After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Chapter 1135 - 1117: Official Salt Monopoly

Jian Wuzhong was also granted his wish to go to Qingzhou, entering the Qingzhou Book Office to work. His grades were the best, and he performed the best during his internship at the Luoyang Book Office.

His performance was so good that the manager of the Luoyang Book Office wanted to keep him.

But orders come from above, and even though he is a promising talent, it’s not up to the manager to decide whether to keep him. Originally, they wanted to place him at a nearby book office so that he might have the opportunity to return to Luoyang in the future.

But Jian Wuzhong insisted on going to Qingzhou, and the manager could only adhere to his wish.

Before leaving, Jian Wuzhong said to his younger siblings, "I am following the team escorting the character molds to Qingzhou, only taking two hundred cents for travel expenses; the rest of the settlement and travel costs are left for you."

"The land our family owns is left for others to farm. Nowadays, people are not short of land, so it’s merely to avoid wasteland. The reward is two hundred kilograms of grain a year. I’ve calculated it, and together with my wages, it’s enough for you to live on." He added, "While I’m not home, you need to study hard. If you’re smart, join the five-year study, then take the civil servant exam. If you’re still smart, study for a few more years, and in the future, enter the recruitment exams to serve the Great General."

Three younger siblings nodded, reluctantly accompanying him to the door.

Jian Wuzhong said, "Don’t worry about me. The Book Office belongs to the Great General, and Qingzhou is under County Magistrate Zhao as the Inspector; it’s definitely safe, and life is better. You’re in the Capital City, so I’m assured. If something happens, go find the teachers; otherwise, there’s the county government."

Although they were a group of children, they have all survived life and death situations and countless difficulties, so they trusted each other’s abilities.

In such dire situations back in the days, they all survived, and now with the nation stable and protected by the Great General, what danger could there be?

Still, there was longing and a lot of reluctance in their hearts.

Looking at his three younger siblings, Jian Wuzhong felt a slight regret. Perhaps he shouldn’t have gone so far to Qingzhou.

"Brother, go with peace of mind," said his older sister Jian Jiruo. "I will definitely take good care of the younger siblings."

Jian Wuzhong patted her head and said, "If anything happens, write to me."

Jian Jiruo nodded earnestly.

As soon as Jian Wuzhong arrived at the Qingzhou Book Office, he was immediately put to good use because of his strong ability, and he was directly selected as the team leader of the proofreading group, with a monthly salary of one thousand cents.

Zhao Kuan not only had the Book Office and Paper Mill built but also constructed several rows of houses nearby for the craftsmen to live in.

Two people per room, Jian Wuzhong shared a room with another person, where there was a desk which, despite being simple, was perfect for studying—a room of his dreams.

Engrossed in work and study, Jian Wuzhong realized after some time that the people living here were not only the craftsmen of the Book Office but other craftsmen as well.

His roommate said, "Just discovered, huh? Those other people are quite formidable. It’s said that they are particularly good at mathematics and often meet with many managers together with that group of salt workers. People frequently come from outside to find them, each time bringing delicious food or going out for meals."

"I really envy them. If I had their skills, it would be amazing."

Jian Wuzhong’s focus was different. "Sun-drying salt? Does Qingzhou have salt wells?"

"Not salt wells, it’s sea salt," replied his roommate. "I’ve inquired; Qingzhou is near the sea, and some places have high sea salt content, so they can sun-dry the salt, which is even faster and yields more than boiling salt from wells."

"By the way, those living in the same row all came to me asking whether you and I could set up a small kitchen in the courtyard. We get so hungry after returning from work, and since we are still growing, we’d like to pool money to buy some rice, flour, oil, and salt and cook some food together in the evenings."

All those living in this row were students who came out of the Luoyang Academy, the oldest of whom was fifteen and the youngest twelve; it’s exactly the age when they could eat their family poor.

The Book Office’s cafeteria provides two meals a day, which they simply can’t withstand.

In the past, they would certainly endure hunger because there was no income.

But now, they have monthly salaries. Despite being frugal, they couldn’t help but want to eat a little more, as the feeling of going to bed hungry is really unbearable.

Seeing Jian Wuzhong looking down silently, his roommate approached him, saying, "I know you have a family to support, don’t worry, we’re not eating extravagant foods. Every evening, we’ll just mix some white flour, wheat bran, and bean powder to make some soup or knead some pancakes, add a little bean oil and a bit of salt, just enough to stop feeling hungry."

"The main issue is feeling too hungry to sleep at night, and we have to go to work at the Book Office early in the morning."

Jian Wuzhong inquired about the current price of rice and flour and asked, "Salt is expensive, how much is it?"

"Don’t worry, Qingzhou produces salt; I’ve checked, it’s much cheaper than in Luoyang," said his roommate, presenting a small bowl. "This much salt only costs fourteen cents."

Upon hearing this, Jian Wuzhong’s eyes brightened. "Really?"

"Why would it be otherwise?" said his roommate. "We not only asked those front salt workers but actually went to see it; six cents could buy about this much."

He gestured in the bowl, saying, "Consume economically, and six cents’ worth of salt is enough for a family of three for half a year."

Jian Wuzhong calculated his salary and asked, "Since Qingzhou’s salt is so cheap, I wonder if I can buy some and send it back to Luoyang together with money?"

"No need for that. I’ve asked around, and apparently starting next month, all salt must be purchased from officially designated shops by the county government, with prices uniform across each county. By then, Luoyang’s salt price will be just as cheap."

Jian Wuzhong: "Is the Great General going to run the salt business officially?"

"Exactly," his roommate laughed heartily. "With the Great General managing the salt, we won’t fear the salt prices soaring again, making it unaffordable."

Salt prices, when soaring, are more crazed than grain prices; two years ago, when Luoyang experienced grain shortages, salt also became scarce, skyrocketing to the point where ten cents only got a small pinch of salt. If you tried to buy salt with two cents, it would only buy you a finger’s worth.

Jian Wuzhong looked outwards and secretly vowed to do a great job at the Book Office, then leave the office to take exams at the Qingzhou Government, going to the salt fields to serve the Great General!

County governments everywhere have been prepared for official salt sales.

Every county will open a special window to provide official salt to the general stores and traveling merchants. They need to register at the county government, and every purchase will be recorded.

The county government has set a price range for salt, and it can only be sold within this range; selling above this price will be fined, and selling below this price will also be fined.

Because the base price of official salt sold to them is set, selling salt below this price usually means a loss business, with certain goals to be achieved.

They must ensure the market circulation of official salt, and the best way is to use price range to squeeze the survival space of private salt.

Preparations began on the eighth day of the month, and by now, everything is ready. Places short of salt have already received shipments of sea salt from Qingzhou and Guangzhou.

In places not short of salt, Zhao Hanzhang has dispatched military and Imperial Censors to ensure the salt production of salt wells and salt lakes, making sure they are all under the court’s control.

Starting from the first of March, official salt officially goes on sale, with nationwide salt prices unified, directly eliminating the erratic pricing of private salt.