In the imperial study room, Xia Yuanji's heart moved after hearing Yang Xuan's words.
Then he bowed his hands to Yang Xuan: "Please give me some advice, Lord Marquis!"
Yang Xuan organized the words in his mind, and then said: "The current sales method of your household department is basically through direct sales to ordinary people or businessmen."
“Not only can’t the efficiency be improved, but we can’t make much money either.”
"From the time Zheng He came back to now, more than half of it has been sold in such a long time."
"But think about it, hey! This is less profit...tens of thousands of taels, hundreds of thousands of taels or hundreds of thousands of taels?"
Yang Xuan pinched his fingers and took a deep breath.
Zhu Di next to him heard this and was so heartbroken that he almost couldn't breathe.
He pointed at Xia Yuanji with a trembling hand: "My money!"
The latter lowered his head and trembled, hoping that Yang Xuan would quickly tell him how to maximize his benefits.
"Why are you reminding me now?" Zhu Di looked at Yang Xuan again.
"I just remembered it!" Yang Xuan spread his hands, looking innocent.
Zhu Di almost spit out a mouthful of old blood.
"Stop talking nonsense and tell me what to do to avoid future losses." Zhu Di urged.
"Put away all the remaining goods, don't sell them yet." Yang Xuan looked at Xia Yuanji and continued:
"Then the remaining goods will be sold by big merchants from all over the Ming Dynasty through auctions."
"That means the highest bidder gets it."
"In this way, the imperial court can sell all the goods as quickly as possible and collect funds."
Hearing this, Xia Yuanji seemed to have opened up the Ren and Du channels, and a flash of surprise flashed in his eyes.
Damn it, why didn’t I think of that?
In the original history, things like spices were piling up in the treasury.
The imperial court actually used spices to replace salaries and distribute them to officials.
As trade routes opened up, the price of spices also dropped.
The officials' salaries, which were not high to begin with, shrank again after they received them.
If all the goods could be exchanged for gold and silver, then the court would not be out of money for salaries!
"The Marquis's words are like a dazzling dream, and I will be taught by my subordinates." Xia Yuanji said.
"These methods are very simple and common. You just didn't react for a while."
Yang Xuan smiled.
Then he added: "This method is also useful for those maritime traders."
"When they ship goods back from overseas, they either find a seller in advance, or they wait for the goods to come back and then slowly find a buyer."
"Although I'm not worried about not being able to sell it, it will undoubtedly delay time."
"If the imperial court reopens the shipping department, it will build a cargo distribution center at the port to provide shipping merchants with a warehouse to store goods."
"Organize an auction to help them sell the goods in the shortest possible time."
"In this way, the imperial court can charge the rental fee of the warehouse and add a new income to the national treasury."
"Secondly, the transactions of maritime goods are under the supervision of the court, which can effectively avoid tax evasion."
Yang Xuan said slowly while thinking.
"Okay, Mr. Hou is a great talent!" Xia Yuanji couldn't help but cheer.
His face turned red with excitement.
Zhu Di next to him was also very moved when he heard this, and was thinking about whether to transfer the money to internal funds again.
But after thinking about it, I gave up. Either I couldn't touch the treasury's money, or I had to wade through it.
"Xia Yuanji." Zhu Di said.
"I'm here." Xia Yuanji quickly listened respectfully.
"Password, don't sell the remaining goods."
"Just follow the method of Marquis Changping, auction it, and the one with the highest price will get it."
Zhu Di said.
"According to the order!"
Xia Yuanji said.
"There is also the matter of reopening the shipping department. Do you know what to do?" Zhu Di asked again.
"I understand!" Xia Yuanji said.
After the reopening of the Shipping Department, all tariffs belong to the treasury, in other words, to the Ministry of Revenue.
How could he object.
Although many officials will object after raising this matter, Xia Yuanji is not afraid.
However, I still have to talk to the prince about this matter.
If the Crown Prince and His Majesty both support it, it will be useless even if others oppose it.
Xia Yuanji left in a hurry, first conveying Zhu Di's will, and then went to see the prince Zhu Gaochi.
Yang Xuan chatted with Zhu Di for a while in the imperial study room, and then returned to his home.
The seeds he had planted earlier had sprouted, and he had to go back and check the situation.
…
The next day.
Court meeting.
After handling daily state affairs, Zhu Di asked the Ministry of Rites about the progress of preparations for receiving foreign envoys.
Then he asked: "Do you have anything important to say?"
While speaking, his eyes stopped on Xia Yuanji.
"Your Majesty, I have my own report!"
Xia Yuanji came out of class.
"Sure!" Zhu Di said calmly.
"Your Majesty, now our Ming Dynasty is peaceful and the country is prosperous."
"But whether it's dredging canals or repairing books, it costs a lot of money."
"I know that these are all strategies that will last forever, but it is a fact that the national treasury is empty."
"Therefore, I sincerely request your Majesty to reopen the Shipping Department and replenish the national treasury!"
Xia Yuanji said respectfully.
Zhu Di spent money lavishly, and rebuilding the city of Beiping was a waste of money and people, but could he say these things?
So, just pick something nice to say.
"Your Majesty, the maritime ban was decided by Emperor Taizu Gao. Reopening the Shipping Department goes against the ancestral system."
"Xia Yuanji said this with bad intentions. I sincerely request your Majesty to kill this beast!"
A censor said immediately.
"Your Majesty, the benefits of maritime trade are huge and the court must not give up."
"I support what Lord Shangshu said and reopened the Shipping Department." The left minister of the Ministry of Revenue came out and said.
"I second the proposal!" the right minister of the household department also came out.
"I second the proposal!" Those who spoke were officials from the Ministry of Revenue.
After all, Xia Yuanji is also the head of the household department, so they have to cheer for their boss!
What's more, after the shipping department is reopened, all tariffs will belong to the treasury.
Why do they object?
They really don't want to spend a penny in half.
"Are you going to violate the sea ban policy of Emperor Taizu Gao?"
Another censor stood up.
Later, people from other departments also came forward.
They are all opposed to the reopening of shipping companies.
Zhu Di, who was sitting on the dragon throne, had no expression on his face. He just looked at the officials below quietly.
These people are probably related to the smuggling merchants... Zhu Di muttered in his heart.
As the revenue of the treasury increases, the funding for other departments will also increase in the future. Why should they oppose it?
Just because it goes against the ancestral system?
Seeds of doubt were planted in Zhu Di's heart.
"Your Majesty, last year we were already losing money due to the suppression of the chaos in Jiaozhi. This year there have been natural disasters in Shanxi, Henan and other places in the north."
"In order to provide disaster relief, the imperial court has already transferred the tax and grain harvested in the summer."
“Today’s national treasury really has no money!”
"If the shipping market does not open, I don't know when the losses to the national treasury will be made up."
"I am afraid that water conservancy projects such as canal dredging will be suspended in the coming year."
“Even book revisions have to be suspended.”
"Your Majesty, please give me a clear warning!"
…
