Chapter 74 Shen Guogong joins the game
Duke Shen thought for a moment and said, "Sir, are these many merchants on the sea also subject to tax?"
The country's interests are not necessarily his own interests. Although Shen Guogong felt that this matter was very good for the Ming court. But he still has to consider his own interests. He Xi estimated that he could collect several million more taels from the tax imposed on many businesses at sea.
But is it possible?
impossible.
Judging from the cost of taxation just now, the reason why the cost of taxation in Beijing is so low now is because the bank bill system has already figured out many business behaviors. Therefore, it is very easy to check taxes.
However, when these Nanyang companies were growing, they did not have any banknotes.
Even now, banknotes and the like may not be the main currency used by these merchants, not to mention that all of these maritime merchants are powerful. The power of the Ming Dynasty also relied on these maritime merchants for execution.
From the customs tax, a layer has been taken. Then think of ways to collect taxes from this. Not to mention that there are still many things to do to collect taxes. Simply speaking, the political influence is not worth the gain.
This is what He Xi has always done, adding as much as possible. And it’s not about dividing the cake.
Just like now, when He Xi was establishing new rules in Beijing, he asked Shen Guogong to levy it. Shen Guogong didn't think it was wrong, and even agreed with it. Why? Because Shen Guogong doesn't know how much money he can make using this method. Therefore, he can now think and make decisions within a neutral range. But the situation at sea is different. Everyone has already made money, and it will naturally be very annoying if the court wants to take a piece of the pie.
And after the rules are set and implemented, even if they find that a sum of money needs to be divided in the future, they will not feel anything wrong?
People are more sensitive to losses than gains.
Moreover, He Xi also had his own ideas about maritime management. Anyway, although the Ming Dynasty's finances were still relatively tight, it was no matter who to compare with. If Chongzhen could have such a financial situation, he would be so happy.
Financially there is not that much urgency.
Yes, you can put it away.
He Xi said: "What do I care about the affairs at sea?"
After hearing this, Duke Shen smiled slightly and said, "I understand. If you are not in your position, you are not in charge."
He Xi said: "Mr. Shen Guogong, is this game interesting?"
Duke Shen pondered for a moment, raised the wine glass in his hand, and said: "It's true, but the court stipulates that officials are not allowed to do business locally? This -"
He Xi laughed loudly after hearing this and said, "If Duke Shen doesn't want to, then forget it. Why are you trying to prevaricate me like this?"
Shen Guogong is right. The Ming Dynasty court had this rule. Ming officials were not allowed to buy property on official land and other regulations. But this is for ordinary people. In fact, if most officials really want to do it, there are ways to avoid it. Not to mention, with an identity like Shen Guogong, as long as he does not make political mistakes, some minor problems are nothing at all.
Shen Guogong said: "Nothing else, I just think there is a person who is more interesting. A thousand pieces of gold are easy to get, but a general is hard to find. This is true on the battlefield, and it is also true in business. Many people around me are envious of a good player like Yang Zhen." "
He Xi said: "Are you talking about Zhang Youzhi?"
Duke Shen said, "Not bad."
For Shen Guogong, he decided to intervene in this matter. The most convenient way was not to directly send people to re-establish the company. He was impatient about this matter. Moreover, Yishen Guogong did not have much energy to manage business.
After all, for the powerful, business is just a way to realize their power.
Whether the business is doing well or not is nothing more than how easy it is to realize power, and it is not the most important thing. What matters most is power itself. They were left to manage their own business, and there were even very few powerful people like He Xi who were deeply involved in their own business.
For Shen Guogong, the most important thing is to choose the right person.
It's a business worthy of being entrusted to the Duke of Shen.
Is there such a person in Shen Guogong's mansion? Duke Shen didn't even know that he didn't care about the talent pool of housekeepers in the mansion. He prefers to use ready-made ones. People who have proven their ability in the market, such as Zhang Youzhi.
In Shen Guogong's view, Zhang Youzhi's own wishes were not important. What matters is the person behind Zhang Youzhi. That is whether He Xi agrees or not.
In other words, in Shen Guogong's view, Zhang Youzhi actually did not have the ability to reject him.
He Xi listened to Shen Guogong's words and immediately understood what Shen Guogong was thinking. He felt a little uncomfortable.
The powerful never regard the people below as human beings.
Be a slave, be a slave.
It can be said that the first generation of nobles fought out from the blood and fire, this meaning is not strong. After all, their origin determines some of their inner things, which will not change. But second-generation nobles like Shen Guogong grew up in fine clothes and fine food. Moreover, the nobles of the Ming Dynasty were greatly influenced by the powerful nobles of the Yuan Dynasty.
This is also normal.
Most of the nobles of the Ming Dynasty came from mud-legged backgrounds. How to enjoy it, you can only look at others. Who are the others? Naturally, they are the dignitaries of the former Yuan Dynasty. The Mongols have a very strong slave mentality. These second-generation nobles were naturally affected.
He Xi felt uncomfortable, but did not think about correcting Shen Guogong.
After all, He Xi came to cooperate with Shen Guogong. He needs the influence of Shen Guogong. After all, if Shen Guogong ends, it will be much easier for other nobles to end. With the support of so many distinguished people, He Xi has confidence in the field of power.
After all, the Xungui Group was suppressed by Zhu Yuanzhang.
It seems that they have no say in major court affairs, but in fact, their right to say was forcibly suppressed by Zhu Yuanzhang. Once Zhu Yuanzhang is gone, they are the ones who really have the right to speak. This is why Zhu Yuanzhang killed Xungui in history.
He Xi even speculated that the reason why Zhu Yuanzhang did not attack the nobles now is that, first, Zhu Yuanzhang learned the lessons of history, because he killed the nobles too harshly, but had sequelae, so he should suppress them, but he did it lightly. Second, Zhu Yuanzhang felt that He Xi needed the support of these people.
From this perspective, He Xi pulled these people to death in order to save their lives.
It's just that they don't know it.
He Xi said: "Okay, in a few days, I will ask him to go to the Duke's mansion."
Duke Shen said, "Thank you so much, Brother He."
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After He Xi sent Duke Shen out of the mansion, he sighed in his heart: "This can be considered a good start."
Yang Zhen said: "Sir, Zhang Youzhi has been asking to see you for a while, but I have stopped him. Do you want to see him this time?"
He Xi is busy with official duties every day. To He Xi, Zhang Youzhi is just a chess piece casually dropped, a pig that He Xi puts in the spotlight. To He Xi, it is not important. Zhang Youzhi made money and attracted Xungui into the game. Zhang Youzhi is no longer of use to He Xi. What to do with him?
But now, He Xi agreed to meet Duke Shen and asked Zhang Youzhi to go to the Duke's mansion to meet him. In essence, Zhang Youzhi was asked to work as a dog and a white glove for Duke Shen's government.
Perhaps, many people in this era want a dog from a wealthy family but cannot get one. But He Xi is still a modern person at heart. There is actually a pride in his heart. If he were in Zhang Youzhi's position, he would never bow to any powerful person.
He Xi couldn't help Zhang Youzhi, but instead helped Shen Guogong suppress Zhang Youzhi, which made He Xi very unhappy in her heart.
But the emperor can't do what he wants, let alone Xi.
Humans are social animals, and the entire society is like a net for everyone. No matter where they are in the net, they will be restricted by the net, even the emperor who is entrenched in the center of the net is the same.
He Xi said: "Then let's meet."
It was also He Xi who felt that she was sorry for Zhang Youzhi, otherwise she would just leave this matter to Yang Zhen. He Xi also wanted to have a good chat with the businessmen of this era. To be honest, He Xi has never seen what businessmen of this era are like.
Although Yang Zhen was engaged in business, he was essentially a scholar, not a businessman. When it comes to thinking about issues, it is not the thinking of businessmen, but the thinking of scholars.
He Xi also wanted to see what this Ming businessman was like. Regardless of the layout, after all, in He Xi's view, elite capital is just the beginning, but not the future.
