Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 661



Chapter 661

The so-called "thunder, rain and dew are all the grace of the king", you can keep what the emperor gives you, and you have to be happy, and you can't take what you don't give...

This is the most basic awe of imperial power, and it has been like this throughout the ages.

Fang Jun's answer was irrelevant to the question, and he seemed to be somewhat dissatisfied with the "Huating County Marquis" granted by the emperor.And His Majesty Li Er looked leisurely, showing no signs of happiness or anger.

Fang Jun didn't speak, as if he felt that there was nothing wrong with what he said just now.

After a long time, His Majesty Li Er raised his eyelids to look at Fang Jun, and said flatly, "You really think so?"

Fang Jun said calmly, "Naturally it is true."

His Majesty Li Er was noncommittal, and said calmly: "Tell me the reason."

Fang Jun moved his legs and feet, he was really not used to this kind of kneeling posture, he didn't have any opinion on this kind of ancient etiquette, he was simply not used to it...

"Huating Town belongs to Suzhou Prefecture. Although this place is a bit remote, it is very close to Suzhou, and it is surrounded by the sea on three sides, with a wide view and developed sea transportation. If this place can be operated as a treaty port, it will have a unique geographical advantage, and it can be communicated in one fell swoop. In a few years, Jiangnan Commercial Road will become the largest commercial distribution center in Jiangnan and even in the entire Tang Dynasty."

This is inspired by Wu Meiniang.

As for operating Huating Town as a treaty port, it was the idea when the imperial edict was issued.After all, it would be embarrassing for the traveler to leave Shanghai, the largest port in the East, but not develop shipping in future generations...

His Majesty Li Er nodded in relief.

He really thought that Fang Jun couldn't see the purpose of granting Huating Town to him as a fiefdom, and he felt resentful towards the imperial decree. After all, Huating Town was really desolate and remote.

But operating Huating Town as a treaty 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 for the navy to station for future expeditions.

It is not too difficult to build a military port, but it is a big project to build a treaty port.

His Majesty Li Er frowned slightly: "Is this necessary?"

The larger the project, the more money will be spent.

Although the audience business is booming now, with a lot of tax revenue, glass workshops are exported overseas, and there is a lot of profit every year.But compared to the money and food that would be spent on the eastward expedition to Goguryeo, it was still too much to do, and we had to save money.

His Majesty Li Er has already seen the benefits of commercial prosperity from Fangjiawan Wharf, but Jiangnan is too far away from Chang'an, and that is the territory occupied by the Jiangnan gentry. Even if commerce flourishes, it must be the Jiangnan gentry who will benefit the most.The national treasury allocated a large amount of money to build a treaty port, but the people who benefited the most were the Jiangnan gentry who had always been in harmony with the imperial court. His Majesty Li Er was unwilling to do this kind of thing of making wedding dresses for others...

Of course Fang Jun understood His Majesty Li Er's scruples.

He nodded and said: "It is very necessary. However, the emperor probably misunderstood what I mean. What I want to build is not an ordinary commercial port, but a city port department directly under the Ministry of Households. Maritime merchants in the Tang Dynasty, the imperial court distributed documents, informing that only this one was allowed as a treaty port by the imperial court, and the rest would be regarded as smuggling if they landed anywhere. And all the taxes at the port, except a part, were reserved for daily operations , all turned over to the state treasury."

At this time, Datang did not have the concept of "shibosi".

Historically, during the Xianqing period of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, the "Shi Ship Envoy" was established in Guangzhou, which was the predecessor of the "Shi Ship 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, his hands trembled in shock, and he almost pulled his beard off...

Doesn't this cut off the roots of the Jiangnan gentry?

The reason why the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River has been entrenched in the south of the Yangtze River for hundreds of years and their power is prosperous is because of the extremely profitable sea trade!Now that Fang Jun, once established as a "shibosi", is equivalent to breaking the foundation of the Jiangnan gentry, how can these guys let it go?

Even His Majesty Li Er had to admit aggrievedly, Jiangnan, that is the Jiangnan of the Jiangnan gentry!Once these Jiangnan gentry find their foundations shaken, they will inevitably launch a hysterical counterattack. In the one-third-acre land in Jiangnan, even the imperial court is powerless to face the madness of the Jiangnan gentry!
Is there really a bloodbath in Jiangnan?
Of course His Majesty Li Er would not do that!Once Jiangnan is shaken, I don't know how many years my great cause of the Eastern Expedition will be delayed. I am now in the prime of life, but if it is ten or twenty years later, will I still have the energy to plan the Eastern Expedition to Goguryeo?
His Majesty Li Er shook his head and sighed, Fang Jun's idea was enough to move his heart, but there was not much possibility of success.

"Once this port is opened, it will inevitably be resisted by the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River. I am afraid that it will die soon after it has just been built."

Without the support of the Jiangnan gentry, this port would exist in name only. You can't expect the goods to land in Huating Town, and then transfer to Guanzhong by water, right?
Fang Jun had already had a plan in his mind, and he said confidently: "Father and emperor have learned, in fact, the success or failure of this matter does not lie with the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River, but with the maritime merchants of various countries."

His Majesty Li Er was puzzled: "Why?"

Fang Jun said to himself: "Businessmen are profit-seeking by nature. As long as there is profit, someone will do the business of beheading! It is inevitable for the Jiangnan gentry to resist, because they want to pursue huge profits. Once the port is controlled by the imperial court, all taxes will be paid. All belong to the imperial court, which affects their income. What they do is to boycott Huating Town, while accepting foreign merchant ships as usual in various coastal areas, and doing business as usual. But if we can control the maritime merchants of various countries, so that they Apart from Huating Town, if you dare not go to other places, it will cut off the supply of the Jiangnan gentry, and the goods from outside can’t come in, and their goods can’t get out, how can this business be done?”

His Majesty Li Er was stunned.

Doing business is all about making money. Once the trade routes in the south of the Yangtze River are strictly controlled, it is tantamount to putting a rope around the necks of the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River.If you don't do business in Huating Town, you have no business to do!

The gentry in the south of the Yangtze River is composed of many families. Although they are connected with each other, there must be competition and embarrassment. It is impossible to be of one heart and one mind from beginning to end.Facing the temptation of huge profits, some people must give up the alliance and throw themselves into the embrace of the court.

This move can 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 area...

The entire south of the Yangtze River is in 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 follow your orders and only land in Huating Town?"

The corner of Fang Jun's mouth twitched, revealing a cold smile: "Whoever doesn't listen, no one is welcome in my Great Tang's thousands of miles of sea. The sea is windy and dangerous, who knows what unexpected disasters will happen? Is it possible that the father is a son?" The new type of navy that I will form can only transport food and soldiers?"

His Majesty Li Er slapped his thigh and said loudly: "I will prepare a memorial and present it to you, and I will issue an order to establish this treaty port!"

Whoever is disobedient will be killed!

This is simply too much for His Majesty Li Er's appetite...

Murder and arson have no psychological burden on His Majesty Li Er at all.As for those disobedient foreign merchant ships?
Ha ha……

Fang Jun knew that His Majesty Li Er would agree to this matter, so he hurriedly said: "I haven't finished talking yet..."

His Majesty Li Er happily said: "What else is there, but it's okay to say!"

He couldn't be happier!

This Fang Jun really has the talent of Zaifu!

Randomly coming up with an idea, not only can help the court collect a large amount of taxes, but also strengthen the control of Jiangnan, it is simply a monster!
What kind of career will this dude who acts recklessly in Chang'an City do if he is released from Chang'an to roar across the world?
His Majesty Li Er now likes Fang Jun more and more the more he looks at him!

Such amazing talent is simply a gift from God to Datang...

Fang Jun was a little guilty by His Majesty Li Er's eager eyes, coughed dryly, and said: "I ask my father to cancel the customs tax for the whole country, and only keep the customs duty for foreign goods, and the rest will only charge the market tax. That's it. First, the amount of tariffs can be increased without causing complaints from domestic merchants, while at the same time restraining imports, encouraging exports, and expanding the trade surplus.”

His Majesty Li Er was dumbfounded when he heard these bible words...

(End of this chapter)


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