Judge of the Song Dynasty Chapter 714: Empty City Strategy

As the expiration date of the salt debt approaches, a large vacuum area begins to appear in the northwest region, and not a grain of salt can be seen for hundreds of miles.

Especially when Hezhong Prefecture announced that it would issue new salt bonds this year, the salt shortage situation was further exacerbated, because Hezhong Prefecture stated that old salt bonds can be replaced with new salt bonds after receiving interest.

In everyone's opinion, the government just wants to replace the old with the new to avoid the shortage of salt in various places.

The area currently most deficient in salt is Bianzhou.

Before Fan Xiang’s salt banknote reform, there were frequent salt panics in the northwest border states. The main reason was that these places were too far from the salt ponds, and there was too much smuggled salt, making it impossible to get in. Of course, the salt merchants would not I am willing to compete with cheap smuggled salt here.

However, smuggling salt from Xixia will help Xixia's economy, so the court often cracks down on smuggled salt. Every time it cracks down on smuggled salt, there is a salt panic in Bianzhou.

However, in the past ten years, it has been relatively stable, especially after Zhao Xu came to the throne, he issued strict orders that anyone caught smuggling salt would be killed without mercy.

But in the past six months, salt panic has begun again in this state, but this time it is not caused by smuggling of salt, but by salt debt.

Everyone knows that there will definitely be a shortage of salt this year, and the price of salt will definitely rise. Banknote merchants have locked up the salt in Hezhong Prefecture, while salt merchants are holding onto their own salt, waiting for the day when the salt debt expires.

Now there is only one month left before the salt debt expires.

There is no grain of salt in the market.

This is also the first time that a salt bond has expired, and everyone is waiting to see how far the salt price will rise.

Public dissatisfaction has appeared all over Bianzhou, which is very scary.

However!

Overnight, a large amount of green salt suddenly appeared in Weizhou, near Xizhou, and spread to the surrounding areas at an alarming speed.

It’s not just the salt merchants who are stupid!

The people were also stunned.

How long have you not seen Qingyan? Why are there so many of them suddenly?

Xizhou.

This is also the headquarters of the Public Security Bureau in the border states, because Fuzhou and Yanzhou have not yet established the Public Security Bureau. After all, the warlords there have considerable influence. If the Public Security Bureau enters rashly, problems will definitely arise.

Cao Ping, Lu Dajun, and Fan Zhen, the three giants of public security, procuratorate, and law sent by the imperial court, all came directly to Xizhou.

Now that the Public Security Bureau is taking over the administration of justice in various places, the government saw so much green salt, and according to their investigation, this green salt also came from the Xihe area, so they immediately responded to Xizhou.

This is a crime punishable by beheading.

No one dares to neglect.

Today the three giants and Wang Shao gathered in the imperial court for a meeting.

Fan Zhendao: "According to the information currently known to the Procuratorate, all these illegal salts should have flowed out of the Xihe area."

“Our police station has just been established, and we haven’t even recruited all these people yet. How can we see it!”

Cao Ping said nothing and first clarified his responsibilities.

When Wang Shao heard what you said, something was wrong, so he frowned and asked, "What do you mean, Superintendent Cao, this is all my fault?"

"I never meant that."

Cao commented: "But this place has always been under the jurisdiction of the military."

"Then you're blaming me."

Wang Shao said excitedly: "I lead troops to fight every year. How can I prevent those smugglers? I don't have magical powers."

Cao commented: "Anyway, I have just arrived, so this matter cannot be blamed on the police station."

As the president of the court, Lu Dajun suddenly said: "Don't argue anymore, no one is to blame for this matter. After all, our army has just taken over the Xihe area, and it is reasonable for some places to be neglected. I I invite you all to come here today, mainly to find a way to solve this matter."

Cao commented: "Leaving this matter to our police station will help our police station establish its prestige."

Fan Zhen immediately asked: "What does Superintendent Cao plan to do?"

Cao commented: "Of course, the punishment will be severe. The officials issued a strict ban at the beginning. But please rest assured, Prosecutor Fan. Although I have just arrived, our police station will definitely be able to complete anything within half a month." , we can seize all the illegal salt and bring all the salt traders to justice."

Lu Dajun frowned when he heard this and opened his mouth, but when he saw that Cao Ping was the first relative, Wang Shao had just made a great contribution. Not long ago, he was just a young gentleman, but he swallowed the words that came to his lips. Went back.

Fan Zhen said: "Superintendent Cao, please calm down. I heard that there is a salt panic in the Bianzhou area recently, and it is very serious. The people have not seen salt for a long time. Although the crime of selling illegal salt is unpardonable, this A batch of private salt just solves the urgent need of Bianzhou."

Cao Ping frowned and said, "Did Prosecutor Fan want to protect those smugglers?"

"No no no!"

Fan Zhen waved his hands repeatedly and said: "That's absolutely not the case. Those who smuggle illegal salt from Xixia must be severely punished, but those who sell green salt today are all common people and vendors from all over the country.

I remember that when President Zhang was still in Erbi, he fought a lawsuit about illegal salt in the capital. During the salt panic, people buying salt was equivalent to buying medicine to save lives, and selling salt was the same as selling medicine. It cannot be considered illegal.

Nowadays, the government's solution to the problem of salt has been delayed. The people cannot be blamed for this, and the salt traders are not guilty. ”

Cao commented: "This is different. This is Xixia's private salt. Anyone who violates it will be killed without mercy. I cannot bear this responsibility."

Fan Zhendao: "I will be responsible for this matter alone. When the time comes, I will personally write to the court to explain the matter."

Cao Ping glanced at Fan Zhen in surprise, his expression softened, and he nodded and said: "Since Prosecutor Fan said so, I have no objection."

Fan Zhen looked at Lu Dajun and Wang Shao again.

Lu Dajun nodded and said: "I agree with the prosecutor general's approach."

He also wanted to do this, but he didn't dare to say it because he didn't have enough status.

Wang Shao said: "I will also order people to trace where the illegal salt flows from, but the Xihe area has not been completely settled recently, and it may not be possible to prevent it."

This is a new border defense, and there is nothing we can do about any omissions.

Lu Dajun and Fan Zhen nodded to express their understanding.

After leaving the imperial court, Cao Ping immediately rushed back to the police station and ordered him to go down. The royal police would ignore the matter.

Wang Shao went to Ma's house.

"The villain has met Wang Xuanfu."

Ma Tianhao and Lu Bin bowed their hands.

"You two don't need to be polite."

For the two of them, Wang Shao was really kind and pleasant, and asked in a gentle voice: "I heard that the money has been put into the treasury?"

He and Cao Ping were among the few people who knew about the intrigue, but they all found out later. Wang Shao controlled the Xihe border defense, and it was impossible to hide it from him.

Ma Tianhao nodded.

Wang Shao asked again: "How much money do you have?"

Ma Tianhao said: "One million and six hundred thousand dollars."

The real amount is 2.8 million yuan, but Zhang Fei has told him to hide part of it. The more you pay, the more unscrupulous the frontline generals will be. You should use this money sparingly!

Wang Shao immediately gasped, "This money should be specially for my Xihe area, right?"

Ma Tianhao nodded and said, "Yes."

"Then there should be no problem in paying bounties to the soldiers this year, right?" Wang Shao asked again.

Ma Tianhao said very readily: "No problem."

"That's good!"

Wang Shao smiled and nodded, then suddenly looked at Lu Bin again, "Master Lu, what's the matter with the oil on your mouth?"

"Huh?"

Lu Bin was stunned for a moment, waved his sleeves, and quickly wiped them clean.

Wang Shao frowned and said: "As an eminent monk, you still have to pay attention."

Lu Bin quickly explained: "Wang Xuanfu, I am here to help Brother Ma, not to promote Buddhism."

"It is now." Wang Shao said.

Lu Bin didn't know why and looked at him in confusion.

Wang Shao said: "I hope to build a temple similar to Xiangguo Temple in Xizhou."

"Xiangguo Temple?"

Ma Tianhao and Lu Bin were stunned.

Wang Shao nodded and said: "Because according to my observation, many local Qiang and Tubo people believe in Buddhism very much. It would be more convenient to use religion to manage them."

Lu Bin quickly said: "But I don't study Buddhism deeply!"

Wang Shao said: "I know this. I have invited eminent monks to come here to preach Buddhism. Master Lu was in charge of the finance of Xiangguo Temple before, so Master Lu is still responsible for the finance of the temple when he comes here."

Ma Tianhao said: "What Wang Xuanfu means is that the Majia Jiekupu should also be opened in the temple."

"That's it, just like the Xiangguo Temple in the capital."

Wang Shao said: "Neither the Qiang people nor the Tubo people here are our Han people. If we openly make money, once they don't pay back, some people with evil intentions may take the opportunity to cause trouble and use the temple to make money. As long as If they do it smart enough, they will definitely not blame the temple."

Of course Ma Tianhao was unwilling in his heart. He wanted to leave Xiangguo Temple, but he had no choice. After all, it was still quite chaotic here, and he had to put safety first. He could only nod, "Wang Xuanfu said That makes sense, I have no problem with that."

Lu Bin sighed: "I thought that when I came here, I could drink, eat, and drink freely!"

However, this wave of smugglers was more terrifying than they imagined. The sheer number and speed made everyone dumbfounded.

You must know that Zhang Fei has been operating Xixia Green Salt for three years.

In the blink of an eye, a large number of private individuals emerged in Jingzhao Prefecture, not to mention Yanzhou and Fuzhou.

The landowners and salt merchants were all stunned.

The dignitaries of the Jingzhao Mansion had previously thought of using salt debt to attack the Public Security Bureau, but it was about to expire. This wave of private salt directly threw them into chaos.

Of course, they couldn't just give up. They teamed up with the salt merchants to sue all those selling salt to the imperial court.

Jingzhao Mansion, Imperial Court.

Cai Biandao: "After investigation by the Procuratorate, our Imperial Court will decide to dismiss your lawsuit."

"Why?"

Chen Tianfu, the largest salt merchant in the local area, said excitedly: "These illegal salts are clearly green salt from Xixia. It is strictly prohibited by the government. Selling illegal salt from Xixia is punishable by death, and those who protect it are also punished by death."

Su Che said: "It is true that these are all green salt from Xixia, and yesterday we also received a message from Xizhou. According to their investigation, it is due to the opening of the Xihe River that our country and Xixia are reunited. There is an extra border, where these private salts are smuggled from."

Chen Tianfu said: "We dare not blame those border defense generals, but this is illegal salt after all. How can the government turn a blind eye? Their illegal salt should be seized immediately."

Su Zhe said: "Now they are trying their best to track down the smugglers. Once caught, they will be severely punished. However, as for the private salt that has been sold to the private sector, after the review of the Xizhou Imperial Court and the Procuratorate, Bianzhou believes that The people were in panic due to lack of salt, which affected Xihe's logistics and the stability of the border, so the local royal court issued an order to pardon this batch of illegal salt."

Chen Tianfu hummed: "That is the Xihe Imperial Court, what does it have to do with our Jingzhao Mansion?"

Cai Bian explained: "The main reason is that the Xihe Imperial Court quoted the capital's previous case of smuggling salt. This salt is needed for people's lives. If you don't eat salt for a long time, your body will suffer from illness and even death. , if this is the case, the salt is medicine and should not be treated with private salt. Now that Jingzhao Prefecture also has a salt shortage, we have also decided to quote this case."

"Where does this precedent come from? How come I haven't heard of it?" A salt merchant said very dissatisfied.

Cai Jing on the side suddenly said: "This precedent was written by the president of the court. Its purpose is to prevent some salt merchants with evil intentions or officials who bend the law for personal gain from speculating on salt prices and exploiting the people."

Su Che and Cai Bian both nodded.

When Chen Tianfu heard the name of Chief Justice, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. It was this brat who made life miserable for rich people like us. He said: "The lack of salt in Jingzhao Mansion is not caused by us salt merchants."

Su Che originally planned to hold them accountable, so he said: "No matter who caused it, as far as our public prosecutors and law are concerned, the people will always have the right to buy salt to save lives. This is the legitimate rights and interests of the people."

Chen Tianfu added: "I really don't know who is so capable and can smuggle so much salt from Xixia. If this continues, how will we sell the salt?"

In fact, it is hinting at the military. In the past, the military often smuggled private salt.

Su Che said: "Xihe will definitely investigate this matter strictly, and the prosecutor general of Xizhou has also written to the court to explain the matter, but after the results are not out, we can't do much for the time being."

Chen Tianfu could only return in despair.

For salt merchants like them, it’s not too painful. After all, it’s not difficult to sell this salt. It’s just that the price may not be high and the profit won’t be much. The most painful thing is that those people are still here. A banknote dealer in Hezhong Prefecture.

This is really costing my life!

According to this salt bond contract, when it expires, you can actually ask for money, or you can choose to ask for salt. It is precisely because of this temptation that everyone will actively buy it, but it must be raised three months in advance. The liquidation report is because this is a salt debt of one million pounds. Whether it is salt or money, the government has to prepare for a long time and must make a decision in advance. This is reasonable and written into the contract.

Now there is less than a month left, and banknote dealers have already completed their applications, and they have all requested salt, with the purpose of locking in the salt solution to be sold this year.

This directly leads to the fact that the salt debt in their hands is salt, and it is no longer possible to turn it into money. But with the situation outside now, if they get salt in their hands, isn't it a hot potato?

Because no salt merchants dare to buy salt now, the salt debt has instantly fallen below its original price.

The banknote dealers, who were already used to litigating, quickly asked Li Min, the great Erbi, to go to the procuratorate to initiate a lawsuit.

But!

“I can’t complain!”

Li Min shook his head regretfully and said to Duan Chaobei and other banknote dealers.

Duan Chaobei said in surprise: "Why can't you sue?"

Li Min said: "Because the illicit salt has not entered Hezhong Prefecture. According to the current investigation by the police station, there is only a very small amount of illicit salt in Hezhong Prefecture, and some rich families entrust people to go to Jingzhao Prefecture. Bought."

Zheng Aoping wondered: "Why doesn't this private salt enter Hezhong Mansion?"

Li Min said: "I heard that the reason why the Xihe Imperial Court pardoned this batch of illegal salt was because that country had just been recovered and the border defense had been neglected, which is reasonable. Secondly, it was based on the original situation in the capital In the case of private salt lawsuits, when people cannot buy salt, private salt will be regarded as medicine.

However, the people of Hezhong Prefecture have always been able to buy a small amount of salt. This precedent does not apply to Hezhong Prefecture, so the salt sellers dare not enter Hezhong Prefecture. ”

Duan Chaobei almost vomited blood after hearing this, and couldn't help but wonder: "When did these private salt dealers become so powerful?"

Li Min said: "It is said that they also hired Erbi to study this matter."

Duan Chaobei looked at Li Min helplessly, "What should we do?"

Li Min said: "We still don't know how much green salt has flowed in, and all the salt merchants are rushing to buy this green salt. If you exchange the salt debt for salt, you will definitely not be able to sell it for a while. I suggest You go and renew the salt debt of Changping Division for another three years."

Duan Chaobei and the others looked at each other, feeling unwilling to do so!

What a shame!

But they did not suspect that there was something fishy here, because the opening of the Xihe River was just an accident, and it might indeed lead to the influx of illegal salt.

When these big banknote dealers were nervous, Yuan Jiang and Cai Yanqing naturally breathed a sigh of relief. This empty city plan could really cost their lives!

I scolded Zhang Fei half to death in my heart. You only took action when he was about to die. Our psychological quality is not as strong as you think!

"It seems that what we expected before was not wrong. We still smuggled cheap private salt from Xixia to fill this hole."

Yuan Jiang said with lingering fear.

Cai Yanqing said: "But now is not the time to relax. Now we should assume that those salt merchants will not come to exchange the salt. That means we will have a lot of salt in our hands. Now is the time for us to be nervous."

Yuan Jiang nodded and said: "That makes sense, how do you think we should respond?"

Cai Yanqing thought for a while and said: "We should immediately order the police station to conduct a comprehensive inventory of illegal salt in the territory, and at the same time ask the imperial court to order those who are caught selling illegal salt to be severely punished. We should also contact the Jingzhao Prefecture. Negotiate and ask them to also investigate the illegal salt. Otherwise, how can we sell our salt? Oh, we also need to write to the court. In short, we cannot let them see that we have no salt in our hands."

Yuan Jiang nodded and said: "Then we have to discuss with the imperial court to see if withdrawing the decree to replace the new salt debt is considered a breach of contract."

With a salt debt of one million pounds, even though they expected that the money dealer would not dare to exchange for salt now, they were still very nervous because they had no salt in their hands.

This play must be done in full.

The government directly ordered the police station to mobilize. If illegal salt comes in again, our salt will not be sold, and all your year-end bonuses will be lost.

When the police station received such an order, it was as if a chicken blood had been injected into it, and thousands of police officers were dispatched.

At the same time, the imperial court also quickly issued an order, saying that Hezhong Prefecture will never accept private salt. Don't think that if Jingzhao Prefecture does not care, we will not care. We, the imperial court of Hezhong Prefecture, are the boss. You must distinguish between the big and small kings.

On the one hand, he sent people to negotiate with Jingzhao Mansion and asked them to investigate strictly. On the other hand, he also wrote to the court stating that illegal salt was rampant and must be strictly investigated.

And there is news that the government intends to withdraw the decree to replace the salt debt.

After this set of operations, the banknote merchants suddenly realized that if they did not redeem the salt debt, it would mean that the government was hoarding a large amount of salt.

The government is an old gangster, and it is possible that they will be forced to take the salt home.

This banknote merchant will definitely not be able to bear it. They don't sell salt in the first place. They just want to speculate on the salt debt and then sell it to those salt merchants, but now there is no trace of the salt merchant.

The entire salt market has been washed away by Xixia salt and has become a mess. The key is, you don’t know, how much salt do they have?

So these banknote dealers rushed to promote Chang Pingsi and immediately replaced the salt debts in their hands with new salt debts, as if they were afraid that the government would regret it. After all, the salt debts still received 6% interest. They would not Losing money.

This directly coupled with the new salt bonds sold well, because what happened this time is enough to prove that the government is still very trustworthy. They would rather not sell salt than pay the salt debt, and the banknote dealers also After receiving full interest, the annual interest rate is 6%, which is a lot!

Many salt merchants have not purchased salt, and they predict that the salt market may not be so good from this year to next year. After all, salt production has not changed. There is another wave of Xixia high-quality salt. The future solution Can salt still be sold easily? It is better to buy some salt debt and earn interest.

However, at the beginning, Zhao Xu made repeated orders to prohibit the trade of salt with Xixia. Now that there is such a large wave of Xixia salt, the government and the public are shocked when the news reaches the capital.

Those ministers who actively opposed the opening of Xihe border also took the opportunity to impeach Wang Shao, indicating that this was all Wang Shao's fault and seeking personal gain.

Zhao Xu also quickly convened a key meeting to discuss the matter.

"The opening of the Xihe River is the largest territorial recovery of our country since Taizong. The new border defense has some omissions, which is reasonable. On the contrary, it is the person who impeached Wang Xuanfu. Your Majesty should really ask them , what’s your intention?”

Wang Anshi said with great indignation.

Zhao Xu immediately nodded and said: "Although I have repeatedly strictly prohibited trading salt with Xixia, this situation is extremely special. Wang Xuanfu's contribution is unquestionable. I will not listen to those slanders. ."

Jiang Zhiqi asked: "How to deal with the illegal salt flowing into the country? With so much illegal salt, the salt cannot be sold, which will seriously affect fiscal revenue."

Zhao Xu asked: "Why didn't the local government investigate strictly?"

Sima Guang immediately stood up and said: "Because there has been a salt panic in the border states recently and the people cannot buy salt, Xizhou will use the original salt illicit case as the standard and regard salt as a life-saving medicine and will not pursue it. ”

Zhao Xu asked again: "Why is there a salt panic in Bianzhou?"

Jiang Zhiqi immediately said: "This is all caused by the salt debt. When the Hezhong Prefecture issued the salt debt, Yin ate the grain, so that the banknote merchants and salt merchants knew that there would definitely be a shortage of salt this year, which was why the salt panic in Bianzhou was triggered. ."

“That’s nonsense.”

Wang Anshi angrily rebuked: "There is only so much salt every year. No matter whether the government eats the grain or not, the people should not be short of salt. This is all because those salt merchants deliberately used the salt debt as an excuse to cover their hands of salt and not sell it, etc. The price increase is a man-made disaster."

He has always been very hostile to these businessmen, and many of the regulations in his new policy are aimed at cracking down on these wealthy businessmen.

Jiang Zhiqi argued: "That's because the salt debt gave them this opportunity."

Wang Anshi smiled and said: "Then they will reap the consequences now."

Jiang Zhiqi said: "But issuing salt debts for a long time is not acceptable!"

"Why not."

Wang Anshi said: "This Xihe war was all paid for by the northwest finance, and it did not harm the people of the northwest. This feat has never happened before."

At this point, he glanced at Sima Guang.

Sima Guang was immediately embarrassed and silent.

Due to this incident, news from the northwest states reached the capital, including logistical support for Xihe, which indeed did not deplete the people of the northwest.

They all found it incredible.

But when they opened the border, Sima Guang and the others were very worried. Now adding another battlefield would seriously damage the people of the northwest.

I heard Wang Anshi say: "There is also a credit for the salt debt. If grain and grass were transported from the capital at that time, do you know how much manpower and material resources it would cost? At the same time, this money should have been allocated by the national treasury. , now the national treasury should also bear part of the burden for the northwest finance. In total, the national treasury will also save a lot of losses."

Such a big battle should not have been borne solely by the northwest finance. However, due to the sudden incident, the court was in a hurry. Almost all the money came from the northwest. It is just that the court allocated all the money that should have been paid to the court. To Xihe.

Zhao Xu nodded and said, "What Scholar Wang said makes sense!"

Jiang Zhiqi was fooled by Wang Anshi's rhetoric and shouted repeatedly: "You are wrong. The salt debt means Yin eats Mao grain. If the court is only responsible for the money that should be paid, the Hezhong government's finances should also be a burden. It’s unaffordable.”

Wang Anshi said proudly: "This means that the people do not pay taxes but the state uses spares. Part of the money earned from issuing salt debts is used for disarmament expenses, and part is used to develop water conservancy and people's livelihood, so that the tax revenue of Hezhong Prefecture is It keeps rising every year, and the money earned is far greater than the interest on the salt debt, so there will naturally be a surplus."

Zhao Xu said in surprise: "Really?"

Wang Anshi said nothing and looked at Mr. Lu.

Lü Gongzhu immediately stood up and said: "Your Majesty, the Hezhong Mansion's finances have indeed increased year by year, especially last year. Compared with three years ago, it has increased by more than three times, but all of it has been used for the Xihe War. , it just didn’t enter the treasury.”

"Three times?"

Many ministers were immediately shocked.

The government's fiscal revenue has tripled, which is really unprecedented!

Lv Gongzhu further explained: "Half of this is because disarmament has led to reduced fiscal expenditures."

The benefits of this cost-saving have gradually emerged.

If it weren't for the war, the finances of Hezhong Mansion would have blinded everyone. Unfortunately, it was all sent to Xihe, and not a penny went into the treasury, so it didn't attract much attention.

Wang Anshi immediately said: "The cost of disarmament at the beginning was mainly based on salt debt."

Sima Guang immediately stood up and said, "The public security bureau and the procuratorate also played an important role in this."

Wang Anshi chuckled and said, "I'm not denying this."

Zhao Xu laughed and said: "Okay! Okay! The success of Hezhong Mansion is enough to prove that my original choice was not wrong."

Everyone started to compete for credit.

Wang Anshi added: "As for those private salts, there is no need to make a fuss. Your Majesty banned the trade of salt with Xixia in the first place in order to weaken Xixia's finances. Now that all the salt has entered the country, Xixia has already received the money it deserves. What’s the point of pursuing it? Anyway, tax is calculated based on income over there now, and those who sell illegal salt also have to pay tax!"

Zhao Xu nodded and said: "That's right. It doesn't matter if we recover the five states of Hehuang and let Xixia make some money. But we still need to urge envoy Wang Xuan to keep an eye on the border and not to show up again. Such an oversight."

This is my business and no one is allowed to get involved.