Chapter 585: The Royal Merchants Bureau Is Corrupted

August 12.

Emperor Yanping issued an edict that Yang Mingcheng inherited the title and officially became the Marquis of Da Rong Jing'an.

In the main courtyard of the Yang family, Yang Mingcheng changed into a Qilin suit. As the Buddha relies on gold and the people rely on clothes, Yang Mingcheng immediately looked majestic and noble in the Qilin suit.

Wang arranged Yang Mingcheng's clothes and smiled with her gap teeth exposed.

"Dad, do you think this dress fits?" She asked Yang Zhengshan tactlessly.

Yang Zhengshan was speechless after being made to look like this.

This woman is good in everything, but sometimes she seems a little petty.

Promotion and wealth are all great joys in Wang's eyes.

Her husband became a marquis, and she was even more happy.

This is a problem of concept. Although Wang has enjoyed all the wealth and honor now, her petty nature has not disappeared.

Of course, Yang Zhengshan would not be angry with her. Wang is very good except for this point.

"Well, not bad, looks like a marquis!" Yang Zhengshan did not contradict Wang, stroking his beard and smiling.

Yang Mingcheng smiled innocently, "Why do I feel uncomfortable?"

"What's wrong? I think it's good like this!" Wang said immediately with dissatisfaction.

This dress was not worn on her, so she naturally didn't feel uncomfortable, she just looked comfortable.

Yang Zhengshan smiled and said, "It's too cumbersome, it's really uncomfortable to wear!"

Yang Mingcheng took two steps and nodded, "That's right, I can't practice martial arts in this one!"

The Qilin costume is gorgeous, but because it is too gorgeous, it is not suitable for daily wear.

Anyway, Yang Zhengshan didn't wear the Qilin costume many times.

"I'd better change it!" Yang Mingcheng said and walked towards the side room.

"Oh, why are you changing it? I think it's good like this, you wear it!"

Wang hurriedly chased him over.

Seeing this, Yu Qingyi couldn't help laughing, "Let her wear the Marquis's shawl tomorrow and see if she still likes it!"

Yang Zhengshan also laughed.

The clothes of the noble ladies are even more complicated. There are more than twenty kinds of headdresses on the bare head. Once put on, it is like wearing a big vat. The clothes are also extremely complicated, with "falling collars", "seven things", and various miscellaneous ornaments. You can't walk happily.

If this is worn daily, it will definitely be an extremely uncomfortable thing.

Just as the two were talking, Lu Shou walked into the hall and said, "Marquis, Mr. Luo is here!"

Yang Zhengshan stood up and said, "I'll go to the front yard first!"

"Yes!" Yu Qingyi nodded.

In the front yard, Luo Shang and Luo Zhenzhen were sitting in the tea room waiting.

When Yang Zhengshan came in, the two hurriedly stood up and bowed, "Greetings to the old Marquis!"

The title was passed to Yang Mingcheng. In the future, Yang Mingcheng will be the Marquis, and Yang Zhengshan will be promoted to the old Marquis. Yang Chengye, the young Marquis, can be regarded as worthy of the name.

"Sit down!"

Yang Zhengshan sat casually at the tea table, leaning lazily on the soft couch.

He looked at Luo Shang and Luo Zhen. Luo Shang's hair was all white, and her face looked a little bad today.

"Is there something wrong?" Yang Zhengshan asked.

Luo Shang hesitated for a moment and sighed heavily, "Old Marquis, something might happen to the Imperial Merchants Department!"

Yang Zhengshan was startled and looked at him in astonishment, "What could happen to the Imperial Merchants Department?"

The Imperial Merchants Department is the money bag of Emperor Yanping and the Ministry of Revenue. It can provide Emperor Yanping and the Ministry of Revenue with tens of millions of taels of silver every year. In the minds of Emperor Yanping and the Ministry of Revenue officials, the Imperial Merchants Department is a big treasure. Neither Emperor Yanping nor the Ministry of Revenue officials will allow the Imperial Merchants Department to have problems.

And the situation of the Imperial Merchants Department should be good in the past two years. Although the profit of the glass business has been declining, glass products have been popularized among the people. The cheapest glass products can be sold for a few coins at the lowest. Even the local rich man in the countryside can buy a few pieces.

Although the profit has decreased, the market is getting bigger and bigger. The Royal Merchants can still make a lot of money from the glass business.

As long as there is no problem with the glass business, the Royal Merchants should not have any big problems.

Luo Shang showed a bitter look on his face, "Old Marquis, you don't know that the Royal Merchants' income has decreased since last year. The year before last, the Royal Merchants' annual income was more than 13 million taels, and last year, the Royal Merchants' annual income was only 11.8 million taels. This year, the Royal Merchants' income may fall below 10 million taels!"

Yang Zhengshan was even more stunned, "Why is this?"

It doesn't make sense!

The Royal Merchants' current income should only increase, not decrease.

Not only the glass business, but also the sea trade. The Royal Merchants now control a lot of sea trade industries.

And with the Royal Merchants' involvement in the sea trade business, Dayong's sea trade has shown a booming state. From Liaodong to Jiangnan, and then to Fuhai, the scale of sea trade in coastal areas is getting bigger and bigger, and the profits generated are also increasing.

Luo Shang said: "One is because a large number of private glass workshops have appeared among the people, and the other is because there are problems within the Imperial Merchants Bureau."

"Wait, didn't the court stipulate that private glass workshops are not allowed?" Yang Zhengshan interrupted.

Luo Shang said helplessly: "Even if the court does not allow it, it can't stop the greed! Not only do they run private glass workshops, they also use the channels of the Imperial Merchants Bureau to sell glass products!"

"The Wang family, the Qi family, the Zhang family, and the Lin family are already deeply involved, and the Zhen Yang family can't stand it anymore. Even I have been threatened by many people!"

Yang Zhengshan was silent.

It is not those glass workshops that control the glass business, but the sales channels of the six major imperial merchants.

In fact, private glass workshops have appeared for a long time, but they have no sales channels, and the imperial court prohibits them, so those black workshops are just making small fuss in some places.

However, once the six major royal merchants participate, it means that the glass products of private workshops can be sold to Darong, and it also means that private workshops are robbing the interests of the Royal Merchants Department.

In fact, from the perspective of economic development, this situation is inevitable and beneficial.

But the problem is that if these people borrow the channels of the Royal Shangsi, they will not need to pay commercial tax.

To put it simply, they can not only use the Imperial Shangsi to make money, but also do not have to pay taxes to the court, which is not good for the court.

"What's wrong with the Imperial Shangsi?" Yang Zhengshan asked again.

"The income reported by our Luo family to the Imperial Shangshu Department last year was 3.63 million taels, but the income reported by the Imperial Shangshu Department was less than 3 million taels!" Luo Shang said.

Yang Zhengshan narrowed his eyes slightly, "Someone is greedy for your money?"

Luo Shang nodded with a heavy expression, "They are not only greedy for our money, but also exploit them layer by layer. Take silk threads for example. The price of the purchase of raw silk by the Royal Merchants is one or two or three cents, while the price of the silkworm sells raw silk by the silkworm. But it is only nine cents, and the price given to us by the weaving workshop is 30% higher than that of the people. Our profit in the silk business has been reduced to a point where we are not profitable."

"If this continues, we may have to lose money and do business!"

“…”

Yang Zhengshan completely understood.

The Royal Shangsi began to decay, and the decay was quite fast. In just a few years, it had become so decayed that it was not decent.

Moreover, it is not only the Imperial Commerce Department that is corrupt, but even the Weaving Bureau and Maritime Bureau are corrupt.

"Can you clean it up?"

Luo Shang was a little embarrassed, and Luo Zhen interrupted, "Old Marquis, if you want to clean up the corrupt officials in the Imperial Shang Department, you may need to rebuild the Imperial Shang Department, and even other Imperial Shangs have to choose again!"

Yang Zhengshan shook his head speechlessly, which means that the six imperial merchants were also involved.

He chose all the six royal merchants!

In just a few years, they were all corroded.

No more saved!

Unless Emperor Yanping is willing to cut his flesh and heal his wounds, will Emperor Yanping be willing?

Nowadays, Darong has too many places to spend money, especially Beiyuan Town and Longyuan Province, who are all reaching out to ask for money and grain, so it is estimated that Emperor Yanping will find it difficult to make up his mind.

"You Luo family didn't participate in it?"

"No, absolutely not!" Luo Zhen said quickly and said seriously and affirmatively.

No mistakes, one song, one content, one in 6, one book, one bar, one reading!

Yang Zhengshan nodded slightly, "It's good that there is no, your Luo family will get out now! Resign from his post and sell everything the Luo family has in the Imperial Shangsi!"

“This ~”

The father and son looked at each other.

Yang Zhengshan tapped his finger at the tea table and said, "I am going to go to Xingyue Island. In the future, the focus of the Yang family will be on Xingyue Island!"

Luo Shang was stunned and then showed a sudden look.

"No wonder the old marquis wanted to pass the title to the uncle!"

"What the old marquis means is that our Luo family also goes to Xingyue Island?"

Yang Zhengshan picked up the tea and took a sip and said, "There are many islands around Xingyue Island. If you want, I will set up an island for you!"

"Business still needs to be done, but the focus can be placed on the southeastern waters in the future, and you can also do glass business in the southeastern waters!"

"Let's do this, let's build a business and give you a percentage of the Luo family?"

Luo Shang's expression moved slightly, and the worry on his face disappeared, replaced by a sense of ease.

Go to the southeastern waters to do business?

This is also a good choice for their Luo family.

What he was afraid of was not leaving the Imperial Shangsi, but that Yang Zhengshan no longer cared about their Luo family.

As long as Yang Zhengshan is willing to take their Luo family to play, he will have nothing to fear.

"Mr. Marquis, isn't 10% of the shares too little?" Luo Shang bargained.

Yang Zhengshan laughed, "You, you have not earned enough money in your life!"

"No one would think there was too much money!" Luo Shang also smiled.

Luo Zhen also laughed.

Yang Zhengshan shook his head, "Just 10% of the stock, pull Zhen Yang's family up, and then I want to pull the Lu family onto the pirate ship. The Lu family is only half a century, and you and Zhen Yang's family will have to take out one million taels each. Only as the start-up capital of the business can Yinlai account for 10% of the shares!”

It was not his intention to set up a business name, but his plan to make a long time ago.

According to his plan, he set up a force on Xingyue Island with the Yang family as the center.

This force is similar to the sect power, also similar to the family power, or should be more similar to the family business.

The Yang family was the main focus, and two wealthy businessmen were selected as supplements, and two families familiar with the southeastern waters were also found to join.

This is very similar to the previous Xingyue Gate, but it is essentially different, that is, the Yang family is dominant, and other families are affiliated with the Yang family.

As a wealthy businessman, Yang Zhengshan chose Luo Shang and Zhen Yang family, and was familiar with the families in the southeastern seas. Yang Zhengshan chose the Lu family, that is, Deng Yuehe. If there is a family, he can choose a partner in the southeastern seas in the future.

In addition, Yang Zhengshan also wanted to pull the Tenglongwei Liu family into the water so that they could also invest in some people and money on Xingyue Island.

In this way, a huge business name appeared.

Luo Shang and Zhen Yang are responsible for the operation, Tenglong Guard is responsible for providing the security of ships and the northern waterway, Deng Yuehe represents the Lu family responsible for providing intelligence, and the Yang family responsible for providing protection of high-end force.

Luo Shang didn't say anything more and agreed directly: "Okay! Everything in my Luo family will follow the arrangements of the old marquis!"

"Haha, there's no need to be so nervous. It's just a change of place for development. Besides, we are not leaving Darong completely. You still have to do business in Darong!"

"When the time comes, you can discuss with Zhen Yangshi and sell part of the industry to Yangjia Business!"

"Well, it will be called Yangjia Business from now on. You are the head of Yangjia Business, and Zhen Yangshi is the second head of Yangjia Business. What do you think!"

Yang Zhengshan said with a smile.

Luo Shang poured tea for him, "As long as the old marquis doesn't abandon the Luo family, I can do whatever the old marquis wants me to do!"

Yang Zhengshan smiled and said, "When I settle down in Xingyue Island, pick a few seven or eight-year-old children from your family and send them to Xingyue Island!"

"I will personally teach them to practice at that time!"

Luo Shang's eyes lit up, "Then Luo Bo!"

Yang Zhengshan thought for a while and said, "Isn't he in Chongshan Town?"

Luo Bo is Luo Shang's eldest grandson and Luo Zhen's eldest son. He should be in his twenties this year.

When Yang Zhengshan was still in Chongshan Town, Luo Bo followed Yang Chengye in the personal guard camp. Later, Yang Zhengshan returned to Beijing, and Luo Bo stayed in Chongshan Town as a team officer.

Now this kid should be following Yang Chengye again.

Luo Bo is a warrior, and his cultivation is ordinary, as if he has just entered the acquired realm.

"Since he is with Chengye, let him continue to follow Chengye!"

Luo Bo is considered to be Yang Chengye's team, so Yang Zhengshan naturally cannot snatch his grandson's people.

"That's good, Luo Bo's child is five years old this year, and he can be sent to Xingyue Island in two years!" Luo Shang said without disappointment.

Then the two talked about some family matters, and Yang Zhengshan asked Luo Shang to find Zhen Yangshi. If Zhen Yangshi had no objection, they would resign from the official positions of the Imperial Merchants Department together.

Zhen Yangshi was a smart woman, and Luo Shang didn't persuade her much, and she agreed directly.

The Zhen family represented by Zhen Yangshi was different from other imperial merchants. Other imperial merchants were already wealthy merchants with some background before they joined Yang Zhengshan, while the Zhen family represented by Zhen Yangshi rose step by step under the protection of Yang Zhengshan.

Yang Zhengshan's protection was the most important thing in Zhen Yangshi's heart. Even though the Zhen family has become the top wealthy merchant in Darong, Zhen Yangshi still follows the footsteps of the Luo family and relies closely on the protection of the Yang family.

This is also why several other imperial merchants have chosen to collude with some forces to make profits, while Zhen Yang has always been under pressure and is unwilling to damage the interests of the Imperial Merchants.

After Zhen Yang made her decision, Yang Zhengshan invited her and Luo Shang to his house to discuss it.

The establishment of the Yang family business must borrow the power of these two families. After all, the Yang family has never been engaged in business and has no business talents.