In the conductor's yamen, Liu Yan was wearing a bunt, holding his son in one hand and holding a stuffed animal in the other, which made the infant baby laugh. It was a rare scene of father and son enjoying themselves.
On the side, Wang Yunhe said with a smile: "Okay, it's time for the baby to drink milk. I'll let the wet nurse hold it."
Liu Yan reluctantly handed the baby to the wet nurse, and then said, "I heard that my father-in-law is very busy during this period. What are he busy with?"
Wang Yunhe said: "It should be a matter in the Chamber of Commerce. What, is there anything wrong?"
"That's not true."
Liu Yan said: "I'm just asking casually."
Wang Yunhe stood up, packed up the things at hand, and prepared to go back to the backyard. He said, "If your husband has any doubts, you might as well bring your father over and ask him."
Liu Yan nodded and said: "The Chamber of Commerce has been established for some time. I also want to see the specific situation. Well, then I will send someone to fetch my father-in-law, so that I can get together with my wife."
Two days later, Wang Jing was taken to Lingshan Acropolis. Liu Yan and Wang Yunhe held a banquet in the commander's office, and the family sat together and enjoyed themselves.
After finishing the meal, Liu Yan brought up the matter of the Chamber of Commerce and said, "Taishan, how is the situation of the Chamber of Commerce now?"
Wang Jing said: "The Chamber of Commerce is developing very fast now. I dare not say 100%, but at least 70% or 80% of the merchants in Lingshanwei have joined the Chamber of Commerce. The monthly membership fees paid to the Commander's Yamen are 40,000 to 50,000. Two pieces of silver."
Liu Yan nodded. He knew about the membership fees, but that was not what Liu Yan wanted to know, so he asked: "How are the merchants who joined the Chamber of Commerce? Do the officials at all levels of Lingshan Guard have any cards? ? Are there any officials imposing exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes?"
Wang Jing shook his head and said with a smile: "These are gone. Those officials all know that behind the Chamber of Commerce is the commander's yamen. Who has the heart of a bear and the courage of a leopard and wants to ask for money?"
"Although merchants everywhere now have to pay a certain amount of membership dues every month, they have less trouble and less exorbitant taxes. With the two deductions, it is more cost-effective to join a chamber of commerce."
Liu Yan smiled and said, "That's good."
At this moment, Wang Yunhe nodded slightly to Wang Jing. Wang Jing was stunned for a moment, and then looked at Liu Yan.
I saw that Liu Yan was thinking about something, and then said: "There is one more thing I want to ask Taishan."
"Haha, my dear son-in-law, it's okay to say so."
There are no outsiders here, and Wang Jing is happy to be considered a son-in-law.
"That's right. I want to know how many merchants in Lingshanwei and surrounding areas have not joined the Chamber of Commerce?"
Wang Jing thought for a moment, then said with a smile: "Xianxiu, do you want to expand the income from chamber of commerce membership fees?"
Liu Yan smiled and said: "Taishan knows me!"
Wang Yunhe hid his face and smiled, and said: "I thought it was some big deal, but after all, there is still a lack of money!"
"well!"
Liu Yan said with a bitter face: "After the army's triumphant return, the expenses of Lingshan Guard increased sharply due to the payment of pensions, recruitment of new soldiers, rest and preparation of troops, etc. In addition, I am about to rush to Jimo Camp to take up my post. By then, Aoshan Guard There must be rectification over there, and a lot of money and food will be invested in this. So I am short of money, very short!"
Wang Yunhe asked in surprise: "Aren't the industries in Dapanbao and Wangjiazhuang not enough? Wine shops, glass workshops, iron yards, salt drying plants, soap workshops, there are so many profitable industries, aren't the money and food enough? !”
Liu Yan shook his head and said: "It's not enough! You know, now the monthly income and expenditure are basically equal, and there is not much balance."
Wang Yunhe said in shock: "I can't believe that Lingshan Guard's expenses are so huge now!"
Wang Jing was also amazed. He didn't know that a health center could spend so much. You must know that Liu Yan's properties, all of which are worth a lot of money every day, can only support the various expenses of Lingshan Guard.
"Then how useful can the Chamber of Commerce's income be?"
Liu Yan said with a smile: "The effect may not be big now, but it will be unlimited in the future. Taishan may not be able to tell the clues. The membership fees of the Chamber of Commerce will be a cornucopia in the future, a cornucopia as rich as gold and silver!"
Neither Wang Jing nor Wang Yunhe understood it very well, and it was impossible for them to understand it, because chamber of commerce membership fees are a collection of business taxes, income taxes, and value-added taxes for future generations.
In the current era, although Liu Yan cannot collect 100% of these taxes, he can at least expand tax sources, significantly increase his income, and lay the foundation for rectifying the tax system.
Of course, Liu Yan couldn't explain these words to Wang Yunhe and Wang Jing, and he couldn't explain clearly. He could only discuss the matter and continue to discuss the matter of chamber of commerce membership fees.
Liu Yan said: "There is something that Taishan can implement after he returns."
Wang Jing smiled and said, "What's the matter?"
"I plan to completely liberalize the sales channels of sea salt, soap, glass, and Shaogu wine, and no longer limit the sales area and sales scope. Any merchant who wants to distribute these goods can apply to the Chamber of Commerce."
Wang Jing's eyes suddenly lit up and he said excitedly: "In that case, I will be the first to stand up. How can these be goods? They are obviously just money!"
Liu Yan smiled and said: "Okay, even Taishan is alone. But I also have a request: if you want to sell sea salt, soap, glass, and Shaogu wine, you must join the Chamber of Commerce. Starting next month, these goods will no longer be available." Then sell it to merchants outside the chamber of commerce."
"The good son-in-law is forcing those merchants to join the association."
Wang Jing said: "As long as this news spreads, in less than a month, merchants around Lingshan Guard will flock to it, and the size of the chamber of commerce will at least double!"
Liu Yan said: "I give merchants the opportunity to make money, and at the same time I have to collect money from them. Also starting from next month, in addition to the five percent membership fee, each merchant must also pay according to sea salt, soap, glass , pay the total purchase price of Shaoguo Liquor, and each person must pay 10% of the total purchase price of the month as business tax."
"One percent!"
Wang Jing was shocked. This was the first time he heard of such a high commercial tax. Furthermore, Lingshan Guard was just an ordinary guard city and had no right to collect commercial taxes.
"My dear son-in-law, it's against the rules to do this."
Liu Yan smiled and said: "Don't worry Taishan, what are the rules? If you have money and a strong army, what I say is the rule!"
“Even though the 10% additional commercial tax seems very high, these commercial taxes are nothing compared to the income from selling sea salt, glass, soap, and shochu wine!”
"But this 10% business tax cannot be afforded by ordinary small businessmen. Those small businessmen cannot buy much goods and cannot afford the price."
Liu Yan said: "This 10% business tax only applies to four types of goods: sea salt, glass, soap, and Shaogu wine. As for small businessmen, as long as they do not touch these goods, they will not be levied business tax."
Then Liu Yan secretly said in his heart: "At least it won't be levied now, but it won't be certain in the future!"
In fact, Liu Yan also consciously used business taxes to screen merchants and eliminate small merchants who had no strength. After all, the production of sea salt, glass, soap, and Shaoguo wine is limited, and there is no excess production to supply those small merchants and hawkers.
Wang Jing said: "Well, since the good son-in-law has made up his mind, I will go back today and make preparations."
Wang Yunhe said: "Father is leaving today? Why not wait for two days? There is no rush."
"Haha, my good son-in-law's affairs are all important and cannot be postponed. I will come back when I am done with this period of time."
After seeing off Wang Jing and Wang Yunhe returning to the backyard to rest, Liu Yan sent someone to find Song Gongming.
Liu Yan briefly explained the affairs of the Chamber of Commerce, and then said: "You discuss with Chairman Wang of the Chamber of Commerce and transfer the distribution rights of sea salt, glass, soap, and Shaoguo wine to the Chamber of Commerce. From now on, you, the commercial officer, will be responsible for Collect taxes, various business taxes, and this business tax is the first one."
Song Gongming said with a smile: "Your Majesty's move is unheard of. If those civil servants and Confucian scholars knew about it, they would definitely make a fuss, saying that your Majesty is competing with the people for profit."
"Competing with the people for profit?"
Liu Yan sneered and said: "What kind of people are those civil servants and Confucian scholars? They are all moths, and they are all a group of moths that will eat up the country!"
"I collect commercial taxes, but I also make those merchants profitable. The money collected is used to enrich the people and strengthen the army. Everyone is happy. How can those moths understand this?"
Song Gongming clasped his fists and said, "Your Excellency is so righteous, I admire you!"
"By the way, there's one more thing."
Liu Yan said: "Salt drying plants, soap workshops, wine shops, and glass workshops also need to set up trading companies. Just set up a Xiahezhai Trading Company. You, the commercial officer, will be responsible for the profits of the trading company. In addition, Xiahezhai Trading Company will also join. Go to the Chamber of Commerce, so that you can use the power of the Chamber of Commerce to attract those merchants to invest money to open workshops."
"Remember: those merchants can only invest money, they cannot participate in the operation, and they cannot have decision-making power. After the newly built workshop makes a profit, it can distribute dividends to those merchants in proportion to the money invested."
Song Gongming thought for a moment and said, "Sir, do you mean to borrow a chicken to lay eggs?"
"Is not it good?"
Song Gongming said with a smile: "Of course there is no problem, my subordinates will start preparing for this matter immediately."
When Song Gongming returned to his mansion, he hurriedly sent someone to call his nephew Song Guan. As soon as he entered the house, Song Gongming pulled Song Guan and talked about the various reforms formulated by Liu Yan.
Because of his outstanding ability, Song Guan was transferred from the Ancient Town Inspection Department to Lingshan Acropolis and served as a general flag officer under the commanding officer Wang Wenzhen.
At this time, Song Guan's face showed an expression of ecstasy and he said: "Master Chengshou is really a god, he can come up with such a wonderful idea!"
"Do you think these measures taken by Mr. Cheng will work?"
Song Guan said: "Uncle, just watch. In a year or two, you, the commercial officer, will be the biggest vacancy under Lord Ethics. The commercial tax will even exceed the income of major workshops, and you will become a cornucopia in the hands of Lord Ethics!"
"this……"
Song Gongming obviously didn't believe it and said: "This is unlikely. It's the business tax rate of 10%. How many people can pay it? How much can it be collected?"
"Haha, you have sea salt, Shaoguo wine, glass, soap and other goods as bait, but you still worry about not catching big fish?"
Song Guan said confidently: "Moreover, how can uncle be sure that Master Cheng will not produce other valuable goods? I guess that when the time comes, Master Cheng will make big moves, and then uncle will have to follow up closely. Sir, with this pace, our Song family will definitely have a good future!"
Song Gongming smiled and patted Song Guan on the shoulder and said, "As expected of me, the little Zhuge of the Song family! Okay, that's it."
"However, Master Cheng mentioned that we should attract businessmen to invest and expand the production of sea salt, Shaoguo liquor, glass, and soap. This is a great opportunity to make money. I think it is better to be closer to the water, first come first served. Our Song family will invest a large amount of money first, and at least in the future I won’t worry about money anymore.”
Song Guan was horrified when he heard this and said hurriedly: "Uncle, you must not act like this. Don't you know that Master Cheng deeply hates the collusion between officials and businessmen? How can you tolerate your uncle's use of power for personal gain?"
"This, it's not that serious, right?"
Song Guan stood up suddenly and said loudly: "Uncle must avoid suspicion at all times, otherwise it is better to give up the position of commercial officer. Even if our Song family cannot shine on the lintel, we must not be ruined because of this!"
Some people died, but not completely...
