At the street intersection in the early morning, the breakfast shop was filled with white air and full of fragrance. Huo Guang brought Huo Zhongru to the shop.
Aguang talked about his plan enthusiastically: "Father, this is the store I chose. This street is the most prosperous street in our county. This place is good and people come and go. I also plan to..."
"Ah Guang, do you really plan to open a salt shop?"
Huo Zhongru interrupted A Guang and asked.
"Yeah, what's wrong with Dad?"
Huo Zhongru frowned slightly, and even a fool could tell that something was wrong.
Huo Zhongru sighed and said: "At the beginning of this dynasty, the ban on Liangshanze was opened and private operations in the salt industry were allowed. The state levied taxes, and the tax revenue belonged to the Shaofu in charge of the royal property, which belonged to the emperor's court. The princes and kingdoms could also operate the salt industry for themselves.
If you are rich, your income will not go to the central government.”
"When I was promoted yesterday, I specifically asked the county governor about salt. Because I serve as the county's chief minister, salt tax is the bulk of the tax revenue, so the county governor specifically told me that salt matters must be stable and well protected.
The current interests of salt merchants. After all, nearly half of the county’s commercial tax revenue comes from salt taxes. Salt merchants and salt gangs are intertwined, and the chain of interests is even more complicated. I don’t recommend you do this.”
Huo Zhongru's words made Huo Guang understand that his father, who seemed to be not doing his job properly, was quite concerned about key matters and knew to pay attention to him.
Huo Guang knew that this matter was complicated when he made up his mind to start a salt business. Throughout the dynasties, even in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the emperor had to send people to patrol the salt, because the benefits were huge, and huge benefits also meant complex benefits.
chain.
But Aguang still has to do it, and if he wants to do it, he has to be the biggest one. In the future, he will be the helmsman of this country. If he can't handle things with this little salt, there is no need to talk about the future.
"Father, the salt I make is different from the salt they sell on the market. You know this. I have no conflict of interest with the original salt gang. It can even be said that I am still their customer. I can get from their hands
Go buy salt."
"But to whom do you sell your salt?"
"Sell it to the county governor, sell it to a place with high-end demand like Sang's Restaurant."
"High-end demand?" Huo Zhongru didn't quite understand.
But he thought for a while and said: "I am the new Shaofu. Starting tomorrow, I will arrange to meet with the salt gangs and salt merchants in the county, and I will arrange a position as a county official for you."
As the county magistrate, he has the right to arrange several positions for the lowest county officials.
And even if Aguang is just a county official, he is still an official. As long as he has an official status, he has an extra layer of protection.
Huo Zhongru then went to help A Guang with county officials.
The carpenter arrived, and A Guang began to ask the carpenter to build the utensils in the shop. The carpenters listened to A Guang's instructions. Everything else in the shop was normal, but A Guang also ordered them to build a different utensil.
It was a large wooden funnel with a thin tube at the bottom. They didn't know what A Guang wanted this thing to be used for, but it wasn't too complicated and they agreed.
The craftsmen of this era all have their own professional ethics. They negotiate the price and make a plan and start immediately. There are no fancy excuses or cutting corners. The county is only such a big place. If you cut corners, you will be passed on to ten and passed on to hundreds.
, don’t do this line of work.
While work was in full swing, three people came to the door. They put their feet on the open door and shouted: "Where is the shopkeeper? Where is the shopkeeper here?"
The three men with vicious looks were acquaintances, they were Zhang Erer and his younger brother who had chased and beaten Ah Hao before.
Ah Hao saw the three people in front first. When the three saw Ah Hao, they immediately cursed and started to attack.
"Damn it, what kind of little bastard dared to open a salt shop on the land of our Stick Gang? I'm afraid this short-sighted boy didn't get enough beatings, so give me a beating."
A fight broke out between old and new grudges. Not to be outdone, Ah Hao grabbed one of Zhang Erer's men and beat him. The fists of the other two men fell on him without any pain or itching.
They started fighting as soon as they met. When Huo Guang came out and saw Ah Hao being beaten, he didn't care much. He just picked up the wood that the carpenter had just whittled and rushed towards him.
There was a big fight, and Aguang opened the gourd for Zhang Erer. Zhang Erer covered his head and took a look at his hands, which were full of blood. He saw that the two men were fierce and desperate, so he stopped first.
"You dare to mess with our Stick Gang. You are finished. You can't run away. You still want to open a salt shop? You don't understand the rules. Just wait. Just wait for me." Zhang Erer said harsh words and led others to escape first.
Already.
Huo Guang took a look at the injuries on Ah Hao's body. Ah Hao's body was strong and he had been beaten bruises and bruises before. Today, he got a few more bruises from the beating, but the beating was really life-threatening. Even if he hit three people, he would not be left behind.
wind.
The carpenter on the side said in a panic: "Little brother, we can't do this job. We won't dare to start work if we offend the Stick Gang. Please ask someone else to do it."
"etc."
Huo Guang stopped them, and then took out the money: "I have to thank a few of you for the quarrel just now. You will get a day's money for a day's work. You can keep the money. I will ask you to start work after I solve this matter."
The master carpenter accepted the money and reminded him earnestly: "Brother, you are a real person. The stick gang has been bullying the market for a day or two. You should be careful. I see that you are young and have a good reputation, and you are not an ordinary person.
If there is anyone up there, look for it quickly."
"Thank you very much."
"Why did the fight start?" Huo Guang asked Ahao.
"I don't know. They beat me when they came in. There is no reason not to fight back after being beaten. It sounds like the reason why we opened a salt shop on their land. I stole their salt before, and they didn't like me.
Bar."
Thinking of Zhang Erer's head that was broken by him just now, this matter will definitely not let go. Since the Stick Gang came to mix the salt matter, there will probably be more conflicts. Huo Zhongru knew Zhang Erer, and Huo Guang first took Ah
Hao went to find Huo Zhongru.
The Shaofu Courtyard is not a small place, and Huo Zhongru is in it now. It is also his first day here. When he heard the clerk reported that Huo Guang was here, he was led in.
Huo Zhongru said in a somewhat ostentatious manner: "Ah Guang, what do you think? I have a good office in the young master's office. Your procedures can be completed today."
Huo Guang was a little embarrassed. After all, on Huo Zhongru's first day as an official, he got into a fight and caused trouble for him. He felt that it was not easy to explain to him.
"Father, something happened today."
"What happened? When did you become hesitant?"
Huo Guang told what happened today, and then said: "I don't want to fight, but..."
"But what? The people from the Stick Gang rebelled and dared to beat my son. Come on, go to the headquarters of the Stick Gang. All the nine errands in the mansion will follow me. Then go to the County Lieutenant's Mansion to invite some of my old guys.
Come on, I don’t believe that a small business gang who sells goods dares to beat my son."
Huo Zhongru's reaction was beyond A Guang's expectation.
This is the treatment that the second generation of officials should have.