Prime Minister of Great Qin

Chapter 95 Big businessman!Little businessman! (seeking subscription)

Fusu wandered around in the hall, pondered, and finally decided to go find Zhang Cang.

First, Zhang Cang knew of Ji Heng's existence.

Secondly, Zhang Cang is the postmaster of the Yushifu, and his main political affairs are to review the account books. With Zhang Cang's help, it should be helpful for the implementation.

Furthermore, he was still curious and wanted to hear Zhang Cang's opinion.

Think about it.

Fusu wiped his face with a sweat towel, then strode towards Yushi Mansion.

Soon.

Fusu went to the place where Zhang Cang was dealing with political affairs.

Compared with the previous few days, the political affairs hall is now much empty.

Zhang Cang's plump body just sat on the mat, holding a honeypot in his hand, taking a few mouthfuls from time to time, with a very happy expression on his face.

cough cough.

There was a sudden coughing sound outside the hall.

Zhang Cang's face changed slightly, he quickly hid the honeypot behind his back, and looked at the bamboo slips solemnly.

At this time.

Fusu stepped into the hall.

He sized Zhang Cang a few times with great interest, and then glanced at Zhang Cang's back if there was nothing there.

"Zhang Cang, I have met you, Young Master." Zhang Cang looked a little embarrassed, stood up with the big case in his palm, and while bowing, he took the initiative to change the topic, and said, "Why do you come to me when you are free?"

Fu Su said softly: "During this time, I lived in seclusion in the palace and honed my talents, but I still feel that I am still lacking in various aspects. It happened that I was a little bored after staying for a long time, so I stopped by to have a look, and I also want to ask you a thing or two by the way."

"I also ask Zhang Yushi to give me some advice."

Zhang Cang heaved a sigh of relief, and said with a smile: "My lord, it's okay to say, if I can clear up my doubts, I will know everything."

Fusu cupped his hands, but didn't speak.

Instead, he took out a bamboo slip from his sleeve and handed it to Zhang Cang.

Zhang Cang reached out to take it and looked carefully.

Fusu was not in a hurry, and waited for Zhang Cang to read it before he asked, "I don't know Zhang Yushi, what's your opinion on the contents of the bamboo slips?"

Zhang Cang pondered for a moment, and said in a concentrated voice: "The content on the bamboo slips is a good idea, but the implementation is a bit too cumbersome, and the requirements for the court are also a bit high. Overall, it is still a practical idea."

"What are the similarities and differences with Guan Zhong's 'salt and iron monopoly'?" Fusu asked.

"Guan Zhong's 'salt and iron franchise'?" Zhang Cang looked at Fusu in surprise, as if he hadn't expected that Fusu would understand Guan Zhong's reform, but he still said seriously: "To be honest, the difference between the two is not the same. Big, even the same way."

"Please explain in detail." Fusu bowed deeply.

Zhang Cang thought about it, and said carefully: "Guan Zhong's 'specialization' is that the government collects it from the people, and then sells it publicly."

"The bamboo slips are basically the same."

"It was only sold by the government and turned into a merchant's sale."

"But son, don't forget that the pricing power of this salt and iron is in the hands of the imperial court."

"Merchants are just the sales tools of the government."

"At first glance, there are indeed differences between the two, but with a little scrutiny, it is easy to see the clue."

"Compared to Guan Zhong's 'specialization', the 'specialization' on this bamboo slip obviously has an extra layer of camouflage, replacing the government's monopoly with merchants who sell for the government."

"Both are actually the same."

heard.

Fusu was taken aback immediately.

But also instantly want to understand.

He knew why he hadn't seen the problem.

From the beginning to the end, he never thought that there would be problems with the imperial court controlling the pricing power. He thought that the imperial court would definitely choose to lower the price for the sake of stability. It is also controlled by the imperial court. It is too easy for the imperial court to use this to collect more business taxes.

When the imperial court is short of money, it only needs to secretly increase the price, and it can easily collect a large amount of business taxes.

What is the difference between this and Guan Zhong's franchise?
No!

The only difference is that it has been changed from an official sale to a commercial sale.

But in fact, it is still tax-infused!

The so-called bottom line of protection is actually a fig leaf.

Used to cover up the government's greed.

Moreover, the fame and fortune of this move belonged to the court, and only the merchants in front of the stage would be scolded.

"This..." Fu Su was so startled that he couldn't speak.

None of this occurred to him.

But after Zhang Cang's point, he had already thought it through.

Seeing Fusu's terrified expression, Zhang Cang knew that Fusu had understood.

He hesitated for a moment, then said slowly: "As written on the bamboo slips, this idea has only one purpose."

"Grab money!"

"Compared to the past, they robbed people of money openly and aboveboard."

"It turned a corner and intentionally pushed the merchants to the front."

"Grab the merchant's money first."

"If the court's appetite is getting bigger and bigger, I'm afraid it will eventually go down."

"At that time, it becomes money grabbing from the people again."

Zhang Cang sighed lightly.

He didn't think there was anything to be surprised about.

Since ancient times, the only factor affecting taxation has never been whether there is money at the bottom, but whether the court needs money.

As long as the court needs it, the bottom will pay.

Compared with the violent expropriation in the past, the methods recorded on the bamboo slips are obviously more gentle and decent, and they are not directly collected from the bottom, but first directed to merchants.

This is a great generosity.

Fusu was silent for a long time, unable to say anything.

He already figured it out, why Ji Heng repeatedly emphasized that this is for profit, and the others are incidental, even if the effect is mediocre, it is not important at all, because Ji Heng's goal is very important from the beginning to the end. firm.

Grab money!

He's doing it to make money.

His purpose has always been to make money.

It's just that the world has been poor for a long time, so he chose to start with merchants first.

Fusu took a deep breath to calm himself down as much as possible, and said in a deep voice, "Is there room for improvement in this method?"

Zhang Cang thought for a while, then shook his head and said: "This method is actually very comprehensive. Even if there is an improvement, it will not be too obvious. The most effective and direct way is actually to vigorously crack down on the sale of private salt and ironware. , after all, these existences are actually competing with the government for profit."

"but."

Zhang Cang paused, hesitation appeared in his eyes, and he said uncertainly: "There are some strange things about this."

"The workers who produce salt and iron are clearly written to be employed."

"But Mr. Gai listed it as official property."

"Daqin has never been able to hire people, and has always conscripted labor."

"The method on the son's bamboo slip seems to be a defective product."

"If I'm not mistaken, this method is only for transitional use, in order to promote it to the whole country as soon as possible."

"So I made some sacrifices on purpose."

"But this person seems to want to make some changes, and deliberately added some original designs."

"If there are no accidents, there will be changes in the future."

"But it's not necessarily true. These 'problems' may be done on purpose by this person to show 'kindness'." As he spoke, Zhang Cang looked at Fusu meaningfully.

see.

Fusu smiled wryly.

He couldn't hear the meaning of Zhang Cang's words.

Zhang Cang thought it was some 'misprint' deliberately made by someone to please him.

But his heart is clear.

It is impossible for Ji Heng to please himself.

Ji Heng didn't put himself at ease from the very beginning.

Always called myself by my first name.

The 'slip of the tongue' that Ji Heng made was probably just as Zhang Cang said, it was for laying the ground later.

Think of this.

Fusu couldn't help secretly heaving a sigh of relief.

But at the same time, I am even more curious, what is Ji Heng's real thinking?
What is his intention?
It's just that Fusu is more calm than before.

He knew that Ji Heng's vision was lofty, and his thoughts and concerns were beyond his reach.

What I can do is to follow Ji Heng's pace closely, and gradually get a glimpse of the "big event" that Ji Heng intends from small things.

The way of doing things is to plan before moving!
If you want to speed, you can't reach it.

This is what Ji Heng specially emphasized.

Fu Su smiled and said, "This is definitely impossible."

"I may know something about it, this law is to buy time."

"Buy time?" Zhang Cang was stunned for a moment. He took a deep look at Fusu, feeling a little puzzled in his heart, and then thought about it carefully in his mind. He seemed to realize something, with a look of surprise in his eyes, and said solemnly: "Dare to ask?" Young master, can I know who made this strategy?"

He knew Fusu a little bit, so he knew from the beginning that the contents of the bamboo slips were not from Fusu.

Fusu didn't have that kind of experience, and he didn't think so meticulously.

It's just who made it.

He was a little curious.

He knew about all the ministers in the court, but no one acted like this.

Moreover, this person's eyesight is very unique, as soon as he came, he set his sights on money, I'm afraid the plan is very big.

It is even possible to change the decline of Great Qin.

However, when Zhang Cang asked, a name suddenly appeared in his mind, and panic appeared on his fair face.

There was a deep sense of incompatibility in his heart.

He vaguely guessed who it was.

subconsciously.

Zhang Cang wanted to stop it.

It's just that before he could say "Wait a minute, son", Fusu had already said it calmly.

"Ji Heng!!!"

There was silence all around.

There was a trace of grief and anger in Zhang Cang's eyes, he hurriedly ran out of the hall regardless of etiquette.

Don't want to wait any longer.

He can't wait to slap himself twice now.

What are you talking about?
What is there to know?
Now it's good to put myself back in.

Who is Ji Heng?

That was the person who was murdered in public.

is dead!
A remnant of the Six Kingdoms was able to escape death under the eyes of everyone, and even became the eldest son's aide.

He can inquire about such inside information?

But today everyone in the world knows that Ji Heng is dead.

Ji Heng cannot 'live'.

It is impossible for the outside world to know that Ji Heng is still alive.

This involves royal dignity.

Zhang Cang is just a censor, how dare he get involved in these matters?

It's just that before Zhang Cang went out, he was directly stopped by Fusu.

Zhang Cang was weeping.

The fat cheeks were full of indignation and resentment.

He knew that it would be no good for Fusu to find him, and he had been tricked several times.

Zhang Cang said sadly and indignantly: "Young Master, can't you change someone else's disaster?"

"I, Zhang Cang, also offered strategies for Daqin and sweated."

"During this period of time, in order to check the account books, I was even more exhausted. It was not easy to finish the calculation. Young Master, you still come to harm me. I have a big belly. How can I stand such a threat? If I don't calm down, I may die immediately gone."

"Young master, please let me go."

"I, Zhang Cang, want to live a few more years."

Zhang Cang stared at Fusu with aggrieved and resentful eyes.

see.

Fusu couldn't help laughing out loud: "As the saying goes, you have a broad heart and a fat body. Although you are as fat as a gourd, you may not be able to hide things in your belly. Why are you so trembling?"

"Furthermore."

"The fact that Mr. Ji is alive is not a big deal."

"He actually did die."

"Don't worry too much."

Zhang Cang's face was red, but he was extremely aggrieved, and he muttered: "Young master, what you said is wrong."

"The dead cannot be resurrected."

"Death is death, and life is life."

"How can you say two things?"

"I'm just a lowly official, how can I know such a secret?"

"If the young master is really considerate, please don't reveal such secrets again."

"The minister is really terrified."

Fusu didn't take it seriously, and said with a smile: "Now you know."

Zhang Cang was speechless for a moment.

He blushed and said annoyedly: "It's all because of this broken mouth. After eating some honey, he dared to ask anything."

Fusu laughed again.

Zhang Cang was left alone, feeling depressed and melancholy.

After laughing a few times, Fusu closed his smile and said seriously: "I came here this time, besides asking for your opinion, I just want you to make a move and confirm related matters. , no one in the world can outdo it, and salt and iron are related to people's livelihood, so we have to be careful."

"I also ask Zhang Yushi to take more care."

Fu Su stood up from the table and bowed deeply.

Zhang Cang thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "I will live up to your entrustment."

"The origin of salt and iron in the world is uneven. Most of the salt and iron in the Kanto come from Qi, and relatively little salt is in Chu, and it takes a lot of money to transport salt and iron. Therefore, the pricing should be different from place to place. The best way is to rent it like a farm. 'Writing law is based on rent', 'Zi millet is taxed'."

"But that's not realistic right now."

"The imperial court doesn't have that much manpower, so they go to various places to investigate the production and transportation of salt and iron."

"So it can only be relatively modest."

"However, just as "Han Feizi·Foreign Reserve Theory" said, the so-called moderation will eventually become empty in the imperial treasury, and the people below will be hungry and cold, and only the traitors in the middle will be rich."

Fusu nodded slightly.

He has read Han Feizi dozens of times, so he knows the truth of it.

Fu Su condensedly said: "I know the pros and cons of it."

"I just want to know now, if the imperial court sets a moderate price, compared with the past few years, whether the commercial tax will be increased in the next few years, especially the commercial tax in the Kanto."

Zhang Cang nodded, and said in a deep voice: "The commercial tax in the Kanto should be increased a lot. There are tens of millions of people in the Kanto, but the commercial tax collected has always been less than half of the central government. The local officials are very corrupt. , the business tax of the imperial court will be greatly increased in a short period of time."

"It's all about making money."

"No matter how greedy local officials are, they dare not be too presumptuous."

"But this growth cannot last."

"A few years in exchange is enough." Fusu didn't pay too much attention to this, and then continued to ask: "I'm not very familiar with the situation of the officials in the court. You have been in the court for many years, and you know the talents of the officials. , Who do you think is the most appropriate person to hand over the matter of negotiating with merchants?"

Zhang Cang frowned slightly.

He touched his chin, pondered for a moment, but hesitated to speak.

Fusu saw Zhang Cang's hesitation, and said, "But it's okay to say, if it's really suitable, I'll go and lobby in person."

Zhang Cang looked solemn, and said carefully, "I think it's Ji Heng."

A word fell.

The surroundings suddenly fell silent.

(End of this chapter)