The problem of salt had always been a sore spot for Old Zhu!
Back then, when Old Zhu raised his army and wanted to unify the world, he needed a large amount of food and money.
Where would the money come from?
With the goal of winning the war and unifying the world as his main goal, Old Zhu made a decision that he regretted to this day.
That was to lift the salt ban and allow the people to trade salt on their own!
This policy had indeed produced significant results.
Old Zhu started his career in the southeast, and the prosperous Yangzhou was his core territory.
Because of the lifting of the salt ban, it attracted a large number of wealthy businessmen from all over the country.
There were the wealthy merchants from Shanxi and Shaanxi, who were known as the western merchants, and also the extremely united Hui merchants.
The reason why the western merchants were involved in this matter was because of a system to raise food.
At that time, Old Zhu stipulated that whoever could transport grain from Jiangnan to the border between the north and Northern Yuan would receive Huai salt from the imperial court.
About 30 catties of grain could be exchanged for a portion of salt.
With salt, one could obtain a large amount of salt and make huge profits.
The western merchants relied on their geographical advantage, so they did not need to travel as far as the Jiangnan merchants to transport food.
A tactic of expediency during wartime had spawned a large group of salt merchants.
Now, Yangzhou had become the base camp of the salt merchants.
Although the world was peaceful, the remnants of Northern Yuan were still there. In Old Zhu's heart, this country was not peaceful.
The country had just been established, and there were many things to be done. The country was not rich at all.
He had no choice but to follow the system of exchanging grain for salt to obtain the support of the wealthy merchants for the war in the Northern Territory.
Regarding this matter, Old Zhu had been sullen for a long time!
Old Zhu was not afraid of the people being rich, but he was afraid of being rich and heartless!
After these salt merchants became rich, they did not do anything.
They lived a luxurious life, partying every night. They were happier than the emperor, Old Zhu.
It was said that there was a trend of raising thin horses in Yangzhou.
He would buy the daughters of poor families, train them in the arts of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and then sell them to the salt merchants at a high price for their enjoyment.
Old Zhu himself was born poor and hated this kind of behavior that did not treat people as humans.
He didn't even show any mercy when he attacked the important officials of the imperial court. He killed whoever he wanted to kill!
However, he really couldn't control these salt merchants!
He had no choice, he was being controlled by others!
The salt-making technique that Zhang Che brought out changed the situation from the bottom up.
On the surface, the reason why the salt merchants were able to grow so quickly was because of the court's tacit approval or even promotion.
But in reality, the most fundamental reason was that the court lacked money!
Huai salt was one of the few high-grade salt that could be produced in Ming Dynasty. It was a scarce and important material.
Because of this, Huai salt was sold at such a high price, which made the salt merchants rich.
Old Zhu was the emperor. Every spit was a pit, and the king was not joking.
You can't go back on your words!
Therefore, he couldn't dismiss the salt envoys!
However, things were different now.
With the new salt-making technique in hand, all the salt mines in the world could produce high-grade salt. The status of Huai salt would definitely plummet!
As long as Old Zhu was willing, the refined salt manufacturing plant could be opened all over the world in an instant.
At that time, would Huai salt still be a rare commodity?
The salt merchants thought that they had controlled the Ming Salt Road, but if the world could produce refined salt everywhere, they would be able to produce salt everywhere.
Then the value of Huai salt was only that bit of commercial value left.
Old Zhu was still the emperor who kept his word. Whether the salt merchants were still indispensable depended on Old Zhu's mood!
As such, Zhang Che's salt-making technique was really a great help to Old Zhu.
"This kid is really our lucky star!”
After being excited for a while, Old Zhu thought happily before he went to sleep.
Early the next morning, Old Zhu sent Zhu Biao and Zhu Di to visit Empress Ma at Zhang Che's place, while he headed straight to the Ministry of Works.
Old Zhu spent the entire morning in the Ministry of Works, watching the craftsmen experiment on the new salt-making technique.
As expected, whether it was sea salt, well salt, or mineral salt, there was no difference under this salt-making technique.
As long as he followed the steps step by step, he would be able to make snowflake salt very quickly!
After confirming it with his own eyes, Old Zhu felt completely at ease.
He called the Minister of Works over and gave him a few instructions.
Afterwards, they changed into an ordinary carriage and headed towards Zhang Che's house.
The carriage left the city and arrived at the suburbs.
The surroundings gradually quieted down, and the excitement brought by the salt-making technique finally calmed down.
When he was done, Old Zhu thought of a problem.
How should she get along with Zhang Che?
This was not a small problem!
Although Old Zhu didn't believe in the nonsense of resurrection, the birthmark, jade pendant, fragrance pouch, and Zhang Che's childhood experiences all proved that this child was most likely his youngest son who had died young.
The trouble was that if these things were forcefully explained, they could all be seen as coincidences and not strong evidence.
Even Mr. Zhu felt that the possibility of Zhang Che being his son was pretty close.
But this matter had to be concluded!
After thinking for a while, Old Zhu gently knocked on the carriage.
The carriage immediately stopped, and the old eunuch who was driving the carriage bent down and got into the carriage.
"Do you still remember where Che 'er was buried?”Old Zhu looked at the old eunuch with bright eyes.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。