Daming: At the start of the showdown, Lao Zhu was stunned

Chapter 855 The Gap Has Been Opened
"Haha." Zhu Su did not answer, but stood up and looked at the scenery of Ximen River outside Dongpo Tower.

His eyesight was very good. Although the distance was far, he could still vaguely see several pearl divers paddling bamboo rafts, which were floating on the green waves and sailing on the river.

"The cymbals are beating in Jingkou, and the wind and waves are blowing down Dongting. The red bank is approaching the red bank, and the boats are being raised again. The sun sets and the rivers and lakes turn white, and the sky and the earth turn blue when the tide comes. The pearl returns to Hepu, and it should chase the envoy star."

"As the saying goes, 'Western pearls are not as good as Eastern pearls, and Eastern pearls are not as good as Southern pearls.' Southern pearls are crystal clear, round and lustrous. They have been tribute to the royal family since the Qin and Han dynasties. They have been presented to the imperial court in every dynasty and are famous throughout the world."

"I know that you all think that I opened the market just for the sake of urgency, and that it was a decision I made on a whim without any basis."

"But why don't you think about it, since Lianzhou has such a precious product, if we build a market here, why can't it last forever and make Lianzhou a paradise and a place of wealth like Suzhou and Hangzhou?"

"...Your Highness?"

"I know that you think Lianzhou is weak and exhausted, so you mostly farm and work on your own. Even the South Pearls you produce are mostly sold directly to Fujian and Zhejiang merchants in private, and you are unwilling to trade them in the market." Zhu Su laughed.

Upon hearing this, Ye Shangren felt a little embarrassed, but there was also a hint of fear in his heart: This His Royal Highness Prince Zhou doesn't seem to be as ignorant of the world as he showed before?
It is true that Xuhu produces pearls. But in Lianzhou, only the South Pearl is a famous product. Many Zhejiang merchants, Fujian merchants and even Guangdong merchants travel thousands of miles to do business here. Isn't it because they hope to import some pearls and make a profit? Could it be that they are attracted by the poor mountains and bad waters of Lianzhou Prefecture?
Each chieftain would not miss such a good opportunity to make a profit. It is true that the Tuzu households produce pearls, but over the years, each chieftain can more or less produce some river pearls for their own use. However, river pearls are tribute pearls. If the court knows about it, they may be confiscated as tribute. In the past few years, the court reformed the commercial tax, and they will also be taxed... Therefore, it is better to tell the court directly that they do not produce pearls, and sell the river pearls privately to the merchants who come to collect the pearls. After all, the chieftains have the final say in the tribe, and they don’t worry about being exposed. They can also be exempted from taxes. Why not?

But unexpectedly, these tricks were revealed by the King of Zhou who came from the capital.

Seeing his expression, Zhu Su knew that his guess was right. He and Xie Jin looked through the classics and found that in the Tang and Song dynasties, Lianzhou had large-scale pearl mining operations. The Song Dynasty had set pearl taxes, and the Yuan Dynasty even established the Lianzhou Pearl Mining Division to specialize in pearl mining. How come the pearl mining industry disappeared as soon as the dynasty changed to the Ming Dynasty? The output of Hepu Nanzhu in the court's account dropped sharply... It turned out that it was privately transferred by these local officials and chieftains.

"...I am not criticizing you for hoarding pearls, but you should know that I built the market to prosper Lianzhou, and the people of Lianzhou will benefit from it." Zhu Su said, with a look of earnestness. "You pick up South Pearls and sell them to merchants, but the merchants can sell them for ten or a hundred times more than you with a little processing. Why?"

"It is because these merchants have the channels in their hands... and the channels are the key to truly controlling huge profits. This king came here to open up the channels of your Lianzhou, so that the profits from the South Pearl can be used to nourish your Lianzhou. Instead of flowing to other places, it will become a wedding dress for the prosperity of other states. Do you understand the reason behind this?"

Then, Zhu Su began to talk about the profits of Lianzhou South Pearls being sold to other places, the preciousness of South Pearls, and the Nanyang Fleet going to the West. Even the most shabby pearl jewelry could be sold at a sky-high price. They sold the pearls to merchants, which seemed profitable at first glance, but in the long run, they were just doing favors for others...

These words made Ye Shangren's face turn pale and blue. Many of them were descendants of criminals or mountain dwellers who were exiled to Lingnan. Although they built villages to protect themselves over the years and had deep roots in the local area, they gradually became hereditary chieftains... but because of this, they were mostly confined to the mountains and rivers, so how could they know the changes in the world today?
"Although I have to collect taxes from all tribes when I set up a trading market, the profits will definitely be much greater than if you guys do business on your own. Moreover, the court trading market is governed by the court's laws and regulations, and it can also unite the forces of the various tribes in Lianzhou to compete with foreign merchants. Isn't it more appropriate than you guys being scattered like a pile of sand?"

"For this market, I want to develop it for a long time, not just for a short-term deal. You should know that I have always valued the business of the Ming Dynasty the most. Every time I revitalize a place, the Ming Dynasty will have to collect a lot more commercial taxes. Why not do it?"

"This is a business that can be passed down from generation to generation. As long as the Ming Dynasty exists, this maritime trade route will not be cut off. The benefits of the South Pearl will also continue to benefit future generations. I have already explained the pros and cons to you, Lord Ye... If you want to participate in the business of this market, go and discuss it with Lord Wang in the government office. But I am sincere and want to invite all the local officials to join us in this great event."

"Lord Ye, why don't you do me a favor and set an example for other chieftains? From now on, move your clan's South Pearl business to this market... What do you think?" Zhu Su tempted.

Ye Shangren's face turned pale and blue, and he finally gritted his teeth and said shamefully, "Since Your Highness has given an order, how dare I disobey?"

He was also a decisive person, and a Han Chinese chieftain, so he was naturally close to the Ming court. Hearing this, he was willing to believe Zhu Su, so he continued:
"In this case, I will cut off all ties with the private merchants and put my entire family on your ship... I hope your Highness will not let us down and will really make this market last forever and make Lianzhou prosperous."

"It's the government's ship, not my ship... Haha, Lord Ye, don't worry, as long as you are willing to assist and cooperate with my court's major policies, my Ming court will not treat loyal people like you unfairly." Zhu Su laughed, and his laughter was quite happy.

If there is a chieftain who is willing to accept the Ming Dynasty's permit and tie his own interests to those of the Ming Dynasty, then when he actually gets the benefits, will the other chieftains still be able to sit still?
Once the door is opened, the government and these chieftains, who originally acted independently, will inevitably have more and more intersections and the distance between them will become closer and closer.

The hole has been opened. The profits of the monopoly market are the warm water used to slowly cook the frogs. When these "frogs" indulge in the profits of the monopoly market and are unwilling to withdraw, the government will naturally intervene in all aspects of the lives of the people under the jurisdiction of the chieftains. When the time is ripe, abolishing the native officials who have been passed down from generation to generation and implementing the "reform of native officials to officials" and governing by officials will be a natural thing.

(End of this chapter)