The crowd was silent for a long time, as if digesting what Li Chengfeng had said. The Crown Prince frowned. He realised that Li Chengfeng's game of national gambling had its benefits. Firstly, it could amass the greatest amount of wealth without harming the people. Secondly, it could divert the people's attention, diverting their idle energy and anger towards the injustice of reality. Thirdly, it could effectively control the people's desire to gamble.
The hall was silent for a while. The big shots frowned as they pondered, but none of them expressed their stance. They were all cunning and astute people. Why would they openly express their stance on an occasion like this?
Zhao Bairen asked again, "What about the second method?
What's a national debt? "
Li Chengfeng smiled. "A national debt seller sells bonds in the name of the country's imperial court …"
The crowd was in an uproar again. But having learned his lesson, Prime Minister Yang He's words were much gentler this time. "How can this be?
How can the imperial court associate itself with merchants who reek of money? "
In the previous world, scholars, farmers, merchants, and merchants were at the bottom of society. In this world, it was cultivators, farmers, merchants, and merchants. Unfortunately, they were also at the bottom of society.
Although the merchants had great actual power because of their connections with the cultivators, they had always been despised and suppressed in the social chain of contempt and in terms of their actual status.
This was because in the eyes of the literati, merchants pursued profit regardless of right or wrong. They would sell anything they could for profit, including their own country.
These people controlled a great deal of social resources and were subject to strict control. That was why they were strongly suppressed.
Merchants controlled a great deal of wealth in society. Naturally, they were not willing to be the younger brother of the younger brother. They were desperately looking for a backer. Not only were they trying to get close to the government, but they were also trying their best to send their own children to become great cultivators.
Because of these actions, the real status of merchants had been greatly improved. They held great power in society, even to the extent that they could influence national policy. But this had also caused the imperial court to be more cautious.
To them, Li Chengfeng's actions were no longer like raising a wolf, but a tiger!
However, this was the blind spot of thinking. Most of the time, before a creative idea appeared, it was as if there was a layer of transparent screens blocking people, making it impossible for them to use their hands to pierce through this layer of screens.
Li Chengfeng said, "No, national bonds are debts issued in the name of the Imperial Court. In essence, the fate of the country is tied to the people who buy the bonds. The bonds can be issued by the Imperial Merchant …"
These words made everyone look at each other. The Minister of Revenue slapped the table and said, "Wonderful!
Wonderful! "As he spoke, he turned to Zhao Bairen excitedly and said," Your Majesty, this is a wonderful plan! "
Zhao Bairen's face was full of confusion. "Why do I feel that this plan is usurious in the name of the imperial court?
How is it wonderful? "
Li Chengfeng immediately said, "Your Majesty, that's not the case. When the country lends out money, the buyer cannot redeem it within a certain period of time. Once the time is up, the original amount will be repaid with interest."
Zhao Bairen was shocked. "Huh?
The imperial court is still giving them money? "
The Minister of Revenue smiled and said, "Your Majesty, since you are borrowing money from your people, you can naturally pay interest when the time comes."
Zhao Bairen did not understand. "Then wouldn't the imperial court be working for nothing?
Also, if the imperial court borrows money from the people, where is the dignity of the imperial court?
Where is their dignity? "
Li Chengfeng said, "Your Majesty, the purpose of this plan is to amass a large amount of money in a short period of time to help the imperial court overcome its difficulties. You can say it's like robbing the east wall to pay the west wall, but the price paid is only a small amount of interest. Compared to other costs, it's naturally much smaller."
Zhao Bairen could not help but feel moved. He nodded slightly but did not speak. "Then what is the auction?"
Li Chengfeng said, "The auction is organized by the imperial court to set up the Imperial Auction House, and then use the imperial court's credit to auction off certain rare and precious items. Bidders will bid for the item, and the highest bidder will win the item."
Prime Minister Yang He said hesitantly, "The Imperial Auction House?
How does this benefit the imperial court? "
Li Chengfeng said, "We will create a commercial platform for all merchants and businesses in the world to help them buy and sell their own goods. With a third party's credit as a guarantee, we can guarantee the safety of their funds and the authenticity of their goods. At the same time, we can collect a certain fee and deposit."
The Minister of Revenue stood up and bowed deeply to Li Chengfeng. "Zhenren Li is not only a cultivation genius, but also a financial genius. I am impressed!"
Then, he said excitedly to Zhao Bairen, "Your Majesty, I understand now!
This is a great plan!
Not only can it effectively manage the merchants in the world, it can also greatly promote the development of Daqi's trade!
The real beauty of this plan is not only to collect fees and deposits, but also to provide a guarantee and trading platform for all merchants in the world. Once the trade flourishes, commercial taxes will naturally rise! "
Li Chengfeng was shocked. He realised that not only did the Minister of Revenue draw inferences, but he also thought of the auction house as a commercial platform like 'Alibaba'.
Do not underestimate the heroes of the world!
At this moment, the experienced Minister of Revenue finally could not hold it in any longer. He realised that Li Chengfeng's three plans were a series of punches. One was to hit the commoners and absorb their idle capital. The other was to hit the wealthy and bind them to Daqi. The last was to hit the merchants. As the platform developed and expanded, they would become more and more reliant on the platform, and be more and more bound to the country.
These three plans were brilliant!
The smart people here thought about it carefully and understood what was going on. The way they looked at Li Chengfeng changed again.
This kid … is a monster!
How did he come up with so many ideas at such a young age?
We old folks can't even come up with a single idea and we're stuck in a difficult situation. Yet this kid just randomly threw out three ideas, each one of them unprecedented!
Zhao Liexian stared at Li Chengfeng seriously. He hated himself for being too arrogant in the beginning and not pulling Li Chengfeng to his side. In the end, he missed out on a true genius, while the Crown Prince managed to overcome this crisis!
Yes, Zhao Liexian realised that all three of Li Chengfeng's plans were much more brilliant than his.
As the Fourth Prince of the imperial family, he naturally knew what it meant to compromise with the cultivation sects. However, he had to do this. If he did not, he would not have enough power to fight the Crown Prince.
The so-called rich and powerful nobles and cultivation sects could support him because of their own interests. However, once the Crown Prince compromised, they would immediately fall to his side.
That was why he had to compromise and give up benefits that the Crown Prince could not possibly do!
Li Chengfeng's three plans had completely ruined his plans. It could be said that this had completely crossed his bottom line. It had shaken his core interests in his fight against the Crown Prince!
At this moment, he had never had such a strong desire and motivation to kill Li Chengfeng!
However, he knew that killing Li Chengfeng would not solve this problem. Once these three plans were proposed, they would be immediately adopted. The Emperor, Zhao Bairen, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Revenue would definitely implement this plan. That way, Daqi's crisis would not be resolved. If the Crown Prince could overcome this crisis, then as the Fourth Prince … he would have to stay where he was!
This was something Zhao Liexian could not tolerate!
That was why Li Chengfeng had to die!
These three plans must not work!
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