Volume 1 Nightfall Border City Chapter 54 Shan Merchant

  This is Di Zhe's second time entering Kill Hu Kou, half a year apart, and the scene is vastly different.

  The streets were cold and deserted, with most shops closed, and not even a stray dog could be seen barking by the roadside.

  In the first month, Ning Sheng's import business was still thriving, and there were also inns opening their doors. Now, not even a single teahouse is left. Except for De Xiang Ge and Ping Kui, all other businesses have had no dealings for over a year. Even if the bosses are wealthy, they cannot hold on any longer. The Cao and Li families have also withdrawn more than half of their partners and temporarily abandoned their business outside the pass.

  Kill Hu Kou Shou Bei Zhang Guang now can only get some benefits from Liu Quan and Ning Sheng, and make it convenient for the goods to go out of the pass.

  The weather in August, the hottest season has passed, the air is dry, and even stomping on the ground can kick up a cloud of dust.

  Ning Sheng stood at the entrance to greet them, and Di Zhe led a group of over a dozen people on horseback into the pass, dusty and disheveled. The border guards had already received orders and turned a blind eye.

  "Master!" Ning Sheng's expression was stiff, in front of Zhai Zhe, he always felt like he was still that refugee on the verge of starving to death.

  Di Zhe dismounted his horse and thought that Ning Sheng seemed to have gained a bit more weight than before. Having been the manager of Pinggui for almost a year, it would be strange if he didn't gain some weight.

  "You've done a great job this half year!"

  "Thank you, Dong Jia!" Ning Sheng's face showed a joyful expression.

  After entering the Kill Hu Kou, Zhai Zhe's first priority was to visit and pay respects to Zhang Guang, who was in charge of guarding. Although a lot of silver was spent on business matters, after entering, basic etiquette still had to be understood. A person lives by their face, a tree relies on its bark, even if silver is used generously, it must also make the recipient feel comfortable.

  A gift box worth 500 taels of silver, Ning Sheng ordered two young servants to carry it and follow Zhai Zhe. This year's business at the Hu Kou has been much worse, even the price of bribery has decreased a lot, and 500 taels of silver is no longer a small amount.

  Zhang Guang didn't stand on ceremony, took the silver, and asked Zhai Zhe about the situation outside the Great Wall. In May, the Chahar people invaded Datong, which brought no small pressure to the generals guarding the border fortresses.

  Di Zhe didn't have the time to chat with him, and after a jumbled explanation, in short, it was just that the Chahar people would not invade Datong Town again for the time being, which made Zhang Guang take a reassuring pill. He wasn't a worm in Lin Dan's stomach, so how could he know these things?

  When leaving the Guardian Mansion, Di Zhe was not in a good mood. Many of the Ming dynasty's border generals were like this, fearing the enemy like a tiger and only hoping that the bandits on the border would not invade their own territory, and being able to escape one disaster was already a blessing.

  When he returned to Ping Kui, Liu Quan was already waiting for him. He looked exhausted and his face was pale.

  "Zhāi dōng jiā!"

  Translation: "Zhao's family is here!"

  "Mr. Liu's home!"

  Ning Sheng ordered his servant to serve tea, and while leading the two men to their seats, he interjected with a reminder: "Mr. Liu has just arrived from Youyu County!"

  Liu Quan smiled apologetically and said, "This year's severe drought in Youyu, I set up some porridge sheds in the county town. There were many refugees and various things to deal with. As soon as I received the news from Ning Zhanggui, I rushed over immediately!"

  Di Zhe was somewhat surprised and said, "I heard that the government has already started disaster relief, hasn't it?"

  Liu Quan sighed and said, "The government's disaster relief is limited to Datong Prefecture, and the food supply is far from sufficient. I couldn't bear to watch my fellow townspeople in Youyu starve to death, so I set up a porridge shop, which has been running for over a month now."

  "I didn't expect you to be so thoughtful!" Zhai Zhe sighed and said, "I came into the pass this time specifically to find you. I want to buy 20,000 stones of millet to take out of the pass. The grasslands are also suffering from drought."

  "How much?" Liu Quan could hardly believe his ears.

  "Twenty thousand stones!" Zhai Zhe stretched out two fingers.

  Liu Quan shook his head and said, "Forgive me for being powerless! De Xiang's remaining grain is only 2,000 dan now. Every time the porridge shed opens, there will be less food."

  Di Yan's eyes narrowed at Liu Quan, his face displeased.

  Liu Quan seemed to be completely unaware, and said: "Although I don't have grain to sell to you, I know that the northern region is not short of grain. Datong Prefecture has many business houses storing large quantities of grain, especially Dasheng Qifang's family. It's just that the grain in the north is too expensive now, and most of the affected people can't afford it."

  After saying these words, he seemed to have a bellyful of resentment and said with hatred: "The people's uprising in Shanxi and Shaanxi due to the disaster was all because the salt production system was changed from Zhongzhao to Zheyang during the Chenghua period. Now more than half of the wealth of the Ming dynasty is concentrated in Jiangnan, and no one cares about the lives and deaths of people on the nine borders."

  Dai Yan also knew something about the restructuring of Da Ming Salt Industry, but it wasn't entirely clear. He asked: "Please tell me more!"

  Liu Quan took a sip of tea and told Di Yan in detail about the history of Shanxi merchants' glory and shame.

  At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, in order to guarantee the military supply of the nine northern border garrisons, the "Kai Zhong" system was implemented, which allowed private individuals to transport grain and hay to the northern border for exchange with salt certificates, engaging in salt trade. The Shanxi merchants took advantage of their local advantages in the nine borders and gradually rose to prominence.

  The transportation of grain from the south to the nine borders is far away, and the price is high. Salt merchants have established a large number of commercial depots along the border, hiring people to cultivate and collect grain for use in exchanging salt. At this time, the supply of grain and grass in Shanxi was sufficient, and rice was cheap while silver was expensive. During the Chenghua period, Xu Yu, the chief assistant from Jiangnan, and Ye Qi, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, colluded with Huishang merchants to change the law, replacing the Kai Zhong system with the Zhe Se system.

  Under the Zhejiang color system, merchants no longer need to go to Jiubian to pay grain for salt certificates, but can directly exchange silver for salt certificates at the Huaiyang Salt Transport Office. Merchants in Huzhou Prefecture, Jiangnan, relied on their geographical advantages and gradually prospered, making Yangzhou a hub for wealthy merchants from north and south, with Shanxi salt merchants even moving their families to Jiangnan to compete with Huizhou merchants.

  But from this time on, the supply of grain and grass for the nine border garrisons could not be guaranteed. The land in the north was poor and barren, and the military colonies were gradually destroyed. Over the years, the price of grain in the nine borders rose far beyond that in the south. The court had to spend money to transport grain from the south to the nine borders, and even the soldiers' salaries were not enough for living expenses. Many soldiers were impoverished, and the war preparations were relaxed.

  During the late Wanli period, the salt administration changed from a color-changing system to a thread-transportation system, which was beneficial for large salt merchants to monopolize operations. Huishang merchants were close to the Lianghuai Salt Field and often moved their families to operate in the salt industry, while Shanxi merchants began to decline, and Huishang merchants officially rose to prominence.

  Liu Quan finished speaking with a dry mouth and tongue, while Di Yan listened with his eyes wide open and his mouth agape. These court secrets were not something he could have gleaned from the "Discourse on Salt and Iron".

  Liu Quan is a Shanxi native, deeply resentful of the drastic changes in the Ming dynasty's salt administration. Regardless of the imperial court's intentions, the reform of the salt administration has exacerbated the poverty in the nine northern border regions, concentrating wealth in Jiangnan, to the point where now whenever Shaanxi suffers a disaster, corpses are scattered all over the fields, and both the frontier army and civilians cannot survive, only able to rebel against heaven.

  Di Zhe thought for a moment, stood up and bowed to Liu Quan, saying: "Today I just met Brother Liu, I was enlightened."

  The Great Ming actually has such a businessman, in the Great Ming, such people can only be businessmen! He had almost made up his mind to recruit Liu Quan under his command.

  Liu Quan returned the courtesy and said, "I dare not. In business, we speak of profit, and it's not right to say too much. Who doesn't understand these principles? It's just that many interests are involved, and no one is willing to take the lead. I see the people of Youyu starving to death, and I couldn't bear it in my heart, so I spoke out these words. However... however, now there really is no grain in our hands." After finishing speaking, he spread open his palms.

  "Is Da Shenggui still hoarding grain?" Di Zhe hesitated, recalling the letter he had torn to shreds that day.

  Liu Quan's expression was despondent, and he said: "The east mouth is prosperous, the west mouth is declining. Now, 70-80% of the business in Xuan Da Zhen is in the hands of the eight big families in the east mouth, how can there be no grain?"

  "Thank you so much!" Zhai Zhe bowed and saw off his guest.

  Zhangjiakou, big brother, Fan Yongdou! That's indeed a dead knot that can't be untied! Zhai Zhe was secretly entangled in his heart.

  Thinking of going to see Fan Yongdou, Zhai Zhe's mind flashed back to that clever and nimble girl Fan Yi. Speaking of which, she should be his fiancée. Last year, in a fit of anger, he escaped from Zhangjiakou, and he didn't know if this engagement was still valid or not.