"Does the Prime Minister think that this caravan's westward journey can help Qin solve its financial problems?" Qin Wangji took one last look at the direction of the caravan's departure, tightened his robes, and boarded the carriage with the help of the eunuch.
Qin's financial problems are not just a day or two. There was a serious financial crisis during the Battle of Changping that year, but like Zhao, they chose to hold on.
At that time, the financial crisis of Zhao State was more serious than that of Qin State. However, Zhao State diverted conflicts through foreign wars and took advantage of opportunities to develop rapidly.
However, the Qin State failed to divert conflicts through foreign wars, and Bashu rebelled again, resulting in financial problems that have remained to this day.
If it only relies on internal digestion, it will take Qin at least three to five years to solve the hidden dangers.
But Qin Wangji didn't know if he could live for another five years. Even if he could live for another five years, Qin State would very likely see a continuous change of power by then.
The change of power means the country is in turmoil and its power shrinks.
This means that Qin will not be able to consolidate its forces and launch a large-scale war in the next ten years or so.
ten years!
Qin Wangji simply couldn't imagine how far Zhao State had developed in ten years!
Therefore, Qin Wangji urgently wanted to improve the national power of Qin, and in his short time, he made a final effort for the unification of Qin to satisfy his long-cherished wish.
Victory is just like the defeat of Qi State in the first place, defeating a great enemy.
If you fail, at least try your best and leave no regrets!
"Your Majesty, the key to trade routes is not one or two profits, but a steady stream of wealth. As long as this trade route exists, our country of Qin will have one more way to make money. If things go on like this, the financial problems will inevitably be solved. ." Fan Ju said, cupping his hands.
"Let's prepare the second caravan. As long as there is no bad news from Song Lu and others within three months, we will send the second caravan." Qin Wangji waved his hand and said.
He needs money now, lots and lots of money!
"No." Fan Ju, Lu Buwei and others leaned over and said.
"Young Master, you are a merchant. I want to ask you, if we fully open up business and allow people to do business freely, can our Qin country's tax revenue be greatly increased?" Qin Wangji looked at Lu Buwei.
Qin Wangji mentioned this matter as early as two years ago, and would ask about it every once in a while.
Although the Qin State emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce, it was not that it had not tasted the sweetness of commerce.
When the Qin State occupied Taoyi, its prosperous commerce and commercial taxes comparable to agricultural taxes shocked the entire Qin State.
At that time, Qin knew that the Central Plains was so rich.
This incident shocked the rural elders of Qin State, and Qin State even made strategic adjustments for this, changing the strategic target from Hedong (generally referring to the east of the river) to the Central Plains, and exchanged three cities in Hedong for three cities in Zhao State. Central Plains City.
The cities in Hedong are of strategic significance, and the cities in the Central Plains are more prosperous. This matter does not mean that anyone suffers.
However, what no one expected was that after Zhao took over Qin's three cities, he went back on his word and refused to hand over his own cities to Qin.
Since ancient times, Qin has been abducting other countries. When has it ever been abducted by other countries? This time he was tricked by Zhao Guo, and Qin Guo suddenly screamed in anger.
Immediately let my little brother South Korea give way, I want to attack Zhao.
How dare South Korea get involved in such a thing? Besides, the State of Zhao had just united with the State of Wei to beat him up a few years ago. When the State of Qin attacked the State of Zhao, South Korea was happy.
Anyway, it's all dog bite dog.
I can just watch the show from Korea.
The four countries of Qi, Chu, Han and Yan also wanted to see what would happen to Zhao who dared to stroke Qin's tiger beard after eating the heart of a bear and the courage of a leopard.
So the famous battle between Yan and Zhao took place. Zhao Kuo's father Zhao She became a god in the battle, which shocked the seven kingdoms.
The Qin State was not ignorant of the importance of commerce, and even knew that commerce was very important. However, the Qin State had emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce for a long time, and the system could not be changed easily.
In addition, the government and businessmen of Qin were very developed. Compared with private businessmen who were unable to collect taxes accurately due to the limitations of ancient tax collection capabilities, the government and businessmen did not have such a problem.
However, the limitations of official business are also very obvious. On the one hand, it greatly suppresses everyone's motivation. After all, working for others and working for yourself have completely different passion and motivation.
Although the Qin State has certain rewards for officials who have made contributions, compared with the penalties, these rewards are completely negligible.
And even if you contribute to Qin, the reward will not necessarily fall on you. But if you cause losses to Qin, the punishment will definitely fall on you.
Therefore, everyone's behavior is to do less and make fewer mistakes. If they do not do well, they will not say anything even if they find problems.
On the other hand, due to the lack of strong supervision, officials and businessmen often engage in corruption and corruption.
No matter how strong Qin Fa is, he cannot restrain everyone.
After being stimulated by the business of Zhao and Wei, King Qin Zhaoxiang made up his mind to reform business, increase business taxes, and improve finances.
First, they sent people to the west, and then opened commerce in Bashu, which greatly stimulated the development of private business. Last year, Qin's commercial tax, including official and businessmen, increased by 30%.
This incident made King Qin Zhaoxiang even more determined to fully open up business like Zhao State and regard commercial taxation as another pillar of the country.
If this can be done, Qin will be able to accumulate enough strength to march eastward within three years.
"Your Majesty, I do not recommend the full opening up of business." Lu Buwei thought for a while and then said. "The State of Zhao is located in a land with convenient transportation and developed commerce. It also defeated the Xiongnu and developed animal husbandry, which gave it all the commercial advantages. However, our State of Qin is located in the west, blocked by mountains and deserts on three sides. It has also had a century-old history of focusing on agriculture and suppressing commerce. Therefore, the business environment is not good."
"Secondly, although Zhao State has a vast territory, most of its areas have not been developed, or the degree of development is not deep. Only a few areas such as Hebei and Taiyuan have developed agriculture. Therefore, they have to prosper the economy and increase tax revenue through commerce. But our Qin State Different, Guanzhong, Hexi, Hanzhong, Bashu, Jiangling, and Nanyang are all grain-producing areas with developed agriculture. Five years ago, our Qin State’s annual grain output was three times that of Zhao State. Even now, it is twice that of Zhao State. Or so. If we instead focus on business and ask people to give up their land to do business, it is putting the cart before the horse."
What Lu Buwei didn't know was that the popularity of cattle in Zhao State was far higher than that in Qin State, and the millet yield per mu was about 30% higher than that in Qin State. In addition, almost all public fields in Zhao State were artificially fertilized, and farmers were also promoting new planting techniques.
Although the annual grain output of Qin is higher than that of Zhao, it is not much higher.
This is the time when the Zhao State's Hetao has just been developed. After the Hetao is developed, Zhao State's grain output will inevitably surpass that of Qin State.
"Young Master, do you mean to continue to emphasize agriculture and suppress business?" Qin Wangji frowned. This is somewhat different from what he said before.
