Many readers are still waiting for news in the tea shop.

Especially when I heard that the father and son of the Ma family went to the county king's mansion to make trouble, all of a sudden, the scholars who lived in simplicity on weekdays sprung up like mushrooms after a rain.

A few days ago, I was aggrieved for too long, and Jin Yiwei was staring at the scholars everywhere, teaching people to be noisy.

So much so that everyone lives in seclusion, and even when they go out, they try their best to avoid being recognized.

But now everyone can't hold it back.

This is actually understandable, being bullied like this by Jinyiwei every day, and finally having a chance to vent.

In the tea shop of this Confucius Temple, it is rare to be so lively today, and the tea customers who did not like to speak in the past have also opened their mouths at this time.

"I heard that His Majesty went in person, such a big thing, it is strange not to hear about it. To say that the Ma family is really pitiful, it was not easy for the family to produce a champion, but in the end, he didn't know whether he was alive or dead. Ah, to such a desolate state. ”

"Definitely dead."

"Even the champion is like this, do I still have a way to live?"

Everyone gritted their teeth, greeting the eighteenth generation of Jinyiwei's ancestors in their hearts, and discussed endlessly.

"If it is such a big thing, and Your Majesty will not punish it, then I think there is really no hope in this world."

"This is the champion father, now their Ma family, father and son, are in ruins......"

As he was talking, someone suddenly came in a hurry, panting and said, "Oops, oops......"

Everyone suddenly rose up, or turned their necks to look at the comer.

The man said breathlessly: "Champion Gong...... Found ......"

As soon as these words came out, the people in the tea shop held their breath and looked at this person with wide eyes one by one.

"Found it, is it life or death?"

"I'm still alive."

"This is also a great fate, and there must be no less sin." Some people showed concern.

"He's in business......"

As soon as these words came out, the tea shop was surprisingly quiet in vain, and it could be said that the needle could be heard.

Someone coughed subconsciously and continued, "No, no, who forced him to do this?" ”

"No one forced it."

"Huh...... No one forced? A good champion went to business? Is this possible? This must be a ruse by the Jinyi Guard...... It's just a means of bending into a trick. ”

But this person's face was strange: "At first, no one believed Qixia's side. But then I heard about it...... Heard...... Qixia Wharf has a boat line called Ma's ship, which is the property of this champion Gong, now everyone knows it, this Ma's boat line, there are more than a dozen sea ships below, listen to the businessman over there, this business is not small, not to mention others, just say this ship, I am afraid that the value is more than 100,000 taels of silver, if you really want to buy and sell, 200,000 taels of silver, people may not sell. ”

The teahouse was dead quiet again.

Everyone bowed their heads slightly, and there was silence for a while.

200,000 taels of silver, I'm afraid that for scholars, no matter how good their family background is, how many acres of land there is in their family, they don't dare to take these 200,000 taels of silver as a joke.

As for the people who can come up with 200,000 taels of silver, even if they tie up all the people in this tea shop, they may not be able to extort such a amount from their homes.

You want to say that this Ma Yu is forced, but the value of the person is enough to make anyone embarrassed.

But they still can't figure it out, a good champion should have entered Hanlin and become a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, which is the dream of almost all scholars, and the people here are afraid that they don't even dare to think about such a thing.

But this Ma Yu was disdainful of it, and went to engage in the business that everyone looked down on the most.

Someone lowered his head in confusion, very incomprehensible, and then hurriedly took out a few copper plates of tea money, looking tasteless, and left.

There are also people who are thoughtful and seem to be thinking about something.

Some people sighed, I don't know whether to sigh Ma Yu's pity or lament themselves.

The lethality of this news is too strong, and this is more direct than the Jinyi guard directly arresting them and sending them to exile on a sea ship, which directly hits people's psychological defenses.

After all...... That Ma Yu was actually voluntary.

There are also people who read books, and they don't understand it.

Although such people are in the minority, in the end, they still leave in a hurry.

When they couldn't find it, they couldn't help but look for it.

When he arrived at Qixia, the mansion of the Ma family, everyone had already recognized him, and after His Majesty's visit, this Ma Yu became a well-known person, and even the Di Bao reported his news.

Thus...... There is a lot of traffic here.

Many people also want to cooperate, especially after determining Ma Yu's identity, they always feel that they can invest and do business with such people, at least rest assured.

After all, it is a guarantee of credit.

What's more, his shipping business has begun to be impressive, and this Qixia's shipping has already had a place for Ma Yu.

Of course, there are also quite a few readers.

Ma Yu is a person who does not refuse.

For the merchants who come, he seems to be very enthusiastic, doing business, but where there is an opportunity to cooperate, who is not willing to cooperate? Even if it's a small business, the size of a fly is a piece of meat.

Naturally, he was more enthusiastic about scholars, and even personally went to the middle gate to greet them, and in the face of angry questions, he also answered them one by one, until someone left in anger.

Of course, there are hundreds of kinds of people, each with its own differences, some people are purely here to scold, and some people want to relieve the doubts in their hearts.

In the face of such a person, Ma Yu explained patiently: "King of Wuhu County, why is he favored by His Majesty?" It's nothing more than business. Students do this to prove like the world that I can also do business as a scholar! With the teachings of the saints, you can still become a leader in business. The way of the sage, vast as the sea, I and other scholars, now in business is not as good as people, work is not as good as people, only in the academy in the Hanlin, sleeve hands and talk better than people, this is why, many people laugh at me and other scholars, useless. ”

Ma Yu gushed endlessly and continued to elaborate: "The knowledge of a saint is not just a fuss? The more I read the Four Books and the Five Classics, the more I felt that the knowledge of the sages was really broad and profound, so I had to fight for this breath, not to tell others how great a scholar is, but to tell others that what others can do, we and other scholars can do the same, and do it better than others. ”

It was a scholar from Jiangxi Province who rushed to the capital to take the exam, and he listened, thoughtful, and quite touched.

Ma Yu is the champion, he is in business. But he is really ashamed to say that his name in this subject is Sun Shan, so he said: "But the study of saints, can it be profitable?" ”

"Why not?" Ma Yu said calmly: "Is it expensive to blindly read books in the study every day?" The sage said that self-cultivation Qi family rules the country and the world, but many scholars, only in the study think that they have read the four books and five classics, so they are full of thoughts to govern the country and level the world, but they don't know that if you want to govern the country, you must first Qi the truth of your family. If you can't even do such a thing, won't governing the country and the world become empty talk? ”

After hearing this, this man was thoughtful, obviously different from some people who jumped like thunder and walked away, he pondered for a moment, and then said, "Be taught." ”

When he said these two words, he also seemed very sincere.

"Where is Brother Liu from Jiangxi?"

"It's from Fuliang County."

Ma Yu thought for a while and said: "Fuliang County, the ceramics here are famous all over the world. ”

The man modestly said, "Where, where." ”

Ma Yu smiled and said: "The porcelain in Fuliang County, I heard that the price is not expensive in Jiangxi. ”

"Yes, if it is shipped to the capital, the price can at least be more than doubled."

Ma Yu said: "If you go overseas, it will be at least five times more profitable." ”

The scholar surnamed Liu was stunned.

Ma Yu didn't seem to see this person's surprised expression, and then said: "What's more, if it is a large-scale purchase, the cost can be lower, if there are a few kilns in Fuliang County, a steady stream of freight to Nanjing, and then go to sea through here, in my opinion...... It's profiteering. ”

The scholar surnamed Liu lowered his head slightly, as if he was thinking about something.

Ma Yu said: "But...... Having said that, but in real terms, it is even more difficult, along the way through many docks to transship, coupled with the government's difficulties, this ship's porcelain, to transport here, the cost is not low. Most importantly, there are too many uncertainties......"

The scholar surnamed Liu muttered: "This kind of thing, it is difficult to say, easy to say, the student is a local gentry in Fuliang County, and it can be regarded as having some reputation, if it is to repair the book to the local county order, or some docks along the way...... In fact, it is easy to play, in this way, the cost is only afraid to be a lot lower, as for the kiln mouth, it is easy to say, Fuliang County has official kilns and private kilns, and the official kilns do not matter, the most difficult private kilns...... It's coveted by the night...... When students think about it, they don't have to worry about this...... Liu's is still a little thin in the local area. ”

"The most difficult thing is transshipment, which requires boats on the river and negotiations...... However, you can rest assured that the students have a year in the same year, and they are on a business trip in the Jiangxi Embassy Division......"

Ma Yu smiled: "If this is the case, then it will be a million profits." The ship is easy to do, not only that, this ship departed from Fuliang County, transported porcelain, and waited for the return trip, I also have pepper, cane sugar and other commercial goods shipped from various feudal countries, and can be transported back to Jiangxi to sell, so that this back and forth, I earned two ends of silver. ”

After hearing this, Liu Juren muttered: "What does Brother Ma mean...... Do you still need to distribute Western specialties such as expenses and sugar? ”

"Nature."

"I'll have to think about it." Liu Judao: "This is actually not difficult, it is nothing more than preparing a few storefronts and warehouses in the capital and county seats." It's just a simple matter, the Liu family is in the eastern part of Jiangxi, more or less, they have some ways, and they will not be disturbed. ”

Ma Yu was overjoyed, his eyes lit up, and he said, "If this is the case, you and I will be able to make a profit." ”

Liu Juren hesitated: "It's just ......"

Ma Yu said: "This business is done, not to mention more every year, one or two thousand taels of silver, but it is a good deal, and you may earn more in the future." ”

As soon as these words came out, this Liu Juren stopped making a sound.

Any person may be inconspicuous in the capital, but if it is in his hometown, he must be a big person.

After all, not to mention that the fame of people is in the local area, they already have the strength to influence local decision-making, not to mention that they can support a family that lifts people, and they must have deep connections in the local area.

So...... Although there is no new policy in Jiangxi, it can be said that it is inconvenient everywhere for businessmen to engage in business, but if the Liu family is willing to get involved, things will be much smoother.

At this time, Liu Juren thought for a while and said, "This ...... Students are required to revise books and consult with their families. ”

"There's no rush to this." Ma Yu smiled and pulled Liu Juren's arm and said, "No matter what, Ma is waiting for good news." ”

This Liu Juren is gone.

Ma Yu was in a very happy mood, took pen and ink, and wrote down Liu Juren's name.

In this list, there are already seventy or eighty names, and this Liu Juren is actually just one of them.

Ma Chao probed his brain outside, and then came in and said, "Brother, this is a lifter...... Why are you so polite? It's not that we can't buy porcelain, so why do we need his family. Even if it is purchased in Qixia, there are naturally businessmen who will find a way to send the porcelain of this floating beam to ......"

Ma Yu listened, laughed, and said, "What's the matter, what's going on with my father?" ”

Ma Chao said: "Dad is thinking about arranging the new house, next month, the family's female roll will enter Beijing, don't arrange it early, I'm afraid of inconvenience." ”

Ma Yu said suddenly: "Dad is very accurate in looking at people." ”

"What?" Ma Chao touched his head and looked dazed.

Ma Yu smiled, but put aside the topic, and said: "When you buy porcelain, whoever buys it is collected, in fact, the price is not bad." ”

Ma Chao was still puzzled, and said, "Then ......"

Ma Yu said patiently: "But this Liu Juren, but he is from a big family in Fuliang County, and we can make less money by buying porcelain...... Of course, it is valuable, but if it cannot be distributed, it will not be successful. ”

"The demand for these specialties in Taiping Province is indeed not small, but if you compete with other merchants in Taiping Province, over time, you will inevitably make a small profit. If you want to really do a good job in this long-term business, you must find a way to open up new sales channels. ”

Ma Yu paused, paced a few steps, and continued: "In this world, except for the Taiping Mansion, there are no new policies in other places, and there are many inconveniences in the transportation and distribution of goods, not only are they easy to be troubled by others, but if they encounter officials and bandits, they may lose all their money. What's more, most of the prefectures and counties are wary of Qixia's businessmen. ”

At this time, this Liu Juren is useful, his family is a big clan in eastern Jiangxi, and the gentry in various prefectures and counties there are not his family's in-laws, so they may be world friends. As for the government...... They are often friendly with the Liu family, and they are responsible for transshipment and distribution of our Western specialties, which is tantamount to creating something out of nothing and opening up a new market. ”

Ma Yu said, smiled and pointed at the other names in the roster, and continued: "There are also the Wu family in Changsha, the Zhou family in Zhangde, these people...... Don't underestimate it, if they are willing to cooperate with us, they are more skilled than many merchants, who are proficient in buying and selling, and they are the snakes of the land, and what others cannot do, it is easy for them. ”

After hearing this, Ma Chao suddenly realized, and said in surprise: "It turns out that eldest brother, you are a woman from the Laliang family who went into the water." ”

The smile on Ma Yu's face suddenly stopped, and he couldn't help glaring at him and scolded: "What nonsense are you talking about, this is a business!" ”

Ma Chao was stunned, and hurriedly compensated for it, but he remembered something, so he said: "Big brother, you said that these scholars, if they also do business, then are they scholars or businessmen?" ”

Ma Yu smiled and said: "There may still be scholars on their mouths, but if one day, when their own interests are involved, they will stand with us." ”

Ma Chao smiled and said, "Understand, understand, our Ma family has become a businessman." Hum! In the future, no one should be a scholar, but let me do business, lest they look down on us. ”

Ma Yu only said yes and didn't respond.

…………

In the spring of the following year, countless ships set sail to sea, and countless ships returned one after another.

At this time, the Taiping Mansion, not to mention the county, is the wharf of each town, which is actually large-scale, and all kinds of cargo ships moored fill the river.

Fu Yin Gaoxiang has to deal with the blockage of the water every day, and his feet barely touch the ground.

As a result, the largest expenditure of this year's Taiping Province is to clean up the silt in various rivers, widen the river, and build new canals.

"Your Highness, this is the situation of the river this year, please take a look at it."

Gao Xiang found Zhang Anshi.

Zhang Anshi didn't look at it, he directly put the charter aside, and said indifferently: "You can deal with these, in fact, this king can't understand it." ”

In the past, when the amount of work was not large, Zhang Anshi could still understand it, but now, there are projects everywhere, and what is needed is countless manpower, machinery, and money and food.

Therefore, he only let those scholars in the Changshi Mansion be responsible for sorting out the situation.

Zhang Anshi remembered something at this time, so he said, "How is the situation at the customs?" ”

Gao Xiang said: "It's already settled." However, the customs directly belong to the county king's mansion, and the lower officials do not dare to ask about many things. Or, Your Highness would like to ask Mr. Yu to ask? ”

Zhang Anshi shook his head and said: "Forget it, he is also very busy, so many tax collectors, he has to watch, so many ships enter the port every day, I don't know how much." ”

Gao Xiang smiled and said: "The lower officials have also heard about it, and I heard that this Mr. is iron-faced and selfless, everyone is afraid of him, and all the tax collectors under him are not merciful." Nowadays, it is rumored from top to bottom in this Taiping Mansion, saying that it is ...... If you are not afraid of Jinyiwei, you are afraid of the customs customs officer. ”

Zhang Anshi said: "In this world, if you want to succeed, you first need silver, and then you need intelligence, without silver, everything is empty talk, so this tax collector is more important than Jinyiwei, but it is not wrong." ”

Zhang Anshi stood up, sighed, and said: "I'm looking forward to it day and night, it's the tax accounts of this customs, but this Yu Qian, he hasn't handed over the accounts yet, he is not in a hurry, but this king is in a hurry." ”

Gao Xiang looked at Zhang Anshi and said, "Why don't you ask?" ”

"Come at his own pace." Zhang Anshi shook his head and said, "Lest this king go to the sidelines, or wait for him to send it himself." ”