Li Daoyuan entered Yangzhou City from the Xiguan Wharf of the Canal.
Yangzhou is an important transportation town in the southeast. Nowadays, taxes from the entire Tang Dynasty's Jianghuai, Jiangnan, Eastern Zhejiang and other wealthy areas will be collected in Yangzhou through various transportation networks, and then from Yangzhou, along the Grand Canal through Bianzhou (Kaifeng),
The front line from Luoyang enters Chang'an.
Fifth Qi was not only an envoy of salt and iron, but also an envoy of rents from Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
Xuyong was the land tax and Ding tax collected by the Tang Dynasty from the people. In other words, Wu Qi also had an errand to collect taxes in the entire Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions.
The salt tax of the Tang Dynasty was mainly collected in kind. Silk was also the general equivalent of currency in this era, and the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions were also the main producing areas of silk, which means that the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions were the mints of the entire Tang Dynasty.
Wu Qi not only reformed the Yanyuan system, but also reformed the rent system in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
Fifth Qi no longer requires eastern Zhejiang and Jiangnan to hand over grain. Instead, according to the market price at that time, the tax on grain and other physical goods can be converted into a corresponding amount of silk.
Silk is light and thin, so the transportation cost is naturally lower than that of transporting grain, and it can also reduce the personal pockets of officials during transportation.
After all the silk and silk were transported to Yangzhou, Wu Qi purchased grain in Yangzhou according to the needs of the imperial court.
Normally speaking, if you purchase grain in Yangzhou, it will definitely cause a huge increase in Yangzhou's grain.
But Wu Qi used an ingenious method. He combined the quota for purchasing grain with the distribution of salt. In order to maintain their quota of salt, these large salt merchants would also use their business networks to transport grain to Yangzhou.
Under this sophisticated system, the taxes collected by the imperial court from the people became simpler and more transparent. The silk collected by Wu Qi was also reduced in loss, and enough grain could be bought at a low price to be sent to Guanzhong.
The Xiguan Wharf where Li Daoyuan parked his ship is the wharf used by Yangzhou civilian ships.
This was also rebuilt by Wuqi to facilitate the transportation of grain. Along the bustling wharf are rows of shops and warehouses.
Even though it is already winter, there are still shirtless dock porters carrying large and small packages of goods from merchant ships.
After Li Daoyuan's boat docked, he gave the old ship owner some more money. After more than a month of living on the boat, Li Daoyuan was intoxicated by this down-to-earth feeling.
It has to be said that a plan like traveling around the country is difficult to realize even in modern society, let alone in ancient times when transportation was inconvenient.
However, after the Eastbound Travel Group broke up and Li Daoyuan went on the road alone, he found the feeling of traveling.
His series of travel videos on real-world video websites have seen a surge in views.
The Tang Dynasty is full of ancient charm, and boating on the lake is poetic. Without the hardships of Li Daoyuan's journey, you can still enjoy the most beautiful scenery along the coast.
For modern urbanites, this kind of cloud tourism is a kind of spiritual comfort.
Li Daoyuan stood on the Xiguan Pier and came all the way from Longyou to Yangzhou. This city gave him a different feeling than before.
As the political center of the Jianghuai Festival, Yangzhou is a city full of business atmosphere.
Standing on the Xiguan Pier, you can see the pagoda of Daming Temple in the distance. At this time, under the clear sunshine, it reflects the rainbow-colored light.
After checking the customs clearance documents, Li Daoyuan entered Yangzhou City from Xiguan Wharf.
After Wu Qi sent his nephew to Longyou, the prince Li Chu in Luoyang finally accepted the salt that Wu Qi sent up.
After the blood came out, Wu Qi breathed a sigh of relief.
The prince accepted the salt guide and expressed his forgiveness for his offense of refusing to join the East Palace camp. This could be regarded as a way to save money and avoid disaster.
The prince wanted to get involved in the salt affairs in the south of the Yangtze River. Without the sincere help of Wu Qi, the salt and iron envoy, he would definitely not be able to withhold the court's salt tax.
Li Chu is not a fool. Now that he is in an embarrassing situation, it is not the time to settle accounts with Wu Qi.
However, the salt introduced by Wu Qi can also earn the prince a lot of money.
Cheng Yuanzhen was entrusted by Li Chu and sent to Yangzhou again to be responsible for converting these salt quotations into money.
But Li Chu was also worried about how to use this salt guide.
Salt citation is a kind of monopoly license. Of course, it can be sold directly on the market for money, but in that case it is a one-time deal.
But nowadays, it costs money to seize the direct descendants, and what Li Chu needs is a steady stream of water.
Cheng Yuanzhen had a grimace on his face. If it was blackmail or some dirty work, he could do it.
But how could he, a eunuch from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, know how to manage salt production?
At this time, Cheng Yuanzhen said: "Your Highness, this salt guide must be handed over to the most suitable person in order to make the most money."
Li Chu nodded. Although he had many people under his command, none of them were truly proficient in financial management.
Now that the fight for the right to inherit the throne has entered a tug-of-war, Li Chu also analyzed his own disadvantages. In addition to the lack of assistance in the harem, lack of money is also a very important problem.
Nowadays, although Li Chu is the marshal of the world's soldiers and horses, he does not have his own basic base.
It takes money to make friends with the officials of the imperial court, and it also takes money to open up the connections in the harem. Even the princess is giving money. These salts cannot be sold. This is also Li Chu's idea.
Since it cannot be sold, it needs someone who is proficient in financial management to manage it.
Li Chu thought about it and said to Cheng Yuanzhen: "But where in the East Palace is there anyone who is proficient in financial management?"
Cheng Yuanzhen said: "A few days ago, Hube Duzhi Lang Zhong Yuanzai found the East Palace and wanted to ask His Highness to find a place for him to be released."
"Yuan Zai?"
Li Chu remembered that this Yuan Zai was a Jinshi during the Tianbao period and had frequent contacts with the East Palace in his early years.
Now he serves as the assistant minister of the household department, Duzhilang of the household department. This is the assistant left official of the household department, and it is also a key position in the household department.
Duzhilang was the position Wu Qi wanted to seek. Originally, Yuan Zai could be directly promoted to Duzhilang from among Duzhilang.
But Yuan Zai was unlucky. After the Jinshi examination this year, the emperor suddenly ordered that for several key positions in the court, people must have experience of serving as local officials before they can be promoted.
Duzhilang is known as the Prime Minister and is the third-ranked position in the Ministry of Household Affairs. Naturally, he is also among these important positions.
Yuan Zai has been serving in the imperial court since he became a Jinshi. If he wants to continue to be promoted, he must seek a foreign appointment.
Yuan Zai begged the head of the East Palace again. Cheng Yuanzhen received the letter from the director of the East Palace and took the opportunity to mention it to Li Chu.
"Mr. Duzhi, this Yuan Zai has been in the Ministry of Household Affairs for many years, right?"
Cheng Yuanzhen nodded and said:
"This Yuan Zai has been in the Ministry of Household Affairs for five years, and he is also a financial minister praised by the imperial court."
Li Chu said: "Can he replace Wu Qi and be transferred to Jianghuai Salt and Iron Envoy?"
Cheng Yuanzhen was startled and said: "What about Wu Qi?"
The more Li Chu thought about it, the clearer his idea became: "I recommend Wu Qi to be the Du Zhi Lang!"
"Isn't this an advantage for him?"
Li Chu thought for a while and said: "Let Wu Qi recommend Yuan Zai to the court to succeed him, and the lonely king will guarantee that he will be the governor!"
Only then did Cheng Yuanzhen catch up with Li Chu's train of thought. He quickly flattered him and said, "Wonderful! Your Highness is wonderful!"
Li Chu said: "With the help of Gu, Yuan Zai became the envoy of salt and iron and the envoy of Jianghuai rent. He must obey the orders of King Gu."
"Only this salt guide can play its greatest role!"
"It's not a loss to send Wu Qi away with an empty Du Zhi Lang!"
Cheng Yuanzhen immediately said: "Nowadays, nearly half of the financial resources of the Ministry of Revenue come from Jianghuai, and Du Zhilang is just a vacant position. The real shortage is the Jianghuai Salt and Iron and Leasing Envoys!"
"Your Highness is wise!"
Cheng Yuanzhen said: "This slave is asking Dou Changshi to come forward and negotiate terms with Yuan Zai, and then contact the power of Chang'an to recommend Wu Qi as Du Zhilang!"
"Don't let Dou Shen take care of it yet. There has been no progress in the alchemy matter yet. Let him keep an eye on Yuan Tianshi and refine the elixir that he presented to his father as soon as possible!"
"Go to Yangzhou in person and explain the conditions of the lonely king to Wu Qi."
"This Yuan Zai, the lonely king will personally return to Chang'an to subdue him."
Now that the emperor and the emperor have returned to Luan Chang'an, Guo Ziyi has excluded Li Chu from military affairs.
Empress Zhang and Prince Qi all gathered around the emperor, and Li Chu also firmly decided to return to Chang'an.
Cheng Yuanzhen said worriedly: "But His Highness has an imperial mandate. How can he return to Chang'an without His Majesty's edict?"
Li Chu smiled and said: "What's so difficult about this? In less than three days, my father will definitely issue an edict to let me return to the capital!"
That night, an official document reported from the Grand Marshal of the World's Armed Forces was quickly delivered to Chang'an City.
On December 10, Li Chu formally reported to the court. Now that the two capitals were recovered, the rebels were huddled in three northern towns. The counter-rebellion was coming to an end, and only Guo Ziyi's Northwest Army could put down the puppet Yan.
Li Chu believed that there was no need to establish the position of generalissimo of the world's soldiers and horses, and requested that the generalissimo's seal be returned.
Sure enough, Li Chu knew his father. After the emperor received the letter from the East Palace, he immediately stated that what King Guangping said in the letter was absolutely true.
The war to quell the puppet Yan has come to an end. Naturally, there is no need for a permanent general-in-chief of soldiers and horses in the world.
The emperor personally ordered the recall of Generalissimo Xingtai and summoned King Li Chu of Guangping to return to Chang'an.
The emperor personally commended Li Chu, King of Guangping, for his contribution in suppressing the rebellion, and named Li Chu King of Chu.
Since the general marshals have been removed, there is no need to establish deputy marshals. The emperor issued two more edicts and also took the opportunity to remove Guo Ziyi from the position of deputy marshal in the Tianxia Military and Horse Mansion.
Li Tan, who was in Longyou, also brought disaster to Chi Yu and returned the title of deputy marshal of the world's soldiers and horses.
However, for these two heroes who suppressed the rebellion, the emperor gave Guo Ziyi the top title of "Duke of the Republic of China".
Li Tan, who was far away in Longyou, was also named King of Yue and was promoted from a two-character king to a one-character king.
After such a political maneuver, although the prince lost his empty position as the marshal of the world's soldiers and horses, he gained the title of King of Chu and was recalled to Chang'an City by the emperor. This chapter has been completed!