Yan Ci took a sip of wine but didn't bother to taste it.
He was very worried, but still patiently explained to Wang Xuecheng.
"For the common people, this is beneficial. From now on, they won't have to rent land from wealthy landlords. Instead, they can rent land directly from the government. The rent and taxes are lower, and the burden is half of what it would be if they rented land from wealthy landlords."
Wang Xuecheng was very curious, "How much rent does the government collect?"
Yan Ci said with certainty: "The exact number is still unclear, but it will definitely not exceed 30%."
"Thirty percent is very low," Wang Xuecheng agreed. "In the capital region, because of strict regulations, the rent is generally 40 percent. Outside of the capital, like in Jiangnan where the land is fertile, the rent is 50 percent. I heard that some places have already reached 60 percent."
"So, with the government in charge of the land leasing market, the rent is much lower. It is of great benefit to the common people." Yan Ci took another sip of wine.
Wang Xuecheng understood the other party's implication, "In other words, it's of no benefit to the landlords and wealthy people, but to scholars like us."
Yan Ci nodded heavily, "The fundamental purpose of this law is to restrict high-ranking officials from hoarding land. We scholars are just incidental."
Wang Xuecheng was immediately confused. "Since this law is fundamentally intended to restrict high-ranking officials, why would the court officials agree to enact and enforce it? Isn't this just shooting themselves in the foot?"
"I can't understand why the bigwigs in the court would pass this law, can I?"
Wang Xuecheng nodded repeatedly like a well-behaved student.
Yan Ci smiled mysteriously, "Boss Huang, you know this, right? I got some inside information from Boss Huang, and I'm telling you, but don't tell anyone else."
"Don't worry, Brother Yan! We have been friends for many years. You don't know whether I am tight-lipped or not."
Yan Ci glanced around to make sure the doors and windows were closed and no one would eavesdrop.
However, he lowered his voice and said, "I heard from Boss Huang that the Shaofu will soon establish a grain trading company, the largest in the world. In the future, the government will collect rent, and all the grain will belong to the grain trading company. The Emperor and the Empress have promised that court officials can buy shares in this grain trading company and receive dividends every year."
Wang Xuecheng was secretly shocked. "If all the rent goes to this grain store, how big must it be?"
Yan Ci smiled and said, "No other aristocratic family in the world can match its scale. A grain store alone is not enough. The Emperor and Empress will also establish an overseas trading company and have also promised that court officials can buy shares."
Wang Xuecheng was curious, "What does an overseas trading company do?"
"Of course it's used to make money."
“How do you make money?”
"I don't know exactly how they make money. But according to Boss Huang, the army led by Yang Ji has already conquered a large area of land. These lands are currently under the jurisdiction of the Overseas Camp, but no one is cultivating them. Soon the court will announce that anyone, regardless of identity or status, can contact the Overseas Camp to purchase overseas land. They can buy as much as they want, as long as they have the money."
Wang Xuecheng opened his mouth wide. "How much land is there that can be bought at will?"
"Let me think about it. It's at least four or five times the size of Hedong and Hexi."
Wang Xuecheng asked curiously, "Brother Yan, are you planning to buy land overseas?"
Yan Ci looked worried. "Boss Huang suggested to me that we should consider setting up businesses overseas, having our clan members take their servants to manage them, and hiring local people to farm. I'm still hesitant."
You have to hesitate.
It involves a large sum of money and also involves personal safety issues, so Yan Ci is very worried.
"So Brother Yan can buy the land and go overseas to buy land."
Yan Ci nodded. "The Emperor and Empress are forcefully enforcing the new land laws. Ultimately, this is forcing everyone to sell their land and invest in overseas properties."
Wang Xuecheng was amazed. "The Emperor and Empress are truly foresighted. One thing leads to another. It's truly admirable. I was fortunate enough to meet the Empress back then. It's enough for me to brag about for the rest of my life."
Yan Ci laughed heartily, "That makes sense. Back then, the Empress lived in Xiaozhu, and we followed Yang Ji and had the honor of meeting her. It's truly something to brag about for the rest of our lives."
Wang Xuecheng sighed repeatedly, "Who could have imagined that Brother Yang Ji and Brother Chen Zhuangshi, who studied with us at the academy back then, would become influential figures in their respective regions. Especially Brother Yang, the Grand Commander-in-Chief of the Overseas Camp and concurrently the Grand Commander-in-Chief of the Jiangnan Grand Commandery, with immense power and prestige."
Yan Ci was worried about Yang Ji, "I'm afraid that the fire will burn hot oil, and the higher you go, the colder it gets."
puff!
Wang Xuecheng spat out the wine in his mouth, otherwise he would have choked.
It feels so uncomfortable to choke on a mouthful of wine.
He wiped the corner of his mouth and lowered his voice, "Brother Yan, have you received any news? Is Brother Yang in danger? The Queen Mother is Brother Yang's backer. Could it be that the Queen Mother wants to give up on Brother Yang?"
Yan Ci shook his head and waved his hands, "It's not what you think."
"What's going on?"
Yan Ci whispered, "The Empress will definitely continue to support Yang Ji. The danger I'm talking about comes from the officialdom and the court. Brother Yang's reputation has soared in the past two years, and I don't know how many people are jealous of him. In addition, he has offended many people by cleaning up the Jiangnan officialdom. Just wait and see, there will be voices in the court impeaching Brother Yang soon.
Court officials always assume the most malicious things about meritorious officials. The Marquis of Lu suffered this fate back then. If Brother Yang doesn't return to the court soon, he might very well follow his path. If he goes back, he can't. If he stays, he's terrified, fearing he might be accused of rebellion. I wonder what choice Brother Yang will make.
Wang Xuecheng frowned. "Is it really that serious? Even if the Emperor and Empress support Brother Yang, wouldn't that be of any use?"
Yan Ci chuckled coldly, "The emperor's support alone can't stop the criticism from the entire court. Back then, Emperor Wuzong Kaiyao trusted Marquis Lu unconditionally. Were there not many memorials impeaching him? Were there not many spies sent to the northwest? Walking on thin ice is not enough to describe it."
Wang Xuecheng was worried about Yang Ji, "Brother Yang will definitely be able to overcome this danger."
Yan Ci shook his head. "I don't know! He's getting further and further away from us. I can't guess what he's thinking right now. Maybe he'll stay overseas until the situation stabilizes. Maybe in a year or two, he'll be transferred back to the capital to serve as an official and start anew."
"I hope Brother Yang can return to the capital." Wang Xuecheng said in a low voice.
"It depends on what choice Brother Yang makes." Yan Ci thinks a lot, so he is more pessimistic.
"Drink, drink! Let's not talk about Brother Yang. He's in a position that we shouldn't worry about."
The two of them drank alone and ate braised dishes.
Wang Xuecheng asked Yan Ci, "Brother Yan, you're undecided about whether to sell the land you have. Why don't you listen to Boss Huang's advice?"
Yan Ci rubbed his eyebrows and felt a little headache.
He scowled, "I'll think about it."
It is indeed painful to sell thousands of acres of land in exchange for some silver.
Before investing in overseas properties, you must first see which way the wind is blowing.
If someone takes the initiative, he will have nothing to do with the gust of wind.
The two drank until dark.
Wang Xuecheng hurried back to the academy as he had to work early the next morning and didn't dare to stay up late.
Yan Ci didn't keep him either.
He called a carriage for him and took him away.
He staggered back to his room to rest and think about the next plot.
Samsoon saw him and asked, "Master Yan, how much alcohol have you drunk?"
"It's Samsoon! Are you done?"
"I didn't just finish my work, I'm actually busy right now. Shanhe Academy sent over a few more manuscripts, and they're quite good. My son wants them published on the Lifestyle Show tomorrow to give those scholars a good slap in the face."
Yan Ci pointed at his face and said, "I am also a scholar. Are you going to slap me in the face?"
Samsoon chuckled, feeling rather awkward.
"Master Yan, please forgive me. I just said it casually and said the wrong thing. Please don't take it to heart."
Yan Ci hummed twice and simply sat down on the flower bed.
He waved and asked Sam-soon to come over and chat.
He was very curious. "The Princess's Mansion should have a lot of land. Once the new law is promulgated, won't the Princess's Mansion also have to sell off the excess land? Didn't the masters of the Princess's Mansion complain?"
Samsoon laughed, "Why are you complaining? I'm so happy."
"What do you mean?"
You are happy about selling the land, that's a problem.
Could there be insider trading?
Sanshun glanced around and said, "Master Yan, I'm only telling you this, don't tell anyone else."
"You tell me, I promise not to say anything nonsense."
Samsoon coughed lightly, cleared his throat, and began to talk.
"The current situation is this: The Princess's Mansion will transfer the excess land to the Grand Chamberlain, which will be counted as shares in the Grand Chamberlain's Grain Store. One thousand acres counts as one share. If you don't want the shares in the grain store, you can exchange them for overseas land, one acre for two."
"I heard that the land Lord Yang conquered from his overseas operations is all fertile fields that can produce two or even three crops a year. No labor is required; just drop the seeds and harvest within a few months. There are also vast tracts of forest overseas, filled with hundreds or even thousands of years old timber. That's all money. Compared to the meager returns from hard work farming, the returns overseas are many times greater."
"To be honest, Master Yan, the shipping companies in Jiangnan have been coming to the capital one after another to discuss cooperation with the Minister of the Imperial Household and high-ranking officials. This news is still under wraps. We are afraid that if it gets out, someone will seize the initiative."
"Those wealthy merchants are so quick to act. At the first sign of a rumor, they'll spend millions of taels of silver, snapping up all the fertile land in prime locations. That's definitely not okay. By the way, my son plans to buy a port overseas in a joint venture with His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi, the Second Prince, the Third Prince, and Princess Ruyang. He'll entrust the Second Prince and Princess Ruyang, who are overseas, with the management of the port."
Yan Ci was speechless and it took him a while to come back to his senses.
"No wonder the court is so calm. Such a big thing happened without any disturbance. You just said that you can exchange land for shares and invest in the Shaofu Grain Store. Is this true?"
"It's absolutely true! How dare I talk nonsense about such a thing?" Samsoon rolled his eyes.
Yan Ci asked excitedly, "Can I buy shares? I'm a successful candidate, so I can definitely buy shares, right?"
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