The next day, Lin Zhong convened salt to discuss matters.

Lin Shou, the fake master, followed by real bodyguard. Comrade Yao Xiuxiu clamored to go to watch the fun, but was almost spanked by Lin Shou and kept the house honestly.

Lin Zhong arrived at the Salt Transportation Office early, but after the notice, the salt merchants still did not come. It was not until noon that they came slowly one by one.

This is obviously a warning to Lin Zhong. At the banquet yesterday, Lin Zhong did not leave any face, did not drink wine, nor did he accept the thin horse. The relationship was very stiff. The salt merchants saw the attitude of the day, but Lin Zhong was not annoyed, just said:

"They are busy with everything they need to come here every day, and they don't have time to do it. I guess the salt is sold well and the business is booming. Donations will not be a problem this year."

What a good guy, this imperial envoy looks dull, but he says one word but it is full of tricks and tricks every step.

Salt merchant Cao Qing came up and bowed and said with a smile:

"Sir, I am busy preparing a banquet for you, and I am negligent. Look at the afternoon, you can walk to the Zuihua Tower and taste our hairy crabs."

Cao Qinglian's old fox didn't take Lin Zhong's words in person and irrelevant muddy water. This is an old routine. Don't talk about the serious matters, we will take you to eat, drink and have fun first.

"Don't bother General Cao. The court has not yet settled its important tasks. Why dare I drink and eat? Let's talk about this donation. General Cao also knows that the White Lotus Sect in the southwest is seriously plagued by the bandits in the White Lotus Sect and the military situation is tight. The court raises one million taels of silver to provide military salaries in the southwest."

Lin Zhong finally made a direct request with the salt merchant.

Collect donations, one million taels.

In fact, this is just an excuse. The White Lotus Sect's uprising last year was almost a year. It was April of the second year. The bandits in the Southwest White Lotus Sect were almost the same. Otherwise, how could Lin Zhong come back? The military pay in the Southwest had already been paid from the national treasury. Now the donation is actually a hard-core crop raised for the livelihood of the Eight Banners, but this name is obviously a bit weaker. After all, asking for money for people, the country's danger is even more overwhelming. So I took the blame for this omnipotent man in the White Lotus Sect.

The salt merchants are not stupid either. They just say that the general merchants inherited the second generation of salt and the third generation of salt. Some of them are pigs lying on the credit book of their ancestors. They may not be smart and good at doing business, but there are always a few people who are easy to use.

For example, Cao Qing, an old fox like Cao Qing, had a good knowledge of what was going on. The four major general merchants were in a row with each other. The military situation in the southwest was not that tight at all, so there was a lot of room for maneuver.

"Oh, sir, one million taels, aren't you going to be the lifeblood of our salt merchants?"

Cao Qing and the leader were the leader, and when they winked, the salt merchants below cried together, making trouble in the Salt Transportation Department, it can be seen that Cao Qing and Cao Zhengshang are the main person among the salt merchants, and they have the meaning of the chairman of the Salt Merchants Union.

"General Cao Shang, the court has approved enough salt to attract more and more salt every year. What's the reason for you to cry for poverty?"

Lin Zhong said, I’m going to sell so much salt to you every year to make money, where did you make money?

"Sir! You don't know anything! You can't sell salt!"

Cao Qinglian snot and tears, and cried hypocritically.

"Sir, you don't know that the group of salt gangs on the Huaihe River bullies many people. They sell private salt at half price. The government has repeatedly banned them. The people are greedy for cheapness and go to buy private salt. Our official salt cannot be sold! You ask everyone here, who has not hoarded hundreds of kilograms of salt on the shore, and we have all spent money inside, and we are so poor that we are left with nothing left!"

Cao Qing burst into tears, with reasonable evidence. Lin Shou controlled his master from behind and clapped his face, thinking that you are in a state of failure in business, and suggested that you go on a singing show to make a miserable miserable.

The Salt Gang sells private salt.

Since ancient times, salt and iron were the official business, everyone knew the importance of taxation. However, the high price of official salt was naturally caused by reselling private salt for profit. The crime of buying and selling private salt was very serious, and they were all beheaded and sold. Note that it was a "buying and selling", and those who bought private salt would also be severely punished.

Because this is not just a matter of salt, the important thing about salt affairs has also been said that buying and selling private salt is almost equivalent to "tax evasion", which is to harm national interests and must be severely punished.

Of course, there must be brave men under the weight of profit. The price of salt almost accounts for 30% of the people's income, which is a violent industry. Even if the government cracks down on it, private salt will still be banned repeatedly. Just like crazy real estate speculators, there are many salt gangs in the southeast coast. It is said that there is a powerful salt owl called Xian Lao Er in the Huaihe River.

"Sir, the Huaihe Salt Gang has been banned repeatedly. Xian Lao Er sold private salt unscrupulously in Yangzhou. The government could not take him. We are a little businessman, alas..."

Cao Qing was even clever in saying this, and he threw the pot to the Salt Gang and the government. We had no money because we couldn't sell the salt, because the salt Gang sold private salt, because the government could not eliminate the Salt Gang, so we could transfer the conflicts.

"Master Cao, are you complaining about the government's ineffective work?"

"Sir, the grass-roots dare not."

Cao Qinglian just said that he didn't dare.

"It's just that the donation is rampant. The Lianghuai Salt Gang is full of energy. Our official salt is piled up and we can't sell it. We really can't get the money. If you force me to death, we can't make money."

The other salt merchants below agreed, yes, yes, Mr. Cao is right! It’s not that we don’t want to donate to the country, but we are really embarrassed!

Lin Zhong didn't say anything, and watched them clamoring silently. Until they finally said that they were bored and quieted down, Lin Zhong turned around and asked:

"Master, can you?"

Lin Shou nodded while controlling the master and said with a smile:

"able."

The salt merchants were stunned. What kind of mystery is this?

How could they know that when Erlin spoke last night, Lin Zhong mentioned the matter of the Huaihe Salt Gang to Lin Shou, and said that the salt merchants might make a fuss with the salt gang. The salt merchants had already discussed the way to deal with it today, so there was such a conversation.

Lin Zhong looked dull and stunned, but he did the Southwest Group training trip. Although he didn't say much, his wisdom was in his mind.

"Mr. Cao, if it were the third son of the big salt owl on the Huai River to raise millions of silver for Yangzhou salt merchants in one month?"

The salt merchants were stunned. It was not easy to suppress the bandits and the Salt Gang. The local government has not wiped out for many years. The imperial envoy said that he wanted to suppress the Salt Gang, but it would not be possible... They looked at Cao Qinglian one after another. Cao Qinglian did not expect that Lin Zhong would give out the more difficult conditions of the Salt Gang, so he thought about it and bowed:

"If we can suppress the Salt Gang, if the official salt we hoarded can be sold, we will naturally have money."

Cao Qinglian didn't think that the imperial envoy could wipe out the Yan Gang, but he was careful when he flattered and did not agree clearly, leaving room for himself to deal with it.

Lin Zhong seemed to have ignored it and said that it was decided that he would destroy the salt gang in the Huaihe River within ten days and kill the evil Yan Xiao Xian second.

...
Chapter completed!