Wu Shan, the most orthodox poet, had a very high reputation in the officialdom. Even when Yan Song left his post, many people called for Wu Shan to take over as the chief assistant, rather than the second assistant Xu Jie.

Seeing that he had something to say, and this was obviously unusual, Guo Pu and others couldn't help but look solemn on their faces, and they all looked up at Wu Shan sitting on the head.

Wu Shan gently put down the teacup without going around the corner. Facing the confused gaze of everyone, he said with a smile: "Many people will think of increasing the grain tax to the people when they hear Kaiyuan, but today the people are not rich, and Taizu

There was a clear order, so this was impossible! After thinking about it, I thought that the court would open up the source of the Ningbo Maritime Bureau and rectify the salt administration!"

As soon as this statement came out, everything was silent.

If it were just the former, it would not be a big problem. After all, the opponents were mainly the large gang of officials from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. However, for the latter, this undoubtedly caused a thousand waves.

Recently, the person who has been talked about by the people and scholars the most recently was Yan Maoqing, who rectified the salt administration of the four places last year.

Yan Maoqing, a native of Jiangxi, was a Jinshi in the 20th year of Jiajing. He was promoted from a transgender to the censor and was repeatedly promoted to the Shaoqing of Dali. In the 35th year of Jiajing, he was transferred to the left assistant censor and soon promoted to the left deputy censor.

Unlike many officials who have a long life, Yan Maoqing is a censor with a prosperous official career because he is dependent on Yan Song and his son, and has always held important positions in the capital.

Because Yan Song wanted to rectify the salt administration, he sent Yan Maoqing to organize the salt administration in the four places. It was during this year of sorting out the salt administration that Yan Maoqing, a censor who had been living in the capital, suddenly became a notorious big man.

Corrupt official.

As the saying goes, there is no wind and waves. Yan Maoqing is naturally not a good official, but there is naturally another mystery behind this matter. Anyone who pays close attention to the actions of the Xu family should know that Xu Jie is already building momentum for the restoration of the old rules of the Lianghuai Salt Tax. He wants to

The right time to promote the restoration of the old salt tax in Lianghuai.

But at this time, Wu Shan chose to formally propose to rectify the salt administration in this important administrative meeting, and resolutely wanted to sing a rebellion with Xu Jie.

Yan Ne's eyes widened and looked at Wu Shan in disbelief.

Because Fanen was old, his ears were not very aware. He first showed a surprised expression, and then looked at Yan Ne and others, but thought he suspected that he had heard it wrong.

Zhang Yongming and others were silently digesting this news, and many people looked at Wu Shan with complicated eyes. However, they didn't understand whether Wu Shan was unintentional in his career or wanted to give it a try, but they actually did such a provocation to Xu Jie.

Wu Shan was still a little nervous, but after he said that, he felt calm. If he still followed these people and Guang Tongchen and followed these people to cut the butcher knife towards the border soldiers' salaries, the Ming Dynasty would really slowly move towards destruction.

After all, he has not been polluted too much by this officialdom over the years, and he can still remember his ideals and ambitions when he was studying, and also remember his teacher Xia Yan's past teachings.

Wu Shan looked at everyone's surprise and said eruditely: "Guangdong Maritime Warehouse Reopened, and now there are hundreds of thousands of taels of tariff income every year! The Southeast is the richest place in the Ming Dynasty, and silk and ceramics are even more famous all over the world.

Being sought after by the barbarians. If the court reopened the Ningbo Maritime Warehouse, its effect would be better than that of Guangdong, and there would be hundreds of thousands of taels of input every year. Now the court is in financial difficulties, so our official proposed to reopen the Ningbo Maritime Warehouse Warehouse Warehouse Warehouse Warehouse Warehouse Warehouse Warehouse Warehouse Warehouse Warehouse Warehouse Warehouse Warehouse Warehouse Warehouse Warehouse Warehouse

Financial difficulties!”

This is true for many things, and it has nothing to do with right or wrong, and it is mainly a dispute over interests.

Although the success of Guangdong Maritime Warehouse has long been in sight, Ningbo Maritime Warehouse has never been able to restart due to local interests, and no one has even mentioned it again at the moment.

Wu Shan solemnly mentioned that he undoubtedly stood on the side of Kaihai Sect and stood on the opposite side of a group of officials and gentry in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

Regarding the reopening of Ningbo Maritime Mansion Department, the most objection is Yuan Wei, but he is not here today.

"Shangshu Wu, you can discuss the reopening of Ningbo Maritime Warfare Department, but what is the meaning of reopening the Salt Administration?" Zuodu Censor Fanen did not focus on Ningbo Maritime Warfare Department, but asked about the Salt Administration with one single finger.

Things.

Zhang Yongming and others did not care too much about Ningbo Maritime Warehouse. They also focused on the salt administration, so they looked at Wushan in confusion, wanting to know Wushan’s true intentions.

Wu Shan faced everyone's eyes and replied to Fan En with a smile: "I read the documents from the court these days and found that the salt tax revenue of the Ming Dynasty was still too low. I thought that the law of Yan Ge Lao should continue to be implemented.

, Continue to rectify the salt administration to resolve the financial difficulties of the Ming Dynasty!”

this……

Zhang Yongming and others swallowed secretly, but looked at Yan Ne and Fan En quietly.

Throughout history, newcomers have been taboo about talking about old people, and often abolished the measures of their ex and introduced new policies. But Wu Shan brought out Yan Song and his salt administration policies.

Fan En's face was slightly dark. Seeing Wu Shan so unruly, he no longer gave Wu Shan a good face, and immediately said tit-for-tat: "Shangshu Wu, no matter how evil Yan Maoqing did, is this right or wrong to rectify the salt administration.

!If the court raises salt taxes again, causing salt prices in various places to rise sharply and the people have no salt to eat, aren’t you really afraid that the people in the world will poke your backbone behind you?”

This was said with a stern voice and his eyes were staring at Wushan fiercely, as if Wushan was a disaster for the world.

Zhang Yongming and others looked at Wushan one after another. The salt administration was indeed a difficult problem. If the court imposed a salt tax, the merchants would inevitably increase the price of salt, which would make the people eat high-priced salt, and Wushan might

It is the first to bear the brunt.

Wu Shan and Lin Qingran had discussed this issue. After realizing that there was something wrong with it, he also read a lot of historical records and had a deeper understanding of the salt administration of the Ming Dynasty.

Faced with the aggressive feudal aspiration, Wu Shan shook his head gently and said, "I am not seeking profit from the people, but taking back the salt profit that originally belonged to the court from those salt merchants!"

However, some facts were deliberately concealed here. At present, 60% of the salt in the Ming Dynasty fell into the hands of nobles and officials and gentry, while less than 40% of the salt in the hands of salt merchants.

"Shangshu Wu, do you know! Premier Yan Maoqing's salt administration increased the salt tax in Lianghuai by 70%, which made many salt merchants desperate to change their careers!" Fan Rong's momentum remained unabated, and immediately listed a fact.

Zhang Yongming was like a bystander, but he felt a little curious in his heart and looked at Wu Shan.

Wu Shan picked up the teacup, but said calmly: "If there is still travel expenses to come to the capital to cry for poverty, then their salt merchants will not be miserable! I read the historical records of the Song Dynasty and earned 12 million yuan a year.

The country has obtained more than one million taels of silver after Prime Minister Yan Maoqing's salt administration in four places last year. I dare to ask where these salt profits are going?"

Huh?

After hearing these words, Guo Pu looked up and looked at Wu Shan seriously.

The two have been in love for decades, so he naturally knows what Wu Shan is. Wu Shan will definitely not make up for such things. It turns out that there is really a lot of work here in the Salt Administration.

Zhang Yongming and others also showed thoughtful expressions on their faces, and they began to face the Prime Minister of Salt Administration.

cough……

Yan Ne immediately coughed lightly and gave Fan En a wink.

Fanen's mind was running quickly, and his eyes lit up immediately replied: "That's because the salt merchants of this dynasty had to bear the transportation, sales and storage links, so the court exempted the sales expenses, while the salt merchants took on these expenses.

This is the reason why the court's salt tax revenue decreased!”

After hearing this explanation, Zhang Yongming nodded softly, and then looked at Wu Shan again.

Wu Shan took a sip of tea, but replied calmly: "As far as I know, all the so-called transportation costs have been transferred to the local people! Like Hengzhou Prefecture in Huguang, a pound of salt is sold for two cents, but

The salt issued by the court was 26 pieces per catty!" Seeing Fan En talk, he waved his hand and continued: "At first, I thought the court's salt tax was greatly reduced, and the people's salt prices should also be greatly reduced.

But looking at Suzhou Prefecture, Nanchang Prefecture and Changsha Prefecture, the price is even twice as high as the Song Dynasty!”

As the data were listed, things were already very clear. At present, the salt tax revenue in the Ming Dynasty dropped sharply, but the people ate high-priced salt, and the salt profit fell into the pockets of salt merchants.

"There are still levels here, but you can't summarize it in one sentence!" Fan En racked his brains and finally thought of another factor.

Wu Shan knew that this was not a false statement. He was naturally not a salt merchant, but also a variety of interest groups. The levels set by various places were essentially one aspect.

Salt merchants with background or noble salts will naturally be unimpeded; but small salt merchants without background will have to pay a certain price to pass that level safely, which will increase the cost of salt.

Wu Shan naturally would not be confused by these last-minute things, but said seriously: "I only know that the loss of salt tax in the court is a fact, and it is also a fact that the people eat high-priced salt, so the salt administration still needs to continue to rectify!"

Fanen's mouth opened slightly, but in the end he did not make a sound. Although he was willing to defend himself, he was not very familiar with the situation of the Salt Administration and was already speechless by Wu Shan.

Although Yang Bo and others agreed with Wu Shan’s point of view, they did not express their opinions from beginning to end. After all, choosing to support Wu Shan is to stand opposite Xu Jie, which is very likely a kind of act of dying.

Guo Pu and Wu Shan are friends of the same year, but he also has his interests. He and Xu Jie are currently in the honeymoon period, and the two sides get along very happily, so it is naturally impossible to break this cooperative relationship easily.

Fanen's face was full of worries, but he looked at Yan Ne like help.

Yan Ne was silent for a moment, but suddenly said: "The salt administration is not only about finance, but also about the foundation of the country! I heard that the living of the stove households in the two Huai Rivers was difficult, and many stove households were forced by Yan Maoqing's harsh government, so they fled to other places.

It caused the salt production in the salt farm to be damaged. Therefore, I asked a capable minister to rectify the salt administration to appease the stove households in both Huaihe Rivers."

But we have to admit that Yan Ne brought out the theory of "national foundation" and made things have a miraculous effect. If the matter is between finance and national foundation, we naturally have to choose the latter.

The Dali Temple Minister and Zuo Tongzheng envoy's eyes immediately lit up, and they chose to agree with Yan Ne's opinions like a vocal insect.

"Since there is such a big controversy about the matter of Salt Administration, let's put the matter of Salt Administration for the time being, how about it?" Guo Pu, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.

Yan Ne turned his head and looked at Guo Pu. Since the Minister of Personnel was standing on his side, he nodded immediately and agreed.

Guo Pu turned his gaze to Wu Shan, who frowned slightly, but he still nodded reluctantly.

He knew that things could not be accomplished overnight. Today, he announced that it would not be passed by the proposal to rectify the salt administration. This time, it was essentially a way to throw a stone to ask for directions.

Although the proposal cannot be presented to the emperor as the result of the nine ministers' discussion, his proposal today will inevitably be quickly passed to the outside world, and may even be on the emperor's desk soon.

This struggle around salt administration is just the beginning.

Guo Pu got the desired result, so he looked up at everyone and said like a leader: "If everyone has no objection, then today's matter will be agreed upon!"

"The officials thought that the Ningbo Shibo Department should be more cautious. The southeast finally calmed down. If the sea was opened again, they would be afraid of attracting Japanese pirates again!" The new Dali Temple Minister was from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, but suddenly raised objections.

.

Yan Ne frowned slightly and turned her head to look at the Dali Temple Minister. These remarks were no longer new, but seeing that this person was from Xu's party, he chose not to say anything.

Guo Pu's face slightly calmed down and he immediately said seriously: "The current government is in trouble. How can we look forward to the front and back? We should send capable ministers to preside over the reopening of the Ningbo Maritime Bureau!"

The reopening of Ningbo Maritime Warehouse was Wu Shan proposed, and Guo Pu made another statement, and the dignified Minister of Personnel and Minister of Revenue stood together.

How could a little third-rank Dali Temple minister challenge Guo Pu and Wu Shan? He immediately looked at Yan Ne like help.

"I have no objection to the reopening of Ningbo Maritime Warehouse Office!" Yan Ne ignored the Dali Temple Minister's gaze for help, but chose to express his opinion directly.

He knew that Wu Shan had taken a step back, so he naturally could not give him any face. He immediately nodded to agree to this proposal and agreed to reopen the Ningbo Maritime Warehouse.

When Wu Shan heard this, he was relieved and had achieved his set goal today.

After a confrontation, the nine ministers reached a consensus on this financial meeting.

In terms of saving money, it mainly saves military salaries and ICBC from the Jiubian; in terms of opening up the source, it mainly reopens the Ningbo Maritime Warehouse Department. As for the rectification of the salt administration, it was shelved.

However, as soon as the news came out, the entire officialdom immediately caused an uproar.
Chapter completed!