Chang'an Drunken Immortal Building, the largest restaurant in Chang'an City, has a large room for many people to gather, and Xia Hongsheng settled down early in the morning.

It is said that it is an annual meeting, but in fact, it is the shareholders of several industries sitting together and talking. The specific situation of the account office they sent has already told them that the purpose of the new year is to find an opportunity for everyone to get together. Anyway, they are all acquaintances, not here or there, and there are a few companies in each industry, and they are not taboo.

Because of the specific business situation, I will not talk about it when the shareholders of several industries are together. Rather, it is when each industry is separated, and the shareholders of each industry are alone.

For example, in the case of a distillery, the shareholders of the distillery will find a separate time after the annual meeting to meet separately again to discuss the various operating incomes. The same goes for the others.

But today there are things that affect all industries, so there will be more topics on the annual meeting.

Soon, the big shopkeepers of various industries in Xia Hongsheng's hands arrived, and Xia Hongsheng asked them to sit down.

After a cup of tea, Qi Yong opened the curtain outside and let in a person, Xia Hongsheng raised his eyes and saw that it was Duan Zhan.

"I'm about to tell you something." Xia Hongsheng saw Duan Zhan coming first, so he smiled and said, "Why is it so fast today?" ”

"It's not General Cheng yet!" Duan Zan said angrily: "He destroyed Tubo, he should have returned to the court, General Hou, General Zhi Sili and General Liu Lan all came back, and he was about to arrive in Chang'an." But General Niu didn't come back all the way! His Majesty ordered me to investigate, and the spy replied, saying that on the way, General Cheng thought that the military merits of destroying Tubo were too little, so he encouraged General Niu to pull the army south, saying that Ni Bo Luo sent troops to help Tubo, and was ready to clean up Ni Bo Luo! ”

Xia Hongsheng's eyes widened, I'll go, this Cheng Lao is really afraid that the world will not be chaotic, and all these things can be done! Originally, there was no him in the army that conquered Tibet, so he had to follow, so he had to let him follow Niu all the way. Who knew that the calm Niu Jinda was fooled by him!

Well, with Cheng Lao's style, it's impossible to say whether it's a fool or a threat!

How old is Nibhara, how many soldiers can there be? Even if he helped Tubo, it was just a few words. If this thing had destroyed people in the past, wouldn't Tianzhu have been unable to sleep?

"He is not afraid that Tianzhu will be frightened, and then send troops to help Mubara!" Duan Zan shook his head and said, "After leaving people to guard Tubo, there aren't many people along his way!" ”

"Afraid? He wished that Tianzhu could send troops. Xia Hongsheng shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Do you think that a mere mud bora can satisfy him?" He's going to Tianzhu! In my opinion, if His Majesty does not force him to come back, he will have to pull something out of Tianzhu's mouth. I guess that General Cheng and General Niu will crush Ni Bo Luo, but they have only been a nuisance and not a siege city, so as to force Mu Bo Luo to ask Tianzhu for help. ”

Duan Zan shook his head: "It's hard to guess, I don't know what Your Majesty thinks, after I knew, he let me come out, and there was no reaction." I just came here. By the way, what did you just say to me? ”

Xia Hongsheng took out a piece of paper, secretly handed it to Duan Zhan, and said in a low voice: "This is the hiding place of several Maitreya sects, you send someone to keep an eye on it, don't startle the snake." In addition, Maitreya seems to have hooked up with Manichaeism again, and it seems that there will be a move in the future. There were not many Manichaeans in Chang'an City, and most of them were Hu merchants. You send people to keep an eye on it, Manichaeism is not honest! ”

"Do you need me to teach Manichae to ...... in advance," Duan Zan gestured.

Xia Hongsheng shook his head: "No need, you just send someone to keep an eye on it." This favor has to be sold to Yuan Daochang. ”

As he spoke, he heard Qi Yong's voice outside: "Meet the three highnesses!" ”

The second floor was chartered by Xia Hongsheng today, so there were no outsiders.

As soon as Qi Yong's voice fell, he saw the curtain open, and the three brothers of the Li family walked in.

"Zan has seen three highnesses." Duan Zan bowed.

"What is Brother Duan's politeness?" Li Ke was the most familiar with everyone, and immediately smiled.

"Meet the Master!" The three brothers saluted Xia Hongsheng again.

Xia Hongsheng also waved his hand: "Today is a gathering of brothers to talk, so don't let these identities go for the time being." ”

With this, Li Tai immediately sat aside, and immediately complained: "Brother Sheng! I won't do it! I've been busy all day, and I'm so busy that I haven't had time to read the concept of the internal combustion engine you gave me! ”

After the Jingyang education reform, the academy became a college of higher education, and the research institute of the Jingyang Academy of the Tang Dynasty was set up, and Li Tai was the dean. There are many research institutes under the research institute, and Li Tai has been busy with this during this time.

"Everything is difficult at the beginning, in the past time, everyone is in place, and you won't be so busy." Xia Hongsheng said with a smile.

One after another, everyone soon arrived, Xia Hongsheng raised his hand and shouted: "Everyone, everyone! Today, at our regular annual meeting, the specific situation of the industry in which you are participating must have been reported by the accounts of each family. Today, there is one thing for you to discuss together, and in addition, there are a few new businesses, and I also told you that if you are willing, we will do it together. ”

"What Brother Sheng said is that the countries of the Western Regions have imposed heavy taxes on my Tang caravan and cut it layer by layer?" Li Ke asked.

Xia Hongsheng nodded and said: "Originally, many of you participated in the wine shop, glass shop, caravan, and maritime business, so let's open it up, I think you all know that this year's income is more than two percent lower than last year, nearly three percent." That's a lot of money. The reason is that the countries of the Western Regions impose heavy taxes on the Datang caravan, and from top to bottom, they all want to bite off the Datang caravan. As a result, after coming from the countries of the Western Regions, the cost increased dramatically. ”

"The countries of the Western Regions, where did they have the courage to dare to move the Tang caravan?" Liu Renshi was about to go crazy as soon as he slapped the table.

"Not only a few caravans under our command, but also the caravans of the entire Tang Dynasty, but whenever they pass through several countries in the Western Regions, they will be charged a lot of additional taxes. In addition, it is extortion, and everything is done. From the customs clearance documents to the city gate checkpoints, from the princes and nobles to the guards and even the beggars on the street, as long as the caravan of the Tang Dynasty passes by, they will be pestered to ask for money, otherwise they will make it difficult in every possible way to prevent them from passing. Hmph, the Datang caravan has become a shortcut for those people in several countries in the Western Regions to get rich! At that moment, some people were indignant: "The little brother is soft-spoken, and he is not noble, so he can only do it annoyed, but there is nothing he can do." ”

"Brother Zheng, don't worry, today is to discuss countermeasures with you." Xia Hongsheng smiled at this alternative boy who was born in a noble family but liked to do business: "This matter is not only about our caravan, but also about all the Tang Dynasty merchants who trade with foreign countries by land. We have to think of a countermeasure and teach them a lesson. ”