Cut off my army's food supplies? I'll open a portal between the two worlds and max out my

In this context, most civilizations that have developed civilizations have promoted the values ​​of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants.

Even if it's different in some countries, merchants generally have the lowest social status.

From the monarch's perspective, merchants are profit-driven, and if they are not restricted, the entire country will be affected by them.

The methods adopted by monarchs were basically all about exploitation.

Various social status restrictions were combined with multiple taxes to suppress merchants.

From a certain perspective, these monarchs' ideas were also correct.

If merchants are allowed to develop recklessly, a country's productivity will inevitably be affected.

However, the solution to this problem is not exploitation, but rather reasonable regulation, state participation in governance, and guidance.

In this way, the prosperity of commerce will be reflected in the prosperity of the nation.

These customers have clearly never received such treatment before.

They usually have to pay taxes from both sides, and a large portion of their profits are taken away.

Today, after hearing Li Wen say that Anxi Town will implement a zero-tariff policy, the shock on his face was completely genuine.

You should know that Anxi Town now has such a popular product as soap!

Once this product is sold to the Great Zhou Dynasty, Anxi Town will simply sit back and collect money. But now they've given up such a good opportunity?

Li Wen was quite pleased with the merchants' shock. The more shocked they were, the more they would cherish the opportunity offered by Anxi Town... If they didn't cherish it, then Li Wen would use his fist to show them that they should cherish this opportunity.

"Yes, I, Li Wen, always keep my word. Even if you don't believe me, Anxi Town will post relevant regulations. Anyone who comes to Anxi Town to do business can enjoy this policy benefit."

Zero tariffs do not mean zero tax rates.

Li Wen also set other taxes extremely low, which had the advantage of allowing Anxi Town to experience a rapid commercial boom in a short period of time.

This will greatly benefit the future development of Anxi Town.

Because of the double-door system, Anxi Town's production technology costs can be kept to a minimum. Even with such favorable tax policies offered by Li Wen, Anxi Town can still make a fortune.

Moreover, Li Wen had another source of confidence.

As his mental state improves, the upper limit of his mental strength also slowly increases.

Li Wen also had a feeling that as long as his mental strength broke through a certain limit, he would be able to upgrade the double-penetration gate. He didn't know what the effect of the upgrade would be, but it would definitely improve the carrying capacity.

Then Li Wen will be able to use more modern technology to transform Anxi Town.

This is the source of Li Wen's confidence in building Anxi Town.

After everyone had processed the information, Li Wen added, "The prerequisite for enjoying these benefits is to abide by the rules of my Anxi Army. Of course, we will not impose any rules that would deliberately make things difficult for you. I suggest that you all take a look at the relevant regulations of Anxi Town when you arrive... Now, everyone, I will assign you some staff members to help you understand the current situation of Anxi Town at the market—as well as to visit the soap production site."

After Li Wen dropped another bombshell, the merchants were all stunned.

"General, do you mean we can visit the soap production site?"

Li Wen confirmed, "Yes, you can visit anytime."

"Aren't you afraid we'll learn our production process?"

Someone couldn't help but ask.

The others glared at the person who said it, their eyes seemingly saying: Are you stupid? Why did you secretly say what you were thinking? If we learned how to make soap, wouldn't it be great if we went back and produced it ourselves and sold it to Persia and Rome?

Li Wen smiled and said, "Since I dare to let you visit, I'm naturally not afraid that you will learn the technology."

Li Wen also spoke his mind.

Although the other customers wore obsequious smiles, they were extremely confident in their hearts.

Many of them were geniuses with photographic memories. They thought, "Even if I can't learn it at the time, I'll memorize everything and find someone to imitate me later, and then you'll be in big trouble."

And so, Li Wen led a group of confident merchants to the soap-making workshop.

Upon arriving here, the merchants were stunned again.

All the production workers here were women. Several people stared in surprise without saying a word, because they didn't want to cause any trouble and wanted to take the opportunity to memorize the formula.

Li Wen then led them on a tour of the three main workshops, providing thoughtful explanations.

Li Wen was genuinely not afraid that these merchants would learn something valuable. Even if they figured out the principles of the first and second steps, not to mention how long it would take, Anxi Town had an absolute advantage in the third step.

How do you expect them to use modern "Three Flowers Evaporated Milk" technology?

Not to mention the accompanying handicrafts.

This is a unique advantage of Anxi Town that others simply cannot learn.

When the tour began, the initial sight left the merchants completely bewildered; they had no idea what this grey water was for.

Is it possible that those fragrant and beautifully designed soaps are made from such dirty stuff?

Seeing that they didn't understand, Li Wen thoughtfully explained the chemical principles involved.

But after hearing this, the merchants were even more dumbfounded.

What is sodium hydroxide solution, and what is potassium hydroxide solution?

How are they going to get the lime water?

What exactly is lime?!

Li Wen generously showed them the soap-making process at the workshop, but they couldn't understand it at all; they couldn't grasp the meaning of the process.

Even if you memorize it by rote, you still won't be able to explain why when you go back and review it.

Because the knowledge they have is already beyond their comprehension.

After Li Wen led the merchants on a tour, he had some pre-arranged staff accompany them to visit the market.

"I think we should focus our efforts on soap, because everyone knows how profitable that is, right?"

After Li Wen left, the merchants felt much less pressure and began to discuss their plans in hushed tones.

"Yes! Soap will definitely be popular with the nobles in the Great Zhou. They are the richest. As long as everyone agrees on a uniform price, we can make a fortune... General Li Wen just said that they won't interfere with our pricing of soap in the Great Zhou!"

Before entering the market, the merchants reached a consensus.

But they were dumbfounded when they entered the market.

"What?! This quality of sugar and salt only costs a few dollars?!"

"My goodness! The quality of these farm tools is amazing! I feel like even the finest steel couldn't compare!"

"What is this? Spices?! Why can it be weighed by weight? And it tastes so good?"

Some spices were originally products unique to these merchants' hometowns, but they found better quality and cheaper spice products at the market in Anxi Town.

...Even if you transport it back to your hometown to sell, you could still make a huge profit, right?

It's a bit of a shame that many of the products don't support wholesale, as they are mainly products for everyday consumer needs.

After touring the entire market, the group of merchants became numb.

No one mentioned the agreement they had just made, thinking that they would ask the general if they could buy some other goods to sell to the Great Zhou Dynasty when they had the chance.

Every single product can sell like hotcakes.

"Gentlemen, the general has prepared a working meal in the mess hall. Please come and have your meal."

The staff member who had been silent spoke up at this moment.

This member of the Anxi army had seen all of these ignorant guys from the city.

Although he came from a very backward mountain village in Da Zhou, his family didn't even have decent trousers.

But now, Anxi Town is his hometown, and the Anxi Town under the general's rule is his greatest pride.

Even these merchants from big cities become ignorant "city bumpkins" when they arrive in Anxi Town.

Upon arriving at the canteen, the businesspeople were first surprised by its layout and then curious about the people coming and going.

When the staff led them to get their meals, the businessmen were shocked once again!

Why is the food in Anxi Town so... astonishing?

There are many things they've never even seen before.

You should know that some of them are veterans who have frequented the palaces of several countries and boast that they have seen all kinds of delicacies.

Upon arriving at the Anxi Town canteen, they once again lamented that they were like frogs at the bottom of a well.

They can only see the sky from the bottom of a well.