allendalepharm Chapter 274 Take it from the people and use it for the people
Chapter 274 Take it from the people and use it for the people
That's right! Even though Jiang Youzhen had some talent in studying, it was impossible for even the most senior officials in the court to be able to handle all aspects of the canal transport, let alone a 14-year-old boy.
"Who said we need funding from the imperial court?" The few words that came out of Jiang Youzhen's red lips shocked the other three people present.
"What do you mean? If we don't use the imperial court to allocate funds, then who will pay for it?" An idea suddenly occurred to the second prince. Could it be that he should ask those businessmen who have made a fortune to pay for it?
But! Why would those merchants pay for it? And how much can they pay? The wharf is not unusable, and the money they pay for its maintenance is already a lot.
"Take from the people and give back to the people." Jiang Youzhen looked determined.
"We'll discuss this later. Let's look at the map first." Jiang Youzhen pointed to Li County, not far from Tongzhou Prefecture. "What if we set up the dock not far from Li County? There's a mountain on one side and a river on the other, so the geographical location is very good. This area has a vast plain. As long as this place is connected to the official road, it will be connected in all directions and transportation will be very convenient."
"The water here is deep and there are mountains to block the strong winds, which is conducive to ships docking."
The more Jiang Youzhen looked at it, the better she thought it was to have a dock here. It was a natural geographical advantage. Fortunately, she had learned some history in her previous life, which could be used at a critical moment.
The three of them immediately turned their heads to Li County, and after careful consideration, they felt that what Jiang Youzhen said made a lot of sense.
"That's right! The geography here is indeed suitable. There is no place more suitable than this one around." The fourth prince agreed, "But, then again, that is, there is no money."
"There's no rush for this!" Jiang Youzhen shook his index finger with a bright smile on his face.
Tong Huaian was infected by her smile and couldn't help but smile too. Jiang Youzhen was so dazzling, she was born to be the center of attention.
"Please look, what are these?" Jiang Youzhen pointed at the small flags on the map and asked the three people.
"It's a temporary docking place for supplies, and there's no pier." The second prince reminded.
“Look at these temporary stops for supplies, they are scattered here and there, so why not bring them together? It always wastes time when ships stop.
It is also very inconvenient without a dock, and boats have to be used to reach the shore. We can set up one or two large docks along this stretch of the canal to provide supplies for the ships.”
"You mean, if we expand the dock here, we can also use it for supplies? But if they don't have a temporary stop along the way, what will they do if they don't have enough rice?"
"When you're out and about, you always try to find a way to bring extra. If the dock is busy and has everything, why would you need to make a temporary stop to replenish everything at once?"
Jiang Youzhen's statement suddenly enlightened the three of them. Previously, docks were built in the countryside for the purpose of moving goods on and off ships, and there had never been any talk of supplies.
"This place is vast. It can cover all the needs of food, clothing, housing and transportation. It can also drive the prosperity of Li County. Why not?" Jiang Youzhen said.
The Fourth Prince was a little excited, but then he calmed down.
"According to what you said, not only do we need to build a wharf, but we also need to build shops. This means developing a county town, and we also need to build roads. How much will this cost? The court will not allocate funds. This is a huge move."
The Fourth Prince shook his head. Jiang Youzhen’s idea was good, but it was a pity that he didn’t have the money to realize it.
"This is what I just said, take from the people and use it for the people. A prosperous shop naturally needs merchants to maintain it. Merchants have always been profit-driven. Without sufficient profits, how can they pay money?"
Jiang Youzhen smiled, and Tong Huaian said, "You mean to ask those merchants to pay the money? That's unlikely, right? They are so smart."
"Of course they have to pay, and they have to pay willingly." Jiang Youzhen pointed at the land, "What does the court have? Only this piece of land! And this piece of land happens to be the most important."
"Tell me in detail!" the second prince said impatiently.
Jiang Youzhen did not keep it a secret any longer, "The court can build shops on these lands and then sell them to those merchants."
Seeing that the three people seemed to be hesitant to speak, Jiang Youzhen understood what they wanted to say.
"I know you're going to say you don't have the money, but actually, let them pay for it. Any merchant who pays will have the first choice. They can choose the best location and the size of the shop. They must know that once the dock becomes prosperous, business will naturally come."
"The imperial court is soliciting donations and inviting merchants from all over the country to attend the banquet. The highest bidder wins! Money can move people's hearts. They are businessmen and know how to do business better than us."
The three of them nodded immediately, unable to hide their excitement on their faces.
"Good!" The fourth prince was the first to clap his hands and laugh. "Mr. Jiang is indeed the top candidate in the county. Not only is he extremely talented in studying, he is also very smart about current affairs. He is also far-sighted and resourceful."
This time, the Fourth Prince's praise was sincere. If he did appreciate talent just now, it was not so strong. But now, he felt that Jiang Youzhen was indeed a capable person that even the Second Prince was eager to get close to.
In comparison, what are those staff members? They are just mediocre people.
"That's right!" The second prince nodded. He was right about Jiang Youzhen.
"But there is one more thing. If all those shops are bought by merchants and they monopolize the prices at the dock, then everything will become several times more expensive. What should we do then?" The Second Prince's mind raced. He did not trust the merchants.
"Of course the government intervened. Aren't there officials in charge of the grain transport? Just leave it to them to worry about it! If you are afraid that they will unite, then set a time limit on the ownership of these shops."
Jiang Youzhen knocked on the table. "Five to ten years, it depends on how much money they donated. When the term is up, if they want to renew the contract, they will be given priority, but if they don't meet the requirements, then someone else will be replaced."
The three of them couldn't help but look at Jiang Youzhen deeply, and the second prince even said with a tut-tut sound, "Tut-tut! You are even more ruthless than those merchants. You calculated their money, and they had to rush to get it. If you can't get it, you will beat your chest and stamp your feet."
Jiang Youzhen suddenly felt a little embarrassed, "Then you misunderstood me. I just wanted to give them a chance to make money, to all the merchants."
"Hmph!" The second prince snorted lightly, but the smile on the corner of his mouth could not be wiped away.
Tong Huaian was shocked at the moment, and his heart was overwhelmed with shock. He looked at Jiang Youzhen in front of him and always felt that she was very strange.
When did Jiang Youzhen become so powerful? Is she really only fourteen years old? Before, he always thought that he was on par with the people in Beijing, which was very remarkable. But now it seems that it is nothing in front of Jiang Youzhen.
She came up with the solution so easily and so quickly.
"Good! Very good! I will immediately submit a petition to the capital. If this reform is feasible, it will not only solve the problem of maintaining the canal, but will also bring more tax revenue to the court."
The second prince was overwhelmed with emotion. He didn't expect that this trip out of Beijing would yield such great gains.
The surprise Jiang Youzhen brought him was so big that he couldn't believe it.