Daming: Mixed in Dangzhi County, Beiping

Chapter 460 Zhu Di’s heart is a little broken
Next door, the two merchants also happened to answer Guo An's question.

"The only thing that annoys me and other merchants is that the Marquis of Dinghai knows very well about our merchants' affairs and leaves us helpless at every turn.

Just before His Majesty ascended the throne, the Marquis of Dinghai proposed doubling the business tax. "

"Moreover, the doubled commercial tax increase must be used as the year-end bonus for those officials..."

"Be careful!... His Majesty has agreed to this matter, and all the officials in the entire Ming Dynasty have also agreed to this matter. The general trend is the general trend, how can we and other mere merchants dare to stand in the way?"

"However, fortunately, the year-end bonus still brings some benefits. At least many officials do not dare to blatantly ask me for bribes!
Moreover, all the workshops and shops opened by the Marquis of Dinghai are very fair and never bully or exploit merchants like me..."

"Yes, plus we cooperate with the Chamber of Commerce that Marquis Dinghai is responsible for, they are also afraid that we will cling to Marquis Dinghai, and they don't dare to exploit us as they did before!"

"If we can be like the Shen family and cling to Marquis Dinghai, or even be remembered by His Majesty, then we will be willing to pay twice as much business tax!"

"Hahaha, my dear brother, this is just a fantasy. If as a brother you can attach yourself to the Marquis of Dinghai and pay five times more business tax, that would be..."

In the private room on the side.

Guo An couldn't help but look at Zhu Di.

Coincidentally, Zhu Di also looked at Guo An with a strange expression.

"I didn't expect that Guo Qing would still have such great prestige in the hearts of these merchants!"

"Your Majesty was made to laugh, and Wei Chen was also very surprised. He didn't expect that Wei Chen was considered a profitable marquis in the hearts of these merchants!"

"Master Marquis, noble lords, the food is here!"

At this time, the wooden door of the private room was pushed open, and the shopkeeper walked in with a few waiters, carrying plates of food.

"Ok!"

Guo An nodded slightly and asked the shopkeeper to put down the food.

The shopkeeper was also very discerning. After putting down the food, he left quickly.

"Your Majesty, please!"

Zhu Di, who was already a little hungry, didn't hesitate and started eating directly.

Speechless for a while.

After being satiated, Guo An once again took Zhu Di to take a good look at the workshops near Jiangjun Mountain.

Among them, in the glass, furniture and other workshops, I seemed to see the two businessmen who were in the same restaurant again.

However, the two merchants only looked at various objects and did not notice Guo An.

Guo An, Zhu Di and others did not pay much attention to those merchants.

What Zhu Di was most concerned about was that carts or boats of objects were being pulled away in front of these workshops.

"Your Majesty, since these items are sold directly from the workshops to these merchants, the price must be [-]% or [-]% cheaper than the prices in those shops!"

Guo An explained.

Zhu Di was a little surprised: "Is it much cheaper than the price in the shop on the street in front?"

Guo An nodded slightly: "Your Majesty, the price will definitely be [-]% cheaper than the price in the shop on the street in front!"

Zhu Di was stunned for a moment, then became a little disdainful, "What a bunch of profiteers!"

Guo An was helpless, "Your Majesty, there is an ex-factory price, and a shop has a shop price. This is the way of a merchant..."

Zhu Di looked at Guo An and said seriously: "Guo Qing, you are becoming more and more obsessed with merchants!"

Guo An sighed slightly, "Your Majesty, everyone in the world is bustling for a few taels of money! Only money and food can the people survive!

The humble minister is stupid and thinks that only money can make the people in the world live a better life! "

"presumptuous!"

Zhu Di looked furious, "Are you saying that all the gentlemen in our court are a bunch of incompetent people?"

"Your Majesty misunderstood!"

Guo An's face changed slightly and he said quickly: "Your Majesty, I have a small position and a narrow vision. I can only see the most intuitive impact of the merchant incident based on the situation in Peiping."

As for whether the Dukes in your court are incompetent or not, you have the final say!

Guo An did not say this.However, Zhu Di looked around and couldn't help but feel silent as he looked at the faces that were completely opposite to the faces of the people he saw on the streets in the capital city.

Could it be that those Gong Gong princes in the court are really not as good as these few workshops?

At this moment, Zhu Di's Taoist heart couldn't help but collapse.

……

After returning to the palace, Zhu Di still looked thoughtful.

After a long while, he asked Zhu Gaochi on the side: "Chi'er, you said that we and the princes in the court worked hard to govern the Ming Dynasty every day, but it made the people of the Ming Dynasty more and more miserable.

On the contrary, Guo Qing's few workshops and a group of merchants made the lives of more than 1000 households near Jiangjun Mountain better and better! "

"Is it true that Confucian governance is wrong?"

"Father..."

Zhu Gaochi was stunned in shock.

"Father, how can Confucian governance be wrong? The strong Han Dynasty and the prosperous Tang Dynasty were all gained by Confucian governance. Even the Song Dynasty was prosperous and wealthy, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment!"

Zhu Di said: "However, the Song Dynasty valued culture over military affairs and was invaded by foreign tribes..."

Zhu Gaochi said quickly: "Dad, the literary style of the Song Dynasty was so strong that the generals of the Song Dynasty could not hold their heads up and could only be at the mercy of those treacherous ministers.

But now, the teacher is building a military academy for our Ming Dynasty, and our good generals Wu Xun will appear one after another.

The tragedy of the Song Dynasty will never be repeated..."

Zhu Di said harshly: "Since ancient times, literati have valued self-interest the most, and they have become accustomed to the entire world being controlled by their Confucian literati.

Now, how could they watch the establishment of the military academy? "

Zhu Gaochi's eyes lit up and he said hurriedly: "Dad, this is why the teacher did not ask you for money, but instead embezzled money privately from the Chamber of Commerce..."

"It's just that why didn't the teacher tell you about this, but would rather arrange for the laborers and the driver to be as vigilant?"

"Humph!"

Zhu Di's face darkened, "Does Thief Guo think that we are starting to value civil servants? Or does he think that we don't believe that those civil servants will stop him?"

Zhu Gaochi had a sneer on his face, "Dad, I think the teacher may not want to bother dad!"

"Guo Thief just thinks that our vision is shallow!"

Zhu Di looked even more hateful.

"Zhuan Jin Yiwei Commander Zhao Hu!"

"The slaves obey the orders!"

Yi Shiha quickly bowed and retreated.

After a while.

Zhao Hu, the commander of Jin Yiwei, hurried in.

"The humble minister Zhao Hu is here to see His Majesty!"

Zhu Di nodded slightly and asked, "Have any officials inquired about the military academy in Jiangjun Mountain recently?"

Zhao Hu quickly replied: "Reporting to your Majesty, no officials have inquired, and even many officials in the capital do not know about the establishment of the military academy!"

"Very good!"

Zhu Di nodded slightly.

"Send someone to pay attention to things near Jiangjun Mountain. If any officials dare to block it, report it immediately!"

"The minister obeys the order!"

Zhao Hu was shocked.

Zhu Di thought of something and suddenly asked: "How is the investigation on the counterfeit banknotes going?"

……

(End of this chapter)