Chapter 281 You have to follow the rules when doing business!
The next day.
Still the familiar lobby.
It’s just that more people came than last time.
Li Benmo came, and Lin Shijia, the chief secretary of Zhejiang Province, also came.
In addition to these people, Hua Lun and Lian Zining also arrived, and the entire lobby was a little more solemn than last time.
Seeing such a scene, even if Li Benmo and others did not know what happened, they generally knew that Xia Zhibai probably wanted to settle some things this time, otherwise Hua Lun and others would not be called out as well. superior.
Fang Rengang, Wang Chongde and other businessmen were all silent when they saw the scene in front of them.
This is no longer the occasion for them to interrupt.
Not long after.
Xia Zhibai has arrived.
As soon as he entered the lobby, Li Benmo stood up first and said kindly: "Envoy Xia Qin."
Xia Zhibai nodded and said with a smile: "Master Li."
Then, he withdrew his gaze, calmly scanned the whole place, and said calmly: "Two days passed very quickly. I wonder how you are thinking?"
Li Benmo scanned the scene. The salt merchants below him all had their heads lowered, and no one dared to raise their head and speak. Li Benmo took the initiative and said: "Master Imperial Envoy, you take these merchants too seriously. What do their suggestions mean? In our Ming Dynasty, everything depends on the law." The law of the king, according to the law of the country.”
"The imperial envoy went south in accordance with His Majesty's will, which itself represents the royal law."
"How can we allow them to gossip here?"
Xia Zhibai glanced at Li Benmo and shook his head. He said: "Master Li, you have disgraced me. I did go south according to the order, but how can the national laws of the Ming Dynasty be replaced by ministers? The Ming Dynasty has its own national laws and its own laws. Everything must be in accordance with the law."
< br>“I don’t dare to overstep my bounds.”
“And everything is easy to discuss.”
"As long as we can sit down, there is room for negotiation."
"Wouldn't it be a violation of the rules to say something?"
Li Benmo's eyelids twitched slightly, with a look of disdain in his eyes.
It is true that it is both important and upright.
Just a businessman, who really takes them seriously?
The so-called consultation is just a message to the people behind these businessmen.
Li Benmo said: "The imperial envoy has this intention, which is all the best. However, the Zaohu matter has been troubled for so long, and it is really a lot of trouble. I think it should be resolved as soon as possible, and the Salt Administration It’s not easy to put things off any longer. What’s the point of delaying things?”
“Wouldn’t it make people think that the imperial court is doing things in a low manner?”
“As an official of the imperial court, Sometimes you should make your own decisions. "
" Mr. Li is right." Xia Zhibai nodded.
He turned his head, looked at the people below, and said: "I still hold the same view as before. The south can only implement the large-scale factory system and must be supervised by the court. This is the red line. The Ming Dynasty will not allow the salt industry to be rampant, nor will it allow the salt industry to be rampant. Industry, and local chaos occurred again."
Zhang Tong said: "This is natural."
"The big factory system is better."
"It is easier to manage. , it is also easier to supervise and integrate resources.”
“The court will not take away your sales rights, but it will be able to check the accounts at any time. Although many salt factories have to move, it is better than being shut down by the court. Be strong, and the imperial envoy has brought a lot of engineers with him this time. Don't think about causing trouble, let alone coercing a group of people to cause trouble."
"The imperial court has been on guard against you for a long time."
Zhang Tong spoke arrogantly to the salt merchant below.
Xia Zhibai frowned.
He took the initiative and said: "I did bring a lot of engineers this time, but not to occupy your machines, just to facilitate your transportation so that you can start work better and faster, and even fill in other hurdles. The output of the suspended salt factory is mainly to improve the machinery for you.”
“This is also a benefit of moving the factory.”
It was quiet all around.
Xia Zhibai continued: "As for where you will move and which factories you will merge with, this will be decided by the local chief secretary."
Lin Shijia said: "As for the salt factory after the merger, We, the Chief Secretary, will give us the greatest support as to the location, and try to choose a place with convenient transportation, which will facilitate the transportation of salt, coal, etc., and also facilitate the reduction of journeys.”
Fang Rengang and others looked at each other. But he looked bitter.
How do they have the qualifications to speak?
Hasn’t everything been decided?
And they have actually been informed for a long time. Don’t complain too much about the merger, because this is the political purpose of Xia Zhibai’s move south. If the purpose is not achieved, Xia Zhibai will not give up. In this kind of situation Under the circumstances, they can only agree.
Fang Rengang hesitated for a moment and said: "As long as the promises made by the government can be fulfilled, the merger is nothing."
"It's just that if the salt factory is like this, there will be problems in the distribution of benefits. "
Xia Zhibai said: "You decide this yourself, whether it is based on the current production, the subsequent production, or the production quota is set in advance. This is decided by the businessmen, and we and other officials will not decide. It’s up to you.”
"In addition."
"All kitchen households must be converted to the employment system."
"If you want to reap the dividends of past policies, you will no longer be allowed."
"The imperial court's promotion of salt factories is originally intended to increase revenue and reduce expenditure for the imperial court, not for you."
"Since you want to benefit from salt production, you must bear corresponding responsibilities."
"It's all integrated." "The imperial court won't care too much about how you do business. As long as you don't disrupt the normal salt market and don't do anything harmful to nature, the imperial court won't get too involved. But if you evade taxes and resist taxes, then don't be blamed. National law has become ruthless. "
"The emergence of steam engines has greatly changed the face of business."
"Business law will also change in the future."
< br>“Restrictions will be imposed not only on tax rates, but also on tax inspections and many other aspects, in order to allow businessmen to do business legally within order.”
Xia Zhibai talked a lot.
Just hearing that Fang Rengang and others were sweating on their foreheads.
What's wrong with this?
I almost don’t care about anything.
There are also changes in commercial taxes, penalties for tax evasion, etc. Each of them, according to Fang Rengang, is like a circle of rope tied around their heads. These ropes can be turned into hangings at any time. Their ropes.
Fang Rengang said: "Sir, is this too much?"
"Why is this so?"
Xia Zhibai shook his head and said calmly: "This must go, the steam engine You have all seen the benefits. Production efficiency has been greatly improved, and the number of workers needed has been greatly reduced. If the court does not strictly inspect the corresponding factories, the court will collect less taxes every year."
"This is not true. Allowed.”
“Taxes are the lifeblood of a country.”
"In the future, it will be the same not only for salt, but also in other new industries."
"There is no doubt about commercial reform."
"Besides."
"The craftsmen I brought this time are not only to improve the machines for you, but also to tell the public that the steam age is coming. In the future, steam engines will be used in many ways, not only for making salt, but also for making iron horses. , can also manufacture iron ships, and the transportation in the world will be greatly improved."
"In addition to these, there will also be many changes in daily life."
"These will affect the people step by step."
"Although it is undeniable that this will have a certain impact on local people, but as long as it is used properly, more people will benefit from it, and this will also It will be the only way of the times."
"The Ming Dynasty will gradually move toward openness."
"As a channel for the Ming Dynasty to communicate with the outside world, businessmen will naturally also be gradually formalized. "
"The imperial court will gradually strengthen its control over local governments and will also provide channels for local people, merchants, and craftsmen to communicate with the imperial court. The Salt Association I mentioned before is one of them."
Hear the words.
Fang Rengang and others immediately changed their expressions.
All eyes turned to Lin Shijia and other officials at the same time.
Lin Shijia also looked ugly.
He never expected that Xia Zhibai would be so straightforward and say what was in his heart directly in front of so many merchants, but Xia Zhibai thought too highly of these merchants. , How can they have so much backbone? It's just a dog that some people put in front of others.
It's not that easy to get them to complain to the court.
Just what Xia Zhibai said made them feel a little nervous, because this was not a good thing.
No matter which one is done, it will have a great impact on the local area.
The old local pattern will also be broken.
This is not what they want to see.
Li Benmo stood with his hands behind his hands and looked at Xia Zhibai with doubtful eyes. He couldn't understand why Xia Zhibai said these words? Is it really to convince these businessmen to agree? And let them put aside their worries and tell the secret person?
Or are you taking the opportunity to ridicule them?
In fact, he had misunderstood their intentions a long time ago, but he was unwilling to expose them, but he also advised them not to use their arms as a trap?
Li Benmo frowned and thought for a moment, but didn't figure it out.
Li Benmo did not answer this question, and said slowly: "Last time, our Salt Transportation Department sent a list, but that list was actually not very accurate, and it cannot be said that it was inaccurate. To be precise, it was accurate. Must be missed.”
"In the past six months, many salt factories in the south have opened and closed. Many of them are large factories, such as our Ningbo Salt Factory in Zhejiang, which closed down more than half a month ago due to poor management."
"It has been sold to other salt factories."
"Ningbo Salt Factory is so eager to achieve success and is too greedy. It wants to directly monopolize most of the salt factories in Zhejiang Salt City to make high profits. , there are many in the south, but these businessmen are greedy and have not considered it at all. The transportation cost of doing so is so high that they cannot afford it in the end, and other small salt factories in the surrounding areas have been dragged down. "
"It's such a pity."
Li Benmo expressed regret with an expressionless face.
It seemed that I really felt sorry for these 'closed' salt factories, but my eyes looked extremely cold.
Xia Zhibai nodded lightly and said: "If Mr. Li doesn't mention it, I will be ready to talk about it."
"Since it has closed down, it will be liquidated as a bankruptcy."< br>
"I will ask Ding Zhifang to go to the Salt Transportation Department to sort out the relevant situation later. Then I will ask the Chief Secretary to send some people to investigate the whereabouts of these machines and strive to find out the whereabouts of these machines as soon as possible."< br>
Li Benmo nodded, showing no emotion or anger, and said: "Okay."
Seeing Li Benmo nod so easily, it was somewhat beyond Xia Zhibai's expectation.
He smiled and continued.
The meeting went smoothly.
(End of this chapter)