Hou Fangyu asked with a smile: "Xiao Er, where are you from, and how long have you been in Australia?" ”

Xiao Er was stunned for a moment, then replied with a smile: "This guest officer, why are you so interested in villains?" Okay, the guest officer wants to know, let's talk to you well. We are from Yingzhou, and when Chongzhen was eight years old, the Liukou attacked Yingzhou, and our whole family became refugees. Later, my family was recruited by officials sent by Master Li, and then brought to Shanxian County, Shandong, where they were granted land to open up wasteland. ”

Hou Fangyu sighed, and asked curiously: "Then Xiao Er, how did you come to Australia?" ”

Xiao Er sighed: "The acres of land in a single county are limited, and with the increasing number of displaced people, the local land has been granted. Therefore, when the villain grows up, although he has become a family, there is no spare land to divide in the local area. As a last resort, he went to Chifeng City, worked as a junior in a local hotel, and settled in Chifeng City since then. ”

Xiao Er paused, and said: "Later, our owner's business became bigger and bigger, and we have opened branches in Jeju, Taiwan, Luzon and other places. No, after Australia was captured, our owner immediately took action, invested in this Yuelai Hotel in this Beiao City, and then transferred the villain from Chifeng City to here. Of course, here, the villain's salary has also been doubled, and he is half the steward of the hotel, and the little one happily took his wife and daughter from Chifeng City, Shandong, to live and work in this Beiao City. ”

Hou Fangyu said with a smile: "Your owner has a lot of vision, and he knows that he took advantage of the opportunity of the initial construction of the city in Australia to invest quickly, but he grabbed a start." ”

"No, our host's vision doesn't have to say. However, the climate of this Australian territory is quite similar to our China, that is, the cold and heat are reversed, and the four seasons are opposite, like now, this Australia is autumn, and our Chinese mainland is just spring, but it is completely opposite. Now, the small ones are getting more and more accustomed to the climate here, and the small ones are also planning to do so if the owners don't mobilize the villains, the little ones will continue to work in Australia, and the future generations will no longer return to mainland China. ”

Xiao Er finished speaking with a happy smile on his face, and Hou Fangyu nodded and smiled unconsciously, he nodded and said: "Then Xiao Er, do you know that in this land of Australia, whether the commercial tax is heavy or not, and how is the government governed?" “

Xiao Er hurriedly said: "Guest officer, the commercial tax in Australia, like the store in Chifeng City, is to pay one-eighth of the monthly sales as the commercial tax, of course, this kind of commercial tax, compared with other places in the Ming Dynasty, is indeed heavier." ”

Hou Fangyu asked with a puzzled expression: "Since this commercial tax is so heavy, why is it strange that I see this street full of shops and still thriving?" ”

When Xiao Er heard Hou Fangyu's question, he smiled and said, "This guest officer, you haven't been to the land under Lord Li's rule before, right?" Under the rule of Lord Li, it seems that the commercial tax is heavier, but in fact, for the merchants, compared with other places, it is much lighter. ”

"Oh, my brother's words are interesting, but please elaborate." Hou Fangyu became interested.

Seeing that he was interested, Xiao Er simply opened the conversation, and he said quickly: "Guest officer, according to my Ming ancestral law, the merchant has thirty taxes and one, which should be very light." But with all due respect, this law is almost a piece of waste paper today. In this great future, where the government officials do not exploit and squeeze large and small businesses, it is a pity that the money obtained by the hard work of the merchants has been taken by them, and the country has not shared the benefits, but only fattened such corrupt officials. What's more, if a merchant is forcibly requisitioned as a government leader, it is even more necessary to flee with his family or destroy his family wealth in order to avoid disaster. ”

Hearing Xiao Er's words, Hou Fangyu and the servants on the side nodded again and again.

Hou Fangyu even had a look of surprise on his face, he couldn't have imagined that the junior second of a small shop could say such a thing, which made him impressed.

Compared with this little two, he is a so-called genius of the Ming Dynasty, but his understanding of these business things is very limited.

Xiao Er seemed to see his thoughts, and he sneered: "Guest officer, most of these words are only known from the merchant edicts issued by the government, and I have stayed in Chifeng City for many years before I know these things in detail. In fact, most of the large and small businesses in Beiao City are branches opened here by other places, and the tax policy is also clear. Otherwise, the villain is blind, how can he have such knowledge. ”

When Hou Fangyu heard this, he subconsciously glanced at each other with the servant on the side.

He sighed secretly in his heart, this Li Xiao can see the shortcomings of the government so clearly, and he can also take measures to correct them in time. Now it is not easy to receive both commercial taxes and good reputation, and there is no reputation to compete with the people. It can be seen that although this person is a military general, he is afraid that the bureaucrats in various parts of the Ming Dynasty are not as good as the management of businesses.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Xiao Er sighed and said: "I think back then, when I was in Chifeng City, this Lord Li managed Chifeng City in an orderly manner, and the market was safe, and I only need to pay one-eighth of the business tax of sales every month, and I don't have to worry about the rest." There is neither the exploitation of officials nor the extortion of the green-skinned ruffians, so the merchants can only operate with confidence. Therefore, there are many merchants in Chifeng City, and the business is prosperous, which is the result of Lord Li's governance. And now, this Beiao City also continues the governance method of Chifeng City, which is also blocked by streets and alleys, with an excellent environment and order, and it is also a good place to do business. ”

Hou Fangyu listened to Xiao Er's words, and nodded again and again, and admired Li Xiao even more in his heart.

At this time, Hou Fangyu thought for a while, and then asked: "Then how many immigrants have come to this land of Australia so far?" ”

Xiao Er replied: "Guest officer, how many people do you want to say, this is not an official government, it's really hard to say." I only know that there are now 50,000 or 60,000 residents living here in this Beiao city. According to a small estimate, in our province of Northern Australia, I am afraid that there are at least four or five hundred thousand immigrants. Based on this calculation, the entire Australia should now have a population of nearly two million. Guest, do you think, if we don't have such a large population base, wouldn't it be a loss-making transaction for us to open a hotel here? ”

Hou Fangyu nodded and said: "That's the same, there is no population to consume, how can we support this prosperous Beiao city." Then Xiao Er, let me ask you again, what is the situation of this Australian immigrant after arriving here?

Xiao Er was stunned for a moment, and then replied: "Well, how is it, the villain is not very clear." Now the land of Australia, a total of three provinces, namely Northern Australia, Western Australia, and South Australia, according to small heard, now Western Australia Province, mostly arid zone, Li adults will be planned here as a place for grazing and breeding, by domestic immigrants, in the province each contracted a piece of wasteland, large-scale breeding, like cattle, sheep, pigs and other livestock, mostly in Western Australia Province breeding. In North Australia and South Australia, all kinds of crops are basically grown, such as wheat, rice, sorghum, millet, tobacco, sugarcane, tea, etc., abound, and so on. Anyway, I heard Master Li say that he wants to build our Australian continent into the world's largest and most complete agricultural and animal husbandry production base. It is also necessary to make Australia's grain, livestock, and various cash crops the largest and most productive areas under its rule. Master Li also said that he hoped that in the future, the grain and livestock produced in this land of Australia would be more than enough to feed the people of the entire Chinese mainland. “

After Xiao Er finished speaking, Hou Fangyu and the others sighed silently again.

Well, to build Australia into the world's largest agricultural and animal husbandry base, to rely on this land of Australia to feed the people of the entire land of China, Li Xiao's ambition is so heroic, how can it be compared with ordinary people.

When Xiao Er said this, suddenly another hot meat dish was served, Xiao Er's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly said to Hou Fangyu: "Two guest officers, try it quickly, this is a meat dish unique to us in Australia, and you will never be able to eat it in mainland China." “

Hou Fangyu was surprised when he heard this, and took a closer look, the meat in the basin was about the same color as beef, dark red and shiny, full of fat, and a strong fragrance came to his nose.

He and the servant immediately picked up chopsticks, picked up a piece of meat, and put it in his mouth to chew it.

"Well, this meat is fragrant, thick and fine, quite chewy, looks like beef, and tastes like chicken, but I don't know, what kind of livestock it is?" Hou Fangyu nodded again and again as he asked Xiao Er.

Xiao Er laughed and said hurriedly: "The guest officer doesn't know, this thing is a wild thing unique to Australia, called kangaroo, this thing is everywhere in Australia, so the government can't help but hunt it." Well, it tastes good. We also have dried kangaroo meat made with salt, which can be stored for a long time, and when the guest officer returns to mainland China in the future, he can bring it back to his family and friends to try. “

Hou Fangyu nodded when he heard this, and he smiled: "Okay, when this official returns to mainland China in the future, he will bring more kangaroo dried meat back, and then I will buy it in your store." “

When Xiao Er heard this, his face was overjoyed, and he said continuously: "Okay, thank you to the two guest officers for taking care of the business of the store, Xiao Er has thanked the two guest officers in advance." “

Hou Fangyu and the others tasted a few pieces of kangaroo meat one after another, chewing their mouths full of oil, and both of them were amazed.

At this time, Hou Fangyu saw that from the gate of the hotel, another person who looked like a merchant came, but behind him, in addition to the three guys dressed as Han, there were also six black-looking aborigines, who also followed him closely, entered the store with him, and then found a place to eat at the table.

Hou Fangyu's servant on the side, seeing this situation, couldn't help but ask curiously: "Xiao Er, where are these natives from, and where are they going?" “

Xiao Er glanced at those natives, and said with a smile: "These people, they are all local natives in Australia, what are they called Maori, since Lord Li's Tang army conquered Australia, such indigenous tribes, some of whom are dissatisfied, have been wiped out, and the rest are all willing to belong to my Chinese civilization and are willing to obey the governance of my Tang Kingdom." Maori like this, based on Xiao Er's experience, should have been hired by Han Chinese merchants to go to Western Australia to cultivate land in exchange for income. You know, those tribes of theirs, they can't even slash and burn, they can be said to be so poor that they are dying, and now someone hires others to do help, and the income of this year is much stronger than that of them in the tribe before, and it is not a problem to feed the family with his income alone. Speaking of which, this is an excellent benevolent policy brought by Lord Li to these barbaric and primitive local natives. “

When Hou Fangyu heard this, he nodded and exclaimed: "Wonderful, it is something that can only be done by a monarch like Yao Shun to make Yuanyi come and the guests from all over the world to follow." Tang Guogong's ability to govern, Hou is really impressed. “

Hou Fangyu sighed, then turned his head and said to his servant: "Wait a minute, I'll finish eating, but I'm going to go to this Beiao city and have a good look." ”

The servant nodded and replied, "Yes, Hou Gongzi, I have a rare trip to this Australia, and I really need to have a good life." “

After a short time, both of them were full of wine and food, and then got up and left.

In addition to paying two taels and five cents for wine, Hou Fangyu gave Xiao Er a tip of 3 cents of silver, and Xiao Er smiled badly, and even claimed to thank him.

Originally, now under Li Xiao's rule, the gold and silver dollars and copper dollars issued by the Bank of China have been universal, but like the silver taels made by the mainland of the Ming Dynasty, they can still be circulated here.

That night, the two of them, who had enough to play in Beiao City and had enough food and drink, naturally went to find a fireworks spring hall to rest.

The amorous Hou Fangyu, when he came to this Australian land, still did not change his nature, he and a favorite fireworks woman, after rolling over the sheets, he fell asleep comfortably.

It's just that at this moment, although he has only been in Australia for a day, in his heart, all doubts and dissatisfaction with Tang Guogong Li Xiao have been dispelled.

In his heart, he even had a thought that seemed to be quite rebellious.

That is, if one day, this Tang Guogong Li Xiao can make all the people of the entire suffering land of China be governed like this, then what does it matter if this country is not surnamed Zhu or called the Ming Dynasty from now on......

……

When Hou Fangyu and others were traveling around Australia to check, in Dengzhou, Shandong, Li Xiao's little wife, Princess Zhu Yujiao of Kunxing, was packing packages with a happy face, preparing to return to Beijing and return to her parents' hometown.

In the middle of March of the fifteenth year of Chongzhen, she had been married to Li Xiao for more than half a year, and when she turned fourteen, she finally got Li Xiao's permission to let her go back to the capital to see her parents, Emperor Chongzhen and Empress Zhou.

In addition to bringing a little luggage and belongings of herself, Li Xiao also brought her a large number of gifts, gold and silver, and talked about her filial piety and etiquette. These things were handed over to the soldiers who guarded her and brought back to the capital together.

Li Xiao personally sent her out of Dengzhou City, looking at the back of Zhu Yujiao and her party, and after disappearing at the end of the official road in the smoke and dust, Li Xiao frowned slightly, and his face was full of deep thought.