After Qiao Yu finished speaking, he walked away directly, leaving behind the stunned salt merchants. Many people were already a little surprised by Qiao Yu's attitude. The salt merchants held money bags in their hands and were subject to others' comments wherever they went.
Therefore, the salt merchant has developed the habit of looking higher than his head.
"Huh, don't even think about a governor who wants to deal with us before he is a solid governor. I want him to see how powerful the salt merchants are!"
"Mr. Zhang, if you speak, we will contact the wise men from all walks of life now. Let's all stand up together. I don't believe that the man named Qiao will not bow his head!" Many salt merchants present started to make noises. Zhang Deyang also frowned. The old guy has gone through countless trials and tribulations.
Feng Bo, being able to sit firmly in the top position of the salt merchants in southern Sichuan, and having first-class knowledge and skills, the old guy thought about it carefully for a long time.
"Everyone, please stop arguing. How can we fight with others now? Qiao Yu has soldiers and generals in his hands. As long as he gives an order, all of us will become prisoners. I think he probably wants to ask for something from us."
There are some benefits. Once you are fed, you will be fine. Brother Lu, I want to trouble you with something!"
Lu Nai had known Qiao Yu's plan for a long time, and also knew that those who tried to fight would never end well, but now he was still a member of the Salt Merchant Alliance, so he still pretended to be frightened.
"Mr. Zhang, I will do my best to fulfill your orders!"
"Well, I would like to trouble my brother to tell Qiao Yu that we are willing to lower the price of salt to eighty cents and give him three million taels of silver. As long as he continues to allow us to operate the salt business, as long as he agrees, we will have a share every year in the future.
Be filial!”
Zhang Deyang's skill was not small. He took out three million taels of silver at once. An ordinary person would definitely be knocked unconscious by this money. Lu Nai nodded in agreement and immediately rushed to where Qiao Yu was staying. He could
I didn't come to persuade Qiao Yu on behalf of the salt merchants, but I wanted to ask what to do next!
"Sir Governor, Old Man Zhang has offered a price of three million taels. Do you think you can agree to it?"
"Mr. Lu, you know better than me how huge the influence of the salt merchants is. Now I just beat the old master to death with random punches. If the world is stable, will I still have the chance to attack the salt merchants? Let alone three million
, I won’t agree even if it’s ten million!”
"Governor Gao Jian, it's just that Zhang Deyang has a lot of power in both black and white circles, and they also control salt. Salt is like rice and white flour. Can't it be used without it? I always feel that the Governor is a little reckless.
Already?"
"Haha, time waits for no one. But what you said, Mr. Lu, is really right. If the salt merchants go on strike and the price of salt skyrockets, I will be passive. But this is also your opportunity. I wonder if the Lu family can
What’s next?”
When Lu Nai heard this, a thought suddenly flashed in his mind. He seemed to have guessed Qiao Yu's plan. Lu Nai's heart was also throbbing. The Lu family is considered to be the earliest group of salt merchants in southern Sichuan, and the Lu family is different.
Compared with other families, he is a local Sichuan family, while the Zhang family and other big salt merchants are Shanxi merchants. The Lu family has been often cannibalized in recent years, and now it is just barely surviving. However, a huge opportunity suddenly appeared in front of them, and the Lu family couldn't help but think...
Nai can't be moved.
"Does the Governor want me to come forward to ensure the stability of salt prices?"
"That's right! I will immediately announce the salt reform measures. I believe that the salt merchants will collectively boycott or even start a strike. After the strike begins, you will take the initiative to undertake the production tasks of the salt industry. At the same time, I will seize the salt wells that have stopped production in the name of the government.
, and then hand it over to you. We must ensure the normal production of salt, and improve the salary of salt workers so that salt workers will not lose their jobs. However, these salt wells will not be handed over to your family, but will be distributed to other investors!
"
“Don’t worry, Governor, I can definitely guarantee the normal production of salt, and the salary of salt workers will be improved as much as possible!”….
After Qiao Yu and Lu Nai finished their discussion, several newspapers he controlled also started to attack the salt price issue with all their strength. Sichuan people have been suffering from salt for a long time. The Manchu and Qing Dynasties were ruthless and greedy, and the salt merchants were greedy and shameless. They only suffered the common people.
Suffering from salt prices all year round, the government tightened exploitation, and articles were published. At the same time, the Sichuan parliament also mobilized to condemn the salt policy. Public opinion here gradually rose, and Qiao Yu, who was in Fushun, immediately announced a new salt policy plan.
The monopoly system should be abolished and should be replaced by an authorization system. As long as you pay a deposit of 500,000 taels to the military government, you can obtain the right to mine. The military government only levies a tax of eight taels per kilogram of salt, and the rest is left to the salt merchants to produce and sell.
, however, the quality of salt must be inspected by the government. If it fails, the qualification will be disqualified. We strive to control the price of salt within 70 cash within this year, and to 30 cash or even lower within five years.
One stone stirred up a thousand waves. Qiao Yu's salt policy reform plan was like a huge bomb that was thrown into Sichuan and even the whole of China. As early as the middle of the Qing Dynasty, some people pointed out the bad policies of the salt industry and proposed similar reform methods.
, but due to the huge resistance from the salt merchants, it was not implemented, but Qiao Yu was completely different. Now that the world is in chaos, Sichuan completely depends on Qiao Yu's face. He is determined to reform the salt policy, and I am afraid no one can stop it.
The most excited people are the people of Sichuan. They have paid too much for salt. The price of salt of more than 100 yuan is like a big stone pressing on these people's chests, making them breathless. Now the salt price
The price can be reduced to seventy cents, or even reduced even more, which is definitely a great thing.
In addition to Sichuan people, people of insight all over the world are also watching whether this measure to benefit the people can be truly implemented. After Qiao Yu announced the method of salt policy reform, all the salt merchants in Fushun gathered together as if they were mourning for their heirs.
Zhang Deyang's family was crying and wiping away tears. If Qiao Yu's method was followed, the monopoly system they relied on would completely collapse.
"Mr. Zhang, do you think we should give in to Qiao Yu and let him take back his life?"
"That's a delusion. Now the new law has caused a storm in the city. Everyone knows that if Qiao Yu wanted to discuss it with us, how could he announce it so casually? He wants to force us to die!"
"We absolutely cannot agree to fight with him!"
Zhang Deyang was extremely upset when he heard the noisy noise of the people below. He was very smart, but he had never encountered such a situation. How should he deal with it?
"Old man, do you think we can also pay five hundred thousand taels of silver and obtain the production qualification?" A businessman suggested in a low voice.
"No, absolutely not!" Zhang Deyang shook his head: "Qiao Yu didn't say how many people he would give this mining qualification. If he gave it to hundreds or thousands of people, I'm afraid we wouldn't even be able to get the five hundred thousand taels.
There is no way to make money back, and once we are free to produce, we will have to work from dawn to dusk in exchange for money. How can we be comfortable now? The only way forward is to work hard. If you are unkind and I am unjust, he will cut off our financial path.
Let’s cut off his salt road. I don’t believe that if the people in Sichuan can’t eat salt, they will still support his bullshit reforms!”
The major salt merchants discussed it carefully and felt that Zhang Deyang's method was good. As long as Qiao Yu could retreat despite the difficulties, it would be worth paying no matter how high the price was. He must not let him touch the salt policy issue!
From the next day, all the major salt merchants in Fushun announced the suspension of production and joint strikes. Ever since they began to criticize the salt policy, Fushun's every move has attracted much attention. This time, the salt merchants went on strike collectively to resist the new salt policy. Naturally, the situation soon
It was mentioned in the newspapers. The people of Sichuan thought they would be able to get low-priced salt, but when they heard that the salt merchants were actually boycotting the salt merchants collectively, their resentment towards the salt merchants suddenly increased. Celebrities from all walks of life came forward to accuse the salt merchants. Of course, some people also criticized the salt merchants.
Qiao Yu rashly changed the salt policy because he was young and ignorant!
