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"Oh? It turns out to be Boss Xu. If you have any questions, just ask!"
When speaking, Zhao Junchen looked humble and very polite.
Although Zhao Junchen clearly knew that Xu Changde was here to spy on information and cause trouble secretly, Xu Changde was a member of the Huizhou-Zhejiang merchant gang and was ostensibly willing to cooperate with Zhao Junchen and join the United Shipping Company. Now it was Zhao Junchen who was wooing Huizhou. During this critical period for Zhejiang merchants, if Zhao Junchen deliberately embarrasses Xu Changde, he would probably hurt others and make other Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants have bad thoughts, so Zhao Junchen still needs to be patient for the time being.
In addition, Zhao Junchen did not pay as much attention to Xu Changde's existence as Shi Kesong did. Just like the difference between Zhou Shangjing and Shen Changmao, according to the information collected by Zhao Junchen, this Xu Changde is far inferior to Shi Kesong in terms of wealth, popularity, means, and vision.
Even Zhao Junchen could guess the specific method Xu Changde used to cause trouble for him.
Sure enough, as Zhao Junchen's words fell, Xu Changde raised his voice and said: "Master Zhao, most of our Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants do make money through smuggling. There is no need to deny this. However, we are also forced to smuggle. After all, in recent years, the imperial court has imposed too many exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes. Not only are state capitals, county towns, military towns, and imperial villages all equipped with tax collection gates, they also need to pay many donations from time to time, and envoys from various places also have to pay taxes. All of them will be in trouble privately and need a lot of money to bribe. As a result, goods worth one thousand taels are often worth more than one thousand taels after they are shipped to the destination. If we merchants do business according to legal channels, I am afraid that now We have lost all our money and all our wealth! Now, the imperial court is willing to provide us with preferential policies. In addition to the most basic goods tax, ship money and door stall taxes, the rest of the complicated taxes will be waived! This is naturally This is a great thing. With such conditions, naturally we are not willing to continue illegal smuggling! But..."
At this point, Xu Changde changed the subject, with a trace of ill-intention flashing in his eyes, and continued: "However, although all the businessmen present are willing to cooperate with the Ministry of Revenue to form a joint shipping company and only do legal business from now on, if Others are still making profits through smuggling, but how should they be restrained? Even as far as Xu knows, your household department has been involved in the smuggling business, and it is very large. Every year, the grain ships that go back and forth between the north and the south are all It carries a large amount of private goods, and because it is a grain ship, it does not even need to pay the most basic goods tax, ship money and stall tax. As a result, the cost of smuggling in the Ministry of Household Affairs is even higher than that of those with a tax-free policy. The United Shipping Company is even lower! However, it is obvious that the Ministry of Revenue and I jointly established the United Shipping Company with the purpose of suppressing smuggling, but the Ministry of Revenue was not clean in this regard. After the establishment of the United Shipping Company, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Revenue also There is competition, and when that happens, how will we, the Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen, deal with themselves?"
After saying that, a trace of pride flashed in Xu Changde's eyes. He thought he had grasped Zhao Junchen's pain point, but on the surface he looked serious and upright. He bowed to Zhao Junchen again and said, "Xu's words are not It sounds nice, but it is indeed Xu’s sincere thought, please sir, please give me some advice!”
After hearing Xu Changde's statement, all the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants present were silent and did not speak, just waiting quietly for Zhao Junchen's answer.
*
Indeed, Zhao Junchen was the one who proposed and took the lead in establishing the joint shipping company. The reason was even more high-sounding, saying that it was to curb smuggling and improve the current situation of commercial and tax corruption. However, the Ministry of Household Affairs itself was one of the largest smuggling groups in the Ming Dynasty. First, now they are cooperating with Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants to form a joint shipping company. They want Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants to abandon the smuggling business and make money legally from now on. This completely opposite position makes it difficult for Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants to believe.
In fact, regarding Xu Changde's statement, the Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen present had more or less similar thoughts. However, due to Zhao Junchen's growing power and the fact that they could indeed increase their profits after joining the United Shipping Company, they were forced to They couldn't bear to say it, but the smuggling business of Hubu was indeed a thorn in their side.
Now, hearing that Xu Changde boldly pointed out this point directly, the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants present were secretly shocked, and they all focused their attention on Zhao Junchen, waiting for Zhao Junchen's answer.
If Zhao Junchen's answer is inappropriate, I am afraid that there will be many obstacles to the joint shipping business, and the enthusiasm of the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants present will inevitably be dampened - this is probably Xu Changde's wishful thinking!
*
"Sure enough, Xu Changde wants to cause trouble by participating in smuggling through the Ministry of Household Affairs! There is really nothing new. How could I be unprepared for such an obvious flaw?"
As he was thinking deeply, a sarcastic smile flashed across Zhao Junchen's lips, but in an instant his expression became solemn and he said slowly: "Don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you! Of course I understand this truth! In the past , in order to reverse the embarrassment of the national treasury, the Ministry of Revenue has indeed secretly participated in some illegal businesses! But now, as a commercial tax collector of the Ministry of Household, I have been ordered to rectify the current situation of commercial tax corruption, how can I still knowingly do so? "
After saying that, Zhao Junchen turned to look at Lin Yunpu, Dai Fengfu, and Bai Mingyu, and asked: "Boss Lin, Boss Dai, and Boss Bai, speaking of the matter of establishing a joint shipping company, I am the first to tell you three You three suggested it, and all the Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen present now were recruited by you three, but is this so?"
After hearing Zhao Junchen's inquiry, Lin Yunpu, Dai Fengfu, and Bai Mingyu all stood up and replied: "Sir, you are right, that's exactly what it is!"
Zhao Junchen nodded and asked: "So, do you three still remember how long it has been since I proposed to you about joint shipping?"
After Lin Yunpu pondered for a moment, he replied: "My lord, you first mentioned the matter of the United Shipping Company to the three of us at the end of March or early April. It has been two months since then!"
Zhao Junchen nodded again and said: "Speaking of which, starting from April every year, it is the time when the imperial grain ships begin to transport grain on a large scale... You are all well-informed and well-connected people, and you are familiar with everything about the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal. As long as you are willing to inquire about the situation, I am afraid that nothing can be hidden from your eyes and ears, so you can go and inquire about the information. Since I proposed the joint shipping company, the grain transport ships of the Ministry of Revenue may still be carrying private cargo. Phenomenon?"
After a pause, Zhao Junchen raised his voice and said, "Taking advantage of today's opportunity, I would also like to inform you that since I proposed the joint shipping company, the Ministry of Revenue has completely stopped smuggling activities! Today's Caoliang Ships are only transporting grain, and there is no more secret cargo! From now on, the Ministry of Revenue will, like everyone else, completely give up the smuggling business and devote itself wholeheartedly to the business of the United Shipping Company! Here, I am also willing to accept your supervision!"
As Zhao Junchen finished speaking, the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants present were refreshed again!
Since Zhao Junchen is so steadfast in his vow, it must be true that the Ministry of Revenue's decision to completely stop the smuggling business is not a lie. In this way, Zhao Junchen once again showed his sincerity and once again strengthened the future confidence of the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants in the United Shipping Company! The secret thorns in the hearts of the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants disappeared because of Zhao Junchen's words.
Then, Zhao Junchen received another burst of compliments. Businessmen from Hui and Zhejiang praised Zhao Junchen for being "selfless" and "upright".
On the other side, after hearing Zhao Junchen's statement, Xu Changde's expression changed slightly!
He did not expect that Zhao Junchen would be so courageous. You must know that the Ministry of Revenue can obtain millions of silver through water smuggling every year, and Zhao Junchen actually wanted to deal with such a large sum of money in order to unite the shipping companies. If you say give up, give up!
"With this courage and decisiveness alone, Zhao Junchen is worthy of being Shen Shoufu's most valued political opponent!" Xu Changde thought to himself in horror.
In fact, Xu Changde didn't know that the reason why Zhao Junchen was willing to give up the smuggling business in the household department was just because the joint shipping company could bring greater benefits to Zhao Junchen, nothing more!
In this way, Xu Changde's wishful thinking came to nothing. When the Hui and Zhejiang businessmen took the opportunity to compliment Zhao Junchen, Xu Changde sat back in his seat with an embarrassed look.
However, Zhao Junchen did not intend to let Xu Changde go just like this.
After the compliments from the Hui and Zhejiang merchants ended, Zhao Junchen turned his attention to Xu Changde again and said, "Boss Xu, are you satisfied with my explanation?"
Xu Changde stood up with an embarrassed look on his face, nodded repeatedly and said: "Satisfied, naturally satisfied."
Zhao Junchen smiled and said: "Actually, Boss Xu's concerns are very reasonable. Since we are giving up the smuggling business, we cannot let others continue to smuggle. Otherwise, it will be unfair to us, and the current situation of commercial taxation in the imperial court cannot be completely solved." Turn around, I have some ideas about this!"
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PS: I’m busy today, so I only have a small chapter of 2,000 words, sorry!
…(To be continued.)
