Chapter 506 5. Is It Feasible to Serve the Public with the Grace of the Emperor?
Sukezaemon was still very happy to do business. Although he took advantage of Koyata's absence to trick Koyata and forcefully bought the exclusive rights of Yamauchi persimmon lacquer, he was very happy to pay.
First, the Yamauchi family paid back the interest of more than 1,000 kan that he had given him, and then the 5,000 kan of persimmon lacquer for a warehouse was also settled. For the rest, he had to hire a ship from Sakai to transport it, and pay as much as he took.
Persimmon lacquer was raised by the upper, middle and lower-level samurai of the Yamauchi family many years ago, under the auspices of Yamauchi Yoshiharu, with a fund of 10,000 kan, and it has always been in a situation of only investment and zero return.
The reason why no one asked about this matter was mainly because Koyata later embezzled public funds and used them to hype Shinshu miso, and then not only kept the capital, but also distributed 7,000 kan to the samurai who participated in the fund-raising at the beginning.
In other words, these samurai did not pay any money, but still retained their shares. It would be best if it succeeded, but if it didn't, there would be no loss at all.
In addition, Kobayata was famous, and everyone knew that Kobayata never failed to make money. It was agreed that they would wait at least three years, or even five years, and the psychological vaccination had been taken long ago.
These people were all warriors who licked blood on the blade, and their psychological quality was very good. They would not be like those who were frightened and worried every day after investing.
So when it was the fourth year, when the money was divided for the first time, many people didn't know why Kobayata summoned everyone. After sitting down and seeing the boxes full of gold and baskets of Yongle coins, they knew that the dividends were distributed.
Because there were still two warehouses of persimmon lacquer waiting to be shipped, there was no fear of running out of money, and all the five thousand kan could be divided.
The original investors, Yamanouchi Yoshiharu and Yamanouchi Yoshikatsu, were both dead. They accounted for 15% of the shares, Kobayata alone accounted for 20%, uncle Tsunayoshi 10%, old father-in-law Hosokawa Harumiya 10%, Imagawa Yoshichika 5%, and the rest were 10% for the relatives of the family, 15% for the hereditary family, and 15% for the hatamoto family. A total of ten shares, each with its own share.
Yamauchi Taro got 750 kan for nothing, and when the persimmon lacquer is sold out this year, it will be 2,250 kan, a huge profit.
On the one hand, the basic financial foundation of Yamauchi's territory began to collapse, and on the other hand, these samurai suddenly received more than twice the return of their original investment, and this was only one year's income.
It must be said that some people have become more active.
Yamauchi's finances are stretched to the limit. If it were an ordinary daimyo, the first solution would definitely be to adjust the five public officials and five civilians to six public officials and four civilians, or even more brutally, two public officials and one civilian.
There are daimyo who do this in this world, and they are very brutal, madly squeezing the farmers in the territory.
But this is definitely a case of draining the pond to catch fish. After all, if the tax rate has been maintained at a high level, and there is a natural disaster or man-made disaster, then a large number of self-cultivating farmers will definitely go bankrupt and flee. The country's farmer-soldier system will be greatly shaken, and the foundation of rule will be destroyed.
But due to limited vision, the daimyo does not have enough money, what to do?
Land inspection!
All property income of peasants and small landlords will be included in taxable income to expand the source of tax revenue.
The result will inevitably be the rise and fall of local uprisings and national uprisings. Anyway, if you can't survive, you just fight, it's either you or I!
After everyone fought, both sides were hurt and could only sit down to talk. The land inspection could not be carried out, so miscellaneous taxes were added.
Generally, when the land fee has been collected, the "additional land" fee is added, which is open robbery, without any reason. I just want it, and if you don't give it, the house will be confiscated.
But with the current situation of the Yamanouchi family, it is almost impossible to change the annual tribute collection ratio, let alone conduct large-scale land inspections. That is basically like an old man eating ** - looking for death!
Even when Yamanouchi Yoshiharu was alive, he would dare to inspect the land once every five or ten years, and the inspection was discussed.
"Can you give me an extra kan for your famous land this time?"
"No, I'll give you 500 sen at most!"
"Give me a little more! The Yamanouchi family doesn't have any surplus grain."
"Six hundred!"
"Six hundred and fifty, that's good for you, me and everyone else!"
"Okay!"
This is more like begging than land inspection.
But even so, in the Warring States Period with high tax rates, it still caused widespread dissatisfaction among the middle and lower classes.
Many times when the land inspector went to the countryside, the landlords and farmers would immediately kill chickens, catch fish, and make hot wine to treat you to a good meal. Then they would point to the paddy field with the worst harvest in the village and say how much this piece of land had harvested, and then how much land there was in the village.
The inspector didn't even look at the high-yield irrigated fields, but used this piece of land as a benchmark and calculated it.
Well! OK! The annual grain output has increased by 10% compared to ten years ago!
Everyone is happy!
You can raise it a little, we won't be serious!
You say that with just a kid like Yamauchi Taro, how can he have the prestige to bargain with hundreds of thousands of people?
If the Yamauchi family has no new way to increase revenue, they can only collect miscellaneous taxes. One cent per person can increase revenue by hundreds of kan. Ten cents per person, then this autumn harvest can increase revenue by 5,000 kan!
But the people are already poor, how can it be so easy to collect?
It's not that they don't want to, but they can't and dare not!
Seeing the dividends of persimmon lacquer this time, it is obvious that the income of 15,000 kan a year, minus the cost of 2,000 kan. 13,000 kan of Yongle money a year, are all real cash income.
Such a big piece of cake is placed there, so tempting.
Look, Xiao Pingtai is still planning the grape business. That night, Yamauchi chief accountant and Yamauchi Izumo came to visit in the middle of the night.
Not only did they come, but they also invited Xiao Pingtai's old father-in-law, Hosokawa Harumiya, to come over, as if to accompany him.
A Ling served four cups of hot tea and then left the Japanese room with the maid, leaving the men to talk about military affairs.
"I wonder what the three of you are here for?"
"It's nothing. I just came to discuss some chores during the summer harvest." Chief Yamauchi spoke first. After all, he was the youngest among the three. This did not change because of his status as a pen master.
"After the summer harvest? You will probably have to reserve military rations, regular salary and support rice for expenses. Alas, there won't be much left."
The summer harvest is the wheat that will survive the winter. Judging from the current situation, it would be good to have 200,000 shi in storage. The snow last year was not good, and the rain in early spring this year was not enough. A full dozen is not worth 40,000 yuan.
But there are countless loopholes to plug, which is really difficult!
"Everyone knows how difficult it is to manage general affairs. It's really hard work!" Yamauchi Izumo put down his tea cup.
"It's just to share the Lord's worries."
"Mama Kohei, after the summer harvest is over, will there still be some money and food left in the family account?" Hosokawa Harugong was quite worried.
"Difficult! It's always difficult! You have to take a breather after autumn, otherwise you won't even have the money to organize the maintenance of the Lian River and Tenryu River embankments. Gunpowder must be purchased, and military horses must be purchased. Last time, Koshihata's armor and weapons were lost. Quite a few, we need to add more.”
There are too many places to spend money, a bottomless pit that will never be filled.
"Yes, yes, even if I'm not here for two months, it will be difficult for me to change the family's financial plan!"
Xiao Pingtai thought to herself that it was still difficult for you. You had already taken out a loan shark, so what else could you do? However, she still agreed with her words.
"I'm just maintaining it~~~"
"It would be great if I could get a sum of ten thousand to twenty thousand dollars immediately."
"What does this mean, Chief?"
The only place where all the Yamauchi leaders can come up with 10,000 to 20,000 guan of money at this time is Kasaki Lacquer! Xiao Pingtai didn't expect that after just a few words, she would immediately become obsessed with him!
"Now that I'm thinking of summoning my troops, can I do my best to honor you?"
"Is it your favor?"
Isn’t this just forcing | to donate!