A red sun bursts out, and the salt fields sparkle under the sunlight. Due to the different concentrations of brine, the salt fields show different luster, some are light blue, some are dark blue, some are green, or some are deep.
The entire salt field was surrounded by navy soldiers for dozens of miles, with three floors inside and three floors outside. Checkpoints were set up on every road, and entry and exit were prohibited.
The Hedong Saltworks seems to be isolated from the rest of the world, with no news leaking out.
In the official residence, Fang Jun was drinking tea aside. Su Dingfang had completely taken over the command and ordered: "Scouts go forward and pay close attention to the situation in Fenyin, Anyi, Wenxi and other counties. If there is any slight movement, report immediately.
No delay!”
"Here!"
"All prisoners are held separately according to their status, and they are not treated harshly. However, if someone does not listen to the warning and acts arbitrarily, he will be killed without mercy!"
"Here!"
"Contact Luoyang to ensure that the material transportation to the salt farm, including grain, rice, meat, eggs, and medicines, are fully guaranteed."
"Here!"
Orders were issued one after another, and the entire salt field suddenly seemed like a fortress. The general's calm and leisurely demeanor was particularly eye-catching.
After the urgent matters were dealt with, Fang Jun asked someone to deliver lunch, asked Zheng Xuanguo to accompany him, and then asked someone to bring Wang Fijiao up.
Wang Fukiao failed to successfully attack the official residence last night. Knowing that something was going on, he wanted to escape from the salt pond and return to Fenyin to report the news. In the end, he fell into the salt pond in panic and was picked up by his escort. He fled in panic and was blocked by the arriving navy troops.
Standing upright, he became a prisoner under the stairs.
Although he had changed his clothes at this moment, his spirit was listless and he stood in the hall without speaking.
Fang Jun looked as usual and said with a smile: "Today's affairs are very busy. I'm afraid I won't have time for a banquet. Supervisor Wang is sitting down to have a lunch first."
Zheng Xuanguo stood up quickly and moved a stool for Wang Fijiao.
Wang Fukiao glared at Zheng Xuanguo, then stepped forward and sat down.
Lunch was very simple, including porridge, steamed buns, braised pork, grilled lamb chops, and tofu soup. Although Wang Fukiao served a bowl to eat, he was a child of an aristocratic family and had an embarrassing status, so he was a little reserved and moved slower. Fang Jun and Su Dingfang were
Without raising their heads at all, they ate up the food while snoring. Wang Fukiao and Zheng Xuanguo looked at each other, not even half full...
The dishes were removed and the soldiers served tea.
Fang Jun looked at Zheng Xuanguo and got straight to the point: "Now that the imperial court has taken back the Hedong salt field, the officials, saltmen, and civilians belonging to the Hedong family have all been cleared out and expelled. The salt field is empty. I would like to write to His Majesty to appoint the Zheng family in Xingyang to act as the salt field.
Affairs, recruiting salt workers, managing production, what do you do?"
Zheng Xuanguo was startled and waved his hands repeatedly: "The Zheng family in Xingyang has never directly managed the salt farm. It lacks experience and manpower, so it is difficult for it to take on major responsibilities. We dare not delay your grand plan, Duke Yue."
Being forced by Fang Jun to come to the Hedong Saltworks had made the Zheng family in Xingyang feel very anxious. At first, they thought that they could use the relationship between the Zheng family in Xingyang and the Hedong family to act as a lobbyist to ease the conflict between the two parties. But now Fang Jun mobilized the army to
The salt farm is completely taken over, but the Zheng family in Xingyang should replace the Hedong family. How can this be done?
If this is the case, the Zheng family in Xingyang will be regarded as a thorn in the side and a thorn in the flesh by all the Hedong families, and become a traitor like a rat crossing the street...
Fang Jun frowned: "Do you think I have no way to resume production in the salt farm except for the Zheng family in Xingyang?"
Zheng Xuanguo said respectfully: "The Duke of Yue has great achievements and always makes plans before taking action. Since he took over the salt field with thunderous means, how can he not take all the considerations into consideration? Although I am too stupid to guess the plan of the Duke of Yue, but
I definitely don’t dare to question it.”
Wang Fukiao on the side couldn't help but said: "What if production is resumed? Production has been suspended for half a month now. Even if everyone returns to work now, it will take ten or eight days to arrange everything properly. After nearly a month of suspension, salt storage in various places
It has been seriously insufficient, and turmoil has arisen. Can the Duke of Yue be responsible for causing chaos in Hedong, Henan, and Guanzhong?"
"Why are you alarmist? It's not that serious." Fang Jun waved his hands disapprovingly and said: "Your Hedong family controls the salt field and monopolizes the salt industry. It only knows how to extract profits but does not know how to improve the technology. It has been using such primitive salt production for hundreds of years.
Technology has led to low output and poor quality. If there is a slight flood, the salt ponds will be shut down, causing the salt storage in Hedong and other places to decrease, and people are panicking. Now that the dynasty has changed, all your stuff should be thrown into the salt ponds."
Zheng Xuanguo was shocked: "Can the Duke of Yue improve the salt production technology?"
Wang Fijiao also looked confused: "But the salt production technology of the Huating Town Salt Farm is still the same, and there has been no improvement."
If Fang Jun had improved salt-making technology, why didn't he use it in the Huating Town Salt Farm?
Just waiting to plan the Hedong Salt Farm?
Before Fang Jun could answer, soldiers from outside came in and reported: "Doctor Liu, Dai Siqing, and Zhang Shangshu led the officials of the "Three Laws Division" to the salt field."
Fang Jun then said to Wang Fijiao: "Those account books are well preserved. The Sanfa Division will be stationed in the salt field to check those account books. Anyone who commits corruption, withholding, passing off inferior goods, etc. will be convicted sternly and quickly, and then be taken to Chang'an."
Prison. You appoint two people to send a message to the Hedong family, telling them to live in peace and not make any trouble. Otherwise, although I can't do anything to the Hedong family, I will let their children be involved in the saltworks corruption case.
But I’m still somewhat confident.”
Wang Fukiao didn't know what to say.
He had already predicted that Fang Jun's takeover of the salt field must be an opportunity to "thoroughly investigate corruption". After all, the officials of the salt field must be appointed and supervised by the Shangshu Province. Every descendant of the aristocratic family has an official position awarded by the imperial court.
As long as corruption occurs, the court can punish it according to law.
It's just that there has been a tacit agreement before that the Hedong family produces salt, the court receives it, the merchants traffic it, and the merchants sell it. This has been the case for hundreds of years. The court will not control the operation and production of the salt farm, and only needs to send the agreed output to Chang'an every year.
That’s it.
As for whether the portion sent was in line with the quantity agreed between the two parties, the court would generally not be serious about it, because the production of the salt farm was in the hands of the Hedong family, and the court had no way of calculating it in detail.
But now things have changed, and the salt farm has been completely taken over by Fang Jun, so if he has to act according to the rules, he will naturally comply with the law.
But the big bosses of the "Three Law Divisions" and their respective yamen elites gathered at the Hedong Saltworks to verify the account books. The scene was a bit big...
Wang Fukiao felt that the salt field was completely far away from the Hedong family. His mouth was bitter and he shook his head and said: "Now it's not just whether the Hedong family reacts violently. I'm afraid that if the news of Duke Yue's forced takeover of the salt field spreads, the whole of Henan and Guanzhong will revolt.
Yingtian. To be honest, even if you have improved salt-making technology, you still need skilled workers to operate it, and enough officials and officials..."
At this point, he already begged: "You commanded the army to take over the salt field. This was something no one expected in advance. When the news spreads back, the heads of the Hedong family must be caught off guard and lose their footing. At this time, you can raise some officials in the court."
The allocated shares will definitely be responded to."
Even if the technology is awesome, doesn’t it still have to be operated by humans?
Without the officials, saltmen, and common people of the Hedong family, what will you use to produce?
Now you don't follow the rules and directly send the army to take over the salt field, which has indeed caught the Hedong family off guard. Take this opportunity to increase the share from what the Hedong family originally gave, and call it a day.
Otherwise, if the quarrel continues, both parties will suffer. The Hedong family will completely lose ownership of the Hedong salt field, and Fang Jun will bear the responsibility for causing huge social unrest. This is a consequence that neither party can bear.
He felt that Fang Jun was not a violent and reckless person. Although there were rumors that his nickname was "Bangchui", Wang Fukiao believed that it was somewhat exaggerated through these contacts. He was an imperial nobleman with great ambitions.
Perhaps the current drastic measures to take over the salt farm are part of the negotiations?
Fang Jun sneered and said bluntly: "Do you think this is a good opportunity for negotiation? If your Hedong family gives up part of its interests, will I be overjoyed and achieve great achievements? Let me tell you, the issue of ownership of the salt farm
, non-negotiable! Under the sun and moon, the mineral output of mountains, rivers and swamps in all parts of China are God-given to the people of China. How can your Hedong family be so virtuous that you have the audacity to occupy them?"
He stood up and issued an ultimatum: "Two plans. First, the imperial court decrees that the Zheng family in Xingyang will be the 'Salt Envoy' of the Hedong Salt Pond for generations, responsible for the production, sales and other full affairs of the salt pond."
Zheng Xuanguo's face suddenly turned red and his blood pressure soared.
For generations, he has been the "salt envoy" of Hedong Salt Pond?!
traitor?!
Abandonment?!
That’s bullshit!
That means that the Zheng family in Xingyang will completely control Hedong Yanchi and become the most powerful family in Hedong and Henan.
I really want to say yes now, but what should I do if I can’t bear it anymore...
Fang Jun continued: "Second, the Hedong aristocratic families take turns serving as the 'salt envoy', responsible for the production and sales of the salt field. This 'Hedong aristocratic family' includes all the Hedong aristocratic families, Xue, Pei, Liu Yehao, Longmen Wang family, Anyi
Regardless of Sima, everyone is qualified."
Wang Fijiao's breathing became heavier.
Although the people who have been responsible for managing the salt field have always been the Wang family of Longmen, Sima Anyi, etc., who are not strong and famous, they are the means of wooing the three behemoths of Xue, Pei, and Liu, but in any case, the rest of Hedong
The aristocratic families were all dependent on the Xue, Pei, and Liu families, and all the benefits they received were leftovers.
But if we follow Fang Jun's words now, wouldn't it mean that the Longmen Wang family will also be in charge of Yanchi one day?
Although the ownership of the salt farm has been returned to the state, the interests as a manager and the huge influence it has are enough to make a small family like the Longmen Wang family richer and even better.
Zheng Xuanguo and Wang Fijiao looked at each other, and both could see the heat in the other's eyes.
Knowing that Fang Jun is trying to divide and win over each other, but with current interests, who can remain indifferent?