……

……

"Oh? It turned out to be Boss Xu, if you have any questions, please tell me! ”

When he spoke, Zhao Junchen's demeanor was modest and very polite.

Although, Zhao Junchen knew that Xu Changde was here to spy on intelligence and make trouble secretly, but after all, Xu Changde was a member of the Hui and Zhejiang Merchants Gang, and on the surface he was willing to cooperate with Zhao Junchen and join the joint shipping line, and now it is a critical period for Zhao Junchen to win over the Hui and Zhejiang businessmen, if Zhao Junchen deliberately embarrasses Xu Changde, I am afraid that it will hurt him and make the rest of the Hui and Zhejiang businessmen have bad ideas, so Zhao Junchen still needs to bear with it for the time being.

In addition, Zhao Junchen does not attach as much importance to the existence of Xu Changde as Shi Kesong. Just like the gap between Zhou Shangjing and Shen Changmao, according to the information collected by Zhao Junchen, the Xu Changde in front of him is far inferior to Shi Kesong in terms of wealth, momentum, means, and vision.

Even, Zhao Junchen could guess the specific means by which Xu Changde found trouble for himself.

Sure enough, as Zhao Junchen's words fell, Xu Changde had already raised his voice and said: "Lord Zhao, most of our merchants in Huizhou and Zhejiang do rely on smuggling to make money, which is needless to say, but our smuggling is also a last resort, after all, in recent years, the imperial court's harsh taxes and miscellaneous taxes are too much, not only the state capital, county seat, military town, and Huangzhuang are all equipped with tax collection checkpoints, but also need to pay a lot of donations from time to time, and officials from all over the country often make things difficult in private, and need a lot of silver bribes, so that goods are often worth a thousand taels, After being transported to the destination, it will cost more than 1,000 taels just to pay taxes, and if we and other businessmen do business according to legal channels, I am afraid that we will now have lost all our money and lost all our wealth! Now, the imperial court is willing to provide preferential policies for our merchants, except for the most basic excise tax, ship money and door tax, the rest of the complicated taxes are all exempted! This is naturally a great thing, and with such conditions, we are naturally not willing to continue illegal smuggling! It's just ......"

Speaking of this, Xu Changde's words changed, a trace of ill-will flashed in his eyes, and he continued: "It's just that although the businessmen present are willing to cooperate with the household department, form a joint shipping company, and only do legal business from now on, if others are still making profits through smuggling, how should they be restrained? Even, as far as Xu knows, your lord's household department has been involved in the smuggling business, and the scale is very large, every year back and forth between the north and the south, the grain ships are secretly carrying a large number of private goods, and because it is a grain ship, even the most basic goods tax, ship money and door tax do not need to be paid, so that the smuggling cost of the household department is even lower than that of the United Shipping Company with a tax-free policy! However, it is clear that the household department and our businessmen have joined forces to form the United Shipping Company, the intention is to curb smuggling, but the Household Department is not clean in this regard, and after the establishment of the United Shipping Company, there is also a competitive relationship with the Household Department. ”

After speaking, a trace of pride flashed in Xu Changde's eyes, thinking that he had caught Zhao Junchen's sore spot, but on the surface, he looked serious and upright, and bowed to Zhao Junchen again and said: "Xu's words are not good, but they are indeed Xu's sincere thoughts, please give me some advice!" ”

After hearing Xu Changde's statement, the Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen present were silent and did not speak, just quietly waiting for Zhao Junchen's answer.

*

Indeed, Zhao Junchen was the one who proposed and led the establishment of a joint shipping company, and the reason was even more high-sounding, saying that it was to curb smuggling and reverse the erosive status quo of commercial taxation in the imperial court, but the household department itself was one of the largest smuggling groups in the Ming Dynasty, and now it wants to cooperate with Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen to form a joint shipping company, and want Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen to abandon the smuggling business and make legal money from now on.

In fact, for Xu Changde's statement, the merchants of Huizhejiang present more or less had similar thoughts, but because Zhao Junchen's power was at his peak, and they could indeed increase their profits after joining the United Shipping Company, they couldn't bear to say it, but the smuggling business of the household department was indeed a thorn in their hearts.

Now, hearing that Xu Changde boldly and directly made this point clear, the Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen present were secretly frightened, but they also focused their eyes on Zhao Junchen, waiting for Zhao Junchen's answer.

If Zhao Junchen's answer is not correct, I am afraid that the matter of the joint shipping company will increase many obstacles, and the enthusiasm of the merchants of Huizhou and Zhejiang present will inevitably be hit -- this is probably Xu Changde's wishful thinking!

*

"Sure enough, Xu Changde wanted to find trouble by participating in the smuggling of the household department! If there is really nothing new, how can I be defenseless with such an obvious flaw? ”

While thinking in secret, a sneering smile flashed at the corner of Zhao Junchen's mouth, but in an instant, his expression was solemn, and he said slowly: "Do not do to others what you do not want to be done to yourself!" About this truth, the official naturally understands! In the past, in order to reverse the embarrassing situation of the state treasury, the household department did secretly participate in some illegal business! But now, as the head of the household department, this official is ordered by the Holy Order to rectify the current situation of commercial tax erosion, how can he knowingly commit a crime? ”

After speaking, Zhao Junchen turned his head to look at Lin Yunpu, Dai Fengfu, and Bai Mingyu, and asked: "Boss Lin, Boss Dai, and Boss Bai, speaking of which, regarding the establishment of a joint shipping company, this official was the first to propose to the three of you, and all the Huizhejiang businessmen present now were also recruited by the three of you, but is this?" ”

After hearing Zhao Junchen's inquiry, Lin Yunpu, Dai Fengfu, and Bai Mingyu all got up and replied, "Your Excellency, you are right, that's right!" ”

Zhao Junchen nodded, and then asked, "So, do you remember how much time has passed since this official proposed the matter of joint shipping to the three of you?" ”

After Lin Yunpu pondered for a moment, he replied, "My lord, at the end of March and the beginning of April, you mentioned the matter of the joint ship to me and the other three for the first time, and it has been two months since then! ”

Zhao Junchen nodded again and said, "Speaking of which, starting from April every year, it is the time when the imperial court's grain ships begin to transport grain on a large scale...... You are all well-informed, well-connected, but also familiar with all the situation of the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal, as long as you are willing to inquire, I am afraid that nothing can be hidden from your ears and eyes, so you can go to inquire about the news, since the official proposed the matter of the joint shipping line, the household grain ship can still secretly carry the phenomenon of private goods? ”

After a pause, Zhao Junchen raised his voice and said, "Taking advantage of today's opportunity, this official also informs you that since this official proposed the matter of the joint shipping line, the household department has completely stopped smuggling activities!" Today's grain carriers are only transporting grain, and there are no more private goods! From now on, the household department will completely abandon the smuggling business and devote itself to the business of the United Shipping Company, just like you! Here, we are also willing to accept your supervision! ”

As Zhao Junchen's words fell, the Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen present were also in good spirits again!

Since Zhao Junchen is so swearing, presumably the matter of the household department completely stopping the smuggling business must not be a lie, so Zhao Junchen once again showed his sincerity, and once again strengthened the confidence of Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen in the future of the United Shipping Company! And the secret stab in the hearts of the businessmen in Huizhou and Zhejiang also dissipated because of Zhao Junchen's words.

Then, Zhao Junchen ushered in a burst of compliments, and businessmen in Huizhou and Zhejiang praised Zhao Junchen for being "selfless" and "fair" and not mentioning.

On the other side, after hearing Zhao Junchen's statement, Xu Changde's face changed slightly!

He didn't expect that Zhao Junchen would have such courage, you must know that the household department can obtain millions of silver through smuggling every year, and Zhao Junchen actually gave up for such a large amount of silver for the sake of the joint shipping company!

"With this courage and decisiveness alone, Zhao Junchen is worthy of being Shen Shoufu's most important political enemy!" Shocked, Xu Changde thought secretly.

In fact, Xu Changde didn't know that the reason why Zhao Junchen was willing to give up the smuggling business of the household department was only because the United Shipping Company could bring greater benefits to Zhao Junchen, nothing more!

In this way, Xu Changde's wishful thinking failed, and when the merchants of Huizhou and Zhejiang took the opportunity to compliment Zhao Junchen, Xu Changde sat back in his position with an embarrassed expression.

It's just that Zhao Junchen doesn't plan to let Xu Changde go like this.

After the compliments of the merchants in Huizhou and Zhejiang ended, Zhao Junchen turned his gaze to Xu Changde again and said, "Boss Xu, are you still satisfied with the official's explanation?" ”

Xu Changde stood up with an embarrassed face, nodded again and again, and said, "Satisfied, naturally satisfied." ”

Zhao Junchen said with a smile: "Actually, Boss Xu's concerns are very reasonable, since we are going to give up the smuggling business, we can't let others continue to smuggle, otherwise it will be unfair to us, and the current situation of commercial taxes in the imperial court cannot be completely reversed. ”

……

PS: There is something to do today, there is only a small chapter of 3,000 words, forgive me!

…… (To be continued.) )