Chapter 363 Strike While the Iron Is Hot
The matter concerning the Marquis of Changning's residence in Suzhou was resolved quickly.
Not only are the people of Suzhou watching closely every day, but the people of the capital are also keeping a close eye on it.
Chunbuwan even used its unique news channels to broadcast the situation in Suzhou.
What? Marquis Changning is on a hunger strike again today, Princess Heyue is throwing a tantrum again, someone couldn't withstand the torture and killed themselves by banging their head against a wall...
In short, everyone asks this question every day.
Has the Marquis of Changning died? How did he die? Poisoned? With a white silk noose? Or was he torn to pieces?
Following a joint interrogation by the prefect of Suzhou and the imperial envoy, the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review also sent people to Suzhou.
Soon, the verdict regarding the Marquis of Changning's residence was made public.
Marquis Changning and his three sons were executed immediately.
All the stewards, managers, and servants in the mansion were sentenced to beheading.
Other male members over the age of ten were exiled three thousand miles away, while those under the age of ten were sold into slavery.
Princess Heyue was stripped of her title and demoted to a commoner.
All the other women in the household were sold off.
It is said that on the day the women of the Marquis of Changning's household were sold off, people from all over Suzhou came out to watch the spectacle.
After a fierce bidding war, Princess Heyue's two daughters were bought together by a stranger for 200,000 taels of silver...
At this point, the encroachment on farmland in Suzhou entered a new phase.
When the nobles of Suzhou saw that the Marquis of Changning's mansion had been completely eradicated, they immediately became as docile as rabbits.
The occupied farmland was returned.
Immediately afterwards, the capital sent a special agricultural official to register all the land in Suzhou that had been returned.
In the future, these lands will be leased to farmers for cultivation, and the rent will only be half of what it was before.
The rent collected will be specifically used to supply the garrison in Suzhou...
Everyone knows this is just the beginning.
Regarding agricultural affairs, the imperial family was determined to make the nobles return the benefits they had swallowed...
......
Inside the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, Shangguan Jin was talking to Shen Qingyue and Qian Qingqing.
Shen Qingming, however, rushed in with a joyful expression.
"What's wrong? Ming-ge'er, have you seen that young prince and Mr. Du off?" Shangguan Jin asked with a smile.
Shen Qingming nodded.
"Yes, they've been seen off! I bought a lot of local specialties from Beijing to take with them."
In addition, they bought quite a lot themselves.
They arrived in a horse-drawn carriage, without even bringing a gift; the two of them came empty-handed.
When they went back, they took three whole truckloads with them.
"Mother, remember to have the Court of Colonial Affairs reimburse these expenses!" Shen Qingming said earnestly.
Shangguan Jin nodded, indicating that she would compile the list tomorrow and then hand it over to Shen Qingming to take to the Court of Colonial Affairs.
When Qian Qingqing saw Shen Qingming coming over, she quickly made an excuse to go see Old Madam Shen and left the courtyard.
Shangguan Jin then looked at Shen Qingming.
"What? Everything's settled?" Shangguan Jin asked.
Shen Qingming's eyes were shining.
"Well, we've pretty much reached an agreement. Even if there are some minor issues, I'll go with the first caravan to the border city this summer."
We'll discuss the specific details then.
Mother, that Mr. Du... is a talented person.
"If we put him in the Ministry of Revenue of the Imperial Court, the Ministry of Revenue would have a lot more silver every year!" Shen Qingming said excitedly.
Shangguan Jin subconsciously pursed her lips.
Your father is certainly a talented person.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to thrive in that border town.
In just a few years, the border town has been transformed into a coveted place.
"What exactly do you plan to do? Do you have a specific plan?" Shangguan Jin changed the subject.
She didn't want to dwell on Shen Huaichen's issue any longer.
Before leaving, that guy even tried to fool me, telling me to find some time to fake my death and go to the border city to seek refuge with him.
They even said the border city was much more interesting than the capital, and that they would work together to turn it into a behemoth that no one would dare touch...
They almost managed to persuade Shangguan Jin.
Shen Qingming quickly pulled up an embroidered stool and sat down next to Shangguan Jin.
"Well, actually, it looks difficult, but it's not actually that difficult."
The imperial court wanted to collect taxes, so as long as enough goods were sold, the tax would naturally be high.
Therefore, if the goal is to control the quantity of goods sold by itinerant merchants, the best course of action is to classify them as imperial merchants.
Holding a merchant's pass issued by the imperial court.
They had to report the people and goods they sold to the imperial court.
"Any act of smuggling or underreporting will result in the immediate revocation of the Imperial Merchant's Badge," Shen Qingming said.
Shangguan Jin understood.
Oh, actually, the form hasn't changed much; the merchants are still the same group of people.
But now there's someone in charge of unified management in this industry.
Currently, it appears to have both advantages and disadvantages for itinerant merchants.
The advantage is that you will suffer less exploitation along the way and will receive strong support from the imperial court.
The downside is... you'll have to pay significantly more taxes...
However, it seems that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages at present.
After all, the taxes that were underpaid would eventually end up in the hands of nobles.
Rather than offering all of it as tribute to nobles, it would be better to hand it over to the imperial court; at least that way, one could obtain the status of a royal merchant.
Regardless, this is now related to the royal family...
If people tell others, wouldn't that be considered bringing honor to one's ancestors?
Doing business for the royal family and doing business on your own are two completely different things...
"Then won't all those traveling merchants be fighting tooth and nail to get in now?"
"How many imperial merchant waist tokens are planned to be issued in the first batch?" Shangguan Jin asked with a smile.
At this point, Shen Qingming's smile faded slightly.
"That's what I'm struggling with right now!"
His Majesty has asked me to come up with a good idea.
Many nobles are already very dissatisfied with His Majesty because of the matter of farming.
If this matter of the imperial merchant's waist tag causes a stir, His Majesty will probably have a headache for several days.
Mother, I plan to first persuade a few traveling merchants to form a large traveling merchant team.
In this way, some small merchant caravans can be combined into a large merchant caravan.
A merchant caravan that possesses a waist token is considered to be more powerful.
"As long as we become strong enough, we can break free from the control of the nobles," Shen Qingming said solemnly.
Shangguan Jin nodded.
The method is good, but it's only temporary. If the interests of the nobles are harmed in the long run, and they are squeezed together, they will definitely unite and explode...
Back then...
"Mother has an idea, would you like to hear it?" Shangguan Jin suddenly smiled and looked at Shen Qingming.
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingming thought, "My mother has a solution? That's wonderful..."
"Mother, please speak! I'm listening!" Shen Qingming quickly moved closer to Shangguan Jin.
"In fact, it's certain that the nobles suffered losses."
If that's the case, why not shift these conflicts to the noble families themselves?
"Let those nobles make a fuss over there," Shangguan Jin said.
"Mother, do you mean...?"
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