The big businessmen from the four counties of Qidi were already standing outside the door of the hall, a total of twelve people, looking at the dressed, they only thought that they were soapy little people, and they would never have imagined that each of them was a rich businessman with hundreds of dollars.

Everyone is not strangers to each other, ordinary peddlers and women are often confined to one township and one town, and medium-sized businessmen are only famous in the county, but if they want to reach the level of "100 gold" and become a big businessman, they are often indispensable to deal with their peers.

Therefore, they are either partners who cooperate with each other, or they are rivals who have had festivals. But now, they are all courteous and respectful, above the shopping mall, what they are chasing is nothing more than a sharp word, and it is not advisable to settle the dispute, not to mention, since Qin destroyed the Marquis of Qi, the biggest enemy of the merchant has become the same: the government!

After greeting each other, everyone also discussed topics of common concern: "Today, the Jiaodong County Guard suddenly sent a post, inviting us to come to the banquet, I don't know what it is for?" ”

"I'm afraid it's not a good feast."

Guan Yan, a businessman from Langya, looked worried, the Qin Dynasty's policy towards merchants over the years made him feel that there was basically nothing good for the government to look for!

"Of course, the Qin people are the most disgusted with businessmen."

Everyone echoed it, and the Legalists of the Qin Dynasty were in power, and since the Shang Dynasty era, they have hated merchants extremely much. Shang Ying believed that merchants like to wander around, and the most disobedient, a merchant succeeds in the final business, which will lead to ten farmers who are not good at farming, so they must suppress business.

First of all, all things related to national fortunes, such as salt and iron, were taken under the ownership of the government, and commercial taxes were increased, and heavy taxes were levied on wine and meat, so that the practitioners were unprofitable.

At the same time, in the law, the status of merchants was reduced. In the past, among the seven heroes in the world, the merchants of the Qin State were the lowest, and they were ranked alongside their sons-in-law. The army of the Qin State clearly stipulated that there was no need to pity the lives of merchants and their descendants, and that they should be sent to do any dirty, tiring, or dangerous work!

In this case, the commerce of the Qin State was basically controlled by the government, at most in the border areas that the government could not control, there were Yidi merchants like Wushi and Baqing, but in the end they were also recruited by the imperial court and became red-top merchants.

The reason why Heifu's Nanjun brown sugar was successful was also based on the virgin land in the south of the Yangtze River, and it took advantage of the loopholes of the law, but it was not free for a few years, and now the sugar mills all over Jianghuai are all collected as official camps.

As early as the Taigongwang period, the Qi State was located in a saline-alkali land near the sea, which was not suitable for farming, so it adapted measures to local conditions, and promoted the economy through industry and commerce, and eventually became a country of fish and salt.

During the reign of Qi Huan, Guan Zhong further put forward the view of "the end of the book", that Shinong and industry were the pillars of the country, and that they should set up industrial and commercial towns, and also encouraged merchants to transport fish and salt to Liang and Chu to earn extra money for Qi.

Although Tian is a doctor, he also relies on sea fish and timber to buy people's hearts, and he is also very tolerant of businessmen. For two hundred years, Qijia has spread all over the Kanto, and the giants can compete with the feudal monarchs, and there are not a few who openly wear purple clothes to swagger through the market......

But this golden age of commercial prosperity ended after the fall of Tian Qi, and the Qin Dynasty moved the policy of Guanzhong to Qidi, ordering that merchants should be forbidden to wear silk and cars, and that merchants and their descendants should be officials, and that merchants should pay double the population tax......

When Qin Shi Huang toured the east, he even engraved the "Upper Peasants to Eliminate the End" on the Lang Evil Platform as a national policy and announced it in the world!

In the past ten years, whether they are engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing, mining, smelting, or luxury goods, they have all struggled, their social status has plummeted, and they have to be afraid that they will be arrested by the government for a crime.

So today, the thirteen giants are dressed more shabby than ordinary people! ……

However, the hundred-legged insect dies but does not stiffen, and the 800-year-old mercantile tradition of the Qi people has not changed overnight, and this kind of anti-business policy has not completely defeated the merchants of Qidi. On the contrary, there is a saying in Qidi:

"From poor to rich, farming is not as good as work, work is not as good as business, women are not as good as handicrafts......"

Although the Qin Dynasty suppressed commerce, it did not necessarily mean that the craftsmen and farmers had a good life, and the huge taxes were there.

In Qidi, because of the scarcity of Qin officials, the government cannot manage it to the grassroots level like Guanzhong. The market is still the world of merchants, Linzi, Jimo, among these Tongyi capitals, there are at least 30 kinds of industries, each of which has a monopoly of big businessmen, and the annual income is far more than the "two thousand stones" salary of Heifu ten times million!

"When the sheep is fat, they will be killed, and when the leeks grow, they will be cut!"

Langya merchant Guan Yan had an unusually big opinion on the Qin Dynasty, and said coldly: "The second and third sons, don't forget to calculate the matter!" ”

Everyone sighed that they could still make a profit, but since the introduction of that policy, it has become unprofitable to do business.

Last year, after the emperor returned to Xianyang, in addition to forcibly relocating part of Qi Jia to Guanxi, he also promulgated a new policy against merchants at the suggestion of Prime Minister Li Si.

All industrial and commercial owners, usurers, hoarders, etc., regardless of whether they have a municipal registration or not, must pay the amount of their property to the government, and stipulate that every two taels (one tassel is a thousand yuan) shall be taken and counted, that is, two hundred wen. For small craftsmen, one is drawn every four lots. This is called "算缗 (mín)".

Except for officials, elders, and soldiers, all those who have horse-drawn carriages are to be counted by one ride, and those who have a cart by one by one are counted by two, and those whose boats are more than five feet are also counted!

If there is any concealment and failure to report, or the report is not true, all property will be confiscated! And a fine for one year!

This is a blatant collection of "property tax" from businessmen, as soon as this policy comes out, businessmen all over the world mourn, and those who are more profitable are fine, and those who have thin profits will directly be unable to make ends meet.

Many people have the idea: "Isn't it okay not to be a businessman?" thoughts.

However, the Qin Dynasty also strictly forbade land annexation, blocking the possibility of them buying land and real estate with money, and the merchants were in a dilemma, finding that the only option was to sell their business to the government at a low price, and change from private to government-run.

Guan Yan said pessimistically: "I am afraid that this is for this purpose!" I heard that the previous emperor issued the decree to raise money for the Southern Expedition, the Northern War, the Lishan Mausoleum, and the Great Wall, but now that the north and the south are at war at the same time, it seems that the Lishan Mausoleum has added another 100,000 laborers, and it needs more money, and it will definitely take us again! ”

The businessmen nodded one after another, and some people with flexible brains questioned, even if they want to cut leeks, they can't be cut in Linzi and Langya, what is it to call them to Jiaodong?

"Don't forget, that lieutenant is the county guard, he is the supervisor of the Northern Expedition! Perhaps, it is a feast, as long as the people who go in do not come up with a million dollars, no one is allowed to go out of this way! ”

Guan Yan was a little sad and indignant: "The husband is not guilty of his crimes, in the eyes of the government, our sin is to be rich and rich!" ”

In the circle of Qi businessmen, Guan Yan's speech is still effective, he is not only Langya Dajia, but also a descendant of Qi Xiang Guan Yiwu hundreds of years ago!

Although Guan Zhong assisted the princes of Qi Huan and Jiuhe, and the world, his descendants were very miserable, the family decayed early, and lived in a small Yi, waiting for the Tian family to replace the Marquis of Qi, even the small Yi was gone, so he could only pick up the old business of his ancestors and start doing business, perhaps this family did have the talent to do business, but in a hundred years, he became one of the great masters of Qi State, and his family was rich with hundreds of gold.

As soon as Guan Yan said this, more than a dozen businessmen became more and more worried, only feeling that this dish was Huangquan Artemisia, and Heifu was the black-faced ghost who asked for his life......

At this moment, a strange voice sounded.

"Guan Jun's words are wrong, Jiaodong Shouwei Jun has always treated the four people equally, and has not taken a big attack on the merchants of the county. Even when the imperial court promulgated the calculation policy, he also wrote a letter of advice to prevent the emperor from adding a law of remonstrance. The decree said that whoever dared to denounce it, the government rewarded him with half of the confiscated property! If this law had been implemented, we would have been sued and sent to the border to serve hard labor, and now that the county guard is called, I don't know what to say, and the second and third sons will be slandered in vain, I'm afraid it's not appropriate! ”

Everyone followed the sound, but saw a businessman in his forties with a mustache holding his sleeves and looking at them with a smile.

Someone laughed and said, "Who should I be, it turned out to be a knife room." ”

This knife is a native of Jiaodong, and he is also one of the big businessmen, but he started as a subordinate concubine.

The merchants of Qidi are good at raising domestic slaves, but they all regard slaves as the most worthless things, inferior to cattle and horses, and often abuse, and sell them at will, such as discarding grass and mustard.

But this knife is different, he regarded these slaves as treasures, bought shrewd and capable slaves everywhere, and did not directly enslave them to do rough work, but taught them skills: young and beautiful female slaves taught them the art of rooming, and gave them to local officials to establish good relations. Strong male slaves were trained as samurai to protect his trade. The clever vassals let them learn to read and count, run the industry for him, and make a profit.

In this way, relying on the concubines of the subordinates, the knife room became the richest man in Jiaodong. He treats slaves well and lives better than ordinary commoners, so much so that they "would rather not change their status as slaves, do not want the freedom enjoyed by commoners, and do not want to leave the sword......

Although Daojian is a giant in Jiaodong, it is despised by the rest of the businessmen, and what is even more criticized is that after the announcement of the decree, the rich are vying for wealth and planning to jointly resist this policy, but Daojian rebelled, he ran to Jimo and voluntarily donated one-third of his family wealth as military expenses.

Since then, Daojian has become a frequent visitor to the Jiaodong County Shoufu, and after the new route to Haidong was opened, Heifu had to summon him almost every month......

Guan Yan has been slaughtered too harshly over the years, complaining a few words, although he has scolded the knife behind his back, at this moment, seeing him himself, as well as the two Qin officials who followed behind him, he immediately coaxed, and arched his hand: "Daojun, you have dealt with me a lot, although I don't choose what to say, but I don't feel that I have the intention of slandering the county guard." ”

"Guan Jun is the queen of Guan Yiwu, and he is the head of Langya Shangjia, and he is also my predecessor, I naturally know who you are, but ......"

Daojian smiled: "However, the partition wall has ears, these words, it is better to say less!" Second and third sons, the county guard has summoned you here this time, there is a great thing to announce! Now that the county lord is coming, it's better to come with me to meet you! ”

"A great thing?" Everyone looked at each other.

The knife room looked like a black man's agent, made a gesture of invitation, and invited everyone to enter the hall.

……

The political status of the businessmen was low, and although there were desks in the hall, the officials did not speak, and no one dared to sit down.

The superior always came last, and after a while, the black man was late, and he was kind enough to let everyone sit down without restraint, but then he said something terrible.

"The second and third sons have just complained about the national policy of the imperial court, their dissatisfaction with the calculation of the law, and their speculation about the purpose of inviting you here, and this official has heard it!"

"This ......"

Except for the knife room, which had nothing to do with themselves, everyone in the hall was so frightened that they stood up again, saying that they didn't say it themselves.

And the Langya merchant Guan Yan was directly frightened and lay on the ground, regretting himself for a while, the "defamation" promulgated by Qin Shi Huang during his eastern tour was still in effect, and he couldn't help but pause:

"The villain lost his words for a while, and he hoped that the county would forgive his sins and spare his life!"

Heifu smiled and said, "Forgiveness? Spare your life, what you say is the truth, the court is shearing sheep, cutting leeks, and fishing with all its might, what's wrong? ”

"Huh?"

The thirteen giants under the hall were all stunned, looked at each other, and thought that they had heard a bad message, why did the Heifu county guard of the feudal officials suddenly say that the court was not coming?

"Between the knives, read my notes to them!"

The Jiaodong businessman Daojian actively moved closer to the government, and Heifu also reciprocated by letting him be his agent in the business circle.

The knife passed over the copy of the note and read it aloud.

"The minister Jiaodong Shou Heifu said again, and when he heard that the prime minister asked for a calculation, this is the law of Anbang, which can make the traitorous businessman give his own personal interests to invest in the country, but the minister thinks that the world can be counted, but the land can not be ......."

Hearing this sentence "Only Qi Qi can't", all the merchants raised their heads and widened their eyes, could it be that the knife was not wrong, this county guard, was really speaking for their group of merchants who were trampled into the mud?

Daojian continued to read: "The group of thieves in Qi Land has made a rebellion, the people's livelihood has not been restored, and the merchants and merchants can make it easy for the people to have it, and they will not be overtaxed, making the prices expensive, and this is one of them. ”

"Haidong thieves are not peaceful, the government ships carry grain and troops, and they are already stretched, and the ministers want to make businessmen help, and they have contributed a lot, so they are not counted, and the other is also."

"Qi and Guanzhong, the customs are very different, in the past, Taigong Wangfeng sealed in the camp hill, the land is salty, the people are widowed, so the Taigong persuaded his female skills, extremely skillful, through fish and salt, Gu Qi crown with clothes and shoes in the world. Later, the state of Qi declined, the pipe was repaired, and the nine mansions were set up, and the city was ridiculed but not levied, so that Qi Fuqi was as powerful as Xuan. ”

"Although, the Qi people are heavy, so that their generals are as hard as the market, and they are soldiers who have lost the country. However, Qi Jia Guo can make huge profits, if it can be used by the government, the upper will be rich, the lower will be rich, and the profits will be several times greater! This is also the third! ”

"Although Your Majesty wants to change customs and customs, and then govern the county, you should also adapt measures to local conditions, why not make the counties of Qidi a special case, and exempt them from calculation for the time being. Let the merchants obey the orders of Shaofu and Jinbucao, so that they can benefit the country in Haidong and Liaonan, and in time, they may be able to add huge profits to the country of Wushi and Baqing, and Haidong's wealth can also enter the Xianyang ......"

After reading it between the knives, everyone was very excited, and Heifu continued:

And His Majesty's answer was...... Can! ”

Of course, Qin Shi Huang's short word can be understood as: You can try, but if you can't try, you black guy will go back and confess the crime!

The imperial court is now too short of money. Shao Li Si and Shaofu began to collect property taxes, which was also a last resort. Heifu estimated that if this continued, Shaofu would be so crazy that he would directly confiscate the rich people in the world and raid his house.

Although this group of people is not clean, it is not a long way to fish like this, and it is also contrary to Heifu's plan.

Therefore, Heifu proposed that the use of Qi land merchants could allow the imperial court to obtain more benefits than direct tax collection, and considering the increasingly scarce treasury, Qin Shi Huang was reluctant, but still agreed.

At this time, the merchants had already bowed their heads to Hefu: "The county monarch really treats the four people equally!" ”

Heifu said lightly: "If you don't come out of the farm, you will lack food, if you can't work, you will have no work, if you can't do business, you will have three treasures, and if you don't come out, you will have little money. ”

"The county is wise!"

Now, even the complaining Guan Yan is also sincerely grateful, 1,000 yuan and 200 yuan are drawn, which means that for every million they earn, they have to hand over 200,000 yuan to the government, which is not a very heavy tax on the city, it can be said that the merchants have returned a lot of blood.

But they still have concerns.

Because everyone heard it, this is not a simple cancellation, but a bet......

But now, Heifu has made a decision for them, and it's too late to regret it.

But he heard Heifu say: "Your Majesty has issued an edict, from January, the four counties of Qidi will be different from other counties in the world, suspend the calculation, as a special area, led by the government, and colonize overseas." From the second year onwards, it is necessary to earn more money than the calculation, and the treasury of the government is insufficient through the benefits of the seashore! ”

"Hence the name, 'Special Economic Zone'!"

"Special Economic Zone?" The thirteen giants in the hall stared at each other with big eyes, and they were puzzled by this strange term, but Chen Pingxiao and others had long been used to it.

But the black man said in the hall:

"Will there be such a song in the future?"

"In the spring of the thirty-fourth year of Qin Shi Huang, there was a big black man who drew a circle on the East China Sea......"