After meeting He Jinghui yesterday, Gao Xiaosong hurried back to the Hainan Saltworks.
I just returned to the salt field today and am preparing to touch Hou Yao's bottom and then find a way to contact him.
Unexpectedly, Hou Yao led people to the island to investigate the case.
Thinking that it would be better to choose the day than to hit it, he asked Ji Chunan to invite the people in.
However, people in high positions would not be polite when inviting people, and since they were planning to get some profit from Hou Yao, they still had to give him some ground to show his authority.
Only then did the murderous scene on the pier occur. In fact, it is true that the Feiyu Guards have the power to supervise all officials.
However, anyone who kills any official must have the emperor's token.
Otherwise, even the capital commander would not be qualified to let the Feiyu Guards kill any high-ranking officials.
Gao Xiaosong frightened Hou Yao so that he could get more profits to subsidize the emperor's internal treasury during the negotiation.
In the past few days since he came to Bao'an County, all his attention has been on the Tianwu Gang, and he has not yet had a detailed understanding of the situation in Bao'an County.
Now when I heard Hou Yao reported a molecular stock with 10% of all industries, I didn’t have much idea, so I asked:
"10% of molecular shares? How much is it worth?"
Hou Yao thought about it for a moment, and then said slowly:
"Going back to my father-in-law, currently only the Liuli industry has really opened up the market, and other industries are still being built one after another.
At present, the annual income of Liuli Industry is estimated to be around 20,000 taels, and one tenth share is about 2 million taels.
It’s hard to say for other industries now. If fully rolled out, each industry would probably have an annual income of several tens of thousands taels.
10% of the entire industry can be divided into about one to two thousand taels every year."
Gao Xiaosong was pretending to be calm while holding a cup of tea, having already estimated a very high number in his mind.
But when he heard Hou Yao say one or two thousand taels in an understatement, he almost choked on the cup of tea.
"Ahem...you, tell me again, how many?"
"Back to my father-in-law, now that various industries have just developed, one or two jobs a year should be almost the limit.
After two years, three or four thousand taels per year should be about the same."
Gao Xiaosong had a dull look on his face. Now he finally understood what He Jinghui meant by the God of Wealth. The annual tax of Daxia Country was only more than three thousand taels.
There cannot be a major natural disaster, otherwise we will have to give a discount.
And the annual dividends from a small number of shares given by Hou Yao to King Xian have already exceeded more than half of the total taxes in Daxia, which is terrible.
And listen to this, this is just because the industry has not spread in the first two years. If it spreads in the later period, the money will be even more.
"You're saying that after two years, the industry will earn more money from operating it? Can it exceed 40,000 taels?"
Hou Yao nodded, then shook his head:
"Theoretically, this is true. Of course, other situations cannot be ruled out. For example, someone has learned the technology of these industries from Xiaguan.
Then if the same industry is built in other places, the price of the product will be lowered, and naturally you will not be able to make as much money."
Gao Xiaosong smiled bitterly and said:
“Someone told our family before that Houzhi County is the God of Wealth descending to earth, but our family still didn’t believe it.
Now it seems that Hou Zhixian is really the reincarnation of Fan Li, the God of Wealth descending to earth.
Our family helps His Majesty run this huge Hainan salt farm, and it only adds a million taels to the internal treasury every year.
The money-making ability of Houzhi County really puts our family to shame."
"My father-in-law is too modest. He lives in a large country. He is already a genius who can manage a salt farm thousands of miles away to this extent.
The villain is just a little smarter and has some different ideas than others, that's all..."
Gao Xiaosong waved his hand to interrupt Hou Yao's words and said:
"Okay, our family won't follow Mr. Hou in circles anymore. In addition to the duties of the ceremonial supervisor Bingbi and Feiyuwei, our family has
In fact, the most important job is to manage Grandpa Tian’s internal treasury income.
Nowadays, the country needs money everywhere, and if it is not enough, it will come from the inner treasury of the Tian family. Our family is becoming increasingly unable to do what we want.
Mr. Hou, maybe you can help our family come up with an idea? Our family will tell Grandpa Tian directly, and I think we can ensure a bright future for you."
Hou Yao bowed respectfully and said:
"It's too early to tell about the great future. I just thought about it carefully. It's my duty to share the country's worries.
The lower official can transfer 20% of the molecular shares to the father-in-law, I wonder if the father-in-law will be satisfied?"
Twenty percent is 40,000 yuan, which is already more than the total tax revenue of the entire imperial court.
With such a large amount of money, Gao Xiaosong should not be dissatisfied, but his face still darkened.
Comparing Hou Yao’s total income, 20% is indeed not enough:
"Master Hou, have you heard about the cornucopia?"
The Cornucopia Incident refers to Shen Wansan, a wealthy businessman at the founding of Daxia. The founding emperor of Daxia, Ji Hongchou, was financed by Shen Wansan before he launched his army.
Later, Shen Wansan also expanded with Ji Hongchou's power, and his business grew bigger and bigger. Eventually, his family monopolized 90% of Daxia's business.
Including water transportation, salt industry, ironware manufacturing, weapons manufacturing, firearms research and development, horse breeding, and the sale of rice and grain across the country, etc.
Shen Wansan's wealth has also reached a terrifying figure. In a real sense, he is as rich as the country. His family's wealth is dozens of times that of the national treasury.
There are folk legends that he has an inexhaustible cornucopia of wealth.
Ji Hongchou was also very tolerant to Shen Wansan because he was grateful for his service to the dragon.
However, the existence of the Shen family has seriously affected the operation of the country. Finally, Lan Yu, one of the founding generals, returned victoriously.
At that time, the national treasury was empty, and Shen Wansan contributed funds to labor the army, stepping on the bottom line of any emperor, and finally ignited Ji Hongchou's anger.
But at this time, Ji Hongchou still spared his life under the Queen's persuasion, but was sent to the frontier.
A few years later, the Shen family was involved in Lan Yu's rebellion, which eventually led to the entire Shen family being wiped out.
There is a legend among the people that the Daxia royal family filled up the Shen family for the sake of the Shen family's cornucopia.
Gao Xiaosong's telling of this incident was already a naked threat to Hou Yao.
Hou Yao chuckled. Although he was extremely nervous in his heart, he was extremely calm on the surface:
"My father-in-law made a mistake when comparing himself to Shen Wansan in getting an official position. The Shen family's wealth is based on monopoly management.
Its existence affects the normal operation of the country, and the things produced by lower officials are all whimsical things that are not necessary for life.
Yes, you can live a better life; if you don’t, it won’t affect your basic daily life. This is one of them;
Secondly, although Xiaguan Industry earns a lot of money, it also spends a lot of money. Take the master craftsman of Liulichang as an example.
The salary of a master Xiong is 20,000 taels; the salary of a middle-level craftsman is 10,000 taels; the salary of a small craftsman is five thousand taels; and the salary of an apprentice and coolie will be lower, but at least five to ten taels.
The monthly salary alone costs nearly half a million taels.
Thirdly, if Xiaguan wants to keep the industry prosperous, he must invest a lot of money to invent new things.
Take Liuli as an example, does father-in-law know how much Liuli’s research and development expenses are per year?”
Gao Xiaosong sneered and didn't answer.
Hou Yao continued:
"This year, more than 15 million taels have been spent on the research and development of new colored glaze. I know that my father-in-law cannot believe it easily.
However, since the lower official has given the molecular shares to his father-in-law, then his father-in-law has the power to audit and supervise the accounts.
The father-in-law only needs to check whether Xianguan is lying. In addition, Xiaguan's property must pay 30% of the commercial tax to the local government every year.
This part is the largest expenditure in the entire industry."
After hearing that he had to pay 30% of the commercial tax, Gao Xiaosong suddenly jumped up and shouted:
"Since His Majesty came to the throne, the commercial tax has been reduced to 30%. What kind of dog official is so bold that he dares to receive 30% of the commercial tax?
Do you still need your brain? Come on, our family will definitely help you with this."
Hou Yao said awkwardly:
"Father, please don't get excited. This is decided by Xiaguan himself, because Xiaguan's property is indeed more profitable. Xiaguan has neither a backing nor a background.
As a small seventh-level magistrate, I paid the largest share of taxes.
I thought that if the imperial court took such a large share, it should ensure the safety of Xiaguan's property, so I set this tax amount privately.
This is very considerate of the official’s painstaking efforts.”
Gao Xiaosong calculated in his mind that paying taxes was equivalent to a share of the emperor's share, which had already reached 50%, and his expression softened:
"Master Hou is also loyal. Well, if you can share the country's worries like this, our family can't let you suffer.
When our family returns to court, we will report your achievements to your majesty to ensure that you have a good birth. Please wait for the good news from our family."
Hou Yao said hurriedly:
"Father, please don't do this. Xiaguan has just established his foothold in Bao'an County, and various industries have just developed. You must not leave here at this time.
If I leave, I'm afraid the industry here will fall into chaos, which will affect everyone's ability to make money, and I will never be able to afford it.
If the father-in-law really wants to help the official, he can ask the father-in-law to go back and help the official to ask for an imperial edict that will make things easier.
The lower official is confident that within five years, Bao'an County will be turned into a small treasury of the Great Xia Dynasty."
Gao Xiaosong laughed and said:
"Okay, okay, Mr. Hou is really loyal. Don't worry, our family will help you get this matter done no matter what.
Mr. Hou, just do your best, and let me tell you a secret. In fact, Mr. Hou is already in the heart of the Emperor.
Do you know who the new prefect of Guangzhou is?"
Hou Yao shook his head. He Jianbai hadn't taken office yet, so he naturally didn't get the news.
"The new governor of Guangzhou is He Jianbai, the former governor of Yazhou. Your Majesty appointed him as the governor of Guangzhou just to protect you.
So please rest assured and act boldly. After our family goes back, whoever dares to bite the adults' tongue again will be the first one in our family to not let him go."
"Thank you, father-in-law..."
…
Hou Yao led the government servants to rush back to the county government office all night. It was already dark, but he couldn't care about anything anymore.
It was more than a day's journey from Tuen Mun to Nantou City by waterway, and we didn't return to the county government until the evening of the second day.
He immediately ignored Zhou Tiesheng's half-life condition and quickly asked him to find Guo Ming.
The Hague Gang has provoked an existence that cannot be messed with, and will soon cease to exist. He can't control the life and death of others, so he can only try his best to keep Guo Ming...