The fleet sailed into the naval port, and the people and porters gradually dispersed with excitement, but the merchants did not leave.
These merchants who traveled north and south were the most discerning, and they clearly saw the last cargo ships following the fleet... Why did the navy bring cargo ships with them when they went on an expedition? There is only one answer. This trip resulted in a large amount of seized materials!
This is a big fat piece of meat!
Since ancient times, the materials seized by the army have nourished countless wealthy merchants in the luxurious world. Under normal circumstances, these seized materials will be sold at a price lower than the market price. After all, the army is not a merchant, and it is impossible to have time to argue with merchants.
Bargaining, if you have connections in the military, congratulations, countless money is waiting for you!
Back when Li Jing led his army to attack the Turks in the north and achieved a complete victory, capturing hundreds of thousands of cattle and sheep captives, how many merchants in Guanzhong became rich overnight and accumulated the wealth of ten generations?
Therefore, the capture of the army has always been the fattest piece of meat in the eyes of merchants!
However, after all the ships entered the military port, no officials from Huating Town came forward to sell the seized supplies...
Fang Jun naturally saw groups of businessmen. These people were like flies eyeing flesh and blood, and the words "I want to get rich" were clearly displayed on their greedy faces.
However, there really wasn’t anything captured this time…
The gold brought back from Japan had already been transported to Chang'an, but the royal city of Silla had never been set foot in. After all, they not only wanted to annex, but also abdicated the throne, so they had to leave some wealth for them, right? Besides, if I really wanted to grant the title of prince in the future,
He went to Silla to be the king, but when he arrived he found that the Silla mansion was empty and had been plundered by him. This could be regarded as enmity...
Therefore, the captures during this trip were basically zero. As for the cargo ships behind the fleet, they were all loaded with Japanese slaves sold by Soga Minta.
However, he does not intend to sell these slaves. At present, vigorous infrastructure construction has begun in various parts of the Tang Dynasty, building water conservancy ditches, and building roads and cities. We can't just let the people of the Tang Dynasty do it? Some dangerous areas can be used by slaves.
Take your life to fill...
Therefore, he will take these slaves to Chang'an and hand them over to the Ministry of Industry and the Shaofu for detailed arrangements.
*****
Returning to the long-lost government office, soaking in the scalding hot water dissipated all the fatigue caused by the sea voyage.
Fang Jun felt that the original owner's physical fitness was surprisingly good. Not only was he physically strong and capable of lifting a cauldron, but his recovery ability was also top-notch. No matter how tired he was, as long as he took a short rest, he could immediately regain his physical strength and be full of energy.
So he understood a truth: some things don't just need to be done violently and deeply. If you just do it violently, it will be counterproductive.
Sometimes, some flower displays can make people feel more satisfied...
I took a hot bath, put on a set of clean and dry regular clothes, had a simple meal, then made a pot of tea, sipped it slowly, and waited for the navy to tidy up and dispatch a few warships.
Escort those efforts and escort him back to Chang'an.
The sound of footsteps came from outside the door and stopped suddenly at the door. Then I remembered Pei Xingjian's words: "I have something to report to you in my humble position."
"Oh, come in."
Fang Jun put down his teacup and watched Pei Xingjian walk in from the door.
At this time, Pei Xingjian has long since lost his youthfulness. The dandy who roamed the east side of the river and rode along the streets has long disappeared. Instead, he has a handsome face, calm and capable, slow and measured steps, and shrewd and sharp eyebrows.
.
There are quite a few future appearances...
Fang Jun was deeply gratified. There was nothing more pleasurable than a famous official in history, under his guidance, gradually blooming into his own brilliance.
"Keep your promise, sit down quickly and drink tea."
Fang Jun personally poured tea for Pei Xingjian with a smile on his face.
Pei Xingjian was flattered, and hurriedly stepped forward, sat sideways opposite Fang Jun, and took the teacup with both hands: "Thank you, Lord Marquis..."
Then he took a small sip.
Fang Jun sat comfortably and asked with a smile: "How is the development of the Shipping Company recently?"
Pei Xingjian said respectfully: "Everything is going well. Originally, the merchants from the Jiangnan gentry complained about the heavy commercial taxes, saying that the shipping company and the people were competing for profits, which was a disorder of the country. If the imperial court did not curb it and changed its course, I am afraid that the people's morale would be lost.
The world is in chaos... As a result, His Majesty issued an edict and levied commercial taxes on all the people in the world. Those guys who usually jumped around became silent and behaved extremely well. Marquis Gain conquered Japan and Silla,
It opened a vast channel for the Tang Dynasty's commodity trade. Just by selling the Tang Dynasty's ordinary goods to Japan, Silla, and even the Southeast Asian countries, the profits gained were several times or even ten times higher than in the past.
Under the circumstances, if anyone dares to be restless again, once his maritime trading license is revoked by the Shipping Department, the loss will be tens of millions, who dares to be disobedient?"
The license of sea trade is like a knife hanging over the heads of merchants all over the world. Whoever has his license revoked will no longer have the right to sea trade. No one can bear such losses.
The merchants supported by the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River are the most wealthy and powerful group in the world. As long as they stay safe, the rest will not matter...
Fang Jun snorted coldly and said: "These people are used to eating meat, and they don't want to spit out the meat in their mouths. Everyone is equal in the empire. Farming needs to be taxed, raising boats needs to be taxed, and raising livestock needs to be taxed. Why?
You can't pay taxes if you are doing business? Aren't the high-ranking officials and dignitaries of those aristocratic families supporting it? Seventy-eight percent of the income earned by merchants from all over the world will end up in those people's pockets. Don't you believe that they dare to start a rebellion just for the sake of business taxes?
"
Commercial taxes have been a difficulty for the court to collect since ancient times.
Regardless of the fact that since Guan Zhong harvested fish and salt and built his business in the mountains and seas, commercial taxes have become the fat that the rulers covet. In fact, even in the salt and iron official business of the Han Dynasty, merchants all over the world were not really allowed to pay their fair share of taxes.
, because merchants are of course lowly, but behind them are all high-ranking officials and aristocratic families who support them. If the court wants to collect business taxes, it means stealing food from these people, so it tries to invent something like "competing with the people for profit".
"Rhetoric like this instigates the world, as if as long as the imperial court levies commercial taxes, it will be against the people of the world...
Three hundred and sixty lines, tax payment according to regulations, that is the obligation of every citizen, why can you, a merchant, be an exception?
At present, merchants and their supporters are forced to cut off their bodies because of their greed for sea trade, but Fang Jun believes that as long as the opportunity arises, these greedy people will definitely jump up here and boycott commercial taxes.
This is a social problem, a legal problem, and an institutional problem that Fang Jun cannot solve in a short while.
Let's take it one step at a time. At least the current surging business tide can temporarily attract the attention of aristocratic families away from the land, suspend the pressure caused by land mergers, and give the general public a chance to breathe.
When the handicraft industry really flourishes and most of the world's wealth is no longer produced in the land, then can the working people be truly liberated...
Pei Xingjian continued: "The income of the people in Huating Town is very good this year. Although it is mostly surrounded by tidal flats and saline-alkali land, and the rice planting area is only more than 3,000 acres, the yield per mu is more than three stones, which is considered a bumper harvest. And the farmers are at home.
The income from spinning woolen cloth is more than five times that of the field output! Nowadays, the woolen cloth from Huating Town is not only exported to surrounding countries, but also sold to both sides of the canal, especially to merchants in the North. This winter, they simply sell woolen cloth and make a profit.
The flow of oil!"
Hearing this, Fang Jun was very happy.
The development of handicraft industry is a necessary means to free farmers from the constraints of the land.
As long as the handicraft industry develops, even if farmers lose their land, they will have a way to make a living, which is even better than the future of farming! If things go on like this, farmers who have lost their land will simply turn to the city and engage in handicraft industry. The rural population will decrease significantly. In the past, greedy
The harsh landlords and wealthy people are confused - they have thousands of hectares of fertile land, but no one to cultivate it for them...
Land cannot be left idle, so what should we do?
He can only reduce the tenant rent to attract farmers to cultivate the land for him.
This formed a virtuous cycle. Eventually, one day, the local owners and wealthy people discovered that the profits from cultivating the land were far less than engaging in handicrafts, animal husbandry and other businesses, and they would look away from the land that their ancestors had been glued to for generations.
When they no longer persecute and exploit farmers for land, a new era will come...
Of course, to achieve this goal, it requires the court's persistent policies and the Tang Dynasty to maintain pressure on the surrounding countries as always, making them a dumping ground for Tang Dynasty products and making huge profits. This process may take twenty years
, it may be fifty years, or even one hundred or two hundred years...
But as long as you plant the seeds today, you will reap the fruits one day.
Pei Xingjian suddenly paused, remembering the purpose of coming, and said: "Master Marquis, when the navy was returning home, there was a fight on the river embankment. All the parties involved were detained by the government. After interrogation, it was found that the victim made rude remarks.
, I falsely accused you, Lord Marquis, and the people around him were so angry that they knocked him to the ground and beat him up. He only had a little nosebleed and his injuries were not serious. However, the man refused to leave and had to let a few people
Compensation for the cost of soup and medicine... I saw that the common people were all farmers and acquaintances, and their families were not rich. Moreover, I heard someone slandering the Marquis, so I acted righteously. This kind of situation should be encouraged, so I decided to
The town office paid for it and compensated the incident."
Fang Jun nodded.
Although it was clear from Pei Xingjian's words that he was partial, since he was a member of the family on the one hand and an outsider on the other, and the consequences were not serious, there was nothing wrong with handling it this way.
Legal principles are nothing more than human feelings. Who can truly enforce the law impartially and without favoritism?
Just seeing Pei Xingjian looking a little weird, Fang Jun couldn't help but be curious and asked: "Is there any follow-up?"
Pei Xingjian smiled bitterly and said: "Master Hou is wise... The man who was beaten still refused to leave even after receiving compensation. He also announced that he was a descendant of the Jiang Gu family. He came to Huating Town this time to find Hou.
Lord, to avenge you for taking away your love with a sword!"
Fang Jun's eyes widened instantly!
Jiang Gushi?
This is an ancient race!
However...where does the idea of snatching love with a sword come from?