Qing Yao

Chapter 75 Take good care of me
Salt is a huge profit.

When Zhao An was in Dongtai, he learned from the side that the salt merchants bought salt from local salt farmers at a price of two cents per catty, but as long as the salt was shipped out, it could be sold for ten times the profit even in Jiangsu. The main sales area of ​​Huai salt was not the Liangjiang area, but Hubei and Hunan.

In these two provinces, the price of Huai salt can soar to more than 60 coins per catty, with a profit of more than 30 times!
Of course, with Zhao An's current ability, it is impossible for him to smuggle salt to Hunan and Chu provinces. He just wants to make some small moves in the surrounding areas to earn some pocket money.

There is no question of competing with the red-topped salt merchants under the name of the Imperial Household Department for food. At most, they are just competing with those salt merchants who don't have a place to stay.

Dongtai County will definitely cooperate with the whole process because Qianlong does not look like a dragon. After all, everyone is on the same boat. Since they have committed the crime of the whole family playing Candy Crush, they are not afraid of being charged with the crime of smuggling salt.

Besides, it’s a good thing for everyone to make money.

If Ganquan County is brought into the picture, integrated production and sales will be achieved.

Two local magistrates provided cover, Zhao An, the director of the prefectural education bureau, coordinated, and the Green Gang, a social organization, participated. Not to mention the small salt-dealing gangs composed of desperate criminals, it was no problem to even get the salt to Yangzhou City for sale under the noses of the salt merchants.

It's dark under the lamp.

Now it depends on whether Lao Ding can get it right.

As a result, Lao Ding didn't understand.

"Asshole, you let this county be a salt dealer!"

County Magistrate Ding was wondering how Zhao An could make money, but he never expected that he, a county magistrate, would be asked to participate in the illegal sale of salt. This was simply intolerable.

It is one thing for local officials to accept benefits from salt dealers and turn a blind eye. Even if something happens, the most they will do is be stripped of their official title. But if local officials directly participate in smuggling salt, they will be guilty of an unforgivable crime punishable by death!
Because this is poaching from the imperial court!
Salt tax was an important source of tax revenue for the imperial court, but it was cut off in disguise by local officials, leaving the imperial court with nothing to eat or drink.

The county magistrate, who was a Jinshi graduate, still had some fears about the national laws. Moreover, such things were disrespectful and improper, and completely contrary to the correct values ​​​​instilled in him by the books of sages. He really could not accept it.

Teacher Song next to him didn't think too highly of Sven. His intuition told him that Zhao An's method could indeed make money quickly and solve the biggest crisis they were facing. The problem was that the salt was not something they could touch.

The salt was managed by the Lianghuai Salt Transport Commissioner's Office and the Lianghuai Salt Inspection Office, and the salt was sold by a group of red-topped salt merchants under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. From production to sales, the salt was not handled by the local authorities at all, and even the salt tax was not collected by the local authorities.

It can be said that except for the inspection offices responsible for cracking down on illegal salt, other local agencies are not allowed to touch salt at all.

You, Zhao An, are now asking the county to join you in smuggling salt. With so many people watching you, the risk is too great.

If we are discovered by the salt transport office, we will have several heads chopped off.

"How could it be a salt merchant?"

Zhao An, who was determined to drag others into the water, had to correct the county magistrate's misconception, "We are not selling illegal salt. We are just helping the salt farmers solve the problem of unsold salt, increasing their income while also allowing more people to eat cheap and affordable salt. This is a great thing that benefits the people."

"."

The county magistrate wants to curse again.

Zhao An talked to himself, saying that he had already opened up a channel in Dongtai County, and as long as County Magistrate Ding would open the door for him, he would find a way to solve the sales problem.

As for the profit, it’s 334.

Three from Dongtai County, three from Ganquan County, and four from him.

But the four does not all belong to Professor Zhao, because transportation and sales also have to share profits.

All in all, he can get two at most.

As for the risk of being discovered by the Salt Transport Office, it can actually be reduced to a minimum.

The most direct way is to use money to attack the staff of the Salt Transport Office who are investigating and cracking down on smuggled salt. Since we have money, we can all play together.

The imperial court?

Can the court pay you more salary or promote you to a higher level every year?
It's fine as long as it's roughly the same.

Another method is to package private salt under the official name. To put it bluntly, what is transported is not salt, but sugar, agricultural products, lime. Anyway, it is a product certified by the county government and has absolutely nothing to do with salt.

The next method is to kill whoever is in charge.

Song Jiaoyu thought it sounded plausible, but he was curious about how Zhao An had gotten through to Dongtai County. Zhao An wouldn't tell the truth, saying only that Dongtai County Magistrate Chen was a good official who deeply detested the salt merchants' exploitation of the stove owners and wanted to help them.

Pure nonsense.

County Master Ding and Instructor Song knew very well that Zhao An was not telling the truth, but since the other party patted his chest and said that there was no problem in Dongtai County, then there should be no problem, otherwise this guy would not bring up this matter.

"Sir, what do you see?"

Song Jiaoyu was tempted and thought that with two county magistrates involved, as long as they didn't go too far, this business would be a profitable one.

“This county has no involvement in this matter!”

County Master Ding still insisted on his principles.

Seeing this, Zhao An could only shake his head and say, "Since Lord Ding doesn't want to do this business, then just ignore what I said. However, I can't afford the silver you're paying for the crime. Lord, you should think of a solution yourself. If you can't, then let the people suffer."

"What are you talking about? What do you mean by making the people suffer? Is this county magistrate the kind of corrupt official who exploits the people? Zhao An, let me be frank with you. You have to pay this money now or tomorrow! If you can't pay it this month, you can pay it next month!"

The furious county magistrate almost forced Zhao An to write an IOU on the spot. This kid has become a professor at the provincial school now, so he can still make a lot of "extra money".

Try knocking twice first to see if there are any dates.

Zhao An didn't want to be manipulated by the county magistrate, so he simply said, "If you force me like this, at worst we can just break up. I'll go to the Educational Affairs Office and report myself!"

"Self-report" means turning oneself in.

"Do you dare to confess?"

County Master Ding laughed at Zhao An's rogue look.

Teacher Song also looked puzzled.

"Why wouldn't you dare? Lord Ding, don't forget that I was the first person in Yangzhou Prefecture to pay the fine, and I volunteered to do so. Humph, if the court wants to kill me, who would dare to pay the fine in the future?"

After saying that, Zhao An sneered again, "You two are probably going to lose your heads."

"you!"

The county magistrate and the teacher were both choked, and the atmosphere in the office was extremely tense.

The roles of both parties are completely reversed.

The criminals have become arrogant.

After a long while, Song Jiaoyu broke the deadlock and whispered to the county lord, "Sir, if Zhao An's impersonation is discovered, you and I will surely die. Since things have come to this, it would be better to find a way to make more money."

"Master Song's words make sense. Raising a little more money can not only save you from the death penalty, but also help you bribe people up and down the social ladder to get a promotion. Why not do it?"

As he spoke, Zhao An quietly handed his teacup to the county magistrate.

The county magistrate drank it, thought for more than ten breaths, and then drank it all in one gulp, and then left still angrily.

But the thing was accomplished.

When Teacher Song left, he nodded to Zhao An, and both his posture and expression had a sense of "your humble official".

Zhao An was in a good mood. If he didn't have the means to smuggle salt, and if the two old leaders didn't give him three to five thousand taels of "hush money", how could he have gotten out of this situation?

Now that the official stuff is done, we just have to wait for Sun Rui to come back with the grain before we can start working.

After thinking about it, Zhao An picked up his pen and prepared to write a letter back to his hometown in Xinghua to call Bao Dawei and Yang Xiaoshuan for help. Just as he was about to write, the door was pushed open again.

The person who came in was Professor Jiang, who was about to be promoted to the position of county magistrate in Jiangxi.

Professor Jiang's face didn't show any joy, but rather a look of trepidation. After entering the room, he closed the door and then slyly walked up to the confused Zhao An and placed a list in front of him. "These students are all excellent students of the prefectural academy. Sir Zhao, please take good care of them."

(End of this chapter)