Chapter 376: Tea in one hand and taxes in the other
Zhao Xin smiled lightly and said: "Don't you like black tea the most? Do you also want green tea?"
Basnin asked: "So, how much can you provide, Your Excellency?"
"Your five families, plus other small merchants in the city, will be counted as one family, and each family will receive five thousand poods."
Ouch~~The pie is smashing in the sky!
As soon as Zhao Xin said this, the eyes of the five major families were stunned, and their mouths opened wide.
In the Tsarist Russian era, one pood was 16.38 kilograms, and five thousand poods was almost 82,000 kilograms. However, the weights and measures of the Qing Dynasty were different from those of later generations. One pood was 28 kilograms on the Chinese scale, so one kilogram in commodity transactions in the Qing Dynasty was now
of 0.855 city pounds.
Let me give you an example. In the past, when Russians bought tea from Kyakhta, one pood sold for 11 rubles. The currency in these days was not banknotes, it was all real gold and silver. If 11 rubles were converted into silver, it would be 8.2 taels of silver.
, according to the clear scale calculation, each catty of tea is 0.293 taels of silver, and one load of one hundred catties is 29.3 taels of silver.
To put it simply, if Shanxi merchants purchase green tea or pekoe directly from the tea-producing areas in Fujian, one hundred kilograms is a load. Depending on the grade of the tea, the purchase price per load ranges from 500 to 78 taels, with some in between.
There are freight costs thousands of miles away, tea sales fees, taxes, bribes, etc., but even so, the profits are several times greater.
Generally speaking, the tea trade in the Qing Dynasty was a very complicated business. There were so many details in it, from tea planting, production, agency, underwriting, and many other aspects of the government, that it is impossible to explain it in just a few sentences. For outsiders, it is difficult to explain.
It is impossible to get involved here without spending a lot of money to clear the joints.
The problem is that Zhao Xin doesn’t need it! Beihai Town can send a ship to buy it directly from Jiangnan, and the 490,000 kilograms are only 490 tons.
Shen Jingdan had mentioned to Zhao Xin before that the interruption of Kyakhta trade had led to a large backlog of tea in Fujian. Countries such as Britain, France, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands simply could not digest so much tea in Guangzhou alone.
As mentioned before, a major feature of Thirteen Trades' trade is that the payment for the goods must be advanced by the merchants, and the settlement can only be made when the foreign merchants return to Guangzhou the following year. With the current strength of the seven or eight merchants in Guangzhou, they cannot consume a large amount of tea in any case.
Zhao Xin's plan has actually been considered for a long time. Force is one aspect, and economic interests are the core of whether Beihai Town can firmly rule Eastern Siberia.
The specific operation is to transform Irkutsk into a distribution center and transfer station for east-west land trade. Beihai Town has set up a trade fair here. Whether it is cotton fabrics, silk, sugar or tea, or Russian leather products, woolen fabrics
, as long as Kyaktu is blocked, there will be no way out or in. At that time, all the supply sources will be under control.
Don’t Shanxi merchants like to hoard land? Sooner or later, let them spit out all the land!
When Beihai Town defeats the Shanxi merchants, they can seize the Shanxi merchants' tea territory, and then use the profits from Sino-Russian trade to subsidize southern tea farmers, establish agricultural cooperatives, and improve the quality and output of tea. China's tea dominance will be
No one can shake it.
As for the British wanting to establish tea gardens in Sri Lanka, it is simple to say the least. Now that the British can encourage the Nepalese to establish Tibet, Beihai Town can encourage the Pearl River pirates to go to Sri Lanka to recruit the British.
Isn't it just chaos? Compared to the British who are stirring things up all over the world, Zhao Xin's ability to do three things and four things is unparalleled in time and space.
The five major families headed by Sibiliakov have not imported tea from Kyakhta for several years. Although there was smuggling during the period, the scale was not large and they did not have enough. Since the Manchus stopped the Kyakhta trade, they have
The suppression of smuggling was very strict, and Qianlong had punished several groups of officials severely for this.
You must know that since the late 18th century, tea has become a daily necessity for every family in Siberia, so much so that every time the Manchu Qing Dynasty closed down the Kyakhta trade, many families would become impoverished due to the interruption of the tea trade, and even be reduced to begging for a living.
.
In this era, tea in the West is not only for drinking, but also a symbol of wealth. Many powerful people and wealthy businessmen show off tea as a luxury product. They will take all kinds of tea that their guests have never seen one after another.
Come out and treat everyone to a drink. It feels like some people in modern times show off how many LV bags they have. They put them all out and take pictures to show off.
In fact, the economic role of East Siberia's tea trade extends far beyond the entire Siberian region, and also has a great impact on Europe and Russia. From 1780 to 1785, the tea trade volume between China and Russia increased fivefold.
Since the closure of Kyakhta trade, the five major families can only buy tea from British, Dutch or Danish merchants. The procurement cost is three or four times higher, and the cost is as high as 52 rubles per pood.
At this time, Zhao Xin's chief of guards, Chen Jishan, came into the room carrying a tray with a pot of freshly brewed black tea and a small plate of tea samples.
Basin, who was the most knowledgeable about tea among the five businessmen, saw the tea, picked it up and smelled it, and suddenly said with surprise: "Is this Wuyi BOHEA?"
Zhao Xin nodded and said: "Yes, the real Tongmuguan Souchong."
The so-called "Tongmuguan Souchong" is what is known as Lapsang Souchong in later generations. From the end of the 16th century to the beginning of the 17th century, Lapsang Souchong was brought to Europe by Dutch businessmen, and then became popular among the British royal family and even the entire Europe, and set off the "afternoon souchong" that has been passed down to this day.
This kind of tea is bright red in color, rich in aroma, and sweet in the mouth. It is now called "WUYI BOHEA" by Europeans.
Zhao Xin held the cup and gestured: "This is what I have in hand. Please, gentlemen, have a taste and see how it tastes."
When Sibiliakov and the other five saw Zhao Xin drinking, they took a sip, thought about it for a moment, and soon showed very satisfied expressions.
Dudorovsky asked tentatively: "Thirteen rubles per pood?"
"12 rubles."
However, when former mayor Sibiliakov heard the price, his face suddenly became solemn. There are never free benefits in this world, and there are often traps behind honey.
"Mr. Zhao, what are your plans? With just a few of you, do you really want to start a war with the entire Russia?"
Zhao Xin stood up and walked to the window, looking at the city where snow had begun to fall, and said without looking back: "Everyone, I hope you recognize the reality. Beihai Town is far more powerful than you think. Since your queen can do this
If she decides to invade China, she will bear the consequences of failure.
Now that we have captured this city, no one can take it away. We welcome those who choose to stay, and we will not stop those who are willing to return to the west of the Yenisey River."
"What?! Yenisei River?" Sibiliakov and others could no longer sit still and all stood up.
"Next spring, we will send immigrants here, build a commodity trading center, and expand the city." Zhao Xin turned around and looked at Sibiliakov and continued: "You must not know that the Central Plains Dynasty in the south
There are 200 million people. For me, it would be extremely easy to send 10,000 to 20,000 people here. You can think about where to go when you go back."
What? Two hundred million! The leaders of the five major families broke out in cold sweat on their necks after hearing this. Not to mention Siberia, the entire Tsarist Empire in history only had 35.5 million people in 1800.
Shortly after Zhao Xin finished talking to the five major families, the news that the Chinese occupying forces could provide a large amount of tea quickly spread, causing a sensation throughout the city.
One pood only costs 12 rubles, so it’s a big deal!
Those Russian businessmen who originally wanted to leave by boat immediately gave up their plans to pack their luggage. It would be great to have tea. With the tea trade, everyone will make money. Not to mention what they are doing here from Europe, other than to get rich.
Well. As for saying that this place will become Chinese territory in the future, the worst case scenario is that we can make money and go back to Europe to be happy.
One day later, Zhao Xin asked Markovich to post the North Korean Navy's first local notice. The core was two words, tax reduction! Cancel the head tax and cancel all taxes unrelated to commodity transactions.
As soon as the news came out, both the civilians in the city and the farmers outside the city were all ecstatic.
It is said that in Tsarist Russia, like ancient China, the main taxes still came from the land. Whether they were state-owned serfs, church serfs or landlord serfs, they had to pay taxes. In addition, there were station taxes and shooting taxes (supplying guns for the army).
Fees), horse yoke tax, shoe and hat tax, bathhouse tax, mill tax, ship offshore and landing tax, etc.
The most famous of these is the beard tax, which is levied according to rank. It is 60 rubles for nobles and civil servants, 100 rubles for wealthy merchants, 60 rubles for ordinary businessmen, and 30 rubles for slaves and lower-level church personnel. Peasants are not allowed to keep beards in the village.
Taxes are collected, but one kopeck is required to enter and leave the city.
Starting from the time of Peter I, Russia's direct taxes and other special taxes collected an average of 2.5 rubles per household, and the in-kind tax paid by farmers increased to 5.6 poods. After Catherine II came to power, although the salt tax was abolished, the tax rate was reduced.
Poll tax and in-kind tax, but the problem is that this woman is really good at wasting money. In 27 years, a total of 138 million rubles of banknotes were issued; this is almost the same as the treasure banknotes of the Ming Dynasty, and the banknotes are all worthless.
Why did Catherine II deprive the church of its property? The core was agricultural taxation. Because the land rent paid by church serfs to the church was 2 to 3.8 times less than the tax collected directly from these people by the state.
Regardless of Catherine II's advocacy of industry and commerce, many emerging industrial cities only exist on paper. This is the most amazing thing about the autocratic regime of Tsarist Russia and its system of absolute obedience. The queen gave the order, and no one complained.
But I just don't do it.
In this way, Zhao Xin used tea to conquer the merchant class on one end, and stabilized the common people and farmers on the other with tax cuts. A few days later, the agricultural product markets that had been in ruins gradually resumed trading.
The original official class did not make up the majority in the local area. In fact, the government controlled by businessmen did not have that many officials. Zhao Xin's approach was to double the salary and get out by ship if he was unwilling to work.
At the same time, Kyaktu, hundreds of kilometers away, had a different scene.
During the Qing Dynasty, China and Russia built two cities in Kyakhta respectively, with the Kyakhta River as the boundary.
To the north of the river is Russia City, which has a square market with a side length of 200 meters. A tower is built at each of the four corners of the market. In addition to stalls and shops, there are warehouses, merchants' residences, military camps, hotels and churches in the city.
On the south side of Henan is the trading city, about 130 meters due south of Ercheng. The city is rectangular, more than 360 meters wide and more than 600 meters long. There is a gate on each side, guarded by troops. The city is filled with various shops and warehouses, appointed by the Qing government.
There is an official in charge of trade in the Lifan Yuan, with a term of three years.
After lunch yesterday, the merchants in the trading city and the Eight Banners soldiers stationed there heard several explosions on the Russian territory opposite. Many people thought it was the Rakshasa's gunpowder magazine that exploded. But with the fierce gunshots and shouts of killing,
When the sound rang, everyone realized that something big must have happened on the other side.
After hearing the news, the director of the Lifan Yuan who was in charge of the trading city came to the city gate. Through the crack in the door, he saw smoke filling the Russian city opposite, explosions of flames rising into the sky, and the intensive gunshots making people's hearts tremble. He then
The soldiers and horses in the city were hurriedly mobilized to prepare for the situation, and at the same time, they sent fast horses to report to the minister of affairs in Culun.
It was almost four o'clock in the afternoon, that is, the time of Shen Zheng, and the gunfire in Kyaktu City gradually subsided. The dozen or so Russian soldiers who had managed to escape from the city were already stunned by the beating.
He ran towards the Buying and Selling City, shouting for help.
Unexpectedly, as soon as these guys ran to the river bank, they were knocked to the ground by a dense rain of bullets behind them, and then rolled down into the Kyaktu River. This movement scared the Qing troops in the trading city and shivered behind the wooden wall.
How have they never seen this before?
However, a few interested people noticed that after lying on the crack of the city gate and looking at it for a while, the Qing army co-leader who was stationed at the north gate suddenly turned pale and sweated profusely on his forehead, as if he was suffering from dysentery.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! They don’t know that at this moment, Master Xie Ling’s heart is in a state of turmoil, and the only thing running through his mind is: “Oh my god! How come these guys are here!”
I'm sorry that this person was also a guest in Beihai Town. After being released back then, he went through some operations and went to the Buying and Selling City to garrison. I thought that this time I was far away from the group of rebels. There were thousands of miles between them. But it didn't happen.
What a dream, we became neighbors in the blink of an eye!
At dusk, the raging fire in Kyaktu City gradually extinguished, and the double-headed eagle flag on the southeast corner of the tower was thrown down from the tower. Not long after, a white pentagon with a red background and white gears appeared in the middle.
The star flag popped up on the tower. Immediately afterwards, on the southwest corner of the tower, a huge flag with the word "Liu" was also hung up. This sight made all the soldiers and civilians of the Qing Dynasty on the city wall stunned.
Is this the end of Rakshasa? But who are these soldiers on the opposite side? How could they carry the banner of the Han people?
In fact, regardless of Qianlong's closure of the Kyakhta trade and Tsarist Russia's invasion of Heilongjiang, the Sino-Russian relations in the Trading City have always been very "harmonious".
The Manchu Qing government regarded itself as a celestial dynasty and regarded all foreign vassals as barbarians. No matter whether it was the Cullen Minister of Affairs or the local Lifan Yuan magistrate, they would not stand up for businessmen. All they cared about was how much tax they could collect.
So in order to reduce trouble, the Qing government made a strange rule that required any Chinese not to have any quarrels with Russian businessmen. Even if he was later proven not to be wrong, he would have to be imprisoned for ten days. If there were various types of claims
, they should make friendly statements to the Russian superiors calmly and in a polite manner, so as to avoid sometimes small feuds between businessmen leading to big disputes between countries.
In addition, in order to prevent Tsarist Russia from knowing China's internal affairs, the Qing government required the Chinese in the trading cities to only speak Russian, and resolutely refused to give the Russians the opportunity to learn Chinese. So until this time, almost all Chinese in the trading cities can speak Russian.
Russian, and none of the Russian businessmen in Kyakhta can speak Chinese.
Under such a trading rule, do you want to live in harmony?
By the next morning, the frightened Lifanyuan official did not dare to come forward at all, so he sent shopkeeper Tian from the "Meiyu Gongji" in the city across the river to find out the truth.
Meiyu Gongji is the property of Chang Huaiju, a Shanxi native. They have several shops in the trading city. Among the many Shanxi merchants engaged in trade with Russia in Kyakhta in history, the one with the longest operating history and the largest scale is Yuci Rims
Zhen Changjia. Shanxi businessmen’s favorite silver winter melon also started from Changjia.
Shopkeeper Tian took his nephew Tian Sanhuai across the wooden bridge cautiously, and walked outside the wooden city gate under the watchful eyes of several soldiers from the Northern Navy. He bowed to the soldiers from the Northern Navy at the door and said, "I'm going down to Shanxi Yuci."
Tian Tongzhou, on the order of Mr. Wu from the vassal academy, I came here to pay my respects."
Shopkeeper Tian spoke in Yuci dialect with a heavy accent. The Northern Navy soldier at the door blinked and then said in Henan dialect: "I'm here, what are you talking about?"