Xu Wenshu's expression became a little strange.
I thought this guy was here to ask for money, but now he offered to help him solve his problem.
Solving problems, whatever problems he can solve.
Although Fang Zhengyi's methods of making money are various and unconstrained.
But the Ministry of Revenue is in charge of national affairs, not businessmen.
Once there is a slight movement, it will be earth-shattering and affect the pattern.
Seeing that Xu Wenshu didn't say a word, Fang Zhengyi asked again: "If Master Xu doesn't want to hear it, then I can leave first?"
After saying that, he prepared to leave.
Xu Wenshu quickly grabbed him and said, "Master Hou, stay here."
Who cares what he does? As long as he doesn't ask for money, it's fine. You might as well listen. What if he can create a miracle?
Fang Zheng's mind is different from that of normal people, and he doesn't do weird things just once or twice!
"Since the Marquis is so enthusiastic, if I don't listen, it would be against the rules of hospitality."
Fang Zheng smiled and Shi Shiran walked back to his original position.
"Okay, since Mr. Xu is willing to listen to my nonsense, I will briefly explain it."
Xu Wenshu quickly sat next to him and blinked.
Fang Zhengyi said: "The current dilemma of the Ministry of Household Affairs is that there are many more huge expenditure projects than before, and the income is still mainly from agricultural taxes. Although there is more east-west maritime trade, commercial taxes are also increasing, but compared with the increase in expenditures, it is still Far from enough, right?”
"Yes, that's right."
Fang Zheng took a sip of tea and said, "Mr. Xu, what does this mean? The changes brought about by train firearms are unprecedented, so naturally the methods we use cannot follow the old methods of our predecessors to solve new problems now."
"The imperial court cannot easily raise taxes, and it is not feasible to reduce expenditures. It is impossible to increase revenue and reduce expenditures, so there is only one way..." Fang Zheng finished speaking and took another sip of tea.
Xu Wenshu was anxious: "Master Hou, are you that thirsty? Can you stop being so pretentious!"
Fang Zheng smiled and put down the tea cup: "To put it simply, it is using other people's money to do your own things."
"What...what do you mean? You said that the court should solve the problem not with the court's money, but with other people's money?" Xu Wenshu was very confused.
"Yes, it's just to get money from other people's hands. Think about how many wealthy people and ordinary people there are in Dajing. If you can make use of the money in their hands, will your household department still be worried about having no money in the future?"
When Xu Wenshu heard this, his expression suddenly became calm: "Say, Mr. Hou, you are not here to tease me at night, are you? I was thinking, how is it possible? Now everyone knows that the country is rich, and I can write to the court to raise funds shamelessly. ?”
Xu Wenshu felt contempt in his heart.
I thought it was a strange idea, but ended up talking on the phone. It was easier to get money from the hands of wealthy people than from the emperor's treasury.
Unexpectedly, Fang Zheng waved his right hand lightly: "Raising donations? What problems can be solved by raising funds? What we are looking for is a long-term solution!"
"Humans don't care about their own affairs. If they were asked to pay for things for the court and other people, even those scholars with eloquent tongues would be unwilling to do so."
"So, the problem we have to solve is to turn public interests into private interests! Let them know that they can get benefits from helping the court!"
"What's the explanation for this?" Xu Wenshu's expression became serious again.
"Have you heard about the new exchange that has recently emerged in Beijing?" Fang Zheng asked.
Xu Wenshu frowned and said, "I seem to have heard it somewhere. What does it do?"
"To put it bluntly, it is an organization composed of private businessmen. They sell the shares of various businesses in the form of stocks on the exchange. People sell stocks in the hope that the business they buy will generate profits, win dividends, or sell in the hope that the stock price will rise. Stocks, earn the difference.”
"And those merchants took the money from selling stocks to continue to develop business. This is a partnership that benefits both parties!" As soon as Fang Zheng finished speaking, he tapped the table hard with his index finger.
There was a thud.
It was like a bolt of lightning flashed through Xu Wenshu's mind!
Turning public interests into private interests turns out to be such a personalized method!
Xu Wenshu's face changed greatly: "You mean, the imperial court also used this exchange method to turn railway trains into stocks, and then sold them on the market to raise silver?"
"Smart, Mr. Xu knows it right away!" Fang Zheng clapped his hands and praised.
"No, no, no... This train and railway are important assets of the country, how can they be placed in the hands of the common people? And have you ever thought about the impact if the stock price fluctuates and the common people lose their money? What is the face of the court?" Xu Wenshu said vigilantly.
It had to be said that Fang Zhengyi's proposal made him extremely excited, but at the next moment countless questions came to his mind.
When doing things in the court, success or failure is still a matter of opinion, but making mistakes is absolutely impossible!
Fang Zhengyi also expected this situation.
He said calmly: "Master Xu, if you want to do big things, you have to show some courage. Furthermore, which of all the expenditures of Dajing is not for the country and the people? What do you mean by not leaving it in the hands of the people? The imperial court The money they pay is the taxes they pay. To put it bluntly, the people are supporting the court, and it is perfectly appropriate to take it from the people and use it for the people at this time."
Xu Wenshu frowned and shook his head slowly: "No, this is too crazy. No one has ever done such a thing."
Fang Zheng said with a smile: "There was no train before me. If I said that the train could run by itself, everyone would think I was crazy. But now it has proven everything."
"No matter what, this is a new path worth trying. It is always a good thing that the court has a new idea and mobilizes greater resources to solve the problem."
"Master Xu, just imagine. In the future, most of the important expenditures of large-scale fortifications in the Ministry of Revenue can be solved through public funds, and the Ministry of Revenue can solve big problems by mobilizing small resources. What will it be like?"
Fang Zheng stood up and patted Xu Wenshu on the shoulder: "Wait until someone from the Ministry of Industry comes to ask you for money. He wants one million taels. Just throw the two million taels in his face and tell her to go away. Don't do it because of this." Small money will bother you again. By then, you, the Minister of Household Affairs, will be unprecedented if not unprecedented."
Xu Wenshu listened to his heart, and a crazy smile gradually appeared on his face, and then his whole body was shocked!
"This matter is not that simple! I still don't understand the nature of the exchange and how it operates. It's too early to say anything!"
"Even if I don't agree, the imperial court will definitely not agree! Mr. Fang, you are so enthusiastic about the affairs of the Ministry of Finance... are you asking for something?"
Fang Zheng spread his hands and said, "Master Xu, you have really wronged me. I, Fang Zheng, am devoted to the country and the people, but I just want to share the worries of the imperial court."
"I have the train and railway in my hands, and I have openly and transparently informed everyone of the subsequent plans. I have never interfered with the land along the line, and huge profits have been handed over to others. Doesn't this prove anything?"
Fang Zheng shook his head: "Everyone in the world thinks that I love money, but who knows that I just enjoy the process of exploiting...seeing others grow through labor."
"Furthermore, His Majesty has great ambitions. Railways are to be spread all over the world, and fleets want to sail all over the world. If it is only through tax expenditures, then this process will undoubtedly be greatly slowed down."
"So, I think this new method is good! Whether it is approved by the court or not is not the first priority. We can always find a way to solve it. If you think it works, I will help you figure it out together!"
Xu Wenshu frowned, feeling something was wrong.
How do you say it like I'm actively begging you to do something?
Xu Wenshu was still deep in thought, but Fang Zhengyi patted his hem and said, "Master Xu, I just want to give you a small suggestion today. It's getting late so I'll take my leave now!"
Without waiting for Xu Wenshu's reaction, Fang Zheng walked out of the study quickly.
...
