"Does Patriarch Zheng know the current price of salt?"
Of course, he wanted to teach him, but Gongsun Ming was not in a hurry. He picked up the teacup in a leisurely manner, blew on it gently, took a small sip, then put down the teacup, and then spoke indifferently. .
"Well……"
As soon as Gongsun Ming said this, Zheng Cheng was dumbfounded. There is no one else. Since ancient times, salt and iron have been a great benefit to the country. All dynasties have considered it a top priority. At this time of great chaos in the world, the national salt and iron system has been completely destroyed. It has been corrupted and control has completely fallen into the hands of the separatist forces in various places. Although they are in charge of their own affairs, all the separatist forces regard the two interests of salt and iron very seriously. Anyone who dares to operate private salt or private iron within the territory will be punished once they are caught. There is no luck, but even so, it cannot stop the private traders from speculating enthusiastically. Because the current price of salt is extremely high, and with huge profits of ten times, there is no shortage of desperadoes. The Zheng family has no shortage of desperadoes. The company's stall was so big that it was natural that they also had a hand in this matter. The problem was that this was a fool's errand. Even if Zheng Cheng was given ten more courages, he would not dare to admit it in front of Gongsun Ming. ah.
"Clan Chief Zheng, just say it boldly. I have known about the dirty things in your clan for a long time. Moreover, if I really want to sin against you, there is no need for me to make excuses."
Gongsun Ming's ability to observe words and colors was so strong. Just by looking at Zheng Cheng's appearance, he knew what kind of worries he had in his heart, and he didn't care about it, so he nodded casually.
"Ah, yes, as far as I know, although our salt fields in You and Bo are half abandoned, they still have some output. There is not a shortage of salt. Although the price of salt in the market fluctuates slightly, it generally remains at one stone. The price is around 300 qian, and the same is true for Qingzhou and Xuzhou. However, when it comes to Bingzhou, Guanlong, Yizhou and other places, due to the unchanged transshipment, the price of salt is high, reaching 800 qian."
As soon as he heard what Gongsun Ming said, Zheng Cheng immediately felt sweat on his forehead, but he didn't dare to reach out and wipe it off. He hurriedly bowed down and quickly quoted the salt price he knew. .
"Well, if it is sold to the grassland, what will the price of salt be?"
Even though he had asked someone to find out the price of salt beforehand, and it was generally similar to what Zheng Cheng said, when he heard the high price of salt again, Gongsun Ming couldn't help but twitch the corners of his eyes. Probably because the price of salt is too astonishing. You must know that a pig currently only costs 200 yuan, which is not as much as the price of one rock salt. The huge profits are really shocking.
"Reporting to the general, the grassland does not produce salt, and there is little contact with our Central Plains. If a piece of rock salt is transported into the grassland, it will cost as little as fifteen hundred yuan, and as much as more than three thousand yuan."
Hearing Gongsun Ming ask about the price of salt on the grassland, Zheng Cheng couldn't help but feel frightened for a while. Nothing else. The main business of the Zheng family business was actually smuggling salt and iron into the grassland, and this was taboo in all dynasties. Anyone who dares to violate the law will be punished by exterminating the nine tribes. Zheng Cheng is not afraid of freedom. However, Gongsun Ming has caught him in the palm of his hand. At this time, Zheng Cheng can only answer honestly.
"Well, how much does the Erzheng family pay for buying salt from private salt merchants?"
Although Gongsun Ming was interested in the salt industry, he also went out to explore the salt prices in various places. However, due to time constraints, he did not know much about the salt prices on the grasslands. Now when he heard the high price quoted by Zheng Cheng, he was shocked. Because his city is as deep as the sea, his heartbeat inevitably beats faster.
"It fluctuates around 60 yuan, but the amount is not large. It is probably because cooking salt is not difficult, but it is easy for others to detect. It is difficult for private salt merchants to refine it secretly."
Gongsun Ming's question has touched upon the core secret of the Zheng family. Private salt was extremely popular during the war years, and he could sell as much as he could get. The difficulty lies in a stable purchase channel. Without this, it would be impossible to sell it at all. The situation cannot be maintained. If anyone else dares to ask Zheng Cheng this question, they will definitely be silenced by the Zheng family. However, this question comes from the mouth of a powerful person like Gongsun Ming. Zheng Cheng, let alone silence, does not even dare to show hesitation. slightest.
"Clan Chief Zheng is so frank with you, and you and I have a basis for cooperation. In other words, I have a lot of salt in my hands. What I am missing is just a manpower that can be used. If the Zheng family is willing to be used by someone, all previous sins will be forgiven." , and give the Zheng family a 20%25 profit. In addition, when the government becomes vacant in the future, the children of the Zheng family can be given priority in hiring under the same conditions. I wonder what the Zheng family chief wants?"
Although Gongsun Ming had absolute confidence in the salt-drying method and had full control over the official salt within his jurisdiction, he would be beyond his reach if he went beyond You and Bo. After all, whether it was Yuan Shao or Cao Cao, They are all hostile forces. If he runs the salt industry as a member of the Youzhou Army, how can the two parties accept it? It would be strange not to carry out a heavy siege. Because of this, he needs the participation of civil forces. The Zheng family undoubtedly It is a potential target for cooperation.
"Ah, this... I wonder how much salt the general has in his hands, and what is the price?"
Zheng Cheng originally thought that Gongsun Ming wanted the Zheng family to hand over the business, but he never thought that he actually wanted to cooperate with the Zheng family, and his heart couldn't help but beat wildly for a while.
"Except for the normal use of salt in our You and Bo areas, it is less than 100,000 shi per year. If the price is calculated, it will be about 10 taels per year."
The construction of the salt farm was all done by prisoners of war, and the cost was pitifully low. It only cost some money for food. As for the subsequent production, it would not require too many manpower. Although the cost price had not been specifically estimated, Gongsun Ming generally estimated the cost. I can still get an idea. It won't be more than ten dollars per stone at most. He quoted ten dollars per stone, which is already several times the premium.
"hiss……"
The price of ten thousand dan in the west is nothing. According to Zheng Cheng’s estimation, the cost of those private salt households is almost the same, but the amount of one hundred thousand dan in the west is really too astonishing. You must know that before the world was in chaos, the great Han Dynasty The total annual production of sea salt is probably just that. Now Gongsun Ming only controls most of the land of Youzhou and Bohai County, and he dares to say that he can produce so much salt. How can Zheng Cheng be willing to do so? letter?
"What? Chief Zheng thinks that someone is lying, huh?"
Before Zheng Cheng came back to his senses, Gongsun Mingji turned his face displeased and huffed in a cold voice.
"Ah, I don't dare, I don't dare. The general misunderstood. Zheng definitely didn't mean this. It's just, it's just..."
When Gongsun Ming said this, Zheng Cheng became confused in the wind and didn't know what to say for a moment. There was nothing else to say. Since the Zheng family was involved in the private salt business, they were naturally concerned about the current production situation of the salt industry. He knew it well, no matter how hard he imagined it, Zheng Cheng couldn't imagine where Gongsun Ming got so much salt. The problem was that after being arrested, he didn't dare to say that Gongsun Ming was just making nonsense. There really isn’t anything else to say other than Dare...
