Chapter 29 Meeting with Hu Li

Hu Xueyan went to see Shao Youlian in vain. It turned out that Li Hongzhang arrived in Shanghai from Hefei that day and used Tianhou Palace as his residence. Shao Youlian had to accompany him all day long, waiting to be sent away. Unexpectedly, Hu Xueyan did not plan to visit Li Hongzhang, but Li Hongzhang sent a letter to the transshipment bureau to invite Hu Xueyan to meet him the next morning. The letter also stated that it was for the import of "foreign medicines" Regarding the tax increase, I would like to ask him to convey some opinions to Zuo Zongtang. "Master Zuo mentioned the tax increase on foreign medicine imports to me last year. I still don't know the ins and outs of it. Li Hefei will talk to me tomorrow, and it doesn't seem very good." Hu Xueyan asked Gu Yingchun, "I remember You have a relative who is the big boss of Tuxing, he knows it all right?"

What he was talking about was Gu Yingchun's distant cousin, a native of Chaozhou, Guangdong, whose surname was Zeng, who opened a cigarette shop with the brand name "Zeng Ji".Gu Yingchun didn't have much contact with him, but for Hu Xueyan's sake, he went to the Jiumu land in Nanshi to ask him for advice. "To be honest, if you ask me, I still have to ask someone else. Mr. Wu, our accountant, knows best." Boss Zeng said, "Mr. Hu Da, I have admired him for a long time, but I can't climb high. Ying Chun, you know, I I eat shark's fin three times a month, and today is a coincidence, can you invite Mr. Hu Da to dinner, and Mr. Wu will tell him face to face, wouldn't it be easy?"

"I don't know if he has any entertainment tonight?" Gu Yingchun didn't dare to agree on his behalf because Hu Xueyan was not willing to associate with these people, so he just said, "I'll try it." So Boss Zeng prepared a "full post" and handed it to Gu Yingchun to bring it back.Hu Xueyan asked for something, and with Gu Yingchun's friendship, he had no reason to refuse, so he readily agreed, and brought a very heavy gift, which was a huge branch of Jilin Laoshan ginseng. Boss Zeng treated him like a guest of honour, exchanged greetings and compliments for a long time, and invited Mr. Wu, the accountant, to meet him. He was a well-mannered middle-aged man, and he knew he was a scholar only after talking.

"Opium is refined from poppies. Poppies have existed in China since ancient times. They came out of Sichuan. Su Dongpo, a native of Sichuan, wrote a poem: 'The Taoist persuades you to drink chicken soda water, and the boy can fry poppy soup'. Add honey to the soup. It is taken as a tonic for regulating the lungs and nourishing the stomach." "After all, he is a scholar." Hu Xueyan said, "It's poetry when he speaks." "Mr. Wu," Gu Yingchun said, "we don't have to talk so far, let's just talk about imported opium." The import of opium was first established during the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty, and was required to be taxed during the Wanli period. It was used as a medicinal material, and opium was used to treat dysentery.

However, in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, smoking opium was illegal, and the sea ban was very strict at that time, and opium was rarely imported.In the 23rd year of Kangxi, the sea ban was relaxed, and opium was still allowed to be imported as a medicinal material, and the tax was not much, and the tax was 2 cents per ten catties.Afterwards, the number of people who smoked opium gradually increased. During the Yongzheng period, a ban was issued.There is a saying: "The more illegal salt is banned, the easier it is to sell." The same is true for opium. The stricter the ban, the more smuggled. From the thirty-eighth year of Qianlong, Britain established the East India Company to export opium as a The situation of smuggling is even more serious.

The result of smuggling is "white for black", opium is imported and silver is exported. Thirty years ago, Qianlong imported only two to three hundred boxes of opium. In the last year, the number increased to 1,000 boxes.As for the export of smuggled silver, Daoguang three years ago, it was only a few million taels, and it increased to 30 million taels in the 18th year of Daoguang. Two, the lifeline of the country was at stake, which finally led to the Opium War. "As for the formal prohibition of tax collection, it was in the seventh year of Xianfeng." Wu Xiucai said, "At that time, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, Wang Yide, said that the military needs were urgent and he temporarily took over the power. The imperial court had to allow it because of Hong Yang's rebellion. The next year, we made an agreement with France. An import tax of thirty taels per hundred catties. Since opium is imported as medicinal materials, it is called "foreign medicine", and those produced in Yunnan and Sichuan are called "local medicine". Regardless of whether foreign medicine or local medicine is sold in the interior, They have to collect donations, it has nothing to do with import taxes."

However, Zuo Zongtang believed that "tax" and "percentage" are actually the same thing, and advocated the combination of prohibition and taxation, and a total of one hundred and fifty taels per hundred catties.Hu Xueyan asked Wu Xiucai for advice on this point, whether it is better to collect them separately or to combine them. "It's advisable to merge." Wu Xiucai said, "The tax is ad valorem. Local medicines are cheap and foreign medicines are expensive. If foreign medicines are passed off as local medicines, the tax revenue will be reduced." "That's right, that's right. The truth is very simple and thorough, but people who don't understand it won't think of it." Hu Xueyan said happily, "Thank you, thank you, today's drop of a sentence is really 'benefited a lot'."

Hu Xueyan has a habit. Whenever he comes to Shanghai, he must go to a teahouse called Weiyuan on Baoshan Street to have tea, and he must bring enough silver notes of ten taels or sixty taels—this is his benevolent nature, never forgetting his old age. A little thought from a friend.He has many old friends, who were in good condition and met at Changsantangzi to eat flowers and wine, and those who met in Weiyuan, the general situation was not so good. It was stuffed quietly, and he would ask if he couldn't see it, and he also asked someone to bring money to help.So he has several old friends, and he often goes to Fukang or the Transit Bureau to inquire: "Has Mr. Hu Da come?"

A lot of old friends came to Weiyuan that day, most of them had already inquired and went around, and before they knew it, at ten o'clock, Gu Yingchun reminded him: "Uncle, your time is coming soon. This appointment cannot be delayed." How could Li Hongzhang's appointment be late?Hu Xueyan made the calculations, the appointment is at eleven o'clock, from Weiyuan to Tianhou Palace, it only takes a quarter of an hour, and there is as much time as possible. "It's still early, it's still early!" "No, Uncle, let's go to the transit bureau first." Gu Yingchun said, "Just now I met a friend here, and I got some important news, I need to talk to you first."

"Okay! I was going to the transit bureau to change clothes." Hu Xueyan didn't stay any longer, and went to the transit bureau first, and had a secret talk in his "signature room". "I met a friend at the customs in Weiyuan. According to him, all the money from the provinces has basically arrived, and it is very small and very limited. However, I heard that Shao Xiaocun plans to suppress the cash. 'Silver demolition' has soared, and he wants to arbitrage some interest." Hu Xueyan nodded, pondered for a while and said, "Arbitrage interest is also limited. Shao Xiaocun is not greedy for such small profits. Maybe there are other tricks involved."

"No matter what tricks he has, this matter should be discussed with him as soon as possible." "No!" Hu Xueyan said, "If he wants to play tricks, it will be the same sooner or later, so I simply won't talk to him." "Then!" Gu Yingchun was surprised, "What are you going to do, uncle?" "I haven't made up my mind yet." Hu Xueyan said, "We'll discuss it when we come back to Tianhou Palace." After changing the official uniform, I went to Tianhou Palace to hand in the notebook.Li Hongzhang took care to change into plain clothes to meet each other first. He himself was in mourning, wearing a light blue cloth gown and a black cloth mandarin jacket, and he looked rather haggard. Hu Xueyan naturally expressed his condolences. Li Hongzhang still remembered that he gave a funeral ceremony of one thousand taels of silver, so he expressed his thanks, and said that the gift was too heavy, but it was inconvenient to return it, so he had to donate it to Shantang.After exchanging pleasantries for a while, the conversation began to get down to business. "Opium has been harmful to people for a long time. However, the import tax on foreign medicines is a large part of the revenue of the Ministry of Finance. If you want to say that the tax is contained in the ban, it is better to be honest and focus on increasing the tax, which is more beneficial." As soon as he opened his mouth, it was against Zuo Zongtang's purpose. Hu Xueyan had nothing to say, and could only agree: "Yes." "Increasing taxes is not a good way to increase taxes. It is necessary to plug up the places where the leaks are made." Li Hongzhang also said, "Shanghai's new foreign drug tax regulations in the eleventh year of Tongzhi, the Prussian consul objected, saying that the increase Percentage hinders the trade of foreign merchants in China. This is unreasonable. The percentage is our own business. What has it to do with the foreign merchants who pay the import tax? At that time, the General Administration refuted him, but Hurd said that the percentage is more important. , the leaks are getting worse, the origin of the private goods is unknown, and the legitimate foreign business is also less. It is true that the so-called Jiali hinders foreign business in China. " "Yes." Hu Xueyan replied, "I heard that the private goods are all from Hong Kong." "That's right." Li Hongzhang said, "I have a list here, you can have a look at it." Then he picked up a piece of paper from the table and handed it over.Hu Xueyan stood up hastily, took the list with both hands, and went back to his seat to read. The list stated: From the 13th year of Tongzhi to the 4th year of Guangxu, the foreign medicines shipped to Hong Kong ranged from 84,000 to 96,000 boxes every year, but only 65,000 were taxed for the transportation and sales. Cases to 71,000 cases.In the fifth year of Guangxu's reign, 107,000 boxes arrived in Hong Kong, of which only 86,000 boxes were taxed, and more than 20,000 boxes were smuggled and imported every year. "Foreign medicine import tax is 30 taels per box, and the tax is 22 taels. The local private collection is not counted, and the total is about 80 taels per box. There are 20,000 boxes of private goods, and the tax is reduced by 160. Ten thousand." Li Hongzhang turned sharply and said, "Heard now agrees to increase the tax rate together. In addition to the regular tax of 30 taels, an additional 80 taels will be added, and he will help China prevent smuggling. This negotiation can be regarded as a satisfactory one." "Your Excellency's foreign affairs affairs are the number one in China today." Hu Xueyan said flatteringly, "Hard has always obeyed your Excellency." "Foreigners are always easy to deal with. They are very powerful, but they are reasonable. I am most afraid of my own people getting angry. That's why I invited you here today." Apparently, this so-called personal anger refers to Zuo Zongtang, so Hu Xueyan could only vaguely agree without expressing any opinion. "I would like you to pass on to Zuo Jueshuai. He advocates a combined tax levy of one hundred and fifty taels per box. Hurd replied to me that if China insists on collecting this amount, he can admit it, but he cannot guarantee that it will not." Smuggling. Xueyan, even if there are 100,000 boxes per year, of which 25,000 boxes are smuggled goods, you have to figure it out." Hu Xueyan's mental arithmetic was extremely fast.100,000 boxes multiplied by 110 taels, 11 million taels of silver should be levied, taxed according to 150 taels, 75,000 boxes should be levied at 11.25 million taels, which is still 250,000 more two silver. "Two hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver is a trivial matter. Preventing smuggling has a great relationship. Only with Hurd's guarantee can our sovereignty be considered complete. Otherwise, smuggling will increase in the future. If you negotiate with him, he said that he has already made it clear. Sorry for the inconvenience." Do as you say, but you can do nothing about him. So please persuade Zuo Jueshuai not to fight any more." Li Hongzhang added, "The current situation is not good, and a strong enemy is pressing down on the situation. Go to the place where it should be used. Xueyan, what do you think of my words?" "Your Excellency's plan for the country is really exhausting. I will definitely try to persuade Sir Zuo, and he will definitely understand your painstaking efforts." "It depends on strength." "Serious words, serious words!" Hu Xueyan seized the opportunity and turned to his own affairs, "However, when it comes to foreign negotiations, especially now that we want to win Britain over France, there is something that needs to be decided by adults." "Oh!" Li Hongzhang asked, "What's the matter?" "The loan from HSBC will be due in a blink of an eye. I heard that almost all the payment from the provinces has been remitted, even if the difference is limited. I would like to ask my lord to hand over the money to Xiaocun, and allocate the money as soon as possible. If it is a little short, Please also ask Xiaocun to make up for it. There is a shortage of cash in the Shanghai market, so we have to ask the customs to release the cash in stock to make adjustments. If Xiaocun can help this, Mr. Zuo will appreciate it." "Let me ask Xiaocun." Li Hongzhang said beautifully, "It's all business, and it's all for the country, so there should be no distinction between them." The words were beautiful, and the words and deeds were consistent. In the afternoon, Hu Xueyan received a letter from Shao Youlian, saying that the provinces had only received 470,000 yuan in repayments, and he was ordered to send someone to handle the withdrawal procedures. "The repayment is at the end of the month." Mi Benchang said happily, "This position can be used for a few days, and the 'silver loan' is very high these days, so I can make a small profit." "Don't be petty." Hu Xueyan has other plans, "You go through the transfer procedures tomorrow and ask them to print HSBC notes, transfer the original notes, and return them to the printed notes. Make it more beautiful." Mi Ben is often a person who, as the saying goes, "turns somersaults in the eyes of copper coins", and feels that Hu Xueyan sacrificed interest for nothing, which is too stupid.However, the boss told him that he had to obey.The next morning, I completed the transfer procedures, and got back the stamp stamped with the Shaanxi-Gansu Governor's Yamen Customs Defense.Hu Xueyan then canceled the stamp, and told Master Zhu, the copywriter of the Transit Bureau, to write a letter to Zuo Zongtang, in addition to reporting the repayment process, he also explained in detail what Li Hongzhang entrusted, and finally pointed out that Li Hongzhang was very interesting. Please Zuo Zongtang must also sell him a face. This letter was very important, Hu Xueyan personally read it, and finished writing it at four o'clock in the afternoon. He was about to go to Gu's house to see Grandma Qigu, but Gu Yingchun came first. "Grandpa," he held an invitation card in his hand, "'Cangbaidu' Zeng Yousheng from HSBC personally sent the post and asked me to pass it on. I will treat my uncle to dinner tonight. I will take special care of you. Please be sure to Appreciation." "Oh!" Hu Xueyan, holding Zhizhu in his hand, asked first, "Which one else did he invite?" "No one else except me for company." "Where is the place?" "In Hongkou Taili." "Isn't that a restaurant only for foreigners?" "That's right." Gu Yingchun said, "I think he chose this French restaurant that Chinese people don't go to for the sake of convenience." "Oh!" Hu Xueyan pondered for a while, then twirled his mustache and smiled, "It seems that I don't need to speak." "Uncle," Gu Yingchun said, "What did you want to talk to him about?" "What do you think?" Gu Yingchun thought about it carefully and said: "I understand." "The Red Top Merchant Hu Xueyan 6: The Finale of Tragic Awakening" will be published soon, exciting preview: Hu Xueyan did not want to see foreign merchants occupying the Chinese raw silk export market for a long time, so he mobilized domestic silk merchants to unite and asked foreign merchants to increase their purchase prices.He took the lead in hoarding raw silk worth 6 million taels of silver (more than two-thirds of the annual trading volume of raw silk in Shanghai), and wanted to force foreign merchants to submit. The first Sino-foreign business war in the century-old corporate history began.However, the trend of new silk reeling technology was unstoppable; the Sino-French war made everyone in Shanghai feel insecure, traffic was blocked, and trade was suspended.At this time, the political struggle between Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang had also entered a fierce stage. Political opponents secretly spread the news that Hu Xueyan was short of funds, and depositors went to Hu Xueyan's bank to withdraw cash. collapse.Hu Xueyan, a great businessman of a generation, was unable to recover in the end, went bankrupt and ransacked his family. Please read it.