The most important thing is that the Gang law is hereditary, while the ticket law recognizes the ticket but not the person. No matter who you are, as long as you pay taxes according to the law, you can get the ticket for transportation and sales.
While breaking the salt merchants' monopoly, Zhu Youxiao also significantly reduced the amount of salt transported per batch.
For example, the current unit of salt transport was the yin, with one yin equal to 400 jin. After implementing the ticket system, Zhu Youxiao would set the salt transport quantity per ticket at 200 jin. This would reduce the capital required to sell salt and make it easier for the lower classes to market.
Zhu Youxiao did not condemn the big salt merchants. According to the classification system of salt merchants in later generations, he planned to classify the price of salt. The price of salt purchased from 10,000 kilograms and 200 kilograms should not be the same.
This seems to have a bit of the flavor of a free market economy!
Zhu Youxiao raised his head and watched Xia Zhongshi enter the hall and kneel down to pay his respects. He said in a deep voice, "Xia Qing, please stand up."
Xia Zhongshi bowed in thanks before rising to his feet, unaware that the emperor had already conducted a thorough study and prepared officials to begin the salt administration reform after hearing his report.
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Although the weather was getting hotter, Lu Qinghou didn't feel uncomfortable.
Besides the fact that he was from Jiangnan and could adapt to the hotter temperature, he was even more excited about receiving the ninth-rank official title, and he completely forgot about other discomforts.
When he came to the capital, he just wanted to give it a try with a lucky mentality, and he never thought that he would be granted an official position a few months later.
He never expected that his career as a bookkeeper in a restaurant would be a huge help in his career as an official. His ability to calculate and read account books had enabled him to complete his studies so quickly and become an official in the newly established Salt Administration.
The Salt Administration was temporarily under the Ministry of Revenue, but it had a certain degree of independence and could report directly to the emperor, which was unknown to newly appointed officials such as Lu Qinghou.
"Congratulations, Brother Lu." Lu Xiaobu looked at the official uniform held by Lu Qinghou, and envy flashed across his face. He still had to continue studying, although he saw hope in Lu Qinghou and knew that becoming an official was not difficult.
Lü Qinghou was not arrogant. He quickly bowed and thanked him, saying, "Brother Zong Huai is more talented than me, but he didn't take the exam this time. Next time, he will definitely get an official position and surpass me."
Lu Xiaobu laughed heartily and said, "This exam is about math and bookkeeping. If I'm not an expert, I won't pass even if I take it. It's better to hide my incompetence."
All calculations were done in Arabic numerals, and bookkeeping was different from before, with things like triplicate receipts. Although not difficult, Lü Qinghou, having worked as an accountant, mastered it much faster than others.
Moreover, as a student who spent the shortest time studying but was able to meet the qualification standards and be granted an official position, Lu Qinghou really made a name for himself.
"The civil affairs examination will be held next month. Brother Zong Huai will definitely pass it, and the official position he will be awarded will be more prestigious than mine as a salt official." Lu Qinghou's words were not entirely consoling, just like officials from the Ministry of Works are often not as prestigious as those from the Ministry of Personnel.
Even among officials, there were distinctions between technical and administrative positions in later generations, and in the Ming Dynasty, there was an even greater distinction between the clean and the turbid. The Salt Administration sounded like a name, and it was clear what it did; it was distinct from officials in charge of civil affairs.
"We both work for the court, so why are you being treated so respectably?" Lü Xiaobu was pleased, but he still had a few words of advice. "Brother Lu, be careful what you say in the future. Don't let your colleagues report you to your superiors and affect your promotion."
"Thank you, Brother Zong Huai, for the reminder. I will keep it in mind." Lu Qinghou bowed in thanks and glanced outside intentionally or unintentionally.
Lü Xiaobu understood what he meant and bowed, saying, "Brother Lu, please meet your superior. We can chat again when we have time. I will take my leave now."
Lu Qinghou bowed and said, "When I have some free time, I will invite you to a banquet."
"You can drink this wedding wine." Lu Xiaobu agreed with a smile and said goodbye.
Lü Qinghou let out a long breath, put on his official uniform, and went out to report for duty at his new office. He wondered where his new superior was from, how old he was, or what his resume was, as he walked.
At this time, Xia Zhongshi had just walked out of the palace. When the oppressive feeling brought by the majestic buildings and strict guards disappeared, he breathed a sigh of relief.
In the Salt Administration Bureau, he was already an independent official, with the rank of sixth, and had the power to make direct reports.
Xia Zhongshi looked up at the sun. Although it was dazzling, it did not make him uncomfortable. Instead, he felt comfortable and excited.
From the time the "Voucher Salt System" was proposed to now, only a few months have passed, and the level has been promoted several times. This speed is much faster than that of the Jinshi who passed the regular imperial examination.
Starting from the Changlu Salt Factory, Wansui was still very cautious in implementing the "Salt Ticket Law" in northern Zhili, even though many research results and implementation methods were far beyond his thoughts and preparations.
While Xia Zhongshi admired him, he also felt a heavy burden on his shoulders. The salt tax in Lianghuai was extremely important, and the emperor dared not act rashly. Whether the salt administration reform could be fully implemented depended on the success of his pilot project in northern Zhili.
The emperor's trust in him was complete, and when he inspected the salt factories in various places, he gave him the power to appoint officials he favored. Once the "Salt Ticket Law" was expanded, these officials would become his subordinates.
Looking back at the majestic and imposing imperial city, Xia Zhongshi turned around again with his back straight and his steps firm, as if the emperor was looking at him expectantly.
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Selecting talented and capable people should be one of the criteria for a wise ruler.
However, it is not so easy to distinguish and determine what is virtuous, what is capable, and what kind of officials can govern the local area well, ensure sufficient national funds, and make the country prosperous.
Some emperors thought that they had appointed capable ministers, but the country's situation deteriorated day by day, and they eventually lost their country; some emperors thought that those who obeyed them prospered, and those who disobeyed them perished. They used people entirely based on their likes and dislikes as the standard for employing people, and there is no need to say more about the outcome.
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