"I am the County Magistrate of Lantian County. Today, the Yan Huang Chamber of Commerce is holding a donation event in Lantian County. I represent the County Magistrate of Lantian County and the people of Lantian County to welcome everyone and thank everyone for your generosity!"
County Magistrate He did not act like the other merchants who wanted to donate and directly walked to the donation box with the donation board. Instead, he walked to the side of Lin Wenyuan. The latter understood and passed the loudspeaker in his hand to County Magistrate He. County Magistrate He took it and then used the loudspeaker's amplification function to speak loudly to the people present.
"At the beginning of this year, Marquis established the Department of Commerce in Lantian County. The purpose of the Department of Commerce is to create a good business environment for merchants. Although the business tax rate has been raised, the status of merchants has also been raised. In Lantian County, merchants, farmers, and craftsmen are all classified as commoners and the government treats them equally. Furthermore, the children of merchants can also enter the school!
In this way, merchants can do business in Lantian County with peace of mind and will not be disturbed! In less than a year, Lantian County's business has flourished and the County Magistrate's treasury still has a lot of surplus! Previously, Marquis had told me that the County Magistrate's office usually collects taxes from merchants and commoners, but the taxes collected must all be taken from the people and used by the people.
Today, the Northern Turks are eyeing Tang. Although my Lantian County Magistrate is not as wealthy as everyone here, we are still willing to contribute to the imperial court. Therefore, I will donate 10,000 strings of cash from the County Magistrate's treasury to the imperial court in hopes that the imperial court can defeat the Turks and completely pacify the Northern Turks! This is also the sincerity of the people of Lantian County towards Tang and His Majesty! "
As the "host", it was understandable for County Magistrate He to say some pretty words in front of these merchants who came from afar. However, what he said wasn't just for show. There was a deeper meaning behind it. That was to use this fundraising event to spread the "signboard" of Lantian County, attracting more merchants to do business in Lantian County!
Sure enough, as soon as County Magistrate He finished speaking, there was a burst of cheers from the audience and outside the inn.
"Wow! Lantian County Magistrate is so generous, donating 10,000 strings of cash! "
"Good! Take from the people and use it for the people! Marquis said it well! County Magistrate He, you did well! "
"The current Lantian County has really changed a lot. There are more and more shops and people!"
"This is all thanks to Marquis's Department of Commerce!"
"Yes! Yes! "
"But why did I hear that the Department of Commerce changed the business tax ratio from 1 in 30 to 1 in 6? It's increased by five times! "
"It has indeed increased by five times! But the status of us merchants has also increased! Furthermore, you're doing business in Lantian County, so you don't have to worry about your safety. There's no ruffians or gangsters who would dare to cause trouble for you. You can be at ease! In the long run, I can only earn more every month than before! "
"Of course! Just look at the number of merchants in Lantian County, and you'll know! None of us are fools. If there are no benefits, who would be willing to do business in Lantian County? "
"That's right!"
…
The discussions of the merchants naturally fell into County Magistrate He's ears, but he didn't have the time to enjoy the praise. After he finished speaking, he returned the loudspeaker to Lin Wenyuan. As the time for the fundraiser was very tight, it was already very rare for Lin Wenyuan to give him a chance to speak alone. Furthermore, he had to deliver the fundraising signboard and go to the second floor to handle the procedures for the transfer of funds!
At this moment, Xiao Yu was sitting on the ground in a daze. County Magistrate He's words just now had already set off a huge wave in his heart that was as calm as an ancient well!
"The purpose of the Department of Commerce is to create a good business environment for merchants!"
"In Lantian County, merchants, farmers, and craftsmen are all classified as commoners. The government treats them all equally!"
"Take from the people and use it for the people!"
Every decree of Lantian County would cause a huge uproar in other counties. This was because every decree, to the traditional "old pedants", was considered to be treason and heresy!
It was only because this was Lantian County, Li Zexuan's fief that no one cared about it. This was because as long as Li Zexuan didn't rebel in his fief, Li Er wouldn't do anything to him even if he did something out of line!
Since ancient times, the vassal kings and important ministers were all like this!
Previously, when the Department of Commerce was established in Lantian County, Xiao Yu, as the Minister of Revenue, had more or less heard about it. However, at that time, he didn't pay much attention to the Department of Commerce. He thought that it was just a playful move by Li Zexuan, and that it wouldn't amount to much. But now, after hearing County Magistrate He's systematic explanation of the government decrees issued by the Department of Commerce and the administration philosophy, coupled with the indisputable fact that Lantian County's business was flourishing, Xiao Yu's shock and sudden enlightenment were indescribable!
It turned out that merchants could exert such great power!
To think that as the Minister of Revenue, his main duty was to manage the Great Tang's purse for Li Er. But now, the achievements of Lantian County made him, a veteran of three dynasties, feel ashamed!
In the entire Great Tang, Lantian County was considered a middle class county. But this middle class county's annual business tax revenue was far more than ten thousand strings of coins. The reason why it was far more than ten thousand strings of coins was because the Department of Commerce had only been established for half a year. But now, County Magistrate He was able to donate ten thousand strings of coins to the court. What did this mean? This meant that through a series of business tax reforms, Lantian County's county office had collected more than ten thousand strings of coins in just half a year. Didn't this mean that Lantian County's annual business tax revenue was more than twenty thousand strings of coins?
One had to know that this was only the first year of Lantian County's business tax reform. As the reputation of Lantian County spread among the merchants, the business of Lantian County was bound to flourish. When the time came, no one could predict how much business tax this middle class county would collect in a year. But it would definitely be more than now, not less!
Just imagine, if all the provinces and counties of the Great Tang were as' awesome 'as Lantian County — no, even if they were only one-fifth as' awesome 'as Lantian County, given that the Great Tang currently had more than one thousand five hundred counties, just the tax on commerce alone would add up to six million strings of string of coins!
Six million strings of coins!
Thinking of this number, Xiao Yu found it difficult to breathe. If the Great Tang's imperial court could collect six million strings of coins every year, it wouldn't be a problem to arm ten elite troops like the Black Armored Army. At that time, wouldn't fighting a mere Turkic barbarian be as easy as' beating up a son '?
"Xiao Shangshu! Minister Xiao …! "
Just when Xiao Yu's imagination was running wild because of the county magistrate's words, the low-ranking official beside him woke him up from his beautiful fantasy. After coming back to his senses, Xiao Yu frowned and said unhappily, "What is it?"
It turned out that this old man was still angry that his' beautiful dream of Great Tang 'was disturbed!
"Erm … Minister Xiao, County Magistrate He bid farewell to you just now. You didn't hear him. He told me to tell you that he still has work to do in the county office, so he'll be leaving first! Also, Boss Lin is about to call out Shopkeeper Mo's name … "
Seeing Xiao Yu's displeased expression, the low-ranking official's heart skipped a beat. He didn't know how he had offended Xiao Yu, but he still mustered up his courage and spoke carefully.
Speaking of which, Xiao Yu had been in a daze for quite a long time. He didn't even hear County Magistrate He greet him when he returned to his seat. At this moment, the fundraising event was nearing its end.
"Oh! Then prepare yourself and go up in place of Shopkeeper Mo later! "
Hearing this, Xiao Yu calmed himself down and said to the low-ranking official.
"Yes ~!"
The low-ranking official replied. Then, he calmed himself down and sat by the side, waiting silently.
"Clear Ink Shop, Mo Tongming, donates 500 strings of coins!"
Not long after, Lin Wenyuan shouted from above. The low-ranking official beside Xiao Yu immediately stood up and walked forward.
At this moment, the people below couldn't help but whisper among themselves.
"Clear Ink Shop? If I remember correctly, isn't this Clear Ink Shop a shop in Xiao Ge's hometown? "
"That's right, that's right! It's Minister Xiao's family! I heard that Minister Xiao likes calligraphy and painting, so he opened this shop! "
"Hiss ~! Does that mean that Minister Xiao is also donating today? "
Businessmen were indeed the most well-informed. As soon as Lin Wenyuan finished speaking, some people had already guessed the owner behind Clear Ink Shop!
That's right, Xiao Yu was also donating today!
He had asked the low-ranking official to withdraw the money and also gave the low-ranking official the deed of Clear Ink Shop so that the latter could register the donation in Clear Ink Shop's name at the entrance of the inn!
Although 500 strings of coins wasn't much, it was his way of expressing his sincerity to Li Er! Although he was an elder of three dynasties, he had always been an honest official. His family's wealth couldn't compare to these rich businessmen in the inn's lobby!
As for his identity being guessed, Xiao Yu didn't care at all. It was even better if someone guessed it. He thought to himself that no one would say that he was stingy, disloyal, and patriotic, right?
On Lin Wenyuan's side, after reading out Clear Ink Shop's name, he read out two more names. Finally, everyone on the list was read out. Lin Wenyuan pursed his dry lips and heaved a sigh of relief. He said, "Everyone, today's fundraising event ends here …"
"Wait ~!"
Lin Wenyuan was about to announce to everyone that the fundraising event was about to end, but before he could finish speaking, two youths walked in with two servants. One of the older youths said loudly, "Boss Lin, please bring us along. The two of us also want to donate money!"
As the youth spoke, he waved the fundraising card in his hand. Everyone took a closer look and gasped. They saw the words "30,000 strings of coins" written on the card!
A young man actually wanted to donate 30,000 strings of coins to the imperial court? Who exactly was this young man?
…
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