Since Susha boiled the sea into salt four thousand years ago, salt has not only been a "food staple" for the common people, but has also been a "financial staple" for successive dynasties. In the Song Dynasty, the salt tax even accounted for one-half of the national tax revenue. Most of the country's ritual and music expeditions were spent on this, so that the salt tax "disrupted the national economy." After Jingkang moved south, the territory of the Song Dynasty was reduced, but wars continued, which caused financial embarrassment and people's hardship. Therefore, more people turned their attention to salt affairs. The salt affairs of the world are in Lianghuai, and the salt affairs of Lianghuai are in Taizhou. As Sun Wen, who was determined to reform the salt policy, came to Taizhou, Taizhou was once again in trouble, with officials, businessmen, and bandits taking turns...
Purpose: Taking salt politics as an entry point to analyze the secrets of finance and official banditry in the Song Dynasty