Lucheng County in Cangzhou was highly valued by Guo Song during this period, not because of the salt field property rights dispute. He paid attention to Lucheng County because of the shipbuilding yard and docks at the mouth of the Zhang River, especially the docks. It can be said that the docks at the mouth of the river belong to the Jin State.
The first pier to go to sea is of great significance.
He has ordered the Hebei Salt and Iron Transfer Department and the Cangzhou government to repair the Hekou pier as soon as possible to rejuvenate this first seaport in the north.
There is a reason why Guo Song has paid great attention to seaports recently. In order to attack Hebei, Zhu Si began to increase taxes last year to supplement the increasingly tight military expenditures, which led to a large number of bankruptcies among middle-class people. In order to alleviate social conflicts in the capital, and more
In order to collect taxes, Zhu Si extended his evil hands to Yangzhou, which had always been prosperous, and began to target Yangzhou's rich people. Among the first families targeted was the famous Liu family, a large merchant.
In the official room, Guo Song was listening to a report from Dugu Mingli, the third son of Dugu Qiu. Dugu Mingli was originally the commander of the Qianniu Guard in the palace. After the Jingyuan mutiny, he resigned from the palace and took charge of the Dugu family's business in Jianghuai and Jiangnan.
Almost all the royal relatives have business in Yangzhou, and the Dugu family is no exception. Dugu Mingli has been stationed in Yangzhou these years, taking care of business for the family, but he is also Guo Song's brother-in-law, and Guo Song named him Shibo.
As the envoy to Yangzhou, he can also be regarded as Guo Song's subordinate.
Guo Song had no brothers, and since the death of Guo Ziyi, the Guo family has been relatively indifferent to him, and did not regard him as a clan member like Guo Ziyi did. On the contrary, the Guo family valued the orthodoxy of the Tang Dynasty more and almost moved to Chengdu.
For this reason, Guo Song did not put much emphasis on the Guo family. As for the Guo family in Lingzhou, it was even less useful.
On the contrary, Guo Song valued the Dugu family very much. Although they were Guanlong nobles, this family was more pragmatic and loyal to him. Dugu Qiu's five sons were all smart and capable. The eldest son Dugu Mingren had been promoted to the office of Tai Chang.
Order, in charge of sacrifices.
There is also the fifth son, Dugu Qian, who is in charge of several major industries of the Dugu family and is also an external professor of business at Taixue University.
The Dugu Mingli in front of him was the second son. He had been in Yangzhou for many years and was very familiar with overseas trade. Guo Song intended to train him in the direction of the Municipal Shipping Administration.
"Your Highness, there are two reasons why Liu Shangdong has been undecided. One is that Liu Sigu urged Zhu Si not to fish all the time, so during this period, the pressure on Yangzhou's rich people has been reduced a lot, and the other reason is that the two Zhejiang roads have appeased
Even Han Huang was persuading Liu Shangdong to transfer the family business to Mingzhou, and the bargaining chip he offered was not low. He seemed to promise not to impose taxes within ten years, and would also sell the Liu family a special dock at a low price, which made Liu Shangdong very tempted."
Guo Song smiled lightly and said: "Although Liu Shangdong was tempted, he did not agree to go to Mingzhou. Why?"
"He is afraid of offending His Highness!"
"That's right. Liu Shangdong still has some eyesight. We should still have a chance."
Guo Song walked a few steps behind his hands, then turned around and said: "Go back to Yangzhou immediately and tell Liu Shangdong that if his family is willing to come to Chang'an to live permanently, I can sell him a thirty-acre garden house.
Secondly, his family’s fleet can be divided into the Northern Fleet and the Southern Fleet. The Northern Fleet is stationed at Hekou Port. If his family’s fleet can contribute to the Jin army, I will even consider giving him a knighthood.”
Dugu Mingli scratched his head and said: "It would be best for Your Highness to write a personal letter and promise him in writing. I think it will be more effective."
"Can!"
Guo Song readily agreed, "I'll write a letter to you right away. Please try your best. It's best to leave today. This matter can't be delayed too long, lest you have long nights and dreams."
The reason why Guo Song spent a lot of money to attract Liu Shangdong, and even sold a garden house to his family that only powerful and powerful men could live in, was mainly to attract more Yangzhou rich people to settle in Chang'an.
Another reason is that Guo Song took a fancy to the hundreds of ships owned by the Liu family. These ships were of great significance whether he attacked Liaodong or captured Quanzhou and Lingnan.
...........
Since Yangzhou was occupied by Zhu Si's army, it has begun to decline. On the one hand, Zhu Si imposed high commercial taxes, as well as miscellaneous taxes such as rack tax, salt tax, and wine tax, which put great tax pressure on the people and merchants of Yangzhou.
.
On the other hand, Zhu Si carried out hidden exploitation of Yangzhou merchants. For example, when Zhu Si purchased goods in Yangzhou, he paid very slowly and paid with new money. This new money contained only 60% copper and was legal.
Merchants have to accept currency even if they don't accept it, but merchants are unwilling to keep this currency and will try their best to exchange it for gold and silver, or exchange it for old money. This will lead to merchants losing about 20% of the currency.
If there were only these two aspects of exploitation, the businessmen would tolerate it as long as they could. But what frightened the big businessmen in Yangzhou was that Zhu Si took a fancy to their wealth and would use overt and covert means to rob them all.
.
In November last year, a list of 20 large merchant families secretly appeared in Yangzhou business circles. It was rumored that they would be the first families to be plundered by Zhu Si.
But the rumors soon turned into reality. Cheng Dingguo, a famous Yangzhou silk and satin businessman, was accused of having an affair with Li Na. Cheng Dingguo was arrested. Three of the family's mansions and more than 20 shops were confiscated, and 300 yuan of fine silk and satin were confiscated.
Thousands of horses, as well as countless gold, silver and copper coins, as well as a large number of jade, jewelry and other properties.
Cheng Dingguo's experience made Yangzhou's wealthy people fearful and tried every means to transfer their money and assets. It was against this background that Liu Shangdong's ten eight-thousand-stone ships were sold to the Dugu family and the Dou family.
The eight thousand stones are definitely strategic assets of the army. The year before last, Zhu Si requisitioned twenty ships of the Liu family to deliver goods to Zhu Tao. As a result, the ships were seized by Zhu Tao, which was actually occupied.
The Liu family was afraid of making the same mistake again, so they sold ten ships worth eight thousand gu at a low price, and the Dugu family and the Dou family bought them for 8,000 gu each.
Liu Shangdong is about fifty years old this year. He followed his father to the sea for trade when he was a teenager. It was not until he took over as the head of the family ten years ago that he stopped going to sea. In total, he has been at sea for thirty years and has developed a lot of courage.
.
Liu Shangdong, like other wealthy families, has decided to leave Yangzhou with his family. As for where to go after leaving Chang'an, no one has thought clearly. Some want to go to Suzhou and Hangzhou, some want to go to Chang'an, and some want to go to Chengdu.
But everyone is hesitant to wait and see. Recently, Zhu Si has eased the high-pressure measures, giving everyone a little breather.
Liu Shangdong initially wanted to move his family to Hangzhou or Yuezhou and move the fleet to Mingzhou. This was a good plan and most of his family members supported it. Liu Shangdong suddenly became very hesitant because Guo Song was also recruiting him.
, so that he did not dare to act rashly. He did not want to offend King Jin and bring disaster to his family in the future.
That afternoon, Liu Shangdong was reading newspapers in his study. He liked to read "Chang'an Express", especially the second page, which had a column about jade. An author named Anxi Meiyu was talking about various ways to play with jade.
Liu Shangdong was extremely obsessed with jade. He collected a large amount of jade. After reading the column, he realized that the jade in Anxi is different from the jade in the Central Plains. The jade produced in Liaodong is called Xiu jade, and the jade produced in the East China Sea is actually crystal. The four famous jade
Among them, only the jade produced in Heli, Khotan Town, Anxi Province is the real mutton-fat jade, with a rich and beautiful skin.
Only then did Liu Shangdong realize that the thousands of pieces of jade he collected were almost all Liaodong Xiu jade, Nanyang Dushan jade and Lantian jade, but there was no beautiful Khotan jade, which made him feel quite regretful.
At this time, the housekeeper came to report, "Master Dugu is here again!"
Liu Shangdong was startled. What was Dugu Mingli doing again? Could it be that the qualifications of the ship were not up to standard? The other party wanted to return the goods?
But as soon as he thought about it, he understood. A wry smile appeared on Liu Shangdong's lips. Prince Jin really refused to give up.
He quickly ordered: "Invite him to sit in the guest room for a while. I will come right away."
Not long after, Liu Shangdong came to the guest hall, where Dugu Mingli was drinking tea. He was so busy that he came directly after entering the city.
Although he was tired from the long journey, Lonely Mingli was very excited inside. He could feel the trust King Jin had in him. King Jin confided in him and told him his true intention of wooing the Liu family, which was to lure the wealthy people from Yangzhou.
When going to Chang'an, as long as the Liu family succeeds, the people behind will naturally follow.
Dugu Mingli was full of confidence in this persuasion. King Jin showed his sincerity and believed that the Liu family would not be as ambiguous as the last two times.
"Cough! Cough!"
Two heavy coughs were heard from the hall. Liu Shangdong walked into the hall with his hands behind his hands. Dugu Mingli quickly stood up and said with a smile: "My nephew is here to disturb Uncle Shi again."