In fact, for Xia Dayan and others, they are no strangers to customs. This kind of yamen appeared as early as the Hongwu period, but at that time it was not called the customs, but was called the city of the ship, which is actually the prototype of the modern customs.

The customs tax system of the Ming Dynasty can be divided into three stages, the first stage is that before the Zhengde period, the customs did not have any taxes. In the Zhengde and Jiajing periods, 20% of the tax in kind was levied, and after the opening up in the Longqing period, it was the third stage, and the import and export tax system was gradually improved, changing from the tax in kind to the silver drawing.

However, it should be pointed out that the original intention of the establishment of the Ming Dynasty City Shipping Division was not to collect taxes from the shipping ships entering and leaving the Ming Dynasty, but to receive the envoys of the Nanyang and Fusang countries who paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty.

Originally, the city ship division had the opportunity to develop into a modern customs, and eventually brought a steady stream of tax revenue to the Ming court, but the establishment of the city ship division was a great damage to the interests of maritime merchants, and the Ming Dynasty's sea ban under their opposition can be said to be repeated, and finally the city ship division yamen was also revoked.

As a high-ranking official in Fujian Province, Xia Dayan naturally knew that the customs that Yang Feng had made now was not much different from the original city department. Compared with the 20% tax charged by the city, Yang Feng's 10% tax is less than half now, so they were silent when Zeng Peixin objected just now. However, when they heard that the annual tax revenue of Xiamen alone was estimated to be two or three hundred thousand taels of silver, they could no longer be calm, after all, the wealth was moving.

Yang Feng's gaze swept around everyone's faces and then stopped on Xia Dayan's body, "Lord Xia, do you have anything to say?" ”

"Master Hou, can the customs in Xiamen earn 300,000 taels of silver a year as Governor Lu said?" Although Xia Dayan's expression was very flat, Yang Feng saw the same look in his eyes.

Yang Feng nodded: "As Lord Tutu said, even if it can't reach 300,000, Ben Hou thinks that 200,000 should be there." ”

Xia Dayan asked again: "Does that mean that our Fujian alone can pay an extra million taels of silver in taxes every year?" ”

Yang Feng nodded: "Yes!" ”

"Then what does Master Hou plan to do with these tax silver?"

Xia Dayan's words became more and more sharp, but neither Yang Feng nor the people next to him felt strange. Although nominally Xia Dayan and others were all under Yang Feng's control, Yang Feng's governor of Zhengnan was only temporary, and no one knew when Zhu Youxiao would recall him, while the official positions of governor, envoy, and political envoy represented by Xia Dayan and others had existed for a long time. As the saying goes, the ass decides the head, and with so much money passing by them every year, it would be strange if they didn't think about it.

Yang Feng showed a hint of amusement on his face, and instead of answering, he asked, "What does Lord Xia want Ben Hou to do?" ”

With just a light kick, Yang Feng kicked the ball back to its original place.

Xia Dayan's eyes flashed with surprise, he didn't expect Yang Feng to play Tai Chi with him, in his impression, Yang Feng's personality has always been very straightforward, how can he play with his heart today.

After pondering for a while, Xia Dayan said tentatively: "The lower officials hope to intercept thirty percent of the tax revenue of the customs and put it at the disposal of various yamen in Fujian, I don't know what the Hou Ye wants?" ”

When the political envoy Ding Youwen and the inspector Tu Hongliang heard this, their eyes lit up, if it was really as just said that the annual tax revenue was 1 million, then 300,000 taels would be withheld from 30 percent, so that the entire Fujian officialdom could benefit.

"Sancheng?" Yang Feng couldn't help but laugh dumbly, looking at Xia Dayan and the others with a thick sneer in their eyes, these people really dared to open their mouths.

I saw him say slowly: "Lord Xia, it's not impossible for you to want Sancheng, but what I want to know is what efforts you have made for the customs?" Are you playing with the pirates with your head on your head, or are you risking the waves to be swallowed up by the waves and cruising the seas in battleships? If even you ask for thirty percent, how much should those sailors and soldiers who escort the interests of the maritime merchants and wander on the verge of death as adults? How much should Ben Hou take? ”

Yang Feng's words made Xia Dayan and the others blush, but those who are officials are not thin-skinned, and blushing is only a matter of a moment. Xia Dayan coughed lightly and said, "Then how much does Master Hou think should be left?" ”

"One percent at most!" Yang Feng stretched out a finger, "This is Ben Hou's limit, if there is more, Ben Hou would rather do it alone." ”

Everyone looked at each other and smiled bitterly at the same time, this person's temperament is still as direct as ever, and he will flip the table if he doesn't agree. It's just this ...... Ichisei ...... It doesn't seem to be non-negotiable.

Looking at the people who were a little hesitant, Yang Feng continued: "Don't be too little for you, you must know that in Benhou's plan, the distribution to the Fujian Navy Division is only two percent, after all, there are tens of thousands of Fujian Navy Divisions, so there will not be much to distribute it like this, and the remaining seventy percent will all be escorted into Beijing and sent to His Majesty's Inner Treasury." ”

Hearing this, Xia Dayan, the political envoys Ding Youwen and Tu Hongliang had nothing to say, while Lu Guangbiao was smiling so much that he couldn't see his eyes, and he had an extra two or three hundred thousand taels of silver every year, and he, the governor of Fujian and the admiral of the navy, was much better.

When the political envoy Ding Youwen saw that Yang Feng didn't mention himself, he couldn't help but ask curiously: "What about Master Hou, don't you keep some for yourself?" ”

"Ben Hou still has that bit of silver?" Yang Feng shook his head, "Now that the Ming household department is empty, it can run rats, and with more silver, you can do more things, so you don't want it." ”

After Yang Feng's words fell, even if Xia Dayan and the others were dissatisfied with Yang Feng in their hearts, at this moment they had to admit that Yang Feng was a person who did things like the Shanghai School, and he worked hard to build the customs, but he gave all the benefits to the court and the locality, and he didn't take anything.

Seeing that everyone didn't speak, Yang Feng said: "Since you don't speak, it means that you have approved Benhou's proposal, so let's talk about what you want to do." ”

Lord Xia and the others nodded in unison, this is a matter of course. There is no free lunch in the world, since you have taken the benefits of others, you have to work for others.

"For the customs, Ben Hou is not worried, but worried that the officials sent to the customs and the officials responsible for inspecting the goods and collecting the silver will join hands to get up and down, so that our customs will be set up in vain. Otherwise, if you can collect 1 million taels of silver a year, you won't even receive 100,000 taels in the end, which will be a joke. You don't care if you take less silver, but if your majesty takes less silver, then don't blame Benhou for being polite. ”

Yang Feng still had a faint smile on his face when he said the last sentence, but everyone's hearts were cold, no one present would think that Yang Feng was joking, judging from the killing determination that this guy had shown in the past, if someone really dared to do anything about customs and taxes, he would really kill people.

"Master Hou's words are also the words of this official." Lu Guangbiao also showed a killing intent that could not be concealed, "The customs tax is related to the well-being of tens of thousands of soldiers of the Fujian Navy Division, if anyone has unclean hands and feet, this official does not mind using knives and guns to talk to them." ”

"Although Master Hou and Governor Lu are relieved, the customs and taxation are very important, not only the two of them are concerned, but everyone and Fujian officials are also watching, if someone dares to do anything, the lower officials and others will not let him go!" Tu Hongliang was the first to speak, looking at the murderous aura on his face, no one would think that this prosecutor in charge of the punishment of a place in Fujian was determined.

"Okay, since you have made up your mind, Ben Hou is relieved."

Yang Feng's face showed a smile again, he was still confident in the authenticity of Xia Dayan and others' words, and the high ground of customs revenue was related to the interests of the imperial court, Fujian sailors and Fujian government, as long as he was not a madman, he would not dare to do anything in such a place. Of course, as the old saying goes, when the water is clear, there are no fish, and it is understandable that those officials take advantage of some loopholes to make a little money, after all, this kind of thing is not completely avoided even in the twenty-first century hundreds of years later, let alone now.

After discussing, Xia Dayan and others left one after another, while Lu Guangbiao was left behind by Yang Feng.

The two sat down, and the soldiers brought a large teapot and a few cups. Yang Feng personally poured a cup of tea for Lu Guangbiao, and Lu Guangbiao quickly stood up and was about to take the teacup.

Yang Feng waved his hand to signal him to sit down, put the teacup in front of him, and then asked: "Lord Lu, our shipyard will have twenty-six warships launched before the end of the year, and by then our Fujian Navy Division will have more than fifty warships, do you think we can go straight to Zheng Zhilong's lair and give them a hard time?" ”

Lu Guangbiao pondered his words for a moment before saying, "Master Hou, if we have fifty warships, we should be able to wrestle with Zheng Zhilong." However, as far as the lower officials know, the ships under Zheng Zhilong's command are known to be more than 1,000, and although most of them are small boats, there should be no less than two or three hundred warships capable of fighting. It's just that most of his main warships have been scattered in Fusang and Nanyang over the years, and the number of warships in Xiaoliuqiu (Taiwan) is less than a hundred, which is why we can fight with him inextricably over the past year...... Xia Guan thought that our warships were still a little less. ”

"Well, we still have too few boats!"

Yang Feng nodded in agreement, he admitted that he underestimated Zheng Zhilong's strength a little, Zheng Zhilong's strength was by no means as little as he showed, to be honest, if Zheng Zhilong really transferred all his warships back to fight with the Fujian Naval Division, the Fujian Naval Division was probably not his opponent.

"It seems that the sixth-level battleship is still too small, and it is necessary to hurry up and start the plan to build a fifth-level or even fourth-level battleship." Yang Feng's heart flashed with determination.