The sun sets, but the heat does not subside.
Yu Chaoyu brought in another basin of ice from his study, but Yu Wendao still didn't feel cool, and he felt a little annoyed.
"Minister Dong, are you saying that according to current projections, this year's tax revenue will decrease by 20%?"
Dong Kangping bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the salt imported from Xinzhou... accounts for nearly 30% of our market share. Although the price is between 800 and 1,000 wen, the supply still cannot meet the demand."
After a pause, Dong Kangping added thoughtfully, "This is because the Muyang Salt Field needs to supply the autonomous region, Xinzhou City, and Lanqi Commercial City at the same time."
Yu Wendao took a deep breath and looked at Hongzhuang who was standing silently in the corner. "Still can't find the method to refine the white salt?"
"Your Majesty, the entire Muyang Salt Field is under surveillance by at least a hundred Ant Colony spies, making it impossible for Xiyu Tower to gain access. Furthermore... their salt production method is assembly line, with each workshop having only one process, strictly guarded by fixed personnel. I'm afraid no one except Tuoba Feng knows the entire process."
"In fact, the Chen family of the Wu Dynasty also sent people to the autonomous region to try to obtain that method, but they were also unsuccessful."
Yu Wendao knew this news. The spies stationed by Xiyu Tower in Wu Dynasty would send back information almost every day. He thought that after Fu Xiaoguan ascended the throne, he would take military action against the four major families among the seven thousand-year-old sects of Wu Dynasty as soon as possible. He even made some arrangements for this, but to his surprise, Fu Xiaoguan had not taken any action so far.
But he had already moved!
He did not resort to violence, but to business tactics!
It’s hard to guard against!
"That brat, Fu Xiaoguan..." Yu Wendao gritted his teeth. "Based on the current output of his autonomous region's Muyang Salt Field, he can only capture 30% of our market at best. This part of the market is the high-end market, and the largest market is still in our hands. We are fortunate!"
"The Thirteen Provinces are making slow progress in implementing the policies of the Wofeng Dao. The main reason is that many of our merchants have fled to the Wu Dynasty to invest and build factories. If this continues, the country will be in ruins. Everyone, you are my trusted ministers. Please give me some advice on how to deal with this."
Yu Wendao sat down. Prime Minister Yan Shidao was silent for a moment before speaking, "The governor of Guanxi, Qin Mowen, sent me a letter a while ago. He said that the mulberry, hemp, tung oil, copper and zinc ores produced in Guanxi are piling up like mountains and are difficult to sell."
"He asked me to ask Your Majesty if the Wu Dynasty needs these things. If so, we can sell these natural materials to the Wu Dynasty in exchange for silver."
"I've been pondering this for a few days. Didn't Emperor Dezong also designate border towns as free trade zones? Your Majesty, why don't you write to Emperor Dezong and ask? The Yu Dynasty is vast and rich in natural resources. Perhaps the Wu Dynasty actually needs them."
Yu Wendao frowned and thought for a moment, then nodded, "Okay, I'll write a letter to my brother-in-law right away, but I'm not sure whether it will succeed or not."
In a blink of an eye, I haven't seen that kid for a year and a half. Now everyone is the emperor. If Fu Xiaoguan doesn't buy it, he won't be able to do anything to Fu Xiaoguan.
"Also, Your Majesty, how about we collect taxes on the white salt? Based on the premium of 300 coins, we can collect 30% tax to offset the loss of our salt field." Yan Shidao said again.
"Your Majesty, I think Prime Minister Yan's strategy is inappropriate!" This was said by Zhuo Liuyun.
Ever since returning from Yao County, he has been by the prince's side, in charge of the operation of the Eastern Palace.
Now that Yu Wendao has ascended the throne as emperor, Zhuo Liuyun, the former close minister of the crown prince, has naturally risen in status and become the Yellow Gate Minister of the Yu Dynasty. In theory, he is still a subordinate of the prime minister, but he also has the special position of walking in the imperial study.
"Minister Zhuo, please discuss this in detail."
"Prime Minister Yan, I believe that if a tax is imposed, this 30% tax will be passed on to the price of salt. Ever since white salt was introduced into our dynasty, the price has ranged from 800 to 1,000 wen. While it may seem that only wealthy merchants are consuming it, it has actually affected the price of our black salt."
"The price of green salt has increased from 500 coins to 550 coins per catty. Although it's only increased by 50 coins, these 50 coins are the net income of the common people for about two months."
"If the price of salt continues to rise, I suggest that Your Majesty issue an order to regulate it. After all, it affects people's livelihood, and we must not hurt their hearts!"
"So I think the market has a myriad of goods, and we can easily make up for it by looking elsewhere. For example, I've heard that the silk fabrics of our Yu Dynasty are much better than those of the Wu Dynasty. Since the border town is a free trade zone, we can also dump silk into the Wu Dynasty and destroy its silk fabric market!"
"Also, I've heard that our Yu Dynasty porcelain is very popular among the Chi Lechuan barbarians. We can also import it into the Chi Lechuan Autonomous Region in large quantities. Those barbarians are now living much better than before. The price of cattle and sheep has increased. If they have money, they will have demand. After all, we were once a country!"
Zhuo Liuyun's words seemed to open a window for Yu Wendao and others.
Yes, Fu Xiaoguan used salt as a weapon to invade the Yu Dynasty, but the Yu Dynasty also had many unique products that could be used to invade the Wu Dynasty!
Yan Shidao stroked his beard and nodded. Dong Kangping had never dared to express his opinion, but he nodded today as well.
"In that case, I will issue an order tomorrow, allowing merchants from the Yu Dynasty to make full use of the two free trade zones!"
…
…
This was the prototype of international trade. No one realized that commercial competition would rise to the level of competition between countries.
Fu Xiaoguan knew that this day would come sooner or later. He had thought that based on the vision of people of this era and the limitations of their understanding of business, such business competition should occur in two or three years.
However, he had never expected that it was Zhuo Liuyun, the impoverished magistrate of Laiyun County whom he recommended to Yu Wendao, who opened up this smokeless but extremely cruel market in advance.
At this moment, Fu Xiaoguan was sitting in the Yangxin Palace staring at his father Fu Daguan.
"No, Dad, what did you say?"
The fat man smiled innocently, "Dad said... aren't you worried about money? The ground beneath the Star Picking Platform is all gold!"
Fu Xiaoguan's eyes widened and he swallowed hard, "Where did the gold come from?"
The fat man smiled embarrassedly again, "Well... don't worry about where it comes from. Anyway, the gold is all yours! As for whether you want to use the gold for the country or keep it as a small treasury, Daddy won't interfere."
"How many?"
"I don't know, but it's a lot anyway. It took me three years to move everything back."
“…”
"Son, dad will leave tomorrow."
"What? Going back to Mozhou?"
The fat man's face became a little shy, and he sat cross-legged on the chair, swaying from side to side.
"I won't be returning to Mozhou for the time being."
"Where are you going?"
"Go to Yu Dynasty... Isn't your Shengguo Mansion empty? Dad will live there for a while."
"Also, that imperial seal... forget it, this piece of junk doesn't matter anymore."
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