() "My ministers and ministers, you have two copies of the current production and price of salt in various places in the Ming Dynasty, as well as the amount of grain required and the price list of grain. The discrepancies are not very big. Now I invite you to discuss the annual salt production of each region.
Quota, as well as the grading reward standards for salt workers, and the ratio of exchanging grain for salt. These are related to the success or failure of the new salt policy, and we hope to discuss it with all our heart." Emperor Chongzhen sincerely requested his ministers.
Regarding this specific number, it has a lot to do with these transfer envoys. They did not speak for a while, and the first and second leaders from various places discussed it in detail.
Zhang Tongchang was right next to them, listening to their gloomy discussion, and couldn't help but secretly despise them.
After waiting for a while, Emperor Chongzhen estimated that the time was almost up and signaled to the chief minister of the cabinet.
So Wen Tiren left work, turned to face his colleagues and said: "Now let's discuss the first item, salt production, which will be reported by the local transportation envoys and salt classes, and colleagues will revise it."
After Wen Tiren finished speaking, he turned to the Supervisor of Ceremonies and gave a slight gesture.
Cao Huachun ordered several eunuchs around him to prepare pen and ink. One person would write down the conclusion, and the other would write down the details of the suggestions of the ministers present.
Zhong Jinwei had not read these two investigation reports in advance, and he read them carefully at this time. However, he was not prepared to speak. Even with these two reports, he still did not understand the actual life of the people of Ming Dynasty, and he was wrong.
Not good.
Wen Tiren waited for a while, but no one from the transfer envoy or the salt class made a speech, so he just called his name. The person whose name was called had no choice but to report the agreed amount. After hearing this, the others secretly revised theirs in their hearts.
number.
The Ministry of Household Affairs had made an estimate in advance. When the report came out, the number was seriously low. Bi Ziyan made an analysis based on the number of salt workers, the number of kilograms of salt owed, and the amount of salt needed in the area under his jurisdiction, and gave it to everyone in the palace.
Listen and let them modify the number again.
On the one hand, it was because what Bi Ziyan said was well-founded, and on the other hand, because Bi Ziyan was their boss, these people in the Salt Administration had to revise their numbers.
After correcting them until they were about to cry, Bi Ziyan let them go.
Cabinet members and other ministers occasionally spoke, but Bi Ziyan was still the protagonist. It wasn't that they didn't want to speak, but Bi Ziyan's behavior was so different from before.
In the past, everyone talked in general terms and could find loopholes in everything they said to refute it. Now that we have prepared actual data and talked about the data, people without prior preparation can only rely on these numbers and cannot put forward other opinions.
.
Besides, the new salt policy has not had a great impact on them. The wealth of the big salt merchants has long made them jealous. Now it has harmed the interests of these salt merchants, and the cost of using salt for themselves can be reduced, which is also beneficial to the people, and they can have
With a good reputation, there will naturally be fewer deliberate objections.
The person in charge of the eunuch was recording quickly. Cao Huachun knew that Emperor Chongzhen attached great importance to it. He personally walked to the eunuch who was recording, listening and verifying the contents of the record.
Zhou Yanru's forehead was sweating, but he could not affect the development of the matter at all, he could only worry.
The meeting continued. Emperor Chongzhen saw the progress of things and everything was going according to plan, and he felt relieved.
This salt policy reform is the most critical step in the one-stop plan. Relief will be provided to places in urgent need of food, which will greatly alleviate the court's plight.
When the meeting progressed to the prices and sales areas of salt introduction in various places, it caused a lot of discussions. The interests of all parties naturally had a game, and the conclusion was reached only after a balance was finally reached.
Zhou Yanru also took the opportunity to participate in this aspect and secured some benefits for the two major salt merchants in Huaihe River, so as not to cause them too much loss.
The meeting lasted for a long time, and by the time all discussions were completed, the sun was already setting.
Emperor Chongzhen asked Cao Huachun to read the results of various deliberations to the ministers to confirm that they were correct.
Then, he raised his voice and said loudly: "I take this salt administration matter very seriously, and I hope that the ministers will work hard and not neglect it."
After an afternoon of discussion, the ministers were all exhausted. When Emperor Chongzhen said it, they had to express their stance that they would do this well.
Emperor Chongzhen was not very relieved when he saw their appearance, so he added: "In order to ensure the smooth implementation of the salt policy, a national salt patrol censor was appointed to supervise the production of salt and the exchange of salt in various places."
When the officials in the palace heard this, they said, "National Salt Patrol Censor, this position is very powerful. I don't know if the emperor already has a candidate. If not, I have to quickly recommend my own person."
Amid the expectations of the civil servants, Emperor Chongzhen said: "Where is Zhang Tongchang?"
When Emperor Chongzhen announced the establishment of a national salt patrol censor, Zhang Tongchang already understood the purpose of calling him to participate in the salt administration, but he didn't understand why he was chosen.
When he heard Emperor Chongzhen calling him, he quickly stepped forward, bowed and answered Emperor Chongzhen: "I'm here."
Emperor Chongzhen looked at the young man in front of him. He was about five feet three inches tall and not very tall, but he was very popular and gave people a feeling of vitality.
Emperor Chongzhen's first impression of Zhang Tongchang was very good. He said: "The first assistant recommended you to me as the National Salt Patrol Censor, saying that you have the style of my great-grandfather, dare to do things, and know right from wrong. Are you willing to serve me?
Share your worries and supervise the implementation of the new salt policy for me?"
When Zhang Tongchang heard that the emperor and his chief minister valued him so much and said that he was like his great-grandfather, he became excited and his face turned red. He bowed to Emperor Chongzhen and said: "I will live up to your majesty.
There are those who work hard and die."
Zhong Jinwei was also looking at Zhang Tongchang, and couldn't help but feel a little dumbfounded when he saw that a young man also used this famous saying.
When Zhou Yanru saw that the situation was not right, he came out again and said: "Your Majesty, I think that Zhang Tongchang is too young and inexperienced, and he is afraid that he is not qualified to take on the important task of patrolling the salt censor across the country..."
Zhou Yanru wanted to say that he would be responsible for it, which was more appropriate and showed that the court valued him. Before he could say anything, Wen Tiren spoke up: "Aren't you also so young and already serving as a cabinet minister? Young man
, are motivated, and the new salt administration needs young people like Zhang Tongchang to come forward and share the worries of His Majesty."
Emperor Chongzhen responded with a smile: "The chief minister is right. You are all young and promising people. I also look forward to you injecting vitality into the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty and allowing the Ming Dynasty to regain the style of the founding of the country."
Zhou Yanru was helpless. He used to be proud of himself for joining the cabinet at a young age, but now it became an obstacle that hindered him from achieving his goals.
After Emperor Chongzhen saw Zhou Yanru return to his original position, he said to Zhang Tongchang: "The position of National Salt Patrol Censor will be very hard and there will be many difficulties. You must be mentally prepared."
"I understand." Zhang Tongchang puffed up his chest as he spoke, showing his fearlessness.
"When you inspect various places, if you encounter fluctuations in salt prices and unreasonable rewards for salt workers in various places, you can adjust it according to the actual situation. The range should not be too large, and report it to the court." Emperor Chongzhen authorized again.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"What Zhou Qing said just now makes sense. You are young after all, but you can't make mistakes in the salt administration. I asked Dongchang to pay attention to the salt administration in various places at the same time, just in case."
Zhang Tongchang naturally has no objection, he has confidence in himself.
But those transfer envoys and Salt Class Tiju were complaining in their hearts. Originally, they were very uncomfortable with the addition of a patrol salt censor to supervise them. Now that there was a terrifying Dongchang Supervisor, they were even more distressed. They couldn't help but
He gritted his teeth with hatred for Zhou Yanru who was involved in leaving Dongchang. He would die if he didn't talk too much!
They actually didn't know that even if Zhou Yanru didn't say anything, Emperor Chongzhen would eventually let Dongchang get involved. As soon as Zhou Yanru came forward, he went with the flow and brought Dongchang in, which was disliked by the ministers.
The meeting was almost over at this point. The officials exited the Wenhua Hall and hurried back to arrange their own affairs. Zhou Yanru hurried back to tell Liao Bin the situation and asked him to go back quickly to explain the situation. And other officials who were busy with their thoughts also did the same.
Send your cronies to go to the warehouses where money is concentrated to buy up money in order to earn the price difference.
You should know that due to insufficient salt production, many warehouse banknotes may have been held by several generations and have not yet been exchanged for salt coins. However, large salt merchants who have connections that can exchange salt coins cannot even exchange the warehouse banknotes in their hands.
It’s over, and I don’t want to exchange more, because if I exchange more, I will have to pay more taxes. It is better to exchange some and add some private salt to sell it more cost-effectively. Therefore, the banknotes have been falling, and it is almost useless paper.
Now the imperial court was determined to increase production and exchange all the warehouse banknotes. Therefore, they could make a lot of money by buying the warehouse banknotes at a low price and converting them into salt. Many officials were not tempted and rushed to buy them.