Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 196 The Benefits of Sea Salt

The spring breeze of integration between the Han and non-Han peoples is blowing across the grasslands and border fortresses of northern Xinjiang. Meanwhile, on the eastern coast of Xingguo, far from the border, another "silent cultivation" concerning the national economy and people's livelihood is quietly beginning under the leadership of Su Xiaoxiao, the head of the Inner Palace.

The enormous expenses of the southern expedition, the investment in various domestic reforms, and the temporary reliance on the Southern Dynasty's annual tribute meant that the Xing Kingdom's financial pressure was not truly alleviated by the great victory; on the contrary, it became increasingly prominent as the kingdom expanded its operations. Su Xiaoxiao, as the head of the Imperial Treasury, who oversaw all finances, deeply understood the urgency of increasing revenue, even more so than cutting expenses. In her "Ten Strategies for Financial Management," she explicitly proposed "promoting benefits and eliminating abuses, and establishing state-run key resources such as salt and iron," with salt being listed as "the primary source of revenue, a tax without taxation."

The Xing Kingdom previously relied on salt production, primarily from ponds and wells in Hedong, but production was limited and transportation to the northern hinterland and Xiliang was costly. As for sea salt, while the northern coast was not without resources, large-scale, stable production had never been achieved due to rudimentary technology, chaotic management, or pirate raids during previous dynasties and periods of fragmentation. In the eyes of Su Xiaoxiao, a shrewd and calculating woman from Jiangnan, the vast coastline and inexhaustible seawater undoubtedly represented a vast treasure trove waiting to be developed.

Chen Xing wholeheartedly agreed. After Su Xiaoxiao presented her detailed memorial, "On Developing Sea Salt to Supplement National Funds," he wrote with a flourish of his vermilion pen: "Approved. The necessary manpower, funds, and provisions will be allocated by the Imperial Treasury with priority. This matter will be fully managed by Minister Su. If any obstacles arise, please report to me and Lord Jia."

With the royal decree and imperial authorization, Su Xiaoxiao acted swiftly and decisively. She didn't rush into construction but first did her homework thoroughly. She reviewed all the scattered records she could find from previous dynasties and local areas regarding salt production from seawater. She also secretly recruited several retired officials and salt-making leaders from her old acquaintances in Jiangnan, who had previously managed the salt fields of Huainan and Liangzhe, and brought them to the north. Simultaneously, she dispatched her capable officials, in cooperation with the supervisory bureau personnel, to conduct on-site surveys of the long eastern coastline of Xingguo, searching for suitable locations for the salt fields: flat mudflats for salt production, a fresh water source for the salt workers, harbors or waterways for transportation, and protection against wind, tides, and pirate attacks.

After months of preparation and selection, three sites with the best conditions were finally chosen: Wanghaitai in Liaodong County, Yanshan Bay in Bohai County, and Rizhaotan in Langya County. Su Xiaoxiao designated these three salt fields as "officially-run demonstration salt fields," planning to pilot them first and then gradually promote them after success.

Next came the implementation. Su Xiaoxiao knew that the problems with the salt administration often lay not in technology, but in official corruption. She personally formulated extremely strict management regulations for the salt fields. Each salt field had a "field supervisor," directly appointed by the Imperial Household Department, who was in overall charge; under him were "stove heads" in charge of production, "warehouse officials" in charge of storage, "patrolmen" in charge of security and anti-smuggling, and "accountants" in charge of income and expenditure accounting. All personnel were selected from officials trusted by the Imperial Household Department or the Censorate, or from local families with clean records and guarantees, and were given "salt field allowances" far higher than those of ordinary officials. However, the laws were strict: anyone found guilty of theft, selling inferior goods, deducting fees from salt field workers, or colluding with smugglers would be executed without mercy, and their families would be implicated. The salt fields were surrounded by walls, with patrolmen on duty day and night. Salt field workers lived together and entered and exited with permits.

In terms of production technology, Su Xiaoxiao adopted the suggestions of the old salt-making masters in Jiangnan and did not completely abandon the traditional "boiling method," but optimized it: she built larger and more durable chain stoves, improved the brine purification process, and tried to introduce the prototype of the "sun-drying method" in the "Sun-drying Beach" with abundant sunshine and flat mudflats—opening up large areas of salt fields and using sunlight and wind power to naturally evaporate seawater crystals. Although the efficiency was greatly affected by the weather, the cost was lower and it could be used as a supplement. She even invited the master craftsmen of the Imperial Workshop to try to improve the tools for drawing water and transporting brine to increase efficiency.

In terms of financial and material investment, Su Xiaoxiao was meticulous. The initial costs of building the saltworks were enormous, but she allocated a portion of the gold and silk from the annual tribute of the southern expedition, as well as the confiscated property obtained from investigating some corrupt officials, through the inner court's allocation system. At the same time, she ordered the saltworks to conduct small-scale trial production while construction was underway, using the earliest output to generate some cash flow and to test management processes and product quality.

The resistance and difficulties were predictable. Local powerful figures, seeing the potential for profit, attempted to infiltrate or obstruct the operation through various connections, even secretly inciting uninformed fishermen to resist the "government occupation of the tidal flats." Some merchants from Hedong, whose existing salt-producing interests were threatened, also spread rumors behind the scenes that "the sea salt is poisonous" and "damages the feng shui." The saltworks were newly established, management was complex and multifaceted, the saltworkers were unfamiliar with the new methods, production efficiency was low, and a minor storm surge damaged some facilities.

Faced with these challenges, Su Xiaoxiao displayed a ruthless and resilient nature quite different from her gentle appearance. When local powerful figures interfered, she directly mobilized the Censorate and the local garrison, arresting several individuals on charges of "sabotaging government operations and plotting rebellion," confiscating their property, and displaying them publicly, immediately deterring the troublemakers. Regarding rumors, she ordered that livestock be fed with both sea salt and pond salt, and had doctors verify the facts to refute the rumors. As for production and management issues, she personally inspected the salt fields, discussing improvements and adjusting processes with veteran salt producers, supervisors, and officials. She even personally calculated costs and revised the reward and punishment regulations.

Her hard work and abilities gradually earned her the respect and trust of the officials and saltworkers throughout the salt fields. The old saltworker leader, brought in from Jiangnan, privately remarked, "Such a woman as Lady Su is so adept at the affairs of this salt field, so meticulous in her planning, and so strict in her management—even many men cannot match her! With such a capable minister in Xingguo, how can we worry about the prosperity of salt production?"

Persistence pays off. By late autumn of the first year of the Wuxing era, the three major state-run salt fields had been completed and were producing steadily. The first batch of sea salt was transported continuously to various counties in the north and Xiliang via the newly built official roads and inland waterways. Sea salt is white, fine-grained, and has few impurities. Moreover, due to large-scale production, its cost was greatly reduced compared to salt transported from lakes, giving it a more advantageous price set by the government. As soon as it hit the market, it quickly became popular with the people, and long queues often formed in front of the state-run salt shops.

Su Xiaoxiao was not content with this. She strictly controlled salt prices, keeping them at a level affordable to the people and allowing the government a reasonable profit. This prevented public resentment caused by excessively high salt prices while ensuring fiscal revenue. At the same time, she cracked down on smuggled salt, severely punishing those arrested and encouraging the public to report smugglers, gradually putting salt profits firmly in the hands of the government.

The benefits of sea salt production are beginning to show. The ever-increasing figures on the monthly salt tax revenue reports submitted to the Imperial Household Department occasionally bring a relieved smile to Su Xiaoxiao's usually calm face. This money will be used to pay military salaries, officials' wages, water conservancy projects, and subsidies for government schools, becoming another important pillar supporting the various reforms and constructions of the Star Kingdom.

When the news reached the capital, Chen Xing publicly commended Su Xiaoxiao and the saltworks workers at the court assembly, praising them for their "skilled financial management and great contributions to the country." Zhao Tiezhu, who was in charge of civil administration and knew the difficulties of finance, also praised Su Xiaoxiao's actions. Upon hearing this, Murong Mingyue privately told Chen Xing, "Minister Su is indeed a rare talent, greatly benefiting both the country and the people." Her words were frank, though still somewhat complex, but her approval was clear.