The entire world was in turmoil.
Even Gu Jing never anticipated such a trendous reaction to the policy from mariti sectors across various regions.
But this is human nature.
Whether it’s the local chambers of comrce or the top rchants, their intentions have long surpassed the initial stages of mariti trade.
Be it the adoration of foreign rchants or the constant accumulation of wealth, even the people behind them.
All of this makes them increasingly arrogant.
Not to ntion Gu Jing raising taxes—they would find ways to avoid even the current tax rates; how could they remain indifferent?
This aspect is unavoidable in any era.
Such is human nature!
....
Gu Jing did not pay much heed to all this. As the current Grand Tutor and the Patriarch of the Gu Clan, in Gu Jing’s eyes, this was rely trivial.
Even if rchants resist and strike, so what?
Without intervention, under massive interests, other rchants would naturally be willing to accept all this and seize everything anew.
Gu Jing only needed to ensure the fairness of the policy implentation.
Within this——
It would naturally involve the Imperial Censorate.
Countless censures from the Imperial Censorate rushed to the newly risen docks. Among them were the Gu clan mbers and many personally selected by Gu Jing.
It was these people who went to supervise everything.
And regarding all this, Gu Yi was equally indifferent because this was sothing a dynasty must go through.
Mariti trade is a double-edged sword.
It can rapidly elevate the national strength of a dynasty, but it can also plant nurous crises for that dynasty.
As long as the current unrest for the Great Tang does not escalate to beco a crisis of extinction, from a long-term perspective, it is certainly profitable.
What is there to care about?
Panyu.
This is currently the most glorious port of the Great Tang, and it’s also where the Gu clan has deeply rooted itself.
Since the ti Gu Ye swept through Lingnan.
A lineage has long been stationed in this Panyu area. Even though Lingnan and Kyushu experienced chaos over the years, the Gu clan still stood firm here.
There is no other way, whether it’s Gu Ye or Gu Ling.
Their legends in Lingnan are nurous.
One of them made people’s lives better, and the other traveled extensively to treat the people. The prestige of these two is one of the greatest shields for the Gu clan in Panyu.
Because of this, the sea rchants who have now taken root in Panyu are also very obedient.
Although there are also criticisms of the court’s policy.
They have protested.
But seeing the court’s clear stance and their market being encroached by other rchants, they had no choice but to bow.
They had no choice but to bow.
Panyu is not like Mingzhou or Donglai, and if it is abandoned by the court or the Gu clan, the local populace might devour them alive.
Not bowing would force them out of the Panyu market.
This is a consequence they cannot afford. Despite their reluctance, they can only begin to comply with the court-imposed laws and each contribute funds to start preparing for the expansion of Panyu City.
This expansion isn’t just about enlarging the city’s boundaries.
This is rely the foundation.
There are many other matters involved, which is one of the reasons for court disputes.
However, with everyone’s agreent.
The matter proceeded very smoothly.
The real challenge remained in the burgeoning coastal cities like Mingzhou and Donglai.
Although they sensed the court’s attitude.
These people, for reasons unknown, refused to give in.
And most importantly——
They have united together.
While not openly defying the court’s decrees, they influenced mariti trade operations from various angles.
Obstructions within Kyushu were manageable.
Under the watchful eye of the court on this matter, none dared to take grand asures. At most, they employed so trade tactics.
The actual problem persisted overseas——
These individuals had nurous connections with overseas rchants. With adequate incentives, they could impact mariti trade.
Business people inherently pursue profit.
Overseas rchants are no exception.
Not only due to the benefits from the major rchants but also because specific tax policies affect them too.
Now that they have a chance to return to normalcy and gain profit.
How could they decline?
The Great Tang is indeed powerful.
But when these issues extend beyond the Great Tang, they beco further challenging to control.
Under such circumstances, mariti trade in regions like Mingzhou and Donglai was affected.
In just a few months——
The trade volu dropped by half.
The impact spans far beyond just tax revenues, as mariti trade now associates with various industries.
The first to be hit was the handicraft industry, dramatically affecting those working in this sector, even causing fluctuations in grain prices.
For a rising dynasty, this can surely be called a significant event!
There was no choice, although everything seed to be progressing, it was genuinely still in its nascent stage.
Moreover, the market is only so sizeable.
When chambers of comrce and major rchants join forces, shaking the entire industry is not too challenging.
——The entire court and society were shaken!
No one could have predicted this event would cause such a trendous stir, given it had never happened before.
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