Wu Wang Qi Gangyi was dealing with state affairs, and Zhao Quan was waiting for Wu Wang Qi Gangyi's summons in the side hall.
Zhao Quan sorted out the context of the matter and the solution he came up with in his mind.
He heard the patter of raindrops hitting the roof and the ground outside, but he felt very calm in his heart.
Zhao Quan’s macro understanding of the economy is not as good as that of the top scholars in the university.
But he has been the steward of Prince Wu's Mansion for so many years without making any mistakes. This is based on his profound understanding of human nature.
The water dripping from the eaves was like a small waterfall, and the rain still showed no sign of abating.
Zhao Quan heard footsteps outside the room.
Several eunuchs held huge umbrellas and walked outside the door.
They knocked lightly on the door a few times, then opened it and said, "Master Zhao, the king has summoned you."
Zhao Quan clasped his fists politely and said, "Thank you for your hard work, gentlemen."
Without leaving any trace, he rewarded each eunuch with one hundred taels of silver notes.
Among the eunuchs in the palace, no one knows when someone will become prosperous.
It is very likely that a certain piece of important news will allow Zhao Quan to save his whole family.
Zhao Quan was a housekeeper, and he often dealt with servants of wealthy families.
These people have neither the ability to accomplish anything nor the ability to do bad things.
But their disgusting abilities are simply endless.
For example, on a heavy rainy day today, I accidentally splashed a few mud spots on him.
He needed to meet King Wu Qi Gangyi and had no time to change clothes.
This small detail may lead to a different ending.
The eunuchs hid the reward without leaving any trace, and they treated Zhao Quan even more politely.
Especially the eunuchs holding umbrellas. They knew that Zhao Quan was a popular figure around King Wu and treated them generously. These eunuchs held umbrellas carefully to prevent rainwater from splashing on Zhao's body.
When Zhao Quan walked into the palace, he saw the resolute King Wu Qi with a slightly worried look on his face, and he immediately came forward to pay his respects.
"My minister Zhao Quan comes to see the king.
The king should also pay attention to rest and do not damage his own health by working on state affairs."
"Zhao Quan, you should still call me Mr. Wang.
The king is not used to the fact that you use the same formal manner as those foreign ministers.
I have corrected you many times, but you just don’t change.”
Zhao Quan was very happy when he heard Wu Wang Qi Gangyi's words. This was a sign that Wu Wang Qi Gangyi valued him.
As a close minister of the king, he can maintain his status by continuously gaining the king's trust.
"Your Majesty, I am now a minister of the imperial court and must maintain the etiquette of the imperial court.
If a minister goes beyond the rites of passage, this is disrespectful to the king.
If I don’t even observe basic etiquette because of the king’s trust, I will definitely do other bad things because of the king’s trust.”
Wu Wangqi shook his head resolutely and said with a smile: "If all the ministers in the imperial court were as worry-free as Shaofu Zhao, I would not have a headache.
During this period, it did rain a lot in the country and in the upstream countries.
But it’s not like the reservoir will burst.
These officials will shirk their responsibilities and will not do anything practical."
Wu Wangqi recited a few words resolutely, saying that the ministers of the imperial court were not good at their work.
Only then did he remember that Zhao Quan would not take the initiative to ask for an audience under normal circumstances. His presence in the palace meant that there must be something to report.
"Zhao Quan, what happened in the Young Mansion?
I want you to come and report eagerly."
After Zhao Quan heard Wu Wang Qi's resolute questioning, he told what he had learned in a clear and logical manner according to the context of the development of the matter.
After Wu Wangqi listened resolutely, he slammed the table and said angrily: "The empire's method is too vicious.
Wu State's industrial development had just begun to pick up, and the empire used this method to interrupt our country's industrialization process.
This way of cutting flesh with a soft knife is really painful.
The empire uses this method to restrict the development of vassal countries, which is really deceiving people."
Zhao Quan saw Wu Wangqi's resolute and angry performance.
He did not want King Qi Gangyi of Wu to offend the empire due to misjudgment and bring negative consequences to the state of Wu.
Zhao Quan quickly explained: "Your Majesty, I believe that this situation may not be caused by the empire.
The reason for this situation is probably because the imperial merchants were trying to save themselves.
When some businessmen succeed and spread the word, other businessmen will imitate.
Taking the most important steel as an example, the amount of steel our country needs in a year is not as good as the monthly output of one of the five largest steel companies in the empire.
If the empire really wants to dump at low prices, and government-run companies are dumping at low prices, we in Wu State will never be able to stop it, and the market will collapse long ago."
Wu Wangqi resolutely listened to Zhao Quan's analysis, and his anger gradually disappeared.
"I also believe that this is indeed the case.
The king is very satisfied with the development of Wu State, but this is compared with other European countries.
Comparing Wu State with the Empire, no matter which aspect you look at it, it is a comparison between a newborn baby and a strong man.
If the empire really wants to sanction Wu, it does not need to use such complicated methods. There are too many simple and practical methods.
We in Wu State don’t even have the ability to resist.”
King Wu Qi Gangyi knew that the vassal states in Europe had always been worried about the attitude of the empire.
That's because their strength is too weak. Once the empire takes action, they have no ability to resist.
Wu Wangqi frowned resolutely and said: "Zhao Quan, do you have any good solutions to this situation?
We cannot sit back and ignore this situation.
The companies under the Shaofu have funding from the imperial court, and they are already having such a difficult time.
The companies owned by private merchants must have been hit by the empire's cheap goods and have reached the point of life and death.
We must find ways to preserve domestic industry, which is closely related to our country's war potential."
Zhao Quan heard Wu Wang Qi's resolute question. He knew that Wu Wang liked people who raised problems and could solve them.
He replied with a smile: "Your Majesty, everything has two sides.
This incident can not only lead to the depression of our country's industrial industry, but it is also an excellent opportunity."
Wu Wangqi immediately sat upright and asked in surprise: "Zhao Quan, don't play riddles. Tell me quickly how this matter can be turned into a good thing."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! "The king is now having a headache because of alliances between countries, and cannot determine which allies are worthy of trust."
Wu Wangqi Gangyi didn't know why Zhao Quan didn't continue talking, but turned the topic to this aspect.
But this is indeed a thorny problem that Wu has encountered recently.
Wu State's initial screening of allies has been completed.
They want to enter into in-depth cooperation with their allies and may even form a military alliance.
This step must be taken with extreme caution. There are countless examples in history of wars failing due to allies rebelling.
Wu Wangqi said resolutely and helplessly: "This is an eternal problem, we can only proceed with caution.
We must both utilize and defend our allies.”
Zhao Quanquan said with a smile: "Your Majesty, our country can take this opportunity to kill two birds with one stone and solve two difficult things.
The dumping of imperial goods is the strategy of imperial merchants.
However, the difficulties encountered by the domestic industry also let us know the severity of commodity dumping.
To solve the problem of commodity dumping, I believe that the only effective method is to increase tariffs.
We are an independent vassal state with the ability to independently adjust domestic tariffs.
Tariffs can be appropriately lowered for goods that are in short supply domestically.
For goods that are already produced by domestic companies, we choose to significantly increase tariffs.
Even for the empire's low-priced goods, after taxes are added, they lose their price advantage.
Doing so can significantly increase tax revenue.
It can also protect the industrial chain that our country already has.
It is not over-protection, letting them know that there are opponents and giving these companies a sense of crisis.
The only problem is that if our country becomes the leader, it is likely to be targeted and attacked by the empire.
We can definitely cooperate with our allies to form a customs union.
The allies must have also encountered dumping by imperial merchants.
If our allies do not open their markets to our country.
Nor did they dare raise tariffs to oppose imperial dumping.
Failure to achieve the former means that this country has second thoughts about our country.
The market is not open to our country. How can we safely form a military alliance with such a country and leave our back to it?
This country is not even prepared to fight back if its own interests are harmed.
I dare not do anything like increasing tariffs, which would only cause limited damage from the empire even if I make a mistake.
How can we believe that such a country will stand firmly by our country when it encounters a crisis?
The customs union can not only verify the quality of allies, but also solve the problem of imperial dumping of goods."
After Wu Wangqi resolutely listened to Zhao Quan's analysis, he slammed the table excitedly and said: "This method is great, one thing solves two problems.
I will arrange for people to deal with the Customs Union immediately.
Zhao Quan, you have such a bright mind that you can come up with such a brilliant idea."
When Zhao Quan heard Wu Wangqi's brave praise, the smile on his face became even stronger.
"Your Majesty, I haven't finished speaking yet.
I have said that this is a crisis, but as long as we use the right approach, it can also be turned into an opportunity.
The simple method of increasing tariffs is likely to cause uproar among the imperial merchants.
There are many goods that our country cannot produce and need to be purchased from the empire.
In particular, rubber and spices had to be imported in large quantities from the empire.
These merchants could not make any trouble in the empire.
But once they target Wu State, our country is a bit small and may not be able to withstand it.
For these businessmen, we must also divide and disintegrate them according to different situations.
For the industrial products that our country is in urgent need of, they have overproduced them in the empire and cannot digest them at all.
We can persuade the owners of these factories to provide them with preferential terms.
Let these people move the factories that have suffered losses in the empire to our country and resettle there.
It will take more than ten years to build a powerful factory from scratch and make it the leader in the industry.
It would only take a few months to dig out a leading factory from the empire and let it build a factory again in the state of Wu.
Many businessmen will be willing to agree to our country's conditions for better development.
In this way, our country can turn crises into opportunities and fill in the weak domestic industries."
Wu Wang Qi Gangyi heard what Zhao Quan said, and he said a little unconfidently: "Can such a good thing be accomplished?
We paid such a high price to invite the merchants from the empire and they were not willing to come.
Now that the invitation is being sent out, will these businessmen agree?"
Zhao Quan said confidently: "Your Majesty, this time and that time.
Now it is these businessmen who have a large backlog of goods who are worried. As long as the problems they encounter can be solved, these businessmen will be willing to come to our country for development.
Now after our country's development in the past few years, at least the important prefectures and cities have developed.
The industrial chain is incomplete, but all the important industries are in place.
Businessmen from the empire can move in directly, instead of every screw having to be transported from the empire."
King Wu Qi was moved by Zhao Quan's confidence and said: "Zhao Quan, I will leave it to you to attract the empire's businessmen to transfer the industry.
I will give you full authorization, I just want to see the results."
Zhao Quan bowed and said: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will definitely complete this task."
Wu Wangqi waved his hand resolutely and asked Zhao Quan to exit.
He immediately called and summoned Tang Lai, Prime Minister of Wu State.
Prime Minister Tang Lai had just arrived at the mansion. Before he could get out of the car to drink a cup of hot tea, he was immediately informed by his family that King Wu had summoned him.
Prime Minister Tang Lai returned to the car again and headed to Wu Palace.
He had no idea why he specially summoned King Wu.
He had just discussed with the King of Wu that there might be floods in the country and that there would be no food harvest due to heavy rains.
Prime Minister Tang Lai suggested to King Wu to store a large amount of food to deal with possible crises in the future.
He returned to King Wu's palace, saw King Wu's gloomy expression before, and regained his smile.
After Prime Minister Tang Lai saluted, he asked curiously: "Your Majesty, what kind of happy event is this?"
He knew that King Wu Qi was resolute and did not like to beat around the bush and liked his ministers to be straightforward.
Prime Minister Tang Lai asked directly what he was very curious about.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Wu Wang Qi Gangyi briefly explained the matter, and he finally gave instructions: "The matter of the alliance has been the responsibility of Zhu Dahu, the Minister of Rites.
This time it is not a conventional alliance, but a customs union, which involves many issues.
I am going to let Tang Aiqing take charge of this matter and set an example for those who come after me."
When Tang Lai got this task, he didn't hesitate at all and said immediately: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will definitely do this well.
I just want to do this, and who will be responsible for fighting floods?
When I was serving in the empire, I had experience in fighting floods.
Other officials in the country have no experience in fighting floods.
Once the river embankments collapse and are washed away by floods, not only fertile farmland will be flooded, but many factories will also be destroyed.
The main terrain of our country is plains. After major floods occur, they will flow through most parts of the country.
Originally, due to the continuous rain in the west, the local wheat showed signs of germination.
Once the central and eastern parts of the country are also flooded, most of our fertile land will be affected, causing a chain reaction that the court will simply not be able to bear."
Wu Wangqi waved his hand resolutely and said: "Tang Aiqing, you are responsible for the customs union.
I guarantee that there will be no floods in the country.
We spent a lot of RMB to build river embankments and reservoirs, but they are by no means fake."
Prime Minister Tang Lai was about to retort that as the heavy rain continued and the river water continued to rise, sooner or later the river embankments and reservoirs would be unable to bear it.
When he saw King Wu Qi's resolute tone, he immediately thought of the poisonous plan proposed by someone in the Governor's Office at the imperial meeting just now.
Could it be that Wu Wangqi was determined to adopt that unscrupulous and vicious plan?
No wonder the King of Wu was so anxious and asked him to lead the team and form an alliance with the relevant countries as soon as possible.
