The two were silent for a while, feeling a sense of empathy.
After all, it’s the first time. If something goes wrong, I really don’t know how to solve it.
Seeing that the atmosphere was silent for a moment, Fang Zheng said, "Your Highness, you didn't come here just to give gifts, did you? Aren't people from the palace usually sending them directly?"
Li Yuanzhao raised his head and uttered a few words, then slapped his forehead and said, "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten. You didn't attend the court today, and I heard news from the border town that the Beirong had moved their capital to a new one and changed their country's name. They also sent someone to deliver a letter from the country."
"Hey, such a big deal. What's the name of the country?"
"Hmm... the country's name is Jin, Jin Kingdom, which is interesting. But that's nothing, there's something strange. I heard that in the past two years, in addition to the daily necessities of the Beirong people, the most common thing in the border towns is actually books!"
Jin Guo... sounds really familiar...
Fang Zhengyi sighed in his heart, and then asked in confusion: "They also like to buy books? What kind of books?"
Why did Beirong import so many books? They can't be used as food or weapons.
"Oh, it's interesting. They are the books that we scholars often read. Plus, they inexplicably changed the country's name. Do you think... are they learning from us?" Li Yuanzhao asked.
After he said this, Fang Zheng laughed.
It is not impossible. In his impression, Papa is very clever, open-minded, and particularly concerned about many things in Dajing.
If he was advising the Jin emperor, this would not be surprising.
"Who knows? If they like to learn, let them learn. If they only learn the basics, they will become stupid sooner or later." Fang Zheng said with a smile.
Li Yuanzhao also laughed: "That's right, the Beirong people probably don't know that we now have cannons and muskets on the ground, and heavenly soldiers and generals in the sky. After a few years, when the whole army is equipped with weapons, their proud cavalry will not be a concern."
"However, muskets and artillery are too expensive. I heard that the Shenji Battalion has only equipped half of them, and the Ministry of War has already started complaining to the emperor about being poor. I don't know when the cost can be reduced."
"What would it be like if every soldier in the army could be equipped with two muskets and two pistols?"
Fang Zhengyi nodded silently.
Equipping the entire army is still a long way off. However, the Shenjiying was only half equipped, and the Ministry of War started to complain about being poor, which was really shameless.
However, reducing costs is not an issue that can be resolved in a short period of time. Many links involved, including the output of raw materials, require support from private forces.
"Your Highness, if you want to solve the cost problem, the best way is to open up the merchants and let the private resources flow naturally."
"Before, the world was short of food, so such conditions were not met. But now there is no such problem at all. I am also ready to find an opportunity to write to Your Majesty."
Li Yuanzhao frowned and said, "This is not easy to do. Although I support you, the restrictions on merchants have been like this since ancient times. I am afraid that my father and the civil and military officials will not support it."
Fang Zheng nodded: "I think so too, but as long as it is the right thing to do, I will do it no matter what."
Regardless of the cost issue, the Age of Exploration is coming soon! If not now, when will we cultivate outstanding merchants among the people?
It's just that he has been busy taking care of his wife recently and has no mood to do these things.
"Your Highness, why do you think the court wants to restrict merchants?"
"Merchants value profit, have no fixed place to stay, and prefer leisure to work. But I don't agree with this point. The merchants in Banshanfang are all very hardworking."
Fang Zheng said, "Your Highness is right, but in my opinion, these are just superficial excuses. There is only one problem in restricting merchants."
"What's the problem?"
"The imperial court cannot collect taxes, or it is difficult to collect taxes."
Li Yuanzhao pondered, "Hiss...what you said makes sense, but do you have a way to collect taxes from merchants?"
"cannot."
"......"
Fang Zhengyi continued, "Your Highness, in my opinion, taxation is only a small part of the problem. When grain is abundant, manpower will be released. At this time, the area for taxation will be expanded. Even if we cannot collect all of it, it will be much better than before."
"But the key problem is that the people are having trouble doing business because the court has many restrictions. On the most serious level, they cannot migrate freely, and on the most minor level, people below them use their positions to extort and rob. The people cannot circumvent these restrictions, while officials in the court can use their status to amass wealth at will, which is tantamount to competing with the country and the people for profit."
"Let's not talk about far away places, let's just talk about the capital. Before the Jinyiwei was established, the clerks at the city gate would easily let the convoys of high-ranking officials and nobles pass through, but if they came across the trucks of ordinary merchants, they would inevitably extort them. Once they entered the city, it was not easy to get through any of the relevant government offices. After going through so many levels, there was little profit left."
"And what about those people with backgrounds? They are naturally doing very well. How many big businesses in Banshanfang were started by ordinary people? Your Highness should know better than me."
The court's strong control over merchants will inevitably lead to such problems. Any control will inevitably lead to rent-seeking, and rent-seeking corruption will inevitably follow.
Rent Seeking
Fang Zhengyi understood this all too well, not to mention the difficulties he encountered in his early years.
Taoyuan County's outbound caravans are still using fake certificates, and the tea money has to be adjusted...
Li Yuanzhao nodded.
He knows Ban Shan Fang best. Although it is very prosperous now, the real big names and big businesses all have some background.
"So, we need to free the merchants, give them respect, and let them feel at ease. Then they can develop resources and compete with each other. Not only will it be the manufacture of firearms, but the people of the world will benefit from it, and all costs will likely be reduced."
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