Officials and businessmen!
This is Zhu Yuanzhang's definition of Gu Zhengchen's behavior.
In a sense, the Jurong County Yamen Courtyard is indeed a business led by the government, and it is not wrong to call the government businessmen.
Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang's careless question, Mu Ying's heart suddenly tightened.
As Zhu Yuanzhang's godson, Mu Ying has been by Zhu Yuanzhang's side all year round and knows his nature. The more careless he speaks and the gentler his smile, the more unusual it is. A careless answer may bring disaster to Gu Zhengchen .
Mu Ying calmed down and said solemnly: "The Ministry of Industry has praised Jurong's affairs. I think Mr. Gu should be outstanding in governing Jurong. As for whether the road of government and businessmen to enrich the people is feasible, we should look at Jurong's history Business account books, see whether the business benefits the people or the officials, and see whether the people are happy or sad. Whether it is feasible or not depends on the results, but the flowers have just bloomed at this time..."
Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep look at Mu Ying and smiled calmly: "Are you worried that we will make premature conclusions and pick his fruit? Haha, we just don't like businessmen. If an official goes to do business, this is him. Change I personally have already hung the flagpole on my head."
The dynasty is immortal and the country lasts forever!
Zhu Yuanzhang clenched his fists. It was these few words that convinced him and gave Gu Zhengchen the indulgence he had never had before!
Although what Gu Zhengchen is doing now is not what he likes or what he expects, when it comes to governing a country and a place, one should not make decisions based on personal likes and dislikes. Everything should be based on the people's livelihood and sentiments.
Businessmen seek profit and harm the people.
When officials and businessmen seek profit, don’t they harm the people?
Zhu Yuanzhang was very curious as to whether Gu Zhengchen's path would work.
Mu Ying secretly sweated for Gu Zhengchen. He was really walking on the ice. If he was not careful, he might fall into the deep lake. However, looking at His Majesty's expression and listening to his words, he seemed to be a little contradictory. On the one hand, he didn't like it. Gu Zhengchen pursued his career as an official and businessman to enrich the people, but he also hoped that this road would work.
Queue slowly and end up in front of the counter.
Zhu Yuanzhang walked to Gu Qingqing's counter and asked: "This sugar business is good, how much does it cost per pound?"
"Sixty-six articles, a child and an old man are not deceived."
Gu Qingqing had begun to learn how to read people. When he saw Mu Ying winking at this person, he knew that this was a big shot, maybe the biggest one.
However, the concept of respect and inferiority does not have much impact on Gu Qingqing.
During the years of escape in the late Yuan Dynasty, rituals collapsed. In the early Ming Dynasty, the court had not fully restored the ritual system. It made rituals every year. Although it had begun to affect the people, it did not have much impact on Gu Qingqing, a "country girl" , only regard Mu Ying, Zhu Biao, etc. as brothers, and regard Hu Dashan and Zhu Yuanzhang as uncles.
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly: "How many kilograms can be sold this day?"
Gu Qingqing said without hesitation: "Business has been quite good these days. We can sell more than two thousand catties a day. However, starting from tomorrow, we can only sell one thousand catties a day."
"Why?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was puzzled.
Gu Qingqing explained: "Making sugar requires time and materials. Although it took two months to prepare, after all, the days are still short and the goods reserves are not sufficient. The credit for being able to survive until now is still due to Uncle Hu."
Business was booming, but sales had to be limited, which made Gu Qingqing very depressed.
But there was no way, this was the ultimate that Hu Dashan could do. All the sugar merchants inside and outside Jinling were searched before they could supply such a large amount of white sugar.
Nowadays, the supply of many goods is slow and sales have to be restricted.
In order to fundamentally solve this problem, Hu Dashan also sent people to places such as Fujian and Guangdong to prepare to directly negotiate with local people about sugarcane planting and purchase.
But this will take time, and it will have to be solved next year at the earliest. Now I can only go to Suzhou and Hangzhou and other places to buy some brown sugar for a while.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the people buying white sugar. Most of them bought one or two kilograms, and some asked for hundreds of kilograms. They were directly rejected. Each person could buy up to two kilograms at a time, and they often bought dozens or hundreds of kilograms. This It's a second-hand dealer.
"One pound is sixty-six coins, and one thousand pounds is sixty-six coins, right?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was a little amazed. The profit from this transaction was amazing.
Gu Qingqing smiled and said: "That's right, except for the many costs and business taxes, the daily income is only twenty dollars."
"Just pay business taxes, don't be greedy."
Zhu Yuanzhang said that he was going to beat a pound of sugar.
Gu Qingqing weighed the sugar, wrapped it and handed it to Zhu Yuanzhang: "My brother wrote a letter, saying that the business tax must not be less than a penny, but also must be worthy of one's conscience. The imperial court imposes a tax of thirty to one, which is too light. When paying taxes at the shop, they pay a tax of fifteen to one. Because of this, people in the Ministry of Household Affairs called the Gu family fools and spendthrifts..."
"Tax one for fifteen?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment.
People who do business are afraid of heavy taxes. In order to restore production and popularity, the imperial court did not impose strong restraints on businessmen, using a tax of thirty to one.
But according to Gu Qingqing's words, in Gu Zhengchen's eyes, the standard of thirty tax per person seems to be very low, so low that it offends one's conscience, so he took the initiative to increase the business tax, or ruthlessly increased the tax to fifteen per cent!
"what is going on?"
Zhu Yuanzhang asked in a deep voice.
Gu Qingqing pointed at the white sugar: "Each catty of white sugar costs sixty-six cents, and the tax is one thirty cents. The tax is only two cents. Even if the daily revenue is sixty-six cents, the tax is only two cents. Most of them The profit was left to the merchants, and the imperial court could only take away a small amount of commercial tax. If this shop sells not sugar, but the Four Treasures of the Study, with a price of two taels per set and a tax of thirty per cent, it will only cost sixty-six cents. Taxes aside, aside from costs and expenses, the benefits are still huge.”
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned: "Isn't it a good thing for businessmen to make big profits? Isn't every businessman pursuing profit?"
Gu Qingqing felt aggrieved. He was also profit-seeking, but his brother was trying to dissuade him from business. He really felt that if he didn't make good money, he had to dig out a piece of meat to give to the court. How painful it would be.
But my brother explained in the letter that he should do it.
Gu Qingqing lowered his head and fiddled with the sugar: "Brother said that the benefits were taken away by the merchants, so what did the court take? The merchants should pay more taxes. When these taxes are in the hands of the court, the emperor will use them to arm the army and provide Hundreds of officials receive salaries, repair water conservancy projects, dredge rivers, and expand schools. Only when the court has more money can it do more things..."
"Gu Zhengchen really said that?"
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Gu Qingqing with sharp eyes.
Gu Qingqing raised his head slightly, looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and did not dodge, but nodded slightly: "Brother also said that taxes are the invisible hand of the court, which can increase the national treasury and solve many problems."
"Invisible hand?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's expression became solemn.
Thirty tax is one, fifteen tax is one!
The benefits were all taken away by the merchants, so what did the court take away?
Businessmen should pay more taxes!
Invisible hand!
I found that what I saw and heard today was very unusual. Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to understand something, but he also seemed not to understand it. Like the moon in the water or the flowers in the mist, it is always difficult to see the true meaning.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Mu Ying and solemnly ordered: "Order Gu Zhengchen to come to Jinling as soon as possible and allow him to seal it in advance!"
