"When the official came, I heard someone sing, 'Two chopsticks hold the bowl, the barrier is in the west and south, the east is uneven and the north is flat, and the Yellow Mountain is better than Jiuhua Mountain.' Can anyone explain to the official what this ballad means? ”

Wang Weihe and others naturally did not dare to take Ma De's "invitation" seriously, and three days after the birthday banquet, they found the governor's yamen early.

Since Wang Weihe just wanted to explore Ma De's tone this time, he did not notify too many people, and only brought a few large businessmen who were more influential in the Huizhou Merchants Association. They thought that Ma De would turn around the corner and ask for money, and they would definitely say that Anhui had just been hit by a disaster, the people were living in hardship, and they urgently needed your generosity. For this reason, they also discussed for a while, and in order not to offend the land lord, they also discussed a minimum limit for paying money. However, after really seeing it, Ma De didn't say that, just chatted with them for a while, and waited until Shi Shilun and Lu Longqi arrived before he officially spoke. However, instead of asking for money, I asked such a ballad question.

"Lord Huifutai, this ballad sings about our Anhui affairs. two chopsticks, referring to the Yangtze River and the Huai River; Chaohu Lake is like a bowl; Dabie Mountain in the west and Tianmu Mountain in the southeast are like screens; To the north is the Great Plain of Pingchuan, while in the south of Anhui, there is the Yellow Mountain, which is particularly beautiful in the scenery of the Five Mountains, and the Jiuhua Mountain, which is one of the four famous mountains of Buddhism. A Hui merchant named Liu Yuqing brought by Wang Weihe replied.

"I see! It seems that our Anhui is really a good place! There are mountains, waters, and flat land...... However, Ben Fu would like to ask you, why is Anhui so poor? Moreover, such a good place is always in trouble! Mader asked a few more people with a smile.

"This ...... My lord, I don't know if you have heard of a folk song in our Anhui Province? Wang Weihe thought for a moment, looked up at Ma De's face again, and then asked.

"Oh? Ballad again? Mader asked.

"This ballad is actually very famous, called "Fengyang Tune"!" Wang Weihe replied.

"It turned out to be this one! I've heard that. 'Since Emperor Zhu came out, there have been nine years of famine in ten years', isn't it? Mader asked.

"Your Excellency is right, this is the one!" Wang Weihe replied.

"Mention this ballad...... President Wang, do you want to blame Zhu Yuanzhang for Anhui's poverty? Ma De asked Wang Weihe again.

"Don't dare, don't dare!" Wang Weihe waved his hand again and again. Although it is now the Qing Dynasty, when Kangxi toured south, he still went to the imperial mausoleum in Nanjing to pay tribute to Zhu Yuanzhang, and called himself "minister" to Zhu Yuanzhang in the memorial text! Although this is suspected of buying people's hearts and stabilizing Jiangnan, Zhu Yuanzhang is still not a figure who can criticize in public.

"Fengyang was originally a good place. However, because it was the place where Zhu Hongwu was born, it was named 'Zhongdu', and there were a lot of officials and eunuchs, and they looted excessively, which made this place fall from then on. Moreover, the greed of the former Ming officials was fierce, and Zhu Hongwu's method of 'peeling the skin and filling the grass' could not be suppressed, let alone the subsequent emperors. ......," Shi Shilun also said.

"You're talking about officials who aren't honest enough! Isn't it? Mader asked.

"That's exactly what Xia Guan meant!" Shi Shilun replied. Wang Weihe and others did not dare to say anything.

"Is that all?" Ma De asked again: "If a province has been corrupted for so many years and poor for so many years just because the officials are not honest enough, so that the local bold and knowledgeable people have fled one after another, and broke into the name of 'Hui Shang', which has been trampled in all parts of the world, it is a bit too much, right?" ”

"......" Wang Weihe and the others looked at each other and were speechless. They didn't hear what Mader meant for a moment. Is this a compliment to them, or is it a sign that they are rich? Moreover, Mader's problem is too big for them businessmen to dare to talk about casually. Just now, Wang Weihe just wanted to make up for the past, but unfortunately, Ma De didn't buy it.

Shi Shilun and Lu Longqi also glanced at each other, not knowing how to answer for a while. Although Mader's question seems simple, it is impossible to answer it clearly and study it.

……

"Official! Commoners! Geography! Custom! Celestial climate! …… And merchants! Scholars! Ma De stared at the people in front of him without blinking, "Ben Fu wants you to find out the reasons why Anhui has always been a poor province and the solution to these things from the ones I have listed." Benfu will give you a month...... No, it's been less than a month. Benfu gave the prefects and governors a month to figure out how to make their districts better. You are more than ten days behind them, but you are all smarter than them! So, Benfu asked you to join them and hand in this answer when the time comes! ”

"Lord Futai, you ...... You mean let's? Liu Yuqing pointed to himself, Wang Weihe and others, and the places that could hold things on their bodies were unbelievable and incredible.

"That's right! You are businessmen, and you are shrewd businessmen, and you probably know more about Anhui than the people themselves in some places. So, Benfu has found you! Remember, you don't have much time left, and Benfu wants you to write down everything you can think of! Of course, if you are afraid of things, or if you are afraid that someone will make a big fuss about it, then you can find someone to write it for you, or even print it, or you can do it without your signature. However, the number of copies must be sufficient, otherwise, Benfu will have to settle accounts with you. Remember, you can't copy each other either. Mader said.

"My lord, that's not what we meant! It's just that you said let's help you think of an idea, this ......" Wang Wei and the others still felt a little unbelievable, and they were a little frightened outside...... At this time, if Mader asks them to pay, it will definitely be rewarded.

"Of course it's not just you. Benfu still has to find those scholars in Tongcheng, but he hasn't made the trip yet. The so-called listening is clear. Benfu will not only trust the officials, nor will he only trust you. However, since you are all from Anhui and have achieved something, you should do more for your hometown. As far as I know, although you are in business, President Wang, you have also bought more than 100,000 acres of land to plant, which is in northern Anhui, isn't it? Mader asked.

"Yes, what your lord said is true." Wang Weihe replied.

"That's right. Who wouldn't want their home to be better? With your financial resources, you can go to Yangzhou and Jiangning, and you can buy better and more land in the Taihu Lake area. But you're back...... Why is that? Revert to one 's origin! …… Benfu is just an outsider, Lord Shi and Lord Lu are also outsiders, we all want to do things well, as Anhui people, do you just want to watch from the side? Mader asked.

"Don't dare! What Lord Futai said really made me feel inexplicable. Rest assured, we will do what you tell you to do! Wang Weihe took a few businessmen to bow deeply to Ma De and said.

"That's good! Benfu is waiting for your 'answer'! Mader smiled and sent a few merchants out.

……

"Xia Guan thought that Lord Futai was looking for these people to ask them to donate some money to do things, but he didn't want the adults to just say a few words casually and let them go!" As soon as Wang Weihe and the others left, Shi Shilun said to Ma De, and there seemed to be some complaint in his words.

"Hehe, these people are rich people, of course they will be asked to pay for it when the time comes. However, Brother Shi, what you mean is to let them pay once, only two or three times at most. The money may be a lot each time, but it will not last, and it will attract the resentment of these people. Don't look at these merchants as being respectful to us on the surface, but if you really want to play tricks, you are no match for them. Mader said.

"Yes, last year's drought in Anhui, some of these businessmen worked with those corrupt officials to buy and sell relief grain allocated by the imperial court, and some hoarded Juqi to raise prices. At that time, the whole Anhui was in chaos, and there was no lack of credit for these people! Shi Shilun said.

"That's right. I admit that the black sheep are evil. Moreover, if each of these people was willing to come up with something to help the victims at that time, Anhui would not have become like that. But, Brother Shi, would you be willing to put your money in the hands of corrupt officials and corrupt officials? Mader asked rhetorically.

"It's different! Even if they don't give money and food to corrupt officials, they can open their own porridge to help the victims! Shi Shilun said dissatisfied.

"In that case, it is tantamount to offending those corrupt officials!" Lu Longqi stroked his beard and said.

"Yes! Businessmen are all of this temperament, seeking profit and avoiding evil. If it weren't for you, a Shi Shilun Shi master, if someone else came, I'm afraid there would still be a pot of rotten porridge in this pot in Anhui now! Moreover, it is you, Lord Shi, if there is no emperor behind to support you, I am afraid that there will be no scum long ago. What do those businessmen dare to do in such a situation? Ma De asked Shi Shilun again.

"Then my lord, why did you ask these merchants to write any answers?" Shi Shilun asked again.

"Yes, my lord, I am afraid that this move will be criticized!" Lu Longqi also said.

"I know! However, my purpose was to provoke these merchants to come out and help me keep an eye on the situation in various places. Not only in the province, but also outside the province. In this way, I have three sources of information: officials; Shizi; Merchant! When the time comes, I'm still afraid that someone will mistreat me? …… Two adults, 'the informant survives'! This piece of land in Anhui is not a good place to stay, so it is good to have a few more guarantees! Mader replied.

"......" Lu Longqi and Shi Shilun were silent at the same time.

"By the way, I want to go to Tongcheng tomorrow! Go and see the place where the great talent is produced, and at the same time, visit a few people. Would you like to go with me? Mader continued.