Chapter 662: Duel between the monarch and his ministers (Part 2)
As the saying goes, "Thunder, rain, and dew are all gifts from the king." You can keep whatever the emperor gives you, and you must be happy. Don't take what is not given to you...
This is the most basic respect for the imperial power, and it has been true throughout the ages.
Fang Jun's answer was not what was asked, and he seemed to be dissatisfied with the emperor's title of "Marquis of Huating County". However, His Majesty Li Er looked leisurely, showing no signs of happiness or anger.
Fang Jun didn't say anything, as if he thought there was nothing wrong with what he just said.
After a long time, His Majesty Li Er raised his eyelids and glanced at Fang Jun, speaking calmly: "Really?"
Fang Jun said calmly: "Of course it is true."
His Majesty Li Er did not comment and said calmly: "Tell me the reason."
Fang Jun moved his legs and feet. He was really not used to this kind of kneeling and sitting posture. He had no opinion on this ancient ritual, he was just not used to it...
"Huating Town belongs to Suzhou Prefecture. Although it is a little remote, it is very close to Suzhou and is surrounded by the sea on three sides. It has a wide view and developed maritime transportation. If this place can be operated as a trading port, it will have a unique geographical advantage and can communicate in one fell swoop.
Jiangnan Commercial Road will become the largest commercial distribution center in Jiangnan and even the entire Tang Dynasty in a few years."
This is inspired by Wu Meiniang.
As for operating Huating Town as a trading port, this idea came up when the imperial edict was issued. After all, it would be a bit embarrassing for travelers to leave Shanghai, the largest port in the East, without developing maritime transportation in future generations...
His Majesty Li Er nodded with some relief.
He really thought that Fang Jun couldn't see the purpose of giving Huating Town to him as a fiefdom, and he felt resentful towards the imperial edict. After all, the place in Huating Town was indeed desolate and remote.
However, Huating Town will be developed into a trading port and distribution center in the south of the Yangtze River...
To be honest, His Majesty Li Er just wanted to build a port here to provide garrison for the navy for future Eastern Expeditions.
Building a military port is not too difficult, but building a treaty port is a huge project.
His Majesty Li Er frowned slightly: "Is this necessary?"
The bigger the project is, the more money it will cost.
Although business is booming now, taxes are high, and glass workshops are sold overseas, making a lot of profits every year. However, compared with the money and food spent on the Eastern Expedition to Goguryeo, it is still very tight, and we have to save money.
Flowering.
His Majesty Li Er has seen the benefits of commercial prosperity from Fangjiawan Wharf, but Jiangnan is too far from Chang'an, and that is the territory occupied by the Jiangnan nobles. Even if business flourishes, the people who will benefit the most will definitely be the Jiangnan nobles. The treasury allocated
Spending a large amount of money to build treaty ports, the people who benefited the most were the Jiangnan nobles who had always been in harmony with the imperial court. His Majesty Li Er was not willing to do this kind of thing of making wedding clothes for others...
Of course Fang Jun understood His Majesty Li Er's concerns.
He nodded and said: "It is very necessary. However, my father may have misunderstood what Erchen meant. What Erchen wants to build is not an ordinary commercial port, but the Shipping Department directly under the Ministry of Household Affairs. All people who come to the big port will
For maritime merchants doing business in the Tang Dynasty, the court issued documents informing them that this was the only trading port allowed by the court, and any landing at any other place would be regarded as smuggling. All taxes collected at the port, except for a part, were reserved for daily operations.
, all turned over to the national treasury.”
In the Tang Dynasty at this time, there was no concept of "shibosi".
Historically, during the Xianqing period of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, the "Shibo Envoy" was established in Guangzhou, which was the predecessor of the "Shibo Division".
Li Erbi was stroking his beard and listening attentively. When he heard that Huating Town was the only legal treaty port in the country, he was so shocked that his hands trembled and he almost pulled off his beard...
Wouldn't this cut off the roots of the Jiangnan gentry?
The reason why the Jiangnan nobles have been entrenched in the south of the Yangtze River for hundreds of years and have prosperous power is because of the extremely profitable sea trade! Once Fang Jun is established as a "shipping company", it is equivalent to determining the foundation of the Jiangnan nobles. How can these guys give up?
?
Even His Majesty Li Er had to admit aggrievedly, Jiangnan, that is the Jiangnan of the Jiangnan nobles! Once these Jiangnan nobles find that their foundation is shaken, they will inevitably launch a hysterical counterattack. In that three-acre area of Jiangnan, it is the court that faces
The madness of the Jiangnan nobles is powerless!
Is there really going to be a bloodbath in Jiangnan?
Of course His Majesty Li Er would not do that! Once Jiangnan is shaken, his great cause of the Eastern Conquest will be delayed for who knows how many years. He is now in the prime of life, but if he is ten or twenty years from now, will he still have the energy to plan the Eastern Conquest of Goguryeo?
His Majesty Li Er shook his head and sighed. Fang Jun's idea was enough to make him excited, but there was not much chance of success.
"Once this port is opened, it will inevitably encounter full resistance from the Jiangnan gentry. I am afraid that it will be aborted just after it was completed."
Without the support of the Jiangnan gentry, this port would exist in name only. We can't expect the goods to land in Huating Town and then be transferred to Guanzhong via waterways, right?
Fang Jun, however, had already known the case, and said confidently: "Father, the emperor knows clearly that the success or failure of this matter does not actually depend on the Jiangnan nobles, but on the maritime merchants of various countries."
His Majesty Li Er was puzzled: "Why is this?"
Fang Jun confidently said: "It is the nature of merchants to seek profit. As long as there is profit, someone will do the beheading business! Resistance by the Jiangnan gentry is inevitable, because they want to pursue huge profits. Once the port is controlled by the imperial court, all taxes
All were included in the imperial court, which affected their profits. What they did was to boycott Huating Town while still accepting foreign merchant ships along the coast and doing business as usual. But if we can control the maritime merchants of various countries, they can
If you dare not go anywhere other than Huating Town, it will cut off the supply of the Jiangnan nobles. If goods from outside cannot come in and their goods cannot leave, how can you do this business?"
His Majesty Li Er suddenly understood.
Doing business is all about making money. Once the trade routes in Jiangnan are strictly controlled, it will be like putting a rope around the necks of the Jiangnan gentry. If you don't do business in Huating Town, there will be no business!
The Jiangnan gentry is composed of multiple families. Although they are in the same spirit, there must be competition and troubles. It is impossible to be of the same mind from beginning to end. Faced with the temptation of huge profits, some people must give up.
Alliance and fell into the arms of the imperial court.
This move would not only integrate Jiangnan's business, but also allow the imperial court to increase its control over Jiangnan.
Once the Huating Town Port really becomes the only treaty port in the Jiangnan region...
The whole of Jiangnan is under the control of the imperial court!
His Majesty Li Er suppressed his excitement. He still had the most critical question.
"Foreign merchants are also businessmen, and they are also pursuing profits. How can they obey your orders and only land in Huating Town?"
The corner of Fang Jun's mouth twitched, revealing a cold smile: "Whoever doesn't listen will not be welcomed in the vast seas of the Tang Dynasty. There are strong winds and dangerous waves on the sea, who knows what unforeseen disasters will happen? Is it possible that my father will be a child?"
The new navy that I will form will only be able to transport food and soldiers?"
His Majesty Li Er slapped his thigh and said loudly: "I will prepare a memorial and submit it to me later, and I will issue an edict to establish this treaty port!"
Anyone who disobeys will be killed!
This is simply too satisfying for His Majesty Li Er...
Murder, arson, etc., His Majesty Li Er has no psychological burden at all. As for those disobedient foreign merchant ships?
hehe……
Fang Jun knew that His Majesty Li Er would agree to this matter, so he quickly said: "I haven't finished speaking yet..."
His Majesty Li Er said happily: "There is nothing else, but it doesn't matter!"
He was so happy!
This Fang Jun is really talented as a prime minister!
Coming up with an idea casually can not only help the court collect a large amount of taxes, but also strengthen its control over Jiangnan. What a monster!
What kind of deeds will this dandy kid do in the city of Chang'an once he is released from Chang'an and roar into the world?
The more His Majesty Li Er looks at Fang Jun, the more he likes him!
Such amazing talent and beauty is simply a gift from God to the Tang Dynasty...
Fang Jun felt a little guilty when he saw His Majesty Li Er's eager eyes. He coughed dryly and said: "My son, please ask my father to cancel the customs tax across the country and only retain the customs duties on foreign goods. The rest will only be charged market sales tax. That's it."
First, the amount of tariffs can be increased so as not to cause complaints from domestic businessmen, while at the same time curbing imports, encouraging exports, and expanding the trade surplus."
His Majesty Li Er looked confused as he listened to these words written in heaven...