Outside Yangzhou City, Yang Tianning followed Yu Wenxuzhong on a carriage and rode together.
Yang Tianning was a little confused, tilted his head and asked: "Governor, why do you think my adoptive father wants to reform the salt policy? I often heard people in the capital say that most of the money and food spent on the war last year came from the salt policy. If it is so profitable, why?
Do you want to change it?"
Yu Wenxu chuckled softly, held the reins of his horse, and said in a condensed voice: "There is a quota for producing salt, and there is a government price for selling salt. The difference between the original price and the price is ten times, and the government benefits from it. However, since Taizong of this dynasty, all the emperors have
There is always a shortcoming in the desire for profit. Between sincerity and benevolence, there is no shortage of attempts by officials, ministers, merchants, government offices, etc. to grab more salt profits. After arriving at Shenzong, he almost wanted to grab all the salt profits in the world. By the time Taishi Cai became the prime minister, he had already gone from
The pursuit of salt profits has turned into the pursuit of business wealth."
"In the past, my mentor did not engage in salt administration because the court spent too much money in the past few years and needed this support. Now there is ample commercial tax, which is enough to maintain the court's revenue and expenditure. My mentor loves the people, how can he not change it?"
Having said this, Yu Wenxuzhong's face lit up and he said: "This is benevolent government that has not been seen in thousands of years, and it is no worse than the abolition of corvee."
Yang Tianning thought about it for a while, but still couldn't figure it out, but he didn't ask any more questions and lowered his head to think about it.
After traveling less than three or four miles, Yangzhou City has been reached, and groups of troops familiar with the Beijing camp's marching pattern are running back and forth.
Yang Tianning stopped a primary school student and asked: "Brother, what's going on in such a hurry?"
"According to the order of the young master, suppress the civil unrest in Yanchi!"
Yu Wenxuzhong was stunned when he heard this. Why did such a policy to benefit the people cause civil unrest?
He spurred on his horses, took a group of people with him, and sped towards the city.
In the Yangzhou Yamen Office, Yang Lin was wearing an official uniform and soft armor underneath, sitting outside the lobby.
When he saw the soldiers, they were solemn and obeyed his orders one after another, but he couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
In the Yanchi area, some people instigated the salt people to cause trouble. It was this group of salt people who benefited most from the salt policy.
They have the technology to dry salt, and as long as the reform is successful, they will be the meat and potatoes of every salt pond, and all the salt merchants will compete for them.
But now, these short-sighted people, instigated by the forces behind them, are brazenly opposing the imperial court, regardless of their own life and death, and are thankless.
Such an ignorant person made Yang Lin's mouth feel bitter.
I originally set my heart towards the bright moon, but the bright moon shining on the ditch is nothing more than that.
He stroked the gold-inlaid dragon sword on the dragon book table, with murderous intent in his eyes. With a little encouragement, these people dared to resist the government. It was obvious that they had been under the control of the family that controlled the salt well for a long time and no longer knew what a court was.
After a sound of footsteps, Liu Baizheng, the prefect of Yangzhou, came in, wiped his sweat and said: "Young Master, two thousand people gathered in Qingchi Yanjing, and three of the officials who went to measure were beaten to death."
Yang Lin stood up in a hurry. Unexpectedly, the first person to see the red was an official. Do you really think that the law does not punish everyone?
With so many people revolting, others dare not suppress it, because if they are not careful, they will have a reputation of mistreating and harming the people.
As an official these days, reputation is more important than anything else.
"Lu Qian, prepare your horses and go to Qingchi Salt Well."
A group of guards surrounded him. As soon as he left the government office, he saw Yu Wenxu and others. They bowed from a distance on their horses. Yu Wenxu said loudly: "Teacher, why are the people in chaos?"
"There is no discipline in the eyes, no thoughts in the brain, and the bad roots are deep-rooted." Yang Lin tugged on the horse's reins and cursed: "These chaotic people are no different from evil cults."
Qingchi Salt Well is a medium-sized salt well in Yangzhou, which produces soil salt.
On a high ground outside the salt well, there is a secluded restaurant. The three floors upstairs are separated by emerald green curtains. A young man is sitting at the table, with two maids with bright eyes and grinning teeth standing next to him.
The two maids with buns in their buns were both beautiful faces with bright eyes and white teeth. Each wore a rabbit fur coat, which made them look pink and beautiful.
There were several plates of exquisite side dishes and a pot of sake on the table. While drinking, the young man held up a telescope he had finally obtained and looked at the chaos in the distance, with a smile on his face from time to time.
"The eldest brother died in Qingxi Stream, and the second brother died in Thang Long City. According to me, it was all because he was too stupid. Now this guy has become a climate, and when he is in the right position, he is forced to attack. Isn't it stupid and ignorant? Tolerate and drive
As a common man, protecting the interests of the family is the only way to go."
Cai Jing's New Deal was the result of countless compromises, and it was only possible to complete it so smoothly with the support of Jiangnan's wealthy families.
At that time, Wang Anshi tried his best but couldn't do it.
Those who benefited from the salt policy were still the old scholar-officials, nobles, and the families behind them.
Not far away, a group of soldiers and horses suddenly surged in, red like fire dragons, continuous and galloping like flying.
The leader held a big flag with Yang characters, hunting in the wind, and fluttering with the wind.
The young man in the small building stood up, walked to the railing, and looked through the telescope.
He saw a high-ranking official in purple and gold official uniform emerging from the crowd, and everyone around him was surrounding him. Yang Lin looked at the chaotic crowd in the salt pond.
These people were shouting, their faces were red and their necks were thick, and they all rolled up their sleeves, looking very tough.
On one side of the salt pond, a group of officers drew their swords and confronted them. Behind them, there were the bodies of three of their companions.
The general magistrate of Yangzhou shouted hoarsely on the stage about the benefits of the salt policy and how they would benefit, but not a single rebel could listen.
Yang Lin sneered, waved his hand gently, and the horn sounded.
The majestic and desolate sound of the trumpet brought the hustle and bustle to an abrupt end, and everyone looked over.
The sound stopped, and Yang Lin rode forward slowly on horseback. Lu Qian and Yang Tianning cautiously drew their swords to guard their sides.
"I only want to say one thing, those who kill will be put to death, and those who gather people will be arrested. Leave the scene slowly, and everyone will take responsibility for their crimes!" Yang Lin's eyes were as sharp as an eagle, showing the magnanimity of having lived among people for a long time. He looked around and said with concentration: "As for
The mastermind behind it will confiscate his family and exterminate his family after he is found out."
In the crowd, someone lightly touched the middle-aged woman in front of him. The woman hesitated for a moment, then immediately raised her hands and cried: "Oh my god, the government is oppressing the Yan people and won't let us live! We will all die."
Forget it!"
There was one person who took the lead, and the rest immediately became confused again. Suddenly there was a sound breaking through the air, and the woman suddenly fell to the ground. There was no sharp arrow, only a red spot on her forehead, and blood flowing out.
A thin man rushed forward, supported her and shouted: "Madam? Mother! I will follow you..." Before she could finish her words, the man also fell to the ground.
The man who stabbed the woman earlier had a fierce look in his eyes, covered his cheek with his hat, lowered his head and shouted loudly: "The government is killing people, the government is killing people randomly, we will fight with them."
Yang Tianning clamped the horse's belly, and with a long neigh, the horse stepped forward, stepped through the crowd, and killed the man hiding in the middle with one knife.
If you look closely at his face, you will see scars all over his face, showing his fierce look. Looking around, no one dares to make a sound.