He Zeng returned to Beijing, and Mrs. He also followed him back to Beijing. Kang Yueran went to Guo Tong's house first, and then to He Yifan's house.
After Kang Yueran finished greeting Old Madam He and Madam He, He Yifan brought up business again. "Yueran, I've already built four of the ten ships you ordered. I'll have all of them ready for you by the middle of next year."
Speaking of his old trade, He Yifan was somewhat proud. "Based on the book you gave me, I built a deep-draft, wind- and wave-resistant pointed-bottom keel boat."
"Congratulations, uncle. Are those ten ships of mine pointed-keel ships?"
"Of course I did. I added a watertight compartment and modified the rudder to make an elevator and a trimmer. I've already tested it out at sea, and it's working perfectly!"
Mrs. He asked, "Yueran, I want to start my own shipping business?"
"I definitely bought the ship for business, but it's not for shipping. I only transport goods between the north and south."
Mrs. He asked in confusion, "Why don't you do shipping business? Shipping business can make much more money than shipping goods from north to south."
Kang Yueran smiled and said, "Yes, everyone knows that the shipping business is very profitable. The imperial court is so poor, do you think they will set their sights on shipping?"
He Yifan asked, "Yueran, do you have any news?"
"I don't have any news. I'm just preparing for a rainy day. Those involved in the shipping business are all merchants. The court can't compete with the people for profit, so it can only compete with the merchants. What could be more suitable than shipping?"
The Sibo Si, which was responsible for managing overseas business, was established in the Tang Dynasty. The establishment of the Sibo Si earned a lot of money for the court.
He Jinsong pondered for a while and said, "If the shipping business is controlled by the court, it will also affect us." The court has the Imperial Household Department, and generally speaking, it will not requisition private shipbuilding.
If merchants don't use sea transportation, they will also use inland rivers like Kang Yueran. "Shipbuilding won't have much of an impact, but... Yueran, our dock won't be requisitioned, right?"
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