A few days later, in the freezing cold wind, an armored horse team was marching on the official road, heading towards the Wangjiazhuang Hundred Households.
Liu Yan was wearing a black cloak, and he was accompanied by the Cavalry Battalion Commander-in-Chief Xu Ming and the Guards Battalion Commander-in-Chief Miao Shao. Behind the three of them was a large group of soldiers from the Cavalry Battalion and the Guards Battalion.
"The Wangjiazhuang is right in front of you, sir. Our Mr. Chen Qian should have been waiting there."
Liu Yan nodded.
A few days ago, Wang Wenzhen sent a dozen capable men to take Du Feng to Wangjiazhuang. Then Wang Wenzhen spent a lot of money to buy a seagoing ship worth 800 materials and hired a dozen old sea wolves. He summoned ten of his original servants as guards and went boating with Du Feng.
After handling this matter, Liu Yan led his troops to Wangjiazhuang, preparing to inspect various industries here.
Outside Wangjiazhuang, defense officer Chen Xun and Wei Han, who was promoted to Wangjiazhuang team officer, were waiting outside the fort.
Since Chen Xun was sent to garrison the Qianhuso in front of Xiahe Village, he asked the Left Chief Hundreds General Wei Han to garrison Wangjiazhuang and Dapanbao, and ordered the Right Chief Hundreds Guo Mingxu to lead his troops to garrison the inspection department of the ancient town and the iron materials of Tielu Mountain. field.
Not long after, Liu Yan, Xu Ming, and Miao Shao led their troops to arrive here. After a while of greetings, everyone entered Wangjiazhuang. Liu Yan rejected Chen Xun's invitation and did not go to the Baihu Official Hall to rest. Instead, he went directly to the Firearms Supervision Office to inspect.
Accompanied by Tan Xiaoda, Zhao Hao, and Cui Mingyuan, everyone inspected the manufacturing of blunderbuss, artillery, and thunder.
At present, the monthly output of the Firearms Supervision and Manufacturing Department is already very impressive. It can build 1,100 bird guns, 15 pieces of artillery such as Tiger Cannon, Folan Cannon, and Rocket Launcher Cart. As for the output of Zhentianlei, it can even be Reaching 2,000 bullets, the fixed load is 50,000 bullets!
It can be said that the current Firearms Supervision and Manufacturing Office has been built into a huge arsenal. Even the war bureau of the capital may not necessarily have such sophisticated output.
"According to the current output, before spring plowing, my subordinates can provide sufficient firearms and equipment for the entire army. After the equipment of each battalion is completed, my subordinates will continue to produce at full capacity and transfer the arsenals of Lingshan Guard and Qianhu Station as soon as possible. Fill it up.”
"very good!"
Liu Yan then led the team to bid farewell to Tan Xiaoda, Zhao Yu, and Cui Mingyuan, and came to the Bingjia Supervisory Building Office not far from here.
Xu Le had been waiting at the door early and saluted hurriedly after seeing Liu Yan.
"Haha, let's go, it's too cold here, let's go talk."
Everyone entered the Armor Supervisory Building Office and saw that the place was in full swing. They looked at the Armor Workshop and Weapon Workshop one after another.
Now the output of the Armor Supervisory Manufacturing Office has also been greatly increased. It can produce 1,200 pairs of armors, 3,000 spears, and 1,500 pairs of swords and shields every month.
"Sir, counting the armors accumulated before and the armors captured and modified in the Battle of Julu, each battalion is still short of nearly 3,000 pairs of armors that need to be equipped. My subordinates have mobilized manpower to strive for it within two months. Everything is built inside.”
The spears and swords and shields are enough, and there are even many stocks in Lingshan Guard's arsenal, so Xu Le mobilized some of the craftsmen from the Weapon Workshop to the Armor Workshop to increase the production of armor as soon as possible.
“So best!”
Now the Firearms Supervisory Manufacturing Office and the Armor Supervisory Manufacturing Office occupy a large area. Liu Yan ordered the acquisition of many surrounding houses. At the same time, he also recruited many craftsmen at high prices from the remaining wards, prefectures and counties. .
There are more than 850 craftsmen in the Bingjia Supervision Department, and more than 1,200 craftsmen in the Firearms Supervision Department. Now Wangjiazhuang has become a huge arsenal, becoming Liu Yan's The most important rear base.
Liu Yan then praised Xu Le and other craftsmen for their hard work, and then said to Chen Xun: "This month, everyone in the Firearms Supervision Department and Bingjia Supervision Department will pay double wages. The specific plan will be reported." Come up, I will ask Yue Qianhu, the money and grain officer, to approve it as soon as possible."
"I obey my orders."
"Thank you, sir!"
After seeing the situation at the military industrial base, Liu Yan led everyone to Wanfu Oil Factory.
After Liu Yan went to Lingshan Guard, he sent someone to pick up Wang Jing and go with him. Wanfu Oil Factory could just be left in the hands of reliable people.
But Wang Jing was unwilling. Wanfu Oil Factory was his own hard work. Now that Wang Jing felt that he still had the energy, he naturally did not want to retire here.
Outside Wanfu Oil Shop, a large number of cavalry soldiers were on guard. Xu Ming, Miao Shao, Chen Xun, and Wei Han were standing at the door chatting. Liu Yan entered the backyard and chatted with Wang Jing.
"How is Yun Niang doing?"
"Don't worry, Lao Taishan. Yun Niang is very good. She is personally taken care of by Shang Shan and Ruoshui every day. The three of them are very harmonious."
"Haha, that's good."
Wang Jing is now the richest man in the entire Xiahe Village Qianhu Office. With Liu Yan’s strong support, especially with the soap workshop as a stable big customer, Wanfu Oil Factory has successively established offices in the Ancient Town Inspection Department and Xiahe Village Qianhu Office. There are even several workshops opened in Lingshan Acropolis, and the business has become very big. 33
In addition, Wang Jing also expanded the grain shop business and opened shops everywhere. The grain business was no smaller than Wanfu Oil Shop.
Now Liu Yan has more than 9,000 new army officers and soldiers under his command, and the military camps in various places have not yet been established. There is not much military rations that can be collected, so Liu Yan decided to purchase the general rations with Wang Jing, and also asked Wang Jing to I made a lot of money.
As a result, Wang Jing has become the largest grain and oil merchant in Lingshanwei, and has become the leader of merchants in Qianhu Station in front of Xiahe Village.
The two chatted for a while, and Liu Yan said, "Taishan, I see that Taishan's business is already very big, so I think Taishan can do something meaningful again."
Wang Jing smiled and said, "No problem, just tell me, my dear son-in-law. Whether it's labor or money, I don't have any problem with it."
Liu Yan said: "There is no need to spend money. It's like this. Today, Taishan has a great prestige among the merchants of Lingshanwei. It can be said that it is a promise. So I want Taishan to set up a chamber of commerce to integrate the merchants from all over Lingshanwei. stand up."
"Chamber of Commerce?"
Wang Jing pondered for a while and said, "The wise son-in-law said that I would ask the merchants of Lingshan Guard to form a society together, right?"
"Exactly."
Liu Yan said with a smile: "This chamber of commerce, which can also be said to be a trading company, is actually an organization that coordinates merchants from all parties. We all sit down and discuss things together. Externally, it can maintain market stability, stabilize prices, crack down on profiteers, and support small merchants. , provide relief to the people, etc. Internally, support me in some things and help me build some momentum."
Wang Jing smiled and clapped his hands and said: "I understand, I think this chamber of commerce's proposal is very good. Okay, I understand. I will start working on this matter in the past two days. I will start with the merchants from the Qianhu Office in front of Xiahe Village." start."
Liu Yan smiled and said: "Then there will be a lot of work."
Wang Jing thought for a moment and asked, "Does the good son-in-law have any specific requirements regarding this chamber of commerce?"
"It's nothing special, except for one thing: Any merchant who wants to join the Chamber of Commerce must pay a certain membership fee, which is calculated as five percent of the merchant's financial resources and is paid once a month."
"What?"
Wang Jing didn't understand now and asked: "In this case, who will join the chamber of commerce? For example, those wealthy merchants in the south of the Yangtze River and the Shanxi merchants in the northwest have also established similar trading companies, but they have never heard of having to pay fees. ah?"
Liu Yan explained: "Taishan, these merchants will not pay these membership fees in vain. All merchants who join the chamber of commerce will have privileges and benefits, as follows:"
"First, when merchants who are members of the Chamber of Commerce encounter difficulties in business, the Chamber of Commerce will organize efforts to provide support and help them overcome the difficulties."
"Second, when merchants who join the association are suppressed by other merchants elsewhere, all members of the chamber of commerce will attack together. It can be said that all members of the chamber of commerce are offensive and defensive allies."
"Third, all merchants who join the association can get official orders from me, Lingshan Guard. Depending on the specific needs and the business scope of each merchant, the number will vary, but they will definitely get my care and protection."
After hearing this, Wang Jing smiled and said: "Haha, my son-in-law is really a great talent. With these three points, those merchants will definitely flock to me. If I organize this chamber of commerce, it will definitely go very smoothly."
"But, what should I do with the monthly membership fees? Should I just pay it, or what should I do?"
In fact, the establishment of a chamber of commerce was an important part of Liu Yan's expansion plan. Collecting membership fees through the chamber of commerce was actually another term for business tax in later generations. Liu Yan planned to use this method to make the merchants under his rule accustomed to paying taxes, thus expanding his sources of income.
In the future, Liu Yan will also levy income tax, commercial tax and other taxes to pull down all the privileged classes who do not pay taxes and become a stable tax-paying group under his rule!
At this time, Liu Yan said: "Taishan asked the key. After the membership fee is collected every month, it will be divided into 20% and 80%: 20% will be used as the working capital of the chamber of commerce, which will be kept by Taishan for safekeeping. When it is needed, all members of the chamber of commerce need to meet to discuss. It can only be used after it is decided by Taishan."
"The remaining 80% will be turned over to the command and envoy's office and used as the income of Lingshan Guards to supplement troops and provide peace of mind for the people."
"Well, I understand."
So Wang Jing said: "In this way, after the Chamber of Commerce is established, I will send the dues that need to be paid every month to the Wei Guan officer, and the Wei Guan officer will send someone to Lingshan Acropolis."
"good."
After deciding to establish a chamber of commerce, Liu Yan said goodbye to Wang Jing and the team officer Wei Han, and, accompanied by Chen Xun, Miao Shao, and Xu Ming, led his troops to Dapanbao.
In the evening of that day, everyone came to the outside of Dapan Fort. Liu Yan was filled with emotion when looking at the fort built by himself.
"I'm back!"
Chen Xun smiled and said: "Yes, sir, let's go home!"
Xu Ming and Miao Shao also had smiles on their faces. They all came from Dapanbao. This is where everyone's roots are. Returning here is like going home.
Liu Yan looked at Chen Xun with a smile and said, "I think you are the happiest. I haven't seen my siblings for a long time. When I come back for inspection this time, you can spend time with your siblings."
Chen Xun burst out laughing, and Xu Ming and Miao Shao were also making jokes. The three of them were laughing like children while riding on their horses.
Liu Yan looked at the brothers and felt extremely happy. Then he cheered and rode into Dapanbao with everyone. The laughter spread in all directions. When the military households and civilians in Dapanbao along the way saw Liu Yan coming back, they even gathered on the road. There were cheers from both sides, and the castle, which was already filled with people, suddenly became even more noisy.
Some people died, but not completely...
