In the governor's office, Du Zhongxiao told Xia Zhu and Wang Kechen about the problems encountered in the fur industry in Bingzhou, and said: "Since last year, there has been enough money and grain in Bingzhou, and this fur yard has contributed a lot. Now that business is on fire, wouldn't it be a pity if the guild merchants were to fool around with their eyes, and I was afraid that our months of hard work would be ruined! Xia Guan thought that since the tanning workshop was insufficient, the government would come forward and build a few more workshops. ”

Wang Kechen smiled, looked at Xia Zhu, and said: "Sign the judgment, do you know why the officials and the people in this city do not support the expansion of the tanning factory, but those merchants in the north are extremely enthusiastic?" Businessmen are short-sighted, but officials may not be so. ”

Du Zhongxiao was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly said: "Please also give advice." ”

Wang Kechen said: "That Northland merchant, there is one thing I didn't tell you. A few months ago, there was a wealthy son of the Northern Dynasty named Yelu Buhua, who somehow learned our method of building a freight yard and built a freight yard in Datong Mansion. He does not tann furs, but only buys and sells raw and cooked skins. This person is the grandson of the Khitan Xijing who stayed in Yelu Maliu, and his power is not small, and this freight yard was built, not only the Khitan, but also the party and the obstruction, and a large number of merchants trafficked raw sheepskins there. There was a scarcity of craftsmen in the Khitan, and they couldn't tann so many furs, so they had to be trafficked to our state. It is said that the Khitans have profited a lot from that yard, and if we don't restrict it, we will all tan the furs for them—"

Speaking of this, Wang Kechen shook his head, with a smile on his face, obviously thinking that Du Zhongxiao had done a reckless job.

Du Zhongxiao was a little strange, and bowed his hand to Wang Kechen: "What the general judge said, this is the first time I have heard it from the lower official committee. But so what? The Khitans still sell us raw hides and buy our cooked skins, and the wages for tanning are still earned by us, yes or no? If we don't tann their skins, one day they will recruit their own craftsmen and tan their own skins, and it will be even worse. The more this is the case, the more we need to expand the factory, reduce the wages of tanned skins, and let all the raw skins from all over the world move to the state, and the cooked skins can be sold from here. In fact, the tax collected by the freight yard is not much, and what really benefits the state is that the tanning workshop is in our place, and the raw hides are made in our place. The benefits brought by this are stronger than any business. Moreover, the raw hides are made in our mature leather, and there will inevitably be tanning, leather clothing, and leather boots industries gathering in the future, which is the long-term plan. ”

Seeing that Wang Kechen still didn't think so, Du Zhongxiao said again: "General judgment, the core of the industry is production." As long as the tanned skins are with us, we will kill the life of the industry and make the most money. The rest of the sales and freight yards are attached to the production of tanned skins. Once the price of the factory rises because the business is too good, the industry will inevitably shrink, and there will be no regret at that time! ”

This is a fundamental difference in perception, and it cannot be clearly stated in a few words. It cannot be said that Wang Kechen is short-sighted, he has his own considerations, thinking that the core of the fur business is to buy low and sell high, and since the Khitan has built a freight yard, it should be restricted.

Seeing that neither of them could convince anyone, Xia Zhu coughed and said, "The fur business in Bingzhou is too big to be underestimated. It makes sense to sign a judgment that the workshop is a serious matter. It's just that last month's patrol of the border, which cost a lot, and now there is no money left in the city's treasury, and it is impossible to build a factory. There are so many craftsmen who tanned the skin, and there are still not enough states, where will the Khitan go to find people? ”

Du Zhongxiao arched his hand and said: "Xianggong, craftsmen are not so magical, as long as they are needed, they can be cultivated soon." The outsiders of the tanning guild signed a contract with the craftsman, and they were not their servants, so as long as the price offered by others was high, would they not switch to another family? As for the lack of money in the government, there is no need to worry, and the fur business in the state has been in business for half a year, so the people naturally have money. ”

Xia Zhu was about to be transferred to Hebei, and he didn't pay much attention to the affairs of the state, and with his trust in Du Zhongxiao, he said: "Since this is the case, then so be it, this matter will be handled by the judge." First of all, the government has no money in its treasury, so it has to raise money from the private sector. ”

Du Zhongxiao bowed his hand: "Obey the decree of the prime minister!" ”

Coming out of the governor's hall, Wang Kechen said to Du Zhongxiao with some complaints: "Sign the judgment, Xia Xianggong is about to be transferred to Hebei Road, Zheng Xianggong has not arrived yet, I don't know what the charter is, why do you have to be troublesome at this time?" It's okay to do it well, if there is a difference, let Zheng Xianggong look at each other differently! ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "General judgment, I spent countless efforts to build this freight yard, and the people of the city have benefited so far. Seeing those rat-eyed people collapse, how can I swallow this breath! ”

Wang Kechen shook his head, stopped talking, and went back to his general judgment hall.

Du Zhongxiao was stunned for a while, a little disturbed. Let's see if it's not early, go to the metropolitan office to deal with government affairs.

In the afternoon, Du Zhongxiao quit the daily government affairs, took Tao Seventeen and Thirteen Lang, and went to the Chunfeng Building attached to the freight yard, and asked Qi Kongmu, Leng Yuanwai, Hong Futong and others to be called. After thinking about it, he called Kang Chengdong over again.

Everyone arrived, sat down in the small pavilion, and Du Zhongxiao led a glass of wine.

Putting down the wine glass, Du Zhongxiao said: "Since last winter, the fur business in Bingzhou has become big and famous. Now furs from thousands of miles away are also sold here, and after the tanned skins are matured, they are sold in all directions, and the business is booming. It's just that when the freight yard was built, I didn't expect the business to be so big, and only two workshops were built, and a few months of time was not enough. I think about it, if the fur business is to flourish, it is necessary to build a few factories. This is not a trivial matter, it is closely related to you, and it is to consult with you. ”

Hong Futong was the first to shout: "Official, how can you build a factory again?" We, the tanners, scraped together the money to build a workshop. After a few months of hard work, I just saw some interest, why do we have to build a new business? ”

Du Zhongxiao said lightly: "I heard that now the fur merchants are begging you, and they have to add money to tann their skins, but they can't do it." Now I don't know how many raw hides are in the state, and there are mountains in the freight yard, and I can't put it down. Many businessmen from far away, because they can't tann cooked skin, live in Bingzhou City for more than a month, not to mention making money, and some even lose their capital. In the long run, who will sell raw hides to the state? ”

Cui Liyan on the side said: "Officials don't listen to other people's nonsense, in our workshops, the craftsmen work hard day and night, very hard, and the price does not rise much." Those skin sellers, buy and sell goods, they don't work, what is there to earn a little less! ”

Du Zhongxiao shook his head, looked at Leng Yuanwai and said, "Yuanwai, you are also a fur seller, how can you say it?" ”

The cold officer bowed his hand: "Official, for the sake of the merchants in the business, our guild has a contract with the tanning factory, and we must give priority to tanning our fur whenever it is." Although the price of tanned skins has risen a little, and the price of cooked skins has also risen, the business is still doing well. ”

Hearing this, Du Zhongxiao smiled bitterly in his heart. These businessmen are united and cooperative, and the guild is really not built in vain, regardless of whether others live or die, their own interests are guaranteed first. According to the rules of this time, the fur industry in the state was mainly controlled by these two guilds, and they negotiated it, and others were left to their slaughter. At this time, Du Zhongxiao deeply understood what the nature of the feudal guild was. To be precise, there were no two guilds, fur merchants and tanners, and according to the market, the people would build new fur factories themselves.

Looking at Kang Chengdong with an angry face on his face, Du Zhongxiao said: "Now in Bingzhou City, the people who rely on the fur business to eat are not only those merchants under your two guilds. If you don't build a new factory, your business won't be affected, and their livelihood will be difficult. Now in the city of Bingzhou, the collection of taxes depends on the freight yard, not on your guilds. A new workshop must be built, and you will decide whether to participate or not. I'm in front, this is the opportunity, don't regret it later! ”