Chapter 220 The overseer must not! 【Ask for a monthly ticket】
Chu Yi walked casually and looked around, but he didn't walk through half of the street. Chu Yi found that there were at least hundreds of large and small shops. It can be seen that Suzhou's commercial prosperity is not just talk, it is real.
thing.
Tang Yin said from the side: "The Governor is unaware of something. The night market in Suzhou City is extremely prosperous and can last almost all night. If the Governor is interested, you might as well go to the night market to have a look."
Cao Shaoqin looked around, looking at the prosperous scene around him and frowning: "If our family remembers correctly, the commercial tax paid by the entire Suzhou Prefecture last year should only be more than 5,000 taels. Not to mention other things, just
The shops we have seen, I am afraid the commercial tax revenue in a year will not be less than tens of thousands taels."
Tang Yin coughed lightly. After all, he was once the top student in high school. He lived in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai for half his life. Tang Yin could be said to have seen everything in the world. Now when he heard what Cao Shaoqin said, Tang Yin had a sigh on his face.
Said: "If the governor implements new taxes in the future, then the land of Suzhou and Hangzhou must be a tough one. If there is no way to suppress the resistance of the gentry and merchants in the land of Suzhou and Hangzhou to resist taxes, I am afraid that the new tax will not be implemented at all.
It cannot be implemented in Jiangnan."
As he spoke, Tang Yin looked at Chu Yi with a serious look and said: "The governor should know that the wealthy gentry in the south of the Yangtze River gathered in Suzhou and Hangzhou, especially in Suzhou and Hangzhou. There had been riots because of tax resistance, and the tax collectors were beaten up.
Damn it, if the governor implements new taxes then, I don’t know how merchants in other places will react, but in Tang’s opinion, merchants in Suzhou and Hangzhou will never give in.”
Qi Hu narrowed his eyes and said coldly: "They dare!"
Fang Li on the side glanced at Qi Hu and said: "Qi Dastall, don't forget that taking people's money is like killing their parents. If the governor wants to collect taxes from them, there is nothing they dare not do!"
Qi Hu's eyes widened and he said, "Is it possible that they still dare to rebel?"
Fang Li chuckled and said: "Don't forget, killing officials is equivalent to rebellion. They dare to surround and kill even the emperor's servants. Even if they are rebelling, it is not a strange thing."
Cao Shaoqin said sharply: "Then let them try to rebel!"
Regarding the discussions between Qi Hu, Fang Li and the others, Chu Yi looked calm and just looked at the bustling scene indifferently.
Such a prosperous business is supposed to be enough to collect huge commercial taxes to support such a huge empire, but the commercial tax for the next year is only a few hundred thousand taels, which is not even comparable to the wealth of a wealthy businessman in Jiangnan.
It was these people who crazily absorbed nutrients from a giant like the Ming Dynasty but did not know how to feed it back. As a result, a hundred years later, Jiangnan was stained with blood, Yangzhou was covered with blood in ten days, and Jiaqing was massacred three times.
Dongchang had to set up a stronghold in Suzhou City, and Chu Yi and his party obviously couldn't rest on the ship, let alone find a random inn to stay, so the Dongchang stronghold was perfect.
In a seemingly ordinary courtyard, there are more than a dozen Dongchang fans and one Dongchang manager, which is the entire stronghold.
In Suzhou Prefecture, this small amount of manpower is really of no use, that is, it only serves the purpose of conveying some news. As for intimidating the place, to be honest, outside the capital, the deterrent effect of Dongchang is far less than that of Jinyiwei.
Mao Yu, the manager of Dongchang, looked at the group of people in front of him, especially when Cao Shaoqin showed him the identity token within Dongchang, Mao Yu couldn't help but was startled, and looked at Chu Yi and his group with a look of horror on his face.
Before Mao Yu was sent down, he had personally visited Cao Shaoqin. Although he had never met Chu Yi, he was not a fool. Cao Shaoqin and others obviously had Chu Yi as their core. In this case, Mao Yu could naturally guess
Reveal Chu Yi’s identity.
Apart from the Emperor and Chu Yi, Mao Yu really couldn't think of anyone else who could make Cao Shaoqin, who was almost the future governor of Dongchang, so respectful.
It was obviously impossible for the emperor to leave the capital, and there were some rumors about Chu Yi. Mao Yu stepped forward and bowed to Chu Yi and said: "Mao Yu, the head of the East Factory, pays homage to the Lord Governor. The Lord Governor is a thousand years old, a thousand years old, a thousand years old."
age!"
After giving Mao Yu a faint look, Chu Yi waved his hands and said, "No need to be polite, get up!"
Only a few people knew about Chu Yi's departure from the capital. Maybe some people in the capital had noticed Chu Yi's departure from the capital, but in this place, Chu Yi did not make any announcement. No one really knew about Chu Yi.
I have already left Beijing for many days.
Mao Yu hurriedly said: "Supervisor, please come in quickly!"
In the hall, Chu Yi sat in the middle, and the others lined up on both sides, taking their seats at Chu Yi's signal.
Mao Yu felt a little scared and nervous. After all, he didn't get any news in advance. Chu Yi suddenly arrived. If there was something he couldn't do, if he offended Chu Yi, he would have no future in Dongchang.
Spoken.
Taking a deep breath, Mao Yu respectfully said to Chu Yi: "The Governor needs Mao Yu to report the situation of Dongchang in Suzhou!"
Chu Yi nodded and said, "Let's talk about it and see what kind of information you have collected."
His eyes lit up, Mao Yu hurriedly saluted and said: "Reporting to the Governor, although our Dongchang only has a dozen people in Suzhou, we have hired dozens of informants on the periphery to spy on all the big and small things that happen in Suzhou for us.
…”
From Mao Yu's mouth, Chu Yi learned more about Suzhou Prefecture. Obviously, compared to Tang Yin who only briefly introduced some Suzhou Prefecture, Mao Yu told everyone present about all aspects of Suzhou Prefecture from another aspect.
Not to mention, Dongchang has no other abilities, but he is still first-rate in collecting intelligence. Many secret things have been detected by Dongchang. Even Tang Yin nodded repeatedly while listening.
It took half an hour for Mao Yu to tell Chu Yi the information about Suzhou Prefecture. Fang Li, Cao Shaoqin and others couldn't help but look at Mao Yu in a different light. He was able to manage the Suzhou Prefecture East Factory stronghold like this. To be honest, this
Mao Yu was really a talent, and Cao Shaoqin even had the idea of transferring Mao Yu back to the capital for re-employment at some point.
Now that Chu Yi has almost completely given up on the affairs of Dongchang, it can be said that it is all handled by Cao Shaoqin, and he is only one position away from the position of governor of Dongchang.
If Mao Yu can get under Cao Shaoqin's eye, he will definitely be able to rise to prominence within Dongchang in the future.
Chu Yi nodded slightly, glanced at Mao Yu with satisfaction and said, "That's right, it seems that you are also paying attention here in Suzhou Mansion."
Hearing Chu Yi's praise, Mao Yu said excitedly: "This slave is just doing his duty faithfully. He doesn't deserve such praise from the governor!"
Chu Yi motioned Mao Yu to sit down, picked up a cup of tea, took a sip, looked at Mao Yu and said: "Mao Yu, you live in Suzhou Mansion and know Suzhou Mansion better than anyone else. I would like to ask you, if I want to join
Is it possible that commercial tax collection will continue to be implemented in Suzhou Prefecture?"
Mao Yu's expression couldn't help but change when he heard this. He shook his head almost instinctively and said, "The Governor must not do this!"
Although they had known for a long time that it would be very difficult to increase commercial taxes in Suzhou Prefecture, they never expected that Mao Yu's reaction would be so big.
Mao Yu felt everyone's eyes on him and couldn't help but smiled bitterly and said respectfully to Chu Yi: "So that the governor knows that there are five major families in Suzhou Prefecture, Zhang, Wang, Chen, Li, and Liu. Among them, the Zhang family, the Wang family, and the Chen family
The family is a well-known maritime merchant in the entire Jiangnan area. Each family has dozens of ships traveling overseas all year round. The Li family and the Liu family control the textile, tea, and porcelain industries of the entire Suzhou Prefecture.
No matter which family is worth at least one million."
Everyone is not surprised. Whether it is sea trade or the textile, tea, porcelain and other industries that dominate the country, the profits are astonishing, and the net worth of millions is less than that.
Mao Yu continued: "In addition to these five major families, there is also the Wu family. The second master of the Wu family is the garrison of Suzhou Prefecture. The families in the following few guardhouses are all from the Wu family. Even if they are not, they are still from the Wu family.
The in-laws control the large and small mines in Suzhou Prefecture. The tax collectors in Suzhou Prefecture were besieged and killed before, and the driving force behind it was just one of these six families. It can be said that as long as these six major families are willing, they can make the huge Suzhou at any time
A one-night strike in Suzhou Prefecture triggered turmoil."
Tang Yin was born in Suzhou and grew up in Suzhou Prefecture. He naturally knew that what Mao Yu said was true and not even an exaggeration. He sighed softly, cupped his fists and said to Chu Yi: "Supervisor, Mao Zhangban did not lie. The six major families are entrenched in
The shortest period of Suzhou Prefecture has been decades. It can be said that several companies have joined forces to run Suzhou Prefecture like an iron barrel. Even if Suzhou Prefecture goes from the prefect to the lowest official, it all depends on the six families.
Act with the look on your face.”
Cao Shaoqin frowned and said, "Even the city of Nanjing is not a piece of iron. I didn't expect that Suzhou Mansion would be run like this."
In fact, everyone present knew that the city of Nanjing had a different status in this place in the south of the Yangtze River. It was the core of southern politics and culture. There were countless dignitaries and gentry living in Nanjing. In this situation, no matter how powerful they were, no one could
The management of Nanjing City will be monolithic.
If someone could really turn the city of Nanjing into a monolith, I'm afraid it wouldn't be far away from confiscating homes and exterminating clans.
Looking at Chu Yi, Mao Yu said respectfully: "Once the governor increases taxes, it will inevitably trigger a strong backlash from these six families. Not to mention other places, at least in Suzhou Prefecture, it will be difficult for the governor to receive any taxes."
Everyone looked at Chu Yi, but Chu Yi's expression remained unchanged, and there was even a smile on his face. He nodded slightly and said: "I never thought that the situation in Suzhou Mansion would be so complicated. The huge Suzhou Mansion is so complicated.
Being controlled by a few people is truly worthy of being as high as the sky and the emperor is far away!"
I don't know why although Chu Yi didn't show any anger, several people present felt an inexplicable chill in their hearts after hearing Chu Yi's words.
Just when Chu Yi and others were learning about the situation in Suzhou Mansion at the Dongchang stronghold, they saw the magnificent mansion of the Wu family among the six families that Mao Yu mentioned.
A dock steward was bowing down respectfully in front of a wealthy clerk. If anyone saw this clerk, they would definitely recognize him as the head of the Wu family, Wu Yi.
Wu Yi was very prosperous, wearing a military hat and gorgeous clothes. He was sitting there with a kind smile on his face. Anyone who saw him would praise him for looking like a good person.
But what is it that people should not be judged by their appearance? Wu Yi's evil reputation can really stop a baby from crying at night in Suzhou Prefecture. No less than a hundred people died directly or indirectly at the hands of Wu Yi.
Whether it is the docks or the mines, they are all controlled by the Wu family. If they were not ruthless enough, the Wu family would not be able to firmly control more than 90% of the mines and the Suzhou docks in Suzhou Prefecture.
Wu Yi raised her head and glanced at Wu Si, the dock steward, and said, "Wu Si, if you don't keep an eye on the dock and you run back now, could it be that something happened on the dock again?"
Wu Si said respectfully: "Master, my old servant came here because two strange official ships came to the pier. According to the master's instructions, whenever there are strange ships docked in Suzhou Mansion, they must be dispatched as soon as possible.
Report to the master of the family!"
Wu Yi nodded slightly and said: "Oh, a strange official ship came unexpectedly. Did the other party report their identity? Have you ever found out where they came from?"
Wu Si shook his head and said: "The other party seems to be quite cautious and did not take the initiative to contact the dock to report their identity. However, after their people got off the ship, the old servant has already sent a message to our people. I think it won't be long before they can make inquiries.
Tell us the origins of these people!”
Wu Yi glanced at Wu Si with admiration and said: "You have done a good job. If our Wu family wants to maintain its current status, we must be careful in everything. Being able to travel on an official ship must have an unusual status. Although the Wu family is not afraid
, but I don’t want to cause any more trouble..."
While he was talking, he saw a steward coming in a hurry, but it was Wu Zhong, a steward of the Wu family who was in charge of intelligence gathering.
Wu Zhong prostrated himself in front of Wu Yi and said: "Master, there is important news!"
Wu Yi asked curiously: "Oh, what is going on?"
Wu Zhong said in a deep voice: "After receiving the summons from Wu Si earlier, I immediately sent someone to investigate the identity of that group of people, and finally found that the group of people had entered Willow Leaf Alley!"
Wu Yi was stunned for a moment, then realized what he was doing, exclaimed and stared at Wu Zhong: "You said those people entered Willow Leaf Alley?"
Whether it is Wu Zhong or Wu Si, they all know what Liuye Alley represents. The entire Liuye Alley is not big, there are only a few households. People who can afford to ride on the official ship can only enter Liuye Alley.
I couldn't have entered Dongchang for the few poor households in Liuye Lane.
Wu Zhong nodded and said: "Yes, the people we arranged in Liuye Lane also came out to report that the group entered the Dongchang stronghold."
Taking a deep breath, Wu Yi said: "So, most of these people are from Dongchang."
Wu Zhong and Wu Si did not speak, but quietly knelt on the ground and waited for Wu Yi to make a decision.
After a while, Wu Yi glanced at the two of them and said, "Okay, I already know about this, so you can go about your own business."
Watching Wu Si, Wu Zhong and others leave, Wu Yi suddenly said: "Come here, please invite the second master back to my house, saying that we have something important to discuss."
