In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 814 The Horrifying Dividends: Yingtian Trading Company's Social Responsibility

"Allocate to the Market and Commerce Bureau?"

The moment those words were spoken, the entire reception room fell silent.

The governors and ministers narrowed their eyes, looking at Han Yike thoughtfully.
Han Yike has risen and fallen three times, and no one would think he's a fool to be able to return to the capital.

But what he's doing now is exactly what only a fool would do.

The profit-sharing ceremony was going smoothly, but the market regulator had to interfere.
What are they trying to do by robbing money from a group of adults?
Not only them, but even many merchants sitting at the back felt that these words were ill-timed.
You can't ask for money in front of so many people.

Whether we give it or not, it's not right.

Liu Sili's face showed some surprise, which quickly turned into embarrassment.
He hadn't expected that the newly appointed deputy director would say something like this at such a crucial moment.
Isn't this undermining unity?

After a moment's hesitation, and seeing that no one spoke, Liu Sili cleared his throat and said in a deep voice:
"Lord Han, the Market Exchange Bureau has just been established."

The government's authority and personnel are not yet fully established, so it is too early to discuss such matters at this time.

In my humble opinion, it would be better to wait a little longer.
"We'll discuss this matter again once the Market and Exchange Bureau has sorted things out."

Upon hearing this, many people looked surprised.
Compared to Han Yike's simple and direct request,

Yingtian Trading Company's straightforward refusal shocked them even more.

It seems that the merchants' attitude towards this newly established government office is not very good.

Han Yike said in a deep voice:

"Lord Liu, the Market and Commerce Bureau is currently facing a severe shortage of personnel."

Although the imperial court also transferred many officials,

However, there is still a shortage of manpower for the specific tasks of various businesses.

Unfortunately, the Market and Commerce Bureau is short of funds, so this official had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure.

"hiss"

Han Yike's words shocked many important figures, who immediately frowned, completely baffled as to what Han Yike was trying to do.

No one in the Yingtian Trading Company would agree to such a thing unless they were a fool.

Taking my money and then trying to control me? Isn't that just asking for trouble?

As expected, Liu Sili firmly and forcefully refused:

"Lord Han, this matter can be discussed after the shareholders' meeting."
Today's discussion concerns the matter of profit sharing.
The Market and Exchange Bureau did not exist when the trading company was established; if you want to participate, you'll have to wait until at least next year.

Many of the government officials who had invested in the company looked much more relaxed and were very satisfied with Liu Sili's performance.

A full 690,000 taels of silver, now it all belongs to them.
If the Market and Exchange Bureau were to interfere, no matter how much or how little they give, it would all be their money!
Surprisingly, Han Yike nodded quite calmly:

"Let's talk about it next year then, this year it's fine as it is."

Liu Sili nodded calmly, having some guesses about Han Yike's probing.

He wanted to test the business's bottom line in front of so many people so he could make his next move.
Han Yi probably never imagined that she could get the money today.

A brief incident quickly passed by.

The atmosphere inside the room was still somewhat somber, but it was enough.

Liu Sili waved his hand, and a beautiful waitress stepped out from the side.
There were about a dozen people, all of them beautiful and dressed in bright red brocade robes, creating a very festive atmosphere.

He held a mahogany tray in his hands, on which were books with bright red covers, and there were traces of ink and brush beside them.

"My lords, this is the profit-sharing document of Yingtian Trading Company."
The document details your share in the business and clearly states the amount of your dividends.

If there are no errors, you can sign and affix your fingerprint to it.
The bank is ready; it's on the fourth floor. We'll be there shortly.

After saying that, Liu Sili waved his hand.

A dozen or so waiters swayed their hips and accurately located the dozen or so adults who were about to receive their silver.

The Ministry of Works and the Left Army Commander-in-Chief's Office were the first to bear the brunt; the establishment of the trading company was spearheaded by these two government offices.

Qin Kui, who was usually tense, suddenly became all smiles.
After receiving the large red document, he nodded to the beautiful waitress.
She was flattered and immediately lowered her head.

Geng Zhong, the Left Army Commander-in-Chief, went to build a city in another place. Today, the person who came was Geng Bingwen, an elder in the family.

After receiving the document, he nodded with satisfaction, somewhat moved:

"Geng Zhong did manage to do something worthwhile."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Shou, the current Commander of the Left Army's General Staff and Marquis of Zhulu, eagerly peered over and urged:
"Quickly open it and see how much silver it is."

"Hehe, don't rush. The business empire is large and powerful, how could it be lacking?"

Those who received the documents included Shen Jin, Minister of War; Zhao Mian, Minister of Revenue; Xu Sima, Commander of the Central Army; and Xu Huizu, Duke of Wei.

Lu Yunyi also received the document.
Among the seven or eight people in the corner, only he had documents in front of him.

In an instant, a barrage of bloodshot eyes were cast upon him, and even the two officials from the Ministry of War beside him began to breathe heavily.

"Lord Lu, quickly open it and see how much silver is in it?"

Lu Yunyi was neither reserved nor stingy; he opened the document, and the people around him all squeezed their heads in.

[Yingtian Trading Company's Profit Distribution Document for the Year of Gengwu:]
Lu Yunyi, the Deputy Commander of the Northern Pacification Command, holds three-thirds of the shares and is entitled to 10,350 taels of silver.

After deducting taxes according to regulations, the actual amount received was 10,115 taels of silver, as evidenced by the official seal.
The large vermilion seal at the end of the letter is as red as blood, and the signatures of the directors of the business are listed beside it. The calligraphy is vigorous and flowing.

Upon seeing this number, the officials present were all in uproar.
Gasps of astonishment filled the air.
Both high-ranking officials from the Ministry of War looked shocked.

A share of three can yield ten thousand taels of silver a year!

Wouldn't the Left Army Commander-in-Chief's Office and the Ministry of Works, which each hold at least 20% of the shares, be entitled to 60,000 taels?

For a moment, sighs were heard frequently.
Many adults clutched their chests, their faces filled with regret.

You don't need much, just a small share, and you'll have enough for the government's annual salary and bonuses!

They witnessed the rise of Yingtian Trading Company and saw the company distribute dividends, but they couldn't get a single penny!
"Lord Lu, why do you only have three shares?"

Someone asked a question, and many people turned to look at them, their faces showing surprise.
As the founder, you only get three-thirds of the shares?
Lu Yunyi smiled:

“A gentleman loves wealth, but he acquires it in a proper way. I am all alone, and I have no use for so much money.”

shhhhh--

A multitude of gazes were cast toward them.

Especially those merchants and shopkeepers who were eagerly waiting and scratching their heads in anticipation.

They looked at the young man before them.
I wish I could pull him down right then and there and sit in his seat.

If you don't love money, why run a business? You really care about the common people!

However, many of the high-ranking officials present knew some of the inside information and nodded in deep agreement.
After several years of getting to know him, I've found that this guy really doesn't care about money, and he's also very indifferent to women.

Marquis Guo Ying of Wuding looked at the large red document in his hand, then at Lu Yunyi, and nodded slightly, completely trusting what he said.

His family's share was seven parts, amounting to 24,150 taels.

This one portion alone is worth several years' worth of work for all the family businesses, which made him very emotional.

Talented people emerge in every generation.
These old guys can't earn nearly as much as these young guys.

Apart from a few government offices that take a large share,
The rest were mostly like Lu Yunyi, ranging from one to five points.

These were all sent out after the business started to do well.

This was done to minimize setbacks and obstacles; it was essentially a toll.

These government departments didn't take it seriously either.
Seeing it today, I realized how much money it was, and I deeply regret not having helped more and taken a larger share.

Every extra cent is worth ten thousand taels of silver! This is the first time since the founding of the Ming Dynasty that such a money-making opportunity has been seen!
Liu Sili, who was seated at the head of the table, saw that all the officials had seen enough.

He then looked at the seemingly insignificant Prefect of Yingtian, Gao Shou, and clapped his hands lightly:
"Gentlemen, please be quiet."
Next, the Yingtian Trading Company will pay this year's taxes to the Ministry of Revenue and the Yingtian Prefecture.

Upon hearing this, the room fell completely silent.

Minister of Revenue Zhao Mian straightened his back slightly, his face showing solemnity!
Meanwhile, Prefect Gao of Yingtian Prefecture took a deep breath and looked expectant!
Liu Sili waved his hand, and this time more than thirty young waiters appeared, each carrying a tray. They were all well-proportioned and handsome. They walked towards the adults seated in the center of the room and distributed documents in turn.

Liu Sili also spoke up at this moment:
"The Yingtian Trading Company was originally established to help villages outside the city."
Such a healthy and unexpected development was something even we didn't anticipate.

Now, significant progress has been made in assisting villages and repairing roads.
However, as the largest merchant house in Yingtian City, paying taxes is an inescapable responsibility and obligation of the Yingtian Merchant House!

"From last August to today,
Yingtian Merchant Guild would pay taxes to the Ministry of Revenue and Yingtian Prefecture respectively, based on a tax rate of one-thirtieth.

After calculation

The taxes paid to the Ministry of Revenue, including commercial taxes and miscellaneous taxes, totaled 177,860 taels.

They paid a total of 154,320 taels of silver to Yingtian Prefecture for various taxes, including commercial tax, vehicle tax, city entry tax, and city exit tax.

The tax payment funds are ready.

After the meeting, the Xinma Trading Company will be responsible for transporting the goods to the Ministry of Revenue in the Imperial City and the Yingtian Prefecture Office on Fudong Street.

The reception room fell silent once again.
The adults stared blankly at the celebratory documents on the table, then looked up at Liu Sili with disbelief.

The merchants behind them even doubted that they had misheard.

Why so many?
Duke Xu Huizu of Wei spoke first:
"Even a tax of one-thirtieth is only 130,000 taels. Isn't that too much?"

And why do we need to submit two copies?

Han Yike, deputy director of the Market and Commerce Bureau, nodded emphatically:

"Yes, is there something wrong with the merchant's calculations?"

Seeing everyone's great confusion, Liu Sili smiled and explained:

"Commercial tax is the same as the market tax mentioned in the Household Law."
According to the law, both the buyer and seller must register the transaction with the government after it is completed, and pay a tax of one-thirtieth of the total amount.

The taxes paid by the merchant guild to the Ministry of Revenue were the municipal taxes of the city where the Yingtian Merchant Guild belonged.
The taxes paid by Yingtian Prefecture were the taxes owed by villages outside the city that were sold to Yingtian merchants.

This is clearly recorded in the register of Yingtian Trading Company.
To help numerous villages and villagers,

The taxes generated from the goods they sold, within a certain scale, were all paid by Yingtian Trading Company, which is the reason for the two tax payments.

The difference in amount is due to differences in tariffs.

Most of this tax was paid to the Ministry of Revenue, while the city registration tax and the gate tax were paid to Yingtian Prefecture.

A detailed roster will be provided to both government offices later.
Each person's tax bill could probably be contained in a horse-drawn carriage.
If the Ministry of Revenue and the capital government have not made prior preparations, they can also use Singaporean and Malaysian trading companies for transportation.

Listening to Liu Sili's eloquent speech

Most of the people present were completely bewildered by what was said.
But they knew the final result.
Yingtian Trading Company pays taxes not only on purchases but also on sales!

Having understood this, Zhu Shou, the Left Army Commander and Marquis of the Ships, spoke thoughtfully:
"If I remember correctly, some of the goods sold by the trading company are tax-free."

Cloth, grain, and other necessities should not be subject to taxation.

Furthermore, is paying taxes twice in accordance with the regulations?

Marquis Zhu Shou, the captain of the ship, probably also felt that this statement was incorrect, and tried to correct it:
"Paying taxes for the dynasty is naturally a good thing, and it can also alleviate the pressure of the court's tight finances."

But there must be a legal basis and a reasonable explanation.
Otherwise, if all merchants in the capital were like the Yingtian Trading Company, wouldn't the Ministry of Revenue be in chaos?

Upon hearing this, some of the adults present frowned.
Although this is said clearly,

But everyone understood the meaning behind it and agreed with it.

It's all my own money, and I'm just giving it to the imperial court for nothing!
If they only paid one tax, each family would receive several thousand taels more.

Even after bribing officials at all levels, the remaining portion may not necessarily need to be paid.

That's not just a few thousand taels more, it could be tens of thousands of taels more!
Liu Sili glanced around, fully aware of the thoughts of the various officials, and smiled slightly:
"Lord Zhulu, the merchant's accounts are clear and verifiable."

If you have any objections, you can send the accountant to check the accounts.

The matter of paying taxes was established when the business was founded and is written into all the rules and regulations.

In addition, the merchant firm is the largest merchant firm in Yingtian, and even the largest merchant firm in the world.

They should not only make money, but also shoulder certain social responsibilities and play a leading and exemplary role.

If Yingtian Trading Company were to evade taxes,

What will other merchants in Yingtian and even the Ming Dynasty think?
If all the merchants then deceive their superiors and subordinates, how will the imperial court have the funds to maintain peace?

"well said!"

A clear voice followed, interrupting the thoughts of the assembled officials.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Lu Yunyi sitting in the corner, his face showing excitement, clapping his hands incessantly, a stark contrast to his previous indifference.

"Is he ill?"

An idea popped into the minds of you gentlemen.
But even though they tried their best to persuade themselves, they couldn't convince themselves.

How could someone with a poor brain manage to build such a large trading company?
Does that mean their brains are not as good as his?

However, on second thought, what's wrong with giving away money that's already in hand for nothing?
Even Zhao Mian, the Minister of Revenue, hesitated, unsure of what to say.
He was indeed the Minister of Revenue, but he also had a family and businesses.
He was unwilling to do something as painful as paying taxes.

But today he had a real eye-opener.

Someone is willing to do it, and even willing to split it in two!

Before anyone could finish thinking, Liu Sili, who was at the head of the table, spoke in a deep voice:
"Since none of the shareholders present have any objections, let's proceed according to this law. All taxes must be paid in full before the afternoon session ends!"

Before anyone could speak, Liu Sili changed the subject, a smile appearing on his face:
"Next, let's talk about the bank's goals for next year, which are also related to the vital interests of all shareholders."

"Next year, the business's turnover will exceed five million taels of silver."

The workshops established, the villages and people they assist should have at least a 20% increase in income.

The road to be built must be at least 50% higher up.

The livelihoods of people at all levels are affected, and the number of jobs provided should increase by at least 30%.

As for tax revenue, I hereby assure the court that it will not be less than this year's!

"Wow—"

These words caused an uproar throughout the room, even the usually composed Guo Ying and Geng Bingwen exchanged bewildered glances.
Zhu Shou, determined to be a villain to the end, said in a deep voice:
"Lord Liu, the business you're in is all about spending money."

But the turnover only increased by less than 400,000 taels. How can that support such a large expenditure?

"Don't let yourself earn nearly 700,000 taels this year, only to have 70,000 left next year."

The adults present nodded in agreement, agreeing with his point!

Liu Sili explained with a smile:

"Lord Zhulu, I cannot explain this to you in too much detail."
But there is a simple and easy-to-understand truth that can be told to all the lords and gentlemen present.

As production scales up, costs will further decrease.
When production scales up to a certain extent

With fixed cost allocation, optimization of professional division of labor, and improvement of production capacity efficiency, raw materials may not even be considered as costs.

Yingtian Trading Company had only been open for a year and had made a huge initial investment.

But in the second year, some of the money didn't need to be spent.
Although the turnover didn't increase much, the profits may expand further.

Of course, this five million taels of silver was just an initial estimate made by the trading company.

The reality may differ from this, but in any case, gentlemen, please wait patiently.

The firm has clear rules and regulations and a development path.
This year has proven that this development path is solid, reliable, and sustainable; you gentlemen can rest assured.

After speaking, Liu Sili glanced around.

He was somewhat surprised to find that no one responded.
The expected big argument did not occur.
But in any case, the matter has come to an end.

Liu Sili smiled and said:
"Since you gentlemen and shareholders have no objections, shall we stop here for today? After all, the important thing is to get the money."

(End of this chapter)