"Consider?"

Zhang Anshi looked at Chen Li suspiciously.

"What do you mean?"

Chen Li said cautiously: "This matter ...... In fact...... There has always been, even in the Hongwu period, although it is forbidden to explain the religion, but the people who believe in the Ming religion in the world are still like carp crossing the river. ”

He paused for a moment, and then said: "Since then, Your Majesty has been in trouble, the world has become a pot of porridge, and there are military disasters and natural disasters everywhere, and this White Lotus Sect has become more and more intense, so the more the people believe in this White Lotus Sect...... What's more, believers are not only ordinary people, even eunuchs in the palace, and local gentry, there are also many believers...... This is ...... If the report goes up, Your Majesty will be furious......"

Zhang Anshi nodded, he vaguely remembered that during the Yongle period, there was indeed a White Lotus Sect, and it also launched a large-scale rebellion, and even in a province of Shandong, it was easy to gather hundreds of thousands of people, and also repelled several advances by the imperial court.

By the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty, the rebellion of the White Lotus Sect intensified.

Zhang Anshi said: "Even if we don't report it, do you think these people will keep to themselves?" Once they are organized, sooner or later they will change. ”

Chen Li said: "It's just ...... This matter cannot be eradicated at all, on the one hand, there are too many believers, even if the imperial court enters to suppress it, but the vast majority of the cultists are mostly ordinary people, can they also kill the people? As for this evil ...... But it's hard to get rid of ......."

"Why is it so hard to get rid of?" Zhang Anshi raised his eyebrows.

Chen Li said: "It is reported that the current leader of this sect claims to be the father of the Buddha, and there is a woman who claims to be the mother of the Buddha, and only their closest backbone knows their whereabouts. In fact, it is humble, and it has also been inquired into privately. But these people are very secretive, not only treacherous, but also very vigilant...... Humble...... Humble ......"

Chen Li smiled bitterly: "To tell the truth, let's be honest, let's Jinyiwei...... They may not be well informed. Not to mention that we are in the light, they are in the dark, and they have a lot of eyeliner, and the world is full of their eyes and ears, and maybe even ...... Among the brocade guards, there may not be no one...... Secretly believe in this religion, I'm afraid that Grandpa, you have just given the order here, and the news has already been learned there. ”

Zhang Anshi understood what Chen Li meant.

Speaking of which, the congregation is not necessarily to blame. In this era, people live in the world, it is too bitter and too bitter, which is a completely different concept from the so-called bitterness in later generations, heavy forced labor, two meals a day may not even be able to drink rice porridge, give birth to a child, may die at any time, a disease that is only considered a cold, may die of a man.

In this world, at least the vast majority of people, when they close their eyes and sleep, they are afraid that they may not see the sun of tomorrow at any time.

Under such circumstances, it is normal to look for a kind of spiritual sustenance.

And it was precisely the White Lotus Sect, which was easy to understand and had almost no precepts, that immediately became popular.

Zhang Anshi said: "The backbone of the White Lotus Sect, what are the White Lotus Dao people, do they have them in all the townships?" ”

"Yes." Chen Lidao: "In the countryside, it is almost the White Lotus Dao people who monopolize the power, and the father dies and the son succeeds; And the hierarchy is strict, and when you join the church, you hold certain ceremonies, pay money, and meet regularly, burn incense and worship, preach the scriptures, and teach boxing sticks. ”

Zhang Anshi groaned: "This matter ...... It's better to report it, if you keep it hidden, sooner or later things will change. ”

Since Zhang Anshi planned to do so, Chen Li said: "If the grandfather makes a report, I will make some preparations here, so as not to catch the people in our guard off guard when His Majesty gives the order to clean up." It's just that...... Humilly thinking, these preparations can only be done in secret, and they can only be explained to some old and serious henchmen, once they fake their hands to others, things will be difficult to say, and once the matter is leaked, it will be inappropriate. ”

Zhang Anshi nodded.

"Record this in the newspaper."

The next day, a eunuch came to summon Zhang Anshi to the palace for an audience.

Zhang Anshi knew that His Majesty should have read the report.

So he hurriedly entered the palace, but Zhu Di's mood seemed to be good, and after seeing Zhang Anshi, he asked some about the White Lotus Sect, and said: "There are so many believers, is it an exaggeration?" In the past few years, I have not heard of any rumors of this White Lotus Sect. ”

Zhang Anshi said: "After the minister learned about the current situation, he was also extremely shocked, but he felt that the matter was not trivial, so he reported it." ”

Zhu Di nodded and said, "When Emperor Taizu Gao is here, he will ban this White Lotus Sect, and I should also follow the law of my ancestors......"

Zhu Di paused, and looked at Yishiha: "I ordered all the ministries, especially the Criminal Department, to the political envoys and the Criminal Division, and ordered them to quickly arrest the so-called White Lotus Dao people in various places, and at the same time ...... Arrest the so-called Buddha father and Buddha's mother, and after taking it, immediately deport the capital. ”

After hearing this, he said, "The slave obeys the order." ”

Zhu Di didn't seem to take this matter too seriously.

This is actually understandable, but it is just a thing in the countryside to fool the people to defraud money, there are so many such guilds and Taoist gates, and Zhu Di knows a lot.

Then Zhu Di looked at Zhang Anshi with a smile and said, "You already know the matter, the queen is pregnant." ”

Zhang Anshi smiled and said, "Congratulations to Your Majesty." ”

Zhu Di pressed his hand and said, "What's the congratulations on this, I am in the prime of life, and my mother-in-law is pregnant, shouldn't it be?" ”

Although he said this, he looked proud, he understood the word pretending to be forced, and he was old and had a son, so as not to have to be embarrassed.

Zhang Anshi wanted to say something, Zhu Di waved his hand: "I know what you want to say, you fucking don't mean that I should be old and strong?" Well, needless to say. You reported to the White Lotus Sect, very good, busy with your going, you are now both the same knowledge of the Nanzhen Fusi and the prefect, and the people under this rule are crucial. ”

Zhang Anshi had no choice but to say: "The minister retired." ”

Zhang Anshi is gone.

Yisha was still standing in place, and he looked at Zhu Di with a smile.

Zhu Di said: "Didn't I teach you to preach the decree?" ”

Yi Lost Ha said: "Your Majesty, the East Factory has been established for two years, and in the past two years, it has also recruited a lot of good players. As for the political envoys and the criminal envoys in various places, they are responsible for the local White Lotus Dao people, slaves and maids...... This way...... Teach the East Factory to arrest the sect leader. ”

Zhu Di smiled, and when he saw that he was eager to try, he didn't hesitate much, and said, "Yes." ”

Yisha said happily: "Thank you, Your Majesty. ”

The next day, the newspapers began to publish the documents of the criminal department.

Immediately, one by one, the express was sent to the provinces.

At the same time, the fans of the East Factory began to dispatch.

Naturally, this is just a small action for the imperial court.

It's just that His Majesty decreed that all provinces, prefectures, and counties in the world should naturally start cleaning up.

Zhang Anshi saw that the momentum was not small, and his mind at this time was also on the top of the Taiping Mansion.

He needs to draw up a charter to abolish the doctor's household, the artisan household, and the military household, and list them all as civilian households, in addition to the restructuring of some taxes.

The former is to ensure the movement of people, while the latter is to ensure financial resources.

Emperor Taizu Gao, the formulation of taxes is too rough, of course...... It's no wonder that Emperor Taizu Gao, it's really because the Yuan Dynasty was more rude than the Ming Dynasty. People play the system of tax collectors, that is, directly distribute taxes to the local gentry, let them act as tax collectors, and the Mongols don't care how you raise the taxes, anyway, give me my share on time every year, and don't care about anything else.

Because of this, the entire financial and taxation system of the imperial court is simply a pulp lake! When the Ming Dynasty was established, he couldn't find a decent tax experience, and finally Zhu Yuanzhang slapped his head and directly used the simplest agricultural tax and in-kind tax to solve the problem.

It can be said that in the face of such a rough tax system, Zhang Anshi was shocked that Daming could last for more than 200 years, which was also a miracle.

After the New Year, it didn't take long for spring to begin, but it was inevitable that there would still be a little chill.

A specific charter was finally drafted under Zhang Anshi's draft.

However, the first draft could not be implemented immediately, but Zhang Anshi began to gather some people to discuss,

At this moment, in Qixia's papermaking workshop, there were three people who were as anxious as ants on a hot pot, facing the creditors who rushed to the front one by one, wanting to cry without tears.

"When will I pay for cotton, I was willing to supply you with cotton because I looked at the goodwill of your Qixia firm, where do you know...... You have dragged it out until now. At this time, a businessman questioned the three people in front of him domineeringly.

A few craftsmen led a dozen apprentices and also said noisily: "When will the wages be paid?" It's been two months since I was paid, three shopkeepers, you guys are open, there is no salary, teach us what to eat and drink? ”

"My mother-in-law is sick and has no money to get back...... Woohoo......"

"If you don't get paid today, you won't want to go out."

"Yes, yes."

The three people who were surrounded in the center were dumbfounded.

These three people are the three shopkeepers who were arranged by Zhang Anshi to come to this papermaking workshop more than a month ago, Zhang Youcheng, Kuang Yu, and Wang Wenluo.

The three of them were extremely ashamed at this time, and they originally thought that running a workshop was just a matter of getting caught.

What's more, all of them are Jinshi, and they are even officials in the court, and they are well-informed.

After entering the workshop, they saw that most of the paper produced in the workshop was inferior paper, almost straw, wheat straw and other materials, and straw paper was made, which was very inferior, so the three of them decided to change their course without hesitation.

In fact, this can also be understood, such paper is extremely inferior, what is the use of asking for it?

If you want to make it, make good paper!

So after the three of them had summed up, they began to look for someone to buy cotton, and hired a master to teach how to make good paper, and even felt that it was not enough, so they fired a few craftsmen, but recruited some more skilled paper craftsmen.

In this way, they felt that if they made this fine paper, they would be able to make a lot of money.

But where did I think that after just over a month, this papermaking workshop began to be unsustainable.

The quality of the paper has improved, but the cost has increased more, the price is dozens of times more than the original inferior paper, just the same price, but it can not compete with those high-quality rice paper, although it is begging grandpa to tell grandma to ask people to buy paper, but the sale is limited.

As a result, the merchants who supplied cotton, as well as the craftsmen and apprentices, couldn't bear it anymore, and they begged for help, which is just two words...... Give money.

But at this time, they looked at the books and realized that there was no silver in the books.

Now that he is blocked here, Kuang Yu said again and again: "Don't worry, we are trustworthy, no matter what...... and the money owed. ”

"Then bring it now."

Kuang Yu's face was blue and red, and he was ashamed, he only felt that he had never had such a setback in his life.

Now he is surrounded by a group of merchants and craftsmen who are despised on weekdays, and it is useless to let his mouth dry and dry.

A penny is difficult for the hero, and he wants to die at this time.

There was even an apprentice who fell to his knees directly and cried: "Three shopkeepers, you can open the favor, the family really can't open the pot...... Just wait for the wages to be taken back to support the family Hukou, if the three shopkeepers do not start the work, the small ones ...... The whole family will starve to death. ”

If it was just scolded by others, it would be fine, but as soon as the apprentice knelt down and said these heartfelt words, the three of them just wanted to find a crack in the ground to get into.

Wang Wenluo's eyes were red, and he also cried, he didn't expect him to be so useless.

Until now, he had thought that he would be caught, but he never imagined that it would be like this in the end.

What's the problem?

Being a shopkeeper here has made him feel ashamed, and now he ...... Even a mere shopkeeper has failed so much, which makes him even more embarrassed.

"You can rest assured......" Zhang Youcheng gritted his teeth and said: "This silver, no matter what, we have to raise it, it's a big deal...... I taught my family to sell the land, but it was just ...... Please give some time anyway, even if you raise money, it will take some time. ”

But the merchants who supply the goods, there are craftsmen and apprentices, where dare to go? I was afraid that as soon as I went back, the three of them would run away. Whatever sells land may be just empty talk.

Just when there was a lot of noise, a chubby body suddenly came in, this person smiled and said: "The paper workshop is a subordinate industry of Qixia Commercial Bank, he has lost money here, naturally there is a commercial bank to deal with it, I will call the decision on this matter, and I will go to the commercial bank to get the money later." ”

Everyone looked, but Zhu Jin came in with a smile on his face.

When he arrived at the table, he took pen and ink, wrote a handwriting hastily, and then handed it to the merchant: "You take my Zhu someone's handwriting, go to the cashier's office of the trading house, and you can receive your silver." ”

The merchant looked at the warrant in surprise, and then stood in awe: "But Zhu Gong? ”

Zhu Jin smiled and said, "Exactly." ”

Shang Jia immediately put away his handwriting and said with some embarrassment: "I'm really ashamed...... With Zhu Gong's words, even if you don't write this handwriting, it is okay for a contemptible person to be graced for a few months. ”

"There is no need for grace, go and get it now, and those who receive wages should also go now." Zhu Jindao.

The merchants, craftsmen, and apprentices went away with great gratitude.

Zhu Jin glanced at the stunned three people, didn't speak, but hurried out, and then invited someone in.

This person is Zhang Anshi, Zhang Anshi got the report here, so he rushed over, looked at the three embarrassed guys, and smiled: "Paper mill, collapsed?" ”

Zhang Youcheng, Kuang Wei and Wang Wenluo, their eyes only looked at the tips of their shoes, and they didn't dare to look directly into Zhang Anshi's eyes.

Zhang Anshi sighed first, and then said: "I thought you would be able to toss for a year and a half, who knows...... It's only been a little over a month......"

He shook his head.

Iniquity.

However, Zhang Anshi was still calm, and continued: "Don't be ashamed, now is not the time to be ashamed. ”

Zhang Anshi found a chair, sat down with his feet crossed, and continued to look at the three people: "Let me ask you, have you found a problem?" ”

Zhang Youcheng finally sighed and said: "When the students came, most of the paper produced here was inferior ...... So I consulted with my two brothers and decided to raise the paper ......"

Zhang Anshi suddenly smiled: "Do you know why this workshop produces inferior paper?" ”

As soon as these words came out, although the three of them did not dare to raise their heads, they all pricked up their ears.

Truth be told, they still don't know how they died.

Zhang Anshi continued: "I have no shortage of fine paper, from rice paper to flowering paper, powder paper, porcelain green paper and then ribbed paper, all of which are the best of the best. ”

Zhang Anshi paused, stood up, and then said: "You have to make good paper, and you can't look down on these bad papers, which is understandable." But...... If you make good paper, can you compete with them? ”

Zhang Youcheng was stunned, if he said that before, Zhang Anshi's words, he couldn't listen to a word, but now, he is finally willing to listen to Zhang Anshi's words seriously.

At this time, he said puzzledly: "But the paper is ...... bad."

Zhang Anshi interrupted him and said: "In doing business, in fact, there is no difference between good and bad, no matter how good the paper is and how bad the paper is, they are all sold, you only see the brilliance of the best paper, but you don't know it...... In fact, this track, or channel, has long been occupied. They are famous, have a better texture, and even have a low cost because of the large number of skilled craftsmen. Why should you compete with them? ”

"But inferior paper is different, why this workshop has been prosperous in the past, is because it has seen a large number of people who can't afford to buy high-quality paper, and thanks to Qixia in the past two years, many schools have sprung up, many readers, the family is not solid, because of learning, the consumption of paper is very large, so ...... This kind of inferior paper has become their demand. But you actually changed your course rashly, can this papermaking workshop not go out of business? ”

Hearing this, the three of them seemed to have an epiphany.

What is a smart person, a smart person is a person with strong understanding, and others can understand it at a glance.

If your mind is not smart enough, it is impossible to pass five levels and kill six titles on the gold list.

Kuang Yu became serious, but also said honestly: "That's the case...... It seems that we were wrong. ”

"Of course you're wrong." Zhang Anshi said: "Doing business, where is it so simple, do you know why you are so laked?" ”

There is no one in the world who is more receptive to the lesson than blood.

It's like, every wave of leeks, before losing the principal, often says that this is just a technical adjustment, and will not really accept the lesson until the time of loss.

Kuang Yu, Wang Wenluo and Zhang Youcheng looked at Zhang Anshi, changed their previous attitude, and looked attentive at this time.

Zhang Anshi said: "This is because you have been an official for too long, and being an official in the court can certainly increase your knowledge, anyway, if you give an order, someone will carry it out!" As for the quality of implementation, in fact, you don't have to bear the consequences, you will suffer, and it is the court and the people who will suffer. ”

"That's why you think very highly of yourselves, and you only have the so-called sages and sages in your eyes, and only the temples. But it is not like this. When you were at the helm of this paper-making workshop, didn't you calm down and get to know your customers? You may even bother to find out who your stuff is selling to, and at what price they can accept. In addition, you ignore the cost, and you don't want to calm down and study the cost, thinking that as long as you pat the brain, you can do it overnight. ”

"Actually, do you think that being an official is not the same thing as doing business here? Let me ask you, in all these dynasties, which holy monarch and famous minister were not able to understand the feelings of the people? Didn't they all understand the needs of the military and the people first, and then constantly adjust their decrees, and then appoint some people who can implement their own will, and carry out the good decrees? ”

"So in my opinion, to do anything, whether it is for officials or business, is nothing more than to do two things, one is to observe the people's feelings, and the other is to select and employ people. But you see...... In this workshop, you are stubborn and self-serving, and it is strange that you don't fall on your heels! A workshop can't be operated, and your resignation from your official position is indeed a blessing for the military and civilians. ”

These words made the three of them extremely ashamed, and they even felt ashamed. But if you think about it carefully, it is true, from the beginning, the three of them did not take this business seriously, thinking that they must be able to catch it......

Kuang Yu sighed and said, "Hey, I'm smiling...... These accounts ...... I'll figure it out ......."

Zhang Anshi couldn't help but laugh and said, "Are you going to smash the pot and sell iron to pay off the account?" ”

Kuang Wei was obviously more serious after all, gritted his teeth and said, "Yes." ”

However, Wang Wenluo said: "It's better for students to fill in the accounts, Brother Kuang's family is not solid, and he lives with his father...... The student has a slight family ......"

Zhang Youcheng also said: "On the student's side, I will also find a way." ”

Zhang Anshi said: "The three of you owe me, but you don't have to be in a hurry to pay it back, in addition, I will lend you another thousand taels of silver, and you will restore this paper-making workshop and continue to operate." ”

Continuing to operate?

Zhang Youcheng and the three of them looked at each other.

Zhang Anshi smiled: "How is it?" Scared? ”

Zhang Youcheng said hesitantly: "It's just ...... Many craftsmen and apprentices are afraid that they will not come to work here in the future. ”

Zhang Anshi said: "Many people who run small businesses not only do their own owners and shopkeepers, but even take charge of accounting and even production, they also do it themselves, they are capable, the three of you are the dragon and phoenix among people, why can't you do it?" Moreover, some craftsmen and apprentices refuse to come because you are in arrears, and now that they have been paid, they are afraid of you, but if you come to your door sincerely and invite them, there will always be some who will come. ”

Zhang Anshi said while he was happy.

He was busy with his face and taught himself not to laugh out loud, to be honest, laughing at this time, quite a bit of a grave jump.

Zhang Anshi said: "Look, you are on weekdays. There are a lot of big truths, but why when it comes to really doing things, but these big truths are forgotten, isn't there a sentence? “

Zhang Anshi groaned: "Perseverance, rotten wood will not break; Perseverance, gold and stone can be carved. ”

Zhang Youcheng took a deep breath, he gritted his teeth, and said, "What Wei Guogong said is very true, we know what to do." ”

Zhang Anshi stood up and said: "This is very good, I look forward to you continuing to work, people live in the world, and they must always do one thing." ”

After that, Zhang Anshi said: "Okay, say goodbye, the heads of the three of you, continue to store them in your heads first, think about it, how to do one thing well." ”

Zhang Anshi is gone.

The three people left behind fell into a deathly silence.

Kuang Yu suddenly said: "I think about it, this papermaking workshop must be done." ”

Zhang Youcheng said: "What Brother Kuang Xian said is very true, among the three of us, I am the oldest, let's think first, how to save money, it's better to be like this, I will be responsible for going out and finding someone to sell." ”

Kuang Yu said: "The account office is entrusted to me, and without the account room, I can also save some expenses." ”

Wang Wen thought for a while: "I'll learn from the craftsman to see if I can help, and then we will go to a few craftsmen's homes to visit and see if anyone is willing to come back, Brother Zhang, you are responsible for going out to sell, please also think of a way, to inquire about the people who buy paper, what their preferences are." ”

Zhang Youcheng said: "Not only do you have to inquire about your preferences, but you also have to go to various paper shops to have a look...... In any case, if you lose again this time, it will be really shameless. ”

Kuang Yu said suddenly: "Why...... Why did that Zhang Anshi help us? ”

As soon as these words came out, the three of them fell silent again.

At first, they were arranged by Zhang Anshi to run this workshop, originally thinking that this was Zhang Anshi's deliberate humiliation of himself, after all, it was unspeakable that a dignified jinshi, a former official of the imperial court, actually came to do business.

In the past, his classmates, the same year, and his colleagues, although they did not deal with each other again, they also knew...... If they found out, they would laugh at them.

But now that I think about it, I have suffered all the humiliation and white eyes, and it stands to reason that Zhang Anshi should fall into the ground, but Zhang Anshi appeared at the most critical moment and gave them another chance to turn over.

After pondering for a moment, Zhang Youcheng said: "No matter what, we have to fight for a breath." ”

"Hmmm......"

Zhang Anshi happily returned to Nanzhen Fusi, and along the way, he smiled at Zhu Jin and said, "Have you seen it?" Those three fools, me, and they brought down my papermaking workshop in a little more than a month......"

Zhu Jin said: "Grandpa is so kind-hearted that he even let them run it." ”

Zhang Anshi said: "Failure is the mother of success, that is, success is failure to be entered, they are already the most intelligent scholars in the world, I want to see if such people, if they use their talents elsewhere, can they succeed." ”

When he arrived at the door of Nanzhen Fusi, he saw Chen Li waiting anxiously at the door, and when he saw Zhang Anshi and Zhu Jin coming with a team of guards, he hurriedly stepped forward: "Grandpa, grandpa...... Something is wrong, Dongchang ...... Something big is wrong......"

Chen Li looked shocked and continued: "Dongchang was attacked, dozens of people died, not only that, the Hunan political envoy came to report, the Hunan Criminal Division was also attacked, and more than 90 officials died......"