Chapter 338 Ministry of Commerce Policies
What's your name?
After stunning the people, Wei Shuyu turned to ask Huang Zhuzi.
"Yellow pillar."
"How long have you been here?"
"It's been over a month."
"What did you do before?"
"Doing nothing."
"Don't you have any land at home?"
"Yes, but I have many brothers and sisters, and there is simply not enough land in my family to cultivate."
The two engaged in a question-and-answer session.
The crowd was puzzled and dared not interrupt.
As for the old farmer...
Choi Shin-ki had already stuffed socks into them, the kind that hadn't been washed for seven days and seven nights.
"Did you all hear that?"
Wei Shuyu glanced at everyone and asked, "Do you have enough land to cultivate?"
this……
Everyone was stunned.
The Tang Dynasty did adopt the equal-field system, which was correct.
However, the equal-field system had a major drawback!
That's where the population is so dense that there simply isn't enough to go around.
A prosperous place like Chang'an.
It's said to be 100 mu, but in reality, each household receives less than 100 mu.
In some regions where the equal-field system was implemented, being allocated ten mu (approximately 0.67 hectares) was considered quite good.
This is also why Li Shimin was determined to reclaim wasteland after the invention of the curved plow.
"So how much can we earn after coming to Yuzhuxuan?" Wei Shuyu continued to ask.
"The shopkeeper told me not to say," Huang Zhuzi glanced at the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper's face darkened.
“I told you not to tell anyone else, but I didn’t tell you not to tell Doctor Wei.”
Hearing the shopkeeper's reprimand, Huang Zhuzi glanced at the crowd.
"Now that I've said it, haven't others heard it too?"
"..."
Silly kid.
Believe it or not, I'll deduct your wages.
The shopkeeper glared at him, and Huang Zhuzi immediately cowered.
“I work here and in addition to two meals a day, I also receive half a bushel of grain as wages each month.”
What?
Everyone was shocked.
This wage is already very high.
In many places during the Tang Dynasty, apart from meals being provided, there was no extra pay for laborers.
Even with meals provided, it was often sporadic, barely enough to keep them from starving.
Too many people, too little work; take it or leave it!
In ancient times, the cheapest thing was labor.
"Is there any written agreement to prove it?" Wei Shuyu asked.
"some.
"Could you take it out and let me see it?"
"The younger one wasn't brought..."
Wei Shuyu looked at the shopkeeper.
Documents are usually made in duplicate.
"Please wait a moment, Physician Wei, I'll go get it right now."
The shopkeeper left in a hurry.
When I returned, I had an extra note in my hand.
Wei Shuyu glanced at it casually, then held up the note...
"What do you all think this is?"
The crowd was puzzled and began to discuss the matter amongst themselves.
They couldn't possibly take the document to look at it.
Moreover, many farmers are illiterate.
"Then I'll ask another question..."
"Does anyone in your family want to work or are already working?"
Wei Shuyu asked.
These words immediately garnered a lot of support.
There were many people born in ancient times.
Everyone has relatives who work away from home.
"I can already tell from your reactions."
"But I want to ask a question..."
"If they encounter an unscrupulous employer, and after working hard for a while, they don't get the reward they deserve, what would you do?"
Report this to the authorities!
The word involuntarily came to everyone's mind.
But they quickly overturned this conclusion.
If your actions involve money or grain, the government may handle it for you.
But you said you weren't getting enough to eat while working.
The government couldn't be bothered with it...
If you're not full, why don't you find another job to do?
"From your expressions, I've already guessed what's going on!"
"And the Ministry of Commerce is there to solve this problem."
"If the merchants fail to provide you with the agreed-upon benefits and arbitrarily deduct your wages, you are welcome to appeal to the Ministry of Commerce."
"After verification by the Ministry of Commerce, the businessman will be severely punished!"
The crowd whispered among themselves.
From this perspective, it seems that the Ministry of Commerce is working to improve the lives of the people.
"Let's get back to the main topic."
Wei Shuyu then held up the document in his hand: "What do you all think this is?"
Everyone shook their heads in unison.
"This is a contract signed between the merchant and the worker."
"All helpers shall be provided with two meals a day and shall receive wages every month."
"If meals are not provided, then workers must be paid an equivalent amount of money and food."
Three days ago.
"This decree has already been communicated to the merchants of Chang'an!"
"So from now on, this will be the minimum wage for working in Chang'an!"
What?
Everyone was incredulous and turned their gazes toward the shopkeeper.
"Don't look at me."
The shopkeeper said helplessly, "This decree has been in effect in Hu County for some time, and it was only recently introduced to Chang'an."
Everyone was in an uproar.
If this news is true, they need to hurry up and send it back so that their unemployed relatives can find work.
"Waaah..."
The old farmer struggled incessantly, but with a smelly sock stuffed in his mouth, he couldn't even speak.
"Do you have something to say?"
Wei Shuyu suddenly turned to look at the old farmer.
"Uh-huh……"
The old farmer nodded repeatedly.
"Let go of his mouth." Wei Shuyu waved his hand.
Upon hearing this, Choi Shin-ki immediately had his friends pull out the smelly socks.
"You're talking nonsense."
As soon as he could speak, the old farmer launched into a tirade against Wei Shuyu: "Merchants won't get up early for nothing. Why would they look for expensive labor when they have cheap labor available?"
Everyone felt as if they had been doused with cold water, and their high spirits turned into anxiety and uncertainty.
yes.
Merchants aren't fools, why would they give away so much money for nothing?
Involuntarily...
Everyone turned their attention to Wei Shuyu.
"Indeed, that's a sharp question."
Wei Shuyu smiled and praised him.
Then he turned his gaze to the crowd...
"Gentlemen."
"Some of the Ministry of Commerce's policies might be difficult for you to understand in a short time if I explained them to you."
"Let me give you an easy-to-understand example..."
"For example, Lantian County is famous for its Lantian jade!"
"If merchants want to mine there, the first thing they need to do is hire people, right?"
Everyone nodded.
"For merchants to take on such projects, they must strictly adhere to the Ministry of Commerce's recruitment criteria."
"If we hire locals, we will receive certain tax breaks, as this is considered part of developing the local economy."
"Think about it, everyone..."
"Isn't this a win-win situation for all three parties?"
"First, the local people are making money."
"Second, merchants received tax reductions and exemptions."
"Third, the imperial court can also receive tax revenue."
"Although some of the fees were reduced, the government's money was taken from the people and used for the people."
"However, due to the intervention of the Ministry of Commerce, it has become a situation where you all exchange your hard work for remuneration."
"Does this move achieve three goals at once?"
Everyone suddenly realized.
He had an "I see" expression on his face.
"As for what some people say about favoring commerce and suppressing agriculture?"
Wei Shuyu glanced at the old farmer: "That's pure nonsense!"
"Regardless of whether they are scholars, farmers, artisans, or merchants, they are all citizens of the Great Tang Dynasty..."
"As long as he makes contributions to the Tang Dynasty and the country, he deserves respect."
These words immediately won the praise of many people.
By this time, many people had already abandoned their hostility towards Wei Shuyu.
"You're the one talking nonsense!"
Just then, the old farmer roared with a slightly ferocious expression, "It's just giving a lowly person a little benefit, how can it be as noble as you say!"
A lowly person?
Upon hearing this, everyone's opinion of the old farmer plummeted.
"Still not giving up?"
Wei Shuyu smiled and said, "As I just told you, this is just an appetizer."
"If you would like to learn more, please continue to follow me."
Wei Shuyu turned and left.
Suddenly, Wei Shuyu paused again.
"Oh, right."
"An old man may not see the sun rise tomorrow, so I'm in a good mood right now."
"So……"
Wei Shuyu's gaze swept over Cui Shenji, Qin Shandao, and Wang Xiu.
Ultimately, it fell on Fang Yi'ai...
"Today's teahouse expenses will be paid by Young Master Fang!"
? ? ?
Fang Yi'ai was stunned.
I've been so broke I haven't been to Wan Hua Ge for days, and you still expect me to pay?
"big……"
Just as she was about to chase after him and cry, the shopkeeper grabbed her sleeve.
“That…Young Master Fang.”
The shopkeeper said somewhat embarrassedly, "There are a lot of people drinking tea today, how about we give you a discount?"
What kind of discount?
"Believe it or not, I'll break your bones!"
"Am I the kind of person who would take advantage of small things?"
Fang Yi'ai said fiercely.
"Yes, yes, yes!"
The shopkeeper nodded repeatedly: "How could the son of the Prime Minister be greedy for small gains? Then this account..."
Fang Yi'ai shook off the other person's arm, turned and left...
"What accounts?"
"No money, put it on credit!"
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