The Ming Dynasty’s Prodigal Son - Chapter 1731

[1731. Chapter 1646 Huge Profits]

When it comes to Qi Zhiyuan, many small shopkeepers are eager to try it.

The shop owner of Xishan Jianye Nanjing branch said: “The Qi family is located in Nanzhili and owns a large amount of land. His ancestors have been officials for many generations. Because of this, many people came to donate land. Naturally, the Qi family’s land There are more and more… It is not an exaggeration to say that it is the highest gate in Southern Zhili. “

Donate land…

This word is not new at all. There are not many such things in other places.”

But in Jiangnan, it is a common thing.

After all, there are many talented people from Jiangnan, and many of them are famous. Because of their fame, they can not only become officials, but also get tax exemption.

Although… the excess land area is supposed to be taxed, the problem is that families who can be officials and have a good reputation often have a great reputation in the local area. To put it bluntly, they are a prominent family, and even their parents are not officials. Rely on them.

Such people… Isn’t it easy for them to conceal their land and obtain the privilege of being exempt from food tax?

So… the largest source of grain tax for the imperial court, the entire Jiangnan, this heavy tax was not imposed on the noble families like the Qi family, but on the small people who did not have much land in the first place.

The land of the common people is not only inferior, but the rich ones only have dozens of acres. The poor ones are even worse, with only three to five acres, and they can’t even eat. How can they afford such a heavy tax?

So…someone set a precedent. Starting from Emperor Wen, some people began to simply give their land deeds to high-ranking families like the Qi family. This land… simply didn’t want it, and kept the land anyway. He is also hungry, and if the land is in the name of the Qi family, he will be exempted from paying taxes. In this way, it is equivalent to giving the land to the Qi family, and he will farm it for the Qi family and become a tenant. Of course… the Qi family will often Give some favors to those who donate land, such as reducing or exempting some favors.

They easily obtained land for no reason and relied on their fame.

Without spending any money, the land became more and more, and the family’s power naturally increased, so… more people came to contribute, and the Qi family gradually became the leading wealthy family, almost on an equal footing with the six ministers of Nanjing. They All the people they made friends with were high-ranking officials of third rank or above. The in-laws of the children in the mansion were either ministers or ministers. As for how much land they had hidden in their hands, and how many tenant farmers they had made their homes, only God knew.

Such things have long been common in Jiangnan.

As a result, there are fewer and fewer people who own land, but those who hold land have countless lands in their names. On the contrary, the taxes that the court could receive did not increase. Almost all the favors from the Ming court, after more than a hundred years, were attributed to scholarly families like the Qi family who had heirs to poetry and calligraphy.

The national favor they received was unprecedented in all dynasties, so much so that when it came to precious lands, the local tycoons in all dynasties had to rely on force and plunder to obtain them. But in the hands of people like the Qi family, there is no need to even plunder. Relying on the Ming Dynasty’s extreme kindness to the scholar-bureaucrats, they almost lie down and wait for the common people to deliver the ancestral land to them with blood and tears. In front of me, not only do I not hate you, but I also feel grateful to you. It seems that it was because you were extra gracious and took away his land that his family was able to survive.

The shopkeepers of Semicolon enthusiastically reported the situation of the Qi family.

Wang Jinyuan just lowered his head and listened quietly, and then nodded: “If the Qi family can sell it first, then… the land price will undoubtedly collapse. They have too much land in their hands.”

“But it seems like this .

People will never be short of money, so how can they be willing to sell off their ancestral property easily?” Wang Jinyuan said calmly: “Unless…he has to sell it.”

A few days later, another rumor came out

.

After receiving the news, the emperor issued an order to urgently mobilize Zhang Mao to lead his army southward to Nanjing.

As soon as the news reached Nanjing, people became even more uneasy.

The Wei Guogong Mansion began to become more and more suspicious.

The gate of the palace was closed tightly, and the commanders of the guards no longer dared to pay a visit.

The Nanjing Sixth Department began to become particularly nervous.

A flurry of impeachment was sent to the cabinet.

As for the cabinet… all the ministers couldn’t help but smile bitterly when they saw this memorial.

His Majesty has not shown his face for more than a month.

Even… the three cabinet ministers all suspected that His Majesty was seriously ill, otherwise why had there been no news from the palace at all.

Logically speaking, in such an urgent situation, His Majesty should summon the ministers to report the matter.

But the news in the palace was just left to the discretion of the cabinet.

Liu Jian had no choice but to write and ask Zhang Mao to lead his troops southward to be prepared.

On the other hand, merchants from the capital suddenly arrived in Nanjing and brought terrible news.

Because the situation in Jiangnan is simple and confusing.

Xishan decided to suspend all business dealings in Jiangnan and cancel the purchase of grain, raw silk, cotton and other goods.

This Xishan, which has always had great magical powers, suddenly canceled the acquisition, which immediately triggered speculation among businessmen in Beijing.

People realized that a rebellion in Jiangnan might be about to begin.

What’s even more terrifying…is the entire southern Zhili and Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.

Suddenly there were no merchants to collect raw silk, camellia oil, wine, and cotton. These economic products made it worse for the gentry who had hoarded many supplies.

The various rumors and rumors were already causing panic, but now the refusal to acquire the company has made the situation even more uneasy.

Land prices began to slowly fall.

Of course… because most of the land is monopolized by the big gentry after all, naturally, the decline is still limited.

Qi Zhiyuan felt relieved when he heard that the imperial court had sent a large army.

It seems that… the imperial court did not believe the imperial envoy’s words. If it was true, there would be no need to mobilize troops at all. It only needs to issue a decree to the Duke of Wei. After receiving the decree, the Duke of Wei will be inspired and immediately begin to mobilize troops to eradicate Cao Yuan, Qi Zhiyuan and others. A group of partisans who are inferior to others.

But the sudden deployment of troops showed that the imperial court was still very wary of the Duke of Wei. After all, most of the military power in Jiangnan was still in the hands of the Duke of Wei.

Qi Zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief. His mentor… died a worthy death. But next, Wei Guogong might not get any good results either.

He was sitting firmly on the Diaoyutai. Anyway…he didn’t have much clues about this conspiracy, especially since his mentor died and there was no evidence of his death.

But… the only thing that bothered him was the continued plummeting of the land. After all, what he had done was the Seven Injury Fist, which injured one thousand enemies and damaged himself eight hundred. The essence of spreading rumors was to launch an attack on the Duke of Wei and force the Duke of Wei to rebel. , but such rumors would do great harm to the Qi family, which owns a huge amount of land.

Just when he was lost in thought, the disciple hurriedly came and said: “Sir, Wang Jinyuan, the great shopkeeper of Xishan, would like to see you.”

Wang Jinyuan…

this person… can be said to be a household name in Jiangnan and Jiangbei. Everyone knows that this person is Fang Jifan’s The big housekeeper is also Xishan’s money bag, and every move he makes is of great importance.

But at this time…why do Duke Qi’s people want to find him?

Qi Zhiyuan was extremely afraid of the Duke of Qi’s mansion, because others played their cards according to common sense, but this dog-like thing like the Duke of Qi was elusive.

“Please come in.” Qi Zhiyuan quickly ordered the door.

Qi Zhiyuan naturally knew wisely that such a person should not be offended.

When Wang Jinyuan came in, Qi Zhiyuan stood up hurriedly with a smile on his face: “Mr. Wang, Mr. Wang…sometimes we miss you from afar, and sometimes you miss us from afar. Mr. Wang is thunderous, but…hasn’t Mr. Wang always been in the capital? Why all of a sudden? , are you actually coming to Nanzhili?”

Wang Jinyuan also smiled and sat down. Someone brought tea. He sipped the tea calmly and then said: “I came here on official business by order of the Duke of Qi.”

Qi Zhiyuan did not expect this Wang Jinyuan. It was so straight to the point, but I couldn’t help but murmur in my heart.

Has the Duke of Qi already started to get involved in Nanjing’s affairs? Since he wanted to get involved, why… did he send someone to look for him?

Qi Zhiyuan then asked: “Business, what business?”

Wang Jinyuan said: “Didn’t the land in Nanjing fall? Xishan Bank, take this opportunity to buy some.”

Phew…

Qi Zhiyuan heard this, and his heart became fierce. As soon as it sank, my teeth were almost broken.

This bitch is really straightforward enough. He came to take over the land again. After taking over the land, is it free of rent again? This is not giving me a way to survive.

After all, he is the person who has been in charge for many years. He sneered in his heart, but showed no emotion on his face: “So that’s it. It seems that Duke Qi is determined to win, and he can take advantage of this opportunity to make a lot of money. However… the recent situation in Jiangnan, Mr. Wang knows it, but I’m afraid… these places are quite hot. If a rebellion really breaks out, then the country will be thousands of miles away, and ten houses will be empty. I’m afraid…”

Wang Jinyuan shook his head and said: “The Duke of Qi has already taught you how to be rich and noble. “Find something in danger.”

Qi Zhiyuan thought to himself, this is in line with Fang Jifan’s temperament.

He then smiled and said: “In that case, why didn’t Mr. Wang take over the land in Yahang? What are you doing here?”

Wang Jinyuan spit out two words: “Cooperation.”

Qi Zhiyuan: “…”

Is this guy… crazy?

Wang Jinyuan stopped his smile, became more serious, and said, “The current land prices are constantly falling, does Brother Qi know?”

Qi Zhiyuan remained silent, and he suffered a lot from this matter.

Wang Jinyuan said again: “It’s just that the decline is still too small. This little profit is not enough to fill the gap between teeth. It would be better if it fell further.”

Qi Zhiyuan stared at Wang Jinyuan and couldn’t stop laughing. He said with a sullen face: ” This may not be what Mr. Wang wants. After all, the price of land can fall if Mr. wants, and rise if he wants. “

“There is a way to keep it,” Wang Jinyuan looked at him meaningfully and said, “That’s why I came here to find it. Brother Qi, as long as things are done, you and I will definitely make huge profits from it, but I don’t know if Brother Qi is interested.”

(End of Chapter)