What does "people on the roadside can also join forces to get married"?
He clearly rejected the marriage proposal proposed by Mrs. Xiao in front of Xiao Rui. Could it be that Mrs. Xiao has not given up and is still coveting her beauty...
But now is obviously not the time to discuss this issue.
The two casually chatted for a while, and the carriage stopped. They had arrived at the largest restaurant in the town. This restaurant was obviously owned by a wealthy family. It was actually closed to the public all day long. The upstairs and downstairs were cleaned cleanly.
In order to cleanse Fang Jun from the dust.
In terms of the pomp and intention alone, there is indeed nothing that cannot satisfy Fang Jun.
It’s just that Fang Jun is well aware of the faces of these aristocratic families. The articles on their faces are colorful and full of smiles, but in private they are dirty and dirty. They will give up anything for the sake of profit.
I'll stab you with a knife in a moment.
The nobles of the aristocratic families pay the most attention to etiquette, justice and integrity, because this is the way they rely on to look down on all living beings from a high position. In fact, secretly, they are the most shameless...
A large group of powerful people from aristocratic families surrounded Xiao Jing and Fang Jun and walked into the building.
The chefs in the store probably started preparing ingredients early in the morning. Fang Jun probably had already started preparing the food when he came ashore. As soon as people arrived, all kinds of delicacies were served in a flowing manner.
The crowd gathered around and asked Fang Jun to sit on the main seat. Fang Jun refused and forced Xiao Jing to sit on the main seat, while he accompanied her on one side.
Fang Jun didn't put on airs, so everyone relaxed a little. They were all afraid that Fang Jun's domineering momentum would make it difficult for everyone to save face. Naturally, there was laughter and a harmonious atmosphere. They are all well-known figures in the family, and they have their own way of dealing with others.
When the occasion is just right for us to show off, you speak to me and the scene is very harmonious.
Because in the final analysis, what everyone said was nonsense and did not involve their own interests. Of course, if you are good and I am good, everyone is good...
It's just that such a group of big shots from the Jiangnan area gathered here, not only because Fang Jun has a great reputation, but everyone is more concerned about their immediate interests.
It is inevitable to test it out...
A handsome-looking middle-aged scribe raised his glass and said with a smile: "Your Majesty's visit to the south of the Yangtze River is really a blessing for us Jiangnan people. If it weren't for the Marquis who single-handedly founded Huating Town, how could our clan's industry be involved?"
Overseas, how can we bring such huge profits to everyone? I would like to borrow flowers to offer to the Buddha and have a cup of wine to show my respect to the Lord!"
Fang Jun squinted at this person and remembered that he had just introduced this person as Bao Xi, who was from the Bao family in Yanling...
Then he raised his glass and responded with a smile: "Brother Bao's words are wrong. I established the Huating Town Shipping Department in compliance with His Majesty's will. How dare you take credit? And you must not be grateful to me. I am
As court officials, you only need to operate in accordance with the law and pay taxes according to the regulations. I hope that is enough! Come, come, I will have a drink with Brother Bao!"
As he spoke, he raised his head and drank from the cup in one gulp.
Bao Xi smiled a little forcedly and drank from the glass of wine.
As the words came and went, although the two sides may not have actually confronted each other, they had already touched each other's bottom line...
If this Bao Xi is really a pioneer recommended by the Jiangnan gentry, then the meaning of his words represents the meaning of all Jiangnan gentry: There are many benefits that should be given to you, but when it comes to laws and regulations, you have to turn a blind eye.
Be merciful and merciful.
And Fang Jun’s attitude is even more resolute: operate in accordance with the law and pay taxes according to regulations!
Do you really think that the opening of the Municipal Shipping Department is just to serve you? It is a state agency and must operate in accordance with the laws. Who dares to disobey the laws? Don’t blame me for being rude!
Of course, Fang Jun never said these words, but everyone could clearly hear the unfulfilled meaning.
This stick is really hard to talk about...
Xiao Jing stroked her beard with one hand and smiled, seemingly without any trace of disappointment.
An old man sitting next to him put down the wine glass in his hand, hesitated for a moment, and said: "As the saying goes, 'Family, country and world', if the family situation is uneasy, how can we talk about strengthening the country and rejuvenating the world? Now His Majesty is marching eastward to achieve eternal achievements. Hegemony has already collected a large amount of money, food and materials in Jiangnan. All the Jiangnan scholars have not even said a word to complain. We will hand over as much as the court needs. Who doesn't want to be a loyal and patriotic person? It's just that we, of course, are family members. The cause is great, but there are many mouths to eat in the clan. The burden is getting heavier and heavier, and life is becoming more and more difficult. The court needs to be more considerate. At present, overseas business is not easy to do, the cost is too high, and the competition is too fierce. If it is too intense, there is really not much profit, and it is a pity to throw away the food if it is tasteless. In my opinion, can the commercial tax be reduced by 10% or 20% so that everyone can make a profit?"
After he finished speaking slowly, there were people echoing beside him, sighing and complaining, saying that business was difficult to do, the competition was fierce, and the risks were too great...
The picture shows clearly that this is the real intention of the Jiangnan wealthy family!
Fang Jun still had a smile on his face, looking at the old man, but he said unceremoniously: "My father-in-law, you mean that if the Shibo Division cannot lower the commercial tax, the Jiangnan gentry will not be able to support the empire's Eastern Expedition. Daye, can I understand it this way?"
The old man was startled, his face turned pale with fright, and he waved his hands repeatedly: "Master Marquis, please don't harm me. Where did the old man say such a thing? I just hope that Your Majesty can be more considerate of us, no matter how difficult the business is, no matter how difficult the life is. It’s hard to endure, but as people of the Tang Dynasty, we will definitely support the Eastern Expedition with all our strength, without hesitation!”
Not only him, but half of the people at the table were scared to death by Fang Jun...
It's okay for everyone to know some things well. If you say it so plainly, are you going to make us bear the charge of treason?
No one can afford it!
These people have never dealt with Fang Jun before, and this time they finally know why the family didn't send those who had interacted with Fang Jun in the past. This guy is too overbearing, and he doesn't act according to common sense, and he has to overpower others when he speaks. Point of view, I am afraid that those who have dealt with him are naturally weaker in momentum, which is not conducive to fighting for interests...
Fang Jun still had a smile on his face, holding a wine glass in his hand, looking at the old man and asking: "You were a little negligent just now, didn't you remember my father-in-law's surname?"
The old man said: "Old man He Pingchuan is from Kuaiji."
The He family in Kuaiji is also a well-known family, the representative of the Wu surname in Jiangdong. Now it is not popular, but soon a talent named "Siming Kuangke" appeared, named He Zhizhang...
Fang Jun nodded slowly, thought for a moment, and then said: "Since He Laoyan mentioned that sea trade profits are meager, competition is cruel, and risks are high, starting from the first month of next year, I will inform the Shipping Department to cancel the He family in Kuaiji. I have sea trade qualifications. Anyway, sea trade is meaningless whether you do it or not. The business tax is too heavy, the profits are too thin, and it’s a waste of energy, right?”
After saying that, he looked around with a calm expression and asked earnestly: "If you have any difficulties, please tell me. I can't let you donate money and food and pay taxes according to regulations, but also run unprofitable businesses, right?" Come and go, everyone feels that sea trade is not profitable, and it doesn’t matter whether they do it or not. Now tell me, I will cancel their sea trade qualifications. But don’t worry, isn’t life difficult? Correspondingly, Families that have abolished maritime trade will be exempted from half of the taxes. Who is there? Come and sign up."
There was a moment of silence at the banquet, and everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to do.
They are all top figures in each family and have a lot of experience in handling affairs. However, when faced with Fang Jun's practice of depriving him of his sea trade qualifications at the slightest disagreement, he felt a headache and did not know how to deal with it.
Aren’t they all crying and complaining?
Don’t they all say that sea trade is not profitable?
Well, let’s just deprive you of your sea trade qualifications and reduce your taxes by half. Is that okay?
…
That’s ok!
What huge profits are there from sea trade? A piece of high-quality porcelain was worth a thousand dollars in the Tang Dynasty. When shipped to Goguryeo, Silla, Baekje and other countries, it was sold for a thousand dollars. When shipped to Japan, it could be sold for twenty times the price. If the profit is shipped to the countries in Southeast Asia, it will not be a problem to make thirty times the profit...
Now the taxes collected by the court have long been divided into two parts: agricultural and commercial taxes. After repeated reforms in the past two years, the commercial taxes on maritime trade have stabilized to one in ten taxes. Regardless of the amount of profit, taxes are paid at one-tenth of the total value. The agricultural tax on the output of the family's fields is one in twenty, which is much lower than in the past.
The taxes collected by the imperial court during the Eastern Expedition were collected based on agricultural taxes, which greatly increased the proportion of commercial taxes.
But the problem is that sea trade is highly profitable!
The family's annual income from ten thousand acres of fertile land is less than the profit from a trip to sea. Once deprived of the right to sea trade, although the amount of tax paid is greatly reduced, the income will simply drop off a cliff...