NOVEL WEB Chapter 14: 14
Dongzhou City, the easternmost land of the Dazhou Empire And also the easternmost land of the Great Yanhuang Continent
With the Great Yanhuang continent, the northernmost and the southernmost are covered with glaciers. They are resulting in the ship unable to reach. The trade route between east and west, therefore, relies only on continental travel. The town on the seafront became extremely sluggish. But not with Tongzhou city
Dongzhou City was originally a small port town. Until the arrival of the third prince assigned by the emperor, The Third Prince entirely developed the city.
The officials of the officials had agreed that the Third Prince was the wisest of the Prince, demonstrated by his work that completely transformed the city.
Unlike the second prince who keeps writing poetry, the nobles regarded Playing in the entertainment venues as a philosopher. According to many, the nobles prepared to give the second prince the emperor because he was the easiest to control.
The second prince, Zhao Tao, is not interested in political affairs, likes to compose a poem, and plays betel, a routine that the sage considers noble.
But in the nobles' eyes, these meant that the second prince was the most suitable. Only a little bit of clarification can be trusted. Get power easily. He did not question the land administration. Such a fool is heaven for the nobles.
But the third prince was different. In front of him, he was said to be greedy and greedy to eat with merchants, not keeping the nobles' honor, Which is contrary to the opinions of the city's people; the Third Prince dramatically improves their quality of life.
The merchants also liked the Third Prince very much, almost giving the Third Prince a sacrifice.
The third prince was called Zhao Zhemin. When he arrived to accept a position in Tongzhou, he supports fishing for food.
Zhao Zemin discovered that the sea resources were more than he expected, the shrimps, shellfish, and crabs that the villagers did not dare to eat because they thought they were monsters. Zhao Ze Min, who tried it, discovered that these things were tastier than expected, thus promoting seafood's rapid eating.
Today, Dongzhou's seafood is famous for its delicious, hard to find anywhere else. Merchants and tourists are coming to buy seafood that has been processed and sold all over the land.
The third prince Zhao Ze Min observed that the evaporated seawater would turn into white salt. Zhao Zemin then created a process of salt farming to generate massive income for Dongzhou city.
In this era, salt was an expensive item. The human body needs salt each day, a demand that has no shortage. The salt trade has become very popular. Reduce the price of salt in the market that is so expensive. And white salt has become a famous export product of Tongzhou city.
They were causing merchants from various regions to travel to Dongzhou, Transforming this fishing village into one of the busiest and most prosperous port towns.
In the past, before Zhao Lingxin became Emperor, He had also suspected that his brother Zhao Ze Min was a person from the present day who had traveled to another world. That thought was brushed off when Zhao Lingxin walked over to ask about the Internet.
Zhao Zhemin looked confused. Or even if he faked, At this time, Zhao Zemin, in Dongzhou City, might have already invented advanced products such as soap and glass.
It was evident that Zhao Zhemin was not from the present era. Only having intelligence that is clearly more intelligent than the second brother Has a far more vision than today's.
The streets of Tongzhou were bustling with merchants from all over the world, coming to Dongzhou to exchange their products. In the governor's house with a strict garrison Zhao Zemin, like his other two brothers, was reading a legal order sent from the Imperial City.
"My lord prince, for these laws, what do you think? We absolutely cannot accept it," said Gu Heng, a close advisor.
Unlike other princes, Gu Heng was a merchant, not a general or an intellectual graduate. The Third Prince was a strange man who accepted a merchant as his adviser, and this also made rumors about the Third Prince.
"However, we have not announced the acceptance of the Cabinet. This order, you considered it to be a paper towel." Zhao Ze Min finished speaking, he raised the paper and reread it.
"These laws and policies are really new. How could Fourth Brother come up with this idea?" Zhao Ze Min said with doubt.
"There was a rumor from the capital that demons possessed the emperor. Otherwise, how would he dare to make a massacre? "
Gu Heng said, even though a merchant was surprised that the emperor killed the nobles without fear of getting revenge? If you kill all the nobles, which will help them maintain the land?
Zhao Zemin had personal ambitions, or else how could he declare himself denying central authority?
Zhao Ze Min saw the power of money. He thought to rely on distant terrain to develop a calm and stable Spend a lot of money to build a strong army to take over the land.
He could not see the future of Zhao Lingxin in the middle of the cycle of how to survive. The future of Brother Four is gloomy, and it will not last long. Zhao Zhemin's plan was to wait for Big Brother and Second Brother to fight until death on one side. By that time, he had already obtained the benefits.
Zhao Ze Min hid his spark from his brothers and sisters. Careless that he admits to trade Didn't know that Zhao Zhao was planning to cut their throats now?
"Is it true that demons possessed brother Four? I don't really care. The Demon Realm is far away.
From us, his territory was more chaotic than Great Zhou and had to accept a hand in the Seven Great Sects, the Devil King Palace. The demons probably won't have time to intervene with us, and they will not survive at all," Zhao Ze Min analyzed.
"According to Prince's opinion, I agree," Gu Heng added.
Zhao Ze Min overturned the Cabinet order and said,
"In other words, these economic policies are fascinating."
On land reform or the establishment of a ministry, Zhao Zemin didn't pay much attention, just thought that he just changed the organization's name, so he didn't pay much attention. But notably, the economic policy that stimulated his interest.
The establishment of new tax rates It's a concept that he strongly agrees with. Dongzhou has many merchants if the trade tax can be raised. Tongzhou's tax amount will undoubtedly increase and reduce the burden of the villagers to pay taxes.
"He is absolutely impossible. I want to object to this tax policy." Gu Heng hastily objected as he had read the Cabinet's economic policy. Especially about taxes. If enforcement came up in Tongzhou, it would have been a nightmare, something he didn't want to happen.
The new tax rate ignores taxes from the public. But increased trade taxes There are also VAT and customs for the import and export of goods. That pushes the burden on merchants like them. The villagers may be happy, but not for the merchants.
Tongzhou's tax policy collected 50 percent from villagers. There is no trade tax, just a 10 percent toll on goods. Let's look back at the tax rates set by the Cabinet. As if to kill all the merchants' race No matter what, Gu Heng had to disagree.
Especially, the Ku family is considered the richest in Tongzhou. There are many trade routes. The Ku family would be the worst if this tax measure were enforced.
"Enforcement of this law will definitely cause chaos in Tongzhou. And may prevent many merchants from entering our town. Please rethink the good and bad this time." Gu Heng tried to convince Zhao Zhemin to give up his idea of pushing the new tax law.
"I understand. I'm not going to use this current tax rate," Zhao Zemin said. He knew very well why Gu Heng objected. Because this law will affect the interests of many people. In Tongzhou, merchants hold economic and political power. He was causing Zhao Zemin to be cautious. If he took the wrong steps, he could be betrayed by these merchants.
Zhao Zhemin had to rely on a lot of support from a merchant. Both funds for the construction of the city and the army If an influential merchant like Gu Heng resists So he could only delay it first
"I would like to represent all the merchants in Dongzhou. Everyone will definitely be grateful to him." Gu Heng breathed in relief. Fortunately, he convinced the Third Prince to stop paying attention to the new tax rate.
Although Zhao Zhemin said he was no longer interested in the new tariffs But in his mind, he was prepared to study the benefits and disadvantages of this law. And ready to start again in the future