weaving

Chapter 372 Franchising
At noon on August 28, the sun was shining and the autumn wind was not dry.

In the central hall of Dushikou General Office, Zhang Cheng is receiving Wang Muchen, owner of Shanxi Ruichangtai, and Qin Zichen, owner of Datong Qiandeji.

"It's really rare for the two of you to come to this general's wedding banquet not far away." In the official hall, Zhang Cheng said to Wang Muchen and Qin Zichen.

The two of them were very excited to be interviewed by Zhang Cheng alone. Although they had invested a gift of 5000 taels of silver, it was like an investment to them, and it was a vision.

Otherwise, Shanxi merchants are powerful, especially the Wang family, who can survive in Shanxi for hundreds of years, relying on their vision and vision ahead of others.

The Wang family of Shanxi supported many of their sons and daughters as officials in the capital, and they said that Wang Pu, the chief soldier of Datong, was a military leader supported by them with gold and silver.

Now they discovered that Zhang Cheng, who was on the rise, showed his prowess. Not only did he have the support of the holy family, but he also had the support of the governor Chen Xinjia. Even in the court, he was also taken care of by the cabinet minister Yang Sichang. of youth.

Because of this, Wang Muchen was sent to attend Zhang Cheng's wedding banquet. Through Wang Pu's relationship, he first established contact with Zhang Cheng, and then made a detailed investigation.

If Zhang Cheng is indeed worthy of investment, they will further get closer to Zhang Cheng, and even tie them together completely. If Zhang Cheng is also an embroidered pillow, with a name for nothing, take a congratulatory ceremony of 5000 taels of silver, and first bury a pillow. The line is nothing to their Wang family.

As far as Wang Muchen was concerned, at the wedding banquet, he saw the pearl and jade birch bestowed by the current emperor, and the cabinet ministers and governors all sent couplet banners, and the minister Liu Yongzha even came to congratulate him in person, further confirming that the rumors are true , Zhang Cheng is indeed a holy family, with a bright future.

At this time, he got up and replied politely: "All the things about Zhang Ti Du Qin Wang have already spread to Shanxi, the arrows shot at Dorgon, and Yue Tuo was killed in battle, Zhang Zhang's majesty, the common people and others are all admiring and admiring.

This time the commander-in-chief is getting married, Xiaomin and others are even more presumptuous. Thanks to the admiral for not giving up, being able to meet us in person is really embarrassing for Xiaomin, and I am really flattered. "

Zhang Cheng smiled, he sipped some tea, and then said: "The two of you have arrived at Dushikou after a long journey, you don't need to rush back, you can visit the scenery of the northern country."

He said this and said to Lin Fangping who was standing on the side: "Fangping, you arrange a carriage and a guard. From today onwards, they will accompany the two distinguished guests Wang Muchen and Qin Zichen until they leave the North Road."

"Here!"

Wang Muchen and Qin Zichen looked at each other when they heard the words, and then Wang Muchen said, "I'm really ashamed, how can I wait for such preferential treatment from the admiral."

Zhang Cheng smiled, and he said: "Don't be polite, both of you, just go to North Road and visit various places. Now that North Road is stable and border trade is booming, if you two are interested, you can open it on My North Road." The firm will naturally fight with all its strength."

Seeing that Zhang Cheng took the initiative to invite them to open a business on North Road, both of them were brightened, but Zhang Cheng continued: "There are two places in my North Road, Dushikou and Mumabao, which can be used for border trade. Especially Dushikou is the most convenient.

And for the goods of the major shops, the general can also send soldiers to accompany them to guard, just charge some labor fees for the carriage and horses, after all, the soldiers also have to eat. "

Qin Zichen also asked at this time: "May I ask the admiral, is there any restriction on the trade between Dushikou and the northern captives?"

"Ha ha!"

Zhang Cheng laughed again, and said: "There is no need to restrict, everything can be traded with at the Dushikou of this general, but it is not easy for this general to raise an army, especially short of money and food, so for all matters of trade, more or less must be paid." Levy some business tax, this matter should be discussed first.

Another point is that in the territory of my North Road, there are salt, wine and tea, which are monopolized by Weisi, but private sales by private businesses are not allowed! "

"I don't know, how will the general collect the North Road business tax?" Wang Muchen asked.

"Salt, wine and tea, if you cross the border on the North Road, you have to pay [-]% of the monopoly tax, and the rest of the goods need to pay [-]% to [-]% of the business tax, and the grain, coarse cloth, and farm tools are all due to the For the needs of the military and civilian settlements, for the stability of our North Road, no commercial tax will be charged for the time being.

As for the detailed rules, they will be made public in the next two days, and everything will be collected from September this year. What do you two think? " Zhang Cheng said.

The two of them pondered for a moment, then said: "As the admiral said, although there is no precedent for collecting a little commercial tax on the border trade, it is justifiable, and we all support it.

It's just that I don't know how to operate the salt, wine and tea franchise that my lord said, and I won't open official stores everywhere! "

"The franchise of salt, wine and tea is still mainly based on taxation. Merchants on Wobei Road can buy salt, wine and tea from official stores and sell them in their own stores, or they can buy them from outside Wobei Road. But if you enter our northern border, you will be charged an entry tax."

Zhang Cheng said here, took a sip of tea, and then continued: "However, I will deliberately select a few companies with integrity to participate in the franchise, which is called franchise rights!"

"Franchise?"

Both Wang Muchen and Qin Zichen looked suspicious, they looked at each other, and it was Wang Muchen who asked again: "I don't know what a franchise is, please ask the admiral to clarify Mu Chen's doubts."

"The matter of franchising is easy to say."

Zhang Cheng put down his teacup and continued: "The meaning is that licenses and specific companies will be issued, and companies that have obtained the salt industry license can operate salt in the territory of Beilu.
It pays a certain amount of salt tax to the Ministry of Defense every year, and the equivalent salt can be operated according to the amount of tax paid. However, the salt tax must be paid in advance, so that it can enjoy the same treatment as the official store, without the need to approve the sale of salt every time. The value of the goods, a single tax payment.

Drinks and tea goods are also calculated in the same way! "

"In this case, it has the same meaning as buying Yanyin." Qin Zichen said.

"Admiral, if this is the case, the price of this salt is bound to be high on the North Road. First, the army and the people may not be able to afford it, and second, I am afraid that private salt will prevail!" Wang Muchen was also worried.

"Ha ha……"

Zhang Cheng laughed loudly, and he said: "Most of the military households on my North Road are the families of military dependents, and there are workshops all over the north and south of Yunzhou, during which salt, grain, and silver are mostly exchanged for each other, and military salaries and wages are distributed. , the salt it needs every year is also limited, which has little effect on it.

As for the private salt, I dare not talk about it elsewhere, but it is absolutely impossible in the territory of the North Road. Not to mention the strict military and civil laws of the North Road, there are inspections in every pass and castle. North Road, it will be difficult to move an inch! "

"I don't know how to get this franchise?"

(End of this chapter)