"New yamen?" Wang Chengen lowered his head, not knowing what the Ming emperor in front of him was going to do.

The last new government office was the Ming Land Bureau. Although it was only implemented in northern Zhili for one month, the effect was very significant.

The people bought and rented land one after another, and all the idle land of the Land Bureau was rented out.

The land offices of various prefectures and counties in Northern Zhili are now basically in a state of having nothing to do!

Chongzhen was also hesitating whether to set up a new government office.

The Land Bureau solved land issues and was a government office that helped the common people fight against the gentry class.

On the surface it seems that the problem has been solved, but it is far from enough.

The problems at the end of the Ming Dynasty were fundamentally economic problems, especially in the Ming Dynasty when the silver standard was used, the problems were even more obvious.

The court needs silver to do anything, and the people also need silver to pay taxes.

However.

There is less and less silver in the market.

Where did all the money go?

In the treasuries of princes, nobles, gentry, and merchants, they were rich enough to rival a country but were reluctant to spend money.

It’s not that they are reluctant to spend money, but apart from purchasing land and houses, there is no other place where they need the money.

But the people wanted to use silver, but there was no silver available.

If these silver coins are hidden in the treasury and not circulated, they will lose their original purpose as currency.

The Ming Dynasty's economy began to stagnate and even regress.

After the peasant army robbed those who had silver in the Ming Dynasty, silver returned to the market and the problem was solved.

The peasant army could rob and kill, but he couldn't.

There were so many rich people in the Ming Dynasty. As the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he could confiscate the homes of ten people, a hundred people, or even a thousand people.

But it is impossible to raid everyone's house.

If he really did that, he would become a bandit!

After thinking for a moment, Chongzhen ordered: "Ask Queen Zhou to come over. I have something to tell you. By the way, you don't have to stay by my side for the next few days. Hurry up and make fine salt."

Wang Chengen was immediately delighted. He was very interested in this new job. He immediately bowed and said, "I will go right away."

After a moment.

Queen Zhou, dressed in white, walked in with light steps. After she entered the palace, she looked around as quickly as possible, and was slightly startled when she saw the pots, stoves and various messy things on the ground.

She bowed hastily and said, "Your Majesty, I greet you!"

Chongzhen's face lit up with joy. He walked straight to Queen Zhou and put his arms around her slender waist.

"I have been busy with state affairs recently and have neglected the Queen. But...why didn't the Queen come to see me?"

Empress Zhou blushed and said, "Your Majesty is the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. You have the ambition to go from the Yangtze River to the sea. I dare not disturb you."

"Okay, okay!" Chongzhen was very satisfied with the queen's answer. He also made up his mind to set up a new department and hand it over to the queen.

"Queen, come and taste what this is." As he said this, Chongzhen picked up the fine salt he had just made and handed it to the queen's hand.

Queen Zhou took out the small wooden box, opened the lid and found something as white as snow inside.

She first looked at Chongzhen in confusion, then respectfully pinched out a little and carefully put it in her mouth to taste it.

"This is... salt?" Queen Zhou was a little surprised, "But this salt..."

She frowned slightly, puffed her cheeks lightly, and stared at the particles in front of her with a puzzled look.

As the Empress of the Ming Dynasty, she had much more knowledge than the average person. In addition, she occasionally cooked for the emperor herself, so she knew a lot about salt.

There were two kinds of table salt in the Ming Dynasty. One was sea salt, which was salty and bitter.

The other is well salt, which tastes better than sea salt, but still has a strange smell.

The salt used by the royal family is the highest in the country!

The best salt in the country is nothing compared to the box of salt in front of him.

"This is indeed salt! I dreamed of the method of making fine salt last night. I asked Wang Chengen to try it early this morning. I didn't expect it to work!" Chongzhen lied without blushing or feeling angry.

In this era, only the theories of ghosts and gods can convince people.

So he chose to dream without hesitation.

Empress Zhou quickly closed the lid and carefully placed the box in Chongzhen's hands: "This is a gift from heaven, so it is better to put it in your Majesty's hands. I dare not touch it."

"The Queen is worrying too much!" Chongzhen put down the salt, took the Queen's hand and sat on the tiger skin next to him.

He said seriously: "Queen, since this is a gift from God, I should make good use of it."

"Your Majesty, what do you mean...?"

"I plan to establish a new government office. Actually, it's not a new government office, but a business that specializes in selling high-end items."

"Business?" Queen Zhou looked confused.

The emperor didn't need to consult her when setting up a business, he could just do it directly.

Really?

Empress Zhou asked hurriedly, "Your Majesty, what do you want me to do?"

“Supply!”

Queen Zhou: ...

A quarter of an hour later, Queen Zhou looked at Chongzhen with bright eyes and was deeply convinced by his words.

A small bag of salt is ostensibly for eating, but it actually concerns national interests.

Chongzhen thought about it for a long time. If he wanted to solve the problem of rich people not spending money, there was only one way: luxury goods!

Yes, it is a luxury product!

In that era, luxury items included land, houses, and cultural relics, calligraphy and paintings.

Now, the fine salt he has developed can have the same properties.

Of course, the specific operation still requires some details.

"Your Majesty, do you want me to make salt in the palace?"

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It’s even more exciting later!