Li Dan stared at Yan Siqi, who sat down in the soft chair without any courtesy, and reached out to fiddle with a few small items on the coffee table next to him.

"Are you having a great time in Dongfan?" Li Dan had no idea what to do with this guy, but he still had to say a few words. "I heard you had a good hunting trip. Can you bring back any specialties that I can try?"

Yan Siqi looked up at Li Dan, smiled sheepishly, and said, "Of course I have to bring some local specialties, and I also thank Brother Li for all his hard work during this period. Well, let's not talk nonsense. If you have any errands, just let me know."

Li Dan pointed at the items on the coffee table and said, "These are all here. Go and take care of them!"

Yan Siqi was puzzled. He picked up a piece of exquisite porcelain and looked at Li Dan with an inquiring look.

"It's from the official kiln, with exquisite workmanship." Li Dan explained, "This is a source someone went through great pains to acquire, and it must be sold at a good price."

Yan Siqi examined it again and nodded, "That's easy. Porcelain of good craftsmanship will naturally fetch a high price."

Putting down the porcelain, Yan Siqi picked up a pack of cigarettes, looked at the words on it, and said, "A newly opened cigarette factory? I haven't heard of it."

Li Dan chuckled and said, "This is the new tobacco factory built by the Maritime Merchants Association. I named it the Four Seas Tobacco Factory. The tobacco has just been produced. Come, have a taste."

"Our cigarette factory?" Yan Siqi looked surprised. He opened the cigarette box, took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a slow and deep puff.

After tasting it carefully, Yan Siqi commented, "The taste is a little bland, but not bad."

"This recipe was chosen from several, and it's acceptable to most people," Li Dan said. "The imperial court designated sixteen tobacco-producing areas across the country. Our Maritime Merchants Association has secured four: Fujian, Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Guangxi."

Yan Siqi nodded and said, "This business will definitely make money, but we are maritime merchants. Do we really have to operate on land as well?"

"Since we can make money, we don't care about land or sea." Li Dan crossed his arms and said, "Other chambers of commerce would rather we stay out of it, but when it comes to currying favor with the imperial court, how can we be left out?"

Yan Siqi lowered his eyes and thought for a moment before saying, "That's right. The president must have worked very hard to win these four provinces."

Based on geographical conditions and environmental climate, the imperial court divided the country into sixteen tobacco-producing areas and stipulated the planting area.

Naturally, all tobacco leaves were purchased and supplied to various tobacco factories. In principle, eight factories would be built initially. Thirty percent of each factory's profits would be paid to the state as tobacco monopoly tax.

Simply put, of the ten yuan worth of cigarettes, three went to the state and seven to the factory. Li Dan had someone calculate that, after deducting various production costs, the profit from running a cigarette factory should be around 20%, or even higher.

Monopoly is similar to monopoly. Li Dan certainly knows the considerable profits involved. How could other chambers of commerce not know this?

Therefore, the four major chambers of commerce were in fierce competition for these sixteen tobacco-producing areas and the first eight tobacco factories. It was a sure-win business, and it also curried favor with the emperor, so why not?

The four major chambers of commerce believed that this was a reward from the emperor, because they did a good job and were given the opportunity to make money.

This understanding is not wrong, and Zhu Youxiao did have the intention of motivating people. However, by subcontracting the tobacco factory, there was no need for investment, and it also reduced the number of intermediaries, and it also saved on the appointment of more officials and salaries.

Having the royal family or the imperial court take over all the work might seem like more money, but in the long run, it's not a good thing. Money isn't earned by one person alone, and Zhu Youxiao preferred this win-win model of cooperation.

Henan, Shandong, Gansu and Shaanxi in the north; the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce took over Anhui, Zhejiang, Guizhou and Yunnan; and the Yangtze River Chamber of Commerce took over Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan and Jiangnan.

After the spoils were divided, each company built factories, produced and sold them as quickly as possible, which was much faster than the royal family could do it themselves.

"It's a bit of hard work, but it's worth it." Li Dan felt that Yan Siqi didn't fully understand the deeper meaning of this, so he explained, "With the decisive battle to pacify Liao approaching, Your Majesty is full of confidence and has already begun planning for the court's future revenue. The tobacco monopoly is one of them. In time, the tax revenue will be even greater than that of the salt and iron monopoly, and Your Majesty will rely on it even more."

Yan Siqi blinked, perhaps understanding what he meant, and nodded, "I see. Simply relying on confiscation of property won't last long, and Your Majesty is well aware of this."

Li Dan showed a look of relief and said, "The top priority now is to pacify the Liaodong region, and the most important thing about pacifying the Liaodong region is maritime transportation. In this regard, we have done the best and worked the hardest. In the future, when the court needs to increase fiscal revenue or fight major disasters, we will not lag behind. As long as the emperor is happy, the Maritime Merchants Association will prosper and prosper in the long run."

The wisest thing to do is to follow the government's instructions and follow the government's instructions. If you undermine the court and make the emperor unhappy, just think about the fate of several wealthy people in history and you will understand.

"Although I went to Dongfan to relax for a while, the imperial mission was not delayed. I handed everything over to Yang Tiansheng and the others." Yan Siqi said, "With Brother Li directing the plan, there will be no delays."

Li Dan pondered for a moment before speaking, "I feel this is not enough. I have ordered all ships sailing overseas to return empty-handed. All grain, cotton, white copper, and other goods must be purchased and shipped back."

After a pause, Li Dan smiled slightly at Yan Siqi, who was looking surprised, and pointed a finger to emphasize, "This was submitted to the Emperor, and it was approved and commended. The benefits..."

…………………….