Zeng Xiaoduan cleared up his mother's grievances and took back his own property, and he respected and worshiped Zhu Ming.

Let him help find a candidate, and it only takes one day to find someone.

"Taishou, this is You Jiyu, the word Zhenshi," Zeng Xiaoduan said, "Brother Zhenshi used to be a classmate with me, and his family ran an iron-smelting factory. ”

"Meet Taishou!" You Jiyu respectfully.

This man is nearly thirty years old, and he has long given up the imperial examination and honestly assisted his father in business.

There have been no scholars in Jinzhou for a hundred years, which belongs to a cultural desert, and the scholars have accepted their fate. There are also unwilling people who go to Yangzhou or Guanzhong to study, but they basically give up in a few years, and the cost of studying in other places for a long time is too great.

Say a thousand things and ten thousand, or the local economy can't do it!

Zhu Ming and Yan Yuese: "Please sit down." ”

You Jiyu expressed some respect, and then went straight to the point and said: "What Taishou means, I already understand that this matter is not difficult to do. It's just that the miner Jia has been exploited repeatedly, and the profits are not very high, and sometimes he even has to lose money, so there is no need for Taishou to mine and smelt iron ore. ”

Zhu Ming frowned and said: "What is going on here, and who is in charge of the mine, I haven't figured it out much after reading the imperial decree." ”

You Jiyu sighed and said: "My family is in the iron smelting business, so even I can't figure out who is in charge." Anyway, no matter what, it must be a general judgment, and you can just send him money. ”

During the reigns of Song Shenzong and Song Zhezong, the mining industry in the Northern Song Dynasty reached its peak.

By the time of Song Huizong Chongning, the industry situation took a sharp turn for the worse!

Under the auspices of Cai Jing, all the newly developed mines in the country were handed over to Changping Division (the mining profits of the prefectures and counties were collected by the central government).

Since then, the county order has partial management power, the general judgment has partial management power, and Changping Division also has management power. The general judge often concurrently serves as the chief official of the local permanent level, so it becomes the final word of the general judge. Multiple management and multiple exploitation, but also to support the officials of the Changping Division.

A large number of private mining farms have closed down, and new mines are very scarce.

Cai Jing's original intention was to strengthen the control of the national mines through the direct management of Changping Division, and then increase the output of gold, silver and copper mines, and alleviate the money shortage that gradually spread to the whole country.

But he himself took the lead in corruption, and most of the officials of the Changping Division in various places were Cai Dang. Under the frenzied exploitation and corruption, it has led to a depression in the mining industry and a more serious money shortage!

You Jiyu said: "If you mine iron ore in Xicheng County, you must first send money to Xicheng County, and then send money to the general judgment." If you have enough money, you will be able to mine, and the contemptible people will help Taishou to do it. But there are many apportionments every year...... This is an apportionment from the general judgment, and I am afraid that Taishou has no right to intervene. ”

"Let him do the apportionment!" Zhu Ming sneered.

As long as You Jiyu helps to complete the purchase and the mining license is obtained, Zhu Ming is not afraid of exposing himself.

"Taishou! Satrap! ”

At this moment, Zuo Du took Fan Zhun and ran outside the Huang Hall.

Zhu Ming asked, "What's the matter?" ”

Fan Zhun said: "The gentry and businessmen of Jinzhou, gathering hundreds of people to offer Wanmin umbrellas, have arrived outside the gate of the state government!" ”

Zeng Xiaoduan and You Jiyu immediately stood up and said: "Too much love for the people is like a son, and the umbrella of the people is well deserved." ”

Regardless of the purpose of the parachute deliverer, Ju Ming was very happy. Although he has prestige, it is not enough, and an umbrella for all people is just right.

Zhu Ming strode to the gate of the state government, where many officials had gathered.

The gongs and drums on the street are not lively, and the people who don't know what to do also come to see the excitement when they hear the sound of drum music, and the crowd is gathering more and more, and it is almost a thousand.

In order to show their sincerity, the businessmen also invited more than a dozen elders.

even sent a sedan chair to pick up an old man in his 90s from the countryside and present an umbrella to the people through the hands of the old birthday star.

"It's too guarded!"

A former official shouted.

The crowd immediately squeezed forward, and the gentry and businessmen gathered around the old birthday star and stepped forward.

The old man was dazzled and deaf, and it was difficult to even walk, so he was helped to Zhu Ming: "Taishou benevolent government and love the people, the old people of Jinzhou, thank you for your great kindness!" ”

Zhu Ming hurriedly held on: "Old birthday star, please come in quickly, don't blow the wind outside." ”

The Wanmin umbrella was held by two young men, and the old man only touched it once, and it was already handed over to Zhu Ming.

It's a pity that there is no camera, otherwise this scene could be photographed and published.

Hearing that the heads of all walks of life in Jinzhou were also here, Zhu Ming invited them all in.

The black tea brought from Daming Village was brewed in a large pot to entertain, and the Huangtang of the Prefecture Ya was full.

After some encouragement, Zhu Ming sent someone to send the old man home, he couldn't stand the toss at his age, and it wouldn't look good if he died in the state government.

In the end, only the gentry and merchants remained in the Yellow Hall.

"You have good intentions, I have received it," Zhu Ming said, "Being an official for the people, it should be a thing, and there is no need to be so fanfare in the future." ”

Ding Fengnian, the richest man in Jinzhou and a merchant of medicinal materials, said: "Taishou asks for the people's life, and deserves an umbrella for the people." ”

"Brother Ding's words are reasonable, don't be modest." The gentlemen and businessmen chimed in.

"Alas!"

Zhu Ming began to pretend again: "When it comes to asking for the people's lives, this man-made disaster is easy to get rid of, but natural disasters are difficult to prevent. This year's spring drought is severe, and the summer grain harvest is bound to fail, and I don't know how many people are starving. ”

As soon as these words came out, the gentry and merchants did not dare to speak again, for fear that Taishou would let them apportionment disaster relief.

The scene was a little cold, and Zhu Ming had to say to himself: "Let's say one thing first, don't hoard and don't sell grain at a high price!" If anyone does not obey the command, he will know my means. ”

"Don't dare."

"Obey the command."

Everyone expressed their stance one after another, for fear of annoying Zhizhou.

Golden State businessmen have been exploited for many years and have become deeply afraid of the government. Among the successive governors, Zhu Ming also belongs to the hardliners, how dare they openly oppose it?

Zhu Ming continued: "The price of food will definitely rise, and you can't lose money. But how much should it rise, at any time at the discretion of the state government. When the time comes, I will ask you to consult every five days. You can also give your opinion, but whether you listen or not, that's my business! ”

"Yes!" Everyone hurriedly agreed.

Zhu Ming said: "You all go back and accumulate some goods, and in May, they will be shipped to Xiangyang to be sold." I will send officials to carry goods all the way, and I will keep private fences along the way, so I don't have to pay taxes. ”

Everyone was overjoyed when they heard this, and their biggest headache was the illegal tax cards along the way.

Within the Golden State, Zhu Ming can ban it, but outside the Golden State, he can't control it. However, if there is an official escorting the boat, the illegal tax card can be carried without paying, and it is a big deal to have an unpleasant quarrel with the local government.

Zhu Ming said: "I have saved a lot of taxes for you, and you must also repay the favor, and help the government transport grain back for disaster relief when you return." ”

Dai Chengsi asked, "Taishou has already bought grain in the south?" ”

"I'm about to send someone to contact me." Zhu Ming said.

The specific method is to sign a contract in advance to pre-purchase this year's new grain from grain merchants in the south. Regardless of the poor harvest or the increase in income, the contract price is not changed, which is regarded as the most primitive futures transaction.

News of the drought in the north has certainly reached the south, and the price of grain will inevitably rise this year, and the sooner you buy it, the cheaper it will be.

It is estimated that the price has already begun to rise at this time.

The businessmen hesitated, and Zhu Ming's request was tantamount to making it unprofitable for them to return to the ship, and they would help the government deliver relief food for free.

"Who has objections?" Zhu Ming glanced around.

Everyone hurriedly lowered their heads, not daring to make eye contact with Taishou.

Zhu Ming said: "In this case, we can only forcibly requisition merchant ships when the time comes." ”

Dai Chengsi was the first to react: "The Dai family is willing to transport disaster relief food for the people!" ”

"The Ding family is willing to transport disaster relief food for the people!" Ding Fengnian also blurted out that he was the richest man in Golden State, and he must have his share in forcibly requisitioning merchant ships.

Seven or eight people expressed their positions one after another, and Zhu Ming smiled and said: "This is a righteous businessman, and when the disaster relief is over, a monument should be erected to record the name." ”

As soon as these words came out, two more businessmen promised to help transport grain.

They are not for the false name on the inscription, but for the fear that their name is not engraved on the stone tablet! In the future, if Zhu Ming wants to find trouble with the merchants, he will inevitably choose a target from outside the stone tablet.

"Good." Zhu Ming was quite satisfied.

He didn't think that all businessmen would cooperate, there were always many people who were lucky and pretended to be stupid.

Zhu Ming will not retaliate afterwards, but if there is any preferential policy, it will definitely be given to those who are named on the tablet first.

The grain futures contract was signed in the south, and this matter had to be arranged as soon as possible.

The most suitable person to do this is definitely not to drive Qian Chen. This person was originally a Jiangnan Dajia, and most of them would not take the opportunity to embezzle, so it was perfect for him to pre-purchase disaster relief food.

As for the matter of inspecting the counties, they have to be replaced.

The famine will occur in May, when the new rice has not yet been harvested and new wheat and millet can only be bought in the south.

Wheat and millet were two crops that were rarely cultivated in the south before the Song Dynasty.

During the reign of Zhao Guangyi, for the purpose of "ginseng planting to prevent drought", the imperial court began to promote wheat millet in the south. The seeds are provided by the government and transported from Jianghuai, and the first few years of wheat millet cultivation are tax-free.

As a result, in some states and counties in the south, the rice-wheat double-cropping rotation method gradually appeared.

There are also many drylands in the south, where wheat and corn are beginning to be cultivated extensively.

The businessmen drank a cup of tea in the state office, listened to the Taishou's admonition and encouragement, and left together with different thoughts.

Ding Fengnian and Dai Chengsi rode in the same car.

Ding Fengnian said with emotion: "This Taishou is not easy to deal with, and he has to break the fortune and eliminate the disaster." ”

Dai Chengsi said: "No, Taishou just borrowed the boat, and did not extort money. What's more, helping the government to deliver disaster relief food can finally gain a good reputation and save some blessings for children and grandchildren. Isn't it better than being greedy by those traitorous officials? In the pockets of corrupt officials, they can't even hear a sound. ”

"I also serve this Taishou, I'm afraid he won't be able to do it for long in Jinzhou!" Ding Fengnian was worried.

Dai Chengsi said with a smile: "Last year, in various parts of the north and south, there were many leaders who organized a market strike. Chang'an and Luoyang have all boycotted the market, and Chang'an has even boycotted the market for more than two months. We Golden State businessmen should also learn from it, and we can't let the officials take it away. Even if Zhu Taishou leaves office, he has set many rules, and in the future, we will make demands according to his rules when we strike the market. ”

Ding Fengnian said: "It's difficult. ”

Dai Chenghe's expression became hideous: "At that time, my grandfather's family property was 30,000 yuan. My father and I worked hard to manage it, but now there are only a few thousand left, and if we continue to be stripped like this, it will be a matter of time before we break our family and flee. It's really forcing us to be anxious, so we simply contact the thieves in the mountains! ”

Ding Fengnian was silent.

The gentry and merchants left the state government, and Zhu Ming was not idle, he was writing a letter to the emperor. said that the spring drought was serious on his side, and asked the emperor to give him a thousand degrees.

The degree of the Song Dynasty belonged to securities.

The first time he used it for disaster relief was during the reign of Song Shenzong, and since then Pandora's box has been opened.

At the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, Jiaozi was invalidated, and Du Mu could even be used as paper money to pay taxes or pay for goods.

In the first year of Yuanfeng, the city of Tokyo was repaired and the city gate was repaired, and the imperial court could not come up with the money for the time being, so it gave 1,000 zhang to compensate for the project.

In the second year of Shaoxing, Yue Fei asked the imperial court to allocate funds for military salaries and fortifications. Zhao Gou said that he had no money, and gave Yue Fei 200 degrees......

It was impossible for Zhu Ming to ask the emperor directly for money for disaster relief, but it was relatively easy to ask for some monks.

Anyway, Song Huizong planned to promote Taoism, and the Taoist priest was very generous.

This thing can't be sold at a high price in Jinzhou, so it is sold in Jiangnan, but the price is better than gold!

(End of chapter)