In the command envoy yamen, Liu Yan was dressed in a short fight, holding his son in one hand and a puppet in the other, which made the baby in swaddling clothes laugh, a rare picture of father and son enjoying themselves.

On the side, Wang Yunhe said with a smile: "Okay, it's time for the child to drink milk, I'll let the nurse hold it." ”

Liu Yan reluctantly handed the swaddling clothes to the nurse, and then said, "I heard that during this time, my father-in-law is very busy, what are you busy with?" ”

Wang Yunhe said: "It should be something in the Chamber of Commerce, what's wrong, is there anything wrong?" ”

"Not really."

Liu Yan said: "I'm just asking casually. ”

Wang Yunhe stood up, packed up the things at hand, prepared to go back to the backyard, and said, "If your husband has any doubts, you might as well take your father directly and ask." ”

Liu Yan nodded and said, "It's been a while since the Chamber of Commerce was established, and I also want to see the specific situation, so I'll send someone to bring my father-in-law here and get together with my wife." ”

Two days later, Wang Jing was taken to the Lingshan Acropolis, where Liu Yan and Wang Yunhe held a banquet in the Yamen of the commanding envoy, and the family sat together happily.

After the five flavors of the dish, Liu Yan mentioned the matter of the Chamber of Commerce and said, "Taishan, how is the situation of the Chamber of Commerce now?" ”

Wang Jing said: "The Chamber of Commerce is developing very fast now, and the businessmen in our Lingshanwei everywhere dare not say that ten out of ten, at least seven or eighty percent have joined the Chamber of Commerce, and the monthly dues paid to the commander and envoy Yamen are also forty or fifty thousand taels of silver. ”

Liu Yan nodded, he knew about the membership fee, but Liu Yan wanted to know not about these things, so he asked: "What about those businessmen who joined the Chamber of Commerce, do the officials at all levels of Lingshanwei have anything to eat and take cards?" Did any officials levy exorbitant taxes? ”

Wang Jing shook his head and said with a smile: "These are gone, those officials know that behind the Chamber of Commerce is the command envoy yamen, who eats the bear's heart and leopard gall, and still stretches out his hand to ask for silver?" ”

"Now although businessmen everywhere have to pay a certain amount of membership dues every month, they have a lot less trouble, and there are also a lot less harsh taxes and miscellaneous taxes.

Liu Yan smiled and said, "That's good." ”

At this moment, Wang Yunhe nodded slightly at Wang Jing, Wang Jing was stunned for a moment, and then looked at Liu Yan.

I saw what Liu Yan was thinking, and then said, "There is one more thing to ask Taishan." ”

"Hehe, virtuous son-in-law, but it doesn't hurt to say it."

There are no outsiders here, and Wang Jing is also happy to be commensurate with his son-in-law.

"That's the case, I want to know how many merchants in Lingshanwei and the surrounding areas have not joined the Chamber of Commerce?"

Wang Jing thought for a moment, and then said with a smile: "The virtuous son-in-law wants to expand the income of the Chamber of Commerce's membership dues?" ”

Liu Yan said with a smile: "Taishan knows me!" ”

Wang Yunhe hid his face and smiled, and said: "I thought it was a big deal, but it turned out that there was still a shortage of silver!" ”

"Alas!"

Liu Yan had a bitter face and said: "After the victory of the army, pensions were issued, new soldiers were recruited, military equipment was rested, etc., and the expenses of Lingshanwei everywhere surged. In addition, I am about to rush to Jimo Camp to take up my post, and Aoshanwei will definitely have to rectify it at that time, which will require a lot of money and food. So I'm short of money, very short! ”

Wang Yunhe asked in surprise: "Isn't the industry in Dapanbao and Wangjiazhuang enough?" Wine workshops, glaze workshops, iron yards, salt drying yards, soap workshops, so many money-making industries, is it not enough to use money and grain! ”

Liu Yan shook his head and said, "It's not enough!" Did you know that nowadays, the monthly income and expenditure are basically offset by not much balance? ”

Wang Yunhe said in shock: "I can't believe that Lingshanwei's expenses are so big now!" ”

Wang Jing was also amazed, he didn't know that the expenditure of a health center could be so much. You must know that Liu Yan's industries, which of them are the existence of daily income, can only maintain the various expenses of Lingshanwei.

"How much of a role can the income of the Chamber of Commerce have?"

Liu Yan said with a smile: "The role may not be big now, but it will be unlimited in the future." Mount Tai may not see the clue, the membership fee of the Chamber of Commerce, in the future will be a cornucopia, a cornucopia of gold and silver! ”

Wang Jing and Wang Yunhe don't understand it very well, and they can't understand it either, because the chamber of commerce membership fee is the collection of business tax, income tax, and value-added tax in later generations.

In the current era, although Liu Yan can't collect 100% of these taxes, he can at least expand the tax source, greatly increase his income, and lay the foundation for rectifying the tax system.

Of course, Liu Yan naturally couldn't explain these words to Wang Yunhe and Wang Jing, and he couldn't explain them clearly, so he could only talk about the matter and continue to talk about the matter of negotiating the membership fee of the Chamber of Commerce.

Liu Yan said: "There is one thing, Taishan can implement it after he goes back." ”

Wang Jing smiled and said, "What's the matter? ”

"I am ready to completely open up the sales channels of sea salt, soap, glass, and roast pot wine, and no longer limit the sales area and sales scope, and all businessmen who want to distribute these goods can apply to the Chamber of Commerce."

Wang Jing's eyes suddenly lit up, and he said excitedly: "So, then I'll be the first to stand up, where are these goods, obviously it's white silver!" ”

Liu Yan smiled and said, "Okay, even if it's Taishan." However, I also have one request: if you want to distribute sea salt, soap, glass, and pot wine, you must join the Chamber of Commerce, and from next month, these goods will no longer be sold to merchants outside the Chamber of Commerce. ”

"Virtuous son-in-law, this is forcing those businessmen to join the association."

Wang Jing said: "As long as this news spreads, in less than a month, the merchants around Lingshanwei will flock to it, and the scale of the Chamber of Commerce will at least double!" ”

Liu Yan said: "I give merchants the opportunity to earn money, and at the same time collect money from them. Also starting from next month, in addition to the 5% membership fee, each merchant will also have to pay according to the total purchase price of sea salt, soap, glass, and roast pot wine, and each person will have to pay 10% of the total purchase price of the month. ”

"Ichisei!"

Wang Jing was taken aback, it was the first time he had heard of such a high commercial tax, and Lingshanwei was just an ordinary guard city, and he did not have the right to collect commercial taxes.

"Virtuous son-in-law, it's not in accordance with the rules to do this."

Liu Yan smiled and said: "Taishan, don't worry, what are the rules?" There is silver, there is a strong army, what I say is the rules! ”

"Don't look at the commercial tax that adds 10% seems to be very high, but these commercial taxes are not worth mentioning at all compared to the income from the sale of sea salt, glass, soap, and pot wine!"

"But this percent of the business tax, ordinary small businessmen can't afford it at all, and those small businessmen can't buy much goods and can't buy them at a price."

Liu Yan said: "This business tax is only for four goods: sea salt, glass, soap, and pot wine, and as for those small merchants, as long as they do not touch these goods, they will not be subject to business tax." ”

Then Liu Yan said secretly in his heart: "At least it won't be levied now, not necessarily in the future!" ”

In fact, Liu Yan also consciously used the business tax to screen businessmen and eliminate small businessmen who had no strength. After all, the production of sea salt, glass, soap, and rook wine is limited, and there is no surplus production to supply those small traders and vendors.

Wang Jing said: "Okay, since the virtuous son-in-law has made up his mind, then I will go back today to start preparing." ”

Wang Yunhe said: "Father is leaving today? It's better to wait for two days and not rush for a while. ”

"Hehe, my virtuous son-in-law's affairs are all major matters, and they can't be delayed, so I'll come back when I'm done with this time."

After sending Wang Jing away, Wang Yunhe also returned to the backyard to rest, and Liu Yan sent someone to find Song Gongming.

Liu Yan briefly explained the matter of the Chamber of Commerce, and then said: "You discuss with President Wang of the Chamber of Commerce, and transfer the distribution rights of sea salt, glass, soap, and pot wine to the Chamber of Commerce for processing." In the future, you, as a commercial officer, will be responsible for collecting taxes, all kinds of commercial taxes, and this business tax is the first type. ”

Song Gongming said with a smile: "Your Excellency's move is unheard of, if you let those civil officials and Confucian scholars know, they will definitely make trouble, saying that your Excellency is competing with the people for profit." ”

"Competing with the people?"

Liu Yan sneered and said, "What kind of people are those civil officials and Confucian scholars? All of them are moths, all of them are a group of moths that have eaten up the country! ”

"This official collects commercial taxes, but it also makes those merchants profitable, and the silver collected is used to enrich the people and strengthen the army, and everyone is happy, how can those moths understand!"

Song Gongming clenched his fists and said: "My lord is high-minded, my subordinates admire!" ”

"By the way, there's one more thing."

Liu Yan said: "The salt drying factory, soap workshop, wine workshop, and glass workshop will also set up a trading company, so it is good to form a Xiahezhai trading company, and you, the commercial official, will be responsible for the income of the trading company." In addition, Xiahezhai Trading Company should also join the Chamber of Commerce, so that with the help of the Chamber of Commerce, it can attract those businessmen to invest money to open workshops. ”

"You remember: those businessmen can only invest money, they can't participate in the business, and they can't have decision-making power. After the newly built workshop makes a profit, it can give dividends to those merchants according to the proportion of the money invested. ”

Song Gongming thought for a moment and said, "What do you mean by borrowing chickens to lay eggs?" ”

"Isn't that bad?"

Song Gongming said with a smile: "Of course there is no problem, the subordinates immediately began to prepare for this matter." ”

When Song Gongming returned to the mansion, he hurriedly sent someone to call his nephew Song Guan, and as soon as he entered the door, Song Gongming pulled Song Guan and talked about the various reforms formulated by Liu Yan.

Because of his outstanding ability, Song Guan was transferred from the Guzhen Inspection Department to the Lingshan Acropolis, and served as a chief flag officer under the command of Tongzhi Wang Weizhen.

At this time, Song Guan's face showed an expression of ecstasy, and he said, "Lord Ethics is really a god, and he can come up with such a brilliant idea!" ”

"Do you think these actions of Lord Ethics will work?"

Song Guan said: "Uncle, look at it, it won't take a year or two, you, the commercial officer, will be the biggest fat shortage under the command of the Lord of Ethics, and the commercial tax will even exceed the income of the major workshops, becoming a cornucopia in the hands of the Lord of Ethics!" ”

"This ......"

Song Gongming obviously didn't believe it, and said: "It's unlikely, it's just that what kind of business tax has a tax rate of 10%, how many people can pay it?" How much can you collect? ”

"Hehe, there are goods like sea salt, pot wine, glass, and soap as bait, and you're worried that you won't be able to catch big fish?"

Song Guan said confidently: "Moreover, how can my uncle be sure that Master Ethics will not make other valuable goods?" I guess that when the time is ripe, there will be big moves from the Lord of Ethics, and then my uncle must keep up with the pace of the Lord of Ethics, so that our Song family will definitely have a good prospect! ”

Song Gongming patted Song Guan on the shoulder with a smile and said, "It's worthy of being my Song family's little Zhuge ah!" Okay, that's it. ”

However, the Lord mentioned that it was a great opportunity to make money by attracting investment from merchants and expanding the production of sea salt, shok pot wine, glass, and soap. I don't think it's as good as getting the moon first near the water, our Song family will invest a large amount of silver first, and at least we won't worry about the silver in the future. ”

Song Guan was shocked when he heard this, and hurriedly said: "Uncle must not act like this, doesn't uncle know that the Lord of Ethics hates the collusion between officials and businessmen, how can he tolerate his uncle using power for personal gain!" ”

"It's not that serious, is it?"

Song Guan stood up abruptly and said loudly: "Uncle must avoid suspicion at all times, otherwise it is better to give up the position of this commercial official." Even if our Song family can't shine on the lintel, we must not be defeated because of this! ”

Some people died, but not completely......