Chapter 41: Memorial on the Trial Implementation of the Sichuan Salt Certificate Law

Hearing these words, Li Pan's suspended heart finally settled.

Minister Zhang has always handled heavy matters lightly; for him to utter the four words "extraordinary talent of the realm," what a recognition is this?

"This student is unworthy of such praise!"

Lu Beigu quickly rose to pay his respects, though he too finally breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

In modern terms, this was constructing a complete closed-loop system by securitizing the monopoly rights over Sichuan well salt and Hedong Jie salt, as well as military grain transport rights, thereby achieving cross-regional resource allocation through the financial attributes of salt certificates.

The reason Lu Beigu could determine from the very beginning that his own thoughts were reasonable was that every implementation step of the system he proposed had a realistic basis.

First, the fact that merchants from the southeast used copper coins to purchase Sichuan well salt was a current situation he had witnessed with his own eyes on the road to Chengdu.

Second, if his memory served him correctly, the *Xu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian* clearly recorded that during Emperor Renzong's reign, "Hedong Jie salt and Sichuan well salt, each salt certificate has its own restricted domain"; furthermore, the *Treatise on Bandits in Hebei and Hedong* also mentioned that "salt certificates circulate in the Three Capitals, but Jie salt certificates do not pass through Sichuan and Shu," so the salt sales system divided by region was the actual situation at present.

Third, the Song Dynasty's bidding system was very common, and Liu Yan's transport strategy from the Former Tang was a ready-made case; the operation of reducing transport costs through segmented bidding for transport possessed considerable feasibility.

Finally, the *Song Huiyao Jigao: Food and Goods* also recorded that in the mid-to-late period of Emperor Renzong's reign, the northwest had already carried out small-scale operations of the Compromise Method, where "grain and hay were submitted, and salt certificates were issued in exchange," so using salt certificates to exchange for grain in the northwest had an actual demand.

In short, under the scale of an annual salt certificate issuance of approximately 3 million guan during Emperor Renzong's reign, this system was completely operable!

"As for the specific details of how to modify them, I and Commissioner Zhao will gather our subordinates to deliberate and revise further; as for whether it will be adopted in the end and when it will be implemented, that must be decided by the Chancellors, but there is no harm in writing it out first."

Zhang Fangping personally brought paper and brush directly to Lu Beigu and patted his shoulder forcefully.

"Draft a memorial according to your thoughts, write it out first, and polish it later."

"Me?"

Lu Beigu was somewhat bewildered.

He, a student of a county school, helping the Vice Minister of Revenue and the Prefect of Chengdu write a memorial?

Zhang Fangping said meaningfully, "With your talent and learning, you will certainly become an official in the future; how can you not know how to write a memorial? Just consider this practice."

Seeing Li Pan looking at his nose and his nose looking at his heart, Lu Beigu had no way to decline.

Fortunately, according to the format of Song Dynasty memorials, writing a memorial was not much different from writing a policy essay; referencing those Song memorials he had read, he was not unable to write one.

After all, memorials did not have strict tonal pattern requirements, unlike poetry, ci, or fu.

Lu Beigu pondered for a moment, picked up the brush, and drafted this memorial for Zhang Fangping.

"Your subject, Zhang Fangping, Vice Minister of Revenue and Administrator of Chengdu Prefecture, respectfully submits.

On the Trial Implementation of the Sichuan Salt Certificate Law.

Your subject has heard that the governance of Yao and Shun was nothing more than adapting to change; the achievements of Tang and Wu lay solely in adjusting to circumstances. Now, the garrison troops on the western frontier rely on sustenance from ten thousand li away; flying hay and hauling grain exhaust the Jiang and Huai regions; iron coins in Shu are congested and unbearable, with even the smallest amounts difficult to circulate, causing the common people to fall into poverty. Your subject believes that the profits from mountains and marshes should be used as a pivot, and the power of controlling supply and demand should be exercised to alleviate the current hardships.

In the past, Guan Zi boiled seawater and Qi became hegemon; Liu Yan monopolized salt and the Tang flourished. Now, the salt wells of Jiannan produce over ten million jin of salt, accumulating like hills and mounds; grain and hay in Guanshi cost millions of shi annually, draining away like a leaking vessel. If salt is used as a key and certificates as a pivot, allowing southeast copper coins to flow through the Shu roads and grain from Guandong to connect with the Wei River, then both difficulties can be resolved.

Your subject requests to trial this law in two places: Chengdu and Qinzhou. Chengdu Prefecture shall allocate well salt annually, permitting merchants from Jianghuai to enter Shu with copper coins to request certificates. Qinzhou shall establish a grain and salt market, using Jizhou salt as collateral; for merchants transporting grain to the various stockades north of the Wei, one shi of grain shall be exchanged for a salt certificate, and both shall be permitted to be redeemed at the Monopoly Bureau in Bianjing.

However, the law cannot but be strict, and prevention cannot but be rigorous. Salt from Shu wells without seals shall be treated as private salt; grain submitted in Qinzhou that is falsely claimed shall be punished according to military law. The Yizhou Transport Commissioner's Office shall monthly report the numbers of copper coin inflows and outflows; the Qinzhou Grain and Salt Market shall ten-dayly report the quota of grain and certificate issuance; all shall be reported directly to the Three Offices by fast horse. In this way, treacherous parasites will have nowhere to hide, and the laws and regulations will find their proper place.

When the exchange notes were first issued, they began in Chengdu Prefecture alone; when the tea law was reformed, it was trialed in Huainan alone. If the trial of the salt certificate law proves effective, then Shu will gain copper coins annually, gradually resolving the defect of iron coin depreciation; Qinfeng will save on canal grain annually, reducing transport costs by ten thousand strings. And the court will hold the pivot of universal redemption, sitting back to collect the profits of merchants; even if it does not reach perfection, it is merely a matter of halting the trial in these two places, causing no damage to the main body.

Your subject is filled with utmost earnestness, urgency, and anxiety, and respectfully submits this memorial for your hearing."

After the ink dried, Lu Beigu handed it to Li Pan to present to Zhang Fangping; Zhang Fangping looked at it and then passed the paper to Zhao Bian.

At this moment, the atmosphere had become much more relaxed; Zhang Fangping asked with a smile, "How does this writing style compare to yours?"

Zhao Bian was skilled in poetry and calligraphy; his poetry style possessed the characteristics of freshness and rhythmic precision, having the appearance of the "Song Tone" poetry; he was one of the few masters in the Song literary world at this time who specialized in poetry and almost never wrote ci; people of the time evaluated his poetry as having the ancient and plain style of Tao Yuanming.

As for calligraphy, his realm was even higher.

Zhao Bian's calligraphy strokes were upright and rigorous, with dots and lines that were moist and elegant; he took the Yan style popular in the calligraphy world of the early Northern Song as his model, leaning towards a "beautiful" style, but it was not considered "seductive"; on the contrary, his character structure was more spacious and relaxed than the traditional Yan style; the thin and tough strokes combined with the tilted posture of the characters made it appear clear, vigorous, and anciently elegant, forming its own school, truly a master of the age.

"The writing is like the person."

After reading it carefully, Zhao Bian seemed very pleased with it, saying only, "A gentleman conceals his talent and does not show it lightly, but once drawn from its sheath, it must shine with flowing light."

This was a very high evaluation; Zhang Fangping nodded.

"I cannot use your system for free."

Zhang Fangping looked at Lu Beigu and asked, "What reward do you want? Do you want to become an official? If so, I and Commissioner Zhao can jointly recommend you for the position of County Registrar in Wanhu County right now."

To be honest, this reward was quite tempting.

Although the County Registrar was a ninth-rank official of the lowest grade, performing duties such as statistics of household registers, management of money and grain disbursements, and handling of document archives, within a county, he was a real-power official who could rank in the top five.

Without having to work hard to take the imperial examination with a depressingly low acceptance rate, becoming an official in one step; if it were anyone else, they would probably agree immediately.

But Lu Beigu shook his head, saying only, "This student still wishes to take the Jinshi examination."

"Good! You have ambition; taking the Jinshi examination is the right path."

Zhang Fangping nodded in satisfaction; then, in front of everyone, he picked up the brush and wrote a letter seriously, speaking as he wrote.

"I have recommended you to Ouyang Yongshu; I have written about your matter in the letter. If in the future you truly pass the Jinshi examination and have the opportunity to meet him, I imagine he will like you too."

Lu Beigu's heart trembled.

This letter of recommendation was too valuable!

Ouyang Yongshu was Ouyang Xiu.

Putting aside his own person and the circle of friends known as the "Jingyou Gentlemen," for a junior, what terrifying court resources was this?

Just speaking of Ouyang Xiu as the veritable leader of the Song literary world today and the leader of the Ancient Prose Movement, as long as he could receive his guidance and praise, he would inevitably become famous throughout the world!

Even become one of the leading figures of the next era in the literary world!

It can be said that this was not merely a letter of recommendation, but a passport to becoming a great literary master!

Of course, there was a premise here: Lu Beigu had to rely on his own ability to walk step by step to Ouyang Xiu's presence; otherwise, naturally, there was no need to mention anything further.

But regardless, this return was nothing if not generous!

Afterwards, Zhang Fangping put down the brush, leaned back in a chair without armrests, and asked with a half-smile.

"Speak, what else do you want? Silk and brocade, gold and silver, jewels, or even a charming maid are all possible."

——————

① "Yangbu" refers to relying on others for sustenance.

② "Fei Chu Wan Su" originates from the *Book of Han: Biography of Zhufu Yan*. When Zhufu Yan advised against attacking the Xiongnu, he said, "In the past, the Qin Emperor, relying on the might of victory, ordered the entire realm to fly fodder and haul grain, starting from the coastal commanderies of Huang, Zhui, and Langye, transporting it to the Northern River; typically, thirty zhong were required to deliver one shi." Tang Dynasty scholar Yan Shigu annotated: "Transporting fodder and straw so that it arrives swiftly is called 'flying fodder'; 'wan' means pulling carts and boats." The meaning is to transport grain at high speed.

③ "Yong Zhi" means blockage.

④ "Lou Zhi": "Zhi" refers to an ancient vessel for holding wine, implying continuous loss.

⑤ This refers to the "Tie She Method," where tea merchants, after paying the net profit due for official purchase and sale, bought tea directly from garden households to sell. Initially implemented in the Huainan region, it was abolished due to excessive resistance, later evolving into the "Jian Qian Method," which was implemented and abolished several times throughout Northern Song history.

⑤ "Zhe Yue" refers to currency devaluation.

⑥ "Chen Wu Ren Mou Mou Mou Mou Zhi Zhi" is a common closing phrase in Song Dynasty memorials. The middle text includes variations such as "Kong Ju Ken Dao," "Zhan Han Can Ju Bing Ying," "Gan Tian He Sheng Ji Qie Bing Ying," "Zhan Tian Wang Sheng Ji Qie Bing Ying," and "Qi Tian Si Ming Ji Qie Bing Ying," usually matched appropriately according to the memorial's content to express the mood when submitting the memorial.

(End of this chapter)