Chapter 765: Chapter 586: Decadence of the Imperial Commerce Bureau_2
But once the six Imperial Merchants get involved, private glass workshops can distribute their products throughout Da Rong, which also means they compete directly with the interests of the Imperial Commerce Bureau.
Actually, from the perspective of economic development, this situation is inevitable and also beneficial.
However, the problem is that if these people use the channels of the Imperial Commerce Bureau, they don’t have to pay business taxes.
Simply put, they can not only make money through the Imperial Commerce Bureau but also avoid paying taxes to the court, which is disadvantageous to the court.
"What problems have occurred within the Imperial Commerce Bureau?" Yang Zhenshan asked again.
"Our Luo family reported a revenue of 3,630,000 silver to the Imperial Commerce Bureau last year, but the bureau only reported less than 3,000,000 silver!" Luo Shang said.
Yang Zhenshan’s eyes narrowed slightly, "Someone embezzled your silver?"
Luo Shang nodded gravely, "Not only have they embezzled our silver, but they’ve also skimmed layers off the top. Take silk for example, the Imperial Commerce Bureau purchases raw silk at one tael and three money, but the sericulturists sell it only at nine money, and the price the weaving workshops offer us is thirty percent higher than the market rate, pushing our profit margins in the silk business down to a non-profitable level."
"If this continues, we might end up operating at a loss!"
...
Yang Zhenshan completely understood.
The corruption within the Imperial Commerce Bureau had started and was deteriorating rapidly; within just a few years, it had degenerated beyond recognition.
And it’s not only the Imperial Commerce Bureau; the Weaving Bureau and the Market Shipping Department have also become corrupted.
"Is it possible to cleanse it?"
Luo Shang appeared troubled, and Luo Zhen interjected: "Old Marquis, if you want to clean up the corrupt officials in the Imperial Commerce Bureau, you might need to rebuild it, and even select new Imperial Merchants!"
Yang Zhenshan shook his head in disappointment, indicating that even the six Imperial Merchants are involved.
All six were his own picks!
In just a few years, every single one had been corrupted.
Hopeless!
Unless Emperor Yanping is willing to take drastic measures to heal, but would Emperor Yanping be willing?
Nowadays, Da Rong has many expenses, especially in Beiyuan Town and Longyuan Province, both constantly requiring money and grain. Emperor Yanping might find it difficult to make a decision.
"Has your Luo family not been involved?"
"No, absolutely not!" Luo Zhen quickly replied, firmly confirming.
Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly, "Good, that’s relief. Your Luo family should disengage now! Resign official posts and sell off all your holdings in the Imperial Commerce Bureau!"
"This~"
Father and son exchanged glances.
Yang Zhenshan tapped his fingers on the table and said, "I plan to go to Star Moon Island, and the Yang family’s focus will also shift to Star Moon Island!"
Luo Shang was somewhat startled, then showed a look of realization.
"No wonder the Old Marquis wants to pass the title to the eldest!"
"Does the Old Marquis mean for our Luo family to also move to Star Moon Island?"
Yang Zhenshan picked up his tea, took a sip and said, "There are several other islands around Star Moon Island. If you are willing, I can give one of them to your family to settle!"
"Business must still be conducted, but you can focus on the East South Sea Domain in the future and engage in the glass business there!"
"How about this, we set up a trading company, and give your Luo family a ten percent share?"
Luo Shang’s expression shifted slightly, the apprehension on his face vanished, replaced by a sense of relief.
Doing business in the East South Sea Domain?
This was also a good option for their Luo family.
He was not afraid of dissociating from the Imperial Commerce Bureau, but rather afraid that Yang Zhenshan would no longer look after the Luo family.
As long as Yang Zhenshan was still willing to involve their Luo family, he had nothing to fear.
"Marquis, isn’t ten percent of the shares too low?" Luo Shang started to bargain.
Yang Zhenshan chuckled, "You, always wanting to earn more Silver even after a lifetime!"
"No one would think they have too much Silver!" Luo Shang also laughed.
Luo Zhen joined in the laughter.
Yang Zhenshan shook his head, "Only ten percent of the shares; we shall also bring Zhen Yang on board, and I want to pull the Lv family into this scheme as well. The Lv family will only have five percent, and you and Zhen Yang each need to put forth one million taels of Silver as startup capital to hold ten percent of the shares!"
Starting a trading company was not his impromptu idea but a plan he had devised long ago.
According to his plan, it was to establish a force centered around the Yang family on Star Moon Island.
This force was similar to that of a Sect, and also akin to a family force, or perhaps it should be more akin to a family enterprise.
With the Yang family as the lead, followed by two wealthy merchant families as support, plus two other families familiar with the East South Sea Domain.
This was very similar to the previous Star Moon Sect, but with a fundamental difference: the Yang family would dominate, and the other families would be subsidiaries of the Yang family.
For wealthy merchants, Yang Zhenshan chose Luo Shang and Zhen Yang; for families familiar with the East South Sea Domain, he chose the Lv family represented by Deng Yuehe, lacking one more, which he could select from within the East South Sea Domain later.
In addition, Yang Zhenshan also wanted to pull in the Tenglong Guard, having them invest manpower and money on Star Moon Island.
Thus, a large trading company came into existence.
Luo Shang and Zhen Yang would be responsible for management, Tenglong Guard for providing ships and security in the northern routes, Deng Yuehe for intelligence, and the Yang family for high-end martial protection.
Luo Shang did not add more, and directly replied: "Alright! The Luo family will follow Old Marquis’ arrangements in everything!"
"Ha ha, no need to be so tense; it’s just changing the place of development, and besides, we won’t completely leave Da Rong, your business there should still carry on!"
"Later you can discuss with Zhen Yang and consider selling part of the enterprises to Yang Family Trading Company."
"Hmm, in the future it will be called Yang Family Trading Company, you will be the head Shopkeeper of the Yang Family Trading Company, and Zhen Yang will be the second shopkeeper. How does that sound!"
Yang Zhenshan smiled.
Luo Shang poured him tea, "As long as Old Marquis doesn’t disregard the Luo family, I’m willing to do anything you ask!"
Yang Zhenshan smiled again, then changed the conversation, "Once I settle down on Star Moon Island, pick a few children aged around seven or eight from your family to send to Star Moon Island!"
"By then, I will personally guide their cultivation!"
Luo Shang’s eyes lit up, "And what about Luo Bo?"
Yang Zhenshan thought for a moment, "Isn’t he in Chongshan Town?"
Luo Bo is Luo Shang’s eldest grandson, and also Luo Zhen’s eldest son, who should be in his twenties this year.
When Yang Zhenshan was in Chongshan Town, Luo Bo followed Yang Chengye in the Personal Guard Camp, and after Yang Zhenshan returned to the capital, Luo Bo stayed in Chongshan Town’s Camp as a squad officer.
It seems this young man has followed Yang Chengye again.
Luo Bo is a Martial Artist, with ordinary cultivation, seemingly just entering the Initial Postnatal realm.
"Since he is with Chengye, let him continue to follow Chengye!"
Luo Bo is considered part of Yang Chengye’s team; naturally, Yang Zhenshan could not poach his grandson’s man.
"That’s also good, Luo Bo’s child is five years old this year; in another two years, he can be sent to Star Moon Island!" Luo Shang, not disappointed, spoke.
Then, the two discussed some family matters, and Yang Zhenshan sent Luo Shang to find Zhen Yang. If Zhen Yang agreed, they would resign together from the Imperial Commerce Bureau.
Zhen Yang is a wise woman. Luo Shang hardly had to persuade her; she agreed directly.
Zhen Yang represented the Zhen family, unlike other Imperial Merchants who were wealthy merchants with some heritage before seeking allegiance to Yang Zhenshan; Zhen Yang, under Yang Zhenshan’s protection, rose step by step.
For Zhen Yang, Yang Zhenshan’s protection was the most important, even now that the Zhen family has become one of the top merchants in Da Rong, Zhen Yang still closely follows the Luo family under the shelter of the Yang family.
This is also why the other few Imperial Merchants have chosen to collude and profit with other forces, while Zhen Yang has always borne the pressure, unwilling to harm the interests of the Imperial Commerce Bureau.
After Zhen Yang made her decision, Yang Zhenshan called her and Luo Shang to his mansion to discuss.
The formation of the Yang Family Trading Company needed the power of these two families, after all, the Yang family had never been involved in commerce and had no talent for it.