"I need to report this to Your Majesty."
Yang Dong looked gloomy and immediately wrote a secret letter and handed it to the Xichang spy who came with him.
After hesitating for a moment, he arranged for a spy to go to the White Lotus Sect's territory and asked them to deliver another letter.
Yang Dong didn't believe Han Zheng's words, nor did he believe them all. Even in the court, there were mixed reviews of Han Zheng.
But what kind of person this person is depends on His Majesty’s evaluation.
As for Yang Dong...
I just don't care about these troublesome things in the court!
Fortunately, Han Zheng was very cooperative with Yang Dong's work. Although he had no money or food, he at least arranged a group of soldiers for Yang Dong.
Although they are not considered elites, they are enough to protect themselves in the southern territory of Luozhou.
As for the next action, Yang Dong looked to the north, a trace of expectation flashing in his eyes.
"Yao Qi, Yao Rui, the key to disaster relief in Luozhou lies with you."
…
Ten miles southwest of the closed city, there is a deserted village.
The two brothers Yao Rui and Yao Qi sat in the first place, looking at the merchants who came to visit.
"I already know what you want."
"I think you have seen my sincerity. In that case, do you still have any doubts?"
All businessmen, look at me and I look at you. After looking at each other, their eyes looked in the direction of Shen Laosan.
"Brother Shen, please speak!"
"Yes, from now on, we will look after you."
"We have traveled thousands of miles to come to Luozhou, so we can't return empty-handed, right?"
Shen Laosan was still shy and bowed his hands towards the merchants with a bright face.
Although there was a smile on his face, his eyes were full of coldness.
This group of businessmen are all shameless people. At first, he knelt down to lick himself. Later, after meeting Lin Luo, he kicked himself away and knelt down to lick Lin Luo again.
Now he has been tricked by Lin Luo, and he has come back to defend himself.
How can you be so shameless as a human being?
But Shen Laosan also knew in his heart that he could not refuse them.
After all, it was really difficult for him to impress the young prince with his hands and eyes as bright as the sky.
Only with the help of these merchants can we be qualified to meet the young prince again.
Thinking of this, he immediately said:
"My lords, I am nothing more than a businessman. You two have shown respect for me by being able to receive you in person."
"As for the food for disaster relief, we can naturally bring in the food and grass quickly. Is it really feasible to just reduce business taxes?"
Yao Qi had expected that Shen Laosan would mention this. He stood up slowly and took out an imperial edict from his sleeve.
"It is destined to be carried by heaven, the emperor decreed."
"Anyone who works hard to save the people of Luozhou can be regarded as an honorary businessman and is not subject to the jurisdiction of commercial tax."
As soon as these words came out, all the merchants' eyes lit up.
If this is the case, then they must be more attentive to disaster relief in Luozhou.
How much money can we spend on just some food?
As long as you can pretend to be a yellow businessman, you don't know how much money you can save in a year.
All I can say is that this is a good deal!
Shen Laosan's round eyes rolled, and a trace of doubt flashed across his face.
He hesitated for a moment, then asked:
"I dare to ask you two Yao masters, is there any relationship between this imperial edict and that noble person?"
A trace of doubt flashed in Yao Qi's eyes. But Yao Rui knew who the noble person Shen Laosan was talking about was.
"Brother Shen expected it to be good."
Yao Rui spoke calmly, but a trace of pride flashed in his eyes.
"This imperial edict is indeed related to my young prince."
"The young prince also said that even if you have the status of a yellow businessman, the taxes you need to pay are still different."
"This is the royal commercial tax."
Regarding the royal commercial tax, the merchants don't have much problem.
After all, as merchants, even if they don't pay taxes to the court, they can't keep all the profits for themselves.
If he really swallowed them all, he would probably be close to death.
Therefore, what they care more about is Huang Shang's identity. When they become Huang merchants, their identity and social status will change accordingly.
Moreover, the taxes paid by Huang merchants were only two-thirds of the commercial taxes.
But at this moment, these merchants all cast curious glances at Yao Rui.
They probably know the taxes levied by Huang merchants.
But since everyone is a yellow businessman, why is there any difference in the taxes paid?
Different from the reaction of this group of merchants, Shen Laosan's plump cheeks were filled with solemnity at this moment.
Is there such a powerful young prince in the capital?
I have been living in the capital for more than ten years, but why have I never heard of it?
It can convert us into the status of Huang merchants, and also adjust the taxes of Huang merchants...
Could this little nobleman be the current His Majesty?
Such a ridiculous idea appeared in his mind for no reason.
It was immediately erased from his mind.
No, no, how can His Majesty have time to come to Luozhou today?
I think he should be someone whom Your Majesty trusts very much.
Shen Laosan's eyes flickered and he quickly calculated his gains and losses in his mind.
After a while, he had made a decision in his heart, and his plump cheeks gradually became firmer.
Shen Laosan suddenly stood up and bowed deeply in the direction of Yao Rui.
"Brother Yao, I have been fascinated by that little nobleman for a long time. It was just that we met him in a hurry and didn't have much communication with him."
"Now that this young nobleman has come to Luozhou, I wonder if Brother Yao can recommend him to me?"
"I am willing to give up half of my family property and send a letter to the capital immediately, asking them to send food and grass immediately!"
As soon as these words came out, the faces of the merchants immediately became strange.
They originally thought that they could just take out a few tens of thousands taels as a token of appreciation.
But Shen Laosan, this damn fat guy, didn't even discuss it with them, so he just gave up half of his family property.
You know, this is a full five hundred thousand taels of silver!
This does not include those shop title deeds.
Yao Rui smiled slightly, looked at each other with his brother Yao Qi, and then said in a deep voice:
"If you want to see the noble person, we can't decide, so we can only make the announcement on your behalf."
"But if you donate 500,000 taels, you can be named a fifth-grade yellow merchant."
"From now on, taxes will be reduced by half!"
"By the way, there is also the priority to bid for the plan to revitalize Luozhou. And..."
Yao Rui was a little unsure and turned to look at his brother.
Yao Qi shook his head slightly,
"No, he's just a fifth-grade Huang merchant, and he doesn't have that much authority."
After saying that, he glanced at Shen Laosan.
"According to the rules, only Huang Shang of third grade or above can meet that noble man."
"But you have gathered a group of merchants in Luozhou, which is a great achievement. Therefore, we will write a letter immediately to inform you of this matter."
"As for whether your noble lord agrees..."
"It still takes some time to wait."
"In that case, I'll leave it to you two adults!"
Shen Laosan bowed again, his plump cheeks filled with respect.
Although I just spent five hundred thousand taels of silver,
But just by reducing the taxes on Huang merchants by half, it is no longer a loss.
Shen Laosan is confident that he will earn back the five hundred thousand taels of silver within five years!
