The faces of everyone also proved a problem well, that is, any issue involving the Western Army is a sensitive topic... The market in the Hetao area has actually been prosperous, but it has nothing to do with private enterprises. Today's northwest
The market has two major characteristics. First, it is the court's market. All business in the market is monopolized by the court, such as tea, wine, salt, etc. Even private transactions have to enter the market to be exploited.
Take off a layer of skin.
But it is precisely because of the existence of the market that the second feature emerged, that is, smuggling. Although smuggling is illegal, in this environment, it is a huge profit industry, such as tea and porcelain in the Song Dynasty.
Cloth, some people even directly smuggle currency, and Xixia also has green salt. Smuggling green salt from Xixia is an absolute huge profit, which also makes many people take risks. But if you want to smuggle in the northwest, you have to let the Western Army guard the border.
Nodding, what is speechless is that Xijun is the biggest smuggling leader in the Northern Song Dynasty. Even Li Qi asked Xijun to help him smuggle unparalleled goods in the world.
Therefore, when you do business in the northwest, you must take the Western Army into consideration.
It is precisely because of these two characteristics that it is difficult for private enterprises to survive in the northwest. After all, no matter how strong you are, can you be stronger than the country? Even in later generations, state-owned enterprises are naturally very strong, let alone this feudal society.
Already.
Liang Shicheng whispered: "Don't talk nonsense."
"I know that." Li Qi nodded slightly, suddenly laughed, and said: "I know what everyone is worried about, but I don't think this has any conflict with us businessmen, but can complement each other."
Hong Bajin hurriedly asked: "How do you say this?"
Li Qidao: "Although you are the leading richest people in the Song Dynasty, can you be richer than the imperial court? The business involved in the Western Army and the imperial court is all related to raw materials. I don't agree with everyone using their brains in this regard, but the role of raw materials
It is used to convert it into commodities. Therefore, commodities are our focus, not raw materials, which means that it does not conflict with us. Moreover, in view of the imperial court and the Western Army being here, few merchants come here to do business. This is also
It just provides convenience to us.”
After a pause, he continued: "Everyone, in fact, the trading of raw materials is a rigid transaction, and there is not much space. Only technical products can be huge profits. What are technical products?
Commodities made from raw materials are the bulk. Just like tea, tea is a business exclusive to the imperial court, and the benefits have been squeezed very little by the imperial court. Unless you smuggle it, you can't make any money at all.
But smuggling is illegal. You are all worthy people and you don’t need to take risks. But then again, does this mean that we don’t have a share in the interests of tea? Obviously not, I believe you all know that we are drunk immortals.
I can sell the milk tea to neighboring countries in my own name, and the profit is not necessarily less than that of the tea business. The only difference is that I have to pay taxes, that's all. Why is this? Because my milk tea is not
It is a tea trade, but a derivative product of tea. It is a commodity. The court has no right to stop it. To give a simpler example, the court’s control over salt is strict enough. If I sell salt directly, then the court will definitely not
I will allow it, but if I make salt into braised vegetables and sell it, then the court has no right to interfere.
Moreover, now that the imperial court is in the process of economic reform, it has also made adjustments to the northwest business market, lowering the business tax. It is not the Yaguan who controls the entire transaction process. You can negotiate independently with the other party's businessmen. The only thing that remains unchanged is
Even the goods still have to go through strict inspection, but as long as you don't compete with the court for business or sell currency directly, the court will naturally welcome your arrival. Not only that, Xixia basically supplies raw materials, such as animal husbandry and medicine.
, the quantity and variety are very large, this is the profit, we can buy it, process it and make it into goods, and then sell it back, which is equivalent to making a fortune on the spot. Where can I find such a business? Of course, the key depends on your ability.
Can these raw materials be made into products that consumers need? All in all, technology is the dominant factor in current transactions. In terms of the oldest cost value, technology is equivalent to a costless transaction."
Everyone nodded frequently when they heard this. The blood of annihilating merchants was already boiling in their bodies. Challenges and interests were the favorites of merchants, because challenges represented huge interests. Coupled with the strong support of the imperial court, they were able to
The market in the Western Regions is full of confidence, and they don't believe in their bones that they can't defeat foreign businessmen.
A foreign trade war precipitated by Li Qi is already brewing.
Hong Bajin suddenly said: "Economic envoy, we can indeed give it a try in the Western Region, but if you ask us to invest in the northwest, I think it still needs to be considered. After all, war may break out in the northwest at any time. If we come to build a house in the northwest, if a war breaks out
, then we will lose all our money.”
Li Qi smiled and said: "Uncle Bajin's words are reasonable. Interests are always accompanied by risks. However, have you ever thought about why the war in the northwest continues?"
Uncle He Jiu said: "It's not just because of the Hetao area."
"That's right. Because the Hetao area is not only a strategic area, but also contains important interests. The Hetao Racecourse is a must-win for us in the Song Dynasty. In other words, all wars are caused by interests. However, if the Hetao area
There was great prosperity, and both the Song Dynasty and Xixia had achieved greater benefits than before in Hetao. Who still wants to fight? Even if their royal family wanted to fight, those princes, ministers, and people on both sides who could gain significant benefits from it would not be willing.
In other words, as long as the interests of the Hetao area are fully exposed, the battle will become harder to fight. The ministers in the court always say that we businessmen are selfish, so we must defend ourselves and use our talents to defend
The peace in this area proves to them that the power of interests is far greater than the power of thousands of troops. If the interests of peace are far greater than the interests of war, then both sides will inevitably choose peace, and vice versa. Moreover, I also
I have to remind you that Hehuang has just been recovered over there, so I won’t go into details about the benefits. If you want to improve the status of businessmen, you must find a way to integrate business and government, and the Hetao area is a good opportunity."
Li Qijian smiled and said, how old is Xixia actually? It cannot satisfy Li Qi's appetite at all. His goal is still in the Western Regions. The reason for increasing economic ties with Xixia is strategic necessity. This is all to resist
The Kingdom of Jin.
"Okay. Well said."
Hong Bajin laughed and said: "Based on the economy, this last sentence makes Hong's trip really worthwhile!"
Everyone nodded one after another, stood up and raised their hands towards Li Qi and said in unison: "We are willing to use our economy to lead the way."
Li Qi stood up and said with a smile: "I thought we should act in the interests of our Song Dynasty. Whatever can benefit our Song Dynasty, we will do it. Whatever morality and etiquette, we should give way to the interests of our Song Dynasty. Gentlemen will let those
Let the literati be the ones, and we businessmen will be the ones to do these villains. We must use our ingenuity and wisdom to build our Song Dynasty into a huge economic empire, and use profits to drive submission from all directions."
This last sentence speaks of great pride, but it does not belong to heroes, but to businessmen with humble status since ancient times.
These businessmen had never thought that they could be of such great use. For a moment, their hearts were filled with excitement, and they all burst into laughter, as if they saw that the time had come for the businessmen to take charge.
After Li Qi's eloquent talk, everyone began to look forward to foreign markets. Even though it was dinner time, they were unwilling to move and started eating in the hall. Anyway, they brought a lot of roast duck and braised vegetables for convenience.
It was very serious, and he pulled Li Qi and talked endlessly.
Li Qi also answered their questions one by one. It was not until midnight that the meeting came to an end.
Li Qi was very tired. As soon as he returned to the house and was about to rest, there was a sudden knock on the door. Who is it again? Why don't you let him live? He shouted weakly: "Who is it!"
"The economic envoy is our family."
Is there a kid? Li Qi was stunned, then stepped forward and opened the door. He saw Liang Shicheng standing in front of the door with a smile on his face. Li Qi hurriedly said: "Captain, please come in quickly."
"Excuse me." Liang Shicheng chuckled, walked in, and said with a smile: "The remarks made by the economic advisor just now are really eye-opening for our family!"
"Where, where." Li Qi poured a cup of tea for Liang Shicheng and said with a smile: "Actually, I have always thought that promoting social progress is not the Four Books and Five Classics, but interests. From ancient times to the present, all dynasties have been clamoring to benefit the people.
, we want the country to be prosperous and the people to be safe, not that everyone should become a gentleman."
"It makes sense, it makes sense." Liang Shicheng nodded a few times and suddenly said: "Economic envoy, since you speak so well of Northwest, you must not let go of the benefits."
I understand, it turned out that this guy came to ask me for money. Li Qi suddenly realized that Liang Shicheng was an eunuch after all. Apart from using his power to make money, he could not do business. But he was not stupid. He saw that Gao Qiu relied on Li Qi
They cooperated in business, and he didn't earn less. Moreover, he had tasted the benefits from Tian Xia Wushuang, so he also wanted to learn from Gao Qiu and make money through industry. Since he was a distinguished person, he would not go to Hong Ba.
If you don't want to look for those people like Jin, then look for this leader.
Li Qi was actually prepared and said with a smile: "Liu Lieutenant, what do you think is the most profitable business?"
Liang Shicheng was stunned, shook his head and said, "We don't know."
"Of course it's smuggled raw materials!" Li Qijian laughed.
Liang Shicheng was completely stupid now. That's not what you said an hour ago. Is this boy's statement true and that statement false? He said blankly: "Then why did you just---."
Li Qi smiled and said: "Captain, this business is also targeted. For those outside, they don't have the ability and the capital. Smuggling means pushing yourself to the edge of the cliff. If you don't do it well, you will be broken into pieces."
, but we are different, we have strength and financial resources, apart from smuggling, I really can’t think of any business that can satisfy our appetite."
Sure enough, this kid still had something up his sleeve. Liang Shicheng was secretly happy when he heard this, but he asked, "But smuggling is illegal."
Li Qidao: "Liu Wei, the reason why smuggling is illegal is because it harms the interests of our Song Dynasty. If we can obtain more benefits for the Song Dynasty through smuggling, then this crime will no longer be illegal."
Liang Shicheng listened half-comprehensively and said: "What do you mean by this?"
Li Qi didn't answer and asked instead: "Captain, what do you think is the most profitable thing to smuggle?"
"Salt?"
Li Qi shook his head.
"Tea?""
Li Qi shook his head.
Liang Shicheng groaned and said, "Economic envoy, please stop being so secretive and tell us quickly."
Li Qi smiled and said: "Of course I do!"
"mine?"
Li Qi nodded and said: "Yes. As far as I know, there are actually a lot of copper and iron mines in the Western Regions, but their technology is backward and cannot be mined. In this case, why don't we help others and help them mine. Mines are born underground.
, and the land is generally in the hands of the princes and nobles. We can send businessmen to them, buy the princes and nobles there with money, open up a line between heaven and earth, help them mine, and even help them sell it casually, using what they need.
Tea, porcelain and other items are exchanged for minerals. Taiwei might as well think about it, if this mine is used by their court, then they will not make a profit. Only by selling it can they make profits from it. Driven by profits,
They will inevitably embark on the road of smuggling, but minerals are different from ordinary commodities. Small quantities are meaningless. Unless the court intervenes in large quantities, it is difficult for anyone to eat this cake. Therefore, there are relatively few smugglers of minerals, and they are generally smuggled.
Tea, salt, porcelain. This is our opportunity. Don’t forget, Lieutenant, that I have an arms supervisor behind me. The Lieutenant must have seen the benefits of the arms trade."
Liang Shicheng smiled and nodded.
Li Qidao: "Making weapons requires iron, copper, wood, sulfur and other raw materials. So far, the raw materials of the Ordnance Supervisor have been controlled by the Third Division, and the Third Division must take care of the entire country. This undoubtedly limits the Ordnance Supervisor's ability.
Development, so if we want to make more money, we can only buy raw materials from other countries. In this case, the only option is smuggling. We can find ways to smuggle raw materials from various countries in the Western Region and sell them to the weapons supervisors, and then make the weapons
Weapons are sold to other countries, and money keeps flowing in over and over again. Although we have escaped a certain amount of tax, if we don't do it, this tax will not exist. However, the military
If the warden makes money, the court will naturally take the lion's share, and the emperor will also make money. Even if we follow and drink some soup, the money is still very considerable. Even if the court knows about it, it will support us in doing this. Who will give it to us?
Money will bring justice."
This guy is really a genius! Liang Shicheng’s smiling eyes are almost gone. It can be imagined that when he is in charge, Li Qi is in charge, he will not be invincible. As for the money, it is really inexhaustible! (