Father Han Gaozu

Chapter 509 Greed Covers Fear

"Your Majesty, afterward he began to complain."

In the Hall of Houde, Lu Lu was concentrating on describing for Liu Chang the words and deeds of Liu An to the two uncles today. Yes, what Liu An was worried about still happened. As the number one eagle dog of the elder, he has been by his side for a long time Lu Lu had nothing to hide from Liu Chang, the chief servant, and the relationship between the two of them was very good. As long as Liu Chang asked, Lu Lu naturally had no reason not to tell.

"This Zongzi!! How dare you slander me like this?!"

Sure enough, Liu Chang was furious immediately.

"I tried my best to find so many people for him, sent them to assist, and arranged money and food mansions. I will break his legs for this stick!!"

Instead, Lu Lu laughed, "Why is Your Majesty so angry? I used to think that the crown prince was not like my father. I just realized what happened today. The crown prince is actually quite like my father. Didn't you say that he is too old-fashioned to understand?" To be flexible, you even specially arranged Ju Meng as his family member, just to enlighten him? Now it seems that Your Majesty has achieved great success!"

Hearing what Lu Lu said, Liu Chang's mood improved a lot.

The servants around Liu Chang all know that His Majesty is a soft-hearted person, as long as he does not make a big mistake, praise His Majesty a few words, and make him happy, then nothing will happen, Your Majesty will be fine, otherwise How could Zhang Buyi be prime minister on the left?Isn't it just what people are bragging about?By Liu Chang's side, the most important thing is not to be stubborn. If you are stubborn, you will be destined to go to the frontier countries. Liu Jing, Chai Wu and the others are the best proof.

Lu Lu then expressed his thoughts on the poison trade.

Liu Chang listened more seriously.

"Your idea is not bad. There are many merchants who want to get acquainted with you, and they don't have any precautions against you. If you are responsible for contacting merchants, it would be appropriate."

"Now that His Majesty wants to loosen the restrictions on merchants, merchants all over the world respect you very much. Whether it is going out for trade or domestic construction, they will definitely do their best and will not have any reservations."

Liu Chang's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Do merchants really respect me so much?"

"That's natural. For hundreds of years, they haven't had a good life. Emperor Gao has imposed various restrictions. Merchants have to be arrested even by the soldiers. Now His Majesty wants to open up business and encourage merchants to do business." How could they disrespect you after coming into contact with many prohibitions? I heard that there are many merchants and merchants in Qi State, but they refused the title, saying that it was to express their respect to His Majesty."

Liu Chang stroked his beard and laughed.

"The big man wants to develop agriculture, but merchants are also indispensable. In the past, all industries were in the hands of temples. This is the policy of the Qin State. However, this approach has great disadvantages. I wanted to start business earlier. , Allowing the people to set up their own restaurants, the ministers are very opposed to it, and even say that this is the way to destroy the big man."

"They keep saying that they are worried about the monopoly caused by private merchants, but in my opinion, if the private business is completely banned, it will cause monopoly instead. Do you remember Chang'an when we were young? The restaurants at that time were all In government-run ones, the servants are stern-faced, rude to people who come and go, the food is unpalatable, and the smell is terrible, on the one hand because they have no competitors, on the other hand, it is because it is not their own."

"They are not opening their own restaurants, they are just doing things for the temple, no matter how many or how few people come to eat, the money has nothing to do with them in the end!"

"The same is true for post houses, including the salt, tea, and iron operated by temples. The people who do things are passive, just waiting to go home earlier, lazy, careless, and don't care about the profit and loss of the temple at all. .”

"It is only after I discovered this that I allowed private restaurants to be opened. If you look at the restaurants today, whose people still eat in the restaurants run by temples? The prices are high, the food is unpalatable, and the attitude is rude. In the past, customers were often beaten. Now almost all the restaurants run by Chang'anli Temple have closed down, and there are only four restaurants that are responsible for the meals of foreign ministers."

"The ministers said that my actions have destroyed the important source of income generated by restaurants, but isn't the tax paid by private restaurants in Chang'an now dozens of times the income of restaurants in the past?! Is this considered ruined? ? With the support of the temple, if you still can't compete with the common people, then let him destroy it!"

Liu Chang said angrily, but Lu Lu couldn't help shrinking his neck.

Liu Chang broke many restrictions in the past, such as personal restrictions on the common people, and many restrictions on doing business, allowing the people to open private restaurants, bookstores, hotels, restaurants, transport convoys, construction teams, etc. , Salt has made strict controls, and the common people are not allowed to touch it.

The ministers did not regard Liu Chang's business behavior as a breakthrough, but the opposition was not as serious as Liu Chang himself said. After all, the matter of allowing private restaurants to open restaurants had actually begun to appear in Xiao He's time, but , His Majesty said that he did it by himself, then it was His Majesty who did it, Xiao He came back to life, that was also done by His Majesty, and it has absolutely nothing to do with Xiao He!
Historically, these private "enterprises" gradually prospered during the Wenjing period. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu was surprised to find that the private merchants were richer than each other, and the temples were poor. Therefore, he sharpened his sword Slaughter cattle and sheep, directly order the calculation of property tax, and all businessmen and handicraftsmen will be levied property tax according to their assets.

Handicraftsmen are halved, merchants are charged twice for a car, ordinary people are halved, and boats of more than five feet are charged one. Self-declaration of property is adopted, and reporting is encouraged. Half of them were rewarded to the whistleblowers, so the trend of suing and suing prevailed, and the government often dealt with them strictly, resulting in "a high rate of failures above the merchants."

The behavior of Emperor Wu greatly increased the income of the temple, and he had an inexhaustible wealth at once, but at the same time it caused a huge blow to private commerce, which barely recovered during the period of his great-grandson. How can this policy be beneficial? Combining the current era of that great enemy, it is hard to tell whether it is right or wrong.

Lu Lu asked curiously: "Since Your Majesty believes that the businesses run by the people themselves are more than controlled by the temple, why don't you simply ban many industries in the temple and let the people take over?"

Liu Chang glanced at him, and then said: "It's wrong to completely deny private commerce like the Qin State, but if you want to hand over the food and goods to merchants and let them toss as much as you want, then there will be big troubles, and you must let them go. The temple plays a leading role, and the combination of the two sides is the kingly way!"

Lu Lu nodded, somewhat understanding.

"But for now, we still need to encourage more businesses run by these common people. I have already decided to reduce business tax and discourage business, but no longer restrict business. In addition, I am going to allow farmers to retain their original place of origin." At the same time, do some sideline business. Farmers grow melons and fruits. If they can’t eat them all and are afraid of rot, they can sell them. The farmers of Dahan are already suffering, so there is no need to impose so many restrictions on them.”

"Your Majesty Shengming!!!"

Hearing this sentence, Liu Chang suddenly thought of something, and asked suspiciously: "By the way, Zhang Busu is someone else? I haven't seen him for several days."

Lu Lu hurriedly replied: "Zhang Zuoxiang is busy with measuring the cultivated land and re-stating the household registration. I heard that Zhang Xiang taught him a lot of registration methods in Qin Dynasty."

"Oh."

Liu Chang didn't ask any more questions, just sat quietly, tapping the case in front of him lightly, as if he was struggling with something, Lu Lu didn't interrupt him, just waited quietly, after a while, Liu Chang suddenly raised his head Come, and asked: "You said, if I contracted many industries of the temple to merchants, what kind of consequences would there be?"

"what??"

Lu Lu was stunned, "What did Your Majesty say?"

"Jia Yi once told me that there are a lot of minerals in Zhao State, and the ability of temples is limited. If we contract these minerals to merchants and allow them to mine for three or five years, the mined goods will be purchased by temples at market prices. It can save a lot of manpower.”

"I have seriously thought about it for a long time. If minerals can do this, then tea, salt, and even Chidao, canals, and cities can all be borrowed from merchants?"

"Your Majesty! No!"

Lu Lu immediately interrupted Liu Chang. Merchants are just a means for Lu Lu to make money, and the emperor's close servant is his job. In this regard, he still knows how to choose. He said without hesitation: "The Zhao Guo's This may be the case for minerals, but salt and iron are not things that can be easily handed over to the people. As for Chidao and Caoqu, this is especially true. Before everything is settled, Your Majesty should not bring up this matter again."

Seeing Lu Lu's resolute attitude, Liu Chang had no choice but to trust him.

"I promise you this. But, in exchange, you have to promise me one thing!"

"Um???"

The fourth floor of Chang'an Wuding Building.

"Your Majesty is holy! It is simply an unprecedented Holy Son of Heaven. Today, the Holy Son of Heaven has set up a food and goods mansion, which is entirely for the sake of us merchants. The Holy Son of Heaven wants to set up a mansion for us and protect us. How big is this? Your kindness, Holy Son of Heaven."

The merchant was so moved that he lost his voice and sobbed.

Another businessman next to him immediately answered, "When the Holy Son of Heaven is alive, the world is rich and the people live and work in peace and contentment. Even those of us who are engaged in lowly businesses can do a lot under the grace of the Holy Son of Heaven. Three times of accepting millet, without asking for a title, is to express my loyalty and infinite respect to the Holy Son of Heaven! The Holy Son of Heaven, who is a true saint, how can Yao and Shun compare, since the creation of the world, there is no second one!"

"The kindness of the Holy Son of Heaven is well known in the world. Today, Mr. Lu specially summoned us. We are very pleased. We will go to Shihuo Mansion tomorrow. No matter what order we have, we will definitely complete it! The great kindness of the Holy Son of Heaven , Even if you die, you can’t report it!!”

Lu Lu sat in the upper position, surrounded by a circle of big merchants.

Those who can sit here are not small people. These are well-known big merchants in Chang'an. Each of them has millions of tens of millions of property, and even hundreds of millions. There are more than forty people. The influence of people among the merchants is also very great. Of course, their titles are not low. A low title cannot become a big merchant. Many of them are descendants of the founding heroes, or are related to the royal family.

People like this, no matter whether the emperor prohibits or encourages private business, it will not affect them at all.

But now, these people can't wait to express their loyalty, they are crying, and they are especially moved. Lu Lu's face is ashen, and he doesn't say a word. A tall strange businessman glanced at him.

Today, Lu Lu suddenly invited a famous merchant in Chang'an. Everyone knew each other, but this person, they didn't know each other. Like a small mountain, it doesn't matter whether the merchants want to pay attention to him. Although Lu Lu explained that he is a great merchant from the Tang Dynasty who just came to Chang'an, how can this clumsy disguise hide these shrewd merchants? ?
They could tell at a glance that he was not a merchant. In Chang'an, only the emperor could have this figure and wear an expensive Chu suit. He didn't even take off his golden belt. This thing is almost standard for princes.

Ever since, before Lu Lu opened his mouth, these big merchants began to express their loyalty, and they didn't even give Lu Lu a chance to speak. They mouthed one holy emperor, and Zhang Buyi felt disgusted when he saw them hoarse.

Lu Lu looked at their enthusiastic expressions, but he was very clear in his heart.

In fact, these people are against opening up business.

That's right, these biggest merchants were the first to oppose the establishment of merchants. As for why, it is also very simple, because the ban on merchants does not affect them, and merchants cannot wear brocade, but they have a layer of high-level clothing besides merchants. They can wear the bodyguards of titles if they want. Those famous titles of the big man have already emitted a strong smell of copper when they came to the second generation, or even the third and fourth generations. Constantly use the children of the clan to collect money.

Because private merchants have suffered huge restrictions, they can easily achieve monopoly in some industries. Before Liu Chang did not order the collection of salt and iron, these dignitaries even owned many copper mountains and iron mountains, and the wealth they earned every year Amazing, therefore, when Liu Chang wanted to take back the landscape, they opposed it with all their strength, thinking that His Majesty was competing with the people for profit! !
But when Liu Chang loosened the restrictions on private merchants, they jumped out again, and they were still opposed by the power, thinking that this was His Majesty's breeding of tigers.

What they care about is not merchants, nor big men, but their own wealth.

Liu Chang saw through this very early on.

In fact, Lu Lu is a good example. He was able to set up a restaurant of that scale in Chang'an with great momentum, but no one dared to take care of him. Why, because his title, if many restrictions were relaxed, the restaurant owner If there are more people, it will definitely affect Lu Lu's business. This is what these merchants think.

After the establishment of Shihuofu, these people took the form of evasion, and even secretly helped, spreading rumors that Shihuofu was going to do the same thing as Liu Jing, which caused great panic among the merchants.

When they were suddenly invited by Lu Lu and met the suspected emperor, they immediately expressed their loyalty because of this incident.

They were very afraid that they had offended the emperor because of these things, and that this meal would be their last meal.

Lu Lu finally couldn't help interrupting them.

"Okay. Don't think I don't know. You people are all against business. Not long ago, I heard people say that you spread the word to merchants, saying that the Shihuofu was set up to kill merchants. "

"After completion!!! You never believed in rumors!!"

Immediately someone shouted: "How could such a thing happen?"

"I just went to Shihuo Mansion today and met Zuo Cheng. You can't talk nonsense!"

"We all support business development!! The Holy Son of Heaven is kind to us, how can we oppose him?"

The merchants explained in a panic.

Lu Lu felt that he understood the emperor's intentions. He deliberately glanced at Liu Chang's position, then put on a very cold look, and said with a sneer: "You know the truth, don't think that what you did I won’t say anything about things that can be concealed much. You can handle it yourself. However, I still want to suggest that you go to the Shihuo Mansion now and have a good talk with the officials there. Do things well or else”

"Only! Only!"

"You idiots, you have figured it out for Naigong. After opening the business, there will be many changes in the temple. Taxes will be reduced, and we will be allowed to go to the body poison trade. That is a big trade, and even contract some of Zhao's Mines, mines. You are short-sighted and complacent. I don’t care, but don’t break my way. Think about it clearly. Who can go to foreign trade, who can open caravans, and who can contract mines. The government has the final say, hehe, you fool who pretends to be smart!!"

Hearing Lu Lu's words, the eyes of the merchants who were still terrified just now flashed.

"Hou Jiancheng, what you said is true??"

"Am I going to lie to you? This is what one of my close relatives said, so it's true, but, just you people, I'm afraid you won't get this chance!"

"After it is completed, we will definitely cooperate with all our strength!"

The merchants said, and quickly left here, leaving no one left.

Liu Chang raised his head and glanced at Lu Lu, "Yes, yes, I didn't even know you had such a violent side."

Lu Lu laughed, "Your Majesty, have you seen it? When the profit is huge enough, they are not even afraid of death, and they are no longer afraid of you. The panic in their eyes is completely replaced by greed. This is a big merchant. As long as the profit Enough, they can do anything, Your Majesty, that's why I stopped you and let them contract projects everywhere."

"Just these people, can you use them with confidence??"

(End of this chapter)