All Heavens and Worlds Modified History System

Chapter 136 Yangzhou Salt Administration
As early as the Qin and Han Dynasties, King Wu Liu Bi opened a salt river in Guangling to "cast coins from the mountains and boil the sea to make salt."

A thousand years have passed, and Guangling has become the city of Yangzhou.

Over the years, the name of this place has changed constantly, but its status as a salt industry center has never changed.

Countless sea salt was transported here from salt fields in Lianghuai by ship.

After circulation, it is either official salt or private salt and then sent to various places in the south of the Yangtze River.

When Chen Ran's fleet approached the dock along the Salt River, also known as the Tongyang Canal, all they saw were countless salt-carrying ships.

There are so many of them that they have blocked a river channel that is more than ten miles long.

"grown ups."

The person in charge of the official ship came forward to explain, "Except for the canal transport, this happens almost every day. The fleet will probably dock by tomorrow evening."

Chen Ran raised his head to look at the scorching sun hanging high in the sky, then looked around at both banks.

Not all banks of the canal are embankments, there are many river branches and waterways hidden among countless reeds and water plants.

Seeing many salt ships constantly entering and exiting those river branches and waterways, Chen Ran found a soldier on the boat and "sent a message to General Liu on the shore, asking him to take the cavalry to follow the river branches and waterways to see if there is any other place to dock."

"Leader!"

After more than half an hour, a cavalryman rode up and loudly reported to the official ship on the river bank, "There is a river fork a few miles ahead. There are many plank roads and docks for mooring in the waterway for more than ten miles."

"Set sail and start the boat." Chen Ran immediately ordered, "Go to the shore."

"Jiang, Master Jiang~~" The head of the security guards, who used to brag about his scars in front of everyone after a few drinks, couldn't even speak clearly at this moment. "What should I do? There are so many soldiers~~~"

"What are you panicking about!" The young master of the Jiang family, nicknamed Yulang, shouted with a pale face, "Go get the banknotes!"

First, more than a hundred cavalrymen came roaring in, followed by a large number of official ships approaching one after another. Coming off the ships were soldiers in armor and armed with sharp weapons. The formation was neat and the momentum was astonishing.

Jiang Yulang had been frightened for a long time, but there was nothing he could do. This was the Jiang family's largest dock for receiving, sending and storing private salt. He was blocked by government troops. What could he do? He could only give silver.

He took a few steps forward with a wooden box full of silver bills in his hand, and the soldiers on the opposite side pointed their crossbows at him.

Jiang Yulang's eye twitched as he looked down at the blue shirt he was wearing, which was in the style of a nobleman. He really couldn't see how clothes made of this kind of fabric could be used to withstand a military crossbow.

That’s a powerful armor-piercing crossbow used by the army!
"Master Jiang." The head of the security guards came over and motioned Jiang Yulang to look at the largest ship docked next to the plank road.

Looking over there, I saw a large flag with the words "Chen, the Acting Imperial Censor of Salt Inspection" hanging high on the bow of the boat, fluttering in the river breeze.

Jiang Yulang took a deep breath and said, "Chen Yanwang is here?!"

When Chen Ran was in the capital, he was known as the top scholar.

But his reputation in the Jiangnan area is that of the King of Hell.

The reason is very simple. It was this person who proposed the tax-farming policy that caused many civil unrests in Jiangnan.

In the eyes of the wealthy, this is the devil who robs people of their money.

"Young Master!" The head of the guards was very loyal. "I will escort you out!"

There is no way. This is a private salt dock, and the rows of warehouses on the dock are filled with private salt.

The inspector of salt who was in charge of this matter brought his troops here directly. What else can I say?
"Open your dog eyes and see clearly!" Jiang Yulang pointed to the 200 to 300 cavalrymen not far away and said, "Can you run away?"

Those were elite cavalrymen riding war horses, how could they possibly escape?

After sending the head guard away, Jiang Yulang saw people starting to get off the ship. He took a deep breath and shouted, "Jiang Yulang, son of the head of the Yangzhou Salt Merchants Guild, wants to see Master Chen~~~"

Under the gaze of many soldiers, he shouted three times in a row.

After a while, someone came and led him to wait by the plank road.

The first thing to come out of the plank road was a sedan chair, surrounded by maids and old women, and it was obvious that they were Lord Chen's family.

This cannot be said to be wrong, after all, Ping'er and Lin Daiyu were squeezed in the sedan chair together at that time.

This sedan chair was originally prepared for Ping'er, and the carriage to pick up Lin Daiyu was still at the dock outside Yangzhou City.

After changing the place and getting ashore, Ping'er took the initiative to give it to Lin Daiyu, and Lin Daiyu pulled Ping'er to ride in the sedan together.

After that, Chen Ran, who had changed into official uniform, came walking over with a large number of people.

Jiang Yulang looked up, and the first thing he saw was the royal flag held high behind Chen Ran.

Although he is not a member of the officialdom, he is very familiar with the rules of the officialdom because of his long-term dealings with them.

You know that the imperial sword and the golden medal are all empty words. Only the royal flag truly represents power, a power that can kill people and confiscate their property!

"Student Jiang Yulang greets you, sir."

Jiang Yulang, who had donated money to obtain his student status, came forward to greet the students.

Chen Ran looked around, passing through the rows of warehouses, the many panicked dock workers and security guards, and finally landed on Jiang Yulang. "What do you want from me?"

Jiang Yulang hesitated for a moment, then carefully handed over the wooden box in his hand. "I learned that you have taken up the post, so I came to see you and give you some money."

He knew that sending money should be done in private, but there was no other way now.

Chen Ran didn't even look at the wooden box in his hand. Instead, he raised his hand and pointed at the many warehouses on the dock. "Are these filled with your private salt?"

"No, no." Jiang Yulang waved his hands quickly, "My family is a legitimate salt merchant, how could there be private salt? Your Excellency is joking."

"I never joke with men." Chen Ran glanced at him. "Whose salt is this?"

"This." Jiang Yulang was so worried about how to respond.

If he said it was his own, wouldn't that confirm his family's crime of selling private salt? After all, these salts were not registered with the Salt Administration Office. What if he said it was not his own and was confiscated directly?
More than half of his family’s private salt was stored at this dock.

If it is really copied, the loss will be terrible.
When he was in a dilemma, he heard Chen Ran say, "I haven't arrived at the Salt Administration Office to take over yet. Whether it is private salt or not, it has nothing to do with me. I don't care about other people's affairs if I am not in the position."

Jiang Yulang was stunned at first, then he was overjoyed.

Lord Chen is really sensible.

This reason is simply impeccable.

He has not yet taken office and is not yet the acting Censor of Salt Inspector. Naturally, the issue of smuggled salt is not his responsibility, and there is nothing he can do if he encounters it.

Jiang Yulang was delighted and was already thinking about preparing a few beautiful thin horses and a large sum of silver as a thank you gift when he returned.
Then, he heard Chen Ran shouting, "Where is Liu Xianglian?"

Liu Xianglian, who came riding on a horse, saluted and said, "Sir! I am here!"

"The army has come from afar and is not used to the local climate. We will temporarily requisition this dock as a military camp. You will lead 500 people to station here and designate this place as a key military camp area."

Liu Xianglian would not say any nonsense and immediately bowed and said, "I obey your orders!"

Leaving behind the terrified Jiang Yulang, Chen Ran jumped on his horse and headed straight for Yangzhou City.

A large number of troops entered the prosperous city of Yangzhou, and most of the common people they met on the road tried to avoid them.

After all, the military personnel of this era have always had a bad reputation.

On the one hand, there is the slander from the turbans, and on the other hand, most warriors are indeed bad people in terms of character.

He went straight into the Salt Administration Office, first met with the clerk in the front office, and then went straight to the backyard to meet Lin Ruhai.

All the maids and old women met along the way had expressions of compassion.

Their head of the family is dying, so naturally they won't have a very good future. It's time to consider a way out.

Came to Lin Ruhai's room.

Lin Ruhai, with a depressed look, leaned against the head of the bed, while Lin Daiyu, with red eyes, was sobbing beside the bed.

In addition, there were several of Lin Ruhai's concubines and maids, and even a few men who pretended to be compassionate.

"Lord Lin." Chen Ran stepped forward to greet him and took out the document from the Ministry of Personnel. "I am here by the order of the Emperor. I will temporarily take over Lord Lin's responsibilities. I hope Lord Lin will take good care of his illness and recover soon."

The two were not familiar with each other and it was the first time they met.

They didn't have much of a relationship in the past, and at most they knew each other through Jia Yucun.

It is only natural to start by using official language and writing official documents.

Lin Ruhai, who was half covered by the quilt, looked up at Chen Ran and forced a smile. "Thank you for coming all the way here, Lord Chen. I will go straight to the people in the mansion to handle all the matters concerning the government office."

After saying that, he leaned forward with some difficulty, took the big seal beside him, stroked it gently for a while, then handed it to Chen Ran with both hands solemnly.

This is a token that represents the identity of the Imperial Inspector of Salt, who is in charge of the Salt Administration Office and manages salt administration affairs in Lianghuai and Jiangnan!

Chen Ran, with a serious expression, stepped forward and took the seal.

He then said a few words of advice to Ping'er, such as to rest well, take care of oneself, and that one would get better soon. Then he turned around and said goodbye to Ping'er and left.

Since they don't have much of a relationship, it's naturally not a good idea to hinder the reunion of father and daughter.

He returned to the front hall and asked everyone in the yamen to gather together. He displayed the seal and the transfer document of the Ministry of Personnel, as well as the emperor's imperial edict, in public.

From this moment on, the Salt Administration Office was truly under his management.

"Twenty miles south of the city, there is a private salt warehouse on the bank of the Taiping River." After becoming the Imperial Salt Inspector, Chen Ran began to investigate the salt administration. The first one he investigated was naturally the Jiang family's private salt warehouse that he came across by chance. "Quickly, take the salt guards to seal it up."

The people in the Salt Administration Office looked at each other in bewilderment. They naturally knew that the private salt warehouses along the Taiping River all belonged to the Jiang family.

Over the years, the Salt Administration Office has already developed a tacit understanding with those salt merchants who are salt merchants in public but are actually big salt lords in private.

The salt merchants paid silver as tribute, and the Salt Administration Office turned a blind eye.

The new salt inspector wanted to conduct a search right away.
"Sir." Someone has been collecting money from the Jiang family for many years, so he has to speak for them. "Whether it is private salt or not, we need to investigate and confirm. It is hard to say which salt merchant stored the official salt."

"Very good." Chen Ran nodded and instructed, "Seal the accounting office and check all the salt books. Check carefully whether the salt on the dock over there is smuggled salt. I'll leave this matter to you. I want to get a conclusion before dark."

The person who spoke up felt his scalp tingling but had to agree.

He was in a dilemma.

It is said that official salt is simple and can even be added to the salt book.

But the problem is, if there is such a large amount of official salt, not to mention other issues, who will pay the tax on so much official salt?
The tax for one stone of salt is five hundred coins.

Half of the Jiang family’s private salt was blocked. How much tax do they have to pay?

If it was private salt, it would be directly confiscated.

Salt is actually not valuable, and the sea is boundless and inexhaustible.

But the Jiang family’s distribution networks throughout Jiangnan are waiting for them to supply goods.

The impact of smuggled salt being seized and there being no time to supply it was even more serious than paying taxes.

There was no other choice but to arrange for someone to deliver the message to the Jiang family as soon as possible.

It is up to them to decide how to choose.

(End of this chapter)