Emperor Tianqi looked at the person setting up the stall in front of him with a smile, pondered for a moment, and said: "This is my first time to Yangzhou City. I saw that Yangzhou is so prosperous and want to do some business. // High-speed update //.

But I am not familiar with this place, do you know what is the most profitable business in Yangzhou City?"

The vendor was stunned and looked at Emperor Tianqi with a rather strange look, with a look of vigilance in his eyes. But when Emperor Tianqi put a piece of silver on the table, the vendor suddenly smiled and said: "Sir, although this Yangzhou city is prosperous

, but there is not much business that can be done. Considering that the young master is of high status, I disdain to do business like this restaurant. There is a business in Yangzhou city that is suitable for the young master."

Smiling and nodding, Emperor Tianqi asked in a brisk tone: "What business? Tell me!"

"Young master, you are joking. The best business in Yangzhou City is naturally salt, and the most profitable one is naturally salt!" The waiter raised his eyebrows slightly and said with a smile while loading up his things.

"Salt is a good thing, but it's not that easy to do salt business! There are ten areas in the Ming Dynasty. Each area has 200,000 jins of salt, and each jin is 300 kilograms. The salt fields of the Ming Dynasty produce these smokes every year.

Yanyin has been divided for a long time, and it is not easy to get a foothold in it." Emperor Tianqi was naturally very clear about these, and he had understood them all before coming to Yangzhou.

According to the regulations of the Ming Dynasty, the tax silver for each imported salt is three taels, of which the public transport fee is three taels. The public transport fee is the transportation money, and the court cannot get it. All the court can get is the tax silver. This salt

The number of citations was actually in the early Ming Dynasty, but it increased later, directly to three million citations.

The official record is that 3 million taels of salt were imported. If the tax was charged at 3 taels per tael, the annual salt tax of the court would be 9 million taels. Now the annual salt tax collected by the court is only more than one million taels, of which more than 700 taels are collected.

Wanliang disappeared.

Before leaving the capital, Emperor Tianqi looked through all the records of the Ming Dynasty's annual income, and the first thing he saw was the salt tax. In the eyes of Emperor Tianqi, this was simply unbelievable. Nine million salt should have been levied.

For taxes, we can only get more than 100 yuan now. Where did the rest of the money go?

The accounts of the Ministry of Revenue all had high-sounding reasons, but Emperor Tianqi dismissed them all and blatantly lied. Since he wanted to make money and could not impose additional taxes, Emperor Tianqi's eyes naturally fell on this. Emperor Tianqi turned over again.

I read some historical data and found that during the 40th year of Jiajing, the imperial court suffered serious losses.

Emperor Jiajing ordered Yan Song to send people to Lianghuai to collect salt taxes. That year, he obtained 6 million in salt taxes for the national treasury. Later, when Yan Song fell, evidence of the salt tax embezzlement was found in Yan Song's account books. A total of

Having embezzled seven million taels, he still had one million taels more than the national treasury.

In recognition of the forty-year salt tax collection, Emperor Tianqi believed that this was an event that could truly reflect the salt tax. Among the thirteen million taels of salt tax, Emperor Tianqi knew that there was no illicit salt. If

Counting private salt, it will definitely be more.

After going over the information he knew in his mind, Emperor Tianqi looked at the vendor with a smile, waiting for him to speak.

Looking at Emperor Tianqi in a daze, the hawker's face was full of disbelief, and he said in a calm voice: "Young master is an expert, don't embarrass me, I am just a stall keeper."

Looking at the hawker with a smile, Emperor Tianqi waved his hand gently and did not embarrass the hawker. He greeted Dang Han on the side to eat. Emperor Tianqi smiled and said to Dang Han: "How many gang merchants are there in Yangzhou City?"

"Hui Gongzi, there are a total of eighteen gang merchants in Yangzhou City. Among them, the most have three gangs of salt every year, and the least have one gang of salt. These people share three million salt every year. It can be said that the entire Ming Dynasty has

These outlines are in operation." Dang Han is naturally very clear about these things, and he talks about them very well.

Emperor Tianqi nodded slowly, and nodded to Dang Han. He was very satisfied with this Dang Han. The people trained by Luo Sigong seemed to be outstanding.

"In Yangzhou City, there are countless merchants engaged in the salt industry, about three hundred of them. Of course, these eighteen people are headed by them. Another characteristic is that 80% of these merchants are Huizhou merchants." Luo Sigong

Seeing Emperor Tianqi motioning for him to continue, he nodded and continued.

Frowning in thought, Emperor Tianqi suddenly remembered something. From the middle and late Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty, it was the golden age of Huizhou merchants. He had forgotten where he saw this sentence, but at this time Tianqi

The emperor then thought about it. It seems that these Huizhou merchants relied on salt to start their business. I wonder if these Huizhou merchants can still get up after this.

Seeing Emperor Tianqi frowning and thinking, Luo Sigong said nothing and just stayed with him quietly. Luo Sigong knew a lot in his heart, but he didn't know how to tell Emperor Tianqi.

"Sir, I have something to say and I don't know whether I should say it or not!" Luo Sigong hesitated for a long time and said with a rather complicated expression.

"What do you have to say? Along the way, you should know who I am. Is there anything you can't say?" Emperor Tianqi looked at Dang Han with a smile. His appreciation for Dang Han made Emperor Tianqi admire him.

What to say comes with some expectation.

Dang Han organized his words, pondered for a long time, and then said slowly: "Master, if you want to get involved in the salt business, the important thing is not these salt merchants. They seem to be in charge of salt, but the real decision-makers are

But it's not these people, but the gentlemen sitting in the yamen."

Looking at Dang Han, Emperor Tianqi smiled and nodded, saying with appreciation in his tone: "Not bad, really good! I didn't expect you to have such insight. I'm waiting for you to get a big reward after you go back."

"Thank you, Mr. Dang!" Dang Han's face suddenly showed joy and he said with a smile. What he wanted to tell Emperor Tianqi was very simple, that is, behind these salt merchants were officials of the Ming Dynasty. The water here is very deep, Tianqi

The emperor wanted to rectify the salt merchants, but he faced the officialdom of Jiangnan.

Regarding this point, Emperor Tianqi was naturally very clear. Any reforms in the Ming Dynasty would involve officials. These people were the real vested interests. If he wanted to steal money, he could only steal it from the innermost of these people.

Standing up slowly, Emperor Tianqi said to Dang Han on the side: "Let's go! Let's go back! It's time for Mr. Yuan and the others to get up. Today we want to take a good tour of Yangzhou City!"

"Yes, Young Master!" Dang Han stood up respectfully and saluted Emperor Tianqi.

The moment Emperor Apocalypse turned around, there were suddenly shouts and curses on the street, and there was a lot of noise not far away. The guards following Emperor Apocalypse reacted quickly, surrounding Emperor Apocalypse, and all held the handles of their knives.

, looking cautiously at the street.

A little girl stumbled over and ran over. She didn't look too old, she looked like 30 years old. She was supposed to be in her best years, but now her face was red and swollen. It was obvious at a glance that she had been raped.

He was beaten. He was wearing brocade clothes, but now they looked like they were torn. He looked extremely embarrassed.

The little girl looked back from time to time, with deep fear on her face, and ran forward desperately. Perhaps because she was too anxious, she fell hard. Running forward quickly, the tears in the little girl's eyes seemed to break.

It was as if he had lost his temper, but he still pursed his lips tightly and ran forward.

There were many people who saw this scene on the street, but no one stepped forward to grab the girl, because there were several people chasing the little girl. They were all wearing the same clothes, with little boy hats on their heads.

It looked like they were thugs trained by someone. They all had sticks in their hands and were chasing after me while shouting loudly.

Frowning at this scene, Emperor Tianqi said nothing, but just looked at Dang Han aside.

Seeing Emperor Tianqi looking at him, Dang Han's heart trembled. He didn't dare to hesitate at all. He strode forward and grabbed the little girl. Without saying anything to the little girl, he held the little girl and handed it to a guard.

.

"Don't worry, it's safest to take it here!" Emperor Tianqi slowly squatted down and reached out to touch the girl's head, but the little girl dodged it.

Staring at Emperor Tianqi cautiously, the little girl kept looking behind her with deep fear in her eyes.

Emperor Apocalypse tried to make his tone gentler, and said cautiously: "Don't be afraid! There are many people here. Just watch, we will definitely win." I don't know if it was because of Emperor Apocalypse's attitude, or because the little girl saw the things around her.

The guard holding the sword actually nodded slowly. However, there was still awe in his eyes, and the muscles on his face were constantly trembling.

This group of thugs had already arrived at Jinqian. When they saw Emperor Tianqi, several people were stunned. Looking at the guards beside Emperor Tianqi, the leader suddenly felt a bitter taste in his mouth. How could such a mistake happen?

This person's identity is unusual.

Striding out, the leader clasped his fists at Emperor Tianqi and said loudly: "This friend, I am Zhao Decai, do you know what to call this young master?"

Emperor Tianqi will naturally not pay attention to him. Who do you think you are? You are still messing with little girls.

"Tell me if you have anything to say!" Dang Han called to the leader, with a faint smile on his face, and gently unfolded the folding fan in his hand, looking like a talented man and a beautiful lady.

The leader's face suddenly turned red. He glanced at the guards beside Emperor Tianqi, hugged Dang Han and said, "Brother, that little girl is the one we want. I hope you will hand her over to us."

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Chapter completed!