Chapter 1027, Mutual Trade
"I didn't realize it before, but since my mother passed away, I realized that she really helped me a lot when she was around."
After a year, Daohua felt exhausted.
If her mother-in-law were here, helping her look after the three little ones would be a big help to her, not to mention that she could always give her some advice when she encountered problems.
Xiao Yeyang personally wrung out a hot towel for Daohua and asked her to wipe her face: "Thank you for your hard work during this period."
As the mistress of the palace, she has to maintain relationships in the capital, receive the women from Xiliang, and take care of her uncle and three children. This job is no easier than his work outside, and it is both mentally and physically demanding.
He was able to work hard outside without distraction thanks to Yi Yi who helped him take care of household affairs and maintain good relationships with all parties.
Daohua washed up quickly and went to the warm room to check on the children.
Daozi and the twins were lying soundly on the kang, covered with their own quilts. Daozi was telling the two little ones the story of Havoc in Heaven.
I don’t know if the twins could understand, but they stared at their brother with their eyes wide open, and babbling sounds came out of their little mouths from time to time.
Daohua didn't go in. She stood at the door for a while, told the nurse and the maid to take good care of it, and then returned to the inner room. Seeing Xiao Yeyang sitting at the head of the bed flipping through a book, she couldn't help but ask, "What have you been reading these days?"
Xiao Yeyang lifted the warm quilt and let Daohua get in, then gave her the book to read.
"Illustrated Records of the Western Regions!"
Daohua flipped through the book and found it was an introduction to the countries in the Western Regions. "Why are you looking at this?"
Xiao Yeyang lay down, his arms resting under his head. "Western Liao has been relatively peaceful in recent years, and the tribute has been paid on time every year. Xiliang is close to Western Liao, and it's impossible that the people on both sides have no contact at all. Do you still remember the border town of Bamu?"
Rice Flower nodded.
Xiao Yeyang: "Ever since Western Liao and Daxia stopped fighting, more and more people have been going to Bamu Border Town to do business. I called Ma Teng to ask him about it, and the annual trading volume is not a small number."
"I was thinking, this kind of transaction can't be banned. If that's the case, why not bring it out in the open? This way, we can promote trade and the court can collect taxes."
Daohua: "So you want to open a trade market?"
Seeing that Daohua had guessed his purpose immediately, Xiao Yeyang took her hand and kissed it: "The one who understands me is Yan Yiyi!"
Daohua glanced at him sideways, withdrew her hand, put the book under her pillow, and got into bed.
As soon as she lay down, Xiao Yeyang hugged her in his arms.
Xiao Yeyang is a natural stove. Every winter, Daohua likes to use him to keep warm and is happy to lean in his arms and listen to him.
"Xiliang is located in the frontier, and due to the geographical environment, even though high-yield grain varieties have been fully promoted, the people can only barely make ends meet."
"If we want the people to live a prosperous life, in addition to the government taking action, we also need to attract more foreign merchants to do business here."
"Only when goods are circulated can the people profit. Only when the people are rich can the government collect more taxes and better develop Xiliang."
Daohua looked at Xiao Yeyang with a smile: "If you think it's good, then do it. Anyway, I support you."
Seeing Daohua looking at him with sparkling eyes and a face full of admiration, Xiao Yeyang's heart moved. He lowered his head and kissed Chi Chi's pink cheek, and continued:
"In the past two years, the official roads in Xiliang have been gradually improved, and many post stations have been built. After the bandit suppression, the security in the territory has also been significantly improved."
"It will be more convenient for caravans to travel. I think once the news of the opening of the trade fair spreads, it will attract many merchants."
Daohua nodded. "The horses, spices, and gemstones from Western Liao are very popular in Daxia, while Daxia's silk and porcelain are also in short supply in Western Liao. Opening a mutual trade will definitely promote exchanges and development between the two sides."
Xiao Yeyang nodded: "Other things are fine, but horses and tea are two items that can only be handled by merchants selected by the court."
"I still need to consult my uncle, the emperor, on this matter. It's not easy to open too many trade markets. I thought about it and decided to use Bamu Border Town as a demonstration first, and then add more in the future depending on the situation."
Daohua was silent for a moment. "If we open a trade market, anyone with a keen eye for business opportunities will see that there's profit to be made. I'm afraid it will attract a new wave of people."
Xiao Yeyang smiled and said, "That's nothing. I will discuss with Master Wang to come up with a specific regulation. Anyone who participates in the mutual market must obtain permission from the government and pay a certain amount of tax to the government according to the transaction amount."
Seeing that Xiao Yeyang was thoughtful, Daohua didn't say anything more. She snuggled in his arms and slowly fell asleep.
Looking at Daohua's sleeping face with relaxed brows and slightly raised corners of her mouth, Xiao Yeyang smiled, kissed Daohua's forehead, pulled the quilt over her, and fell asleep.
In early February, after Xiao Yeyang took several officials to inspect the border town of Bamu, a memorial about opening a trade market in the border town of Xiliang was sent to the capital.
Capital city, imperial palace.
After reading Xiao Yeyang's memorial, the emperor summoned Prime Minister Yang Chenghua and several ministers to discuss the matter. After a heated discussion, several ministers felt that opening a trade market would be beneficial to the economic and cultural exchanges between Daxia and the countries in the Western Regions, and they all agreed to the proposal.
The emperor also agreed in his heart, and the next day he brought up the issue of mutual trade during the morning court session.
As soon as the news came out, civil and military officials once again started a heated discussion, some for and some against.
The eldest princes were all silent. They all knew that since the emperor had mentioned this matter at the morning court, the matter was most likely already settled and there was no point in saying anything more.
At this moment, several people were thinking about whether this matter could benefit them.
Obviously, mutual trade is definitely profitable.
The eldest prince felt very depressed when he thought that the An family had left Xiliang and he had no manpower in Xiliang.
When he thought about how Xiao Yeyang's mother confronted the An family directly after returning to Beijing and embarrassed the An family in public several times, his head ached.
Prince Ping, Guo, Xiao Yeyang and others all looked down on him!
While the eldest prince was still thinking about these bad things, the emperor announced in court that he agreed to open a trade in Xiliang.
Some aristocratic families saw the benefits of the trade and wanted to take on this task. Unfortunately, the emperor had no intention of assigning an official to be in charge, which meant that he tacitly agreed to let Xiao Yeyang handle it with full authority.
Although he did not receive any mission, after the court session, the news that Xiliang was going to start trade spread at an extremely fast speed.
The noble families and officials all have their own merchants under their wing, and it is obvious that they all want to get a piece of the pie in the trade.
Xiao Yeyang knew that the emperor would most likely agree, so before the imperial edict was issued, he asked Master Wang and several officials to formulate the rules and regulations for the trade. He also sent craftsmen to expand the Bamu border town and replan the border town.
Before March, the first group of merchants who heard the news poured into Xiliang.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
