Chapter 4613 Ownership of Property Rights
Xue Shou also sighed dejectedly. The age spots on his face seemed to increase a lot in an instant, and he looked more and more decadent: "Yes, times have changed."
Once upon a time, the so-called imperial power could only exist depending on the family members. The change of dynasties was just a fierce struggle for the division of interests between the family members. The country was the platform and the people were the sons. Success or failure was just the rise and fall of the family members.
However, today, the world's elites are in unprecedented decline. It can take anywhere from 20 to 30 years to 50 to 60 years to recover. But how can the emperor give them a chance to recuperate and accumulate strength?
Not only does he no longer have the ability to influence the situation in the world, he is also self-protecting and demanding.
Xue Mai's words were full of helplessness: "I hope that Your Majesty is really as generous and kind as the legend, and can leave some of the benefits of the salt farm to us, so that each family can recuperate and teach their children to study and become officials."
The Shandong family has vast land and crisscrossed roads. The Jiangnan gentry have abundant products and convenient sea trade. However, the Hedong family has limited land and poor business. It relies on the output of the salt pond to maintain its influence in the past. If the interests of the salt pond are cut off, it will have a negative impact on the Hedong family. It is nothing less than a disaster.
Of course, aristocratic families have been passed down for hundreds of thousands of years, with deep roots and wide-ranging involvement. No matter how weak or declining they are, they cannot be cut off in a moment. Once the imperial court forces too much pressure, it will definitely trigger a strong backlash.
Most people would dare to rebel, but it is not difficult to rely on local influence to block imperial decrees.
And the imperial power is not as stable as Mount Tai. As long as the local government mobilizes, there may not be anyone in the court or clan who will stand up to respond and try to get involved in the imperial power... Maybe that is the only chance for the family members.
Once even the final counterattack is wiped out, Li Chengqian's throne will be unshakable, and the national policy of suppressing the family will not change. If it continues to be implemented for a long time, the end of the family will not be far away...
*****
Wang Fukiao returned to the salt farm, and without informing anyone, he knocked on Fang Jun's official residence alone.
Fang Jun had just had lunch and was sitting at the table by the window in the official restaurant, drinking tea leisurely. When he saw Wang Fukiao entering, he smiled and said, "Is Wang Jianzheng anxious? Don't worry, I've already asked people to prepare a banquet. Okay, let’s continue tonight.”
The corner of Wang Fukiao's mouth twitched. He now felt that he had become a wine jar. His head was buzzing when he heard the word "wine". He sat across from Fang Jun with a dark face, intending to speak frankly and get to the core.
"What plans does the Duke of Yue have to rectify the salt affairs?"
Fang Jun glanced at Wang Fukiao and motioned for him to pour tea himself. He said indifferently: "This matter is difficult to handle, so I don't have a good idea now. I just want to take this opportunity to get acquainted with everyone at the banquet. Maybe someone I had an idea at once.”
Wang Fukiao sat upright and did not drink tea. He said in a deep voice: "The Duke of Yue has been visiting the salt field for several days. We can't drink every day and have banquets every night, right? This has seriously affected the production of the salt field. There is no guarantee that there will be no censor to keep an eye on it." "Sir, you are not afraid of impeachment, but we are, so we should rectify the salt affairs in accordance with His Majesty's will as soon as possible."
"Do you really think I don't understand the affairs of the salt field?" Fang Jun disdainfully raised his finger and pointed out the window. There was still snow remaining on the soil ridges between the salt fields like vegetable beds: "The warm sun has not yet arrived, the south wind has not yet risen, and the brine has not yet risen. It can’t evaporate, but it can produce shitty salt?”
Compared to the salt fields near the sea, where fires can be made to cook salt in winter, the land east of the river has been rich since ancient times, and the nearby mountains and fields are all occupied. The trees on the mountains cannot be cut down at will. Where can there be so much firewood for cooking salt?
Therefore, all production stops in winter, and production can only be started after the temperature warms up after the beginning of spring and the south wind blows.
Only then did Wang Fijiao remember that the man in front of him had single-handedly established the Huating Town Salt Farm, and his output had already far exceeded that of the Hedong Salt Farm. He was not an idiot who was not familiar with salt affairs...
"Spring is only a few days away. We need to arrange for manpower to repair the soil ridges and inject brine into the salt ponds. We also need to build dams and dredge ditches to prevent rainwater from flooding the salt ponds. Each task must be started as soon as possible without delay. But the Duke of Yue had no instructions at all, which caused chaos in the salt field and delayed production in the long run. We cannot bear the responsibility.”
Fang Jun frowned and said, "Are you still being unreasonable? It's me who came here to rectify the salt affairs. It's my fault that I haven't been able to rectify it. Your Majesty will only hold me accountable. What does it have to do with you?" What? Are you planning to join forces to oust me, leave the salt fields alone, and accuse me of delaying salt production? "
Wang Fijiao was very angry. How could there be such a person who confuses right and wrong?
He said angrily: "Now people in the salt field are in panic. You are the one in charge, how can you have no rules at all?"
Fang Jun slowly drank tea: "There really is no charter."
Wang Fukiao was furious.
The two of them were talking nonsense, and no one was willing to take the lead in talking about the profit distribution issue of the salt farm, because whoever couldn't help it first would lose the initiative.
But if this deal continues, Fang Jun still takes the initiative...
Wang Fukiao couldn't help but said in a deep voice: "I went to Fenyin this morning, met with the head of the Xue family, and asked for the opinions of the Hedong family... Your Majesty has ascended the throne. The whole world celebrates that the empire has welcomed a truly benevolent king. The Hedong family is willing to help Your Majesty’s plan to govern the country will provide support, so the amount of salt sent to Chang’an from the salt field can be increased by 10%.”
He didn't tell Xue Mai's bottom line right away. Negotiation meant asking for high prices, paying back on the spot, and testing each other's bottom line.
Fang Jun was displeased: "Your Majesty is the master of the world, and all the output of the salt farm should belong to your Majesty. What does an increase of 10% mean?"
Wang Fukiao gritted his teeth: "Half! The Hedong family is willing to dedicate half of the output of the salt farm to His Majesty. This is the bottom line, and there is no way to give in."
Fang Jun put down his teacup, sat upright, and looked at Wang Fijiao with stern eyes: "Is it the king's land in the whole world, and is it the king's ministers who are on the shore of the land? The mountains, rivers, salt, iron, gold, and copper of China are all owned by your majesty, and the Hedong family occupies it. Yan Chi Shi It is illegal. It is already a great favor for His Majesty to not pursue the illegal gains. You actually dare to say something like "give half to Your Majesty". How can there be such a reason in the world? "
Wang Fijiao's face turned pale: "Is this the case?"
Xue Mai still wanted to keep one-third of his bottom line, but who would have thought that Fang Jun would want everything...
How can we talk about this?
Fang Jun spoke loud and clear: "The issue of sovereignty is non-negotiable!"
So arrogant!
It turns out that after tearing off the pretense on the wine table these days, this roommate is actually so arrogant!
Wang Fukiao said angrily: "Do you know, Lord Yue, that if you insist on doing this, it will most likely cause the Hedong Salt Lake to completely stop production! At that time, how will you explain to His Majesty?"
Salt not only represents wealth, but also means stability within the area radiated by the Hedong Salt Pond. Once the salt pond ceases production and the people have no salt to eat, it will lead to turmoil at the entire social level, with disastrous consequences.
Even if you, Fang Jun, are favored by His Majesty, once you cause such bad consequences, you will be attacked by everyone from the government and the public. No amount of holy family members can protect you!
Fang Jun was not afraid at all: "The Hedong family can keep some of the profits from the salt pond, but the ownership of the salt pond is not negotiable. In the whole world, it is not the king's land!"
Wang Fijiao shook his head: "Without the management of the Hedong family, how would the Yanchi be as big as it is today?"
Fang Jun looked serious: "The Hedong family has also enjoyed the benefits of the salt pond that does not belong to you. You should know how to stop it and don't be greedy."
Wang Fijiao stood up suddenly and walked away with a flick of his sleeves. The bottom line collided and there was no way to retreat. How could we talk?
Contrary to Xue Maizhi's expectation, what the court cares about is not the amount of profit. The bottom line is the ownership of the salt pond, and this is also the bottom line of the Hedong family: profits can be given away, but the salt pond must be under the control of the Hedong family.
There is nothing to talk about, let’s fight.
Back at the official residence, Wang Fukiao thought carefully about the current situation, pondering the possible methods Fang Jun could use, and then analyzed, dismantled and formulated countermeasures one by one.
He has always known that Fang Jun's methods are weird and tough. Even with the support of the entire Hedong family behind him, he thinks that he will face tremendous pressure from now on. However, now it is not only about his personal future, but also about the entire "Dragon Gate King". "Shi's" life and death, we can only bite the bullet and wait for Fang Jun to make a move.
The soldiers will block it, and the water will cover it with earth.
Then in the evening, hearing the commotion outside, Wang Fijiao pushed the door open and saw Fang Junzheng knocking on the door of the official houses one by one, saying that a banquet had been prepared, and dragging the officials to the banquet.
Seeing Wang Fijiao, Fang Jun took two steps forward and put his arms around his shoulders, full of enthusiasm: "Let's go, let's prepare a table of delicious food, and even have grapes shipped from the Western Regions, so we can have a few drinks."
Wang Fukiao stopped and looked at Fang Jun in surprise.
Our negotiation just broke down, and you dragged me to drink...is it appropriate?
"Haha!"
Fang Jun laughed heartily, patted his shoulder, and said with a smile: "Since we are doing things according to orders, it is official business. It has no personal grudges between you and me. Don't you deny this?"
Wang Fukiao could only nod.
Fang Jun pulled him towards the dining hall: "Since it's not a personal grudge, what's the harm in sitting down to drink? Public affairs are public or private, no matter how tit-for-tat and unwilling to give in on official matters, it will not hinder our personal friendship. Tomorrow You can ask everyone to go on strike and stop production in the morning, but we still have to drink!”
When Wang Fukiao came to his senses, he was pulled into the dining hall by Fang Jun and pressed on a chair. There was a table full of delicious food, and the wine glass in front of him was filled with amber grape wine...
By the time the glass of wine was finished, Wang Fukiao didn't know what to say.
It is clearly a tit-for-tat struggle, but in the eyes of the other party, it seems like child's play and they don't care at all. Today, everyone is drinking and laughing at the same table, and tomorrow morning when they are sober, can they still be merciless and fight to the death?
……
Then the next morning when he sobered up, Wang Fijiao called the saltworks officials to one place.
All officials, clerks, laborers, and salt workers at the Hedong Salt Farm have all left their posts and went on strike to suspend production...(End of Chapter)