Volume 42 Chapter 10

Ten days after Lord Superintendent visited Zhulongling, Zhang Tie took his wives, Tang De, and a group of people on a flying boat to set off from Zhulong County to personally inspect and receive a group of people from Ninghe County, Yanzhou. More than 100 million acres of official land.

Olina's words that night deeply touched Zhang Tie—give the children a more hopeful future.

This sentence is the motivation for Zhang Tie's current actions, and it is also the motivation for the actions of mothers like Olina.

In the past few days, the women who have taken action have taken over the suzerain main office of Candle Dragon Leader built by Tang De, and started to form a new organization with the main suzerain main office as the core-Tie Xin Pavilion .

Zhang Tie's joke at the time, "Mrs. Cabinet", suddenly became true.

In Iron Heart Pavilion, Aurora is in charge of government affairs in Candle Dragon Territory, Olina is in charge of economics and business, Sabrina is in charge of intelligence, the six sisters of the Spencer family, Linda and Fiona, etc. , in Tiexin Pavilion, they all found their place and what they could do.

Among them, Beverly and Fiona are responsible for the most important internal and external information exchanges and confidentiality of the most important suzerain main office in Iron Heart Pavilion. All the secrets, and at the same time can directly contact Zhang Tie, must be someone who Zhang Tie absolutely trusts to be able to be responsible.

The six sisters of the Spencer family are responsible for accounting, auditing and other matters, and the two sisters, Aimei and Aixue, are responsible for goods and inventory matters. Linda has a gentle personality and is careful, and is responsible for the administrative operation of the entire Iron Heart Pavilion. Equivalent to the role of the internal steward.

All major matters in Tiexin Pavilion are discussed and decided by a group of women. If there is a disagreement, the women will vote for one person, one vote. If the votes are tied, it will be decided by Zhang Tie.

In just a few days, Zhang Tie's women burst out with enormous energy one by one. Even Linda and others, who had always been relaxed, devoted themselves to the work of Tiexin Pavilion with enthusiasm.

The women of Zhang Tie became the heads of Tie Xin Pavilion, and the people around the women, Olina, Aurora's confidantes brought from the ice and snow wasteland, and Suo Ni who has been by Linda and others all these years Ya and the others also entered the Iron Heart Pavilion.

All of a sudden, Tie Xin Pavilion was more than Zhang Tie's wife's cabinet, it became a kingdom of daughters, and there were no men in Tie Xin Pavilion.

Today, before Zhang Tie called a group of people to Ninghe County, Zhang Tie's "Madam Cabinet" finally issued a clear order and instruction to the entire Zhulong collar for the first time—from next month, that is Starting from July 1st, the consumption tax on beverages in cities within the territory of Zhulong, and the consumption tax on beverages such as liquor and beer brewed from grain will increase from the current 30% to 180%, a full increase of six times , while the consumption tax on fruit wine remains unchanged.

With this order, it is equivalent to controlling the consumption scale of alcohol in Zhulong's territory at once.

When there was a food shortage in Taixia, making wine was to compete with others for food. Raising the consumption tax on alcohol could curb alcohol consumption and use more grain in key places. A catty of wine could not save a life, but in many cases However, a few catties of grain can save a life.

It was Olina who put forward this suggestion. After Olina explained her reasons, this suggestion was unanimously supported by Mrs. Zhang Tie in Tiexin Pavilion, and then became a decree issued by the main authority of the suzerain , passing through the entire Candle Dragon Collar.

The order was issued before Zhang Tie's wives boarded the airship, and after boarding the airship, Zhang Tie chatted with a group of women about the first order issued by Tie Xintang.

This order is not a slap on the head, and you can increase the tax as much as you want, but a strict calculation after collecting enough data, with a lot of considerations.

The current population of Zhulong Ling is close to 20 million people. After the consumption tax on food and alcohol is increased five times, the annual wine brewing and production scale in Zhulong Ling will be reduced by 80%, from the current 170,000 tons per year. The production of alcoholic beverages has been reduced to about 30,000 tons per year. As a result, the food saved is almost 400,000 tons per year. At the same time, because of the increase in consumption tax, Zhulongling's annual consumption tax on alcoholic beverages will increase by 20%. This is another income of millions of gold coins.

At the same time, the consumption tax on grain alcoholic beverages has been raised but the consumption tax on fruit alcoholic beverages has not been increased. This is to guide the drunkards in Zhulong to drink fruit wine when they want to satisfy their cravings. As a result, the demand for fruit wine will expand. If it is passed to the supply side, it will cause a tight supply of various fruits that can be used to brew fruit wine in Candle Dragon. In order to alleviate the tight supply of fruits, more people in Candle Dragon will find ways to grow more fruits.

With the current high grain price, if the fruit farmers in Zhulong Territory want to grow fruit, it is impossible to occupy the grain fields for growing grain. Instead, they will find ways to open up wasteland on the mountainous land where grain cannot be grown, and expand the area of ​​​​orchards .

The supply of fruit wine has increased, and the tax revenue brought by fruit wine has also increased, which can allow Candle Dragon to earn more financial income every year.

The expansion of the orchard will increase the intensity of land reclamation in the Candle Dragon Territory and the value of the land in the wilderness, which will drive the development of the local economy.

The diversification and increase in fruit supply indirectly laid a solid material foundation for the Zhang family to produce full-effect potions on a large scale in the Zhulong territory in the future.

The 400,000 tons of grain saved each year through this decree can be purchased at market prices with the increased tax on wine and water, and used as the grain reserves of the Zhulong collar. The more grain reserves in the candle dragon collar, the more grain supply in the candle dragon collar The more secure and secure the food supply, the more people will be attracted from all states to settle in Zhulongling, gradually expanding the population of Zhulongling, making Zhulongling more prosperous and more confident in facing crises.

After listening to the words of a group of women, Zhang Tie had nothing to say except lamenting how he was able to let such a group of women stay by his side to help him.

Tie Xintang's small test with a chopper made Zhang Tie look at him with admiration.

"With the wives here, I don't have to worry about the candle dragon collar in the future. I used to hear about matrilineal clans and matrilineal society. Now that you ladies are here, I feel that it's not bad for men to live in a matrilineal society! "

Zhang Tie's words made all the women amused.

"I agree with that!" Tang De said solemnly.

"It's also thanks to Mr. Tang who has smoothed out many aspects of Zhulong's territory these days. Otherwise, we are newcomers, and we have just arrived in Zhulong County. How could we share your husband's worries so quickly!" Aimei said with a smile , "Sister Olina's vision is also admirable to all the sisters!"

"It was only when I heard Fiona inadvertently saying that a man was wrong to drink alcohol that day that I suddenly remembered that I could do something about the alcohol tax. I first discussed with Aurora and divided the alcohol into grain wine and fruit wine. The suggestion was made by Aurora!" Olinna didn't dare to take the credit.

Aurora also shook her head, "I also heard Beverly mention that Golden Crow City is convenient for growing fruits, and brewing a full-effect potion requires a lot of fruits, and drinking too much full-potency potion at once will have the same effect as drunk, so I suggest Olina to separate the drinks ..."

Beverly was also shaking her head, "Matia's sisters are still good at actuarial planning..."

"That requires Sister Linda to prepare all the materials, and that is the most troublesome job!" Mattia also quickly declined.

Seeing that even Linda was about to speak modestly, Zhang Tie smiled and shook his hands, "Okay, ladies, don't be humble. This time, everyone has contributed. You ladies are really good helpers for your husband. Manager Tang De also worked hard. I hope everyone can work together in the future to do a good job in the affairs of Zhulong..."

"It's not just a candle dragon leader. This time, the candle dragon leader has extended its influence to Ninghe County, but the governor is too... too much, this is a pit...cough...cough ..." Tang De coughed twice, and even at this time he did not dare to speak ill of a governor of Taixia. They are all 10% more than before, based on last year's 50% land rent, and in normal years, it takes seven or eight years for the output of those official lands to reach such a high level, even if there is no natural disaster The pest plague is only 90% of last year's production, and the 50% land rent that the governor wants is equivalent to 55% of the usual year. In this way, even if the official fields in Ninghe County can restore the previous average grain production, Only 45% of the food on the ground will fall into our hands in a year!"

"Only forty-five yards?" Zhang Tie rubbed his nose.

"Only forty-five percent!" Tang De nodded affirmatively, and sighed, "The forty-five percent is all our income from those official lands, and the cost of farming is also included in it, and those costs are a part of hiring people. A large amount of expenditure, the hired farmers in the official farmland, the head of the village, the steward, etc., not only have to take care of food and housing, but also send at least a sum of money and food to people of different levels every year, so that they have hope and income. We are responsible for grain seeds, agricultural tools, fertilizers, grain harvesting, and rough processing. The expenditure on this area can account for about 40% of the grain production income of the world. It’s a little less, but farm laborers always have to eat. It’s up to them to reduce these costs to 25%. In this way, the annual fixed expenditure of those official farmlands is more than 80% of their farmland. , sometimes when the weather is not good, if it rains a few times when your food is ripe, or if there are some pests and diseases, that is a 100% loss-making business!"

"Didn't anyone come to rent the official land in Ninghe County before?"

"In the past few days, I have inquired about it. It is not that there were no dignitaries in Xuanyuan Hill who wanted to get the idea of ​​Ninghe County's official land. It's just that everyone's land rent can only be 40% at most, no matter how high it is. , then basically there is not much profit, and like this year, there is no grain harvest in various places. Everyone planted the grain without knowing whether it will grow in the future. The fertility of any land where demonized seeds have been planted will be affected, even if the seeds are no problem The output will also be affected, and people around the world are in panic, and no one dares to rent the official land of Ninghe County at such a high price. The governor is famous in Taixia official circles for his black face and black hands, and almost no one If you dare to offend me, I really want to agree to Lord Duzai to rent more than 100 million mu of official land in Ninghe County at this time with 50% of the land rent. If the official land has been completely harvested for several years, I am afraid that ordinary wealthy families will want this official land Delayed to the point of bankruptcy..."

Zhang Tie shook his head. He knew Duzai's intentions. Mr. Duzai is a rich man, and he also wanted to see his tricks under the name of Qianji Daoist. There is no harvest every year, and now the price of food in Taixia is so high, no matter which rich family puts in the output of 60 million mu of fertile land every year, it will definitely vomit blood.

Zhang Tie was not in a hurry with Tang De's words. He was confident that a crisis was only a crisis for those without strength, but for those with strength, all crises were turning points and opportunities for further advancement.

Zhang Tie was not in a hurry, but his woman was a little anxious. Several women in the Spencer family looked at each other, but after a silent calculation in their hearts, they felt that this was a big hole. Diana looked at Zhang Tie and said, " Has the governor signed a contract with you, if not, you can talk to him again!"

Zhang Tie smiled wryly, "I know what you mean, but in Taixia, not everything counts without signing a contract!"

"Ah, how could this be?"

"Ashe, please explain to Diana, some customs and habits of Taixia are different from the traditions of the Holy Kingdom of Iceland, especially the traditions of Evin Dara!"

"Okay!" Arche smiled, and explained to the woman of the Spencer family.

Both the governor and Zhang Tie are people who keep their promises. Since the governor has already "rented" all the official land in Ninghe County to Zhang Tie, and the rent is 100 years, then even if there is nothing The contract, the agreement came into effect from the moment the supervisor left the Zhulong collar.

In Taixia, the so-called contracts are used by people who do small business. People with real status discuss and decide things, especially business matters. To sign a contract for others, in the eyes of many people, it is all doubt and insult to oneself, this business will never be done, and generally the shopkeepers with some status in big business groups will not sign any contracts , let alone figures at the level of Du Zai and Zhang Tie.

From full-effect potions to candle oil, these businesses often earn tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of gold coins every year, but Zhang Tie has never signed any contracts with anyone, and it is a deal. Not only Zhang Tie, but also his elder brother Zhang Yang is in charge of the Golden Crow Merchant Group, and now he rarely signs any contracts. When he reaches his elder brother's level, if he really talks about business, it will be settled if he high-fives each other. Shake all the same.

The bet between Guan Qianzhong and Zhang Tie, the leader of the Black Armored Army, was the same at the beginning, and it was also the case with Taiyi Xuanmen, the head of the seven great sects of Taixia. , it will be difficult to get up again.

This custom of Taixia is different from the business rules of the Western Continent and Avin Dala. In the Western Continent and Avin Dala, everyone is used to acting in accordance with contracts and contracts, and is used to combining those things with The terms and conditions are written on paper, and everything is done at a glance, but in Taixia, verbal agreements are often more effective.

"The contract between the Western Continent and Evin Dala is written on paper, while many contracts in the Eastern Continent are written on a person's personality and reputation, so the agreement between the governor and her husband, even if there is no contract, is absolutely complete. It cannot be changed, if the husband breaks the contract, then the reputation and prestige of the husband will suffer a huge blow!" Archie finally concluded.

Arche's words made Zhang Tie nod secretly. Hearing Arche's words, even Zhang Tie wondered why some people said that the Chinese had no spirit of contract some time before the catastrophe. This is simply too nonsense.

"Ah, what should we do then?" The women in the Spencer family frowned slightly.

"Sisters, don't worry, have you ever seen him worry?" Olina smiled and pointed at Zhang Tie.

Several women looked at Zhang Tie, and sure enough, they found that Zhang Tie only had a determined and indifferent smile on his face, and he didn't seem to mind the "big hole" dug for him by the governor.

Even Tang De became curious, looked at Zhang Tie from the beginning to the end, and asked hesitantly, "Could it be that you still know how to farm, why didn't I find out before!"

"I, Qianji Daoist, am I a man who has earned his fame!" Zhang Tie said with a serious face...

This is Zhang Tie's humor. In Zhang Tie's imagination, he felt that when he said such a stinking thing, people who heard it would definitely look at him with contempt, and then "cut" together. The atmosphere was relaxed and happy...

If it was before, Tang De might have jumped up and slapped him directly on the head—brat, his tail is up again.

In fact, the reality is that after Zhang Tie uttered these words, he realized that Tang De and Olina all looked at him with reverence and sparkling eyes, and felt that he was not enlivening the atmosphere, but It was a solemn promise, and I didn't feel the "ingenious" humor in his words at all...

At this time, Zhang Tie suddenly realized that he was really not suitable for such humor, because everyone would take what he said seriously.

For a moment, our real Qianji could only touch his own nose, feeling as lonely as snow in his heart...

Ninghe County is in the southeast of Yanzhou. From Zhulong County to Ninghe County, one only needs to pass through Gaoping County of Yanzhou and go all the way south. There is only Gaoping County between Zhulongling and Ninghe County. For Zhang Tie who owns a flying boat, this distance is probably equivalent to a person who lives in a Class A big city taking a bus in the city to the busiest commercial district in the city. The speed of the flying boat arrived in just over two hours. Zhang Tie talked with Tang De and the ladies on the flying boat for a while, and the Iron Dragon flying boat had already arrived in Ninghe County.

Looking down from the sky, the ground of Ninghe County seemed to be splashed with a piece of ink, and it was pitch black for thousands of miles.

It is estimated that everyone on the flying boat has never seen such a scene in their entire life.

The snow scene is white, and everyone has seen the scene of a thousand miles of snow scene, but if the snow scene is replaced with black, that is the scene on the ground in Ninghe County now... 〖To be continued〗