Inside the Zhangtai Palace, Ying Zheng looked coldly at the salt and iron officials who had spoken out in opposition. The oppressive feeling emanating from his body made all the officials silent.
"Canceling the salt tax is a move that benefits the people. If you block it, aren't you colluding with the salt merchants to profit?"
"I, your Majesty, have served our country with all my loyalty. I hope you will understand!"
"It's just that... the salt tax is the foundation of the country. If it is easily abolished, the national treasury will be depleted!"
The salt and iron officials tried to persuade His Majesty at the top of their lungs in order to cover up their guilt and panic.
The management of salt has always been accompanied by huge profits. As officials, although they could not make profits openly, they received a lot of benefits from salt merchants behind the scenes.
Ying Zheng glanced at the fat and big-eared salt and iron officials, a cold light flashed in his phoenix eyes, and his tone was filled with murderous intent.
"Oh, loyal?"
"They are corrupt, accept bribes, and exploit the people. How can they be called loyal?"
"Guan Qinghong!"
After receiving the order from His Majesty, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard quickly took out a thick stack of secret letters from his sleeve and unfolded them.
All the officials gathered around to check, and when they saw the thousands of gold cakes, they were all shocked.
Seeing that the matter was exposed, several salt and iron officials who had accepted bribes were terrified and began to tremble all over.
How could it be exposed?
They both did the transaction in person! It didn't go through anyone else's hands, except the other party...
"Drag him away and behead him in the busy market at noon tomorrow."
Ying Zheng was also impatient to see these disgusting faces, so he waved his hand and ordered the Jinyiwei to deal with them.
Then he glanced at the officials who had different expressions and explained in a deep voice.
"Now that the supply and marketing cooperatives are filling the national treasury, there is no need to grab the mere profit of salt. The people of our Great Qin will also have salt to eat."
"Your Majesty is wise!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
“…”
The wailing and screaming were still echoing in their ears. No officials dared to object at this moment and all of them nodded in agreement.
After a moment, Lord Luo stroked his beard and praised with a look of satisfaction on his face.
"The Empress is truly far-sighted. These supply and marketing cooperatives have been established throughout the country and are now the mainstay of the national treasury."
"That's right! And those factories provide so many jobs for the people of Xianyang..."
"I have also discovered that Xianyang City is truly becoming more prosperous day by day."
“…”
The loyal ministers who served their country and the people expressed their feelings one by one, feeling relieved and proud. Their country was becoming increasingly powerful and prosperous, so how could they not be happy?
The officials who had once looked down on her were now blushing with shame. They thought that the queen's playful behavior had now become the economic lifeline of the Qin Dynasty.
I really am blind!
Yes, how could a queen who can produce sweet potatoes be an ordinary person?
On the other hand, Li Si, the prime minister, felt mixed emotions.
On the one hand, the deeply rooted idea of "promoting agriculture and suppressing commerce" made him want to refute and defend himself, but on the other hand, the prosperous scene in Xianyang left him speechless.
Is His way right? Is His law right?
Following the issuance of Ying Zheng's decree, salt and iron officials in all counties and prefectures took back the operating rights of salt merchants one by one and handed them over to the supply and marketing cooperatives.
The salt merchants who lost huge profits also made trouble, but they were all suppressed by Ying Zheng with force, and those who made trouble were thrown directly into prison.
In Ying Zheng's view, the favors he could give could also be taken back, so how could these salt merchants have any say in that?
What's more, the wealth they have extorted from the people over the years is enough for them to live a life of wealth and glory.
Half a month later, Sishui County was under the command of Xiaxiang County.
Xiang An sat on the ox cart piled with sweet potatoes, humming a little tune cheerfully.
Xiang's father also had a smile on his face. This year's harvest was even better than last year's, and the cellar at home was full.
It just so happened that the government was buying sweet potatoes, so he thought of exchanging them for some money to buy a few more cotton-padded clothes for his family and save some coal briquettes so that they could have a warm winter.
When passing by the supply and marketing cooperative, Xiang An was so captivated by the lively scene that he jumped down, shouting as he ran.
"Father, I'm going to the supply and marketing cooperative to see if there's anything good!"
"Hey, this brat, he just can't sit still. If you have money, go shopping."
Xiang's father laughed and scolded a few words, then drove the ox cart towards the government office.
Xiang An ran to the door of the supply and marketing cooperative without even taking a breath, ready to go in and take a look.
Although he didn't have a penny in his pocket, the saleswoman here was very gentle. She didn't chase him away unless he bought anything and she spoke nicely. He liked it here very much.
"I want one jin!"
"I want two jun!"
"Make way for me, and give me a stone."
Facing the bustling crowd of customers, the salesperson still maintained his standard smile and answered softly.
"Sorry, each person is limited to purchasing ten kilograms. Please forgive me."
"Isn't this too little? You won't sell it even if you have money?"
"Sister, please sell more to me and I'll introduce you to a handsome guy."
Xiang An, who had come over, scratched his head in confusion when he heard this. "Aren't we selling grain? Why are we still limiting purchases?"
He squeezed to the front with all his might, and then he found that it was not food, but something like snow. Looking up, he saw the word "salt" written on the wooden sign.
Xiang An was stunned for a moment.
Is this salt? Where can you find salt this white and fine?
Even when I was at Brother Yu's house, I had never seen such snow salt. How expensive must it be...
Xiang An couldn't help but ask an aunt, and when he learned that it was only five cents and ten pounds, he was completely stunned.
Then he rushed out of the crowd and ran at full speed towards the government office.
Father, come quickly, pie has fallen from the sky!
If you don’t come now, you won’t be able to grab it!
Such a frenzied shopping scene took place in every county of the Qin Dynasty, and the people were ecstatic.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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