And as it is said, once alcoholism became a trend among the grassland tribes.
Then add Wu Shi San...
This is simply...
Song Gongwen really didn't know what to say. Sun Kejian's method was really too immoral.
But if used on the enemy, it would be the best weapon.
Alcoholism is a common practice among the people on the grassland, and they also have the Five-Stone Powder.
If a major war breaks out in the future, will we be able to fight against the Wei cavalry? Absolutely impossible.
In the long run, even the threat from the north can be completely eliminated.
And what the other party said before.
In the name of mutual trade, they control the economic lifeline of the grassland. If all these things can be accomplished, it will be too easy for Wei to control the grassland in the future.
More importantly, this move can greatly increase the revenue of the national treasury, which is simply killing two birds with one stone.
"Okay, as you said." Song Gongwen thought for a moment and nodded immediately.
But soon, he frowned again and couldn't help but say, "It's just that it's not that easy to open up border trade right now. Especially getting those merchants to participate and getting the grassland people to trust us is a big problem."
Although Wei is about to go to war with the grassland tribes, in fact, the impact is not that great.
Because this is the tacit rule of both parties. You have to fight the war, but you also have to do business.
Especially since the northern front is so long, it is impossible for it to be a battlefield.
So now we face the problem.
The question is how to develop border trade and allow merchants and grassland people to participate together.
"So at a time like this, our court must set an example." Sun Kejian thought for a moment and said, "For example, let the court take the lead in trading with the grassland people. This would have two benefits."
"Firstly, with the imperial court's name on their side, the grassland merchants wouldn't dare act rashly and would only conduct their trade obediently. It would be better if we could send some local garrisons to escort them."
"The second thing is that after the transaction is completed, merchants can see the benefits and choose to participate after paying the commercial tax."
"In this way, it won't take long for the purpose of mutual trade to be achieved. Once it grows bigger, we can open more markets at the border."
"Then let the court make unified plans, and finally all we have to do is sit back and wait for the money to be collected. It can be said to be extremely easy."
Speaking of this, Sun Kejian's eyes became more and more excited.
This is why he said that Sun's limitations were too great.
The Sun family is indeed a big family in Yan area and even in the entire northern border, but that’s all.
Even when doing business, one needs to be restrained by the court and cannot act recklessly, otherwise there will be a lot of trouble.
Secondly, doing business with the grassland people is really too dangerous, but if it is done in the name of the court, it is completely different.
The imperial court has an army and sufficient power to exercise control, so problems are unlikely to arise.
A single family cannot do things like mutual trade.
The only way is to let the court take the lead.
"You're right." At this moment, Song Gongwen nodded, naturally understanding this principle. However, after hearing that the court would take the lead and initiate the transaction, he couldn't help but frown and immediately said, "If the court wants to trade, it must have money, right?"
"But the problem now is that the silver from the Ministry of Revenue has been strictly calculated to ensure the war in the northern border and Liaodong."
"And these are almost untouchable. They are equivalent to military pay. Once used, if there is a problem, it will be troublesome."
"Even if we can extract a little from it, it won't be much. There may not be much over there on the grassland."
"But businessmen are different. They must see huge benefits before they take action."
His meaning is simple.
Without money, you can’t prepare much.
The less something there is, the less profit you will get. If it is just tens of thousands of taels of silver, some big businessmen may not even look at it.
In this way, the purpose of mutual trade will be greatly reduced. Of course, you can also spend more time and slowly expand it.
But now, the Ministry of Revenue is in urgent need of money and cannot delay too long.
"I know the Ministry of Revenue is in a tight spot right now."
Sun Kejian smiled and continued, "In fact, I do have a solution, otherwise I wouldn't have proposed this idea to you, Lord. The court's opening of the trade is of great significance. As a member of the court, I naturally have to do my best to help."
"Actually, although I haven't done much business over the years, I have saved up some money. Do you think this is enough?"
After saying that, he took out another piece of paper from his arms, or to be more precise, a silver note.
To be more precise, it was a silver note of extremely large denomination!
Even Song Gongwen.
The father-in-law of the current emperor and Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.
When he saw the number on the banknote, his eyes widened.
Because the silver note that Sun Kejian took out was a silver note with a face value of 500,000 taels of silver!
To be honest, Song Gongwen also served as the Minister of Revenue, and he had seen a lot of money.
But those are just numbers on paper.
Take himself for example.
Although he was considered a high-ranking official, his annual salary was only a little over a thousand taels of silver.
If I simply received a salary, it would probably take me five hundred years to get this amount.
But now.
Someone just took it out and put it in front of him...
"This... Lord Sun, are you going to use these 500,000 taels of silver to help the court establish border trade?" Song Gongwen's voice trembled a little. He really had never seen so much money.
"Of course." Sun Kejian said, "I have been granted the position of Minister of Revenue by Your Majesty's grace. What's wrong with giving out some money?"
"After all, this is our duty to serve His Majesty and the country, so it is our responsibility!"
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