Wind rises time and space gate

Chapter 529: Far-reaching Plan
Whether the trade could be opened or not, no one knew, not even the ministers and people in the capital city knew. But merchants and people from the four nearby cities, Pingluo, Hualong and other four distant cities, were constantly coming to Hangu Pass.

Merchants brought all kinds of supplies to do business, and common people came here to find work.

The fields have not thawed yet, and most farmers are unemployed at home. I heard that if they come to Hangu City to help the merchants move things, they can earn one or two taels of silver a month!
It's just like silver suddenly growing in the ground, who wouldn't want to pick it up?

Additional soldiers were sent to guard the four gates of Hangu City again and again, but the queue still stretched for ten miles.

The spring wind was blowing fiercely, but the soldiers guarding the city were already sweating just from checking the supplies. They wanted to propose to the King of Yue to make the city gate wider.

Merchants in Hangu City and surrounding cities were eager to trade. Merchants from further afield also stocked up on goods and came quickly after hearing the news.

It was not only the merchants from Da Qi who flocked to the city. Merchants from other Western Regions countries such as Xirong and Fanjue also came as soon as they heard the news.

They were short of capital and had long admired the vastness of the Great Qi. Previously, only the rich and powerful in the country could obtain Da Qi's silk, porcelain, tea and other goods in small quantities through various channels, and they were proud of owning them. Now that they heard that Da Qi was opening up to trade, merchants from all over the Western Regions were attracted.

But the benefits Zhao Guangyuan promised to the eldest prince of Western Rong were definitely not just the opening of trade.

There are many small countries in the Western Regions, like Xirong, that are highly dependent on animal husbandry. In the spring, when the snow has not melted and there is a shortage of food, not only are the livestock hungry, but the people in their countries are also struggling. Therefore, many previous wars, such as the invasion of Daqi in autumn and spring, were nothing more than to rob supplies.

Zhao Guangyuan combined the history of China and formulated a good policy for the Western Rong to help them recuperate.

“Loan first and pay later?”

At the headquarters of the Grand Marshal of the Western Expedition, the general and the military supervisor asked the questions in their hearts.

After spending a few days at the market outside the Great Wall, the two of them had already begun to vaguely agree with the King of Yue's approach. They believed that the King of Yue's thunder-like approach to opening up trade was a good deed that benefited the country, the people, and others.

Great goodness.

But this "loan first and pay later" concept was the first time they had heard of it.

What does it mean to borrow first and repay later?

"It means loan first and pay later. It means that when there is a shortage of food in China, countries like the Western Rong can use their livestock as collateral to borrow food or silver from our merchants to help them survive the famine." Fang Sheng explained to the two.

For example, if you need 10 dan of fodder, which is worth 5 liang of silver, you can first use livestock worth 5 liang as collateral to borrow from the Qi merchant. You can pay 2% interest first, and when the famine is over, you can pay back the silver and take back the livestock.

The two generals who were not familiar with general affairs were still confused.

"Aren't we at a loss then? Not only do we lend them money, but we also help them raise livestock? Aren't they going crazy with joy?" What's the point of the King of Yue doing this?
Sacrifice the interests of Qi merchants and fatten up the Xirong and other countries?

The servant beside him was already rolling his eyes quietly.

"Hiss! The Marshal's servants all look down on the masters from the capital? It seems that you understand. Then tell me."

The servant looked at Fang Sheng, who nodded with a smile. The servant acted as if he had never seen the world, and started to talk nonsense... "We don't raise livestock for them for free. They pay us interest! The interest is equivalent to wages. How can it be considered raising livestock for them for free if we have wages? And we are not afraid that they will not pay us back. The livestock is still worth silver. Can't we sell it and exchange it for silver?"

The interest collected goes to the merchants, who then pay taxes to the government. The government gets income, and the merchants also get profit. Isn't it convenient for both parties?
In the future, merchants will not be able to raise so many livestock themselves, so they will have to ask the people to raise them? Then the unemployed people will have jobs and wages, so won't all three parties benefit?
Hiss! That sounds reasonable.

"So what benefits did Xirong get?"

The attendant wanted to roll his eyes again. The officials in the capital were powerful, but they were not very familiar with the affairs of the people. It would be better to return to the capital early. If they stayed in Hangu City for one more day, the attendants would be worried that they would be cheated by accident.

Now the city is full of businessmen. These servants often go out and hear a lot of business tips. They feel like they are half businessmen.

"Tell me now, if you speak well, I will reward you."

"Yes." Although the prince and princess usually give a lot of rewards, who would complain that the money is too little?

"To answer your questions, Xirong is certainly beneficial. My Lords, think about it, if the sky is covered with snow and they don't have enough fodder, won't the livestock not only become thin but also starve to death? Wouldn't that be a huge loss?"

They both nodded.

Not too stupid. The attendant continued...

"A head of livestock is worth several taels of silver. A good horse is worth forty or fifty taels. The two-cent interest on a horse is one tael of silver. You can save fifty taels of silver by spending only one tael of silver. And someone will help you raise it. You don't have to worry about it. It's a lot of trouble. If this matter is done by the two adults, would you be happy?"

You must be happy about that!

The general and the military supervisor soon figured it out. They slapped their thighs and praised the King of Yue for his clever idea!
This is indeed a great act of kindness that benefits both parties!
Let’s not talk about the Western Regions, let’s just talk about Da Qi. By then, I’m afraid that the people in the cities near Hangu City will no longer lack work! In time, the lives of the people in the northwest will no longer be worse than those in the capital!

The merchants were getting richer, and Hangu City would soon become rich due to the various customs duties and taxes collected. And wouldn't the King of Yue, who was manipulating all this behind the scenes, be rich enough to rival a country?
hiss!
The hearts of the military supervisor and the general were pounding. The King of Yue had such a big plan? Such a far-reaching plan?
With such a good deed, the Western Regions will probably treat the King of Yue as a guest of honor, just like the Western Rong. In the future, they will all form an alliance with the King of Yue. In the capital, what advantages does the prince have?
Fang Sheng looked at the changes in their expressions, his eyes flashed, and he said nothing.

When he understood the King of Yue's method of lending first and repaying later, he, like all the generals, was amazed and impressed by the King of Yue.

What the King of Yue wanted to do was not just to overturn the verdict on the former crown prince and the Lu family. He had far-reaching plans and was concerned about the country and the people. If the trade continued for ten, thirty, fifty, or a hundred years, Fang Sheng could almost imagine how powerful the Great Qi would be.

Although it also helped the countries in the Western Regions and helped them recuperate, they were not a united front. Each small country was independent of itself, and it was not easy for them to unite to deal with the Great Qi.

With so many allies, not all the small countries will rebel against Da Qi. As long as one or two are united, we can attack or defend.

Moreover, while the countries in the Western Regions were recuperating, Da Qi was also quietly strengthening itself.

And Fang Sheng already knew vaguely that the King of Yue wanted to open the sea! Maybe in the near future, Da Qi will truly become a great Eastern power that dominates one side. If you close the country, you can defend yourself; if you go out of the country, you can make progress. It will truly make the country rich and the people strong.

By this time, Fang Sheng had been completely convinced by the King of Yue.

Later that day, Fang Sheng came to the King of Yue with the intercepted letters that the military supervisor and the general had secretly sent to the capital, "I wonder how the prince will deal with them?"