"We cannot wait until after the New Year; it will be New Year before long, and across regions, there is a tradition of using salt for preserving various dishes. Every year at this time, the salt merchants take the opportunity to raise salt prices and make a hefty profit." In the capital, being beneath the Emperor's feet, those salt merchants dare not increase salt prices before the New Year. Of course, on regular days, they also dare not casually raise salt prices for the capital, or their lives would be forfeit. However, salt prices in other places are a different matter.
Though it is still some time before the New Year, the salt merchants of Qilu cannot wait to increase prices. By the year's end, it is feared that the salt merchants of Qilu will raise prices even higher.
Prime Minister He believes that the salt merchants over in Qilu cannot be allowed to act rampantly; the salt prices there must be suppressed so the people can have a proper New Year.
