It is undeniable that among Kangxi's sons, the most outstanding ones are the fiercest ones fighting for the throne. Although there are no princes standing on the table on the surface, they have also preserved themselves, and they have not been secretly strengthening their strength. Especially after several princes who did not know the "checkpoint" were expelled from the capital by Kangxi, he almost had no opponents among the princes. Coupled with the fairness and strictness that he has always performed, he also has a relatively clear understanding of the shortcomings of the Qing court at this time, which is quite appreciated by Kangxi, and it can be said that if he pushes it with all his might, it is very likely to achieve the goal of letting Kangxi start to rectify the rule of officials. And as long as he grasps the opportunity and gains Kangxi's trust, among the princes who stay in the capital, his advantage will no longer be threatened by anyone. Even if Kangxi feels that the time is not yet right, he will not lose much points because of this positive performance, at most he will only get Kangxi's warning of "no haste, be patient" again.

It can be said that this is a political gamble that wins big and loses but loses less. After careful consideration, Yinxi quickly threw himself in.

And just as Yinxi was preparing to promote this political storm that would definitely affect the whole country once it broke out, Changzhou Mansion, far away in the south of the Yangtze River, a new thing began to settle here.

………………

"Dad, can this thing drive the spinning wheel of our yarn factory? Why did you get it? ”

Wang Wei, the eldest son of Wang Weihe, president of the Hui Merchants Association, was glaring at his father with an iron lump in his own yarn factory. It's been a few days since the iron lump arrived, and everything that should be installed is in place, just waiting for tomorrow to start up the test. However, although he was already in his forties and could be regarded as well-informed, he still could not believe that the pile of iron in front of him could drive so many spinning wheels at once. Moreover, no matter how he looked at it, he felt that the "iron mechanism" in front of him was very dangerous. If let him choose. He prefers to keep his yarn mill hydrated.

"You know, don't I get it? Mrs. Maker said let me try, can I not try? "There are new things in his own yarn factory, and Wang Weihe, as a big boss, should come in person. However, looking at the pile of iron in front of him, he also felt a little frightened in his heart.

Although he is one of the richest people in the world, but. The thing in front of me that is said to be a "steam engine" is a fire, how can this thing be used in a yarn factory? He didn't want his largest yarn factory to be burned down by a fire that came from nowhere, even if he could afford to lose it, he would feel distressed. But then again, now the competition in the spinning and weaving industry in Jiangnan is very fierce, although he accounts for a large share of it, but if this machine can really be used, then he will no longer have to be limited by water power in the future, and he can build a factory anytime and anywhere, when the time comes. in this industry. Who can fight him? Don't you all have to look at the face of the king to be a man? ……

It's a pity, it's okay to think about this kind of thing, but it's hard to do it like this. Unless he could mess with the two women who were standing firmly above his head. However, he wouldn't do that stupid thing. Those two are his current backstage.

"Dad, what do you say our lady is doing? One moment this, one moment that, in the past few years, we have been full of yarn factories and cloth factories in Jiangnan. Further down, maybe the homespun wheels in the people's homes will be sold in the future. Wang Wei glanced at the "organ" in front of him with curiosity and a little jealousy, and then leaned next to Wang Weihe and said.

"If you don't understand, don't talk nonsense." Wang Weihe reprimanded his son, "You haven't read Mrs. Yu's book?" Have you forgotten what's inside? How clear is it that people say? There are rules to follow. Do you understand? ”

"Where did I forget?" Wang Wei 'touched' his head, slightly wronged, "I just think that our lady is a little too capable, if she is not a woman, I suspect that she may be the reincarnation of Lu Banye." Dad, think about it, there are so many things, what shuttles, water-powered spinning machines, and then water-powered looms not long ago, and now there is a steam engine that only needs to burn coal, these things. Ordinary people may not be able to make the same in their lifetime, why did she get it out one after another in such a short period of time? ”

"Hmph, I've told you to listen to the news from all over the world. Look at you, you don't even know where you should know now. Wang Weihe glanced at his eldest son a little angrily, "Who told you when these things were made by Mrs. Zhengtai herself?" Have you forgotten those technical schools?

How many skilled craftsmen are gathered in Jiangnan there? It's still rare to get such a few things out in a few years, and I don't know how many good things people haven't taken out. ”

"......" Wang Wei glanced at the slight greedy light in his eyes when he looked at the iron mechanism, and secretly pursed his lips, feeling disapproving of Wang Weihe's greed. Since Da Ma De became the governor of Jiangnan, many technical schools have indeed been established in the three provinces of Jiangnan.

These technical schools specialize in teaching students to read and numeracy and develop a skill, although they rarely produce any great talents, but now they have become a place where many businessmen choose their own manpower. Many people in their royal family's industry came from these technical schools. However, as the eldest son of Ma De's allies who are not very popular, Wang Wei also knows that one of these technical schools does gather a lot of skilled craftsmen from the south of the Yangtze River, and in the past two years, many Western craftsmen have been added there. In addition to the spinning machine that Mo Jing brought from Manchuria that could drive nearly 20 yarns at once, in the past few years, the chain shuttle, which can improve the weaving efficiency several times, and later the water-powered spinning machine, water-powered loom, etc., all came from that technical school. It's just that this technical school has always been protected by a special person sent by Ma De, so if you want to get something out of there, no matter who you are, you must first get the consent of the husband and wife of the Yamen, otherwise, the consequences will be serious. It's just that although the relationship between the Wang family and the Yamen of Taiwan has always been good, and Wang Weihe's personal relationship with Ma De is also very good, Ma De will never throw some kind of method of making a fortune to the Wang family alone, even if Wang Weihe pays a lot of money to buy it, at most it is to let the Wang family take a little advantage. Moreover, if you want to get good things from Mader, you have to agree to many conditions. Just like now, all cloth factories and yarn factories that use water-powered spinning wheels have to take out 20% of their profits to do "public welfare" in addition to normal tax payments. Anyone who refuses to agree or violates the yang and the yin will show that he is asking for hardship in the end. And. Even if someone sneaks their hands on the technology, it's useless. Because, even if you steal the technology and want to use water, you have to build the factory near the river, but most of these plots are managed by the government, and if you want to use it, you have to agree to the government's conditions. Of course, there were also merchants from other provinces who came to the three provinces south of the Yangtze River to steal teachers. I want to get everything I need to get and go back to my own place to do it again, so that I don't have to agree to any conditions, and I can make money for nothing. However, these guys have forgotten one thing, that is, the combined forces of the Hui Merchants and the Jin Merchants are not jealous, and besides, there are really few officials in the neighboring provinces who are not afraid of Ma De's tricks, and few of them are willing to make Ma De angry in this regard. Again. The officials of the three provinces in the south of the Yangtze River have Ma De and Zhang Boxing and others in the town. Few people dare to come "chaotically", and businessmen don't have to be afraid of anyone who will come to the door to "eat big", and. Doing "public welfare" has also made them gain a lot of people's hearts, and idle people dare not ask for trouble with them. But this is not necessarily the case in other provinces. As a result, coupled with other reasons such as the dispersion of capital forces and the small scale of Shengdao, the production costs of those factories were higher than those of the cloth factories and yarn factories in the three provinces south of the Yangtze River, and they naturally could not compete with them. And it is precisely because he has personally seen these things that Wang Wei has a deep understanding of the skills of Ma De and others, and naturally feels a little unrealistic about his greed.

"Wei'er!" Wang Weihe stared at the first steam engine in Jiangnan for a long time, and suddenly shouted at Wang Wei.

"What's the matter, Daddy?" Wang Wei was thinking nonsense there, and he thought about it. was frightened by Wang Weihe's voice, and almost thought that someone had cheated the corpse. However, fortunately, Wang Weihe was still looking at the steam engine at this time, otherwise, he might have been trained again.

"You go to find your fifth brother, I remember once I went to the Yamen of the Taiwan Making, as if I heard that there was a big iron mine somewhere, I couldn't remember it for a while, you asked him to inquire about the Lord of the Taiwan. Let's see if we can get the exact message. Wang Weihe said. He has several sons, the youngest son Wang Mai was born "sexually" idle, born in a merchant family but does not like to do business, and has not been an official after the Zhongju, and has been following the Ma De Mansion as a staff, which is a link between the Wang family and the Yamen of Taiwan.

"Dad, you didn't want to hit iron ore, did you? It's not easy. Although the imperial court has opened a mining ban, this mining is not as good as other places after all...... Moreover, our Wang family has never done this before, do you think it is ......? As soon as Wang Wei heard Wang Weihe's words, he knew what he wanted to do, but opening a mine is not as dangerous as opening a factory. Especially the initial investment is not small, he feels that with the current situation of the Wang family, other businesses will be almost overwhelmed, and there is no need to get another stall. Besides, what's so good about iron ore?

There is no shortage of iron in the market, and the profit is not high.

"You know what? If this steam engine can really replace water power, it will definitely be popular in the world in the future. But you need iron to build this thing! And it's definitely the best steel. If we have iron ore in our hands, it will be another source of wealth. Wang Weihe said.

"Dad, I know that this steam engine is not easy to handle at a glance, and besides, I heard that this one does not seem to have been built by Mrs. Lady of the Table, but seems to have been shipped from Lord Fei of Manchuria. There are big iron mines there, and there is no shortage of us. ......," Wang Wei said.

"Hmph, Manchuria can be built, and Jiangnan can also be built. If this machine really works, even if Manchuria is built quickly, I am afraid it may not be enough for those Shanxi Yankees to rob. But if we work hard to get started with this manufacturing skill, it will be to take advantage of those old Xi'er. When the time comes, even that Kang, Hei Ding, I am afraid that I will have to be humble when I see my father. …… I still don't believe it, can we still fall behind those old picks everywhere? Wang Weihe said.

"Dad, why are you ......?" Wang Wei shook his head helplessly. The Wang family's industry has developed greatly in recent years, but this does not mean that the Wang family is amazing. In addition to Mo Jing and Luo Xin, two women who can directly "intervene" in their business, those Jin merchants are also partners and rivals of the Wang family.

Especially in the past two years, those Jin businessmen relied on their strong capital, and although they started late, they expanded aggressively in banking and other industries. Although the Wang family, which also has shares in the other party's business, has also made a lot of profits because of this, the territory owned by HSBC Bank led by Wang Weihe has been gnawed away by the bank controlled by the other party, which makes Wang Weihe, who has been pressed by the Jin merchants for many years and finally has a chance to get ahead, very annoyed. Because Wang Weihe has always felt that if Mo Jing hadn't sold face and agreed to those Jin businessmen to buy shares and open a bank, those people would not have been in the limelight today. But these Jin merchants have crossed the line and turned around to attack themselves, which is too immoral. And. Although he also has shares in the banks of the Jin merchants, Wang Weihe prefers to be the majority shareholder of HSBC. So, when Mo Jing went to India to see Yu Zhong, the two sides finally fought hard, although the loss was not big, but they were both angry. In the end, it was Luo Xin who came forward to suppress it. Still, be that as it may. Wang Weihe felt that he had suffered a loss, and he always wanted to find a chance to win back a game.

"Dad, there is a lot of coal in Shanxi, otherwise, let's just dig coal there." Wang Wei thought about it again, took two steps forward towards the steam engine, stretched out his hand and patted it, and smiled at Wang Weihe: "Isn't this iron lump burning coal?" No matter how much you make, you have to burn it with fire. …… Moreover, if we dig out our hearts, those old pickers must be half angry! ”

"That's a good word. It's a pity. That's a bad idea. Wang Weihe glanced at Wang Wei angrily, "The boundary of Shanxi is not like our Jiangnan. The people above are open-minded, and the officials below are also quite clear. Mining there is no easier than ours. Besides. There is a lot of coal in Shanxi, why should people buy your land? People won't find a few more mines to mine themselves? Can we still buy the entire coal yard in Shanxi? When the time comes, people will open their own mines and trade by themselves, and leave us there, won't it make us work in vain? Plain funny joke! ”

"This ...... Hey! Wang Wei smiled embarrassedly. Compared with his father Wang Weihe, although he is also a long-lived shopping mall, he is inferior in many aspects. At least, his brain wasn't spinning very fast. However, fortunately, he has always been calm. Although the words are fast, it is really a matter of thinking twice before acting, but there is no mistake in doing anything.

………………

"Humble Ortai, see Lord Governor."

While Wang Wei and the father and son were pondering what to do next, the governor of Jiangning Mansion, Yamen, Ma De, was also receiving a new guest.

"Lord E has worked hard all the way, please take a seat."

Ma Degao sat in the hall, listening to the other party's name, and smiled slightly. made a gesture of "please", and at the same time, some information about the person in front of him popped up in his mind. Ortai, Xilin Jueluo, Manchuria inlaid with the blue flag, his father Ebai for the son of the country to supervise the wine, at the age of 20, at the age of 21, he took the position of leading the world and became a guard. Later, he worked as a local magistrate in Zhili for more than ten years, and his political performance was quite good, and he was also a first-class talent among the Manchurians. However, in addition to these, Ma De also knew that this Ortai was one of the three officials that Yongzheng appreciated the most in the future. The reason is not very clear, but just by the fact that this person is as famous as Li Wei and Tian Wenjing, you can know how powerful he is.

It's just that Ma De didn't expect that Kangxi would actually send such a character to his own territory, which is really surprising.

"I was ordered by the Ministry of Officials to take over the post of political envoy of Jiangsu! I came to meet you today, and I would like to ask you for your advice. ”

Ma De is observing Ortai, and Ortai is also observing Ma De. Speaking of which, Ortai did not expect that he would be sent to Jiangsu to serve. However, if it comes, it will be safe. Unlike most people's perception of Ma De, Ortai has some admiration for Ma De. First, he thinks that Ma De is one of the few "Manchurians", who dares to be brave and daring, can renovate the three provinces in the south of the Yangtze River to a higher level, and the rule of officials is relatively clear, which is very rare in his opinion.

Moreover, Mader's methods of action also made him feel very appetizing, because he also always believed that dealing with certain people and certain things can only be solved by strong means, otherwise, it will only be in vain; And in addition to this, he has a good impression of Ma De, also because he is a student of Li Pan. After Li Panzhong won the first place, he presided over the township examination of Shuntianfu in the second year, and Ortai took the exam in that year. Although unlike most Manchus, Ortai has always been law-abiding and upright, but he also sees this kind of relationship between teachers and students more cordial, not to mention, Li Pan is still the Han sacrifice wine of Guozijian, and his father Obai is also a colleague, and the two have been together for a long time.

"Hehe, there is no need for instructions, I know the achievements of the people of Hubei, and I only hope that the people of Hubei can do better in Jiangsu in the future." Ma De naturally didn't know that the old man in front of him had a good impression of him, he only knew that Kangxi sent such a political envoy with clan blood to Jiangsu to replace the original Zhao Shenqiao, and he must have some idea, so he had to be careful.

"The humble position will live up to the expectations of adults!" Ortai stood up and duly waved the dagger at Ma De, "Okay, hehe......" Ma De smiled and didn't say anything more. Ortai's performance made him feel very uncomfortable.