I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 506: Big businessmen harm the country! It is unacceptable to enrich a few people and impoverish the masses.

Sansi Yamen, in the front hall.

Wang Yaochen, the envoy of the Three Departments, sat at the top, and Su Liang and Wang Anshi sat on one side.

The businessman Shangguan Yu stood below, took out a document from his bosom, and said respectfully: "Prime Minister Ji, Minister Su, and Magistrate Wang, I am here to present this complete version of the "Draft of the Overall Plan for the Construction of the Twenty-Four Streets in Bianjing"."

"This plan involves the construction of Kaifeng Prefecture, and I am worried about it, so I published it in a tabloid and listened to public opinion. Now that public opinion supports it, I have the courage to present this plan. Please take a look!"

Shangguan Yu kept a very humble attitude.

He could have called himself "I", but he insisted on calling himself "the common people". He seemed humble and polite, but in fact he was using public opinion to build momentum for himself.

Wang Yaochen took the document and read it carefully.

On the side, Wang Anshi's face turned pale.

He has always disliked this kind of big businessmen, and he had just had a quarrel with Wang Yaochen half an hour ago over the Twenty-four Streets of Bianjing, so he stopped Shangguan Yu in front of the door to argue.

moment.

After reading the document, Wang Yaochen handed it to Su Liang.

This document is basically the same as what was published in the tabloid, but with more details.

After Su Liang finished reading it, he handed it to Wang Anshi, who also quickly finished reading it and then returned it to Wang Yaochen.

Wang Yaochen looked at Shangguan Yu.

"Shangguan Yu, please sit down. You and I are old acquaintances. There's no need to be polite." Wang Yaochen said with a smile.

The commercial taxes of Kaifeng Prefecture were directly managed by the Three Departments.

Wang Yaochen had naturally dealt with Shangguan Yu, a major merchant and tax payer.

Immediately, Shangguan Yu also sat down.

Wang Yaochen glanced at the document and said, "The construction of Bianjing is under the jurisdiction of Kaifeng Prefecture. Why didn't you submit this plan to Kaifeng Prefecture? Instead, you came to the Three Departments?"

"Reporting to the Prime Minister, I went to Kaifeng Prefecture an hour ago, but Master Bao didn't seem to be very interested in this matter. He accepted the book I presented but didn't give any instructions."

"I think this policy is not only related to the construction of Bianjing, but also to the future commercial taxation of Bianjing. In addition, I often go to the three departments, so I want you to take a look and give your opinions. If it is feasible, I am willing to spend all my wealth to make this happen!"

Wang Yaochen nodded slightly and said with a smile: "Your spirit is commendable! However, this matter is quite important, and the people in the city are discussing it enthusiastically. I am afraid that it will have to be discussed in the court. I will submit this plan to the Secretariat."

"Thank you, Prime Minister Ji!"

Shangguan Yu quickly stood up and bowed. His purpose was to hope that this policy could be discussed in court.

Once the court approves it, he can start to do whatever he wants.

"I wonder what you think about this strategy?" Shangguan Yu asked immediately.

Wang Yaochen thought for a moment and said, "This matter concerns the changes in restaurants, teahouses and shops in Bianjing. It cannot be discussed lightly. After the court discussion, when the results are reached, I will send someone to inform you. You can leave first!"

When Wang Yaochen first saw this strategy in the tabloids, he was very excited, but Bao Zheng poured cold water on him first. He had another quarrel with Wang Anshi, and now Su Liang's attitude seemed to express his dislike for this strategy, so he was unwilling to express his opinion easily.

"Yes." Shangguan Yu immediately bowed and then retreated to the door.

He took two steps back, then suddenly stopped and bowed again, saying, "Prime Minister Ji, if the court feels that I am doing this for profit, I can do it myself, and I have no complaints."

"I understand your intention." Wang Yaochen nodded.

After Shangguan Yu walked away, Wang Anshi curled his lips and said, "Prime Minister, what Shangguan Yu said just now was a complete retreat to advance. With what he said, it is even more impossible for the court to seize his plan and execute it personally!"

Wang Anshi was telling the truth.

If it is a policy related to people's livelihood or military affairs, the court can implement it and reward him for his meritorious service in making such a proposal.

But this matter is a business one, so it is naturally impossible for the government office to operate restaurants, teahouses and the like.

Shangguan Yu was the largest housing contractor in Bianjing City. If the imperial court took charge of the project itself, it would be known as "competing with the people for profits."

Wang Yaochen rolled his eyes at him.

"You are so smart! Shangguan Yu said that. Isn't it possible that he regards money as dirt and is only concerned about the development of Bianjing City? Jiefu, I think you are judging others by your own standards!"

Before Wang Anshi could refute, Wang Yaochen looked at Su Liang.

"Jingming, this Wang Jiefu is almost making me angry to death. He is too stubborn and even ten oxen cannot pull him back! He has great malice towards these big businessmen in Bianliang City. I think this is feasible. What do you think?" When it comes to debate, Wang Yaochen is no match for Wang Anshi.

"I don't think it's feasible." Su Liang shook his head and said decisively.

"Why?"

"The plan to build the 24 streets of Bianjing seems to be for the development of Bianjing's commerce, but in fact it is for the sake of appearance but at the expense of substance. It makes tens of thousands of people poor in order to enrich a few. Although it can promote commerce, the cost is too high. Once the lower-class people of the 24 streets are driven away, the spirit of Bianjing will be gone."

"Moreover, the current Bianjing City does not need to be improved. It is not a good thing to widen the gap between Bianjing City and other prefectures. Once the prefectures in other places learn from it, I am afraid that the gap between the rich and the poor in urban and rural areas will become wider and wider. I don't like this reformed Bianjing City, and I don't like this reform that makes a few people rich and tens of thousands of people poor..."

Su Liang spoke out his thoughts in one breath.

"I second the motion!" Wang Anshi stood up.

"I would like to add one more thing. Big businessmen like Shangguan Yu are a threat to the development of our Song Dynasty. If he controls 24 streets, I am afraid he will be able to control 70% of the restaurants, teahouses, shops and tile houses in Bianjing City in the future. By then, his words may be more effective than the imperial edict."

"If the prefect of Kaifeng wanted to be promoted at that time, he would have to go to his house to pay his respects during festivals!"

"In the Song Dynasty, there may not be many merchants who are as rich as a country, but there are probably many merchants who are as rich as a prefecture or a state. Too much wealth will threaten the stability of the country."

……

After hearing Wang Anshi's words, Wang Yaochen let out a sigh and looked at Su Liang.

"Jingming, the reason for your opposition is that this policy will do more harm than good to the development of Bianjing City, favor the rich over the poor, and will easily lead to the solidification and confrontation between the rich and the poor. No matter who proposes it, you will oppose it. Is that so?"

Su Liang nodded and said, "Yes, and I agree with Jiefu's words."

Wang Yaochen thought about it.

"Mr. Bao probably thinks the same as you do, that Bianjing City is good as it is now, and it is better not to change."

"I can understand this. The replacement of the old with the new is a historical necessity. It has both advantages and disadvantages. The key lies in how to make the choice. But according to the current public opinion, the majority of people in Bianjing are willing to change."

“I also think the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.”

Wang Yaochen slowed down.

"As for Jiefu's words, he said that wealthy merchants harm the country. Then I would like to ask you two, is the king's uncle a wealthy merchant?"

"Due to the reform of the whole Song Dynasty, Cao Guojiu gave up his official position and went into business. From the southern suburbs market to the maritime trade, from the southern border trade to the northwest trade route, Guojiu's figure can be seen everywhere. His wealth is increasing, and he is even known as the Little Tao Zhugong."

"He helped the court develop trade and made money at the same time. Isn't that a big businessman harming the country? Shangguan Yu was clearly doing the same thing as him, so why did he become a big businessman harming the country?"

"Jingming, Jiefu, I know better than you that the uncle of the state has made great contributions to the Song Dynasty's trade. But if you oppose this policy on the grounds that 'big businessmen bring harm to the country', then the people will definitely mention the uncle of the state. How will you respond?"

"In addition, the saying that big businessmen ruin the country is likely to hurt the hearts of big businessmen all over the world!"

"I understand your thoughts very well. I also know that this strategy has its drawbacks, but the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. It is completely feasible."

At this time.

Wang Anshi raised his eyebrows and said, "The uncle of the emperor is also a tycoon. He will harm the country in the future. I suggest that we take this opportunity to discipline him and suppress the signs of tycoons in Bianjing City!"

"You dare!" Wang Yaochen glared angrily.

At present, the merchant forces represented by Cao Guojiu have a huge impact on the commercial taxes of the Song Dynasty. If Cao Guojiu is defeated, the treasury of the Song Dynasty will be shaken.

Su Liang immediately understood Wang Yaochen's thoughts.

He also knew there were drawbacks, but Su Liang and Wang Anshi's reasons were not enough to make him compromise.

Simply put, if the court used these reasons to stop Shangguan Yu from implementing this policy, it would inevitably lead to the people being dissatisfied with Cao Guojiu, believing that the court was: strict with others and lenient with itself.

Cao Guojiu is one of us, while Shangguan Yu is an outsider.

If Su Liang wants to convince Wang Yaochen, he has to remove Cao Guojiu from the category of "big businessmen ruining the country".

Su Liang looked at Wang Yaochen, the Third Secretary, and suddenly said, "Prime Minister Ji, I think we can make some moves on the King's uncle. If the Song Dynasty is prosperous, it really cannot have a wealthy merchant who can rival a country."

"You are crazy, absolutely crazy. You are giving up your good life and don't want to live it? You are just throwing the baby out with the bathwater!"

Wang Yaochen paused and said, "Tomorrow morning, I will present this plan to the emperor and the Secretariat. Let the court discuss this matter!"

(End of this chapter)