In Tianjin at the end of April 890, Murong Hanhai rushed to Zhang Jianzhong's Assassin's Mansion with five wealthy merchants after urgently raising a large number of goods and other supplies. Hu Xiaosi was already waiting for them with Zhao Si and Zhang Jianzhong. Seeing Murong Hanhai and the others coming, Qi smiled and said, "Okay, you guys are here, it means that everything is ready." The lord said that the canal trade will take Tianjin as the location of the headquarters, and all the goods of your big merchants will be gathered in Tianjin or several wharves that have been built along the line, and then the headquarters will command the transit. After finishing speaking, he said with a smile: "Our first stop is Bianzhou and other places of the Xuanwu Army." If it works well, we will go south to the south to reach Jiangnan, where there is the second end of our trade. ”

"What about the other destination?" Xu Xingxia was a little curious: "It stands to reason that Yangzhou is good, but at this time, Yangzhou is about to become a ruin, and I almost didn't recognize it when I passed by there before, although Yang Xingmi has taken people to recover, but in the short term, this is the largest shopping mall in Datang." ”

"Yangzhou can't work, then change it to Jinling, almost all of the current essence of Jiangnan is near Jinling. And Xue Mei seems to have also repelled the Red Turban Army, and the vicinity of Jinling has also returned to calm. It's easy to get to Jinling, which is also very close to Hangzhou, so you can go south along the canal and go directly to Qian Biao's territory. Hu Xiaosi naturally knew the recent situation in Yangzhou and said with a smile.

"And when are we leaving? I remember that the lord didn't say that Yang Yi had also arrived? Where did he go? Murong Hanhai nodded.

"He has already set off for Yingzhou, planning to form a canal patrol team, which is jointly formed with the patrol department, and is waiting for the iron ship of the shipyard of the lord to prepare for sea trials." Hu Xiaosi mentioned a sentence and continued: "Let's prepare to set sail in three days. The headquarters left Zhao Si and Zhang Tingshi to jointly command, and several of your major merchants in Xingxia sent people to Tianjin to coordinate actions. The lord has already returned to Chang'an with the chief of civil affairs, and instructed us to return to the base camp to join him as soon as we have arranged everything here, and prepare to open a second route. ”

"Article two?" Yelu Yaqi of the group asked a little curiously, originally he just wanted to try how the sales of his grassland characteristic products in the south were so he followed, recently he and the Xifeng clan of the Dangxiang clan began to go west along the Hexi corridor, preparing to go to the Western Regions in advance to explore the way, I heard that he also received strong support from Wan Yi, who has been stationed in Hexi.

"That's right, this one can be used as a supplement to our Eastern Grand Canal trade route." Hu Xiaosi glanced at all of them and said with a smile: "Take the road from Tongguan to Shaanzhou and then to Luoyang, the eastern capital." To this end, the Department of Communications has started the construction of a second railway nearby, extending the railway from Chang'an to Lishan to Tongguan. ”

"The two lines converge in Luoyang and Bianzhou, and Xuan Yingwei has arranged for a capable general to sit in Bianzhou to deal with emergencies at any time." Hu Xiaosi said with a smile: "Anyway, there is only one principle, that is, to earn back all the money that Zhu Quanzhong robbed on the southern front this time." ”

"You can rest assured about this matter, and leave the matter of making money to us. As long as Xuan Yingwei can get that Zheng Fan, we will earn back as much money as Zhu Quanzhong robs. Yu Wenli was very curious about Li Xuanqing's smuggling trade practice and said with a smile.

"Okay, Si'er, I'll leave it to you and Zhang Tingshi here. Biaozi has received an order to wait in Bianzhou, you pay more attention to communication. After Hu Xiaosi explained, he and Murong Hanhai took the lead in leaving Tianjin and headed towards Chang'an, and several other wealthy businessmen also set off back to Chang'an after explaining. The two routes were opened at the same time, and the trade volume brought by them was naturally massive, not only requiring them to coordinate their own family products, but also involving their respective upstream and downstream enterprises.

However, at this time, Li Xuanqing regretted what he said to Hu Xiaosi that day. After returning to Chang'an, after investigating the current situation of the western section of the canal, Li Xuanqing and Qiaoxi looked at each other, this canal has been built since Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty has been less than three hundred years now, why is the canal in the Luoyang section silted up in the city like this? According to the hydrographic data sent by Xuan Yingwei, it can barely pass small ships, and slightly larger cargo ships are enough to choke.

"Big brother, don't worry, didn't Xuan Yingwei say that Xie Tong has already started repairing the canal?" Qiaoxi looked at each other and smiled bitterly when she saw Li Xuanqing and Cen Tianshi, and couldn't help but comfort.

Qiaoxi's words also caused Cen Tianshi to wonder: "Why did this Xie Tong rebuild the canal at this time?" Could it be that he saw something? ”

Li Xuanqing shook his head and said: "It's not enough to see anything, but this person is indeed a good hand who is good at using various resources, he also sees the various benefits of Zhu Quanzhong taking Xuzhou, but for him, the integration of the interior is the most important, the renovation of the canal can completely unite the territory of the Xuanwu Army, relying on the convenience of the canal in addition to the military can obtain a huge advantage, the promotion of economic development is also huge." And he has a bigger role in it. ”

"This person has a long-term vision, and naturally knows the wealth of Xuzhou, he wants to convert the captured gold and silver goods into various material reserves as soon as possible, so that these things can become a symbol of the growth of the strength of the Xuanwu Army as soon as possible." Li Xuanqing also sighed quietly, in history, Zhu Quanzhong was able to defeat the surrounding major forces, and it was not for nothing that he was almost in the same Central Plains region, with such a strategist to assist, as long as he didn't make big mistakes, it would be difficult to rise.

"But in terms of time, it is still the lord who is powerful, although Xie Tong can quickly grow his strength by repairing the canal, but what he didn't expect is that the lord is taking advantage of the situation and actually wants to profit from it." Cen Tianshi was also very impressed by Xie Tong's methods, but he admired his own lord even more, and said with a smile: "Xie Tong's idea is from his point of view, maybe Tianshi will also think of it, but the lord's approach is that even if Tianshi follows the lord, there is no way to predict it in advance, one is high and one is low, and the judgment will come out immediately." ”

Li Xuanqing waved his hand and said with a smile: "Mr. is too famous." But in this way, I have thought of a way, even if the other party's renovation of the canal does not match our time or is discovered by Xie Tong, it can still reduce the increase in the strength of the Xuanwu Army under his policy. ”

"Big brother is saying that we don't sell materials, we should sell luxury goods?" Qiaoxi discovered the mystery in an instant when he heard Li Xuanqing's words, and said with a smile: "If this is the case, there is no need for convenient transportation conditions, let's just let Brother Hu arrange it, open the Bianliang underground market, artificially speculate on the price of luxury goods, and then find a way to drive the heat of the luxury market in Bianzhou, you can form an atmosphere, those who have received meritorious awards or big families will not exchange their money and grain for this fashionable and atmospheric treasure and antique?" ”

Qiaoxi's words made the eyes of the two of them light up, Li Xuanqing's heart moved, and he secretly said that he should take out the big killing weapon, so he said with a smile: "Sir, wait for Murong to come back and plan it, pick out all the treasures, calligraphy, paintings, and antiques that we have seized in the past, and let Xiao Si go to the vicinity of the Eastern Capital to operate them." Qiaoxi and I plan to take out a big killing weapon to sell, and when the time comes, the money and grain seized by Zhu Quanzhong in Xuzhou will not be enough to buy it. ”

Cen Tianshi didn't understand what Li Xuanqing said about the big killing weapon, but it didn't prevent him from understanding what Li Xuanqing and Qiaoxi meant. This treasure of calligraphy and painting in troubled times is not a good thing in the hands of those in power, not only can it not increase its own strength, but if it is invested too much in it, it will inevitably dilute the already barren social resources. And Li Xuanqing also intends to take advantage of this, in response to the robbery in Xuzhou, Zhu Quanzhong will definitely be more arrogant than in history, and he will not find out in the short term if he rashly invests a huge amount of pearl antiques or something, and when Xie Tong realizes that he can promote the economic war again, he will smash the remaining copper coins from the Department of Finance into the Bianliang market in a short period of time, so that Xie Tong will be tired of coping.

However, it is best to use the big killing weapon prepared by yourself. Thinking of this, Li Xuanqing didn't even notice when Cen Tianshi left. And Qiaoxi beside him thought something was wrong when he saw Li Xuanqing's face constantly changing, but after Li Xuanqing whispered a few words to her, the latter cheered and laughed: "Big brother, you are so smart, I haven't thought of such a good thing until now." I'm going to build the factory tomorrow, and I believe that I can basically start the production experiment in a month, and it's not difficult for that thing, we can even burn the cement, and there will be no problem. ”

Li Xuanqing said with a smile: "Don't worry, I have already let the logistics department test the formula or something, you just need to build the factory and buy patents for thirty percent of the shares of the logistics department, and you can also get skilled workers for free." ”

"Big brother, I found that our family will definitely have more money in the future than the Ministry of Finance." Qiaoxi snapped her white little finger and smiled.

"It's not good to have a lot of money." Li Xuanqing smiled, pulled Qiaoxi to the Finance Department, found Qi Hong, and began to study the tax issue on canal trade. The Department of Finance has been busy enough during this time, not only to adjust the tax rates and types of taxes in accordance with the reforms of various places, but also to set up new tax checkpoints for the graded highways of the Department of Transportation.

"The lord means a special tax for this trade?" Qi Hong was a little shocked and said, "Or do you want to formulate a special tax with the Department of Industry and Commerce?" ”

Li Xuanqing shook his head and said: "Trade with a special purpose led by the Tiance Mansion can designate a special tax to ensure the interests of the merchants involved in the trade, but since this is the smuggling trade led by us, the internal forces mobilized have consumed a lot, and Xuan Yingwei has helped them get rid of the heavy taxes levied by other forces, so our special tax must also be raised." ”

"How much does the lord plan to collect?" Qi Hong nodded, naturally understanding what Li Xuanqing meant.

Li Xuanqing waved three fingers and said, "In addition to the normal tax, a special tax of thirty percent will be levied." In the event of an accident, the 30% tax can be refunded. This is called in the name of the country, the people get rich together, and the people advance together. Of course, the specific tax rate also needs to be calculated by the tax department, and the approximate proportion is here. ”

"Don't worry, my lord, I will let the tax department draw up the regulations as soon as possible and then implement them." Qi Hong naturally would not let go of such a good opportunity to increase her income. Faced with the lucrative trade of smuggling, he felt that thirty percent of the special tax was less.

After explaining this, Li Xuanqing and Qiaoxi rested in Chang'an for a few days, and then began to secretly select a new site in the Weinan area and build a very strange site. I thought it was a cement factory if I didn't pay attention to it, but no one else knew what it was doing except for the technicians who were transferred from the logistics department.

"My lord, you are really fast, Murong and I rushed over from Tianjin, but we didn't stop, I didn't expect you and your third sister-in-law to sneak to Weinan." Hu Xiaosi found Li Xuanqing and his wife at the Weinan Shipyard and said with a smile.

"Xingxia, did your goods depart from Chang'an to Tongguan, and then go to Luoyang by land?" Li Xuanqing didn't know what this guy meant, so he ignored him.

"What do you mean?" Xu Xingxia was a little unsure of what Li Xuanqing meant, and hesitated a little.

"The Chang'an Eight Canal now has the ability to navigate, and the water conservancy facilities of the Water Resources Department in Guanzhong have basically considered the function of shipping, so they can basically rely on water transportation to the west of Tongguan. As for the area where Tongguan moves, you can also wait until Xie Tong finishes repairing the canal. Li Xuanqing said a few words ramblingly: "The chief of civil affairs should have told you, right?" ”

Xu Xingxia nodded and said, "Our Xu family has also collected some treasures before, and we plan to take this opportunity to try it out." Is it just that this goods are not going to be sold? ”

"Brother Xu, you misunderstood. Big Brother means that you will set up a shipping company in the Guanzhong area, completely improve the waterway network in Guanzhong, and use new power ships to complete the deployment of various docks and stations and the setting of supply points. Qiaoxi saw that Xu Xingxia had misunderstood, and walked over to explain.

"Does the lord mean to improve the water conservancy network and set up a shipping company? Same as the canal? Xu Xingxia understood.

"There is no doubt that the transportation of bulk goods, in theory, is the lowest cost and the largest volume. I want you to quickly train a group of personnel based on the inland river before forming a shipping company, so that when you go to sea in the future, you can form several fleets at one time and sail to different locations at the same time. Li Xuanqing continued to explain. Li Xuanqing and Qiaoxi don't have much interest in shipping, and it's better to hand over this kind of thing to others. The two are also dedicated to the development of industrial manufacturing and the chemical industry. For the others, to be honest, they are basically the stroke of genius that comes to the heart, or drives the social atmosphere.

"Don't worry, Xingxia understands that our Xu family will immediately send someone to set up a Northwest Shipping Company to complete the waterway transportation in the Guanzhong area, and ask my wife's shipyard to give a discount when the time comes." Xu Xingxia made a rare joke.

"You take the time to go to the shipyard to get a copy of the ship's instructions, and I have asked Mr. Cen to instruct Guanzhong Province to officially build cargo warehouses and coal supply bases at the wharves of various cities, and do a good job of logistics for you." Li Xuanqing smiled, "This discount is not bad, right?" ”

A few people laughed, Xu Xingxia pulled Hu Xiaosi and said goodbye, and then began to worry about the manpower in Guanzhong to start building the Northwest Shipping Company. After more than 20 days of intense construction by a special battalion dispatched by the construction company, the new factory finally met the requirements and was basically completed.

"Big brother, you can officially start construction tomorrow and prepare to put into production. Shall we take a look then? With a clever smile, Hu Xiaosi also hurriedly came with a piece of information in his hand, "Lord, Bianliang intelligence, our trade line has won the first battle." ”

Li Xuanqing and Qiaoxi looked at each other and smiled, both seeing the meaning in each other's eyes.