Imperial City, Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Cihong, who had just turned 18, sat in the right place, and the first on his right hand was Liu Hongchuan, the king of Anguo County, Li Banghua, the first assistant of the cabinet, Han Yu, the second assistant, and Meng Zhaoxiang, a scholar of the Zhongji Temple.

On the left are Zhang Tianlu, a scholar of Dongge University, Fang Yuegong, a scholar of Wenyuange University, and Ni Yuanlu, a scholar of Jianjidian University.

This is the first time Liu Hongjian has participated in the cabinet discussion since the death of Uncle Chongzhen.

The meetings he had with Uncle Chongzhen in those years, the fights he had with cabinet members in those years, Uncle Chongzhen always sat there with a serious expression and was silent.

After the opinions of a circle of people are expressed and the quarrel is over, Uncle Chongzhen will get up and cover the coffin to make a conclusion, and most of the time Chongzhen always accepts his Liu Hongji's opinion.

"Your Majesty, the salt policy must not be abolished, otherwise the world will be in chaos!" Li Banghua, the first assistant to the cabinet, stood up and arched his hand.

Although in most cases, Li Banghua, the first assistant to the cabinet, stands with Liu Hongji, this does not mean that Li Banghua is Liu Hongji's person, on the contrary, Li Banghua has always been right about things and not people.

As long as he thinks that the policy is not conducive to the court, no matter who it is, even if it is the emperor, he will dare to scare it, but on the contrary, even if it is a colleague who looks at him unpleasantly, he will second.

Most of the proposals made by Liu Hongjian have basically helped the imperial court, and they are to give the illusion of other officials that Li Banghua is the only one who is looking forward to Liu Hongchuan.

But the salt policy is different, the salt government is an ancient system that has been inherited for 2,000 years, and it has transcended the existence of the Ming ancestral system, and the reason why it can be implemented for so long must have its reason.

The hasty abolition of the salt introduction system will inevitably lead to chaos in the market and affect the daily needs of the people.

Moreover, the salt policy was abolished, and the imperial court lost a large amount of income for the time being, if the government did not care, wouldn't the illicit salt dealers become more rampant?

What's more, isn't it good that the people didn't have to boil over because they couldn't afford salt? Why do you want to change it?

Shoufu all spoke to express his opposition, which naturally saved the affairs of several other ministers, Zhu Cihong listened to the general opinion, and his eyes looked at Liu Hongjian again.

"Your Majesty, the minister did not say that he wanted to abolish the salt policy, but the salt policy of the Ming Dynasty and the old dynasty have changed very much, although the salt is still official on the surface, but in fact it is no different from the private sector.

Master Li can know that since the founding of the dynasty by Emperor Taizu, the ancient people of the League and the Tungusic people have been harassing the north, so that the imperial court has to garrison heavy troops in the north to guard against it.

However, there are many soldiers on the nine borders, and the demand for grain and grass is also large, but the consumption of grain and grass on the official transportation road is very large, and in order to save this consumption, the imperial court will use the merchants in the south to sell grain and grass on their behalf, and in return, the imperial court will distribute the amount of grain and grass actually transported to the border to these merchants. ”

Liu Hongjian was not angry, but told the origin of the Ming Salt Administration, saying that it was for Li Banghua, but it was actually for Zhu Cihong.

"That's right." Li Banghua, as the secretary of the military department, naturally knew these old things, and his answer was very simple.

"However, in order to make up for the loss, these salt merchants took the salt and brought it to the salt mills in various places in exchange for salt, and then increased the price of salt by more than two or even three times, and then sold it to the people, is there such a thing?" Liu Hong gradually asked again, but his tone became a little stern.

"But if the salt merchants sell too much, the government will intervene...... Zhang Tianlu, a scholar of Dongge University, took Liu Hong's question.

"Oh? Is it? Liu Hong's eyes narrowed slightly, staring at Zhang Tianlu and said in a questioning tone.

Intervening in a woolen thread, Lao Tzu ran back and forth a few times from south to north and south, only to see that people everywhere regard salt as a treasure, and they can't afford it but have to tighten their belts to buy it, and what about the government?

Hehe, Du Te is a vested interest, how many people will care about the life and death of the people?

Even if some officials want to come out and do justice, who can change the attitude of the court, including the cabinet?

It is estimated that Song Shu has just submitted it, and the next thing he received is a derogatory notice, plus a bunch of small shoes and white eyes sent by courtiers all over the world.

Except for him, who has a lot of lice and is not afraid of itching, who dares to mention it, who else can fight against the ancestral system?

"Although the imperial court made merchants transport grain and grass in order to save the consumption of manpower and material resources, what was the crime of the people? Why should this part of the consumption be passed on to the people?

Shouldn't the people of the world be the first thing to consider when the court is doing things? Liu Hongjian said in a high-pitched voice.

None of the other officials in the cabinet dared to answer Liu Hongji's question, yes, the question is as simple as that, where is there any quiet time in this world, but someone is carrying the weight for you.

Your court saved the consumption of grain and grass transportation, but this part of the consumption was not doubled or doubled and passed on to the people all over the country, and the merchants not only did not lose money, but also earned more money.

"Master Zhang, I heard that your nephew sells salt in Jiangxi, and his business is not bad, but is there such a thing?" Liu Hong said casually.

The reason why everyone is against it, except for the old stubbornness such as Li Banghua, who is considered by the imperial court for everything, there will be more or less shady PY transactions in other people's families or in private.

This kind of thing has been common and forbidden throughout the ages.

"This ...... Xia Guan has not returned to the old house in Jiangxi for several years, and the family is becoming more and more rusty, and I really don't know that the family members are also involved in this matter. ”

Zhang Tianlu sorted out the rhetoric, and the answer was airtight, but Liu Hong gradually thought to himself, I believe you are a ghost, if there is really no such thing, I am afraid that Zhang Tianlu will not say such a thing, and he must be righteous and awe-inspiring to go back.

Zhu Cihong didn't pay much attention to it when he heard this, after all, these things are not new, and the courtiers' families are more or less available, and it is difficult to check.

After all, people do other people's business, you are your official, and it is true that people are relatives, but what about your evidence

"It's just that the prince, if the salt administration is really reformed, as the lower official said before, there will be many unpredictable problems!

For example, the policy of liberalizing the monopoly of the imperial court will inevitably be followed by the people, and the level of salt production varies from place to place, and the common people are likely to spend the same amount of money to buy inferior salt mixed with sand and other impurities. ”

Li Banghua still disagreed with Liu Hongji's proposal, even he couldn't answer Liu Hongji's question, but this is Li Banghua, the stubborn and stubborn Li Banghua.

"This is easy to do, the salt government still has to continue to produce according to the needs of the people, and the salt mills and salt mines in various places are still operated by the original salt politics, but the development of new salt mills such as sea salt and the imperial court can be liberalized.

And the imperial court only needs to use one move to deal with all the problems. Liu Hong gradually said meaningfully.

"Oh? What method did the prince say? Li Banghua hurriedly asked.

"The price, set the price of salt low! It is so low that the court does not organize this kind of silver, and other businessmen have lost interest! ”