Chapter 825: with translation of chapter title

"Old Xue, have all the merchants in this town arrived?" After everyone sat down, Chen Wuji asked.

Xue Quan Yi leaned his body slightly forward, quickly glanced around at the merchants, his expression visibly tense, "Chief Chen Jieshuai, we're... missing a few people."

no.

"It seems... seven or eight people, probably seven or eight."

Chen Wuji nodded, "Did they send someone to tell you why they didn't come?"

no.

Chen Wuji chuckled, "Old Xue, these people are looking down on you, the Village Chief!"

The merchants sitting properly on the stools like well-behaved elementary students suddenly felt a jolt in their hearts, each feeling extremely fortunate to have given Xue Quan Yi this face.

These merchants, who have traveled south and north, have their minds clouded like lard; hearing Chen Wuji's words, they know those who didn't come are in trouble.

Xue Quan Yi gave a stiff, embarrassed smile at the corner of his mouth, "Chief Chen Jieshuai, I'm just a Village Chief."

"You can't say that; in Jie Jia Zui, you are now the highest-ranking Village Chief, how can you be just a Village Chief?" Chen Wuji said, "As for those seven or eight who didn't come, Old Xue, give me the list later and I'll send someone to talk to them privately."

no.

The merchants present instantly felt grateful and wanted to kowtow to Xue Quan Yi; most had already started calculating in their minds what gift to give him.

With Chen Wuji's words, offering pastries or fine wine now seems rather low-class.

Chen Wuji simply opened the meeting, scanned the crowd, and got straight to the point, "Today I've summoned you all to discuss a few matters that directly concern your and my interests."

The merchants all leaned forward slightly, straining their ears.

These people, as if prearranged, uniformly sat with only half their buttocks on the stools.

"First matter." Chen Wuji said loudly.

"Jie Jia Zui will open as a port; thereafter it will be under the jurisdiction of the Tun Tian Training Officer, with all market taxes etc. adopting favorable measures; an announcement will be issued then, but since I'm here today I'll give you an early heads-up."

"Then there will be a dedicated office here to manage the Qiang People, Uyghur, Shiva People, etc.; therefore your vision must be long-term, and in the future this place will not only do business with the Qiang People but with all our western neighbors."

Upon hearing this, the merchants' hearts stirred greatly, and they involuntarily showed joy on their faces.

For merchants, having or lacking official backing makes a world of difference.

This truly concerns their own interests.

"You are all outstanding merchants of Da Yu, heroes who expand territory from another angle." Chen Wuji continued, "As for the Court's past orders, I've spoken plainly—no matter!"

"Today I will tell you Nan Jun's policy. I encourage you to open new trade routes; if you confirm a route has sufficient value, you may apply for assistance from the Tun Tian Training Officer's troops; of course you must bear some cost, but it will surely be within your acceptable range."

"Second, the commandery supports you in establishing pastures and workshops in Jie Jia Zui and throughout the Tun Tian Training Officer's jurisdiction, with land half sold half given, and market taxes will receive corresponding reductions."

"Moreover, the Tun Tian Training Officer will guarantee the smooth flow of your trade routes—mountain bandits will be suppressed, horse bandits suppressed; if it's a tribe, or even a state like the Uyghur or Shiva, as long as you report it, the commandery will also send envoys to negotiate."

"In short, the commandery will guarantee your trading safety!"

Upon these words, the merchants' eyes nearly popped out of their sockets; they were so astonished they didn't know what words to use to describe their feelings.

Previously, when they opened trade routes, outside was trouble, inside was even more trouble.

Going to unfamiliar places, outside they had to guard against bandits, returning to Da Yu they had to guard against official bandits; inside and out they had to grease palms, and not just once—every checkpoint required payment.

Without greasing palms, they'd face all kinds of obstacles, and couldn't even get in the door.

Throughout history, there seems to have been no precedent of the government maintaining and securing trade routes for them; this is fundamentally impossible.

But Chief Chen Jieshuai actually spoke with resounding force, raising the matter to the national level; he could even dispatch envoys for these merchants to negotiate with other states.

no.

This is practically treating them like parents—no, like children!

For a moment, besides being shocked, the merchants were so moved they almost wanted to cry.

Even if Chen Wuji couldn't fulfill this afterward, just these words alone would be enough for them to stake their lives in support.

Merchants have always been lowly; when have they ever been valued this highly by the government?

no.

At least within the knowledge of those present, there has never been such a thing!

"Chief Chen Jieshuai, may I ask a small... tiny question?"

A merchant rose cautiously.

no.

The standing merchant had a pale complexion, wore fine silk; at a glance he came from a privileged background, yet even so, facing Chen Wuji he was nervous to the point of being flustered, unable to compose himself.

"Chief Chen Jieshuai, you reduce our market taxes, give land half sold half given, and send people to protect our trade routes—... where does the government's profit come from? I mean no offense; the things you say are for our benefit, but we... would like to think longer term, namely we could raise market taxes and pay a bit more." The merchant said.

no.

Chen Wuji smiled, "You'll understand if you think it through carefully; if I had to spell it out, a few words wouldn't make it clear."

He had already explained this matter to Xu Zengyi and Lu Ping'an just now, and really doesn't want to repeat it. Normally, merchants have keen business sense; they should be able to figure out this bit of market rule.

no.

Simply because they are in charge of opening sources, they ought to be looked after.

Countless trade routes converge at Jie Jia Zui, then spread throughout Nan Jun; only then will the water in this pool of Nan Jun increase—this is the most plain truth.

"But Chief Chen Jieshuai, if you don't explain it simply, we really feel unworthy of this... this unease in our hearts." That merchant gave an embarrassed laugh.

He indeed felt deeply uneasy.

Each of the conditions Chen Wuji mentioned made his heart race, but without having to pay the corresponding cost, he couldn't help suspecting there might be a catch.

Chen Wuji smiled, "I understand what you mean; you're worried I'm trying to cheat you, right?"

Actually these matters also come with conditions; you should keep as many shops and workshops as possible at Jie Jia Zui. You might consider from this angle: what will happen if there are more workshops, shops, and trade routes? The government naturally cannot just give you free labor, but this silver will not temporarily come out of your heads.