Chapter 1 Ye Tao and Tan Weixin had no great interest in managing markets, but as administrators, as the de facto rulers of Yunzhou, and as key formulators and participants in Dongping's current and future policies, this active form of folk economy held immense appeal for them. In particular, Yunzhou's market trade was very active, but Yunzhou had never seen a market-driven bazaar. Whether in Ningyuan, Suiyuan, Dongjiaji, or Thunderclap Cliff, they more or less let those small vendors in the market be, only strengthening management on the one hand, so that the local officials could intervene with a more humane approach, persuading and encouraging the small vendors to abide by the rules themselves, and strengthening the management of public spaces on the other. And by automatically setting up a very special institution like the Bureau of Civil Affairs, and giving the Bureau of Civil Affairs the right to manage public spaces, Ye Tao and Tan Weixin no longer had to worry about the market. In Ningyuan and Suiyuan, they could just change their clothes and go to the market at any time. Cleaning and sanitation would definitely have shortcomings for such an open public space with huge traffic, but it would never be a scene that would make people flinch. Perhaps, it could also be said that affluent Yunzhou regarded making money for everyone as a basic perk and had never considered making money from it.

But what Yu Yanhai said reminded Ye Tao that this was indeed a business model, but one that was hard to say whether it was good or bad. On the positive side, the government or businesses, or both jointly, could benefit from the market's management, which would greatly promote the improvement of public services. To put it nicely, there could be virtuous service and feedback. To put it bluntly, the burden falls on the user. But there would also be problems, namely that in some cases, the pursuit of profit would disrupt the normal order of this public space and harm the legitimate rights and interests of the small vendors. In addition, there was the worry that in the event of management disputes and a lack of legal basis for the management, coercion would be carried out by force, which would completely destroy the fair and reasonable business environment. And that was invaluable to both Yunzhou and Dongping as a whole.

Tan Weixin blinked and suppressed the smile on her face. She looked at Ye Tao, who signaled her to lead the conversation. Tan Weixin then said, "There's no problem with doing this. You don't have to worry about what we think. A business that makes money is indeed a business that makes money. The question is, to what extent is it appropriate to make money, and what else can be gained besides making money? Talent, in my opinion, is only one of them. Reputation and goodwill are equally important. In Nanyang, the entire city is under the jurisdiction of the Yazhou Governor-General's Office and the Seven Seas Trading Company, and the social strata are very distinct. Those bullies who bully the weak and fear the strong have a hard time gathering together to disrupt the order, and even if there are such people, they will be quickly wiped out. Small vendors don't have to worry about too many other things other than doing business and using their business skills. That's why that market stinks, but so many merchants are still willing to squeeze into it, and so many ordinary people, even you, sometimes have to go in to find things that are hard to get. But can you guarantee that forever? In particular, the Seven Seas Trading Company is clearly gradually handing over the basic governance of Asia, and even gradually transferring the ground forces, only maintaining a strong combat power at sea. One day, Hengbo will be Hengbo Port in Yazhou, but it will no longer be just Hengbo Port of the Seven Seas Trading Company. When tax collectors, relations with the government, local governance, and jurisdiction over these markets conflict, what will you do then? Old Man Liu, Mr. Yu, have you thought about it? Business is business, but it's also important to distinguish whether it's short-term or long-term. Which one do you take in the operation of the market?"

Liu Yi and Yu Yanhai were amazed by Tan Weixin's keen sense of their novel ideas, and this sharp question did exist. Now the Seven Seas Trading Company and the Yazhou Governor-General's Office were still in their honeymoon period, and their communication was very smooth, but one day, when a governor-general was not so easy to talk to, or did not understand the efforts and feelings that the Seven Seas Trading Company had invested in Hengbo Port, or when a governor-general wanted to rely on some friction to show his rule and presence, all kinds of problems would arise.

"If you really treat the market as a business, I have two ideas. One is that everyone can form a joint venture to operate the market commercially. The government can contribute money and public management resources... Now, the entire land rights of Hengbo Port are in the hands of the Seven Seas Trading Company, right? Then the Seven Seas Trading Company can contribute land and funds to build shops. I think those small vendors who participate in the market can also contribute some shares. Perhaps the amount of money each person contributes is limited, but when put together, it is considerable, and in this way, those small merchants are also qualified to participate in the management of the market, and only in this way can their own interests be fully guaranteed. The other method is for the merchants operating the market, whether it is one or several, to rent the operating and management rights of the entire plot of land from the Governor-General's Office, including the right to tax. Within the designated market, the market management collects rent from the tenants. This rent can include only the cost of renting the shops, or it can combine the rent of the shops and the basic business tax. The market management can report the total tax revenue to the local government, or it can report a total tax to the local government, and then, regardless of whether the business revenue exceeds the total tax, the government's taxation will no longer be questioned, depending on whether the market management has the ability to make money."

After Tan Weixin finished speaking, she shrugged her shoulders slightly and looked at the two of them indifferently. Liu Yi frowned and said, "In either case, the problem lies in supervision. The former plan is more complicated, and the latter plan is simpler, but no matter what, it puts the market manager on the fire... But it's really a bit interesting. If it were me, I would prefer the former. After all, when it comes to making money from the market, it's not a matter of whether I look down on these profits. For people like us, reputation is far more important than money. Hehe, no one ever thinks they have too much money, but in addition to making money, there always has to be some kind of thought."

Liu Yi said nothing more. For Liu Yi, the fact that his concubine's child, Liu Qing, was doing well in the Beijiang Pacification Office was something the family had never dared to imagine before, and the benefits it brought, whether in terms of money, connections, or internal motivation for the family, were immeasurable. Moreover, now in Dongping, although it was not like those aristocratic children, who always had elders and relatives to take care of them and had formed a complex network of connections, the social status of Dongping's merchants was much higher than that of their counterparts in Chunnan, Beiliao, and Xiling. As long as the merchants' children really had real talent and learning, as long as they were really willing to work diligently, there would always be a day when they could stand out.

Tan Weixin said with a light smile, "That's fine too, but we shouldn't be the ones doing this. At most, we'll just give some ideas. Why doesn't Old Man go and talk to the Governor-General's Office?"

Liu Yi and Yu Yanhai left satisfied. Ye Tao and Tan Weixin had expressed their concerns and caution and had given suggestions, which was enough. They were eager to discuss the matter with the Governor-General's Office. They naturally knew what Tan Weixin's caution was for. Government-business cooperation was nothing new in Dongping. For example, the current Ye's Workshop was not purely Ye's own property. However, government-business cooperation and government-business collusion were only a step away. Ye Tao and Tan Weixin always put careful and meticulous work first and tried to establish a strict and operational set of rules, which was not only their consistent style but also a protection for merchants. At any time, the state machine always had the final means, and merchants could hardly compare with the imperial court in this regard. Clear responsibilities on both sides were beneficial to everyone.

But after the two left, Tan Weixin's slightly smug expression made Ye Tao a little strange. "What's wrong? Why are you so happy?" Ye Tao asked.

"It's nothing... I just think it's really interesting to deal with merchants. After so many years of Dongping's mercantilism, it's really time for it to blossom and bear fruit. It's not just because the merchants' pioneering has expanded a piece of land for Dongping, but also because, finally, some merchants are beginning to understand that good order and laws are more important than simply leaning towards and supporting them. Even if Old Man Liu directly became the Yazhou Governor-General, or appointed him as the Hengbo Port City Guard, he would probably be very suitable. The way he thinks about problems now is definitely not purely a merchant. If there are enough merchants like this, we can consider trying a small-scale parliamentary system, just like Hengbo Port now," Tan Weixin said.

"Feeling a sense of accomplishment? This is the path you guided them on," Ye Tao asked. He naturally knew the answer. Tan Weixin wouldn't have that kind of smile for no reason.

"Yes... From carefully making suggestions when I was a child, for fear that my father would discover my specialness, to gradually being able to promote the relevant courses in economics step by step, and making them compulsory reading for merchants, especially these top merchants and those aristocratic families engaged in business. I don't care about the title of God of Wealth. There are many economists who died poor. But watching the system I painstakingly built blossom and bear fruit, watching myself being able to influence a class, a country, an era... I really feel a sense of accomplishment. I'm different from you. You rely on solid technology, those incredibly powerful military equipment, and technology that even I can't understand. I don't have that ability. Whether it's economic or other theoretical aspects, they're all too impractical. I've never felt so directly as I do today that merchants have become a powerful class," Tan Weixin said happily.

"This is Yazhou, which was built by merchants," Ye Tao shrugged and said faintly.