"You always have to listen."
Zhang Liangpeng thought for a while and then said: "If such a big thing happened, we really need to investigate."
Zhou Keshan nodded and extended his hand to invite you.
"But there is no rush." Zhang Liangpeng sat still: "Before we get down to business, dear brother, please listen to what I have to say."
"Speaking."
"After the Song Dynasty crossed south, the total trade volume with the countries in the South China Sea fluctuated around 1,600 to 18 million guan each year. The total trade volume with the northern regions, despite many obstacles, was no less than 3 million guan each year. In recent years Because your country encourages trade, we have also relaxed many prohibitive policies. The trade volume in both the north and south directions continues to increase, and is expected to reach about 25 million yuan this year."
"That's right. With the restoration of order in the Central Plains and Hebei, this number will reach 30 million yuan next year, and will continue to increase in the next year. Such cross-border and cross-sea goods, such as spices from the South China Sea and horses from the North, will be transported to the mainland After the Song Dynasty, there will be at least multiple benefits. And 50% of the new number will be divided up by the Shanghai Bank, that is, you and I will work together."..net
"Rough calculation, by the end of the year our profit will be three million dollars; next year it will be six million dollars."
Zhang Liangpeng's tone was calm and Zhou Keshan nodded slightly.
The huge profit of 3 million guan this year and 6 million guan next year is the reason why Shanghai Banking has to set up a major stronghold in the Southern Song Dynasty on offshore islands, and it has to be on guard day and night with tight barriers.
At that time, the Kingdom of Jin relied on salt profit as the foundation of the court's finances, and the number it had maintained for a long time since the founding of the country was only 6.22 million guan. Beginning in the fourth year of Cheng'an, the imperial court raised the price of salt, and salt profits reached 1.07 million guan. This figure lasted for a total of two years, and then public dissatisfaction boiled and war broke out.
The Great Zhou Dynasty had only been in power for one year, and money was needed everywhere, so finances were very tight. However, it will take some time to sort out the salt policy. I heard that the salt revenue last year was less than 3 million tons.
Therefore, Zhou Keshan said that the Emperor of Zhou was closely focused on the profits from this area, and it was no lie.
From the perspective of the Song Dynasty, this profit is also astronomical.
Between the Song Dynasty and the Zhou Dynasty, there is no conclusion yet on whether the Sui coins should be retained, and if so, how to pay for them. The main reason was that most of the imperial council opposed this, and Shi Xiang felt that it might as well be used as a means to maintain diplomatic relations between the north and the south. With the currency, there is always some official sentiment.
If we look at the annual coins paid by the Song Dynasty to the Jin Dynasty, how many people with lofty ideals would shed blood and righteous indignation? How many people gnashed their teeth and cursed? That's only 300,000 taels of silver and 300,000 pieces of silk per year, which is only 1.5 million taels of copper coins!
In other words, if the two companies increase their profits from this year's trip to Shanghai by one-fifth, Shi Xiang will be equivalent to kicking the money that has troubled the Song Dynasty for decades into his own pockets and those of his party members. With this financial power, in the The officialdom of the Southern Dynasties was almost unfavorable.
"The problem is...the money goes directly into our pockets, which is against the past rules."
"What are the rules? Let me tell you."
"First of all, many officials of the Song Dynasty sailed into the sea on behalf of their close relatives for the benefit of merchants. We did not take them with us on our trip to Shanghai. Secondly, officials of the Song Dynasty were in the shipping department of Quan, Guang and other places. Those found guilty of expropriation, forcible purchase, or fraud were punished with confiscation; the shipping company in Qingyuan Prefecture often bought the goods at 70% of the price and directly extracted two-fifths of the profit. Our trip to Shanghai was under the banner of Shi Xiang , but never gives anyone the opportunity to forcefully buy.”
"Ahem, my dear brother, you are in charge of the Shipping Department of Qingyuan Mansion. There is no shortage of cases that are yours."
Zhang Liangpeng shouted: "That's another thing! There are many people down there who were originally related, but now they can't afford it!"
You bitch! Your quota includes the quotas of many subordinates below, otherwise there would be so many! They can't eat because you're too full!
Zhou Keshan cursed in his heart and asked in a deep voice, "Is there anything more?"
"have!"
Zhang Liangpeng said frankly: "Third, most of the private ports on the border of the Song Dynasty were engaged in smuggling. I remember that in Chuzhou alone, there were 41 private ports, and they had the support of powerful officials behind them. . But as we, the North and the South, join hands directly, many smugglers have turned to rely on us and abandoned the old ones.
Some backers. "
"Is there a fourth item?"
"The interest collection on loans for overseas trade is also an important source of income for officials along the coast. There are also a large number of military officers who use the court's money for clothing, food, and materials to privately lend military debt. But our business is owned by the emperor of the Northern Dynasties. There is no need to borrow money from the partnership with the Prime Minister of the Southern Dynasty, and many officials can’t even think about the huge profits from this piece.”
Zhou Keshan sneered repeatedly: "According to your statement, our trip to Shanghai cut off the wealth of countless civil and military officials in the Song Dynasty, so we were criticized by thousands of people?"
"It can't be said that it's over. The old financial path has not been affected. It's just that few outsiders have shared the newly added wealth. But since ancient times, people's hearts are not enough, so they have to look forward to Shu. In the past year, who doesn't know that in Shanghai Doing a business worth tens of millions of yuan, making a fortune? Just looking at it with drooling eyes and not being able to eat it is enough to make people faint."
"How dare you continue to cause shipwrecks and kill people and rob money again and again if you are so ignorant because of your power? Do you despise the military power of Zhou Dynasty, or do you despise the official authority of your prime minister? Or do you simply not know how to live or die?"
"After all, the background of the trip to Shanghai is not suitable for publicity, and it is impossible for everyone to know. Moreover, when people from all over the coast have their own power, they feel that the mountains are high and the emperor is far away, and it is not uncommon for Han and I to be bigger. Such people Once the power makes you blind, you will act without any scruples."
"you mean……"
"We can trace the culprit of this series of shipwrecks, and we must trace them as soon as possible. But once the tracing begins, it will definitely disturb the ports from Guangnan to eastern Zhejiang, involving commercial ships, Changping transshipment, navy, and local governments. Many aspects such as powerful clans may also cause fluctuations in interests beyond the control of the Shanghai Banking Corporation and trigger political instability."
Zhang Liangpeng asked in a deep voice: "You and I are honest with each other, there is no need to lie. This is indeed a trouble. You must be mentally prepared for this. We need to peel off the cocoon and slowly... "
"It's better to cut through the mess quickly!"
"What?"
"On the way back, our ship that was attacked this time has already interrogated the thieves who participated in the robbery. These thieves had a gang leader named Wang Ziqing as an internal agent, so they were able to figure out the route of our ship. As for the people who did it, there were people from Fujian The great pirates Zhao Xique, Luo Dongtian, Zhou Liu, etc. on the road, as well as the giant pirates in Guangnan are famous for their names like sea dragon and rolling sea dragon."
Zhang Liangpeng immediately asked, "Did you know that the connections behind these people are too numerous to count? Let me tell you right now, behind these people, there must be many officials from the military, prefecture and even road levels in the Song Dynasty!"
"Isn't it right to be involved?"
"how to say?"
"We immediately formed a capable fleet and headed south, killing all the private ports and small villages on the sea along the Liangzhe Road. When we caught a leader, we inquired about his background; when we found out the background, we sent people ashore to attack him. Kill. Make up a name to fool the enemy, and kill the enemy in Guangnan in one breath. All suspicious people, and all those involved in pirates will be cleared away. The sea will naturally be peaceful, and those who dare to covet our trip to Shanghai will also be wiped out. .”
Zhang Liangpeng stared at Zhou Keshan for a long time and sighed heavily.
"Brother Xian, you must be a scholar. How come you have followed the Beiren for a long time and learned the tyrannical tactics of bandits?"
"This is the method behind the rise of the Great Zhou Dynasty in the North. Anyone who dares to provoke him will be hit in the face! This method is the most suitable for dealing with pirates! Otherwise, what else can be done?"
Zhou Keshan sneered: "Are we practicing teaching for three years and practicing Qi Wu, waiting for Miao Bin to serve? This year's income of 3 million guan has already been reduced by 1 million guan! Next year's income of 6 million guan will be How many things are going to go wrong? What’s really annoying is that your and my bosses can’t see the money! What’s more, if a bunch of these people are killed, doesn’t Prime Minister Shi just place his own people in his place? You have made this clear to Prime Minister Shi. Shi Xiang is afraid that he will die from happiness!"
Zhang Liangpeng's eyes rolled around and he was silent for a moment.
After a long time, he thought to himself that all these northerners were stupid and did things without considering the consequences. However, this kind of behavior made it difficult for Da Song Dynasty, who wanted everything to be stable, to deal with it.
Otherwise, just go with the flow and let them hold the tank?
