In the boring days, Li Xun finally waited for the imperial court's will. As Zhang Xiaobao expected, the imperial court had no time to send people to Luzhou or even Yazhou.
At the same time, I don’t want to abandon the newly discovered places, no matter whether there was the land of Datang or not, I heard that there was gold and copper, and I heard that there was a high yield of food grown there.
I also heard that the local people are tribes, very angrily pointed out in the will that Li Xun should come to seek justice for the people of Datang.
Naturally, Li Xun didn't need to rush back to get his fief.
According to reliable sources, in order to collect taxes from merchants returning from overseas, the imperial court has been so noisy to pay. Everyone wants to put their own people in this important position.
It's just that this is too difficult and the coastline is too long. If you really want to collect taxes, you need to consciously stop the ship at the relevant place. This is obviously impossible. Non-Datang's special products can be detected, and gold and copper can't be controlled.
This problem was sent to Luzhou along with the decree for Li Xun, which meant asking the two masters of the Zhang family to figure out how to find another land.
"Is there a way?" Wang Juan asked Zhang Xiaobao when he saw the unofficial emperor's handwritten handwriting.
"Yes, not when I changed it to other things. It's simple here, but why should I tell them? My father doesn't care about this customs affairs."
Zhang Xiaobao said nonchalantly.
Old Man Zhang and Old Man Bi also thought about the same thing. They asked Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan to play a few rounds of billiards with them. After Zhang Xiaobao won the game in a row without leaving the slightest affection, the topic shifted to control. In terms of tariffs.
"Little Treasure, Cuckoo, today I will give you two a problem to see if you can solve it. It is said that there is such a country, it is surrounded by plains, and it is adjacent to many countries, and there are many businessmen. Secretly transporting goods from other countries, this country wants to collect taxes, what should we do?"
Old Man Bi looked at Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan with a smile and asked.
Wang Juan and Zhang Xiaobao looked at each other, and their hearts came to mind.
"Grandpa Bi, I know, buy our cement, repair the city wall, and enclose the entire country. If merchants come from other countries, they will be stopped."
Wang Juan blinked her eyes and spoke with certainty what she thought of.
Zhang Xiaobao also followed along and said, "Grandpa Bi, I think that would be a waste of cement."
Old Man Bi nodded and motioned to Zhang Xiaobao to continue.
"Grandpa Bi, my method is to send a lot of manpower to patrol and patrol on horseback. Anyway, it is the plain. There should be a lot of grass? If you don't plant it, you can eat it wherever you go."
Zhang Xiaobao spoke out his idea.
Old Man Bi and Old Man Zhang were stupid. This was not the answer they wanted at all. Their eyes swept around Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan, very suspicious that they were deliberately talking nonsense.
Ping two shrewd little guys, it is impossible to say that stupid thing just now.
"Then what if the sea is all around?" Old man Zhang had to be more direct.
"Oh, sea? Then use cement to repair the seawall, which is tall and large, leaving only a few places for the boat to dock." Wang Juan changed her previous statement slightly.
"It's not right. A lot of cement will be wasted. My idea is..."
"Your idea is to send countless boats to patrol. Anyway, if there are fish in the sea, you can just eat the fish. If you don't have it, raise some fish, right?"
Before Zhang Xiaobao finished speaking, Old Man Zhang followed his words.
Zhang Xiaobao nodded sharply.
"You, you two, forget it, just tell you that your family has discovered another Datang land. The merchants used to transport the goods and how did they collect taxes when they came back? The place was discovered by your family, and this problem also needs your family to come. solve."
Old Man Bi understood now that Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan must know the way, but they didn't say anything, but in desperation, he found a reason. He felt blushing when he said it, and it was a bit too bullying.
Sure enough, Zhang Xiaobao was stunned and said quietly: "If my family finds other places, we must solve this problem. Then my family finds locals from other places, shouldn't we also replace the imperial court to teach them?"
"Uh... this enlightenment thing is unnecessary. Think about it again. Your father is about to leave. He hasn't chosen the next place. It's not easy. It's very likely that he will be assigned to Beijing to serve as a capital official."
Old Man Bi's face turned redder. How can others do the enlightenment work? When enlightenment comes out, he might not know the emperor of the Tang Dynasty.
In desperation, he began to use threats, and after speaking, he did not dare to meet the pure eyes of Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan.
"Grandpa Bi, there are many capable people in the court, why do you want to come in? The court collects taxes, so you are not afraid that the court will use it to fight? At that time, countless relatives have lost their sons or fathers, as well as the men in the family."
Zhang Xiaobao is not good yet, so how could he come up with his idea.
Old Man Bi clicked his lips and said: "The surrounding countries cannot be attacked yet. They are mainly used for disaster relief. If the treasury has no money, it won’t work. If you want to build a road, you can’t build it. It’s like Luzhou, with concrete roads. It looks more beautiful than the capital. It is a seawall and a lighthouse. The walls of the capital are still muddy."
Seeing that the threat was not enough, Old Man Bi began to cry poor. It seems that if the walls of the capital can't be made of concrete and the roads to various places are not made of concrete, then the Zhang family is like a sinner. Who made the Zhang family build Luzhou so well
Zhang Xiaobao thought about it for a while and said, "Grandpa Bi, I'm actually really worried about my father returning to Beijing to do things. It's still too early, especially for Juanjuan's father. When Juanjuan and I came here, Juanjuan's father also mentioned that he wanted to help the court find ways to collect taxes, but because of his low official position, he couldn't make a discount. It's a pity, it's a pity."
Old Man Zhang and Old Man Bi understood that the Zhang family wanted to exchange terms so that Wang Juan's father would also be promoted.
"Oh, that's really the case? That really strengthens me. What is the name of an official? What is the name of an official? Wu San official, Zheng 4th grade, what is his name?" Old man Bi was very on the road.
"Is it called General Zhuangwu?" Old man Zhang followed.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan are satisfied. As soon as this time comes, Wang Juan's mother will also receive a Fourth-Rank status.
Zhang Xiaobao is not afraid that Old Man Bi's words will not count, so don't expect to get news from your own mouth next time.
"Ah? Zhuangwu general? Then you have to be strong. If you want to strengthen my Tang Wugong, the general will naturally lead his troops, so he will take the soldiers to the newly discovered places to protect the merchants. At that time, every ship will have a few. A soldier, I believe that the soldier will be able to safely bring the merchant back to the designated safe place."
"Yes, yes, just send soldiers to follow the ship. Why didn't I expect that? No one from the court had even considered this. It seems that they have set their sights on Datang's side, okay, okay, Xiaobao Don't worry, He Juanjuan, the appointment will be over soon."
Old Man Bi now reacted. The matter is not as complicated as imagined. All merchants in the past will definitely seek the protection of local soldiers. As long as they are detained by soldiers, there is no need to worry. Even if some merchants want to do it by themselves, it is impossible. Keep it secret.
"Xiaobao, Juanjuan, you said, when the merchant returns, how much tariff will be charged?" Old man Bi asked another question casually.
Anyway, I said one, not bad this one, Zhang Xiaobao didn’t even think about it, and replied: “Then it depends on the goods. If it’s gold and copper, tax is collected vigorously. If it’s grain, not only cannot tax be collected. , But to compensate part of the copper or gold.
In other words, if you bring back part of the copper and then part of the grain, then it is very likely that copper will not be taxed. Encourage them to bring back grain. Datang's grain is still a bit insufficient. "
Old Man Zhang and Old Man Bi nodded their heads, a good idea, but you can also adjust it, that is, the grain directly replaces the copper tax, instead of letting the merchant directly sell it. Anyone who pays the grain is more cost-effective than paying the copper directly. Let the merchants transport countless grains to Datang.
In fact, this is still a kind of discrimination and restriction on businessmen, Zhang Xiaobao can't manage, and doesn't want to manage, just do his own thing.
…
Wang Juan’s father was given a bigger official. Both Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were happier. Whoever wants to be the duty-collecting official should do it. Your own father can’t do it. That’s the cusp of trouble, and it’s easy to get into trouble. Son.
When the two returned to the yard at home, Li Xun was bored with the four sleeping children, his eyes were not focused, and he was in a daze.
Seeing the two of them coming in, he immediately greeted him and said, "Xiaobao, why haven't they come back from there? Will they be beaten to death by the locals?"
"More than a thousand people are so easy to fight? There are weapons and equipment. What anxious, maybe they found something good again." Zhang Xiaobao didn't worry that a thousand people would not come back.
"Can you not be in a hurry? I am also the person in charge of this matter now, and I want to go over and take a look." Li Xun was still thinking about the matter there.
Zhang Xiaobao looked at his brothers and sisters. The little ones slept very soundly. Occasionally, their small mouths moved, like they were breastfeeding. They smiled and said, "Even if they come back, you can't go. Back, there was too much time wasted, it is very likely that my dad will leave.
It is estimated that the court will let you sit here first. Someone has already come here. The moment my father left was when the new governor and the new person in charge came over, you have to go. Take advantage of the time now. Under the arrangement, your fiefdom does not occupy the size of a state, it is better to be a good place, and my dad also used to be the new governor. "
"So there was no chance this year." Li Xun sighed.
Then I became happy again, "Yes, we need to make arrangements. Then I will follow you to see what the new place can be built into."
"Xiaobao, there is one more thing. The Ning family hasn't come here to be fooled now, do you have to think of something more?"
"No hurry, always give people time to respond, start with other states first, let Qinzhou see it, I believe they will not let this opportunity pass."
Zhang Xiaobao is not at all worried, the liar's mentality is very important.
Seeing Zhang's family, Li Xun felt relieved, and said, "Then what are you doing now? I have nothing to do. I'm idle all day. I don't need to worry about the things on the mountain. I'll find some work for me."
"Isn't it easy to want to work? I'll find one for you now to help train divers and learn from Xiaotao who is about to reach." Zhang Xiaobao casually sent Li Xun away.