The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Li Dongyang saw that the salt was as fine as snow, and wanted to send it to the palace for Emperor Hongzhi. Yan Chengjin followed him into the palace.

Emperor Hongzhi was reading in the East Warm Pavilion. For him, the New Year's Day was no different from usual.

The little eunuch came in and reported: "Your Majesty, Lord Li and Lord Yan want to see you."

After a while, Yan Chengjin followed Li Dongyang and strode into the hall.

"I think there is no such fine salt in the palace kitchen, so I specially sent it to Your Majesty." Li Dongyang bowed.

The little eunuch presented the sealed salt jar.

Emperor Hongzhi picked up some, which was as fine as flour and as white as ice and snow. He smiled and said, "Master Li thinks of me everywhere, and he is thoughtful."

Yan Chengjin thought.

How to let the weak Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce join the tea market and horse market.

Shanxi merchants monopolized the salt trade, Hui merchants monopolized the silk cloth, and the main field of Guangdong merchants was the foreign merchants along the coast.

Each has its own territory.

Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce has no "special skills" and cannot squeeze into the top ten business groups at all.

The reason why the Ming Dynasty gradually declined is that it could not transform its strong national strength into economic strength, and the treasury was always short of money.

Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce is a tool for transformation.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should say it." Yan Chengjin said seriously.

Emperor Hongzhi raised his head slightly. There was no court affairs today, so he just listened: "Go ahead."

"I beg Your Majesty to allow Liangxiang's refined salt to be included in the tea-horse trade market, and it can be traded with foreign countries without the need for a match." Yan Chengjin said.

No matter how powerful the Shanxi merchants are, they can only trade in places with tea and horse markets in the northwest.

They cannot trade with Korea, Japan, Annan, Tatar and Jurchen.

In other words, they cannot do foreign trade.

If Your Majesty agrees, Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce can do foreign trade, which is a huge advantage.

Refined salt will become the fourth commodity symbol in addition to silk, porcelain and tea.

This is also the outlet for the rapid rise of Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce.

You really dare to give advice! Li Dongyang was shocked and said, "This move is tantamount to lifting the ban on sea trade."

Emperor Hongzhi showed a slightly meaningful look. If he was not sure, this boy would not give advice. Instead, he wanted to continue listening: "What Li Qingjia said is right. Tell me."

Yan Chengjin said, "It is different from lifting the ban on sea trade. It does not go out to sea. Merchants transport it to the border of foreign countries for trade, and half of the silver goes into the national treasury."

Emperor Hongzhi's eyes lit up and he was suspicious: "How much silver?"

"Comparable to the new commercial tax of a prefecture." Ten percent, Yan Chengjin only said ten percent.

The profit from refined salt is comparable to that of silk and tea.

This is the outlet brought by information asymmetry.

Tartar and Wala cannot refine salt, but can only scrape the salt frost formed on alkaline land.

Annan relies on drawing red salt from wells. Although Korea and Japan are close to the sea, the refined salt is bitter.

All lack refined salt.

Refined salt produced in Liangxiang alone may not be able to supply so many foreign countries, and there is no worry that it cannot be sold.

Salt is a consumable product, and it earns more silver than trading iron tools.

Emperor Hongzhi secretly increased the price by 20%, enough to offset the new taxes of the three prefectures? His face suddenly became solemn.

"Go, summon the cabinet and the six ministries to the palace!"

After a while, outside the Meridian Gate, sedan chairs stopped in the snow. Qin Hong complained secretly, "It's the New Year's Day, and His Majesty summoned us to the palace. Can't we celebrate the New Year..."

It can be seen that everyone was summoned to the palace for the New Year's Day. There was some resentment in their hearts. The cabinet and the six ministries were summoned at the same time, and something big happened in the court.

He was anxious to see the emperor, but Liu Jian walked slowly.

Qin Hong stepped forward a few steps: "Mr. Liu, the road is slippery, I will carry you in."

"Then I'll trouble you."

The ministers came to the East Warm Pavilion.

Emperor Hongzhi had a blank expression on his face: "How about letting the merchants of my court sell salt with neighboring countries?"

The ministers looked around.

Salt is an important commodity. Merchants in the market sell salt to each other under strict control, not to mention selling it to foreign countries.

Yan Chengjin was a little worried.

Civil officials' opposition to economic development is the key to restricting the Ming Dynasty from turning national strength into economic strength.

"Your Majesty, are you talking about the refined salt sent by Yan Chengjin?" Liu Jian asked.

Han Wen, Zeng Jian and others looked surprised and exchanged glances: Did you receive it too? I received it too.

"That's right." Emperor Hongzhi gave the reason for his excitement: "Half of the revenue goes to the national treasury."

Liu Jian looked at Yan Chengjin and Li Dongyang. There was nothing to say. The two had already convinced His Majesty and summoned the cabinet and the six ministries to come in. It was just a formality.

An imperial edict followed Yan Chengjin to Liangxiang.

After Zhang Xian saw the imperial edict, he quickly ordered the clerk to print it into a court report and pass it to the gentry in Liangxiang.

Your Excellency is really amazing! Openly selling salt to neighboring countries, Wang Bushui thought.

Soon, all the gentry of Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce came and pestered Wang Bushui to increase his share.

"I didn't expect that the court would let us sell salt!"

"I will add another 1,000 taels of silver to my share!"

These gentry were like pigs standing on the wind and being blown up to the sky.

Yan Chengjin didn't agree. At first, the share increase was how much, and it didn't matter. The activated carbon could be boiled and washed and reused, and the cost would not be too high.

"Sir, those gentry who don't want to join the Chamber of Commerce are all kneeling outside the government office. If they are not allowed to join the merchants, they will die outside." Zhang Xian said.

"Send the dog head guillotine out and let them wipe it after use."

"..."

Gu Jinxian shouted that he was lucky that he didn't hesitate to join the Chamber of Commerce at the beginning, but now he can't get in even if he wants to.

He was a little more proud of his identity as a member of Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce.

"Sir, there are some servants in the mansion who were not sent home during the New Year. They can help in the workshop."

"I have a warehouse on the South Street for the Chamber of Commerce to use."

The refined salt business will definitely earn them some silver. Their share is not much, so they hope to get more by contributing.

Yan Chengjin said to Wang Bushui: "Put the refined salt into oil bags, seal them one by one, and ship the first batch to North Korea first."

North Korea eats kimchi every day and consumes a lot of salt. Yan Chengjin decided to start with North Korea first. North Korea seems to have a silver mine, which is enough for them to eat kimchi for several years.

"Sir, use oil paper to seal it?" Wang Bushui was a little worried.

"Salt is not afraid of water, but afraid of wind. Use oil paper to seal it, and then put it in a box for transportation."

Refined salt is another commodity symbol of the Ming Dynasty. It must be packaged in a high-end way.

It is still quite high-end to use the oil paper for selling sesame cakes and print the words Liangxiang on it.

Yan Chengjin sent someone to Jiangnan to ask Xie Yu to return to the capital. It is more stable for him to handle the salt business.

Ten days later, a caravan transporting refined salt set off for North Korea.

Zhu Houzhao went out of the palace to find Yan Chengjin, and gloated: "Lao Gao, you asked Shouning Marquis and Jianchang Earl to go to Qiyu House?"

Yan Chengjin almost forgot that he hadn't seen the Zhang brothers for a while.

"What happened?"

"Lao Gao, you are so smart. Mother is now at Ningshou Marquis's Mansion."

"..."

...

At Ningshou Marquis's Mansion,

Mrs. Jin sat beside the two brothers, crying.

"Brother, it came again, and put its hand on my shoulder." Zhang Yanling cried.

"Shh! Don't make a sound."

The two brothers squatted in the corner, looking around nervously, ignoring Jin and Empress Zhang.

Empress Zhang shed two lines of tears: "Brother was fine, how did he become like this?"

"After going to Liangxiang, he became like this, Yun... Madam, you have to make a decision for them!" Jin burst into tears.