Liu Xia was sitting in the Chinese army camp, and the sounds of soldiers' drills could be heard all the time.
At this moment, Liu Xia held the Taizhou army battle report in his hand and remained silent.
It has been seven or eight days since the Southern Expeditionary Army entered Taizhou. The two sides have fought several times, and the casualties are not optimistic.
However, the southern expedition army has successfully arrived at the outskirts of Hengzhou and Yuanhui City, and the siege battle is about to begin.
The real bloody battle begins now.
"Your Highness, Zhang Changyuan is asking for an audience outside the camp."
At this moment, Liu Liansheng entered the tent, cupped his fists and said.[
"Let him in."
Liu Xia put the battle report on the table, leaned back in his chair and said.
"Your Highness is a thousand years old, a thousand years old, a thousand years old."
When Zhang Changyuan entered the tent, he knelt down and saluted Liu Xia.
"Get up."
Liu Xia waved his hand and said.
"Your Highness, the siege of the Southern Chamber of Commerce has come to an end. A total of 783 Chang family criminals were beheaded, and 900 were exiled and confiscated. An additional 132 people escaped, and arrest notices have been issued. The Chang family
All subordinate properties have been seized. The seized assets are as follows, please take a look at them."
Zhang Changyuan raised a memorial with both hands.
Liu Liansheng took the memorial and handed it to Liu Xia.
Liu Xia took it in his hand and took a look at it. He frowned and said, "That's all?"
"Your Highness, although the Southern Chamber of Commerce has been operating for many years, they have converted most of their assets into fixed assets, such as land, shops, workshops, etc. Most of the cash is used for the circulation of goods. Therefore, the treasury silver is not too much
.Moreover, the Southern Chamber of Commerce has seven shareholders, and the Chang family is just the largest shareholder. The remaining six shareholders control about half of the assets of the Southern Chamber of Commerce. Therefore, the assets only have so much."
Zhang Changyuan explained.
Liu Xia nodded. According to the memorial handed to Liu Xia by Zhang Changyuan, the cash in cash of the Southern Chamber of Commerce was less than six million taels. The rest were shops, workshops, land, etc. Although they were valuable, they were all legal changes.
Turn into cash silver. Then there are goods, materials, and elixirs, which cannot be turned into cash silver in a short time. Water from afar cannot quench the thirst of those near you.
"Your Highness, if it really doesn't work, Wei Chen can come forward and sell off all these properties. This can solve the urgent need. Moreover, we can ask the other six shareholders..."
Zhang Changyuan clasped his fists and said.[
"One is one, two is two. The affairs of the Chang family belong to the Chang family. Don't involve others. Otherwise, what's the difference between me and a gangster? Don't touch his property yet, I have my own plan. The Chang family is on the run.
My family, we must do our best to arrest and eradicate them. Otherwise, these people will be a disaster sooner or later."
Liu Xia said.
"As ordered, please remember this. Your Highness, the chief envoys of the fourteen southern states and the generals have arrived in Jiangzhou. When will your Highness see them?"
Zhang Changyuan lowered his head and asked.
"Tonight, I am hosting a banquet on the Dragon Soul. Go and inform them."
Liu Xia smiled.
"As ordered, I will retire."
Immediately, Zhang Changyuan bowed his back and backed out of the door, turned around and left.
Liu Xia got up and headed towards the backyard.
When they arrived at Bai Rongxuan's room, Bai Rongxuan's wife Zhang Shiyu stood by Bai Rongxuan's side, feeling drowsy.
Bai Rongxuan, who was lying on the bed, was much better from his injuries.
Seeing Liu Xia coming in, he wanted to struggle to get up. Liu Xia quickly held him down and said: "Lie down, you need to be more polite."
Zhang Shiyu hurriedly knelt down to salute Liu Xia. Liu Xia also supported her and said, "Sister-in-law, thank you for your hard work."
"His Highness said this, but a famous woman wouldn't dare."
"What are you afraid of? There are no outsiders here. Lao Bai is our brother."
Liu Xia smiled.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. The woman has resigned."
After speaking, Zhang Shiyu exited the room.
"Lao Bai, I can't help you this time. I wanted you to make a fortune, but in the end you suffered a sudden attack. Fortunately, you are okay, otherwise I would have to feel guilty for the rest of my life."
Liu Xia smiled awkwardly.
"Brother Liu, what did you say? It's my blessing, Bai Rongxuan, to be able to take care of the prince's worries. It just delayed the prince's important affairs. I will take care of this matter again after I rest for a few more days."
Bai Rongxuan smiled awkwardly.
"Don't worry, we still have enough money to spend for a few days. I have seized all the Chang family's properties, and the Southern Chamber of Commerce is currently in a state of collapse. After you recover from your injury, the first thing you need to do is seize the time to expand your Bai family's property. Don't have the chance.
If you lose it again, it will never come back. In addition, I plan to seal this time
The properties of the Chang family will be entered into your Bai family chamber of commerce as shares. The annual profits will be paid into the national treasury. This will also alleviate the financial pressure on the court. Later, I will discuss with your majesty and grant your Bai family permission to do business as an imperial merchant in the future. In this way
Come and you won’t have to be timid anymore.”
Liu Xia smiled.
When Bai Rongxuan heard this, he struggled to get up and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Bai Rongxuan knew in his heart that once he became an imperial merchant, he would be different from what he is now.
Because they can get involved in prohibited industries such as weapons manufacturing and steel smelting, which is a huge opportunity for the Bai family.
"Why are you so polite? Giving me more money is better than anything else."
Liu Xia laughed.
"Don't worry, Your Highness, I will immediately write to my father and ask him to personally take over the affairs of the Chang family. In this way, I can spare my time and devote myself to the business of Qiankun bags. I have sent samples to you in the past few days.
It has arrived at large stores in major cities. It has caused quite a stir. Many buyers have already sent the money for their orders. If it had not been delayed in the past few days, I believe it would have started selling."
When Bai Rongxuan said this, he smiled again: "Although it has been delayed for a few days, I heard that the price of Qiankun bags has been rising in recent days. Ordinary Qiankun bags have already reached 3,000 taels of silver. Special Qiankun bags have soared to
Eight thousand taels. When I can move around, I will start placing the first batch of goods. In a few days, the prince's military expenses will be available."
"Huang Pujie wants 40 million taels of silver from me. It seems that once we sell the Qiankun Bag, we may overfulfill the task. By then, the remaining money will be able to reduce Taizhou's taxes for one year and expand the water supply.
Master. From now on, we no longer have to worry about incoming pirates."
Liu Xia smiled lightly.
"Oh? Where did the prince get so much money?"
Bai Rongxuan was shocked.
"This seizure of the Chang family resulted in an extra five million taels of silver. I am afraid that the sale of the Qiankun Bag will also make an additional profit of about ten million taels. Tonight, I am planning to see another big one."
After speaking, Liu Xia handed an account book to Bai Rongxuan.
Bai Rongxuan took one look and suddenly took a breath of cold air.
This is the account details of the Chang family's bribery of officials. Bai Rongxuan has been in business for many years, so he naturally knows the secrets involved.
"To be honest with you, Your Highness, our Bai family is actually not much better than the Chang family. Two-thirds of our annual surplus is basically spent on these officials. Fortunately, if I can become an imperial merchant in the future, I don't have to worry about them anymore.
"
Bai Rongxuan smiled.
"Hey, the corruption in the Tianji Dynasty is far more terrifying than I thought. I just want to take this opportunity to rectify it. Otherwise, in a few decades, there will be big trouble."
Liu Xia smiled bitterly.
"Your Highness, the common people said something that shouldn't be said. People's hearts are greedy, and if the water is clear, the fish will..."
"Don't worry, I know all this, and I am not a three-year-old child. It is impossible to think that all officials in the world are not corrupt. However, we cannot let them do whatever they want. We still have to control them."
Liu Xia smiled lightly.
"Your Majesty is wise."
Bai Rongxuan laughed hurriedly.
——————————————————————
As the moon reached the zenith, tranquility returned to the Jiangzhou Navy camp.
However, the Dragon Soul anchored at the port was particularly lively.
The huge Dragon Soul was brightly lit, making the entire port look like daylight.
The patrolling soldiers below passed by and could hear the sound of silk and bamboo on the Dragon Soul, making it very lively.
There were about fifty people in the main hall of the Dragon Soul.
These people included Jiangzhou officials, navy generals, and the feudal officials from the fourteen provinces south of the Yangtze River who came in a hurry.
Liu Xia held the wine glass and looked at the group of border officials below, smiling without saying a word.
To be able to become the chief envoy of a province, the experience involved is beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Moreover, the emperor had extra trust in him.
He is truly an extremely humane minister.
"Everyone, you have been working hard these past few days from running around. I will drink another drink to help you with the wind and wash away the dust."
Liu Xia raised his wine glass high and smiled lightly.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Immediately, these feudal officials stood up one after another to express their gratitude.
"No need to be formal, everyone, please get up."
Liu Xia smiled.
"I have called you here urgently to discuss two important matters."
Liu Xia put down the wine glass and smiled lightly.
"First, the Nangong family has rebelled, and the southern expedition army has arrived. Therefore, I still have to rely on you all to provide more assistance. After all, logistics directly determines the life or death of the army."
"I will do my best."
Immediately, these frontier officials clasped their fists and said.
"Haha, the second thing is to invite you all to come and do me a favor."
Liu Xia smiled slightly and continued: "You all know in your hearts that there is some trouble in the Jiangzhou Navy Camp. Now everything is waiting to be done, and a sum of money is urgently needed. This time I have called you here to pool your wisdom and make a plan for the future.
The king should pay attention when he comes out."
"Your Highness, I think we can increase some taxes. After all, this is a special period..."
A chief envoy stood up and said, but before he finished speaking, Liu Xia smiled and said: "I will forget about increasing taxes. It will waste the people and waste money. After all, it is not the time to face war in the south. I mean, you are all feudal lords."
Official, I have been operating in various places for many years. You must have other ways."
After Liu Xia finished speaking, the hall became quiet.
"I understand what your Majesty means. When the court is in turmoil, I am willing to pay five thousand taels."
At this time, another chief envoy stood up and said.
At this moment, Liu Xia slowly stood up and walked to one side of the hall.
There, various gift boxes were piled as high as a hill.
These are the officials who came to the banquet today to honor him.
Liu Xia casually opened a box, which contained a top-grade longan stone. This gem alone was the size of a fist and was priceless.
"Everyone's wish, I have accepted it. However, this is your filial piety to me. And as a feudal official, do you give a few thousand taels to this country?"
Immediately, Liu Xia said coldly.
When everyone heard this, they couldn't help but be stunned.
"Your Highness, Wei Chen, Wei Chen has something to say, please Your Highness not to laugh."
At this moment, Duan Hongbin, the chief envoy of Weizhou, stood up and said.
"Mr. Duan, please tell me. When I was in Longdu, I often heard your Majesty mention you."
Liu Xia smiled.
"Your Highness, please forgive me for speaking frankly. Although it sounds nice to us and other officials in the border areas, the salary of the imperial court is not much. It is not easy to come up with a few thousand taels."
Duan Hongbin smiled.
"Well, it is indeed not easy. I know you are clean and honest, and you are an honest official. Well, let's not talk about it. I have specially prepared a good show for you tonight, and I ask you to take a good look. Don't dislike it. Liu Liansheng,
Bring it up!"
Liu Xia immediately shouted.
At this moment, Liu Liansheng brought up a box containing the Chang family's account books and distributed them to all the adults.