"My dearest lady, would you agree to the discussion?"
"of course not!"
Liu E's answer was categorical. It took a lot of hard work and risked capitalizing on the enemy. The most important thing was that he would not make much money.
That kind of profit can't even keep up with the fraction of the tea.
And this is also true. It is true that the Northern Song Dynasty set up a business to make money, but compared with the profit, more was corrupted and lost through smuggling.
In fact, the Song Dynasty did not attach much importance to the market trade.
Since ancient times, the dynasties in the Central Plains region have had a sense of superiority and regarded themselves as the superior kingdom of heaven. Regimes such as the Liao Kingdom, Xixia, and Xisiluo were all barbarians in the eyes of the Central Plains dynasties.
The market trade has more of a political attribute, and its nature is roughly similar to the tribute trade.
In times of peace, it was occasionally open to the public to give the Yi and Di a little sweetness as a show of favor.
However, the economic nature of trade itself is not taken seriously.
Just like tribute trade, most of the returns from the Central Plains dynasties far exceeded the value of the tribute materials, sometimes even several times or dozens of times the difference.
Therefore, the market in the Northern Song Dynasty was not always open and was once abolished.
In addition, the Northern Song Dynasty's official configuration in the field was also full of the characteristics of the Northern Song Dynasty - redundant officials.
The personnel who manage the market are not subordinate to each other. They include senior officials serving in the border areas and regular staff officers (from the seventh rank and above) dispatched by the imperial court.
Of course, the emperor's ears and eyes and chamberlains are also indispensable.
They are not subordinate to each other, but check and balance each other. With the profits from cross-border trade, these people only think about fighting for power and profit all day long, how can they have the time to manage the market?
At the same time, smuggling merchants also intervened, using the transportation benefits as a weight to obtain smuggling rights in the border areas.
Driven by strong interests, most of the profits from the market trade went into the pockets of these four parties.
How difficult it is to emerge from the mud without being stained. Even if a clear stream occasionally steps in, it will either be divided and drawn in, or it will be concealed.
Or maybe because the parties involved are too united, they have no choice but to turn a blind eye.
It is difficult for the emperor to know these situations.
After all, the forecourts are all set up in border areas. How can the emperor, who is rich in gold, come to the border areas in person?
Over time, the income from the market trade became dispensable. Naturally, the emperor would not pay attention to this benefit.
If the profit from the Guan market trade could reach one-third or even one-fifth of that of Guan tea, how could Song Zhenzong and Liu E ignore it?
In addition, the existence of smuggling markets does not affect smuggling in border areas.
Money touches people's hearts, and when it comes to interests, the deceitful methods and the degree of filth involved are beyond words.
The dirtiest thing in the world is the human heart.
The slave trade is the best interpretation of human nature.
Therefore, Li Jie has no doubt that behind the smuggling, there will be a huge profit chain.
At the same time, he does not doubt the profits brought by cross-border trade.
Most of the ivory, pearls, rhinoceros horns, fragrant medicines and other luxury goods on the market were not native products of the Song Dynasty, but came from Southeast Asia.
For these precious materials, the Northern Song Dynasty also implemented a monopoly system.
During the reign of Emperor Taizong, a review office was set up in the capital, and he issued an edict that all valuables, fragrant medicines and medicines that arrived in Guangzhou, Jiaozhi and Quanzhou must be entered into the official treasury and were not allowed to be traded privately.
These rare treasures from the Nanyang region were also one of the important materials sold by the Song Dynasty to the Liao Kingdom and other places.
"Madam, do you still remember the Northern Pearl that my father gave me when I was seven years old?"
The Northern Pearl, also known as the Eastern Pearl, is a specialty of the Five Jurchen Kingdoms. Because of its large, lustrous pearls, it is extremely valuable and favored by the upper class of the Northern Song Dynasty.
When Liu E mentioned the northern pearl, even though several years had passed, Liu E still thought of it immediately because the eastern pearl was in excellent condition.
To describe it as round and round is no exaggeration.
Moreover, the size of the northern pearl is more than one inch. After searching the inner library, no northern pearl larger than that one could be found.
This bead also has a lot of history. It was a gift in return after signing an alliance with Khitan.
"Things are rare and valuable, and the Northern Pearl is a treasure in this dynasty."
"A good-quality northern pearl costs at least a thousand guan, and the one my father gave me is even more difficult to dose."
"However, even though this thing is rare in the Jurchen tribe, it is only worth a thousand pieces of gold."
"Madam, just imagine, if I could trade directly with the Jurchen Ministry, how much would it cost to buy a Northern Pearl?"
"I thought maybe I could buy it for less than ten dollars."
After hearing this, Liu E finally couldn't hold back and asserted.
"impossible!"
Ten guan of money to buy a northern pearl?
Absolutely impossible!
Upon hearing this, Li Jie waved to Zhang Maoze, who saw this and quickly handed the prepared account books to the official.
"My dearest lady, please take a look at this account book."
As a result, Liu E looked at the cover of the account book with a puzzled face. The imperial court's account books were free according to the law. This cover did not look like an official account at first glance.
Immediately afterwards, Liu E quickly looked through the account books. As she looked at them, the surprise on her face became more intense.
After a while, Li Jie's voice rang in Liu E's ears again.
"Madam, the quality of mountain tea produced in Hunan is only average. The imperial court's unified purchase price is about two hundred yuan per catty, and the selling price is about nine hundred yuan."
"After deducting various expenses, the final income is about 500 yuan."
"Among this expenditure, the largest proportion is freight, which costs up to 100 yuan per kilogram."
"However, compared with the revenue, even if the freight expense is a little higher, it is still acceptable."
"And nine hundred coins per catty is only the price within this dynasty. Does Madam Madam know how much Shanse Tea can be sold for per catty when it reaches the border?"
Liu E raised her head and glanced at Li Jie. She didn't answer, but her expression said everything.
She was very curious about the border sellers of Shanse tea.
"Five pounds per pound!"
Li Jie opened his palm and made a number.
"If the packaging is exquisite enough and the quality is good enough, a pound of Shanse tea can even be sold for ten pounds per pound!"
When Liu E heard this number, she was instantly shocked. Her first reaction was still disbelief.
A mere mountain-colored tea, something that she would never even look at, could be sold for ten guans per catty, no, even for five guans per catty, it was an unbelievably high price.
"Madam, you don't believe me?"
Li Jie smiled slightly and pointed at the account book in her hand.
"Keep reading, there are real records in this account book."
This account book was handed over by the Cao family. Cao Wei had been visiting the border areas for decades, although he was not involved in border smuggling.
But how could we hide things like smuggling from him?
This account book was just one of the trophies from one of his 'bandit raids'.
Now, it is most appropriate to use the contents of the account books to persuade Liu E.
The interests are so attractive that even if Liu E is the Queen Mother, she cannot help but be moved after reading this account book.