Inside the theater.
When the lanterns first came on, there were many guests in the theater. Zhang Zhou was still in his private room. The hustle and bustle outside seemed to have nothing to do with him. He could still receive guests in peace or handle official duties. Or do some simple things to feel comfortable.
With the fragrant tea nearby, Zhang Zhou drank the tribute tea given to him by the emperor. He didn't think it was very good, but the fragrance of the tea could spread far away.
Cheng Minzheng was sitting there, looking a little restless. The previous Cheng Minzheng would never bend to the powerful for anything, but now he is a powerful person, or in a high position. Only then did he realize that he felt so cold at the top that he even had to bow his head to face Zhang Zhou.
Times have changed.
Even Cheng Minzheng didn’t understand why he had such a change or his feelings, or it might be the change of the situation, or it might be because people’s hearts are fleshy, and sometimes they have to succumb to the situation. .
Zhang Zhou said, "I didn't expect that someone actually came to me to plead for Mr. Xie Ge. That person was actually you, Bachelor of Science Cheng."
Cheng Minzheng smiled awkwardly and said, "Everyone." He is an old friend, and he will help if he can. What he did was not his fault alone. Maybe if I were in his shoes, I would have to do something."
After speaking. During this period, Cheng Minzheng seemed to understand Xie Qian very well.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Scholar Cheng is quite honest, but Mr. Xie Ge, on the other hand, refuses to admit that what he did was done under the instruction of others or after consultation with someone."
p>"Haha." Cheng Minzheng smiled bitterly.
"But what does it matter whether he said it or not? If the matter was what Mr. Xie Ge meant from beginning to end, then your Majesty may not pursue it. Mr. Cheng, you understand what I mean?" Zhang Zhou laughed asked.
Cheng Minzheng nodded helplessly.
What is there to understand?
The emperor is using Xie Qian to scare the monkeys. If Xie Qian did not form a party in the beginning and did not do anything in line with traditional civil servants, , even if Xie Qian sometimes did something wrong outspokenly, the emperor didn't bother to pay attention to him.
"So, this matter depends on your Majesty's intention." Zhang Zhou said.
Cheng Minzheng said, "Since Mr. Cai Guo, you have told me clearly, then I will tell you directly. Although you say that this is a case designated by His Majesty, your words are more effective than what others say." , it can be said that as long as you say a word, you can save him from fire and water, and you can also win the praise of others, you can help others and save yourself, why not do it."
Zhang Zhou Smiling without saying a word.
You asked me to sell favors and be a good person, so why did you take all the good things?
Besides, does Cheng Minzheng know which side to stand on? Don’t you know, if I hadn’t saved you? , your bones have turned to ashes now, you really think that you were just criticized for the problem you had in the past. If someone hadn’t stabbed you in the back, you would have been really bad.
Zhang Zhou said, “I’ll try my best. ask, I would say. But if His Majesty doesn't ask, then I won't mention it because I also want to avoid suspicion. ”
Cheng Minzheng said, “Then you have to avoid it. Please forgive my abruptness. According to my estimation, your Majesty will most likely not mention this matter in front of you, because His Majesty also hopes that you will avoid suspicion.” In fact, if there hadn't been another good news in the northwest, maybe this matter should have been dropped. "
Cheng Minzheng is not pedantic when it comes to court issues, and he also knows the current attitude of the emperor and Zhang Zhou on the issue of Xie Qian.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "If it is true. "What do you mean?" Cheng Minzheng seemed puzzled.
Zhang Zhou smiled and shook his head and said, "The way to be an official lies in one thing." When I advance and retreat, others say that I advance too much and retreat too little. In fact, this is not the case. When it comes to disagreements with officials, I often retreat again and again. Now I want to take a step forward and then take a step back. Can Bachelor Cheng understand what I mean?"
"This"
After Cheng Minzheng thought about it for a moment, he knew what Zhang Zhou meant.
< p>What's the benefit of letting me speak for Xie Qian?I can't be the one who loses every time. Every advance and retreat is actually equivalent to an exchange.
"If Bachelor Cheng feels embarrassed, just pretend I didn't say anything. "Zhang Zhou said.
Cheng Minzheng said, "I can't make the decision on this matter, you see."
"It doesn't matter, I can wait first. Based on what I know before, thank you. The last time Mr. Ge was in prison, he didn't receive much ill treatment or was hurt. However, a courtier who is about to retire should have expectations for his future no matter what. I believe he can face it calmly. "Zhang Zhou gave another hint.
You can go back and talk to Liu Jian and Li Dongyang.
I will treat you as a middleman, running errands on both sides, and acting as the messenger for our negotiations.< /p>
After all, it is not appropriate for me, Zhang Zhou, to meet with the two cabinet ministers, so you will be the messenger.
I can bear the wait, and you can rest assured that Xie Qian is now in prison. Cheng Minzheng will not be tortured. As for his future, it is in the hands of your cabinet members. Whether you want him to have a good life or not, it all depends on your own choice.
It will be up to you when Cheng Minzheng leaves. Realizing that Zhang Zhou cannot be a sheep now
Help Xie Qian in order to ease the relationship
Such a noble thing is tantamount to digging a hole for himself. Even Cheng Minzheng knew that Liu Jian and Li Dongyang would not tolerate Zhang Zhou no matter what. It was better to negotiate terms directly than to take a step back. This seemed to be the best way to solve Xie Qian's jail sentence.
After Cheng Minzheng left, someone came into the private room again, this time it was Sun Shangqi.
Sun Shangqi had just returned from Yongping Mansion. In addition to being dusty, he also had a sense of determination to move forward. Momentum.
"My lord, I have submitted the accounts of the expenses for the past two years. When I return to Beijing this time, I will bring a batch of money and food. It is said that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Household Affairs will allocate it. Also, while you are away,The girders of the harbor have been loaded, and the first ship has already docked, bringing up some supplies from the south, and another large batch."
"According to the previous holy will, this batch of supplies will be left at the port first. It is used for dispatching purposes and does not need to be sent to the capital. But now people everywhere are asking when the voyage will take place after the spring of next year, and how much food, troops and horses will be brought with them. Some merchants seem to want to go to sea with the ship, and some are already buying berthing seats. ”
“It was revealed secretly that a trip to sea requires two hundred taels of silver. Merchants are still flocking to it. Even if it is raised to five hundred taels, there are probably many people who want to go.”
p>
Sun Shangqi has initially gained the momentum to be a city lord.
As a member of the Jin Yiwei Qianhu, he is just a military commander, but because he has been with Zhang Zhou for a long time, he has begun to pay attention to economics. He had a certain understanding of management, and began to use some of the resources around him to build new cities and ports, which served as a bridge between Zhang Zhou and the local government.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Those merchants, probably. They only heard how much silver we brought back by sea, and thought it was profitable, so everyone wanted to go with us. But you must know that there is no trade in overseas lands, only plunder, that is, only with strong enough fists can resources be brought back. Silver and gold are the most valuable things in their eyes, but in my opinion, these are just by-products of our plunder. ”
Sun Shangqi said, “I don’t know very well about the humble post, but should I take the merchants to go to sea with me?”
“We can take them to Nanyang. If they want to go to other places, they can also go.” , but also told them not to die on the boat. Going out to sea for food is not just a simple trip. If you can endure the hardships of the journey, you must also endure the plague and war in a foreign country. Just tell them that those who are willing to fund the construction of a port will have priority to go to sea, just like before The merchants who shared the dividends turned around and cashed in the dividends of that group of people, and found another group of people to come in and build more ships and cast more cannons."
Zhang Zhou's plan to build ships and go to sea started from It started when Nanjing raised money and food.
What was proposed at that time was the right to distribute dividends to merchants who funded shipbuilding in the south. At first, many people did not join for the sake of dividends. After all, they felt that it was unrealistic to reap the benefits of going to sea. , it was more of a kind of flattery to Zhang Zhou in exchange for the support of the court.
But with the smooth return from the sea in the 14th year of Hongzhi, the sea ships brought a large amount of gold, silver and supplies. , making everyone jealous.
What Zhang Zhou has to do is to let those who invest first see the returns, so as to attract more people to join. As for how much returns the following people can get, Zhang Zhou would not make any promises, but many people would still invest and rush in.
Sun Shangqi sat down with Zhang Zhou and explained the affairs of Yongping Mansion to Zhang Zhou. .
"There is basically no problem with the allocation of money and food, but the number of people is a bit less. The initial few thousand people have now grown to 20,000 to 30,000 people, and there are also a large number of military households and civilians. Migrating there, but still thereSome businesses are unable to recruit people, especially labor-intensive jobs, and the prices offered are now very high. All the available idlers in Yongping Prefecture are being used, but it is still not enough."
Sun Shangqi As he said this, he looked longingly at Zhang Zhou and said, "Would you like to mention it to Your Majesty that we might be able to transfer people to the capital camp from somewhere nearby. ”
Zhang Zhou said, “The port is equivalent to a new city. When everything is prosperous, what it needs most is people. This is not beyond my expectation. The construction period will be delayed a bit, and it seems that this is the only way at the moment. If you transfer people, it does not comply with the rules of household registration in the Ming Dynasty. I am afraid that you will be criticized again. If you go back to Beizhili and Shandong, you will transfer a group of people back. In addition, people from Liaodong will also be transferred back. The Jurchens, And Koreans will also migrate here. ”
Sun Shangqi asked, “Is it too late?”
Zhang Zhou smiled and said, “It may take decades or hundreds of years for this city to realize its value.” , why be in a hurry? With the current immigration speed, if it takes a few years, do you think there will be a shortage of people? Maybe it is because the initial steps are too big. "
"Yes. "Sun Shangqi saluted.
"After you return to the capital, quickly settle down your family and bring them there together. In addition, you should deal with more matters in the capital. You don't have to be so busy. Maybe Tang Yin will be here at the beginning of the year. When he comes back, he will go over and take charge of these things as the right minister of the Ministry of Industry. At that time, many handovers and entertainment that are inconvenient for you can be done by him. ”
After all, Tang Yin is a court official and a civil servant.
No matter how powerful Sun Shangqi is, he is just a guard of thousands of households.
No matter how powerful Sun Shangqi is No matter how hard you try, you can't accomplish something.
"I understand. Sun Shangqi stood up and said, "Master, there is one more thing." Several workshops in Yongping Mansion are also recruiting workers at the same time. There is not much shortage of people now, but there is a shortage of materials deployed everywhere. Do you think so?"
Zhang Zhou put him Textile workshops and other textile workshops were gradually moved to Yongping Prefecture.
Because many of the workers in light industry were female workers, and women's social status was low in this era. They could make a living as long as they were in the industry. This kind of workshop where women gather does not bring many social problems, and many people even rush to it.
This means that there are many female workers and the production capacity can keep up, but the raw materials cannot keep up. Problem.
After all, the quantity of raw materials for many light industries in the Ming Dynasty was rationed based on the originally backward production efficiency. Zhang Zhou suddenly improved the production efficiency, and for a time there was no need for chemical fertilizers to increase the output of raw materials. On the premise, it is difficult to solve the problem of material shortage.
Zhang Zhou said, “This requires the assistance of local officials. His Majesty has prepared to find a few people with outstanding local political achievements or ambitious people to start increasing the planting of straw and cotton on a large scale in some provinces. In addition, we will also purchase from overseas. Sometimes it is possible. There is no need to purchase it, just grab it and bring it back. In addition, overseas is a vast and sparsely populated area, and we are looking for people from some tribes to help.We can plant in southern Liaoning and other places, and we will also open up a lot of farmland to assist in production and farmland in various parts of the north. This can only be solved slowly.
Sun Shangqi said, "This humble post just brings up the difficulties. With you here, I believe these are all expected." ”
Zhang Zhou nodded and said, “After the spring, a large amount of fabrics may be used in the north. Can the batches previously planned be produced?”
“Can they be made by the end of the year?” It is said that everything has been built, but the specific humble position is not clear. "
After all, Sun Shangqi is not responsible for the workshop.
"Bring the accounts," Zhang Zhou asked.
"Yes. Sun Shangqi said, "I'm waiting outside. Do you want to invite me in?"
"Yes." "
Zhang Zhou nodded, "You should be busy with your own business first. I am not your direct boss, and you do not need to report to me on your official matters. Go ahead. "
"Yes. ”
Sun Shangqi had just left the house when another person who helped Zhang Zhou manage the workshop, Huang Zhao, came in with an account book.
Behind her, there was also Followed by a person who looks like a follower, the person who looks like a follower has a wooden box in his hand, which obviously also contains accounts and information related to the workshop.
"Those who have nothing to do with it will go out first. "Zhang Zhou said.
The little attendant handed the wooden box to Mrs. Huang Zhao, and then went out. After the door was closed, Mrs. Huang slowly walked up to Zhang Zhou, and then knelt down respectfully.
“Rise up and speak. "Zhang Zhou said.
Huang Zhao stood up slowly and put the account book in front of Zhang Zhou.
Zhang Zhou picked it up, looked at it, pointed and said, "Sit down. ”
Then the woman sat down. It was obvious that she was very reserved in front of Zhang Zhou. Although she came from a wealthy family, no matter how big her family was, she was incomparable to a powerful man like Zhang Zhou. She thought it was untrue that she was a female prostitute and could be on an equal footing with Zhang Zhou.
So much so that she didn’t dare to face Zhang Zhou head-on.