The Qing government went through the Opium War, the Boxer Indemnity, the Taiping Rebellion, etc. The entire country was scarred and destitute, and the national treasury was basically destitute. The Qing government also tried every possible means to increase tax revenue, but in the end it made a big fuss about the salt industry.
On the one hand, the government severely cracked down on salt smugglers. Once caught smuggling illegal salt, anyone caught smuggling salt would be fined twice as much, and would be imprisoned or beheaded in severe cases. At the salt field, the court also sent guards to stand guard with guns. Anyone who collected the salt would be punished.
The guards will supervise the weighing and registration, and send it directly to the Lianghuai Salt Transport Department in Yangzhou for storage; on the other hand, a large amount of salt will be distributed, and those who rely on the government-issued salt can be allowed to sell it. The government obtains greater benefits through this plan
.As a result, the salt tax became an important financial pillar of the Qing government.
There are 10 salt-producing areas in the country. The Lianghuai salt-producing area, mainly Yancheng, is the largest. It has jurisdiction over more than 30 salt fields along the Yellow Sea. It is known as "the salt of the Lianghuai and the world is salty".
Yangzhou is located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, where the Huaihe River and the Huaihe River converge. The canal passes through the city, making water transportation very convenient.
Haiyan is collected and distributed from Yancheng and other places to Yangzhou, and is transported to six southeastern provinces (Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Hunan and Jiangxi) through water and land transportation.
As a result, Zeng Guofan issued salt quotations in Shanghai on the order of the imperial court.
One day in 1863, Zeng Guofan made a special trip to Hangzhou to meet with Mr. Ma, the governor of Liangjiang. The two were close friends.
When Mr. Ma saw Zeng Guofan arriving, he bowed his hands and said, "Oh, brother, I haven't seen you for a long time. Why don't you come? You have played an important role in quelling the chaos. Is this visit a special visit or just passing by?"
Zeng Guofan also bowed his hands and said: It is not unreasonable to say that the quelling of the rebellion is indispensable, but it is what we should do. When I came to your place this time, I found that the treasury was now empty. On the order of the imperial court, salt was issued to make up for the shortage of silver in the treasury.
There is a shortage. I came here to look for capable people.
Mr. Ma smiled and said: That's it, come and sit down. Let's taste the 'West Lake Longjing' first and explain it slowly.
Master Ma made the tea and handed it to Zeng Guofan with both hands.
Zeng Guofan took a sip from the tea cup and said, "Hey, it's sweet and refreshing. It's certainly well-deserved." Then he put down the tea cup and said, "The treasury is so empty nowadays, so the court has to pay attention to salt and exchange white salt for silver. There is still salt in the hands of the officials."
Twenty thousand pieces, each worth two hundred taels of silver, and each piece can carry 500 dan of salt.
Mr. Ma sighed: That is not a small amount.
Zeng Guofan said: As an official, I am worried about this matter. Jiangsu and Zhejiang are rich places. I wonder if I can find capable people.
Ma Daren said: As far as I know, there is another person in Zhejiang besides Hu Xueyan, and it is Liu Yong from Gui'an County. I will send someone to invite him. I am here to take a short rest and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the West Lake.
My trip to Hangzhou was in vain.
Zeng Guofan was overjoyed when he heard this.
...
In front of the Nanxun Liu Shunheng Silk Shop, two guards came. The guard asked: Is your boss Liu, Liu Yong, here?
When Wang Baohe heard that the servant was looking for his employer, he didn't dare to neglect him. He said, "I'll just call him."
When Liu Yong came out and saw two police officers, he was a little bit muttering in his heart. He still said: This is Liu Yong.
When the two officers saw that it was Liu Yong, they said: On the orders of Governor Chen, Boss Liu is invited to go to the Governor's Mansion to discuss important matters.
Liu Yong said: Please wait for a while and report to your family next time, so as not to worry, and then go with Mr. Cha.
After returning home, Liu Yong laughed and said to Hong Ying: Mr. Ma from the Governor's Palace sent someone to invite me. He said he had important matters to discuss. I wonder what kind of medicine he was selling in his gourd.
Hong Ying said anxiously: Isn't it because of what happened before?
Liu Yong said: "It doesn't seem like it. Could it be that I've been hit by another disaster somewhere, and I'm just reaching out to you. In any case, Mr. Ma still has to give me this face. I'll go there right away."
Hong Ying said: "Then you go and come back quickly, so that I won't worry about you at home."
...
Liu Yong, the Governor-General's Mansion, sat there very reservedly, not daring to raise his head to look at the two adults.
It was Mr. Ma who broke the deadlock first. He said with a smile: The court is now in many difficulties. It lacks silver and only needs white salt. Mr. Zeng represents the court and currently has 20,000 salt quotations. I wonder what Boss Liu wants?
When Liu Yong heard that it was Yan Yin, he had already reaped the benefits of the last two hundred Yan Yin. He also knew that the court was now very strict in cracking down on salt smugglers. Selling salt must be the dream of many people. But he still pretended to be embarrassed and said: The country is in trouble.
It is natural that the people can do what they can. However, except for a few pickling industries, salt is mostly used for folk seasoning. It can be seen that the amount is very small. The amount is so large that it is difficult to digest for a while. Once it gets wet, it is worthless.
Zeng Guofan smiled and said: Boss Liu said the same thing. If Boss Liu is interested, he can make the decision as an official. In the future, salt quotations will no longer be issued in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Anhui. If Boss Liu takes them all, he can get a 20% discount.
; Funds are tight and can be cashed out within three months. Boss Liu can just take the salt and go to Yangzhou Lianghuai Salt Transport Envoy Si Yamen to pick up the goods. This is also the intention of the court. We will talk about it later.
Liu Yong said: Since the two adults have said this, I have nothing to say. For the sake of the two adults, I agree.
Therefore, Liu Yong signed a contract with Zeng Guofan and quickly returned to Nanxun.
Liu Yong returned to Nanxun and went directly to Zhang Songxian's house without going home.
When Zhang Songxian saw Liu Yong coming in, he immediately stood up to greet him: Oh, brother, what kind of wind brought you here today?
Liu Yongdao: I have nothing to do at home. I want to come and chat with my brother. I wonder how the salt industry is doing right now?
Zhang Songxian said: Oh, let’s not talk about it. Nowadays, the salt industry is very controlled by the court. Many private traders have been arrested, and official salt cannot be bought. Isn’t it? I have bought a lot of goods, and I am still waiting for the salt to be put into the pot, otherwise
It's going to stink, it's really annoying.
Liu Yong smiled and said: That's a coincidence. I have 1,000 salt quotes here. They were entrusted by friends. I wonder what the current market is like?
Zhang Songxian stretched out his hand and said: If your friend is willing to take action, you will get what you want. This number is five hundred taels. To be honest, it is difficult to buy this number in the market now.
Liu Yong said: It’s settled, but you have to go to Yangzhou to pick up the goods with the ticket.
Zhang Songxian said: No problem. It can be regarded as a big help, otherwise my family will face heavy losses. I will pay the money and deliver the goods tomorrow. Liu Yong said: That's a deal.
...
Liu Yong returned home happily.
When Hong Ying saw Liu Yong coming back, he stepped forward to greet him and said: Master is back. Is everything going well?
Liu Yong smiled and said: God chose our Liu family to be rich.
Hong Yingdao: Master, what do you say?
Liu Yong looked arrogant and said, "It's a long story. I'll tell you slowly tonight."
At night, Liu Yong and Hong Ying were lying on the bed. Liu Yong said to Hong Ying: Do you know why Mr. Ma sent someone to kill me this time?
Hong Ying pouted and said: If your master doesn't tell me, how will I know? There are some things that a wife can't ask too much about.
Liu Yong smiled and said: This time the governor sent someone to call me, and I was worried at first. But when I got there, the governor Zeng issued salt quotations on behalf of the court, and asked me to take all the 20,000 pieces of salt.
Zhang, pay within three months.
Hong Ying said in surprise: I heard from Mrs. Ying that salt is often out of stock on the streets these days. But how to deal with so much?
Liu Yong smiled and said: Brother Songxian's family has bought a lot of goods and is waiting for salt. Just now he took 1,000 pieces at once and offered 500 taels each.
Hong Ying smiled and said: So awesome.
Liu Yong smiled and said: God gave the Liu family wealth.
Hong Ying said: People are doing it, and God is watching. It is the virtue accumulated by the ancestors, and it is also done by the master. After saying this, he threw himself into Liu Yong's arms.
Liu Yong stroked Hong Ying's head. Today I am going to Yangzhou to see the market there. Now my family basically monopolizes the salt industry in several nearby provinces. Hurry up and finish processing the salt in your hands. The imperial court has promised
If it was to be cashed in, it would be a worry.
Hong Ying said: That's true. But when you go, sir, you must not be smitten by the beauties of Yangzhou.
Liu Yong smiled and said: No matter how beautiful the Yangzhou beauties are, how can they be as beautiful as my wife? As he said this, he hugged Hong Ying tightly in his arms and kissed her. This chapter has been completed!