After all, Zheng Shuqing still did not have the courage to directly resist the imperial decree. He honestly handed over the drawings of the ships. Although Kuizhou continued to receive orders for shipbuilding, because the imperial court sent officials from the Capital Water Supervision Bureau directly to Kuizhou to supervise the ship production, those that should have been handed over to Kuizhou Prefecture The profits of the Yamen were directly taken over by the people from the Capital Water Supervision Bureau.
You can't resist. Li Linfu is in charge of the Du Shui Prison, and this road has been completely blocked. Such as selling next year's ship quota, playing "ship futures" and other frivolous operations, all cannot be used, otherwise it is another matter whether it will work or not. It is not fun to slap Li Linfu in the face.
Kuizhou has a prosperous shipbuilding industry, but now he can't even make a penny. Zheng Shuqing is heartbroken. Watching so many yellow and orange copper coins and even gold and silver and other property pass under your eyes every day, it feels so depressing.
Not only that, he also had to ask Yang Ruoxu to escort 250,000 guan of property to Yangzhou for transshipment, leaving only 50,000 guan to see if Fang Chongyong could think of any way to "turn over".
Looking at the empty treasury, and thinking of how hard he had worked hard to make money in the past six months, Zheng Shuqing felt that all his strength had been drained.
The prodigal son, the ten maidens at night, and so on are not tired enough to be like this.
On this day, Zheng Shuqing was wearing the double-breasted linen short shirt commonly worn by Kuizhou people, loose trousers that exposed his ankles, and a bamboo hat on his head. He left aside his officials and entourage, and was dressed like a fisherman on the riverside. He came alone to the river beach outside the city and looked at the Kuizhou Jiangguan, which had basically returned to normal traffic, with mixed feelings in his heart.
In the past half a month, Zheng Shuqing felt like it was raining copper coins from the sky with every delivery of a canal boat. Now, looking at these canal boats piled up in mountains of money, they are happily going to and from the Kuizhou Jiangguan, and the customs clearance speed is faster than In the past, it had sped up a lot, and I didn't know whether to cry or laugh for a while.
The main road to making money has been blocked. Now there is still 100,000 guan that has not been sent to Chang'an. How can we make money with the 50,000 guan in hand?
Turning the 50,000 guan in his hand into 100,000 guan before the Lantern Festival next year, Zheng Shuqing, who had never run a business before, was in trouble. Once the business scale becomes large, quantitative changes will lead to qualitative changes, and the business will no longer be a simple business.
The network of relationships, connections, and protective umbrellas needed to maintain a business are like a bottomless nest. You have no idea what kind of monster is hiding in this lair. It’s not easy to double these 50,000 strings to 100,000 in a short period of time!
"Zheng Shijun seems to be very leisurely, without the worries of copper odor, and has become more relaxed and fatter. I also slept soundly last night. I haven't slept so soundly for a long time."
Fang Chongyong's childish voice came from behind, making Zheng Shuqing raise his eyebrows angrily.
Don't you see that I am upset?
"Whatever you say, it's over this time... completely over."
At this moment, Zheng Shuqing was like a dried salted fish from a fisherman's house, completely giving up on treatment. He sat casually on the sand by the river, feeling in advance the brightness and openness of returning home to work after being dismissed from office.
After catching so much, it was probably safe to save his life. Thinking of this, Zheng Shuqing smiled bitterly.
This "sage" in the Daming Palace in Chang'an City is really not just greedy.
"Your Majesty, a profiteering industry cannot be sustained unless the government intervenes to monopolize sales through taxation.
You see, now the customization of tank boats has become a kind of tax in disguise. Even though new tank boats have been built in various places, the customs clearance certificates are still held in the hands of the government. The price of tank boats has not been reduced at all. The extra money They were all raided by various government offices and sent to Chang'an.
I heard that businessmen from all over the country now jokingly call it: water tax. Thousands of years later, Shi Junke became famous. As the first governor to collect taxes, his reputation will last forever. "
Fang Chongyong couldn't help but tease Zheng Shuqing when he saw Zheng Shuqing giving up on treatment.
"Just stop saying a few words. Who came up with this mandatory unified standard for ships? Others don't know. Don't you know?"
Zheng Shuqing was too lazy to chat with Fang Chongyong, the "culprit".
"Zheng Shijun, don't be resentful."
Fang Chongyong sat next to Zheng Shuqing and also looked at the river. The two of them were like two salted fish basking in the sun together on the riverside.
Open your eyes and you’ll be in the sun, close your eyes and you’ll still be in the sun!
"Mr. Zheng, would you like to hear a story about a saint?"
Fang Chongyong asked suddenly and abruptly.
Zheng Shuqing was almost like a dead dog at the moment, he snorted and said nothing.
"Saint, when we first established the Jiedu Envoys, we prevented them from rebelling. There were various systems to restrict them. In addition, many times, the food and military pay required for the war were not entirely provided by the local people. In the beginning, , this is not a big problem, because Jiedushi still has many soldiers under his command, and they are rotated frequently."
What Fang Chongyong said was not unreasonable, but Zheng Shuqing couldn't understand what the other party wanted to say. He is just a local official who is proficient in civil affairs. To talk about Jiedushi is to praise him.
"So, so what?"
Zheng Shuqing couldn't help but ask.
"The sage believes that if we are stationed on the border and supply the army of the feudal town alone, it should actually be enough military rations. In fact, the military rations are rarely provided by the central government now.
But the military salary was still tightly held in the hands of the imperial court and refused to let go. A considerable part of the wealth and silk produced in the border towns still needed to be transported back to Chang'an, and the financial power was not completely controlled by the Jiedushi.
For example, in this confrontation between the Jiannan Army and Nanzhao, the imperial court stood still according to Wang Yu's plan, so his troops could not move around because without rewards, they could not form an army.
On the surface, the imperial court did not allow local government agencies to contribute money, so the Zhangchou Jianqiong incident occurred. And I went to check. In fact, the money and silk were delivered in the name of Xiuleshan Buddha. You did it very secretly. "
After Fang Zhongyong finished speaking slowly, Zheng Shuqing stood up like a spring, as if he was suddenly awakened!
"Are you saying that the sage did not want to let go of his financial power and had to use troops in an emergency, so he seconded Kuizhou's customs duties and silk?"
Zheng Shuqing suddenly understood this line of thought that he had never thought of! The more I think about it, the more chills I feel all over my body!
"That's exactly what happened. Moreover, through the uninformed Wang Yu, Nanzhao was paralyzed. Zhangchou Jianqiong's actions were sudden. Zheng Shijun was really useful to the country."
Fang Chongyong said with a hint of regret.
It’s a routine to ride the horse all the way, right from the beginning! Li Longji can only say that he is extremely shameless!
"So, the money and silk sent by Zhangchou Jianqiong were also robbed by people from the imperial court and finally delivered to Chang'an..."
Zheng Shuqing was awakened and immediately clarified his thoughts. If the mastermind behind the scenes is Li Longji, then everything will fall into place.
"It's just... why does the saint need me to raise another tariff?"
Zheng Shuqing couldn't figure it out for a hundred times, and he couldn't get rid of the bad breath in his chest. Since Li Longji knows everything, it is too much to still play like this.
What a filial piety you have given Li Longji 300,000 yuan. No one will be calm as long as he is an individual!
"Because Lord Shijun has always committed the crime of deceiving you, of course the saint will punish you. I bet that if Lord Shijun attempts to hang himself and is saved, and the news spreads, it will be possible Get through the difficulties calmly. However, your official career ends here."
Fang Chongyong said slowly.
Zheng Shuqing sat down on the sand, dumbfounded.
"Someone also speculated that the imperial court actually lacks a talented branch official who can help Prime Minister Li implement the detailed new financial management policy.
The sage or Prime Minister Li probably felt that Shi Jun was qualified for the job, so he wanted to test his ability to make money... and manage money. Kuizhou is a commercial port, and the mediocre rents are in name only. There are a lot of commercial taxes, and the customs duties are even more frightening. In this way, interference can be eliminated, and it is easy to see how capable the envoy is.
Perhaps both the saint and Li Xiang wanted to see where the limit of Jijun's financial management was. If there were no fierce debts behind him, it would be difficult for him to use his full strength. Of course, this is just someone’s guess.
However, I am sure that if Shijun can make up the money requested by the saint, then after returning to Beijing to report on his duties, it will not be long before Shijun serves as a branch official of the imperial court and even becomes prime minister in the future. "
After hearing these words, Zheng Shuqing only had four words in his heart:
So scary!
"actually……"
Fang Chongyong wanted to say something else, but when he saw Zheng Shuqing looking at him in confusion, he swallowed everything he wanted to say. After all, it concerns his father Fang Youde. Now that the road back to Chang'an has not yet been paved, it is better not to cause trouble.
The imperial court's intention to pilot "monetary taxation" in Kuizhou this time is very obvious. I hope that my father, Fang Youde, can carefully inspect the local people's livelihood conditions and provide first-hand materials for the pilot. The imperial court has long been aware of the situation in Kuizhou. The long-term alternative tax payment method obviously has its merits and is worthy of careful study and promotion by the central government.
It's a pity that my stubborn father Fang Youde didn't think that much at all. He kept saying that the local bureaucrats were colluding and so on. He only thought that Zheng Shuqing and his like were deliberately destroying the court's laws. .
The imperial court should have now realized the shortcomings of renting mediocrity, and these are closely related to the disintegration of the military system. Monetary tax reforms can be carried out in certain key places (such as Yangzhou and other places), as well as adjusting the renting mediocrity in different regions. Tax ratio, optimization of material transportation routes, etc.
However, the water transport reforms in previous years had little effect. Transporting grain from Guandong to Chang'an was extremely expensive, which made Li Longji doubt the importance of water transport in supporting the prosperity of Chang'an.
Since the canal is not easy to use, I will think of other ways.
As a result, many reforms have not yet begun. They are only preliminary pilot projects and have already been aborted.
Thinking of this, Fang Chongyong couldn't help but sigh with emotion. Maybe Zheng Shuqing was a qualified Tang Dynasty bureaucrat, and maybe he could be an official in Beijing with ease. But telling the other party about the trends of these times is definitely going too far.
When the overall social atmosphere is that "I am invincible in the Tang Dynasty", saying these "inappropriate" words is obviously to become "non-mainstream" in society.
At this moment, Zheng Shuqing and Fang Chongyong saw Gu Kuang carrying a baggage and preparing to hit the road with simple luggage, as if he was looking for them.
"Zheng Shijun, Fang Xiaolangjun, and Gu are going to Chang'an to report on their duties."
Gu Kuang couldn't help but feel happy and a little melancholy at the same time.
"Brother Gu, I said you wanted to be promoted, and you can see that you have been promoted."
Fang Chongyong teased.
The expression on Gu Kuang's face changed, and finally it turned into a long sigh.
"It's really... humbling to get this official position."
Gu Kuang didn't think it was such an honor to mention this matter. He wrote a letter saying that Red Lotus Rice was burned, and he was actually promoted!
What kind of world is this!
I don't know whether it was the official document that pleased the powerful, or whether Fang Chongyong's song "Hoeing Day at Noon" attracted the appreciation of some high-ranking intellectuals. Anyway, Gu Kuang took advantage of this gust of wind, and now everyone in Chang'an is I know that there is an honest and humble official in Kuizhou who works hard in the red lotus rice fields.
"By the way, Brother Gu, if someone asks you in Chang'an whether the Red Lotus Rice was really burned, just answer, "It seems so, I don't really remember. Just vague words like this, don't be too honest."
Fang Chongyong reminded him in an ear-to-ear manner.
Gu Kuang nodded and said with some hesitation: "The imperial court sent people to Kuizhou again to take care of the hundreds of hectares of red lotus rice fields. I don't think I can even give them to you. I'm really sorry."
Fang Chongyong waved his hand indifferently, Gu Kuang still hadn't figured out the situation yet.
Once the official document was delivered, his mission was completed. As for the rice delivery later, naturally there are "own people" in this line to contact them to ensure that the lingering fragrance of red lotus rice can be tasted in every step, and the integrity of the rice is guaranteed from the source.
Otherwise, what Gu Kuang said in the official document was one thing, but when the time came to do it, it was another thing. Wouldn't that mean that people would be tricked to death?
"Then I'll say goodbye. See you in Chang'an."
Gu Kuang bowed deeply to Zheng Shuqing and Fang Chongyong, then turned around and left, very neatly.
"Have you thought of any way to manage money?"
Zheng Shuqing asked in a low voice.
Now his ambition surged in his heart. He wanted to return to Chang'an and become a branch official! Being a Beijing official means taking power!
Whether it can succeed or not depends on Fang Chongyong’s deal!
"If you want to defeat Duke Cao, you should attack with fire; everything is ready, all you need is the east wind."
Fang Chongyong looked at Gu Kuang's leaving figure and muttered to himself.
It's a pity that Zheng Shuqing, who has never watched "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", has no idea what this joke means.
"There is really nothing we can do now. But we will hibernate for a month, and after the autumn harvest, we will have a solution."
"Waiting for the autumn harvest? Why wait for the autumn harvest?"
Zheng Shuqing asked in confusion. Kuizhou does not produce much grain, and most of the grain consumed in the commercial port is imported from Shu, and some comes from Jingxiang.
"After the autumn harvest, food will be available in Shu and Jingxiang, and the price is very low. With the fifty thousand guan we have, we can buy a lot of food."
Fang Chongyong said with a mysterious look.
Zheng Shuqing waved his hand and said: "In the past few years of the Tang Dynasty, the price difference of grain has not been high at any time. You can't make much money by selling grain."
"It's not reselling, we're making wine."
Fang Chongyong looked into Zheng Shuqing's eyes and continued: "Wuxia Chun can be bought everywhere in Brewing City."
Spring was often used as a suffix for wine in ancient times. For example, Wuxia Spring and Jiannanchun are all examples.
"What's so good about Wuxia Spring? The only good wine in Kuizhou is Yun'an Qumi Chun."
Zheng Shuqing frowned slightly, not yet understanding Fang Chongyong's brain circuit.
"This is not how you drink wine; and this is not how you sell it. Your Majesty will know when the time comes."
Fang Chongyong stretched and said, "Who said salted fish can't turn over? Before the Lantern Festival next year, I want to prove that even dried salted fish can turn over!"
