jin could sustain himself.
"Your Majesty, my salt is not only at least 30% lower than the market price, but the quality is definitely better than other salts on the market. This is another benefit I mentioned. It is also good for the people of Li. You can
Let people eat cheaper and better salt.”
Liu Jin replied confidently.
"Do you treat me like a three-year-old?"
"You have to make a lot of money and have a low price. How can such a good thing be possible in the world?"
When Emperor Hongzhi heard this, he immediately said sharply.
"Grass people don't dare~"
Liu Jin quickly pretended to be frightened and said.
"Hmph, what are you afraid of? Salt and iron are an industry exclusively owned by the imperial court. You dare to get involved in it. What else are you afraid of?"
Emperor Hongzhi snorted coldly.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me for being bold. How much salt tax can this court collect in a year?"
"I wonder if Your Majesty knows how much a pound of salt can be purchased on the market? And does he know how much a pound of salt costs when it comes out of the salt field?"
Liu Jin was a little confused about today's Emperor Hongzhi. He felt like he had changed into a different person. He was less approachable than before and more domineering and domineering, making him feel like he was accompanying the emperor like a tiger.
If the former Emperor Hongzhi was a good old man, the current Emperor Hongzhi is more like what an emperor should be.
"The imperial court can levy a salt tax of one million taels every year."
"The salt in this market only sells for thirty or forty cents a pound. As for the salt from this salt farm..."
Emperor Hongzhi thought for a while and said, when it came to how much a pound of salt from the salt field was, he was speechless because he had no idea how much a pound of salt from the salt field was.
"Your Majesty, this salt merchant's cost of getting salt from the salt field is actually almost zero."
Liu Jin thought for a while and asked Emperor Hongzhi to finish his words.
"The cost is zero?"
When Emperor Hongzhi and Zhu Houzhao heard this, their eyes widened immediately. This was really shocking.
"Your Majesty, since the fifth year of Hongzhi, the tax payment for grain has been changed to the payment for silver. I wonder if your Majesty has discovered that the salt tax collected is getting less and less year by year, while the military expenditures of the border army are increasing year by year.
More than a year?"
Liu Jin nodded, thought for a while and asked again.
When Emperor Hongzhi heard this, his eyes were a little dazed. As an emperor educated in Confucianism, he always paid attention to governing the country with benevolence and virtue. For things like financial data, he just listened to Zhou Jing's recitations and did not take a closer look at them.
Various data changes, of course, are not clear about these things.
"So what?"
Emperor Hongzhi thought for a while and said.
"Your Majesty, why does the salt tax get smaller every year?"
"With so many salt fields in the imperial court, why can it only receive a salt tax of one million taels a year?"
"Your Majesty is wise and wise. I think your Majesty is very clear about many of these things."
"I wonder if your majesty has ever been to the salt field? Take a look at the situation in the kitchen households? I think as long as your majesty goes and takes a look, you will understand why I said that the cost of salt taken by these salt merchants from the salt field is almost zero."
Liu Jin had a lot of things to say in his mind, but he couldn't say them after thinking about them. Although he knew some things, he couldn't say them. Why couldn't this good grain payment plan be implemented? In fact, the main reason was the emperor.
Whether it was Emperor Hongzhi or the previous Ming Xianzong.
Salt is often given as a reward to the royal family, nobles, ministers, etc. This is tantamount to a disguised form of nest-occupying behavior. The merchants who work hard to transport grain to the border cannot get the salt, but those who have made no contribution can get it.
Salt.
If the reward of salt is too much, the system of grain payment cannot be implemented anymore, because the merchants who transport grain to the border have no salt but cannot get the salt, because the salt output of the salt field is limited, and it must be limited to satisfy those who want it.
The salt guide of powerful officials.
But can you say that the emperor is wrong? Obviously not, even though the Emperor Hongzhi in front of him is famously good-tempered.
The salt merchants who can get salt from the salt field are all very knowledgeable people. These people have many tricks to evade taxes. This is why the salt tax received is getting less and less.
It was fine during the Hongzhi Dynasty, but in the late Ming Dynasty, the salt tax was even more pitiful. Not only the salt tax, but all other taxes were pitiful. Even a county in the Jiangnan region could not collect much.
Ten taels of silver is incredible when you think about it.
This is the drawback of Nayin Kaizhong, tax evasion and tax evasion are too serious.
The previous grain payment system was different. This grain was related to the border army. The border army would only give salt after receiving the grain. There was no place to evade taxes. After all, everything related to the border army was
event.
If the border troops have no food to eat, they will cause trouble. Since ancient times, military mutinies have been a major event, and they will be reported to heaven immediately.
After hearing Liu Jin's words, Emperor Hongzhi frowned and pondered. Salt and food were matters of great importance and involved huge interests. Of course he knew how serious the corruption was.
It's just that he didn't know much about salt, because the officials in the court below would not let Emperor Hongzhi know too much about salt.
The impression given to Emperor Hongzhi was that after changing the tax rate, it was a good thing for the country and the people. The court increased the salt tax, and the salt merchants no longer had to work hard to transport grain to border towns, and the common people seemed to be able to eat it.
Cheaper salt.
Because of this illusion, Emperor Hongzhi knew that salt, like grain, was rampant in corruption, but he never carried out any rectification and reform. Of course, Emperor Hongzhi himself had limited wisdom and relied more on the officials below him.
, no matter how many changes are made, there is actually no way to touch the interests of those people.
"Father, ordinary people's wages for a day's work are about thirty or forty cents. A pound of salt costs dozens of cents. It is really too expensive. The current salt and iron system is of little benefit to the court and not to the common people.
Even more so, ordinary people often cannot afford salt at all."
"The biggest beneficiaries of this system are the salt merchants and the officials in the salt fields. Each of them is as rich as the country, and extremely rich."
At this time, Zhu Houzhao also spoke. He either didn't do something, but was very serious when he did something. He had people investigate the salt merchant's affairs beforehand, and collected what he knew when he was outside. He also acted out of his feelings.
After hearing Zhu Houzhao's words, Emperor Hongzhi's face became even more ugly. Originally, in his opinion, the tens of dollars per pound of salt were not very expensive, but when Zhu Houzhao said that ordinary people could only buy one pound of salt after working for a day.
At that time, he knew that this salt was really expensive, very expensive.
Ordinary people don't have many opportunities to work, and it's difficult to make money. They really can't afford the salt worth tens of yuan per kilogram. This is just like if salt in later generations sells for hundreds of yuan per kilogram, ordinary people will not be able to afford it.
