Turbulent Times Chapter 932: World Salt Tax

"I heard that the Beidi green salt is not as clean as the white salt boiled in the East China Sea. Why isn't the East China Sea white salt used in the palace?" Fang Qiao looked curious and puzzled.

Yang Guang also became interested, and asked the imperial chef: "That's right, I'm also curious, why don't you cook for me with white salt from the East China Sea?"

Several royal chefs looked at each other, not knowing how to answer for a while, thinking to themselves, how do we know that it has been like this in the palace for many years.

On the contrary, Yu Shiji suddenly smiled and said: "Your Majesty, the Huamachi green salt comes from the frontier. It has the best color and taste. And Anyi was called Daxia in ancient times, the salt of Daxia, and the beauty of harmony. These two, It is the most suitable seasoning for kings. Although the salt of the East China Sea is white and clean, most of it has an astringent taste. If it is not boiled properly, it will have a burnt bitter taste. This is the salt used by ordinary people, how can it enter the mouth of your majesty?"

"Although it is the food of the common people, it is a huge profit for the court." Fang Qiao seemed to have known that Yu Shiji would say this for a long time, so he quickly interjected.

"Oh! Why do you say it's the imperial court's huge profits?" Yang Guang immediately became interested when he heard the words "imperial court's huge profits". It was all a big project, the imperial court spent too much, Yang Guang was very happy with his achievements, and rewarded his courtiers heavily. The foundation saved by the late emperor Yang Jian was too expensive, and the money in the treasury was getting less and less. He even sent Yu Shiji to check the tax books.

Fang Qiao said: "Your Majesty, I would like to share with you some views on the world's salt policy."

Yang Guang waved his hand to let the imperial cooks back down, and signaled Fang Qiao to tell the story while eating.

Fang Qiao said with a smile: "Your Majesty, this salt seems to be common. Everyone eats it every day. It seems that it is only used for seasoning food, but in fact, it is just like food. It is enough to determine people's life and death. It is related to the strength of the Sui Dynasty. Weak!"

"Oh, why?" Yang Guang became more interested when he heard that it was about the strength of the Sui Dynasty.

Fang Qiao came from a commoner, unlike officials from aristocrats like Yu Shiji. I feel that salt is heavy because they never lack salt, but for poor common people, they often have no money to eat salt. At this time, people know the difference between not eating salt for a long time and eating salt every day, which proves that eating Not eating salt is indeed a matter of life and death for people!"

Fang Qiao said this, with a look of emotion on his face, and said: "I remember that when I was young, my mother fell ill, and the family was short of money and food, so I had no money to buy salt. For more than a month, I and my father did not eat salt. As a result, Then I found that I was weak all day long, not to mention working in the field, and even walking felt weak. Later, the ministers inquired and verified this matter, and after becoming an official, I asked the servants in the mansion to verify it. Therefore, using salt is not only for seasoning, but also cannot be separated from salt.”

The reason Fang Qiao said is very simple, Yang Guang immediately understood the reason, and his expression became serious, Fang Qiao continued: "Your Majesty, besides daily needs, salt is used to preserve vegetables, meat, Fish and other things also need to be pickled with salt, such as the salt sauce and water spinach commonly used in Guanzhong need salt, otherwise they cannot be pickled.”

Yang Guang nodded and said: "Aiqing said that I have seen salt sauce in the army when I led the army to fight. The salt sauce is made from mashed beans and pickled. It’s a shame, but you only need a small dish for a meal, and the dry corn and rice can be delicious. At that time, I only knew that I was a soldier of the Sui Dynasty for seasoning. Now it seems that the salt sauce is more for replenishing the body of the soldiers. The salt needed, otherwise the soldiers will be completely powerless, how can they kill the enemy."

Yu Shiji saw that the limelight was being taken by Fang Qiao alone, so he also interjected at this time: "Your Majesty is wise, what Mr. Fang said about spinach, when I was young, I also saw tenants pickling it in the fields at home, in fact it is pickled vegetables , mainly mallow, which is a common side dish in the farmhouse."

Fang Qiao nodded and said: "Your Majesty's words hit the nail on the head, and Lord Yu is right. For example, the sea fish produced in the East China Sea can only be sold in the interior after being pickled with salt nearby. The only meat that can be eaten..."

Speaking of which, Fang Qiao changed the tone and said: "In short, salt is so important to Da Sui and His Majesty's people, it can be said that everyone cannot do without him, but the biggest problem is that I, Da Sui, are also very important. Not every region produces salt."

When Fang Qiao said this, his expression became serious, and he said in a deep voice: "Most of our farmers in the Sui Dynasty are self-sufficient. They can grow their own food, and the common people can grow hemp for their clothes, and then the women twist the thread Weaving, nobles have silk close-fitting. In short, the necessary things for food and clothing can be solved by themselves no matter where in the world, but salt is not the only one. Salt is not produced, only to find salt mines or boil it from sea water, so including Including the capital city, many places in the Sui Dynasty needed to buy and exchange salt from other places, so salt was a huge profit, and it became an official business as early as the Han Dynasty.”

Yang Guang thoughtfully, nodded and said: "So in the world, only grain, salt, cloth, iron, copper, and livestock are the heaviest, and salt ranks second, second only to grain, and even more important than people wear." The cloth is important!"

"So the land of the East China Sea is rich by sea salt?" Yang Guang stopped his chopsticks, his eyes flickering.

Fang Qiao said: "What your Majesty said is very true. Donglai County, Beihai County, Fanyang County, Gaomi County and Jiangdu County are mostly rich places. I heard that as early as before the Han Dynasty, there were many counties in the East China Sea. It is a land of salt and bittern, with a large area and few people. It was not until Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty opened up commerce and industry that the five counties became rich with the benefits of fish and salt.”

Yang Guang nodded and asked, "How much is the imperial salt tax paid by these five counties every year?"

Fang Qiao turned his head to look at Yu Shiji, and said, "The salt tax has always been checked by Mr. Yu."

Yang Guang looked at Yu Shiji, who said quickly: "Your Majesty, since your Majesty took the throne in the four counties of Donglai, Beihai, Gaomi and Jiangdu, the annual salt tax has been more than half a million taels of silver, and the salt tax of Fanyang County is two A little more than one hundred thousand taels of silver."

Yang Guang frowned and said, "Why is there so little salt tax in Fanyang County?"

Yu Shiji glanced at Fang Qiao and thought to himself, it turns out that this impoverished boy made a big circle to get His Majesty to pay attention to Fanyang County. Even Wang Junlin was not easy to offend, so he had to say: "Your Majesty, I have neglected my duty. I don't know why the salt tax in Fanyang County is so low. I will investigate immediately after I go down."

Yang Guang snorted coldly, and said: "I don't need to investigate, I know it must be related to the Lu family. A few days ago, there were secret reports from the Lanyiwei Mansion and the inner court. Wang Junlin was arrested on the first day he took office in Fanyang County. A thousand cavalry were almost besieged and killed. If Wang Junlin was not the most difficult to kill among my subjects, wouldn’t the **** I sent be killed by thieves? Mrs. Lu is so courageous to keep cavalry. The salt tax in Fanyang County is far lower than that of the other five counties in the East China Sea, and it is probably related to the Lu family."