Chang Dachun has been busy these days, seeing the prosperous side of Shanghai, and also being angry by the strong business atmosphere, in his words, the whole city is full of copper smell, businessmen are profit-seeking, officials do not act, the people are not educated, and Jingjing students are being poisoned by Western learning.

In the inner room of the municipal government, Chang Dachun led his entourage to check the accounts, and the more he looked at it, the more frightened he became, he finally understood that the emperor paid attention to Western learning, and Shanghai paid 30 million taels a year! It's still last year's accounts, and the tiny city of Shanghai has caught up with the tax revenue of one Anhui province.

Chang Dachun came to the main hall with the general accounts, and Zhou Lichun and other officials were already waiting here.

Chang Dachun sat down slowly, put the account on the table, and said, "Is this account true?" ”

Zhou Lichun replied: "Please rest assured, the accounts are calculated by professionals, and someone checks them regularly, and I will send someone to check the accounts every quarter, and personally sign to confirm, there is no reason to make mistakes." ”

Chang Dachun nodded slowly and said with a smile: "It's really surprising, the annual tax revenue of small Shanghai is 31 million taels, no wonder the emperor is so relieved that Lord Zhou will govern Shanghai, and nothing can be done with this money!" However, before this official came to Shanghai, he had already looked at the accounts of the household department, and Shanghai only paid 9 million taels to Nanjing this year, which is still 20 million taels! Where did all this money go, can Lord Zhou explain it to the official! ”

Zhou Lichun arched his hand and said: "Lord Chang doesn't know that this year, Shanghai paid Zuo Zongtang's Third Army 5 million taels of silver, 2 million taels of silver transported to Jiangxi, and 1.5 million taels of funds for Taiwan, which have been accepted by Taiwan Governor Li Shiqi. These are evidenced by the receipts of the other party. ”

Chang Dachun silently calculated, a total of 8.5 million taels. Then he asked: "These add up to 10 million taels left, and this money will not be swallowed by Lord Zhou!" ”

Zhou Lichun was not angry. continued: "Xia Guan didn't dare, since the previous mayor Chen Alin embezzled a huge amount of money and was dismissed, Xia Guan is not a penny of public money and has not embezzled, part of the remaining silver is used for the construction of public facilities in Shanghai, these accounts are in the Construction Bureau, the adults came in a hurry, Xia Guan has sent someone to get it, and part of it is the salary of Shanghai officials, and most of the rest is used to support businessmen to handle industry. ”

Chang Dachun listened to what he said. But I just can't agree in my heart, the country's silver was taken away by merchants, what kind of system is this!

"Nonsense! Merchants make heavy profits, and lend them silver, and if they lose money, can they get it back? ”

A Shanghai official explained loudly: "This is the principle of chicken and egg, we only lend money to businessmen to start a business, and it is a small matter to repay the money, as long as the business grows." Every year the tax will be a rich return, please rest assured, Shanghai will only become more and more prosperous, and the tax submitted to Nanjing will only increase! ”

Chang Dachun's entourage was furious. Ask, "Who are you?" There's no place for you to speak! ”

"The next official is Wu Jianzhang, the deputy mayor of Shanghai!" Wu Jianzhang bowed and said, he is the same as Zhou Lichun. I am not afraid of Chang Dachun, the elder, the last time the emperor inspected Shanghai. It is clearly pointed out that as long as there is silver, everything else is secondary. Shanghai officials can call the shots.

Chang Dachun waved his hand to prevent his entourage from continuing to scold, and he also saw that these bastards were determined to develop foreign affairs and throw their ancestors away.

Zhou Lichun also prevented Wu Jianzhang from continuing to distinguish, this Wu Jianzhang he hated at first, before the rebellion, Wu Jianzhang was a member of the Shanghai Taoist, and repeatedly instructed the officers and soldiers to find trouble with the party, but now Wu Jianzhang is his sword, which can not only develop the economy and build Shanghai, but also deal with the foreigners, refuse the unreasonable requirements of the foreigners, the real all-rounder, he doesn't want Wu Jianzhang to offend Chang Dachun in a daze and cause trouble.

Chang Dachun waited for a while, drank a cup of tea and moistened his throat, and said: "Don't hide it from Lord Zhou, this time I came to Shanghai to inspect on the order of the emperor, on the one hand, it is to personally feel the development and changes of Shanghai, and on the other hand, it is to raise funds, you also know that the Northern Expedition is in full swing, and the two sides come and go, but on the whole, the Han army has the upper hand, and the Qing army will lose sooner or later, and the war lasts for a day, and the funds raised last time are about to bottom out, so Chang has to come in person. ”

Zhou Lichun secretly laughed to himself, these old-fashioned civil officials will only whisper at this time, I have to take care of it, let them have a long memory, lest they go back and slander Shanghai again.

"This, Lord Chang, you also know that Shanghai relies on its own strength to supply most of the army's military salaries, and now Shanghai is also full of complaints, if the lower officials raise funds publicly, I am afraid that they will be pointed out by thousands of people, and my lord should let the lower officials think about it before it can be implemented."

Chang Dachun made a straight face, he thought that this was Zhou Lichun's deliberate exculpation, there are so many huge riches in Shanghai, just use an excuse to catch a few, and they still don't give in!

Wu Jianzhang saw Chang Dachun's gloomy face, and deliberately said: "Lord Chang doesn't know, it's not that the officials are deliberately delaying, just like the adults said, this businessman is profit-seeking, we raise money from businessmen, we always have to give them some benefits, in the long run, this businessman has privileges, and it will be difficult for the government to do it." ”

Chang Dachun snorted and said: "This official will give you another five days, and you must raise three million taels at that time, this is the emperor's dictation, if you can't complete the task, this official can't excuse you, farewell, you stay here and find a way, you don't have to send it!" ”

Looking at Chang Dachun who was leaving in a hurry, Zhou Lichun and the others looked at each other and smiled.

Wu Jianzhang suddenly sighed: "Lord Chang came to Shanghai this time, the emperor is also well-intentioned, the ministers of the DPRK and the central government oppose foreign affairs are Lord Lu and Lord Chang to lead, since Lord Lu came to Shanghai last year, the attitude has changed greatly, I hope Lord Chang is the same, so as to live up to the emperor's wishes." ”

Zhou Lichun had already understood this truth, got up and said: "Everyone is scattered, I have been tossing with Master Chang for the past few days, and the official is tired." ”

Chang Dachun returned to his residence with a depressed breath, his mood was already unhappy, and he didn't see Chang Zaixing when he was eating, so he was even more angry, and asked Chang Shuying loudly: "Where has your brother been these days, why is there no one everywhere!" ”

Chang Shuying deliberately swallowed a few mouthfuls of rice, got up, and coughed loudly a few times.

If it was in the past, Chang Dachun would no longer ask questions, but on the territory of Shanghai, he couldn't tolerate his carelessness, and asked patiently: "Is this beast going to look for flowers and ask willows again, I knew that he would not change his dead nature, so I locked him up at home and saved me from causing trouble!" ”

Chang Shuying lowered her head and whispered: "My brother said that he went to find his sister-in-law, and I don't know where he went?" ”

"Ahem!" Chang Dachun was almost choked to death, blowing his beard and glaring at him, and asked the housekeeper, "Has the young master come back recently?" ”

The housekeeper didn't dare to hide it, and replied truthfully: "The young master went out three days ago and has never come back. ”

Chang Dachun endured his anger and asked again, "Do you know where he went?" ”

The housekeeper thought about it for a while, and said in an uncertain tone: "At that time, I only heard the young master talking about Xia Fei Lu or something, and I really didn't hear the other few small words clearly, do you want to go and find out what the situation of Xia Fei Lu is?" ”

Chang Dachun waved his hand and said: "Go and come back quickly, there are many locals in Fuzhong and Shanghai." ”

In less than a quarter of an hour, the housekeeper came back with a strange face and said directly: "Master Qiqi, this Xia Fei Lu has made a clear inquiry. ”

"Say!"

The housekeeper glanced at the young lady, saw that she was listening with interest, her eyes dodged a few times, and replied: "This Xia Fei Road is the largest fireworks place in Shanghai, where there are tens of thousands of girls begging for a living, and the young master will go there...... It's also forgiving. ”

Chang Dachun dropped a tea bowl and said angrily: "Fart!" I have to break his dog's leg this time, you send someone...... No, I personally went to catch this brute, and the prostitute didn't even look at the time, and dared to marry into the house, I, I, I, were angry with me, and the family was unfortunate! ”

The housekeeper hurriedly stopped Chang Dachun and persuaded: "The master is angry, the master is angry, the young master is just playing, and he can't take it seriously." ”

Chang Dachun didn't plan to give up, his son didn't succeed, he gave all his expectations to his grandson, he changed into civilian clothes, and took a few family members to Xia Fei Road.

Chang Shuying also dressed as a man, and followed behind with a ghostly head. (To be continued......)

PS: The trip to Shanghai is coming to an end, what do you think of such an article, if you can, I will write a few more chapters in the future, if it is negative, try to avoid it.