Yue Lin said: "This year's autumn tax has just been collected, and now all of it will be concentrated in Guangzhou, excluding the self-retained by various localities, a total of 545,000 stone of grain and 13.53 million yuan of money. ”

Yang Yan thought for a moment and said: "There is a lot of money, but the food is far from enough, more than 500,000 stone of grain, at most it is only enough for about half a year in Longxing, can you raise a little more?" What is the situation in Naye, Guangxi? ”

Yue Lin was a little embarrassed, and said: "I'm afraid it's difficult to raise grain anymore, Guangdong is not a grain-producing area in the first place, and in the past, it was necessary to rely on Guangxi to support a part, and it was not easy to prepare more than 500,000 stone of grain." If a part of the grain kept by the local government is diverted, it will only be able to raise about 100,000 koku at most. Although Guangxi is a grain-producing area, it has just been calmed down, and the place is in ruins, and I am afraid it is not as good as Guangdong. According to the lower officials, only Sichuan is now a major grain-producing area, and it has not been subjected to soldiers, so it is right to requisition more grain from Sichuan? ”

Yang Yan nodded and said, "I also know that Sichuan is a place where grain is produced, but Sichuan alone may not be able to support the anti-gold needs of the entire Great Song Dynasty, and other places also need to share some of it." ”

At this time, Zhao Ruyu opened his mouth and said: "In the opinion of the lower officials, the only way to do this is to go overseas to buy grain." It's just that the sea route is far away, and I'm afraid it will cost a lot. Second, now that all the official ships have been incorporated into the navy, and they will attack from the sea in the near future, how many ships can be transferred to carry grain? ”

Yang Yan also smiled bitterly, in the past, he only had to bring good soldiers, fight battles, and smooth the place. Money and food these things have never had to worry about him, only the imperial court to dispatch, now I know how difficult it is to raise money and food, to ensure the logistics of the tribute army, no wonder in the early Han Dynasty, just no war exploits, just stay in the rear, Xiao He, who guarantees tribute, can be established as the "Three Heroes of the Early Han Dynasty" with Han Xin and Zhang Liang, and it is not unreasonable.

Zhao Ruyu said: "There is a way to go down, is it possible to entrust the matter of buying grain overseas to the merchants, and after the ships arrive at the port, the imperial court only needs to pay them the fee." ”

Yang Yan's eyes lit up and said, "This is a good way to implement it." ”

Yue Lin said: "Although this method is good, it is only to buy grain overseas, which consumes a lot of money, and there is not much benefit, so businessmen may not be willing to do it." ”

Zhao Ruyu thought for a while and said: "I think it can be like this, as long as the merchants use how much grain, the city can reduce or exempt a certain amount of tariffs accordingly, so that it is profitable, and the merchants will definitely be willing." Since the adults pacified the pirates, the sea routes were smooth, and there was no need to pay tribute to the pirates, and there were more merchant ships coming and going, and after the Jin people invaded the south, many merchant ships berthed in Lin'an also stopped in Guangzhou, and the tax revenue of the city berth division was increased by five or six percent compared with previous years, so the reduction of some tariffs would not have a big impact. It's just that the reduction or reduction of tariffs must be decided by the imperial court, and the local government cannot make its own decisions, so please go back to the court to mediate. ”

Yang Yan nodded and said, "Zhao Zhizhi, you write a copy of the demolition for me first, and I will stamp the big seal and hand it to the imperial court, I think the imperial court should agree." ”

Zhao Ruyu also nodded, of course he knew the relationship between Yang Yan and the emperor, and Yang Yan came forward to declare to the imperial court, I believe there would be no problem. After all, this is also for the sake of anti-gold planning.

Yang Yan continued: "Zhao Zhizhi, Yue Zhuan, I came to Guangzhou this time, and I also plan to recruit merchants from Guangdong and ask them to donate some money, food and materials to the imperial court to meet the needs of anti-gold, do you think it is feasible?" ”

Zhao Ruyu immediately said: "My lord, the lower officials think it is feasible, now that the imperial court is in danger, everything we the people of the Great Song Dynasty should contribute to the country, and the lord presides over the pacification of pirates, ensures the safety of the sea routes, and has great kindness to the merchants of Guangdong." What's more, most of the merchants in Guangdong are rich, and there are many people with a net worth of hundreds of thousands, or even millions, and I think that at this time, it is time for them to come forward to support the imperial court. ”

A few people were talking, and at this time, someone suddenly reported that Xie Yuanqing, the president of the Guangdong Chamber of Commerce, and Ali were asking to see Yang Yan outside the state office. It turned out that after the Jin army invaded the south, Lin'an was lost, and Xie Yuanqing stayed in Guangzhou, and later established a chamber of commerce in Guangzhou and was elected president. Ali was also appointed by Zhao Ruyu as the official of Fanfang in Guangzhou, specifically responsible for the management of foreign merchant ships and merchants who came to the Great Song Dynasty. This time, I heard that Yang Yan came to Guangzhou, and the two made a special trip to visit Yang Yan.

Yang Yan's visit to Guangzhou this time to donate money, food, and materials to the merchants of Guangdong could only be realized with Xie Yuanqing's great help, so when he heard that the two of them were coming, he immediately ordered someone to invite them in.

After the two came in, Xie Yuanqing respectfully bowed to Yang Yan and saluted, "Yang Yan's horse has always been good. But Ali rushed to Yang Yan in a few steps, couldn't help but give Yang Yan a bear hug, and said loudly: "Lord Yang, we haven't seen each other for a long time, and you still have a new look, it's really gratifying?" ”

Xie Yuanqing smiled bitterly and said, "Ali, you used the wrong word again, it should be 'demeanor is still the same'." ”

When the others heard this, they couldn't help but laugh. Yang Yan said: "Brother Xie, Ali, please take a seat." You've just come in time, and I'm looking for your help. ”

Xie Yuanqing sat down and said, "If the adult has something to order, Yuanqing will do his best to serve the adult." ”

Yang Yan nodded, and said: "Brother Xie, I won't say kind words, the current situation Brother Xie probably also knows that the Great Song Dynasty is in danger, and the war may be protracted, and now the imperial court lacks money and food materials, and there are many rich people among the merchants in Guangdong, so I want to ask the businessmen to do their best to donate some money and grain materials to the imperial court to help the military needs, in addition, the imperial court also has to go to overseas countries to buy a large amount of grain, but it is not enough, and I want to be purchased by the merchants, the imperial court will pay according to the price, and according to the amount of grain transported back by each ship, Accordingly, certain tariffs will be exempted. Do you think it's feasible? ”

When Xie Yuanqing heard this, he immediately stood up and said generally: "My lord, please rest assured, if the skin does not exist, Mao will be paid, and if the Great Song Dynasty dies, my generation of businessmen will be helpless." Therefore, as long as the imperial court needs it, Yuan Qing is willing to dedicate all his family wealth to the imperial court to help with military needs. ”

Yang Yan said with a smile: "Brother Xie's words are serious, I don't want you to go bankrupt, but do what you can." What's more, only the wealth of your family is just a drop in the bucket, and only all the businessmen in Guangdong can come out together to donate to the imperial court. is enough to ensure the needs of the imperial court. ”

Xie Yuanqing was a little embarrassed, and said: "My lord, it is naturally my duty to talk about it in the next person." As for whether the others are willing, I don't dare to guarantee it, but in the next Cantonese commercial firm, there are some book names, and there are a few good ones, and they are willing to help the adults try their best to persuade them. ”