Add Bookmark | Recommend this book | Back to the book page | My bookshelf | Mobile Reading

Free Web Novel,Novel online - All in hlnovel.com -> Historic -> The Young Marshal s Spring and Autumn Period Through the Republic of China

Chapter 73 Justice and profit

Previous page        Return to Catalog        Next page

    You can search for "Young Marshal's Spring and Autumn Period Through the Republic of China" on Baidu to find the latest chapters!

    You must know that Zhang Hanqing did a lot of work in order to win the trust of this old Zhou.  As an old smoker in his previous life, he knew that the profits from cigarettes were black, but there was nothing he could do about it. Who made him smoke something that would make him feel uncomfortable if he didn't smoke it for a day?  In this life, his own substitute is not a good bird. Not only does he smoke, but he also uses opium (opium) when he becomes addicted. He is addicted to opium and cannot even control the September 18th Incident!  Of course, this cigarette is not that cigarette, it just shows that quitting smoking is not easy.

    Since tobacco was ¡°introduced¡± to China, the management of this industry has been extremely difficult.  Tan Qian of the Ming Dynasty also had an earlier text recording tobacco in "Zaolin Zazu": "Golden silk smoke went overseas and was called tabacco. It flowed into Fujian and was named golden silk smoke."  The dryness is poisonous and can kill people. In the second year of Tianqi (1622), Guizhou Daogeng passed through Guangxi and began to transplant its seeds. The leaves are like sage and the stems are long. They are picked and dried with a blade like silk. They are used in this world and north and south of the Yangtze River. Chongzhen 10  In the sixth year of the imperial edict (1643), private traders were even punished with death, but they could not be reformed."

    See, death cannot change one's nature. By the Qing Dynasty, smoking had become increasingly fashionable.  In order to raise money from the people, many ignorant people came up with this idea in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. They suggested that the country should change from blockage to sparseness and use it as a resource, so there was a proposal of tobacco tax.

    Xiong Xiling, who later became the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the Republic of China and was known as the first-class talent of the Republic of China, in order to increase government revenue, around the 33rd year of Guangxu (1907), he wrote to Zhang Baixi, the Secretary of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and Zaize, the Secretary of the Du branch, calling for  The Qing government implemented the tobacco cessation system as soon as possible.  Xiong Xiling said in a letter to Zai Ze: "The tobacco industry is practiced by Britain, the Netherlands, Japan and other countries, and it is a large income for the country. It is not suspected of invading people's interests. Just like cigarettes, it is also a  There is a huge leakage today. If we don¡¯t do something about it now, it will be difficult to recover in the future" He believes that China¡¯s annual tax revenue is very small, and cigarettes are luxury goods. Increased cigarette taxes will not only have little impact on the interests of most people, but will also increase  National income, therefore, we should follow the example of foreign countries and implement a cessation system for tobacco.

    However, due to the internal and external difficulties of the Qing government, there was no time to take into account tobacco **. Although Zai Ze and other branch ministers had consulted Sheng Xuanhuai, Minister of Posts and Communications, about tobacco ** matters, Xiong Xiling's suggestion still did not attract enough attention.

    Yuan Shikai was the first person to see this benefit and implement it.  In his second year as governor of Zhili and minister of Beiyang, he increased taxes on tobacco and alcohol in Zhili, and suggested to Guangxu that they should be promoted nationwide: "Tobacco and alcohol are necessary for folk hobbies and have nothing to do with health care. They must be taxed again."  There are no obstacles yet." After several months of trial operation, the tax revenue has reached "tens of thousands."

    In 1912, after the founding of the Republic of China, Xiong Xiling served as the cabinet minister of finance.  The following year, he formed a cabinet with Liang Qichao, Zhang Jian and others and served as Prime Minister and Chief of Finance.  At that time, many people in society called for tobacco cessation. First, Qian Baojun, Chen Qichang and other congressmen proposed a cigarette cessation bill to the Republic of China government. Later, Liu Shusen, general manager of Shanghai Samsung Cigarette Company, suggested to Xiong Xiling: discuss with British American Tobacco Company  , all kinds of cigarettes will be purchased exclusively by the government, and the government will increase taxes and sell them to the people; the government will establish a joint venture with the British American Tobacco Company to establish a cigarette factory; if the British American Tobacco Company does not agree with the above suggestions, the government will  The mainland set up a ** bureau and raised 5 million yuan to set up cigarette factories in Tianjin, Pukou, and Hankou as a sign of resistance.  Xiong Xiling agreed to Liu Shusen's suggestion and sent personnel to Shanghai for negotiations.

    In order to implement the tobacco cessation system, Xiong Xiling once sent personnel to Japan for inspection.  In view of the situation of tobacco and alcohol distribution in China, it was decided to impose a tobacco and alcohol license tax before the implementation of the tobacco crackdown system.

    In February 1914, Xiong Xiling petitioned Yuan Shikai to explain the necessity of implementing the tobacco cessation system and suggested the establishment of a tobacco cessation preparatory office, saying: "Establish a tobacco cessation preparatory office within the Ministry of Finance. The director of the department will be responsible for studying tobacco cessation issues in various countries.  The law investigates the domestic tobacco production areas and types of tobacco leaves, tobacco production methods, and sales markets, and prepares to implement the national policy. The Ministry raises capital, sets up factories, accepts private tobacco leaves, and returns to the factory for manufacturing Foreign cigarettes are modeled on Japanese methods and are controlled by the government.  | The government is free to accept purchases." Xiong Xiling's suggestion was approved by Yuan Shikai, who said: "Maintaining domestic products is the most important goal at present. The so-called establishment of a tobacco ** preparatory office is feasible. We will learn from the rules and draft them properly.  The method is pending for approval."

    Yuan Shikai has tasted the sweetness from the tobacco tax, and of course he responded to it.  After some preparations, the "Interim Brochure for the National Public Sale of Tobacco and Liquor" was issued in May 1915, and a National Bureau for the Public Sale of Tobacco and Liquor was set up. This was China's first tobacco crackdown.  Of course, the so-called public sale at this time was only to increase and rectify cigarette taxes, and did not manage the market.

    And the warlords and government leaders in various places regard tobacco as a cash cow under their command, so of course they want to seize the tobacco and alcohol sales bureaus in each province.  This newly established bureau was originally intended to assist the central government's finances, but it did not want to become a local ban.  For example, Zhang Zuolin relied on his reputation as a "specialist" seller of tobacco and alcohol to collect tobacco from Fengtian Province and sell it to Europe at a high price.For the foreign officers and soldiers fighting in the trenches in the continent, the governors and governors of Jehol, Yunnan, Guizhou and other places also mainly rely on the income from tobacco to support the army of their provinces, and the money from local tobacco and alcohol ** cannot come in at all.  Central|Central.

    In this turbulent autumn, in order to gain widespread support, Lao Yuan has no intention of putting pressure on the local government on these matters.

    Zhou Xuexi, as the then Minister of Finance, also contributed to and actively participated in the tobacco revolution mentioned by Zhang Hanqing.  It's just that this "Brand Guide" was released not long ago, and everyone's efforts were focused on politics at this time. As a result, the regulations were in place, but their implementation was seriously inadequate.  Zhou Xueximen'er knows all the pros and cons.  Zhang Hanqing wanted to do whatever he wanted to do in front of him, which could not but be said to be ridiculous.

    Zhou Xuexi sneered and said: "It's hard for Han Qing to bother, but the tax on tobacco products is also directly controlled by the national finance. The local government has no right to touch it, and the mortgage is naturally not allowed."

    But Zhang Hanqing insists on doing whatever he wants.  In order to convince Zhou Xuexi, he had no choice but to spend all his money: "Mr. Zhou only knew that tobacco was state-owned and earmarked for collection, but he didn't know Xueliang's plan. Tobacco tax is a tax attached to tobacco. If you buy it, there will be tax; but  Simply collecting taxes from buyers is not enough. Xueliang also suggested that my father set up another tobacco license, so that tobacco can be sold legally. Of course, this license requires money to buy, and whether it is issued once a year.  Han Qing is still considering changing the certificate. The central finance cannot interfere with this income."

    This is the tobacco licensing system for future generations.  In fact, it is not surprising. The salt and iron system implemented in the Song Dynasty and the Yanyin system developed to the extreme by the Ming and Qing Dynasties were both pioneers of this practice.  Tobacco is highly profitable, and all fools know that, so whoever has the power in the tobacco trade can make a lot of money.  But after all, tobacco is aimed at the public. Tobacco public sales bureaus alone are not enough. We must work hard in distribution channels.  In this way, it brings countless space for camera obscura operations.

    Although Zhang Hanqing never held an official position in later generations, he has read the history books and is still very clear about the routines.  He once heard a relative who ran a small shop say: "The monthly income from groceries is not equal to the income from selling cigarettes." As long as the government strictly controls the private sale of tobacco and holds the right to issue licenses for legal transactions, the financial resources will be rolling in.  come.

    It was originally the right of the central government, but now he said that it has become a source of wealth for the localities, and tobacco taxes are used as collateral. Is there any justice in it?  This is just the way the world is, and not surprisingly, China will be a golden age for local governments to dare to challenge the central government for more than ten years in the future, which is known as the warlord era in history.

    Zhang Hanqing is not afraid that Zhou Xuexi will not be tempted, and he believes that if he follows his ideas, Fengtian can still get the startup bonus without Zhou Xuexi.  It's just the name of the human shadow tree. His presence will serve as an example for Fengtian's economic plan. This is the point.

    "Moreover, Mr. Zhou also needs to know that Fengtian is a province, and it is for the sake of the people of the province that taxes can be withheld legally and reasonably - anyway, part of these taxes will still need to be returned to the province in the future, and the taxes are used for  It is an investment to increase the income of the people of the province. It is a fact that Fushun has coal. As long as the equipment, funds, and manpower are ready, coal production can be expected immediately. You should not be afraid of these. I am afraid that Mr. Zhou thinks that the Fengtian Provincial Government |  If you commit deception under the pretext of building a mine, the upfront investment will be like a piece of meat to beat a dog to death - you will never come back, right?"

    When Zhou Xuexi was told about the central issue, he rarely blushed and replied seriously: "I have no intention of doing so. It's just because the matter is so big that I can't think twice about it."

    Just think twice, it shows that you are still tempted, but you are just hesitant about how to protect your profits.  Youdao is that wine and sex are exciting, and money and silk are alluring. The most reliable thing in business is visible benefits.

    For someone like Zhou Xuexi, although impressing him from a financial perspective alone can move him, it cannot strengthen his belief.  Zhang Hanqing does not want to make a one-time deal. Fengtian's future economic development will be a long-term strategy and requires continuous help from the outside world.  Is there any way to bind his decision?

    Only justice and sharp ears.

    "I believe that after the establishment of Fushun Coal Mine, it will be easy to squeeze into the Northeast, North China and even East China markets with low-cost mining and the huge advantages of land and sea transportation. And Xueliang has a grand idea, which is to use these advantages to monopolize the north.  Coal market, squeeze foreign capital of all sizes out of the north! Luan Coal and Kaiping Coal Mines will be the targets of our struggle!"

    These words were right to Zhou Xuexi¡¯s liking.  Thinking back to the time when he was trying to bring down the British businessman even though he was fighting for his own money, the scene from a few years ago came to mind again.  The Luanzhou coal mine has been a pain point in his life. If he really succeeds in investing in a large coal mine in Fushun and has the ambitions of Mr. and Xiao Zhang, a counterattack is very likely.  Just because of this, he has to take the initiative to get involved.

    As if to give him a shot in the arm, Zhang Hanqing said slowly: "What needs to be disclosed to Mr. Zhou is that before visiting Mr. Zhou, former Prime Minister Xiong Xiling and Deputy Minister Liang Shiyi have decided to honor this project as one of the co-sponsors.  The stocks issued during the construction of the Fushun Coal Mine." (Remember the website address: www.hlnovel.com)The stocks issued during the construction of the Fushun Coal Mine.  "(Remember the website address: www.hlnovel.com
Didn't finish reading? Add this book to your favoritesI'm a member and bookmarked this chapterCopy the address of this book and recommend it to your friends for pointsChapter error? Click here to report