My Brother-in-law is the Prince - Chapter 457

Chapter 457 Death without a place to bury

Zhang Anshi called people together, and only briefly explained the relief.

Regarding this matter, he actually has nothing to care about, or in other words, he doesn’t think it needs extra attention.

Taiping Mansion’s food reserves are sufficient, even if it is not enough, there are other ways to solve it.

On the Zhili side, there is no problem with transportation at all, especially after the laying of the railway, the dispatch of food can be almost completely guaranteed.

As for the cobweb-like officials from top to bottom, most of them were cultivated by the Taiping Mansion back then. They are more able to obey the law. At least even if there are some dirty things, they are hidden and tucked away, unlike other high-level emperors. The place is simply obvious, and there is no face.

So this is just a matter of issuing an order. After the order is issued, let Changshifu and Gao Xiang preside over the discussion, which county is the most affected, how much food is needed, how to transport it, how much manpower will be allocated, and how other counties are doing. Helping with resettlement and such things are not what Zhang Anshi is good at.

So after giving everyone blood, Zhang Anshi went to the small hall of the palace, and immediately began to call other people.

Hold small meetings for major events.

Obviously, Zhang Anshi wants to do big things now.

The people who came included Yang Pu, the Minister of the Maritime Affairs Department, Chen Li, the Commander of Jinyiwei, and the acquaintance, Zhu Jin, the chief treasurer of the commercial firm. Besides, there were some big merchants.

One of them was Ma Yu, the number one scholar at the time.

Ma Yu’s firm has become bigger and bigger now. His main business is shipping. In addition, he also manages many overseas industries.

In the market, everyone is guessing that his worth is at least two million taels.

This is the limit of personal assets.

When the scale becomes larger, it is inevitable to have to deal with the government. There are many contacts, and occasionally have some relations with people like Zhu Jin.

This time, Zhang Anshi asked Zhu Jin to find some merchants, and Zhu Jin selected some from the people around him, including Ma Yu.

Because according to Zhang Anshi’s instructions, these people must at least have enough brains and be worth enough. It is best to focus on shipping and foreign trade.

Zhang Anshi did not choose people to be reliable.

Because reliability is too subjective, merchants do not have the so-called absolute reliability.

But it is very important to be clear-headed, because only a clear-headed person will not be blinded by profit. In order to seek small profits in front of him, he offends the county palace and betrays Zhang Anshi.

Everyone gathered together and drank tea with their heads down, but at this moment they had different thoughts.

For Chen Li and others, His Highness must have something important to discuss, but he doesn’t know what it is.

For Ma Yu and the others, it was a great honor for them to be summoned suddenly by His Royal Highness Prince of Wuhu County. What’s more, the people who came were all well-known figures, which made them feel that they were valued by His Royal Highness, which was extraordinarily different.

However, they were also a little worried. Being invited like this, could it be that His Highness is short of money, and wants to find some money from them to spend?

Their worries are not unreasonable. After all, outside Zhili, such things often happen.

At this time, Zhang Anshi smiled and said, “Everyone is here today, it’s rare to get together, especially Mr. Ma and others. It’s really bothering me to take time out of their busy schedules.”

This is very polite.

Ma Yu and the others feel chilly. This majestic county king came to say such polite words to you for no reason. Do you still need to guess? Either thinking about your life, or thinking about your money.

At that moment, Ma Yu immediately said: “The Caomin people have relied on His Highness for many years. Without His Highness’s care, how could the Caomin people be where they are today. Since His Highness ruled the Taiping Mansion, he has supported merchants a lot. They are also kind to each other, and everyone says that this Taiping Mansion is worthy of the word “Taiping”, it really is a world of peace.”

His reaction was quick, he was modest at first, and then quickly gave Zhang Anshi a high hat.

His Highness takes care of everyone on weekdays, everyone is grateful, don’t kill us today.

Zhang Anshi smiled again, and Ma Yu didn’t know whether Zhang Anshi understood these words.

But Zhang Anshi nodded and said: “It’s true to be kind to you. It’s an exaggeration to support you, but it’s just doing some things.”

Ma Yu smiled and said, “I don’t know what advice Your Highness has?”

“It’s not about enlightenment, it’s just that there are some major issues that require everyone’s collective efforts.” Zhang Anshi cut to the point.

He has guessed the thoughts of people like Ma Yu. These guys have too many minds, and they are all slick.

So he went on to say: “The thing is like this. Now there is a catastrophe all over the world. The imperial court also ordered Hu Gongqin of Wenyuan Pavilion to provide relief. Such a catastrophe is unprecedented. This king is quite worried about it. The so-called prevention It’s not like that. So… I have to ask everyone to help me find a way to get more food. The king has thought about it. To open new food, first, we have to rely on sea transportation. Now… we have a lot of sea ships. If the ship If the ships transported can return with a full load of food, then…the big problem will be solved.”

Ma Yu and others were a little surprised. It is not impossible to transport grain by sea, but the profit is too low, far less profitable than bringing Western specialties on the return journey.

But they breathed a sigh of relief, because after all, Zhang Anshi just asked them to help, and this favor was just to earn less money. After all, they haven’t robbed them yet, which is already a good result.

It’s just that at this time, Ma Yu and the others refused to relax on the face, because although this matter has losses for themselves, it is just a matter of earning more and less earning, and it is still easy to do, and the more difficult it is for themselves, it is not easy to do Only now did His Royal Highness realize that they had paid a lot for their help.

It’s like doing business. The other party sets a price. If you agree too easily, the other party will not be elated, but will doubt whether your price is low.

Zhang Anshi then smiled and said: “Of course, the benefits are not without. How much food you ship back, the customs will temporarily exempt you from customs duties, and your food will be converted into… um… Points. And then based on the points , give you an appropriate tax-free quota, all in all, don’t teach you to suffer.”

As soon as these words came out, Ma Yu and the others were greatly excited.

If this is the case, it means…their losses can be greatly reduced. After all, what they are doing is a long-term business. They can take this opportunity to help the county palace without major losses. Such a thing is of course a wish. .

Many times, for a big merchant like Ma Yu, favors are better than straightforward gold and silver.

“Your Highness said that the grassroots dare not do their best for this sake. Please rest assured that the grassroots will do everything possible to deliver food, but how much food does Your Highness need?”

Zhang Anshidao: “As much as you want, you just need to transport, don’t worry about the rest.”

Ma Yuren and the others stopped asking any more questions, and agreed with all their mouths: “If you have His Highness’s words, then it’s up to us.”

Zhang Anshi said with satisfaction: “The king will wait and see.”

Ma Yu and the others left contentedly. They were all shrewd people and knew that this was an opportunity. The better they performed in front of the county king without suffering much loss, the better they would be for their long-term stay in Taiping Mansion. It is more beneficial to operate.

Although merchants in Taiping Mansion don’t discriminate much, unlike other prefectures and counties, people treat others like fish and meat, but they don’t have too many privileges, and they are still subject to the local government, even if it’s just this time that they can make friends with the county prince’s mansion The opportunity is also very precious to them.

Since we want to get things done, we must immediately formulate a complete set of shipping methods. How to take advantage of the monsoon and sailing time to release a large number of ships immediately, and how to quickly cooperate with Luzon, Annan, Java, and Malacca Wait for the grain origin to contact early, let the other party’s grain be stored in the port early, so that it can be loaded at any time, and return quickly, and strive to transport more times.

Besides that… this ship needs to expand its loading capacity, and there is also the issue of food preservation, which also needs to be prepared.

All in all, this thing must be done beautifully.

Even the major shipping companies, I am afraid that there is some hidden competition. If others run better than themselves, on the one hand, it will inevitably teach their peers to look down on them. Perfunctory.

Those who do business know best, but most of the time, business is not necessarily just a small profit, but a problem of attitude. Some merchants clearly have good quality and low price, but they have a bad attitude, and instead give people a lot of money. A bad impression of bad reputation.

Especially the target of this transaction is His Royal Highness the Prince of Wuhu County who can handle them and even decide their life and death.

Only by doing our best and thinking of all ways to transport more food can we show that we have broken our hearts for His Highness’s affairs. In the long run, they can obtain the greatest benefit.

…

Ma Yu and the others left, and at this time, only his own people were left in the hall.

But the scene became abnormally quiet for a while.

Zhang Anshi stood up, with his hands behind his back, his mouth tightly pursed, but his attitude was not as cheerful and humble as he was to Ma Yu and others.

But with a cold face and an unhappy look.

Yang Pu, Chen Li, Zhu Jin and others have been following Zhang Anshi for a long time. Seeing Zhang Anshi like this, they naturally know that His Royal Highness must have something on his mind.

The friendly attitude towards outsiders is only for outsiders after all. Now that you close the door and put on a bad face, this is what you have to discuss with your own people.

Zhu Jin took the lead with a dry laugh and said, “Your Highness, the food in the prefectures and counties of Zhili should be enough to cope with the current disaster situation in Zhili. Why does Your Highness spend so much energy teaching people to transport food?”

Zhang Anshi sullenly raised his head and glanced at them, and answered irrelevantly: “What do you think of Mr. Hu?”

This question is very sudden, and it is a bit difficult to answer.

The three of them looked at each other, seeing surprise in the eyes of the other two.

Of course, Yang Pu was cautious and didn’t speak.

Zhu Jin is a merchant after all, so naturally he cannot comment on Hu Gong who is aloof.

It was Chen Li, the Commander of the Jinyiwei, who thought about it and said, “According to a lot of information, he should be a really honest person.”

He bit the real word very hard.

Jinyiwei has a special intelligence research institute called Qianhu Institute, which will produce a clearer judgment on a certain person through countless things that have happened.

Zhang Anshi suddenly evoked a smile, but the smile obviously didn’t reach his eyes, and said: “Would you be worried if such an honest person goes to give relief?”

“This…is hard to say.” Yang Pu thought for a while and said, “Mr. Hu has a great reputation after all, let alone…”

Zhang Anshi waved his hand and interrupted Yang Pu: “Let’s not take chances. Once we do, then maybe… things will develop in the worst direction.”

“The New Deal has come to the present, and it no longer allows us… to continue to focus on such a small place as Taiping Mansion or Zhili. It is time to look further away. Besides, such a catastrophe has too much to do with it. You Dao It is because people who have no long-term considerations must have near-term worries, and it is always good to prepare for the worst.”

Yang Pu frowned, and said: “Even in the past, even if we encountered a disaster, we could handle it. This time…”

Zhang Anshi shook his head and said: “Today is different from the past, have you forgotten that over the years, a large number of goods from Taiping Prefecture have hit the countryside of various counties and counties in the world, coupled with the exodus of a large number of powerful people, the original ecology of the prefectures and counties in the world has been destroyed. , Has it changed? This change… In my opinion, it will make the gentry worse, that is, when the environment gets worse, the last bit of courtesy, righteousness and shame will disappear.”

Zhang Anshi, as a man in two generations, is too aware of this situation. The deterioration of squires and gentry is almost the most important feature at the end of every dynasty.

When the countryside begins to wither due to frequent disasters, lack of manpower, bandits or other reasons, in order to ensure that their own interests are not violated, almost all gentry and country gentry will choose to do whatever it takes.

Of course, there are also some people who refuse to join forces, so what greets them may be bankruptcy.

Although it is not the end of the dynasty, in fact, the impact of the New Deal on the prefectures and counties in the world is no less than the various disasters at the end of the dynasty. According to some reports brought by Jin Yiwei, this situation has already begun There are clues.

It’s like eating chicken, the circle of poison is constantly shrinking… At this time, the original folk customs or morality alone can no longer restrain these people who already hold authority in the local area.

Thinking of this, Zhang Anshi’s face became more gloomy, and he said in a deep voice: “So I need food now, as much as I have, not only rely on food transportation, but also need us to get food from other places. How, convey the order to continue, suspend the drill, everyone…take large and small ships, go to sea to catch sea fish.”

After a pause, he seemed to suddenly think of something, and said again: “Oh, yes, besides that, in the areas of Jiangsu and Zhejiang that were not affected by the disaster, he also tried to find a way to buy some grain. In the name of you, give me as much food as you want, and get me as much food as you want, at any cost.”

Zhu Jin immediately showed a look of pain.

Zhang Anshi glanced at Zhu Jin, but smiled and said: “Don’t feel bad, as long as there is food, in the future… how much we spend, we can earn back in multiples, and we can’t suffer from our losses.”

“Of course… If Mr. Hu is really capable, and the parents, officials and gentry around here still have some conscience, it’s okay. Maybe it’s just this king’s worrying too much, and we may suffer a little bit. But if these people, really If they dare to act recklessly, then they are not benevolent, so don’t blame us for being unrighteous, and when that time comes, teach them to die without a place to die.”

When he said the last paragraph, Zhang Anshi’s face was a bit cruel.

The talk has reached this point, how dare everyone say more?

All along, it was the idea of ​​Zhang Anshi, His Royal Highness, and naturally no one dared to question it.

Everyone said: “Obey.”

Zhang Anshi’s face became more relaxed, and he said again: “The commander of the navy, tell him to come to me from the Songjiang Water Village quickly, I have something to explain.”

…

The naval division under the Ministry of Maritime Affairs was transformed from the former Waterway Inspection Department.

Of course, the personnel have been greatly supplemented, and the ships have also been greatly increased.

The commanders of the current naval divisions are actually half-way monks. In the early years, they went out of the model battalion and made meritorious service.

Now, another group of backbones who have retired from the model battalion have been recruited, and some naval training has been carried out, which can be regarded as setting up this shelf.

Everything in this navy is initial creation, and everything is difficult at the beginning, but at this time, the navy does not have a strong opponent, and they have enough time to slowly establish a naval system.

The commander was called Lu Qian. After receiving Zhang Anshi’s edict, Lu Qian hurried to the county palace.

Zhang Anshi received him politely. It was noon at this time, and Zhang Anshi taught people to set up a table of sumptuous food and wine in the small hall.

Zhang Anshi sat down first, and then greeted Lu Qian with some kindness: “Come, sit down and talk.”

Although Zhang Anshi looked very easy-going, Lu Qian still didn’t dare to be presumptuous, and said stiffly: “Yes.”

Lu Qian was actually a little at a loss. He leaned forward and sat down, sitting upright, without moving the bowl and chopsticks.

Zhang Anshi said: “When did you leave?”

Lu Qian hurriedly said: “Last night, I heard that His Highness was calling, so I rushed here.”

Zhang Anshi didn’t seem to see Lu Qian’s discomfort, and he still looked friendly. He took the fish fillet and ate it, and said, “It’s been hard work. Come on, you’re welcome, let’s fill your stomach first.”

Lu Qian responded, then picked up the chopsticks, mechanically picked up a piece of meat and ate it into his mouth.

Zhang Anshi said casually: “How is the situation at the water village?”

Lu Qian hurriedly swallowed the meat in his mouth, and said: “Now there are 2,795 people and 143 large and small ships, but I am still… not proficient in this, so… Hire Some people who have been to the West were recruited as naval instructors, and the rest, as long as they did not go to sea for training, they all practiced in the water village according to the rules of the model battalion. Incorrect.”

(end of this chapter)