Fan Zheng's sudden arrival really made Fu Shichun overjoyed.
Facing Cao Dongdong and Ma Xiaoyi every day, and having to clean up their messes from time to time, you can imagine how tiring it is!
But Zhang Fei's heart skipped a beat. Fan Zheng suddenly came here in person without any warning. Could something have happened in the capital...
Fortunately, he was worrying too much.
It turned out that Fan was here to escort Gang, but due to the confidentiality system of the charity foundation's Gang Bureau, it was not convenient to send someone here to communicate first.
Since the military camp was not a place to talk, Zhang Fei had to end today's itinerary early, and the four of them returned to the imperial court.
"One hundred thousand coins?"
"Um."
Fan Zheng nodded.
Zhang Fei asked: "Where to send it?"
Fan Zhengdao: "Jieyansi. It is said that it is used to purchase 100,000 strings of salt notes from Jieyansi."
Fu Shichun asked curiously, "The court purchased salt notes from the Salt Administration?"
Zhang Fei was clear in his mind. It was obvious that Wang Anshi was supporting the Changping Division. After all, this was a financial system. Although there were salt notes, the currency was also in place. He asked, "How much did this gang earn?"
Isn't he curious? Fu Shichun was slightly startled when he saw Zhang Fei change the subject, but he immediately realized what was going on and stopped asking questions.
Fan Zheng said: "Eight thousand strings of cash."
Zhang Fei was surprised and asked, "After deducting the travel expenses, I can still make a net profit of 8,000 guan?"
Fan Zheng nodded and said, "The court gave us 8,000 strings of cash, but many merchants and officials asked us to escort some goods here. The fees they paid were enough to cover our losses on the way."
Fu Shichun said: "Eight thousand strings of cash for one trip. I never thought that this is a way to make money."
Fan Zheng consciously lowered his voice and said, "When I was negotiating with the court, I asked for 50% of the prize, but Lu Xiaokan offered me 8,000 guan as a reward."
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "I'm just throwing out some ideas."
Fan Zheng nodded and said, "That's right. The court doesn't want our charity foundation to monopolize all this, so the prices they are offering us are very high. Before I came here, I heard that Xiangguo Temple was also planning to set up its own escort team, mainly for the flying money transactions."
After Wang Anshi came to power, the court was full of financial experts, and all of them knew how to do the math. As long as the number of escort teams increased, the price could be lowered immediately, which was most beneficial to the court.
If it were Sima Guang, the price might be lower than 3%.
This can be said to be two ways of playing: increasing revenue and reducing expenditure.
Before the results come out, it’s hard to say who is right or wrong.
Ma Xiaoyi was not interested in making money, but asked curiously: "Fan Da, is it fun to bet on the key?"
This question made Fan Zheng feel anxious, "It's really terrible! Because if we are robbed, we will have to pay 100,000 strings of cash to the court! Fortunately, Brother Yang is experienced, and the court gave us official documents, so we have to pay less taxes on the road. Anyway, this journey is safe and sound."
Zhang Fei asked with a smile: "Do you regret it?"
Fan Zheng's expression changed, and he said seriously, "That's not the case. After several short-distance escorts and this long-distance transport, we found that as long as the arrangements are appropriate, just as Third Brother said at the beginning, this deal can make all of our businesses even more powerful and take them to a higher level."
In fact, money is secondary. When you control transportation, you will be able to gain extensive connections. For example, if you ask a charity foundation to deliver goods, you will definitely go to Fanlou for dinner!
This will inevitably increase their social influence.
The invisible benefits are huge.
Ma Xiaoyi suddenly looked up and said, "Brother is here."
Zhang Fei tilted his head and saw Cao Dongdong walking towards him with his head drooping.
"Yanei!"
Fan Zheng took the initiative to wave.
Cao Dongdong looked up and said, "Fan Da, you're here."
Fan Zheng's expression froze, "It seems that the young master doesn't welcome me."
"well... ."
Cao Dongdong came and sat down, then let out a long sigh.
Zhang Fei asked when he saw his behavior, "Are you trapped by love again?"
Cao Dongdong exclaimed: "How do you know?"
Zhang Fei said: "Except for Queen Mother Cao, only love can make Yanei so distressed!"
“It is true that my parents gave me life, but it is Zhang San who understands me.”
Cao Dongdong sighed again, "This time it's really a case of gaining something in the west and losing something in the east."
Fu Shichun frowned and said, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Zhang Fei also had a similar feeling. This made perfect sense when spoken by Yanei, but it sounded like nonsense when spoken by Yanei.
Cao Dongdong glared at him and said, "How dare you say that? It's all your fault. You made me behave so unruly in court. Did you know that Madam Zeng was also here to watch the trial? I went to look for her today, but she didn't even open the door."
"... ... ?"
Fu Shichun was speechless for a while.
Ma Xiaoyi slammed the table and said, "That's perfect. We have to welcome Mr. Fan today anyway, and I can drink with my brother to relieve my sorrow. It's a two-birds-with-one-stone move!"
Fan Zheng and Cao Dongdong looked at Ma Xiaoyi at the same time, their expressions were extremely complicated.
Why does this sound a bit painful...
Three o'clock in the morning.
Just like in Beijing, Cao Dongdong, Ma Xiaoyi, and Niu Beiqing who came to help Zhang Fei block the drinking, all lay on the messy wine table.
Zhang Fei, Fu Shichun and Fan Zheng went to the outer room and brewed another pot of premium tea.
"correct!"
Fan Zheng suddenly took out two letters and said, "These are letters that Mr. Xu and Uncle Fu asked me to send to you."
"Thank you!"
The two took it and thanked him.
Zhang Fei was not in a hurry to see it, and asked, "How is the business in Beijing?"
Fan Zheng looked at Zhang Fei with a hint of admiration. "Third brother is really far-sighted. The most profitable business in Tokyo now is the football league. It is really making a fortune. Not only do we make a lot of money, but even the infantry and cavalry have made a lot of money by renting and selling shops. Now Damingfu and other places are actively forming football leagues."
Fu Shichun asked hurriedly, "What about my Fengyue newspaper?"
Fan Zhengdao: "Since the departure of the third brother, Fengyue Newspaper has immediately become the number one newspaper in Tokyo, more than twice as large as Mingshi Newspaper and Xinwen Newspaper."
Fu Shichun said: "Even if Zhang San was here, he couldn't sell more than my Fengyue Newspaper."
Zhang Fei rolled his eyes and said, "I'm going to write a little pornographic novel serialized, which will beat ten of your pornographic newspapers."
Fu Shichun asked: "What is Xiaohuangwen?"
"Uh... Never mind. I won't argue with you. Our genuine bookstore is making money from selling books now." Zhang Fei waved his hand.
In fact, he also knew that the combined sales of the Mingshi Daily and the Xinwen Daily would definitely not be as good as the Fengyue Daily, and there was no point for him to be there, as the Entertainment Daily was more popular.
"That's right. The books in the genuine bookstore are still in short supply." Fan Zheng nodded with a smile, and suddenly asked, "Third brother, I heard that you have also started to implement voluntary declaration in Hezhong Prefecture?"
Zhang Fei said: "You just arrived and you know the news."
Fan Zheng hurriedly said: "Now everyone in the streets is talking about this."
Having said this, he paused for a moment and then said, "Then... will it succeed?"
He had experienced the last battle for exemption from military service tax in the capital. That period was truly turbulent and thrilling, and it is still fresh in people's memory.
Zhang Fei said: "The situation in the capital should not happen. The reason why the capital was so chaotic was because there was a group of ministers supporting them, helping them to share the fines and guaranteeing their personal safety. They could use the human wave tactics to challenge the tax commissioner and the public security and judicial organs without restraint, but here, no one should do that."
The fighting was so fierce in the capital at that time, wasn't it because the higher-ups were in charge, and everyone had to share any fines. Here, if Wei Yingfang and others were asked to help the landlords share the burden, they would not have the financial resources to do so even if they wanted to.
Fan Zheng asked again: "Are you sure, Third Brother?"
Fu Shichun asked curiously, "Fan Da, why are you interested in this? Do you have land here?"
“No, no, no!”
Fan Zheng hurriedly said: "This is my first time coming to Hezhong Prefecture, so I don't have any farmland. It's just...!"
Zhang Fei also looked at him curiously.
Fan Zhengdao: "It's just that Uncle Ma hopes to cooperate with our charity foundation and open a warehouse store here, but the prerequisite is that he can get the protection of the public security, procuratorate and courts."
This Jiekupu is a pawnshop.
Zhang Fei frowned and asked, "What kind of business do you plan to run?"
Fan Zhengdao: "It is mainly used for business lending, flying money, mortgage and other transactions. Because Uncle Ma believes that under the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs, businessmen can get more protection.
This may be because Uncle Ma has seen that Tokyo's business has developed very rapidly in the past year, and coupled with the success of our Yagang business, it is very beneficial to the Feiqian business.
Besides, Uncle Ma was also in Sanya before and had been here to guard the border. He knew that many soldiers needed to send money back home, so if he provided a money-sending business, he could make a lot of money.”
Because the Song Dynasty did not suppress commerce at all, and the government took the lead in doing business, the Song Dynasty had all kinds of business. Merchants were extremely financially savvy. Paper money was invented by Song Dynasty merchants, and there were even storage and lending businesses similar to those of banks, but they were generally tied to flying money.
The mortgage loans brought by Zhang Fei took Tokyo's financial industry to a higher level.
Ma Tianhao is also a leader in this area. He found that as long as the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs gain a firm foothold, Hezhong Prefecture will have huge financial potential, because Hezhong Prefecture is not only involved in salt consolidation, but also in military expenditures.
It is often tens of millions of strings of cash.
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "This is a very good idea, but unfortunately, it comes at a very bad time. The Qingmiao Law has just arrived in Hezhong Prefecture, and will also provide loans, flying money and other transactions."
Fan Zheng said: "I know that, but isn't it true that doing business depends on one's own ability?"
Fu Shichun said: "The Qingmiao Law has come to Hezhong Prefecture, and it must be successful. Otherwise, it will directly affect the new policy of Wang Xueshi. If you open a store to unlock the warehouse at this time, it means that you are deliberately making an enemy of Wang Xueshi, whether you think so or not."
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "Brother Xiaochun is right. This is terrible timing."
Fan Zheng said regretfully: "Well, then. Just pretend I didn't say anything."
The three of them talked by candlelight until late at night, then went back to their rooms to rest.
Of course, Zhang Fei went to the study room to rest very consciously. It was not because there were two tigresses at home, but because he himself did not like to cause trouble to others and would avoid it if possible. He reeked of alcohol and might snore.
The next day.
When Zhang Fei got up, it was already noon. With Gao Wenyin's help, Zhang Fei finished washing up almost with his eyes closed.
Coming lazily to the open-air restaurant, Xu Zhiqian was still working as she had been doing for ten years.
Zhang Fei handed Xu Zun's letter to Xu Zhiqian.
"What did my father-in-law say in the letter?"
Zhang Fei asked Xu Zhiqian while eating breakfast.
Xu Zhiqian said, "Dad's letter said that everything is fine at home and asked us to take care of ourselves. Also, your sentence has been discussed in the Legislative Council. Mr. Fu and his men are very supportive of you, but how to legislate on this may require careful consideration."
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "This is as it should be. A judgment is only for one case, but a written law involves all people in the world, so all aspects must be taken into consideration."
Xu Zhiqian suddenly asked: "By the way! Can those landlords pay taxes?"
Zhang Fei shook his head and said, "It is not easy to get them to pay taxes. They are now trying various ways, such as legally evading taxes. I guess they will delay until the last minute."
Xu Zhiqian said: "In this case, why don't we hold a trial first? After all, the affairs of ordinary people have been dealt with. If we wait until the cold winter, there may not be many people to watch the trial."
Zhang Fei asked: "Are you all ready?"
Xu Zhiqian nodded.
Zhang Fei hesitated for a moment and said, "It would be better to start the trial sooner so that those landlords know that our imperial court doesn't care whether they hand it over or not. I will have Cai Jing post a notice later. In seven days, the trial will start for the cases submitted before."