Ceng Shengwu couldn't be said to have any good impressions of the Tax Sector and Internal Affairs Department. The Tax Sector was a bit better, he also knew how much tax the Tax Sector collected this time. Of course, they also offended quite a few people.
But the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in Ceng Shengwu's view, was a yamen that specialized in amassing wealth for the emperor.
It was just that their methods were more brilliant and wouldn't cause conflict among the merchants. But Ceng Shengwu felt that something would happen.
"Greetings, Governor!"
After seeing Ceng Shengwu, Cao Yuan was very respectful and sincere. He was even more professional than Li Zhonghang beside him.
Ceng Shengwu nodded and made an inviting gesture. He smiled and said, "It seems that the two of you have come today to discuss something!
And it's not a small matter. This official will listen carefully. "
Li Zhonghang and Cao Yuan naturally heard the displeasure in Ceng Shengwu's words, but they didn't care.
"Let Chief Steward Li speak!" Cao Yuan smiled and said, "I believe Chief Steward Li's matter will make Lord Ceng happy."
Ceng Shengwu nodded and didn't mind. He turned to look at Li Zhonghang and waited for him to speak.
At this time, Li Zhonghang naturally didn't stand on ceremony. He directly said, "The first matter is that the Ministry of Internal Affairs wants to buy a piece of land from Great Publicity University. It's next to the South Canal!" As he spoke, Li Zhonghang took out a booklet and placed it on the table.
Buy land?
Ceng Shengwu didn't expect that the first matter Li Zhonghang wanted to talk about would be to buy land. This made him very puzzled. He didn't understand why the Ministry of Internal Affairs wanted to do this.
In reality, the Ministry of Internal Affairs was a yamen of the imperial court.
But whether it was the Imperial Bodyguard or Dongchang, they were all yamens of the imperial family. They didn't spend money to do things.
"This piece of land is about three thousand mu, and there are five thousand mu of barren hills around it. The Ministry of Internal Affairs wants to buy it all."
Li Zhonghang said with a faint smile, "The Ministry of Internal Affairs has already investigated. This land is all farmland and can't produce much food."
Ceng Shengwu picked up the booklet and recalled the approximate location Li Zhonghang had mentioned.
That place truly wasn't a good place, but it was farmland, the land of the Datong Army.
In fact, Ceng Shengwu also knew that the land could not produce food. Although it was by the river, it was previously a barren land. There was no shortage of water, but the land was not fertile.
Although the land and barren hills were not small, Ceng Shengwu still did not know what the Ministry of Internal Affairs wanted to do.
Ceng Shengwu believed that it would be easy for the Ministry of Internal Affairs to do that. He did not understand why Li Zhonghang wanted to buy it.
Ceng Shengwu understood this after he became an official. Do not speak if you do not understand.
Li Zhonghang saw that Ceng Shengwu didn't say anything and only looked at him, so he didn't mind.
"Zeng Daren, this is actually a commercial activity. In fact, this land belongs to the imperial court. The Ministry of Internal Affairs wants this land to build a wool textile factory.
This is not a matter of the imperial court. The Ministry of Internal Affairs does not represent the imperial court. "
With Li Zhonghang's explanation, Ceng Shengwu instantly understood why Li Zhonghang wanted to do this.
Since this was the case, there was a possibility of this matter being manipulated. Li Zhonghang even thought of the use of this money. It was definitely going to be handed over to the national treasury, but a portion of it was going to be left in Governor Xuan Da's yamen.
After this money was left behind, there would be many things that he could do.
It was no wonder that the emperor proposed the recruitment of soldiers. It was clear that after Xuan Da recruited soldiers, the money for recuperation would be paid by Xuan Da and not from the imperial court.
Then he needed to find a source of income for Xuan Da. This time, Li Zhonghang had come to deliver money to him.
Of course, Ceng Shengwu did not feel that this was Li Zhonghang's good intentions. Then, this good intention naturally came from the emperor.
"May I know how much Head Steward Li is prepared to pay for the land?" Ceng Shengwu looked at Li Zhonghang and asked.
"3,000 mu of land, 80 taels for each mu. 5,000 mu of barren mountains, 40 taels for each mu. The total is 440,000 taels." Li Zhonghang said this figure calmly.
In fact, Li Zhonghang used to be a Jin merchant. He knew the strength of these people. Not to mention other people, just the Li family alone could easily mobilize hundreds of thousands of taels of silver. Li Zhonghang knew that he had taken advantage of the land price. The land price of the future generation: Tsk tsk!
He could have taken advantage of more, but Li Zhonghang knew that the emperor would not allow him to do so.
When Ceng Shengwu heard this price, he almost spat out the tea in his mouth. He was just thinking about asking for more, but Li Zhonghang's price far exceeded the bottom line in his heart. Moreover, it was several times higher.
"Lord Ceng, regarding the land, in fact, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has divided the land into three types."
Seeing Ceng Shengwu's expression, Li Zhonghang explained.
Ceng Shengwu said with some hesitation, "Please elaborate!"
"According to the different uses, the land is divided into three types. Commercial land, which is used to build restaurants and markets. Agricultural land, which is used to plant crops. Industrial land, which is used to build workshops."
"According to the different uses, the land price will also be different."
Following which, Li Zhonghang gave Ceng Shengwu a detailed explanation of the three types of land. Then, he handed a document to Ceng Shengwu and said with a smile, "If we succeed, the capital will make this a permanent rule."
"All the land in the country belongs to the imperial court. If someone wants to buy the land, they will have to operate according to different prices."
"The imperial court will order the tax department to set the lowest price for each land according to the location of the land. Whoever wants to use the imperial court's land will have to buy it.
There is no free lunch in this world. All the land belongs to the imperial court. "
Ceng Shengwu was dumbfounded. How could they do this? He didn't know what to feel.
In the past, the imperial court encouraged the development of wastelands. The land belonged to whoever developed the wastelands. Now, they were doing this?
The world would definitely be in an uproar!
"Then what about the land that is developed?" Ceng Shengwu raised his doubts.
"Agricultural land will not be subject to this restriction!"
Li Zhonghang explained, "If the land being developed is uncultivated, the imperial court will issue you a title deed and then pay taxes according to the size of the land. If not, it will be treated as concealed land."
Hearing concealed land, Ceng Shengwu's mouth twitched. Right now, the entire country was investigating concealed land, and the tax department was in an uproar.
"Sir Ceng, you were originally someone who could enter the cabinet. Since the emperor sent you to Xuan University, he naturally has something big to do." Li Zhonghang smiled and said, "This place will be a benchmark. His Majesty said it will be called the new district."
Ceng Shengwu was silent. After a while, he realized that it was no wonder the emperor was so cautious.
After thinking for a while, Li Zhonghang finally understood a little. He was a very smart person and quickly figured out the whole story.
Although the impact was a little big and it was a little hard to accept, Ceng Shengwu also understood some things.
"Look at the docks and factories by the river. That place will become a very prosperous place. Chief Steward Li, don't tell me you want to set up the trade fair there?"
Hearing Ceng Shengwu's words, Li Zhonghang smiled bitterly. As expected, none of the people chosen by the emperor were easy to deal with.
This Sir Ceng looked very shocked, but his reaction was not slow. He smiled and took out another document. Li Zhonghang said, "Sir Ceng, this is another request to buy land."
As he spoke, Li Zhonghang took out another document and said, "To build a big market!"
Ceng Shengwu glanced at Li Zhonghang and sighed in his heart. As expected!
His vigilance was immediately raised. Although this chief of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was doing things according to the emperor's request, he was also taking advantage of a loophole.
Taking a look at the document, Ceng Shengwu's heart trembled again.
Another 3,000 mu!
In reality, this land might not be used for the time being, but Li Zhonghang was a businessman and knew that hoarding land was definitely the best way to make a fortune.
If he hoarded the land now, once the big market was built, the price of land would be: Tsk tsk!
Ceng Shengwu put down the document in his hand. Without looking at Li Zhonghang, he turned to Cao Yuan and said, "Deputy Cao, you are under the control of the governor's office, right?"
"Of course!" Cao Yuan hurriedly said.
Ceng Shengwu nodded and said, "Then tell me what you are here for."
"Reporting to the Commissar, I am here to discuss the collection of commercial taxes!"
Cao Yuan's expression did not change as he said, "The Tax Department is preparing to implement a new commercial tax in Datong. After all, the profits from trade in the grasslands are very high, so we have to pay taxes."
Ceng Shengwu completely understood this time. The money from selling land was for him, and the new commercial tax was for Xuan Da.
This way, the immediate problem would be solved, and they would have money in the future. Of course, the merchants would pay for it.
Although they would be a little unwilling, no one would force them to come. They could choose not to come to Datong.
However, if they came, they would have to follow the rules of Datong.
Now that the merchants outside were going crazy, the number of letters and invitations he had received was huge.
Once the textile factory was built and the big market was added, countless merchants would fight over it.
Ceng Shengwu could imagine how much profit there would be. It would be a mountain of silver!
At this thought, the face of the young emperor appeared in Ceng Shengwu's mind. This plan had obviously been prepared for more than a day.
From the establishment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, to the Yangzhou salt policy, to the Ministry of Internal Affairs taking control of the salt policy, everything had been planned!
The plan was far-reaching, the planning was detailed, and the execution was perfect. His Majesty was really scheming!
He had boldly changed the salt policy and blocked the salt policy, which was equivalent to choking the necks of the Jin merchants. He had opened trade in the northwest and made them invest their money here. This plan was terrifying!
Li Zhonghang and Cao Yuan looked at each other. Neither of them said anything and just waited quietly for Ceng Shengwu.
In fact, Ceng Shengwu had also thought about his own military reform. He had changed the system of stationing soldiers to a system of recruiting soldiers. Originally, Ceng Shengwu had been worried about how to deal with the soldiers who were stationed in the fields.
Even if they were given land, their lives would not be much better.
However, it seemed that these people would not be enough. He reckoned that the merchants would go around to recruit people.
Tea leaves from Jiangnan and wine from Jiangbei. Countless people would gather here. Ceng Shengwu did not dare to think about it. He quickly stopped his train of thought and forced himself to focus on the matter at hand, which was to sell land.