CHAPTER 456: 350, SALT MERCHANT GENERAL OFFICE_2

Chen Ji stared at the stone table, "Since no one is losing out, where do the entrenched problems come from?"

Chen Yu chuckled, "Later, with constant silver mining domestically and an endless influx from overseas, silver became less valuable. At that time, a salt permit was worth four maces of silver. So many years have passed, and the salt permit is still the same price... Do you understand my point?"

Chen Ji understood. Back then, four maces of silver could buy five dan of grain, but now four maces only buy half a dan. The court should have raised the price of a salt permit to four taels long ago, but it’s still priced at four maces.

He frowned and asked, "The court doesn’t care?"

Chen Yu laughed, "The court wants to manage, but disputes arose between the emperor’s family and ministers, causing much trouble. Eventually, both sides compromised, with big salt merchants paying 500,000 taels of silver to cover the court’s deficit. The court got the silver, and salt merchants and officials had hereditary profits. That’s how the ’Gang Register’ of forty-six hereditary big salt merchants came about."

Chen Ji knocked on the table, "But over time, the court still loses."

Chen Yu spread his hands, "If it wasn’t a loss, would it be called ’entrenched problems’?"

Chen Ji pondered in silence. So the first problem the court faces with the salt tax is how to bring the salt permit back to true market value, allowing its price to fluctuate with the market.

At its root, it’s because silver, this ’currency,’ has gradually slipped from the court’s control, and even the court might not know how much silver is circulating among the populace.

Chen Yu shifted the conversation, "The second entrenched salt tax issue is private salt. The official salt production is insufficient for daily use, and salt prices have been rising yearly. Salt merchants initially mixed in ten percent private salt but now dare to mix in sixty percent. The collusion makes it hard to differentiate between private and official salt, making inspections difficult."

Chen Ji asked, "Where does private salt come from?"

Chen Yu replied, "Our court’s official salt is produced by salt-makers, who must hand over 3,000 jin each year. It was difficult to produce 3,000 jin, but now some can make 5,000 jin annually. The extra 2,000 jin becomes private salt, which flows to salt merchants, making huge profits. In the south, large private salt dealers can even muster tens of thousands of salt bandits, beyond the government’s power to stop."

Chen Ji frowned, contemplating that both private and official salt comes from the same salt-makers, explaining why inspections are futile.

Chen Yu glanced at Chen Ji, "You attended the Qi Family Literary Gathering a few days ago, right? A man named Huang Que was there; his family has a salt team, in reality, salt bandits."

Chen Ji appraised him in shock, "Are you a spy for the Eunuch Party, knowing even this?"

Chen Yu laughed heartily, "I’m adept in astronomy and geography, hence becoming the sixth-rank chief of the Qing Officials Division at twenty-two, and escaping the Changlu Salt Field unscathed."

Chen Ji couldn’t listen any longer and raised his hand, "Xiao Man, see the guest out."

Chen Yu stood, brushing dust from himself, "No need to rush; I’ll see myself out. Chen Ji, you can’t outmaneuver me this time. Focus on taking over the Chen Family Salt Shop; that’s the real profit. But don’t rush—deal with those old foxes gradually."

Chen Yu turned and left.

Xiao Man tidied the tea set, advising, "This Chen Yu likes to show off—quite prideful but not malicious. He told you so much, likely fearing you’d fall for the salt shop’s schemes."

Chen Ji pondered, finding Chen Yu strange: How did a bastard develop such a character? Moreover, how did a bastard become so resourceful, knowing even who attended the Qi Family Literary Gathering?

It was unreasonable, neither logical nor fair.

Xiao Man cautiously reminded, "Master, those old foxes at the salt shop might not listen to you, especially the store manager Chen Yue. I’ve heard he only respects the elder masters in the Chen family and disregards everyone else."

Chen Ji acknowledged, saying nothing.

...

...

The next morning, before the rooster crowed, Chen Ji dressed silently and left the Silver Apricot Garden.

Today, he didn’t fetch water but walked gently through the dewy stone path towards the outer city.

Exiting Xuanwu Gate, Chen Ji glanced along Xuanwu Gate Street, muttering to himself, "Past Xuanwu Gate, three alleys over is Luoma Market Street..."

By this time, Luoma Market Street was bustling, with ox and mule carts coming and going endlessly. The dirt road was filled with cow dung, and the air carried a grassy scent.

Along the street, shop assistants were unhitching the shutters.

Steam billowed skyward as the bun shop lifted its steamer lid.

Not far away, a pot for cooking tripe had boiled, with strongmen squatting by, eating cornbread and tripe.

For a moment, Chen Ji felt dazed as if he had returned to Anxi Street in Luocheng City.

He scrutinized the shop signs until he found the plaque for "Chen’s Salt Merchant Headquarters."

He pondered briefly, lifted his hem, and stepped over the threshold.

A shop assistant was sweeping the floor inside, not looking up upon hearing footsteps, "Guest, looking to buy salt?"

Chen Ji said nothing, walking to the salt bin and grabbing a handful of salt.

Coarse salt, yellowish-brown crystals mixed with clay and minerals. Without tasting, Chen Ji knew it had the bitter taste of magnesium sulfate and the astringency of magnesium chloride.

To cook with it, people dissolved the coarse salt in water to settle, using the clarified water for cooking. Clean filtered salt existed for sale to officials, three times the cost of coarse salt or more.

Chen Ji had thought of entering the fine salt business but dismissed the idea. The field was already crowded, and profits weren’t fast enough.

The shop assistant, confused by Chen Ji’s silence, looked up, "Guest, if you aren’t buying, don’t handle it. You’ll have to buy the handful you took."

Chen Ji tossed the coarse salt back into the bin, clapping the remnants from his palms onto the floor.

The assistant panicked, "Didn’t you hear me? Piling salt on the floor—what’s that about? Pay for it!"

Chen Ji glanced at him, "How much?"

Leaning on a bamboo broom, the assistant thought, "One hundred cents...no, two hundred cents!"

Chen Ji acknowledged him, turning to examine other salt bins. The shop offered more than one type of coarse salt; the yellow-brown was sea salt, and the violet was pool salt from Jie State, aka peach blossom salt, less impure.

Seeing Chen Ji’s indifference, the assistant reached to grab him, "What’s wrong with you? Are you deaf? Help, someone stirring trouble!"

At this, several assistants rushed out, gripping iron rulers in hand.

The assistant sneered, "Who dares disrupt Chen’s business?"

Chen Ji finally acknowledged them, "I’m Chen Ji; you should have heard of me. The Chen family sent me to take over the salt shop. Tell your store manager Chen Yue to meet me."

The assistants’ expressions changed, exchanging glances before one stepped forward, cupping his hands, "Didn’t expect to offend the master; we’ll seek punishment from the shopkeeper and offer an explanation. But the store manager isn’t here today; he’s out on business."

"Store manager’s not here?" Chen Ji casually asked, "What about the second shopkeepers?"

The assistant shook his head, "They’re not here either."

"All seven second shopkeepers are absent?"

"None are here," the assistant confidently said, "though the store manager and second shopkeepers instructed us to cooperate fully with audits or permit and warehouse checks if you arrive. No objections."

Chen Ji, hands clasped behind, asked offhandedly, "What else did the store manager say?"

The assistant replied, "He also said the salt business has deep intricacies. Since you’re new to it, you should thoroughly understand. Review the accounts first — only then will you know where the salt comes from, where it sells, and to whom the quick permit and official freight payments went. After reviewing, it’s not too late to discuss official matters... Chen Ertong, have the accounts brought out."

Chen Ji raised a hand to stop him, "No need. Tell the store manager I have important business to discuss with him. I’ll return tonight after the Yulin Army ends their shift; tell him to stay in the salt shop waiting for me."

Saying this, Chen Ji turned and left.

When he was far off, the assistant turned back to the courtyard, yelling, "Shopkeeper, he’s gone."

A portly middle-aged man parted the curtain and entered the main hall, squinting as he watched Chen Ji’s distant figure, "Just some oblivious novice."

The assistant looked at the shopkeeper, "He said he’ll come again tonight; what should we do?"

The shopkeeper rubbed his chin, expressionless, "Still say I’m not here."