In the sixth year of Jian'an, before the arrival of Shou Sui, Xuchang City became very lively because of Xi Zhicai's wedding.
At this wedding, not only were there fireworks tubes, but also fireworks were set off on the spot.
The whole wedding was not only lively, but even luxurious.
But after the wedding, the busiest people were not Xi Zhicai and Deng Wan, but Cao Hong and Mi Zhu, who were in charge of the economic lifeline.
Businessmen have always had the most sensitive sense of smell.
The fireworks tubes and the flowers that appeared in winter made them smell the huge business opportunities again.
Lu Yan has no objection to businessmen making money. As long as they do it in a proper way and earn it openly, they should even encourage it.
As the saying goes, "There is no stability without farming, no life without business, and no wealth without work."
For a country, whether it is agriculture, industry, or commerce, they are all very important to the development of the country, and it can even be said that all of them are indispensable.
However, during the feudal period of China's agricultural civilization, industry and commerce were severely suppressed by the ruling class.
Let’s not go too far, let’s just say that during the Eastern Han Dynasty, the industrial technology of craftsmen was very backward... It can even be said that apart from government-run craftsmen’s offices, industry was almost impossible to talk about, let alone commerce, which had a lower status than industry.
Although there are wealthy businessmen like the Mi family and the Zhen family, they still have an inferior status in front of real aristocratic families.
Nowadays, under the rule of Cao Cao, the three prefectures of Yan, Xu, and Yuzhou have a relatively strong commercial foundation after several years of development.
Moreover, people's views on business have changed, and Lu Yan believes that it is time for a new round of reforms.
General Hussar, in the study.
Lu Yan is writing furiously. He already has a preliminary idea about the business reform plan. Now he needs to record these ideas and then systematically organize and plan them.
Lu Yan probably has three major ideas.
One: Reduce other exorbitant and miscellaneous taxes related to business, and only charge merchants value-added tax and consumption tax. The tax rate is temporarily set at 12 taxes per tax. As for agricultural tax, it has already been as low as 20 tax per tax in Yanzhou, Xuzhou and other places.
Although the twelve taxes per one seems to be quite large, the Han Dynasty prohibited people from engaging in business... Whoever did business might be beheaded and exiled! Later, even if the control over business was relaxed,
However, the imperial court is still suppressing business. Many places have even created many tax programs privately to seize the assets of merchants. Adding up all kinds of exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes, some local business taxes may be as high as four taxes for one, three taxes for one, or even two taxes for one!
As for big businessmen like the Zhen family and the Mi family, they have been able to grow and prosper secretly by bribing officials, evading taxes, and other means to earn a lot of profits. But the Mi family now dare not do this anymore
Something happened.
Second: Under Cao Cao's rule, various counties and counties opened special markets for trading.
The shops in these markets are built by local governments and are specially used to lease to merchants for business; the shops are only rented but not sold, and can be transferred to other people at any time. Moreover, there are also limits on the shops that a merchant can rent, which avoids
If it is monopolized by some big businessmen, the government will collect rent every month and send special officials to manage it.
In fact, the square market system only began to rise in the Tang Dynasty. Because people purchased goods in the east and west squares, buying goods later was also called shopping.
Third: Each county adds a subordinate official "Shang Cao" to manage and supervise the business of the county. Shang Cao's subordinates also specialize in managing the city and business-related matters.
In the original system of the Eastern Han Dynasty, each prefect had five subordinate officials: Jun Cheng, Gong Cao, Chief Post Officer, and Governor Lieutenant.
Among these subordinate officials, the county magistrate was the deputy to the county governor, equivalent to the deputy mayor in later generations.
The meritorious officer is in charge of the personnel affairs of a county, which is equivalent to the director of the municipal personnel bureau in later generations.
The governor is in charge of the county's documents and classics; the governor is responsible for supervising counties and villages, promulgating government orders and administering justice; the governor is in charge of the military and horsemen of a county, and sometimes is also responsible for daily public security.
Looking at these five subordinate officials, it can be seen that none of them are related to business.
Now there is an additional Shang Cao, which has been expanded to six subordinate officials. The additional Shang Cao is used to specifically supervise and manage business.
The above three reforms aim to completely roll out the business model run by the original chamber of commerce.
As business grows, the Chamber of Commerce seems to have a tendency to form a monopoly. In the past, it didn't matter when it was small. Now, the Chamber of Commerce is huge, with tentacles spread all over the country. If it continues to develop like this, I'm afraid it will develop into a big one.
potential.
Therefore, the reform is not only to regulate business activities, but also to split the rights of chambers of commerce.
As long as anything becomes a monopoly, various problems will arise.
Absolute power will bring absolute corruption, so whether in officialdom or business, balance, supervision, and innovation are always indispensable.
After so many years of encouraging business under Cao Cao's rule, people's views on business and merchants have generally changed.
Although people's views on business have not been completely overturned, it is not like before when businessmen were scorned and insulted when they saw them. Many people even participate in business activities during their leisure time, which also allows them to pass
The personal experience and benefits I received have truly changed my views on business.
As for other policies to improve transactions, promote commerce, and attract businessmen, I will not list them one by one here.
Moreover, these reforms and systems to promote commerce are only carried out in the four prefectures of Yan, Xu, Yu, and Sili. Jizhou and Bingzhou, which have just been annexed, are still based on restoring agriculture for the time being. Moreover, commercial taxes in these places must also be collected. After all,
Agriculture and food are the fundamental and national policy of the Han Dynasty. After all, we cannot put the cart before the horse.
Lu Yan once told Cao Cao about exempting people from agricultural taxes, and was laughed at mercilessly by Boss Cao at first.
Who would have thought that only a few years have passed, and things that seemed impossible in the past are now showing signs of coming true.
Lu Yan put down his pen, raised the corners of his mouth, and murmured to himself: "If farmers really have no tax, then Liu Xie and Boss Cao will get a huge advantage!"
If farmers had no taxes, if it were really realized in this era, then the history books would definitely be marked by emperors and heroes.
"You have gained fame, and I have earned merit points. Everyone is happy!" But Lu Yan is not without benefits, at least he has earned a lot of merit points.
Because he had to travel around, march and fight, Lu Yan spent 3,000 merit points to sign in two months in advance.
But now Lu Yan still has more than 8,000 merit points. It can be seen that after the surrender of Jizhou, Bingzhou, and Hedong, the benevolent policies implemented in various places still brought Lu Yan a lot of merit points.
Lu Yan concluded from this and knew that as long as the policies he implemented were beneficial to the people and gained support from the people, he would receive a corresponding amount of merit points.
This business reform is only the first step. When farmers are truly tax-free, Lu Yan will definitely become rich overnight!
"The only way to relieve worries is to get rich suddenly!"
"Ahahahaha!"
"Wow! Hahahahaha!"
Arrogant laughter came from Lu Yan's study,
The argument that "the only way to relieve worries is to get rich" made Chen Dao and Huang Xu, who were cleaning the yard, couldn't help but throw away their brooms and run away...