Great Song

Looking at the invitation card in his hand, Han Miao raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Summer is coming soon, and the new product "Xialiang" will be launched soon, and new perfumes such as mint, rose, and pear blossom will be added. Even Han Miao is too busy to touch the ground.Unexpectedly, before the "March period", someone from the prime minister's mansion would come to send invitations, which has a very different meaning.

A small piece of letter paper is not light in weight.After thinking for a while, Han Miao got up and said, "Back up 'Xia Liang' and various gifts, and go to Xiangfu."

Han Qi summoned him, nine out of ten, not because of the perfume shop's income in the past two months, but because of the news from the palace, which finally got out.

Because the man in that palace was the first to buy "Spring Return", Sangong then rectified the palace affairs, but concealed the role played by the perfume shop.These days, although reminding those noble ladies who buy perfume as usual, more people think that the store is shrewd and has sensed the change of the situation, so they take the opportunity to sell their own fragrances.But I didn't expect that the root cause came from this.

It's just that most people don't think that if a prime minister like Han Qi investigates carefully, it's not difficult to find out the reason.I am afraid that this sudden call came because of it.

However, Han Miao was not worried about this matter.In other words, he may have been waiting for this day for a long time.

Bringing the gift, Han Miao came to the prime minister's mansion by car.This time, he didn't wait half a day, and was directly invited into the main hall, where he met the person who sent him the post.

"The boy has met the husband."

It was still as respectful as last time, but this time, he didn't bow down, and the person seated said: "Get up, I haven't seen you for a month, you really surprised the old man."

He said "surprised", but Han Qi's tone was still calm and unwavering, making it hard to guess whether he was happy or angry.Han Miao smiled slightly: "The kid just made a mistake, and I didn't expect to make my husband worry."

This answer is neither humble nor overbearing, and there is no intention of showing off in the slightest.Han Qi nodded slightly, and asked, "You can't use lead and mercury, how did you come up with it?"

It was really not difficult for Han Qi to find out about the two palace servants leaving the palace.He also soon learned how famous the new store opened by Han Miao was.That's not just a problem with perfume, whether it's the advice not to use lead and mercury, or the 42 worth of incense, or the bright and flawless silver mirror, they are all completely unexpected.

When Han Qi said "March" at the beginning, he intended to test and give Han Yu's son a face.Unexpectedly, this kid only spent one month, and even the emperor was alarmed.

Han Miao said bluntly: "Last year, my grandmother was almost deceived into taking Jindan by a wild Taoist. Thanks to the help of a little Taoist leader, I caught the thief. The kid just knew the harm of lead and mercury. However, there are few people who take pills in this world. There are many powders and silver vermilion. How can it be harmless to use these all day long? Therefore, at the beginning of opening the shop, the boy made many inquiries and met many old prostitutes. Her appearance and teeth are eye-catching and can be healthy Those who have children are even rarer. That's why I got that warning."

Of Zhen Qiong's role in it, Han Miao would not rashly tell others.And the investigation in advance is true, not only that, he also followed Zhen Qiong's suggestion, feeding lead and mercury to rats and rabbits, and only then concluded that it was very poisonous.

The people who use the most lead powder and ointment in the world, apart from noble ladies, are of course those showy women.This set of rhetoric sounds novel, but it can show the child's ability to understand and write.Han Qi nodded: "If your remonstrance can really make the harem give birth to a healthy offspring, it will be a great achievement. At that time, the emperor and the queen mother will all be rewarded."

"The matter of not abusing lead and mercury was taught by me to Mrs. Liu, the shopkeeper. Anyone who buys perfume in the store will be informed. This time is just a coincidence, so how dare you take credit for it?" Han Miao said immediately.

Seeing profit without forgetting righteousness, and not asking for rewards for great achievements, it shows the style of a gentleman.A smile appeared on Han Qi's face: "Sit down."

So easy-going, it seems to be treating a nephew.After Han Miao thanked him, he sat down beside him, and a servant girl immediately offered him tea.

Does this count as passing the prime minister's exam?Han Miao said with a smile: "The new summer fragrance will be released in my shop soon, and the boy will also bring a copy for my husband."

As he spoke, the maid who followed behind him immediately took the wooden box.

Han Qi didn't shy away from it, ordered someone to take it, and opened the lid of the ebony box with his own hands.The inside is really dazzling, all colored glaze.He took out the bottle of perfume, put it on his nose and sniffed it, and said, "But it has mint and ice flakes added?"

"Exactly. The name of the new incense is 'Cool Summer', which cancels the meaning of clear summer heat and repels mosquitoes." Han Miao replied.

"Your ability to make incense has already entered the country." As a master perfumer, Han Qi's praise is extremely rare.

"If it wasn't for being taught by Xiangye back then, how could the boy make such a good fragrance?" Han Miao said modestly.

This sentence brought out all kinds of things ten years ago.Looking at the tall and handsome young man, Han Qi sighed inwardly.Back then, he was right about this kid.

Putting down the glass bottle, and without flicking the mechanism inside the box to look at the silver mirror, Han Qi said: "You have made new tea, new sugar, and new fragrance in the past year. You have really found a new way, and it has flourished. It's just these, not necessarily If you can monopolize the market, sooner or later, someone will imitate it. Have you thought about countermeasures?"

Now there are imitation silver mirrors on the market, not as bright as the ones in Han's shop, but the advantage is that everyone can buy them, and they are quite prosperous.Regardless of whether it is perfume, toilet water or white sugar, as long as it takes some time, sooner or later people will find out the way and make something similar.Han Qi doesn't know how to do business, but he also knows that a unique method may not last long.If the streets are full of silver mirror flower dew, how to make money?

Han Miao said with a smile: "Is there any secret technique in the world that others can't understand? It's just how much time it takes and how much it costs. However, there are always a few stores that stand out because of better quality and better management. Although the boy is not talented , this confidence is still there."

Neither of them mentioned the possible strife among the rich and powerful, and the guild would squeeze out.Just talking about the way of management, it is obvious that new sugar can be spread all over Tokyo within half a year, and perfume can be heard in the sky within one month. This kind of ability is by no means available to everyone.

Looking at the confident and steady face of the young man in front of him, Han Qi suddenly said: "You also went to school back then, and I heard that you passed the understanding test?"

Han Miao was slightly startled by the suddenness of this question, and immediately said, "It is true. It was only eight years ago."

Since the age of 16, he gave up his studies to concentrate on business.It's just that when Han Qi asks this now, he definitely doesn't want him to continue to take the exam.Therefore, Han Miao's heart tensed slightly, and he felt that Han Qi's next words would not be easy to answer.

As expected, Han Qi narrowed his eyes slightly, and asked, "You are not bad in talent, and you have learned the art of managing the world. Let me ask you, how do you make money for the country?"

This question is too big!As a mere businessman, how should he answer?

Han Miao was silent for a moment, then sighed softly: "A big country is not a shop, and there are too many things involved, how can we sum it up in one word? It's just that making money is nothing more than 'opening up' and 'cutting down'. How to cut down, I dare not Nonsense. How to open source, but some superficial views..."

This answer was somewhat beyond Han Qi's expectation.In his opinion, it is not surprising that he dare not answer, or answer indiscriminately.Not to mention people without official status, even those who govern states and counties, talk about world affairs without lack of nonsense, and they can't hit the stakes.

However, Han Miao didn't. He didn't talk about "throttling expenditure" because he knew the difficulty of this matter. "Redundant officials", "redundant soldiers" and "redundant expenses" are the country's long-standing evils.Back then, Han Qi, Fan Zhongyan and Fu Bi carried out the "Qingli New Deal" together, and within two years, he was kicked out of office and demoted to a lower level.Even a great talent like Fan Zhongyan failed to return to the center even after his death, and even his coffin was stopped in Luoyang and he was not allowed to enter Beijing.

Therefore, after he became the prime minister, he also changed from being sharp in the past, and only wanted to stabilize the court.It is really difficult to "reduce expenditure", and it is difficult to go to the sky.

"Throttling expenditure" is so difficult, and "open source" is even more difficult.If you want to "open source", you have to snatch profits from the pockets of the heads of Guizhou, and in the hands of pride and honor.Exploiting the people is too much, and sooner or later the officials will force the people to rebel.But doing something to the wealthy is tantamount to taking food from a tiger's mouth.

How dare he talk about the word "open source"!Han Qi's eyes sharpened in an instant, and Zaifu Sanchao's demeanor was enough to make people feel terrified.

However, Han Miao was not afraid of those lightning-like gazes, and he only said with confidence: "Money is like flowing water, and it must be circulated all the time so that it can be inexhaustible. If it is gathered together, it will become a pool of stagnant water sooner or later. It’s like in the Tang Dynasty, you can’t help doing business. The high business tax is far higher than that of farming and mulberry, which coincides with the meaning of running water without corruption. If you want to make money and increase revenue, you should also start with business.”

Han Qi didn't expect this to be what he said, so he couldn't help but frowned: "Could it be that you want to raise the business tax?"

Han Miao laughed: "The boy is also a businessman, how could he advise the court to increase the business tax? It's just that the wealth of the country is a constant amount. If you only collect money in the country, you are just taking the wealth of the people. The wealth of the country will make the people poor, and it will not last forever." However, there is more than one country in the world, if the wealth of other countries is taken into the treasury of the Song Dynasty, the people will become richer and the country will become richer."

"You mean, side question?" Han Qi understood a little bit.The imperial court has to give Liao and Xia Sui coins every year, but tens of thousands of silk and silver are not as good as negotiating a tenth of the tax.If we only talk about the cost, it is natural that the old currency is much more cost-effective than preparing for the battle over the years.

"Not only Bianqian, but also Shibo." Han Miao put away the smile on his face, "The commercial tax of both Bianqian and Shibo is far less than the volume of transactions. The black market and private Hong Kong are precisely because the business tax is too high and there are too few business opportunities. If we can open a few more government-run business areas on the border of Liaoxia and Xia, and reduce some taxes, which businessman would not want to go the bright way? ?There are tens of thousands of merchant ships traveling to and from the coast every year, but there are very few ports with municipal ships. Even good ports like Quanzhou do not have city ships. If more good ports are opened, the ships entering and leaving the ports will Collect taxes, even if the taxes are lowered, the money collected can increase dramatically. And this amount of money is absolutely incomparable to the tax of Nongsang.”

Han Qi was silent. He didn't understand business affairs, but he was proficient in political affairs.If this is the case, except for those wealthy families who control the black market and private Hong Kong, it will not touch the interests of anyone, but small and medium businessmen will all applaud and applaud.It's not that hard to implement.

However, after thinking for a moment, Han Qi said slowly: "It's just that, it's inevitable that the money will flow out, I'm afraid it will be troublesome..."

The shortage of money has been a headache since the founding of the Song Dynasty.If we do more business with foreign countries, wouldn't it make more money flow out?

"Since it is a border trade, it is natural to barter. Exchange tea, porcelain, silk, and lacquerware for gold, silver, and livestock from other countries. You may not need to pay the other party silver. You can also reduce or exempt the customs duties on gold, silver, copper, and iron. Merchants come by ship." Han Miao paused, "What's more, you can open some daily utensils, such as pots and bowls, paint buckets, combs, knives and scissors. Either the exquisiteness wins, or the cheapness prevails. Over time, Liao and Xia depended on domestic output, so people's livelihood was naturally declining and national power wasted. When it comes to war, this strategy alone will be worth a million strong troops!"

What a big tone!How dare a mere businessman talk about military strategies in front of him?However, this method, as long as you think about it carefully, you will know that it is not whimsical.Border trade has always been important to the imperial court, and the only thing to worry about is the disaster of coinage outflow.If this hidden danger can be solved, the other problems are not particularly difficult.

Opening a shipping company is just a matter of building a port and sending people.With so many redundant officials, can't you pick out a few that can be used?As for the matter of Bian Que being controlled by Junzhen, he may have hesitated in the past.But now, the national treasury is in deficit of more than 2000 million guan, and if there is no way out, do we have to wait for the imperial court to collapse?

Compared with other methods, this is already the most gentle method, and it may also be the fastest method.

After pondering for a moment, Han Qi suddenly said: "If you open the side panel, you may make a lot of money selling perfume and new sugar, right?"

Han Miao smiled slightly: "These items are not related to people's livelihood, they are all extravagant items. If the princes and princes of the Liao Kingdom, Xixia, and even Dashi were spending money like dirt, rushing to buy them, they would probably be able to increase taxes for the country a lot."

He didn't say how much he would profit from it, he only said that these things would make many foreign princes addicted to it, resulting in huge business taxes.

A smile appeared on Han Qi's lips, and he suddenly asked, "Do you still have a younger brother who is studying abroad?"

Han Miao immediately said: "Brother She is going to be a filial piety this year, and will participate in the autumn exam."

Han Qi nodded: "Let him write a paper and show it to the old man."

The meaning was too clear, and Han Miao immediately showed a grateful look on his face: "Boy, let him hand in the paper, thank you for your promotion!"

Satisfied with Han Miao's cleverness, Han Qi said lightly, "It's getting late, so stay for dinner."

Han Miao smiled and said, "Maybe it's been a long time since I tasted the sheep's head lottery from my uncle's house."

"Uncle" just rightly brought the relationship closer.This kid really has an exquisite heart, it's a pity that he doesn't become an official.

Han Qi smiled, and led Han Miao to the dining room as if he was a promising junior at home.

After the prime minister's family banquet, when he went out again, it was completely dark.Standing in front of the car, Han Miao took a deep breath.When I learned that a great talent like Fan Wenzheng could not turn the situation around, I gave up the idea of ​​becoming an official and chose to do business.I also made plans to spend three or five years before I can show my skills.Unexpectedly, only half a year will turn the world upside down.Even the advice in his chest can be expressed directly to the prime minister.

How could you have expected today when you were in business?Now there is Mrs. Yan speaking well in front of the imperial court, and Han Xianggong, the "uncle of the clan", backing her up.In the entire Tokyo city, not many people could covet his shop anymore.

All this, thanks to that trail.Thinking of the little guy who was not doing right, the look on Han Miao's face eased, and a smile appeared on his lips.Will Zhen Qiong treat him generously if he is taken out again?With all the worries in his heart gone, Han Miao got on his horse, shook the reins, and galloped towards home.