Fusu wandered around the hall, pondering, and finally decided to go find Zhang Cang.
First, Zhang Cang knew about Ji Heng’s existence.
Secondly, Zhang Cang is the Shizhu Shi in the Yushi Mansion. His main political task is to audit the account books. With Zhang Cang's help, it should be helpful to the implementation.
Furthermore, he was still curious in his heart and wanted to hear Zhang Cang's opinion.
Think about it.
Fusu wiped his face with a sweat towel and strode towards the Censor's Mansion.
Not long after.
Fusu went to the place where Zhang Cang was handling political affairs.
The current political hall is much emptier than the previous few days.
Zhang Cang's fat body just sat on the table, holding a honey pot in his hand, taking a few bites from time to time, looking very happy.
Ahem.
Suddenly there was a cough outside the hall.
Zhang Cang's face changed slightly, he quickly hid the honey pot behind his back, and looked at the bamboo slips seriously.
At this time.
Fusu stepped into the palace.
He looked at Zhang Cang with great interest, and glanced behind Zhang Cang with a vague gaze.
"Zhang Cang, I've met the young master." Zhang Cang looked slightly embarrassed. He stood up with the big case in his palms. While bowing, he took the initiative to change the subject and said, "Why do you have time to come to my place, young master?"
Fusu said softly: "During this period, I have been living in seclusion in the palace, honing my talents, but I still feel that I am lacking in all aspects. I just feel a little bored after staying for a long time, so I stopped by to have a look, and I also want to ask you for advice."
"I also ask Yushi Zhang to give me some advice."
Zhang Cang secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "Young master, it's okay to just say it. If I can clear up the doubts, I will tell you everything I know."
Fusu cupped his hands but did not speak.
Instead, he took out a bamboo slip from his sleeve and handed it to Zhang Cang.
Zhang Cang reached out to take it and looked at it carefully.
Fusu was not in a hurry. He waited for Zhang Cang to finish reading and then said, "I wonder what Yushi Zhang has to say about the content written on the bamboo slips?"
Zhang Cang pondered for a moment and said in a concentrated voice: "The content on the bamboo slips is a good idea, but the execution is a bit too cumbersome and the requirements for the court are a bit high. Overall, it is a practical idea."
"What are the similarities and differences with the 'salt and iron monopoly' in Guan Zhong's reform?" Fusu asked.
"Guan Zhong's 'salt and iron franchise'?" Zhang Cang glanced at Fusu in surprise. He seemed not to have expected that Fusu would know about Guan Zhong's reforms, but he still said seriously: "To be honest, there is no difference between the two. Big, even different approaches but similar results.”
"Please elaborate." Fusu bowed deeply.
Zhang Cang thought deeply and carefully said: "Guan Zhong's 'exclusive business' is that the government collects it from the people and then sells it to the outside world."
"The bamboo slips are basically the same."
"It was just sold by the government and turned into sold by merchants."
"But you must not forget, young master, that the pricing power of salt and iron rests with the imperial court."
"Merchant is just a sales tool of the government."
"At first glance, there are indeed differences between the two, but with a little more scrutiny, it is easy to see the clues."
"Compared with Guan Zhong's 'specialty', the 'specialty' on this bamboo slip obviously has an extra layer of disguise, replacing the government's monopoly with merchants who sell for the government."
"Both actually look the same."
Hear the words.
Fusu was immediately stunned.
But I figured it out instantly.
He knew why he didn't see the problem.
He never thought from the beginning to the end that there would be problems with the imperial court's control of pricing power. He thought arrogantly that the imperial court would definitely choose to lower the price for the sake of stability. As everyone knows, salt and iron are the world's largest source of wealth, and pricing It was also controlled by the imperial court. It would be too easy for the imperial court to use this to collect more business taxes.
When the court is short of money, it can easily collect a large amount of additional business taxes by secretly raising prices.
How is this different from Guan Zhong’s franchise?
No!
The only difference is that it changed from official sales to commercial sales.
But in fact, the tax is still included in the price!
The so-called bottom line is actually just a fig leaf.
Used to cover up government greed.
Moreover, all the fame and fortune will belong to the court, and the only ones who will be scolded will be the merchants in front of the stage.
"This" Fusu was so shocked that he couldn't speak.
He didn't expect any of this.
But after Zhang Cang's reminder, he had thought it through thoroughly.
Seeing Fusu's horrified look, Zhang Cang knew that Fusu had understood.
He hesitated for a moment and said slowly: "As written on the bamboo slip, this idea has one purpose."
"Grab the money!"
"Compared to the past, it was just and aboveboard to steal money from the people."
"It turned a corner and intentionally pushed the merchants to the front."
"First steal the merchant's money."
"If the imperial court's appetite grows bigger and bigger, I'm afraid it will eventually grab it."
"Then it becomes another act of robbing people of their money."
Zhang Cang sighed softly.
He didn't find anything surprising.
Since ancient times, the only factor that affects taxation has never been whether the bottom class has money, but whether the court needs money.
As long as the court needs it, the bottom class has to pay.
Compared with the excessive levies and extortion in the past, the methods recorded on the bamboo slips were obviously much gentler and more respectable. They did not go directly to the bottom, but first to the merchants.
This is already a great mercy.
Fusu was silent for a long time, unable to say anything.
He has already figured out why Ji Heng repeatedly emphasized that this is for profit, and the rest are incidental. Even if the effect is mediocre, it is not important at all, because Ji Heng's goal is very important from beginning to end. firm.
Grab money!
This is how he makes money.
His purpose has always been to make money.
It's just that the world has been poor for a long time, so he chose to attack the merchants first.
Fusu took a deep breath to calm himself down as much as possible. He said in a deep voice, "Is there room for improvement in this method?"
Zhang Cang thought for a while, shook his head and said: "This method is actually very comprehensive. Even if there is improvement, it will not be too obvious. The most effective and direct way is to vigorously crack down on the sale of illegal salt and ironware. , after all, these existences are actually competing for profits from the government."
"but."
Zhang Cang paused for a moment, with a hint of hesitation in his eyes, and said uncertainly: "There is something strange about this."
"The workers who produce salt and iron are clearly listed as employed."
"But Mr. Gai listed it as official property."
"Da Qin has never been able to hire people. It has always conscripted labor."
"The method on the Master's bamboo slip seems to be only a defective product."
"If I guess correctly, this method is only for transitional purposes, in order to be promoted nationwide as soon as possible."
"So I made some special adjustments."
"But this person seemed to want to make some changes and deliberately added some of the original designs."
"If nothing else happens, there will be changes in the future."
"But that's not necessarily the case. These 'problems' may have been done intentionally by this person in order to show his 'mercy'." As he spoke, Zhang Cang glanced at Fusu meaningfully.
See this.
Fusu smiled bitterly.
He couldn't understand the meaning behind Zhang Cang's words.
Zhang Cang believed that these were some 'mistakes' made deliberately by someone to please him.
But he has a clear mind.
It is impossible for Ji Heng to please himself.
Ji Heng never worried about himself from the beginning.
Always call yourself by your first name.
The 'slip of the tongue' that Ji Heng made was, as Zhang Cang said, just to lay the groundwork for the future.
Think of this.
Fusu couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
But at the same time, I am even more curious, what is Ji Heng’s true thoughts?
What exactly does he want?
It's just that compared to the past, Fusu is more able to maintain his composure.
He knew that Ji Heng's vision was lofty and his thoughts were beyond his reach.
What I can do is to follow Ji Heng's pace closely, and gradually get a glimpse of the 'big thing' that Ji Heng plans from little things.
The way to do things is to plan before taking action!
Haste makes waste.
This is what Ji Heng specially emphasized.
Fusu smiled and said: "This must be impossible."
"I may know something about this. This method is to buy time."
"Buying time?" Zhang Cang was stunned. He took a deep look at Fusu, feeling a little confused. Then he thought about it carefully in his mind, and seemed to realize something. There was a hint of surprise in his eyes, and he said solemnly: "Dare I ask? Sir, can I know who made this plan?"
He knew something about Fusu, so he knew from the beginning that the contents of the bamboo slips were not from Fusu.
Fusu didn't have that kind of experience, and he couldn't think so carefully and thoughtfully.
Just who did this.
He was a little curious.
He knew all the ministers in the court, but no one acted like this.
Moreover, this person has a very unique vision. He has set his sights on money as soon as he comes, and he is afraid that his intentions are very big.
It might even be possible to reverse the decline of Great Qin.
However, just when Zhang Cang asked, a name suddenly appeared in his mind, and a trace of panic suddenly appeared on his fair face.
There was a strong feeling of something bad inside.
He vaguely guessed who it was.
subconsciously.
Zhang Cang wanted to stop him.
But before he could say "Master, please wait", Fusu said it calmly.
"Ji Heng!!!"
There was silence.
Zhang Cang's eyes showed a trace of sadness and anger, and he hurriedly ran out of the palace without caring about etiquette.
I don't want to stay any longer.
He wanted to slap himself twice now.
What are you talking about?
What's good to know?
Now it's better to get yourself back in.
Who is Ji Heng?
That was the person who was tricked and killed in public.
It's a dead person!
A remnant from the Six Kingdoms managed to escape death in full view of the public, and even became an aide to the eldest son.
Is he able to find out such inside information?
And today everyone in the world knows that Ji Heng is dead.
Ji Heng cannot 'live'.
Let alone let the outside world know that Ji Heng is still alive.
This involves royal dignity.
Zhang Cang is just a censor, how dare he get involved in these things?
But before Zhang Cang could walk out, he was stopped directly by Fusu.
Zhang Cang looked sad.
His plump cheeks were full of anger and resentment.
He knew that if Fusu came to him, he would be up to no good. He had been tricked several times.
Zhang Cang said sadly and angrily: "Eldest Young Master, can't you find someone else to cause trouble?"
"I, Zhang Cang, have also made suggestions and sweated for Great Qin."
"During this period, I worked very hard to check the account books, and finally the scheme was over. Young Master, you are still here to harm me. How can I withstand such threats because I'm so fat? If I don't catch my breath, I'm afraid I'll die immediately. ”
"Sir, please let me go."
"I, Zhang Cang, want to live a few more years."
Zhang Cang stared at Fusu with aggrieved and resentful eyes.
See this.
Fusu couldn't help laughing: "As the saying goes, you have a broad heart and a fat body. Although you are as fat and white as a gourd, you may not be able to hide things in your belly. Why are you so nervous?"
"Besides."
"Mr. Ji's life is not a big deal."
"He is actually dead."
"Don't worry too much."
Zhang Cangtong's face was red, but he was extremely aggrieved, and muttered: "Young Master's words are wrong."
"There is no resurrection from the dead."
"Death is death, life is life."
"How can we say it differently?"
"I am just a humble official, how can I deserve to know such a secret?"
"If you are truly considerate, Master, please be sure not to leak such secrets again."
"I am really scared."
Fusu disagreed and said with a smile: "Now you know it."
Zhang Cang was speechless for a moment.
He blushed and said in annoyance: "It's all because of his bad mouth. He ate some honey and dared to ask anything."
Fusu laughed again.
Zhang Cang was left alone, feeling depressed and melancholy.
After laughing a few times, Fusu's smile faded and he said seriously: "In addition to asking for your opinion, I want you to take action to confirm relevant matters, your financial management ability, and your economic skills. , No one in the world can match him, and salt and iron are related to people’s livelihood, so we have to be cautious.”
"Please give Yushi Zhang a little extra care."
Fu Su Li stood up from the case and bowed deeply.
Zhang Cang thought deeply for a moment, nodded, and said, "I will live up to your trust."
"The origin of salt and iron in the world is uneven. Most of the salt and iron in Guandong come from the Qi State, and there is relatively little salt in the Chu region. And transporting salt and iron requires a lot of financial resources, so the pricing should be different in different places. The best way is to rent land. 'Writing the law is based on rent', 'Zi millet is taxed'."
"But it's not realistic right now."
"The imperial court does not have that much manpower to go to various places to investigate the production and transportation of salt and iron."
"So it can only be relatively modest."
"However, as "Han Feizi·Wai Chu Shuo" said, the so-called moderation will eventually turn into an empty palace treasury, the common people below are hungry and cold, and the only ones who are rich are the traitors in the middle."
Fusu nodded slightly.
He had read Han Feizi dozens of times, so he knew the truth behind it.
Fusu said calmly: "I know the pros and cons."
"I just want to know now that if the imperial court sets a moderate price, compared with the past few years, whether the commercial tax will be improved in the next few years, especially the commercial tax in Guandong."
Zhang Cang nodded and said in a deep voice: "The commercial tax in Guandong should be increased a lot. There are tens of millions of people in Guandong, but the commercial tax collected has never been less than half of Guanzhong. The local officials are very corrupt. As soon as this move came out , the imperial court’s commercial taxes will definitely be significantly increased in the short term.”
"This move is meant to make money."
"No matter how greedy local officials are, they dare not be too presumptuous."
"But this growth cannot be sustained."
"It can be exchanged for a few years, which is enough." Fusu didn't pay too much attention to this, and then continued to ask: "I am not familiar with the situation of the officials in the DPRK. You have been in the DPRK for many years, and you have some understanding of the talents of the officials. , who do you think is the most appropriate person to entrust to negotiate with merchants?"
Zhang Cang frowned slightly.
He touched his chin and thought for a moment, but stopped talking.
Fusu saw Zhang Cang's hesitation and said: "But it doesn't matter. If it is really suitable, I will personally lobby for it."
Zhang Cang looked solemn and carefully said: "I think it is Ji Heng."
One word fell.
The surroundings suddenly became quiet.
(End of chapter)
