Sunlight streamed in through the windows, lighting up the room.
Zhou Chen yawned and looked at his wife beside him, sleeping soundly.
Nothing disturbed her sweet dreams.
Zhou Chen got up and put on his clothes, walked quietly to the desk by the window, sat down, and opened an account book.
The account books are densely packed with numbers, recording the number of merchants entering and leaving Urumqi every day, including the type and quantity of goods they carry, the amount of taxes they pay, etc.
Restarting the Silk Road is not a matter of saying a word. It requires linkage between the East and the West to form trade interactions, the flow of goods, and the inflow and outflow of money.
The core of the Silk Road is not the roads, but the merchants.
Since the Ming Dynasty took control of Xijiang Province, how to achieve self-sufficiency in Xijiang and reproduce the prosperity of the Han and Tang Dynasties has become the most important mission of the Chief Envoy.
In the past two years, Ru Jin focused on agriculture and education, and created six major grain areas by gathering people, dividing land and buying properties, religious guidance, and naturalization of culture and education.
Judging from the growth situation, if there is no extreme weather, there will definitely be a bumper harvest this year. Agricultural problems are being solved, but commercial problems are still thorny.
Zhou Chen looked through the booklet and rubbed his eyebrows.
It has been two years since the Silk Road was re-opened. Although it attracted many merchants and Hui merchants and Shanxi merchants also participated, the number of Western merchants was still small, resulting in many goods converging in Xijiang Province and unable to flow out.
The Imperial College of Business has made it clear that business success lies in selling goods and making reasonable profits. Now, the goods are available and there are many merchants, but not many are sold and the profits are very limited.
Zhou Chen knew very well that the matter could not be delayed any longer. This problem must be solved within a year, otherwise those Huizhou merchants, Shanxi merchants and other merchants from all over the country who came to seek profits would leave here. After they left, it would be too difficult to restore their popularity. Difficult.
In order to attract businessmen, Zhou Chen, Lin Wenheng, Huang Bengu, Wu Qian, Lin Xian and others designed an attractive business tax strategy.
With the approval of the imperial court, merchants entering Xijiang Province can pay a tax of 100 taels per year and get a 10% tax refund; they can pay a tax of 500 taels per year and get a 20% tax refund.
The more you pay, the greater the tax refund, and you can enjoy a tax refund of up to 35%.
In order to take care of small businessmen, those whose annual revenue is less than 50 taels are taxed at 30 taels per year; those whose annual revenue is between 50 and 100 taels are taxed at 20 taels per year; Revenues between 100 taels and 500 taels are taxed according to the 18-tax rate. Revenues exceeding 500 taels are taxed at a floating tax rate.
In order to enhance its attractiveness to businessmen, the Chief Envoy of Western Xinjiang even asked the imperial court for special treatment. Not only did Xijiang become a commercial and tax depression of the Ming Dynasty, but it also allowed merchants to return to the capital with tax documents from the Taxation Department of Xijiang. Exchange for cheap salt in Peiping, Hangzhou, Yangzhou and other places.
A series of measures made businessmen take notice. Huizhou merchants, Shanxi merchants, Hangzhou merchants, and Beijing merchants sent shopkeepers and clerks to Western Xinjiang one after another, which brought popularity. Coupled with the establishment of guard stations, the families of soldiers and soldiers entered Western Xinjiang. The gathering of the surrounding population supported the initial commercial development.
However, the profits brought by the initial stage of business are extremely limited. The entry of a large number of goods and the sales of small quantities have brought about a contradiction between supply and demand. Shops are gritting their teeth and cutting prices, hoping to persevere.
Zhou Chen looked at the numbers on the account book. In the past month, Western caravans had only entered Urumqi City one hundred and thirty times. On average, there were less than five caravans per day.
Among the one hundred and thirty caravans, there are only twenty-six caravans with more than five camels, and the caravan with the most camels is only twelve. There is only one such caravan, and most of them are two or three. A small merchant of camels is not even a caravan.
"There are still too few businessmen from the West."
Zhou Chen was very sad.
Western Xinjiang is under the control of the Ming Dynasty, and the overall environment is safe. But after leaving Western Xinjiang and entering a country farther west, where you are unfamiliar with the place and have no backer, who can guarantee that business will be done?
If you encounter bandits, robbers, or corrupt officials, wouldn't you lose your goods and your life?
Shanxi merchants were familiar with Oara and Tatar and were willing to take risks in doing business because the two families had many contacts with each other.
They all understand their respective needs and can live in peace, forming a healthy trade. However, Ming merchants did not know how the Western countries treated their merchants, whether the roads were smooth, and what the business environment was like, and not many were willing to risk their lives.
The transfer and sale of goods are mainly carried out through Western caravans. If the number of these caravans is insufficient and the transportation capacity is limited, it will be difficult to transport large-scale goods out, and the prosperity of the Silk Road will not be realized.
Leaving the small courtyard, Zhou Chen walked towards the tax office.
When Lin Xian saw Zhou Chen coming, he quickly handed over a document: "This is the news from Hami. It may be a turning point."
Zhou Chen took it, took a look, raised his brows, and looked at Lin Xian with some surprise: "Shen Yiyuan came to Xijiang in person?"
Lin Xian nodded.
A smile appeared on Zhou Chen's face, and he said relaxedly: "The news has always said that Chang Baiye will come, but until now, Chang Baiye has not come in person. Instead, Shen Yiyuan is here. In this way, Hui Shang attaches great importance to the Silk Road."
Lin Xian and Zhou Chen walked into the room. After asking, they found out that Zhou Chen had not eaten breakfast, so he arranged for someone to bring him a bowl of noodles, and then said, "The imperial court's wool trade has worked. Oara and Tatar have raised a large number of sheep." Sheep, Chang Baiye needs to be based in Shanxi to manage this huge business. In my opinion, it is better for Shen Yiyuan to come to Xijiang than for Chang Baiye to come."
Zhou Chen agreed with Lin Xian's words.
Chang Baiye is the number one merchant in Shanxi, and Shen Yiyuan is the leader in Huizhou merchants. Although they both stand at a high level, they are obviously different.
Shen Yiyuan has a close relationship with the three kings, and he is also a figure who dares to go deep into Nanyang. He has a unique vision. He has made a lot of money in Hongjiang City, Huguang. The most important thing is that the Shen family and Huizhou merchants are in Ulu-Mu. There are more families in Qicheng, and there are more shopkeepers and clerks under them.
When the business encounters difficulties, he is naturally willing to work harder.
Zhou Chen and Lin Xian discussed. After the noodles arrived, Zhou Chen took a bite and said, "When Shen Yiyuan comes, we need to discuss something with him. After all, we are from Jiansheng background and have no experience in business. Some problems still cannot be solved."
Lin Xian nodded.
Learning knowledge and practicing operations are two different things.
Huang Bengu came in a hurry and saw Zhou Chen and Lin Xian were there. He said happily: "According to the news from the Chief Envoy, this year's full harvest is a foregone conclusion. Even if there is a reduction in production, it will be enough to meet next year's needs." . The chief envoy has sent people to inform Shaanxi, Sichuan, Shanxi and other places that the grain that has been shipped will continue to be transported to Western Xinjiang to be used as granaries, and the grain that has not yet been shipped will not be transported."
Zhou Chen looked at Huang Bengu happily: "Seriously?"
Huang Bengu nodded heavily: "Seriously!"
Zhou Chen and Lin Xian looked at each other and relaxed a lot.
The issue of food supply is always the first problem. There are a large number of sergeants stationed in Western Xinjiang, and the military villages bring their family members. These people all need to eat, and the pressure on food supply is no less than during the war.
After more than two years of joint efforts by Rujun, the sergeants and the people, the food problem was finally solved, and supplies within the pass were no longer needed. Western Xinjiang would not become a burden to the imperial court, but could in turn supplement the imperial court's needs.
On this day, Shen Yiyuan entered Urumqi City and was greeted by shopkeeper Sun and his waiters.
Shopkeeper Sun looked at the tired Shen Yiyuan and hurriedly came forward: "Master, we have prepared hot water, wine and food at home. Please come over here."
Shen Yiyuan looked at Shopkeeper Sun, who had lost a lot of weight, and said with a smile, "It seems that you have been worrying a lot in the past two years."
Shopkeeper Sun had a bitter look on his face: "Don't be sarcastic, boss. Other shopkeepers can earn tens of thousands of taels for the boss a year, but I, for two years, haven't received a hundred taels for the boss, and I even asked for it from the boss. More than three thousand taels."
Shen Yiyuan waved his hand: "We want to gain a foothold in Western Xinjiang, but how can we do it without capital? Don't worry about this. Silk Road business is not about two years, but the next twenty years. In the future, you When you have a lot of money, you can laugh as much as you want.”
Shopkeeper Sun was very pleased and grateful for Shen Yiyuan's trust.
When Shen Yiyuan entered the city, Shopkeeper Sun wanted to lead him home to settle down, but Shen Yiyuan shook his head and refused, asking, "Where is the Square of Heroes?"
Shopkeeper Sun was a little surprised.
Shen Yiyuan said seriously: "I heard that everyone who comes here should go to the Square of the Heroes to offer them incense sticks. I am also a businessman, so this rule cannot be broken."
Shopkeeper Sun saw that Shen Yiyuan was a little tired and said, "This rule is not a rule of the Chief Envoy, but an agreement made by the people. They believe that the people can avoid Timur's butcher's knife only because of the bloody battles of the soldiers, so it should be Let everyone pay tribute to the heroes. My boss has worked hard all the way, and there is nothing wrong with going another day."
Shen Yiyuan's face darkened and he said solemnly: "Those are our heroes. The people here know how to be grateful and remember them, so how can we neglect them? You must remember that the reason why merchants can do business and travel far is because There is peace in the world. Where did it come from? It was cut out by the heroes with their swords. It was shed with the first drop of blood. It was captured from the enemy's fighting. When I go to the Square of Heroes, I want to offer incense first."
When shopkeeper Sun saw this, he didn't dare to stop him and made arrangements quickly.
Tianshan Heroes Square is located in the southwest of Ulu-Mqi City. It is paved with uniform stones and a five-foot-tall concrete tower stands proudly. On the tower are written "The heroes of the Ming Dynasty will live forever". In the center of the square, there is a huge incense burner. The incense burner is burning with incense of different thicknesses, left behind by common people, businessmen, etc.
On the west side of the Monument of Heroes is the statue of Song Sheng. This great general was buried under the Tianshan Mountains after his death, and became the heroic spirit of the Ming Dynasty in the western frontier. On the east side is the statue of Zhu Di. As the commander-in-chief who conquered the Western Regions, he deserves the honor.
On the east and west sides of the square, there are temples. There are no Buddha statues here, nor are there any Sanqing. There are only sacred tablets, densely packed one after another.
Written on these sacred tablets are the names of soldiers who died in Western Xinjiang.
Shen Yiyuan lit three sticks of incense, looked at the monument of heroes and martyrs, took three breaths of grief, and then murmured: "Wechat businessman Shen Yiyuan, please give incense to all the heroes and martyrs."
