Come on, Your Highness

No matter how pleasant the conversation was, when they got here, all the businessmen present all looked at He Xichao with wariness in their eyes.

This reaction was expected by He Xichao, but he was not displeased, instead he smiled lightly and said: "His Royal Highness said in the court that the [-]% tariff is too much, you think it's too much, don't you?"

Isn't this nonsense, half of the commercial tax and [-]% of the tariff are directly quadrupled, and the lion's mouth is nothing more than that.

But the businessmen naturally don't say this kind of thing, it's just the expression on their faces.

The head of Tunxi Qiao's family said: "Master He, the imperial court has opened up the mutual market for us. If we can protect our interests as written by your lord, it is reasonable to raise tariffs and pay more. Cheng, I really can't bear to wait!"

"Master Qiao is right, just like me waiting for tea merchants. Leaving aside the cost of picking tea and making tea, the cost of transporting the tea from Jiangnan to the border is a lot of money, even higher than the price of tea sold locally. If you are accidentally caught by a thief on the road, or overturned in a strong wind and heavy rain, you will lose all your money." Zhehangmin's family also said with a embarrassed face.

The two of them originally sent their daughters to Prince Shun's Mansion and Prince Li's Mansion because they were different from each other, but now that Xiao Yi and Xiao Ming have joined forces for this trade, the two families can only put aside their past differences and talk together.

Then the Patriarch of the Cheng family got up, raised his hand to salute He Xichao, and said, "Master He, I was very touched by what you said today. To be honest, you are willing to think about us humble people and give us a chance to express our opinions. I can feel your kindness, and I am really touched! Although we businessmen are mercenary, we also have loyalty. As long as we can make you pay the emperor, it doesn’t matter if we earn less and contribute more to the court. We hope that, like you A good official, the farther and farther you go, this is the truth."

Although Master Cheng's words were simple, he was sincere, and the people around him nodded in unison, even the smile on He Xichao's face was somewhat sincere.

Then he changed the subject and said apologetically: "But after all, we are not bachelors who can feed the whole family without hunger. There are family members behind us, clan members, and a large group of buddies. They also have family members. All of these can be counted on." Let's live. We can earn less money, but we can't lose money, otherwise we won't be able to explain it, Mr. He, do you think this is the reason?"

He Xichao laughed and nodded while listening, "Patriarch Cheng is really heartfelt!"

"Master He, in fact, we all know that the imperial court is not well-off and the national treasury is short of money. The pressure is on you now. We people have some family background. If the imperial court needs us to pay silver taels, how much do you want? Why don't you say the number? , as long as we have it, how do you feel about it if we all get together and go to work for you?" At this time, the owner of the salt merchant Deng proposed.

As soon as this remark came out, everyone responded one after another.

"That's a good suggestion, Mr. He, please tell me the number."

"We businessmen also have the righteousness of the country in mind!"

"That's the tariff, please accommodate me and lower it a bit."

"Master He, we will all miss you!"

……

Otherwise, they are all called profiteers, and all of them are talking about righteousness and humiliation, thinking about He Xichao everywhere, and keeping the overall situation in mind. They lost everything and lost money.

Xie San looked to the side, seeing the embarrassment and hesitation on the faces of colleagues in Honglu Temple, he couldn't help shaking his head.

Looking at the 12 people brought by He Xichao, all of them were sitting on the sidelines indifferently, unmoved at all.

Whether it will lose money or not, these 12 people actually know best.

He Xichao listened to what you said, the atmosphere was lively, he couldn't help holding up his tea and waiting, and finally when the voice subsided, he said: "The imperial court didn't ask you to donate money, so don't say such things anymore, let's discuss the matter. I have received your appeals, and the general meaning is that the [-]% tax is too high to even cover the cost, right?"

After hearing this, everyone couldn't help but glanced at each other, then nodded hesitantly.

He Xichao followed suit and nodded. He put down the teacup, and the smile on his face finally faded. His sharp eyes passed in front of everyone one by one: "People say that the most important thing in business is honesty. You can't confuse black and white. Only in this way can it last for a long time. It's a pity...you all speak nicely and elevate me very high, but the more so, the more chilling it is!"

When He Xichao said this, there was a momentary silence, the smile froze on his face, and finally the Patriarch of the Cheng family carefully asked: "Master He, what do you mean?"

He Xichao gave him a cold look: "You don't need to pay taxes for smuggling, and you have to go all out to transport the goods to the border, risking being discovered, and spending money to get through the checkpoints, but in the end, you can't even make [-]% of the profit back. , do you think I am stupid, or you are stupid?"

This question immediately overwhelmed people.

"This……"

Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, and finally the old grandpa of the Sun family said: "Master He, don't be upset, naturally there is not only [-]% profit, but I have been busy, it took three to five months, and I sent a lot of people, [-]% profit, or even [-]% profit The gain outweighs the loss! Please forgive me for my careless use of words."

When Mrs. Sun said this, everyone reacted and echoed.

"So, how much is your profit? Give me an exact number, and don't use words carelessly!" He Xichao said.

This... how to say this?

If you talk too much, I'm afraid that the [-]% profit will have to go up. If you talk less, it seems that you can't hide it.

Besides, how much is more and how much is less?

Don't look at He Xichao who is young, he knows from the strength he has just shown, he is not someone to be fooled easily, and if he is refuted again, he will be annoyed.

It feels like everything is wrong.

Thinking about it this way, I couldn't help whispering, it's just that various industries are put together, just to make a pile.

However, just like this, you can see how much water is in it.

He Xichao waited patiently for a while, and then said: "Okay, if I dare to call this meeting, it means that I know something very well. Xie Shaoqing from Honglu Temple went to the Western Regions and stayed for nearly four years. The silk is also good. Porcelain, salt, tea, decorations...anything that comes from Daqi, you can find out what the price is when you buy it there. And it's really not difficult to know how much these things cost After all, the business is not as big as yours, and there are many smaller merchants in various industries. With the selling price and the cost, after excluding transportation, labor, and some messy expenses, the final calculated profit..." He Xichao said He paused here, fixed his eyes on the Patriarch of the Cheng family, and completed the next sentence word by word, "Even if it's not accurate, it's almost the same. Everyone, don't you think so?"

He Xi made so many investigations and made sufficient preparations in the early stage to deal with these cunning businessmen.

The huge profits of smuggling are well known to the world. They make a lot of money, and everyone is very rich. Why do you look wronged?

The total is only [-]% of tariffs, not to mention tariffs for future generations, there are also value-added tax, consumption tax, and corporate income... all the mess is added together, that's enough!

"But, it's not just a tax issue. Mr. He, we merchants have a low status, you don't know..."

However, before the head of the Min family finished speaking, they heard He Xichao clap their hands and suddenly said, "By the way, I forgot when you said that. Let's open the skylight and tell the truth. It's a waste of time to open up relationships for the sake of smuggling." Before counting the money, how many people do you have to connect with one line? Hey... I remember that the last Minister of the Household Department was willing to give me [-]% profit as soon as he opened his mouth. Five lines, tsk... [-]% profit! Ha... He Xichao sighed and shook his head, "But the tariff is only [-]%!"

He put away his expression, looked at them dead silently, and said coldly: "You guys are so embarrassed to ask for a reduction!"

The previous Minister of the Household Department...has been dismissed from office and cannot leave behind closed doors.

If it weren't for the prince's son-in-law, this fate would probably have to be accounted for.

It's still this guy's handwriting.

Thinking of this, everyone couldn't help breaking out in a cold sweat.

"it is good!"

"Mister mighty!"

"aweason!"

Suddenly, the twelve scholars under He Xichao couldn't help shouting excitedly, and they looked at He Xichao with deep admiration.

On the opposite side, everyone in Honglu Temple: "..."

Xie San felt his sleeves being pulled, turned his head, and saw the white-bearded Honglu Temple Cheng approaching him, and asked in a low voice: "Master Xie, is Mr. He really the son of Duke Wei's mansion?"

Xie San twitched the corner of his mouth: "If it's fake, it will be replaced."

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen."

"Your servant is ashamed." The officials of Honglu Temple felt that there seemed to be no use for them to come here except to sit.

Xie San said: "Don't be ashamed, don't compare with him, calm down, just sit down." Then he is not a person, but a monster, since he was born, he has more minds than others.

That's how Xie San comforted himself, and now he's used to it.

"Taught..."

He Xichao ignored the whispers behind him, and continued: "This official is nice to discuss, and I just hope that you will cooperate. After all, the national treasury is full, and the salaries of border officers and soldiers are paid on time, so we can better protect our home and country. Only when there is stability, there is room for commercial development. But if you don’t let go of the gold and silver mountains, and you deliberately put on a show, then don’t blame me for being rude. There are so many businessmen in the world, just like you, the imperial court It's too easy to ask for additional support, Elder Sun, what do you think?"

Old Mrs. Sun sighed in his heart, their salt merchants had already been controlled, and they were just waiting for them to express their views.

He exchanged glances with his colleagues around him. In fact, deep down in his heart, he had already decided to accept the [-]% tax.

However, under the watchful eyes of everyone, he is unwilling to be this early bird.

So he said: "Master He is justified, and I am ashamed. It's just such a big matter, I really don't dare to give an answer immediately. Since there is another meeting, please allow us to go back and discuss it, and report the details together at that time. "

In fact, the [-]% tariff is really nothing to these merchants for the border trade whose profits are ten times, or even a hundred times.

It's just that there are masters behind them after all, and the requirement for them is that they can't promote border trade, and they have to try their best to reduce tariffs. How dare they agree to this, they must go back and ask for instructions.

And when Mrs. Sun said this, the atmosphere eased, and there was room for maneuver, so that the pressure would not be too tight, and everyone couldn't help but echoed him.

He Xichao didn't intend to settle the matter today, so he readily agreed, but...

"I know everyone's difficulties. After all, you have to explain something. Please feel free. However, I have to clarify one thing. The tariff is about [-]%, but it doesn't mean it's only [-]%."

He raised his hand and beckoned lightly.

You Ziqing and Luo Li each picked up a stack of documents and went to these merchants, and each family distributed one.

Everyone looked intently, but it was a picture called...

""Da Qi Border Trade Tariff Collection Notice"?" Someone read it word by word, and before reaching the content, someone shouted in shock: "Twenty percent?"

He Xi rolled his eyelids, and said with a smile: "That's right, the final tariff demanded is [-]%. What His Highness the Crown Prince said in the hall was just a rough idea."

Everyone shook their hands, looking at He Xichao as if they were looking at a profiteer.

"How did this come about?"

Not only these merchants, but also the officials of Honglu Temple were puzzled.

He Xichao said: "Everyone has read the detailed rules above. To ensure the smooth operation of the border trade, the imperial court must send a large number of manpower, even the army to escort them. The salaries, rewards, food, lodging and equipment of these people, as well as paper pens and ink and other miscellaneous items The cost must also be shared in the tariff."

"But is it necessary to add four more?" The merchants asked from the bottom of their hearts.

He Xichao said flatly: "Everyone, we have to understand one thing. The imperial court is not a righteous village, and it is only doing charity for you. Opening up border trade is such a troublesome thing, if you can't collect enough tax money, why bother? Earning a [-]% to [-]% profit in three to five months is really not worth the loss, and the imperial court certainly thinks so!"

"Master He, it's a shame that you don't do business!" the Patriarch of the Qiao family said sincerely.

This statement is not only agreed by the merchants, but also the officials of Honglu Temple and the twelve scholars think so.

This up and down lip service, directly increased by nearly half, this ability is no one else.

He Xichao smiled slightly: "Everyone, you are welcome, I am really doing business, after I have settled with you, I will take people to the Western Regions to discuss their entry tax with other countries, and then try to negotiate a lower price for you. "

When He Xichao said this, everyone was shocked once again.

What, countries in the Western Regions also need to levy taxes?

He Xichao asked innocently: "What kind of expression do you have? Isn't it natural? It's the same when their merchants sell things in our country!"

Everyone: "..."

"Oh, by the way, is there anyone among you who would like to discuss with me? It would be more assured if you go in person. In fact, our products are very popular in the Western Regions, and the tariffs should not be high."

He Xichao said it easily, but the listeners felt like crying without tears.

He Xichao didn't care about them, just got up with a smile and said: "Okay, today's meeting is over, once again thank you for participating, we will still be here in five days from the next meeting, see you soon. Oh, yes, please do Don't forget to make good suggestions."

In today's meeting, the people inside couldn't calm down, while the outside waiting for news was scratching their heads.

After the meeting finally broke up, He Xichao took the lead and left. He still walked calmly, but relaxed, talking and laughing with Xie San.

But the rest of the merchants came out in twos and threes.

Looking at their expressions, they are all heavy, shaking their heads and sighing from time to time, it can be seen that the result does not seem to be so satisfactory.

The author has something to say: Xie San: The biggest profiteer is here.