"Your Highness, I’m not here to complain, but we’re simply too busy." After the trade conference, the Ministry of Industry has been preoccupied with building schools, residential houses, libraries, comrcial districts, repairing roads, and so on. Now, they’re also busy constructing various water mills and setting up different shops along both banks of the Lingnan River—they are truly overwheld. "Your Highness, the Ministry of Industry was already short-handed, and now you want to establish comrcial districts on both sides of the Lingnan River, it’s... really too much for us to handle." The comrcial district within Swamp Prefecture City is not yet completed, and now Your Highness wants to build a comrce city on both sides of the Lingnan River—it’s truly... exhausting them.
Seeing the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Industry on the verge of tears, Zhao Yao felt a bit guilty. He raised a fist to his mouth, lightly coughed twice, and said, "Ahem, there’s really no other way. Just lease out the land on both sides of the Lingnan River and let them build the shops themselves."
"That was precisely my thinking." It would save a lot of trouble if rchants built the shops themselves.
"But they can’t just build whatever they want. Your Ministry of Industry must set specifications and have them construct the shops accordingly." If rchants are allowed to build at will, who knows what odd constructions they’d co up with. The sloppy, misshapen shops along both sides of the Lingnan River would seriously impact the city’s appearance.
"Your Highness, how about we follow the specifications of the comrcial city within the city?"
"That’s not ideal—the comrcial cities all being the sa would be pointless." Zhao Yao glared at the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Industry, "For the comrce city along both sides of the Lingnan River, you must devise a plan, and then have the rchants build the shops according to the regulations."
"Yes, Your Highness." Designing a comrce city is certainly preferable to constructing one.
"By the way, the comrce city along both sides of the Lingnan River must have a Goulan Court."
The Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Industry exclaid, "Goulan Court?"
"What are you thinking? Don’t ntion the Goulan Court; what you’re imagining is a brothel." Zhao Yao intended to model it after the historical Goulan Market of the Song Dynasty from the dream of Zhao Yao in that world. "A Goulan Court is specifically for performances—such as operas, storytelling, acrobatics, shadow plays, and the like—all of which can be perford there." A Goulan Court, in essence, is an entertainnt venue.
Hearing Zhao Yao’s explanation, the Chief of Staff blushed with embarrassnt, "I understand, Your Highness."
"The comrce city must also have a night market..." Zhao Yao elaborated in detail to the Chief of Staff about the layout of the comrce city along both banks of the Lingnan River.
The Chief of Staff listened attentively and took detailed notes.
"Once the comrce city is completed, the curfew will be lifted." Since Swamp Prefecture is still under construction, the curfew hasn’t been lifted yet. Once the comrcial district within Swamp Prefecture City is completed, Zhao Yao plans to cancel the curfew.
"Your Highness, isn’t it inappropriate to lift the curfew?" Since ancient tis, curfews have always existed. Except for the Lantern Festival, the curfew had never been lifted on other days.
"There’s nothing inappropriate about it. The real bustle happens at night." Zhao Yao stated, "Only by lifting the curfew can Swamp Prefecture beco more prosperous."
The Chief of Staff thought that the issue of lifting the curfew wasn’t his concern. Besides, the comrcial district within Swamp Prefecture City isn’t completed yet, so it’s a little early to worry about lifting the curfew.
Zhao Yao instructed the Chief of Staff on so matters and then allowed him to leave. Afterward, he summoned Zheng Qian and Wen Daoji to discuss comrcial taxes and legal matters.
When Swamp Prefecture was established last year, a series of comrcial taxes and legal fraworks were implented, but based on current circumstances, they are not comprehensive and need further additions.
Since there’s encouragent for citizens to engage in trade, there must be sound laws in place to ensure that they aren’t taken advantage of in the process. Naturally, there also should be protections for buyers so that they aren’t exploited by sellers.
Although Zhao Yao isn’t suppressing comrce, that doesn’t an comrcial taxes should be lower than agricultural taxes. Comrcial taxes must be higher than agricultural taxes. However, the comrcial tax in Lingnan should be lower than that in the interior to attract more inland people to conduct business in Lingnan.
Zhao Yao encourages citizens to engage in trade to earn money, while also raising the price of grains to ensure farrs have security when farming. He also plans to lower agricultural taxes. The climatic environnt in Lingnan is suitable for growing many grains and fruits, but if farrs can’t make money, they’ll also turn to comrce for profit, and then who will grow the grains and fruits?
He also encourages won to engage in business. If won engage in business, they will receive a one-third tax reduction.
Regarding the protection of won, many protective laws have been enacted. First: won have the sa inheritance rights as n. Naturally, won and n also share the obligation of support. No longer exists the notion of married daughters being like water splashed out.
Second: Won also have the right to land as n do. If a daughter marries out, the land can be part of her dowry.
Third: Won can study like n, and parents have no right to prohibit their daughters from attending school.
Once free schools are built, girls aged six and above can attend school.
Fourth: Protection of won’s property. After marriage, a woman’s dowry cannot be embezzled by her husband’s family, nor can her family arbitrarily use her dowry.
After a woman’s husband passes away, she has the right to inherit her husband’s property. Even if she remarries, her deceased husband’s family cannot seize the assets she should inherit.
Fifth: After marriage, if a woman is subjected to dostic violence, she can apply for divorce with the governnt. A husband engaging in dostic violence will face severe punishnt. If during dostic violence, a woman kills her husband, she is not guilty.
Sixth: If a woman is raped, the rapist receives the death penalty.
Seventh: ...
Zhao Yao originally intended to allow won to take the imperial exams and beco officials. However, now is not the right ti. If he proposed it now, there would certainly be opposition. Previously, even the concept of won attending school faced fierce opposition from ministers. Waiting for a few more years, as more won engage in business, it will be more appropriate to propose allowing won to hold office.
Perfecting comrcial taxes and legal fraworks isn’t sothing that can be settled in a day or two. Zhao Yao first outlined the areas he wanted to supplent, then had Wen Daoji and Zheng Qian add any additional points they saw necessary, for a collective discussion to ensure feasibility.
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