Judge of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 60: Secretly pass through Chencang

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Wang Anshi's ultimate goal was to reform the political system.

This policy was just a trial run. He did not attach much importance to the profits of the Municipal Taxation Bureau. He cared more about whether this low interest rate could affect the overall environment and the power integration of the Municipal Taxation Bureau.

But now...

Wang Anshi found that the matter was not simple and felt that it was necessary to pay attention to the Municipal Taxation Bureau.

It's not just him. Once the mortgage was issued, buying a house has become the hottest topic in Bianjing. Soon, it has become a phenomenal event.

Explode directly!

There isn't even a buffer stage.

For several days in a row, both the Chen family's and the Ma family's were packed. Even the Municipal Taxation Bureau was forced to open early. There was nothing inside except civil servants handling procedures, and no one cared about the biting cold north wind.

Make money after all!

There are currently no developers, so it is impossible for housing to grow rapidly based on purchasing demand.

It can be seen that no one had expected it to be so popular.

This is goods worth thousands of strings of cash!

At the same time, many officials were involved.

This of course attracted the court's great attention.

So some officials proposed to Song Shenzong to release some land for building houses.

Isn’t the court short of money

Sell the house!

Definitely make money!

Judging from current transactions, there is a clear shortage of houses.

The reason is simple: many people can afford to buy houses, and demand exceeds supply.

In fact, the officials of the Northern Song Dynasty were indeed top-notch in financial management and had a sense of the overall situation, because the general environment was like that. The economic structure of the Northern Song Dynasty was very complex, and commercial taxes were already higher than agricultural taxes. If you didn't understand it, you couldn't get into the officialdom at all.

Almost all important meetings in the Northern Song Dynasty discussed one topic, which was finance.

From the monarch to the ministers, there is a consensus that the economy is the top priority.

Song Shenzong was also very tempted by this. Currently, the land price in Bianliang has begun to rise, and the court holds a lot of land. The deed tax is 200,000 strings of cash. It is unimaginable that he would have to sell his house himself!

So he called a small meeting to discuss the matter.

The ministers who participated in the meeting were mainly the prime minister and Hanlin scholars.

"I object."

Sima Guang was the first to speak up. "Your Majesty, have you ever thought about why this happened? It is because most people could not afford to buy a house before. Therefore, after the emergence of mortgages, housing transactions have reached such an astonishing level. This is the accumulation of decades, and it will not continue like this.

Most of the people who buy houses nowadays are court officials, landlords and wealthy people, not ordinary citizens. If the court also builds houses and sells them, it will cause house prices to rise further. There will be no cheap houses in Bianjing anymore, and the people will be forced to live on the streets. Is this what your majesty and you want to see?"

He was most disgusted by the imperial court engaging in business. He believed that this was competing with the people for profits, which was more shameful than raising taxes.

Wang Anshi said, "It is because things are rare that they are valuable. The high housing prices are because there are few houses. If the court builds houses, it can ease the housing prices and increase the court's income. It's the best of both worlds. Why not? Haven't you noticed that houses have been built next to Xiangguo Temple? If you compete with the people for profits, you have to split the profits, enriching the people or impoverishing them."

His philosophy is exactly the opposite of Sima Guang's. He believes that the imperial court should take the lead in development. What's the point of competing with the people for profit? That's bullshit. The only thing you can compete with is the rich businessmen and landlords. How can you compete with the common people

As for those profit-seeking businessmen, do they understand national construction? Of course, the court has to take the lead so that the pie can be made bigger.

Sima Guang immediately said: "I am not against the court building houses, but we should build public rental houses for ordinary people to live in. If the court builds courtyards for sale, it is obvious that the court will never build public rental houses again. How will the people live then

In addition, the land in Bianjing is limited, so we must be extremely cautious and release limited land to build public rental housing, which can solve the housing problem of the people and ease housing prices without harming the profits of merchants. "

Song Shenzong was also familiar with this pair of enemies, so he asked Tang Jie, the Three Officials Envoy standing beside him, "What do you think, Prime Minister Ji?"

The Sansi was the financial department of the Northern Song Dynasty.

The Three Envoys were also called the Prime Minister. After all, this was not a formal meeting, so the name was rather casual.

Tang Jie immediately said, "I think Sima Xueshi is more reasonable. Food, clothing, housing and transportation are the daily needs of the people and should not be taken lightly. The court must treat them with caution, otherwise it will lead to disaster."

Immediately, many ministers stood up to support Tang Jie.

But there are also many people who support Wang Anshi's point of view. They believe that these houses will be built sooner or later because there is a demand. Why not build them now? Why give them a bargain to the wealthy businessmen? It just so happens that the court is short of money now.

Wang Anshi glanced at Sima Guang and saw that he had a determined look on his face, as if he was ready to fight him to the death. He thought to himself that when the Municipal Taxation Bureau was established last time, Sima Guang and others did not jump out to sing a different tune from them. After all, the housing price was not part of the core content of his reform, so he did not continue to argue.

Song Shenzong had no choice but to give up and wait and see.

... ...

As the saying goes, some are happy while others are sad!

The Ma family and the Chen family are enjoying great prosperity these days, but the Fan family's bookstore failed in this housing buying craze.

The eight major tea and snack people actually have a division of labor. Although it is not very clear, everyone has a tacit understanding. For example, Li Guozhong specializes in handling disputes and contracts involving bulk goods, etc.

The Fan family was involved in real estate transactions and some pawnshops.

With the real estate market so hot nowadays, both contracts and disputes are increasing.

Originally, the Fan family should have made a fortune, or at least had a booming business.

The result was that there were few visitors.

Even quieter than usual.

After the Ma family suddenly abandoned the Fan family, many wealthy businessmen believed that there must be a reason behind it and turned to other families.

Fan Li felt that this was not acceptable, so he immediately found the leader of the group, Li Guozhong, to express his grievances.

You guys didn't keep your word and took away all my guests.

But how could Li Guozhong and his friends be willing to spit out the meat that was already in their mouths? They tactfully stated that they did not steal his business, but that they came to them on their own initiative, and they could not turn them away.

Fan family.

"How ridiculous! How ridiculous! Normally, I, Fan Li, would be the first to support the Li family when there is something going on. But now they say to me that the guest's choice has nothing to do with them. They are really going too far."

When Fan Li got home, he couldn't help but get furious and smashed the teapot and teacups all over the floor.

The old man in his house said, "Master, they are bullying us so much, why don't we ask Chen Yuanwailang to come and do justice."

Fan Li said, "How can Mr. Chen be concerned about this matter?"

The old man said, "Master, have you forgotten that not long ago, when Mr. Chen was asked to deal with Zhang San, our bookstore also made great efforts."

Fan Li nodded slightly, then added: "But the one who contributed the most at that time was Li Guozhong."

Just then, a servant came into the hall and said, "Master, someone slipped a note into my pocket just now."

As he said this, he handed over the note.

Fan Li took it and looked at it, "It's him."

... ...

The next morning, Fan Li took a sedan chair to the dock and saw a boat parked there. He looked around and then got on the boat.

After he got on the boat, it sailed away from the dock.

"Why did you invite me here?"

Fan Li looked at the young man in front of him and asked.

This young man was none other than Zhang Fei.

Zhang Fei smiled and said, "I know you've had some troubles lately, maybe I can help you out."

Fan Li gnashed his teeth and said, "I'm afraid that the disaster that befell my Fan family was caused by you."

Zhang Fei asked, "Why did you say that?"

Fan Li said, "I just had an accident and you came to my house. After you cooperated with Ma Tianhao, he immediately distanced himself from my Fan family. Do you dare to say that this has nothing to do with you?"

When he saw Zhang Fei's note, he immediately understood everything.

Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Is this important?"

Fan Li sneered, "Don't think I don't know what you are planning. Now the court has banned you from defending yourself in court. You are just trying to use my bookstore to break through the court's restrictions. Don't even think about succeeding."

Zhang Fei smiled and said, "There is no hatred or grudge between us. You would rather lose both of us than cooperate and achieve a win-win situation."

Fan Li said: "You are deliberately plotting against me, why should I cooperate with you?"

Zhang Fei was delighted. "Wasn't it the other party who dealt with me first?"

Without the support of the eight major tea and food groups, it would have been difficult for Wang Wenshan to succeed!

Fan Li said coldly: "Since there is a deep grudge between us, what else is there to talk about."

Zhang Fei said: "If you cooperate with me, I can make you the leader."

Fan Li frowned slightly and said nothing.

Zhang Fei smiled and said, "You should know that I have business dealings with all the wealthy merchants in Bianjing. If I join your bookstore, all these will belong to it. You should know better than me how much profit there is in this."

Fan Li asked, "Would you be so kind?"

Zhang Fei laughed and said, "If I get your bookstore, I can also make more money."

Fan Li asked, "Do you want to buy my bookstore?"

Zhang Fei asked, "Are you willing?"

"Of course not."

"That's it." Zhang Fei said, "I hope to join your bookstore and form a cooperative relationship with Mr. Yuan, but there is one thing. In name, Mr. Yuan is the boss, but in reality, I want to gain control of the bookstore."

"This is impossible."

Fan Li refused immediately, "Don't even think about it."

Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Your Highness, opening a bookstore is not about becoming a general or a prime minister. It's just about status and money. Once I join your bookstore, I can get both."

Fan Li said: "But you will also cause countless troubles."

Zhang Fei said: "I am in trouble now, but I have made a lot of money, and I have the support of Wang Daxueshi. I will give you this trouble, do you want it?"

Yes! Last time, I did that, but he didn't die. Instead, he turned over and caused me to suffer heavy losses. I really don't know what those officials are doing. Fan Li struggled a little and said, "I can let you join our bookstore, but I have the final say."

Zhang Fei smiled.

Fan Li frowned and asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Zhang Fei said: "To have the final say is not to rely on words, but on ability. Can you have the final say in front of Mr. Fan and others? If you can't do it, then who has the final say

Rather than being suppressed by me in the future, it is better to give up the position earlier, so that the priorities are clear and there will be no estrangement between us, and we can achieve win-win cooperation. "

After saying that, without waiting for Fan Li to nod, he took out a contract and put it on the table, "Sign this contract, as the second in command, you can also look down on Li Guozhong and others, but you are inferior to me. This is not a shameful thing. Who wouldn't be in this line of work in the future?"