I studied in modern times

Chapter 842 Storm (3)

After seeing Cai Jing off, Zhao Xu leaned back in his chair and said softly, "After all, your thoughts are still unclear!"

What Cai Jing said was actually only half of the plan in his mind.

Maybe even less than half!

All he wants is a Kaifeng Prefecture that listens to him?

A base that is unshakable and has the support of hundreds of people, similar to Guanzhong during the Qin and Han Dynasties and Longyou during the Sui and Tang Dynasties?
No, no!
That would be underestimating him.

You are underestimating his efforts!
"How much did I pay?!"

Zhao Xu looked up and counted the plans he had made from last year to now.

First, liberalize the weavers of the Silk and Brocade Institute.

The personal dependence of the outstanding weavers in Lingjinyuan on this royal monopoly institution was terminated.

Then, he instructed Kaifeng Prefecture to deliberately relax restrictions on the textile industry.

It turned the original government-run and royal-monopolized industries into fat meat that everyone could share.

To this end, Zhao Xu even thoughtfully provided raw materials and the most important market for this emerging industry!
Ramie was brought into Beijing from Guangxi and Jinghu South Road on sugar ships.

In addition to transporting grain to Beijing, the grain ships on the Liangzhe Road also transported large amounts of local cheap, high-quality silk to the capital.

In addition to cotton, a raw material that is now highly monopolized, Zhao Xu almost used the power of the state to provide the cheapest raw materials to the workshop owners in Bianliang.

He didn't even make much money in the process!
If this were to happen in the past, it would be unimaginable!

Then he also opened up the market.

There is not only the market in Bianjing City, but also the market in Liao Kingdom.

During the second phase of the Song-Liao Jiaozi trade this year, a large amount of folk linen and silk cloth was also purchased.

Then there is the pawnshop!

Determined to buy!
Other measures include gradually relaxing, deregulating and de-monopolizing industries that were previously highly monopolized and controlled by the government or the royal family.

So many liberalization, de-regulation and de-monopoly policies have been implemented.

The merchants inside and outside Bianjing kowtowed to Zhao Xu and shouted: "Saint Zhao, it is more than enough for us."

So, after paying so much, how could Zhao Xu just want to keep Kaifeng Prefecture's grassroots bureaucratic system firmly under his own hands?

How could they be satisfied with just creating Guanzhong and Longyou of the Zhao Song Dynasty?

He held his cheek with his hand and looked at the objects in the quiet room.

Zhao Xu suddenly looked at Feng Jing, who had been waiting at the door, and waved to him.

Feng Jing came forward quickly: "Everyone..."

"Have you made up your mind?" Zhao Xu looked at him and asked, "Do you want to leave the palace to do your work?"

Tong Guan has controlled the Bian Jing Xin Bao and Bian Jing Yi Bao for more than two years.

Although Liu Weijian was supervising him, Tong Guan could not do anything in front of Liu Weijian.

But it’s still too long!

It's time to find someone reliable to take over.

Feng Jing swallowed and lowered his head: "Let me know, I have made up my mind... I am willing to share your worries!"

Zhao Xu nodded: "Then get ready!"

"After some time, I will stop serving as a waiter in the Emperor's palace and report to the Ministry of Personnel!"

"what……"

"What?" Zhao Xu glanced at him: "Although I am the emperor, I still have to abide by the rules!"

Feng Jing lowered his head and replied, "Reporting to everyone... that is not what I meant..."

He knew the character of the official he served - the official would not bypass procedures and processes unless it was necessary.

Even if it is his own business, it is just average.

I would rather go slower and abide by the rules.

Of course, if necessary, all systems and regulations are nothing but air.

Therefore, Feng Jing raised his head and said pitifully: "I...I just can't bear to leave you..."

Zhao Xu looked at him. Although he knew he was acting, he still felt soft-hearted. He scolded him with a smile, "Alright...alright...stop acting like a woman in front of me...it's not like you can't enter the palace in the future..."

"Every three to five days, you still have to come to the palace and report to me on the situation in Bianjing City!"

Feng Jing immediately smiled happily. What he feared most was that it would be extremely difficult to enter the palace again after leaving it.

He might not have the chance to see the emperor once a month. If that happens, he will suffer a great loss.

Now, after hearing what Zhao Xu said, he felt relieved.

Zhao Xu looked at the silly look of this idiot and shook his head in his heart.

At the same time, he also knew that it was time to choose a new close friend.

……

Chenliu is the throat of the eastern suburbs of Bianjing.

It is located 52 miles east of Bianjing City. Because it blocks an important transportation route, the Zhao Song Dynasty adopted an attitude of draining the pond to catch fish and set up checkpoints frantically.

So, there are seven towns alone!
These towns are located on every necessary road from Chenliu County to Bianliang City.

It opened its bloody mouth and stretched out its arms towards the passing merchants.

In a simple sentence: This road was built by me, and these trees were planted by me. If you want to pass through here, please leave some money for the road!

Although the legal tax is 5%, but that is the money paid to the government!
The clerks also need to eat, live, drink some wine, eat some braised meat, and occasionally go to brothels to listen to music and have some fun behind half-opened doors.

Where does the money come from?
Just relying on the money Emperor Zhao gives them every month?

If you can’t even support yourself, how can you support your family and live a happy life?

Therefore, when the imperial court issued an edict, Kaifeng Prefecture issued an order requiring all counties and towns within the prefecture to be exempted from taxes.

The clerks in each town were all very unhappy!

But there is no way!
Chenliu County is too close to Bianjing!
It’s so close that a fast horse can reach Beijing in about an hour!

It is so close that people from Bian Jing often come to Chenliu for outings, sightseeing, and collecting folk songs.

If you are not careful, you might encounter a crow from the Censorate or a senior official in the court.

Therefore, the clerks in Chenliu County were very dissatisfied.

But they had to carry out the orders of the court.

however……

As time went by, especially when the clerks in Chenliu County heard and saw that their colleagues in the capital and even in neighboring counties had started to extort money from passing merchants again and continued to live their happy lives as before, and the court seemed to have no reaction to this.

Their mentality began to collapse.

Qin He, the tax collector from Xiaoguan Town, was the one who collapsed the most!
Because, just two months ago, he spent a large sum of money to honor the previous supervisory official and got the job of tax collector in Xiaoguan Town.

Just when he was planning to make a strong comeback, the imperial court’s policy came down.

And the knife cut into the aorta!

Just abolish the tax!

This is equivalent to wasting 80% of his income!

There is no way. Among the merchants who come to Chenliu, how many will keep their goods in the local area to sell?
They must be heading for Bian Jing!

Since the transactions are not conducted locally, there is no question of residence tax.

If taxes cannot be collected, then there will be no way to exploit, extort or intimidate merchants with all kinds of excuses and reasons.

If he can't make money from merchants, then what's the point of this job he paid a huge sum of money for?
The worst thing is that the money Qin He used to pay tribute to the official was borrowed.

What's more, it's usury. Not only do you pay out nine out of ten and return the rest, but the interest is compounded!

The heavy interest burden made him breathless.

Yet, he still had to stand guard at the tax checkpoint every day, watching the merchants traveling from north to south, driving their carriages, or even riding carts loaded with goods, passing by him.

But he cannot take bribes from these people.

It’s like guarding a mountain of gold but starving to death!

Thinking of this, Qin He's face became ferocious, and the tumor on his neck became swollen, making him look particularly fierce.

"Those rotten sheep-headed people in Kaifeng Prefecture!" Qin He's eyes swept viciously towards the caravan in front of him.

"Grandpa, I don't care!"

He held the whistle stick and called out to the listless men behind him: "Do you want to drink? Do you want to eat meat? Do you want women?!"

The subordinates, who had seemed drowsy at first, immediately became alert.

"Brother, is there any benefit?!" They were immediately revived with full health.

"Stop them!" Qin He held a whistle and pointed at the caravan in front.

It was a team consisting of three ox carts and two donkey carts.

The vehicles were loaded with commercial goods such as vegetables and fruits.

I think it should be the farmers nearby who gathered the vegetables they grew and the fruits they picked, and then gathered young and strong people in the village to form a caravan.

This is also a business that has emerged in the counties outside Beijing in the past one or two years.

Because - the government abolished the city gate tax of Bianjing City.

As a result, more and more farmers come to the city to sell vegetables, fruits and even various local products.

At the same time, these caravans are also easy to control.

Because they are all rushing to the city to sell vegetables and can't afford to delay!

So every time before, as long as Qin He made things a little difficult for them, they would obediently pay the money and beg for mercy.

In the past twenty days or so, Qin He did not dare to touch these people again because of the pressure from Bian Jing and fear of being held accountable.

but……

It’s been more than twenty days!
In Bian Jing, there was loud thunder but little rain.

He can't hold on any longer!

We must make money! Make money hard!

With this thought in mind, Qin He and his men stopped the caravan.

Everything is going smooth!
When the people in the caravan saw these officials, they trembled and dared not breathe. They did whatever Qin He said and did not dare to resist at all.

So, Qin He finally got his first extra income in more than 20 days.

Although it’s little!
But it is precious!
This also boosted his confidence!

What official? What is the will?
In front of Brother Kong Fang, nothing matters!

Make money! Make money!
As Qin He intercepted caravans one after another and achieved success again and again, he became more and more excited.

But an accident also happened at this time!

(End of this chapter)