The issue of taxation was more important. Liu Tan thought for a moment and said, "No taxes are collected on the market. The Han people don't collect taxes, and neither do the Xiongnu. Don't even let me see anyone collecting protection money, or I'll be angry."
Jiang Chong was stunned for a moment: "No tax?"
Liu Tan shook his head. "It's not that we don't collect taxes, but we don't collect them at the market. We wait until the merchants have finished their trade and return to the supply city, then we'll count and collect taxes based on the price of the goods."
There were both Huns and Han people in the trade, so it was very easy to evade taxes.
Of course, collecting taxes in the supply city doesn’t mean that no one will evade taxes. What if people don’t pass by?
Liu Tan didn't have any good solution for this, but he would build the routes from the supply city to Dunhuang and all the subsequent routes within the Northern Border Country better, making them as convenient as possible, so that their losses could be reduced to a certain extent. They would then find that paying taxes was more cost-effective than evading taxes, and would not do so again.
In fact, it was quite dangerous for merchants these days to travel for business. If the distance was short, they would not make much money. If the distance was long, there would be a series of unknown situations. The unknown situations here do not refer to robbers, but various accidents on the road, such as a carriage breaking down or encountering bad weather, which might affect the goods.
Therefore, many goods will be lost during transportation, and merchants are always unwilling to bear this loss themselves, so they add this part of the loss to the goods, resulting in inflated prices of many goods.
If Liu Tan can ensure smooth trade within the Northern Territory, the cost of goods will decrease, the actual selling price will remain unchanged, and merchants will be able to make more money.
Paying taxes earns more money, while taking a detour not only has no security but also earns less money. Even a fool would know the choice.
Jiang Chong nodded, then couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, the Supply City... shouldn't it have a name?"
It would be easier to tell the Huns about it when the time comes. Although they all know that the place is used to supply caravans, we cannot call it that in front of the Huns.
Liu Tan was stunned for a moment, scratched his chin and said, "Well... well... let me think, let's just call him Tongda."
This was originally one of the names he gave to Shuofang, or rather, it was originally one of the names of the blocks in Chang'an City in the Tang Dynasty. Although it sounds a bit vulgar, it is easy to use here.
After Jiang Chong wrote it down, he stood up and said, "I will go and discuss this with the Prime Minister."
Liu Tan nodded, then stopped him and said, "By the way, have the Prime Minister send someone to summon Dunhuang County Governor Kou Zhengda. Both the mutual market and Tongda City require his cooperation. He needs to be informed of this matter."
Jiang Chong responded and retreated.
The Dunhuang County Magistrate rushed over almost immediately after receiving the news, and it only took two days in total.
When Liu Tan saw him, although it was obvious that he had already met him before for the audience, his haggard face and bloodshot eyes showed that the county magistrate might have rushed here without sleep.
Liu Tan was genuinely shocked to see him like this, and quickly said, "Why are you in such a hurry? The Xiongnu envoys haven't arrived yet, and many things are still in the early stages. We can take our time."
Kou Zhengda knew he shouldn't be anxious, but he still asked, "Your Highness, is the trade fair real? Is it really going to be held in Dunhuang?"
Liu Tan said, "The mutual trade is real. It's not really in Dunhuang, after all, that place is neither the Han nor the Xiongnu territory, but Tongda City is in your Dunhuang."
Kou Zhengda was very excited. "So, they're going to build a new city in Dunhuang? Also...is it going to be modeled after the royal capital?"
After Kou Zhengda finished speaking, he realized that he had overstepped his bounds and quickly explained, "What I meant was that it should be built in imitation of the royal capital, but of course it won't be the same as the royal capital."
Liu Tan replied, "I understand what you mean, but... how Tongda City should be built still needs to be discussed. I prefer to build it this way. However, the main purpose of the capital is to live there, and it will be mostly populated by local people, so maintaining public security will be easier. If Tongda City is built this way, and most of the people are foreign merchants, I'm afraid it won't be so easy."
Kou Zhengda immediately said, "Your Highness, rest assured. I will do my best. The number of assault cases in Dunhuang has remained below ten for several consecutive years. If Your Highness doesn't believe me, you can consult the Dunhuang files."
Liu Tan laughed: "I don't disbelieve it, I'm just worried about the pressure on public security. You have few people over there, so what will we do when a lot of people are needed?"
Kou Zhengda sighed and said, "The more people who need it, the better. Dunhuang... there are too few places suitable for farming."
In the farming era, it was really difficult to produce large quantities of grain, or to say that the grain produced could not even feed the local people. People could only go against the will of nature and farm in unsuitable places. The result can be imagined.
The raisins Liu Tan had made before did give him some hope, but the problem was that it was too late last year and there were not a large number of grapes to make raisins, so there was no way to open up the market. This year... it was not yet the grape harvest season.
It would take about a month to turn the raisins into raisins. A year had passed, and no one had a clue about the sales of the raisins. The governor of Dunhuang felt that he had to find more ways to do it.
But he is just an ordinary county magistrate. It is not easy for him to achieve this point. It is too difficult for him to find other ways out.
What's more, part of Dunhuang's tax revenue needs to be spent on Yumen Pass, which makes it even more difficult.
Liu Tan nodded and said, "Report the situation in Dunhuang later. Tongda City will most likely be built according to the royal capital's model, but it must also have its own characteristics. You can think about this yourself. After all, it is to accommodate merchants from all over the country."
Kou Zhengda asked cautiously, "Then... Your Highness... the cost of building the city."
Liu Tan glanced at him and said, "Dunhuang can't not contribute anything at all. That would break the rules. I'll have someone estimate how much it will cost, and then Dunhuang will contribute one-third or one-quarter. However, that way, you'll retain less tax revenue."
After hearing this, Kou Zhengda immediately said, "Your Highness, if it really doesn't work, we can pay half."
Liu Tan was a little surprised: "What are you doing? Tongda City may not be able to make much money. It's not appropriate to gamble all your money on it."
Kou Zhengda smiled and said, "How can something that Your Highness is optimistic about not be bad? After all, we are determined."
Kou Zhengda didn't know much about the King of the Northern Territory, but he knew what the King of the Northern Territory did after arriving in the Northern Territory. Apart from anything else, his ability to make money was really strong.
Even Kou Zhengda wanted Liu Tan to go to Dunhuang for a walk, what if he might discover something?
Unfortunately, he didn't dare to say it, for fear that even if the King of the North was not angry, the Prime Minister would not let him go.
Now I finally have the chance to follow his Highness. How can I let go of such a good opportunity?
Liu Tan didn't know what expression to use for a moment, so he said, "Go and discuss this with the Prime Minister."
Kou Zhengda hesitated for a moment before saying, "Your Highness, look, Dunhuang... Dunhuang City is the county seat, and it's also a must-go place on the trade route. Shouldn't it also be renovated?"
Liu Tan's face turned serious: "That's your business, handle it yourself."
Kou Zhengda said shamelessly, "This is also a major event for the Northern Territory. Your Highness, please consider the allocation..."
Liu Tan sighed. "Do you think the treasury has enough money? Your Majesty is coming to the Northern Border Kingdom soon. The palace isn't even finished yet, and Tongda City and the market are also under construction. Where are we going to find the money?"
After hearing this, Kou Zhengda still said, "We don't want much, not much."
Liu Tan: ...
How come Kou Zhengda, the county magistrate, acts like a soldier?
He was somewhat annoyed and said, "Go tell the Prime Minister! These matters should be handled by the Prime Minister. There's no need to come to me!"
What he said was right. The princes were originally the mascots of the vassal states. No one could say anything if he didn't care.
However, the people of the Northern Territory are very clear that there are only two people who have the final say in the entire Northern Territory: the King of the North and the Prime Minister. If there is a conflict, the King of the North will prevail.
Because... the captain also listens to the King of the North!
The King of the North has military power, so we can't afford to offend him.
Kou Zhengda sighed inwardly. Although everyone was afraid of the King of the Northern Territory, in his eyes, the King of the Northern Territory was much more difficult to deal with. Now that he hadn't been able to persuade the King of the Northern Territory to surrender, he was afraid that he would not be able to persuade the Prime Minister either.
Liu Tan couldn't help feeling guilty when he looked at Kou Zhengda, but the national treasury was really short of money, and he was the only one who didn't lack money.
If he dared to agree to Kou Zhengda, Huo Guang would probably come over and educate him directly.
Later, no one knew what promise Kou Zhengda got from Huo Guang, but he left happily.
Liu Tan found Huo Guang and asked, "What did you tell him?"
Huo Guang said, "It's nothing. I'll ask him to first report the estimated amount of money he will need. The national treasury will allocate 60% of the total amount, and he can figure out the rest on his own."
Liu Tan asked, "So, the national treasury can really hold on, right?"
Huo Guang turned to look at Liu Tan: "I remember the princess seemed to have sent a deposit."
Liu Tan immediately became alert: "That's my money!"
Huo Guang said gently, "Your Highness, the deposit must also be taxed. Also, your coal mine is ruined, but the Broken Evil Gold Mine has been producing. I heard that Broken Evil Gold is now very popular in Chang'an. A single piece is hard to come by, and even tens of thousands of coins may not be enough to buy it."
Liu Tan: I thought you had come up with some good idea and were waiting for me here!
Liu Tan angrily called Miao Rui over and said, "Go and count the money and send the tax to the Prime Minister!"
Huo Guang wanted to laugh when he saw him like this, but he forced himself to hold it back in order to save face for his prince.
It has to be said that even the tax paid for the deposit was not small. The rich families in Chang'an were really rich. Huo Guang felt somewhat relieved when he saw the treasury being replenished again.
With this money, not to mention Dunhuang and Tongda City, even if we rebuild
Before he could even breathe a sigh of relief, he heard someone from below report, "Prime Minister, the governors of Jiuquan, Zhangye, and Wuwei counties wish to see you."
Huo Guang was puzzled: "What are they doing here?"
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