Daming: Mixed in Dangzhi County, Beiping

Chapter 443: Teaching Zhu Gaochi on the spot

Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but asked: "So, how many years will it take to make money back after these workshops are completed?"

Guo An glanced at Zhu Gaochi in surprise, "Your Highness, not all of these 30 taels of treasure money can be handed over to the workshop to earn back the money!"

"Please ask the teacher to teach me!"

Zhu Gaochi saluted Guo An respectfully.

"Your Highness is welcome!"

Guo An quickly returned the gift and then said: "Your Highness, what I just said is only the money needed to build these workshops.

However, His Highness does not know that the cement, sand and gravel used to build these concrete roads, bridges, and workshops are all owned by the imperial court. "

"In addition, these craftsmen and laborers are all common people near Jiangjun Mountain. Paying these people wages and hiring them can be regarded as a small official providing work in exchange for relief...

Otherwise, it will be difficult for these people to survive in this cold winter..."

Zhu Gaochi's eyes widened slightly: "..."

Guo An continued: "In addition, these cargo ships transporting materials are all ships under the Maritime Trade Chamber of Commerce.

Therefore, the cost of hiring these cargo ships will actually come back in the end! "

"..."

After a while, Zhu Gaochi came to his senses and said with a shocked look on his face: "Teacher, what do you mean, the 30 taels of banknotes, in fact, apart from hiring laborers and craftsmen, the rest of the money will eventually come back.

So, paving cement roads, building cement bridges, and building workshops actually doesn’t cost much money? "

Guo An said again: "Your Highness, this is not how the accounts are calculated, because if these cement, sand and gravel and other materials, as well as shipping and cargo ships, do not come here, they can be sold elsewhere to make money. It is just for them to make money here. money!"

Zhu Gaochi frowned and said, "May I ask, teacher, how much money does this cost in total?"

"Your Highness, it's still 30 taels of banknotes!" Guo An replied.

Zhu Gaochi was immediately confused, "What the teacher just said, materials, labor, cargo ships, etc..."

Guo An smiled softly, "Your Highness, what Wei Chen said was just that the 30 taels of treasure money were not actually spent.

In fact, Weichen and the Chamber of Commerce also spent a lot.

However, these 30 taels of treasure are money well spent, at least allowing thousands of households to spend a cold winter with peace of mind.

Moreover, from now on, they will no longer have to worry about having no food to eat in the cold winter...

As for these built workshops, they can continuously make money for the Chamber of Commerce and support thousands of households..."

Zhu Gaochi said thoughtfully, "Is this the added value the teacher mentioned, or the value created?"

"Your Highness is really smart!"

Guo An was very satisfied.

Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but ask: "Teacher, if thousands of such workshops were built in the Ming Dynasty, would they have the same effect?"

Guo An shook his head simply, "I don't know!"

Zhu Gaochi looked confused.

Guo An said directly: "Your Highness, because I don't know whether the government who built those workshops or the people in charge are honest and talented?"

Zhu Gaochi was silent.

At this time, Guo An, Zhu Gaochi and others had already approached the workshop site.

Several old men who were looking around the construction site suddenly changed their expressions when they saw Guo An and his party, and hurriedly walked out.

"I came here to see the Marquis, and I have seen this noble man!"

Zuo Lai and other village elders quickly saluted with humility.

However, they could no longer remember Zhu Gaochi and could only refer to him as a noble person.

"Old men, get up quickly!"

Guo An said quickly.

Guo An was happy that these old men did not know Zhu Gaochi and did not introduce him.

And Zhu Gaochi didn't say a word, which meant the same thing.

"Thank you Hou Ye!"

After Zuo Lai and others got up, he hurriedly said: "Please don't worry, Lord Marquis. After a whole winter of work, I and others have almost prepared the autumn grain. By the end of the month, I will definitely hand over all the autumn grain!"

"Autumn food?"

Guo An was stunned for a moment, then looked to Guo Ang to one side.

"What are your orders, sir?"

Guo Ang was confused.

Guo An frowned subconsciously, but soon realized that he didn't seem to have ordered Guo Ang.

Immediately, he said to Zuo Lai and others: "There is no rush about the autumn grain. We have decided to change the way we collect taxes from you!"

Zuo Lai and other old men's faces changed slightly, and their eyes were full of worry, but they did not dare to say a word.

Guo An continued: "Starting from this year, you no longer need to think about corvee labor, you can just pay the land rent!"

"Just pay the land rent?"

Everyone present was startled.

The old man Zuo Lai and others looked slightly happy.

"Ok!"

Guo An nodded slightly, "The land rent for you is also very simple. You only need to pay [-]% of the grain you harvest no matter how many acres of land you plant!"
As for the extra food, whatever you want to do, just do it! "

"Master Marquis, do you really only need to pay [-]% of the grain?"

The old man Zuo Lai looked at Guo An with eyes wide open and excitement on his face.

"Ok!"

Guo An nodded slowly, "Besides, the field rent only needs to be paid once a year, and that is after the autumn harvest. We only need the new grain you are waiting for!"

"Thank you Hou Ye!"

"Master Hou is truly the most kind-hearted nobleman in the world!"

Zuo Lai waited for the old man to make a puff, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed to Guo An.

At the same time, I burst into tears with excitement.

This scene made Qing Zhuang, who was working in the workshop in the distance, slowly stop and look over.

There were even a few young men who walked over directly and looked at Guo An warily.

Suddenly, an old man hammered the inside of a young man's knee with his hand, and scolded: "You bastards, kowtow to Mr. Hou quickly. With such a kind-hearted master, we have spent eight lifetimes." Blessing!”

The young men had puzzled faces, but they didn't dare to have any doubts and knelt down directly.

Guo An waved his hand slightly, "Okay, let's get to work!"

"Yes, Lord Hou!"

A group of people quickly stood up and headed towards the construction site.

After these people left, Zhu Gaochi looked at Guo An in surprise.

"Teacher, if you don't want them to do corvee work and reduce their land tax, wouldn't it be a big loss for these [-] households and [-] acres of fertile land?"

"It will indeed be a lot less!"

Guo An nodded slightly.

Zhu Gaochi was even more puzzled, "Then why does the teacher still do this?"

Guo An said: "Your Highness, you also know that ministers do not like to use corvee services.

As for the land tax, as long as these people are made rich, Wei Chen has many ways to earn enough money from them to make up for the corvee and land tax losses that Wei Chen has lost! "

"I see!"

Zhu Gaochi nodded slowly, somewhat understanding what Guo An meant.

Unexpectedly, Guo An said again: "Your Highness, do you know how painful corvée is for the people?"

"Since ancient times, how many dynasties have experienced riots and failed because of corvee labor?"

……

(End of this chapter)