Han Du understood somewhat. According to Hader, Khrumos was more like a free trade city.
Zhu Biao pondered for a moment and asked: "Does a businessman like you need to pay taxes when selling goods in Khrumos?"
"Of course you have to pay tax." Hard nodded with great certainty, "And the tax is not low. For ordinary goods, if you want to enter Horumos, you must pay a 20% tax to the Lord of the City. And like
Various goods from the East are rare treasures in Khrumos, and the tax is even higher, which can reach 30% of the goods. Fortunately, the profit of such goods is also very high, so even if the tax is 30%, you can still make a lot of money.
.”
"Thirty percent?" Zhu Biao was shocked. If such a harsh tax had been imposed on the Ming Dynasty, the world would have been in chaos. The Ming Dynasty only levied a 10% tax on goods shipped to sea, and Han Du fought hard to fight for it.
Come. If we follow the original commercial tax, it would be only thirty percent tax. Compared with the 30% tax of Horumos, it is simply outrageously low.
Han Du couldn't help but frown. The 30% tax was indeed too high. You must know that running a ship on the sea was risky. Under the 30% tax, although Harder and others could still make money, the attraction was natural.
It's not that big. No wonder Harder said that if pirates were more rampant, this sea route would be cut off.
With pirates on one side and taxes as high as 30% on the other, merchants had no profit to make, so naturally they were unwilling to do business in the Old Port.
"Is there no objection to Persia charging you such a high tax?" Han Du asked tentatively.
Han Du didn't believe it, no one would object to such a high tax.
"Persia?" Hader was stunned for a moment, "What does this have to do with Persia?"
Handu couldn't help but be stunned by Hader's words, and asked casually: "Why doesn't it matter? Doesn't Horumos belong to Persia?"
Hader nodded and explained: "It is true that Khrumos belongs to Persia, but the tax collection is collected by the Lord of Khrumos himself and has nothing to do with Persia."
Han Du looked at Hade blankly, then suddenly realized and asked: "You mean, all the taxes collected by the Lord of Horumos belong to himself? Persia will not get any at all?"
"Of course," Hader said as if he should be like this, "The Lord of Khurumos is powerful, but he is not afraid of Persia. Even saying that Khurumos belongs to Persia is the Persians' own opinion. Even in Khurumos
No one living in Moss would think so, and the city of Khrumos is not subordinate to Persia."
Han Du immediately understood that Khrumos was completely an independent force and was completely different from Persia.
But what Zhu Biao heard was that he felt powerless. When he heard that three Western cities could be called a kingdom, he thought it was extremely ridiculous. But now he heard that the lord of just one city could collect taxes by himself.
, and simply ignored the kingdom above.
The confusion of the West became even more profound in Zhu Biao's mind.
No wonder Hader said that he did not belong to any kingdom. According to the actual situation, he probably thought that he was from Hurumos. Perhaps because Hurumos is just a city, not a kingdom, Harder did not say
He is a native of Hurumos.
Han Du also found it difficult to understand such chaos. If the Ming Dynasty had already sent troops to conquer such a chaotic situation, how could a state within a state be allowed to exist? But in the West, people actually regard this situation as
Of course?
Suddenly, Han Du thought of something and quickly asked: "Since anyone can buy land and manor in Hurumos, can people from Ming Dynasty also buy it there?"
Harder was stunned when he heard this. He had never thought about this question. Now that Han Du asked him, he had to lower his head and think for a moment. Hesitantly, he couldn't decide to pay attention, and replied: "This...
.”
Facing Han Du's scorching gaze, Hard shook his head and sighed: "Had doesn't know if it's possible. After all, no Ming people have been to Horumos before."
Han Du pondered for a moment, frowned and asked, "Why not? Didn't you say that both Persians and others can buy land and manors in Khrumos?"
Hard seemed a little embarrassed. He nodded and replied hesitantly: "Yes, that is indeed the case. But does the Marquis know? Whether they are Persians or Ottomans, there is not much difference between them."
Hard made gestures with his hands and explained: "What Hard is talking about is appearance. They are almost all like Hard. There is no difference. But Lord Marquis, the difference between Hard and Daming people is very big. Let
People can see the huge difference at a glance. Therefore, Hader doesn’t know whether the Ming people can buy land and manor in Hulumos."
When Han Du heard this, he frowned, lowered his head and pondered for a moment, and had to admit that what Hader said made sense. Everyone may ignore the subtle differences. But compared with the faces of Westerners, the faces of Easterners are completely different.
Whether such a difference will be accepted by the city lord of Horumos is still unknown.
But what exactly this matter is, we have to wait until Horumos to find out. There is no point in thinking too much now, Han Du shook his head slightly and put down this idea for the time being.
Zhu Biao turned his head and looked at Han Du and asked, "What do you want to buy land and manor in Khrumos?"
Han Du nodded, glanced at Hard, and waved his hand, "Hard, please go back to the cabin first. I'll call you when I need something."
"Yes, Your Highness, Lord Marquis, Harder excuses himself." Harder stood up and bowed before turning around and leaving, walking down the stairs to the cabin.
After Hader left, Han Du nodded to Zhu Biao and said, "Your Highness is right, I want to leave a place to stay in Hurumos."
"Why?" Zhu Biao also had such a plan in mind, but when he saw that Han Du had other ideas, he first asked Han Du for his opinion.
Han Du's expression gradually became serious and he said: "According to Hader, since this Hulumos is the starting point and the end point for merchants like him who travel between the East and the West, it is enough to show that this Hurumos must be a leader in the West.
The surrounding geographical location is excellent. If our Ming Dynasty wants to expand to the West, it is indispensable to have a springboard. And in the eyes of the minister, this Khrumos is the best springboard."
"Haha, I think so too." Zhu Biao smiled and nodded, looking at Han Du with a look that resembled a hero's.
Seeing that Han Du was so like-minded with him, Zhu Biao asked again: "Since Hurumos can be used as a springboard for us to expand into the West, why not just occupy it directly and set up the Governor's Palace? Why do we have to go round and round to buy land and...
manor?"
"Seizing it and setting up the Governor's Mansion is naturally the fastest, most effective and most direct way." Han Du nodded in agreement, and then changed the topic, "But we don't know the situation of Hulumos, so rushing to attack may not be in our favor.
The most advantageous way. The reason why I was able to set up the Governor's Palace in Nanyang in the first place was because there was no power in Nanyang that could threaten the Governor's Palace. But Khrumos is different. Since even Persia can't do anything to him, it means that it
His strength is not weak."
"The 50,000 Ming navy can guarantee that we will capture Khurumos, but unless they are captured, those people will give up resistance. Otherwise, even if we can defeat them ten times with our expedition, how can we still defeat them?"
A hundred times?"
Zhu Biao nodded subconsciously, agreeing with Han Du's statement. Although the navy was powerful and carried enough bullets and gunpowder shells, no matter how much it brought, it couldn't withstand countless consumption, right?
Once the bullets and gunpowder are exhausted, trying to defend Hurumos will inevitably lead to casualties of naval officers. Han Du is the last person who is unwilling to see casualties of naval officers, and would even rather withdraw from Hurumos.
Du also didn't want to see the soldiers under his command suffer heavy casualties.
"My idea is to settle down in Hurumos first. After slowly finding out the situation of Hurumos, we can then prescribe the right medicine."
Zhu Biao nodded and smiled and said: "Okay, if you know yourself and the enemy, you will never be in danger of a hundred battles. As long as we can find out the details of Hulumos, then we can be invincible whether it is war or peace."
"Your Highness is very true to what he said." Han Du replied with a smile.
Zhu Biao suddenly ordered the soldiers behind him: "Go and invite Hader over. I have something to ask him about the situation in the West."
Hard was quickly taken to the bow of the ship by the pro-combatants. Hard had been hanging out on the ship for so long, and he was also afraid of these pro-combatants who were silent and forbidden. Because he saw it more than once, even if it was the Marquis.
With a noble status, when encountering these pro-soldiers, you can't help but retreat.
Although Harder had never asked anyone about the background of these people, he saw that the Marquis behaved like this, so he naturally did not dare to be presumptuous. When the soldiers found him and asked him to go to the ship, he immediately said:
Don't say anything, just follow the soldiers obediently.
"Sit." Zhu Biao smiled and stretched out his hand.
"Thank you, Your Highness, Prince." After having done all the etiquette, Hader sat down cross-legged.
Zhu Biao then asked: "I asked you to come again because there are still some things I want to ask you."
"Your Highness, please give me your instructions. Hader will definitely obey His Highness's instructions." Hader put his right hand on his chest and bowed back.
Zhu Biao nodded and asked: "I would like to ask, how did a maritime merchant like you sell the Ming Dynasty's goods after transporting them to Khrumos?"
Since you want to establish a foothold in Khurumos, and these Westerners are so eager for various goods from the Ming Dynasty, then the best way is to do business in Khurumos.
Therefore, Zhu Biao wanted to ask more clearly.
"Your Highness, Hard's goods are sold directly to Ottomans or Byzantines when they arrive at Khrumos." Hard replied quickly.