Family Rise: Beginning with Grandfather.

Chapter 585: The Royal Merchants Bureau is Corrupted

August 12.

Emperor Yanping issued an edict, Yang Mingcheng inherited the title and officially became the Marquis of Darong Jing'an.

In the main courtyard of the Yang family, Yang Mingcheng changed into a Qilin costume. As the saying goes, Buddha relies on gold ornaments and people rely on clothes. Wearing the Qilin costume, Yang Mingcheng immediately looked majestic and noble.

Wang was tidying up Yang Mingcheng's clothes, and her gaps between her teeth were exposed as she smiled.

"Dad, do you think this dress fits me?" She asked Yang Zhengshan tactlessly.

Yang Zhengshan was left speechless by her.

This woman is good in every way, except that she seems a little petty sometimes.

In Wang's eyes, promotion and wealth are both great joys.

Her husband became a marquis, and she was so happy.

This is a matter of concept. Although Wang is now rich and prosperous, the petty-mindedness in her bones has not disappeared.

Of course, Yang Zhengshan would not be angry with her. Apart from this point, Wang was a good person in other aspects.

"Well, not bad, he looks very much like a marquis!" Yang Zhengshan did not disagree with Wang, he stroked his beard and smiled.

Yang Mingcheng smiled innocently, "Why do I feel uncomfortable?"

"What's wrong with you? I think this is good!" Wang said immediately with dissatisfaction.

Since she wasn't wearing the dress, she naturally didn't feel uncomfortable; she just felt comfortable looking at it.

Yang Zhengshan laughed and said, "It's too cumbersome and really uncomfortable to wear!"

Yang Mingcheng took two steps and nodded, "That's right, I can't practice martial arts wearing this!"

The Qilin costume is gorgeous, but because it is too gorgeous, it is not suitable for everyday wear.

Anyway, Yang Zhengshan only wore the Qilin costume a few times.

"I'd better change it!" Yang Mingcheng said and walked towards the room next door.

"Hey, why are you changing it? I think it's fine like this, you wear it!"

Wang quickly chased after him.

Seeing this, Yu Qingyi couldn't help but laugh, "Let her put on the Marquis's shawl tomorrow and see if she still likes it!"

Yang Zhengshan also laughed.

The attire of noble ladies was even more complicated. There were more than twenty kinds of head ornaments on the bald head. Once put on, it was like wearing a huge vat on the head. The clothes were also extremely complicated, with "falling collars", "seven things", and all kinds of miscellaneous pendants. They could not even walk happily.

If this were worn daily, it would definitely be extremely uncomfortable.

As the two were talking, Lu Shou walked into the hall and said, "My Lord, Mr. Luo is here!"

Yang Zhengshan stood up and said, "I'll go to the front yard first!"

"Yeah!" Yu Qingyi nodded.

In the front yard, Luo Shang and Luo Zhen were sitting in the tea room waiting.

When Yang Zhengshan came in, the two men quickly stood up and bowed, "Greetings, old marquis!"

The title was passed to Yang Mingcheng, who became a marquis from then on, and Yang Zhengshan was promoted to old marquis, so Yang Chengye, the young marquis, was also worthy of the title.

"sit down!"

Yang Zhengshan sat casually beside the tea table, leaning lazily on the couch.

He looked at Luo Shang and Luo Zhen. Luo Shang's hair had turned white and his complexion seemed a little bad today.

"Is there something?" Yang Zhengshan asked.

Luo Shang hesitated for a moment and sighed heavily, "Old Marquis, I'm afraid something is going to happen to the Royal Merchants Division!"

Yang Zhengshan was startled and looked at him in astonishment, "What could possibly happen to the Royal Merchants Department?"

The Imperial Merchants Bureau is the money bag of Emperor Yanping and the Ministry of Revenue, providing them with tens of millions of taels of silver every year. In the minds of Emperor Yanping and the officials of the Ministry of Revenue, the Imperial Merchants Bureau is a great treasure. Neither Emperor Yanping nor the officials of the Ministry of Revenue will allow any problems to occur in the Imperial Merchants Bureau.

The situation of Huangshangsi in the past two years should be good. Although the profits of the glass business have been declining, glass products have been popularized among the people. The cheapest glass products can be sold for a few cents of silver, and even a local rich man can buy a few pieces.

Although the profits decreased, the market grew bigger and bigger, and the Royal Merchants Company was still able to make a lot of money from the glass business.

As long as there are no problems with the glass business, there shouldn't be any major problems with the Royal Commercial Company.

Luo Shang's face showed bitterness. "Old Marquis, you don't know that the revenue of the Imperial Merchants' Department has been declining since last year. The year before last, the annual revenue of the Imperial Merchants' Department was more than 13 million taels, while last year, the annual revenue of the Imperial Merchants' Department was only 11.8 million taels. This year, the revenue of the Imperial Merchants' Department may fall below 10 million taels!"

Yang Zhengshan was even more stunned, "Why is this?"

It doesn’t make sense!

The current revenue of the Royal Commercial Company should only increase, not decrease.

It's not just the glass business, there's also maritime trade. The Royal Commercial Corporation now controls a lot of maritime trade industries.

Moreover, as the Imperial Merchants Bureau intervened in the maritime trade business, Dayong's maritime trade showed a booming development. From Liaodong to Jiangnan, and then to Fuhai, the scale of maritime trade in coastal areas became larger and larger, and the profits generated also increased.

Luo Shang said: "One is that a large number of private glass workshops have emerged among the people, and the other is that there are problems within the Royal Merchants Bureau."

"Wait, didn't the imperial court stipulate that private glass workshops are not allowed?" Yang Zhengshan interrupted.

Luo Shang said helplessly: "Even if the imperial court doesn't allow it, it can't stop them from being blinded by greed! Not only do they run private glass workshops, they also use the channels of the Imperial Merchants Bureau to sell glass products!"

"The Wang family, the Qi family, the Zhang family, and the Lin family are all deeply involved. The Zhen Yang family can't stand it anymore. Even I have been threatened by many people!"

Yang Zhengshan was silent.

It is not the glass workshops that control the glass business, but the sales channels of the six major imperial merchants.

In fact, private glass workshops had already appeared a long time ago, but they had no sales channels, and the imperial court banned them, so those black workshops were only small-scale operations in individual places.

But once the six imperial merchants get involved, it means that the glass products of private workshops can be sold all over Dayong. At the same time, it also means that private workshops are snatching the interests of the Imperial Merchants Company.

In fact, from the perspective of economic development, this situation is unavoidable and is also beneficial.

But the problem is that if these people use the channels of the Imperial Commercial Bureau, they do not have to pay commercial taxes.

To put it simply, not only can they use the Imperial Merchants Bureau to make money, but they also don't have to pay taxes to the court, which is of no benefit to the court.

"What problems have arisen within the Royal Merchants Division?" Yang Zhengshan asked again.

"Last year, our Luo family reported a profit of 3.63 million taels to the Imperial Merchants Bureau, but the profit reported by the Imperial Merchants Bureau was less than 3 million taels!" Luo Shang said.

Yang Zhengshan narrowed his eyes slightly, "Did someone take your money?"

Luo Shang nodded with a heavy face, "They not only took our money, but also exploited us at every level. Take silk for example. The price of raw silk purchased by the Royal Merchants' Office is one tael and three coins, while the price sold by silkworm farmers is only nine coins. The price the weaving workshops give us is 30% higher than that of ordinary people. Our profits in the silk business have been driven down to the point where we are not making any money."

"If we continue like this, we may have to do business at a loss!"

"..."

Yang Zhengshan understood it completely. The Royal Merchants Department had begun to rot internally, and the speed of rot was quite fast. In just a few years, it had become rotten to an unbearable level.

Moreover, it was not just the Imperial Merchants Bureau that was corrupt; even the Weaving Bureau and the Maritime Customs Bureau were corrupt as well.

"Can you clean it up?"

Luo Shang was a little embarrassed, and Luo Zhen interrupted, "Old Marquis, if you want to clean up the corrupt officials in the Imperial Merchants Department, you may need to rebuild the Imperial Merchants Department, and even re-select other Imperial Merchants!"

Yang Zhengshan shook his head speechlessly. This meant that the six imperial merchants were also involved.

The six imperial merchants were all chosen by him!

It's only been a few years, and they've all been corrupted.

There's no hope!

Unless Emperor Yanping is willing to cut flesh to heal his wounds, but will Emperor Yanping be willing?
Nowadays, Darong has too many places to spend money, especially Beiyuan Town and Longyuan Province, which are all asking for money and food. It is probably difficult for Emperor Yanping to make up his mind.

"Your Luo family wasn't involved?"

"No, absolutely not!" Luo Zhen said quickly, seriously and affirmatively.

Yang Zhengshan nodded slightly, "That's good, you Luo family should get out of this now! Resign and sell everything the Luo family has in the Royal Business Division!"

"This~"

The father and son looked at each other.

Yang Zhengshan tapped his fingers on the tea table and said, "I am going to Xingyue Island. From now on, the Yang family will focus on Xingyue Island!"

Luo Shang was stunned for a moment, then a look of sudden realization appeared on his face.

"No wonder the old marquis wants to pass the title to you!"

"Old Marquis, do you mean that our Luo family will also go to Xingyue Island?"

Yang Zhengshan took a sip of tea and said, "There are many islands around Xingyue Island. If you are willing, I will give you an island to settle down!"

"Business still needs to be done, but the focus can be on the Southeast Sea in the future. You can also do glass business in the Southeast Sea!"

"How about this, we set up a business and give your Luo family 10% of the shares?"

Luo Shang's expression changed slightly, and the worry on her face disappeared, replaced by relief.

Going to the southeast waters to do business?

This is also a good choice for their Luo family.

What he was afraid of was not leaving the Royal Merchants Bureau, but that Yang Zhengshan would no longer care about their Luo family.

As long as Yang Zhengshan is still willing to take their Luo family out to play, he has nothing to fear.

"My Lord, isn't 10% too little?" Luo Shang started to bargain.

Yang Zhengshan laughed, "You, you have earned money all your life and you still haven't earned enough!"

"No one would complain about having too much money!" Luo Shang also laughed.

Luo Zhen also laughed.

Yang Zhengshan shook his head. "Only 10% of the shares. I want to bring in the Zhen Yang family as well. Then I want to bring the Lu family on board. The Lu family only has half. You and the Zhen Yang family must each take out one million taels of silver as the start-up capital of the business to get 10% of the shares!"

Setting up the business was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but a plan he had made long ago.

According to his plan, he wanted to establish a force on Xingyue Island with the Yang family as the center.

This force is similar to sect power, and also similar to family power, or should be more similar to a family business.

The Yang family will be the main one, and two wealthy businessmen will be selected as the auxiliary ones, and two other families familiar with the southeast waters will be found to join.

This is very similar to the previous Xingyue Sect, but there is an essential difference, that is, the Yang family is the only one in power, and other families are affiliated with the Yang family.

For wealthy businessmen, Yang Zhengshan chose Luo Shang and Zhen Yang. For families familiar with the Southeast Sea, Yang Zhengshan chose the Lu family, that is, Deng Yuehe. If he was missing one family, he could choose another partner in the Southeast Sea later.

In addition, Yang Zhengshan also wanted to drag the Tenglong Weiliu family into the water and let them invest some people and money in Xingyue Island.

In this way, a huge business came into being.

Luo Shang and Zhen Yang were in charge of management, Tenglong Guard was responsible for providing the safety of ships and the northern waterway, the Lu family represented by Deng Yuehe was responsible for providing intelligence, and the Yang family was responsible for providing protection for high-end military forces.

Luo Shang didn't say anything more and directly agreed: "Okay! Everything in my Luo family will follow the arrangements of the old marquis!"

"Haha, there's no need to be so nervous. We're just moving to a new place to develop. Besides, we're not leaving Darong completely. You still have to do business in Darong!"

"When the time comes, you can discuss with Zhen Yang and sell part of the industry to the Yang family business!"

"Well, from now on we will call it Yang's Shop. You are the head shopkeeper of Yang's Shop, and Zhen Yang is the second shopkeeper of Yang's Shop. What do you think?"

Yang Zhengshan said with a smile.

Luo Shang poured tea for him, "As long as the old marquis doesn't abandon the Luo family, I can do whatever the old marquis wants me to do!"

Yang Zhengshan smiled and said, "Wait until I settle down on Xingyue Island, and you can pick a few seven or eight-year-old children from your family and send them to Xingyue Island!"

"I will personally teach them how to practice when the time comes!"

Luo Shang's eyes lit up, "Then Luo Bo!"

Yang Zhengshan thought for a moment and said, "Isn't he in Chongshan Town?"

Luo Bo is Luo Shang's eldest grandson and Luo Zhen's eldest son. He should be in his twenties this year.

When Yang Zhengshan was still in Chongshan Town, Luo Bo followed Yang Chengye in the Royal Guard Camp. Later, Yang Zhengshan returned to Beijing, and Luo Bo stayed in the Chongshan Town Flag Camp as a team officer.

Now this kid should be following Yang Chengye again.

Luo Bo is a warrior, his cultivation is mediocre, it seems he has just entered the acquired realm.

"Since he is with Chengye, let him continue to follow Chengye!"

Luo Bo is considered to be Yang Chengye's team member, so Yang Zhengshan naturally cannot snatch his grandson's people away.

"That's good. Luo Bo's child is five years old this year. He can be sent to Xingyue Island in two years!" Luo Shang said without being disappointed.

Afterwards, the two chatted about some family matters, and Yang Zhengshan asked Luo Shang to go find Zhen Yangshi. If Zhen Yangshi had no objection, they would resign from their official positions in the Imperial Merchants Bureau together.

Zhen Yang was a smart woman. She agreed directly without much persuasion from Luo Shang.

The Zhen family represented by Zhen Yang is different from other imperial merchants. Other imperial merchants were already wealthy businessmen with some background before they joined Yang Zhengshan, while the Zhen family represented by Zhen Yang rose step by step under the protection of Yang Zhengshan.

Yang Zhengshan's protection is the most important in Zhen Yang's heart. Even though the Zhen family has become the top wealthy businessmen in Dayong, Zhen Yang still follows in the footsteps of the Luo family and relies closely on the protection of the Yang family.

This is also the reason why several other imperial merchants have chosen to collude with certain forces to make profits, while Zhen Yang has always been bearing the pressure and is unwilling to damage the interests of the Imperial Merchants Company.

After Zhen Yang made her decision, Yang Zhengshan invited her and Luo Shang to his house to discuss the matter.

The establishment of the Yang family business had to rely on the strength of these two families. After all, the Yang family had never been engaged in business and did not have any business talent.

(End of this chapter)