Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 390: Really Going to Make Money

The emperor is of course a benevolent ruler.

For example, when he passed through Pizhou, Huai'an Prefecture, the governor of Pizhou spent a lot of money and effort to welcome him. During the busy farming season, he organized nearly a thousand elderly people to wear good clothes and present local products such as moss and lotus roots to the Luoma Lake to thank the emperor for his grace, saying that life had been getting better and better since the Taichang Dynasty.

In addition, more than 300 children recited "Investigation of Things and Extending Knowledge" in unison, and more than 100 fishing boats sang fishing songs on Luoma Lake.

The people of Taichang Dynasty lived and worked in peace and contentment.

Unexpectedly, the summer weather changed suddenly with sudden rain and strong winds. Six fishing boats capsized and nine people drowned.

The result was that the prefect of Pizhou was first dismissed from office, his official title was taken away from him, and then he was sent to the capital to be questioned.

The emperor stayed in Pizhou for two more days because of this. He was furious and conducted a thorough investigation into all illegal activities in Pizhou in recent years. More than 30 officials and wealthy gentry were convicted.

As a result, seven officials of all ranks and fifty personal guards were left behind in the southern tour team to temporarily serve as officials in Pizhou. They quickly filled the vacancies in Pizhou on behalf of the Jinxian Academy before heading directly to Guangzhou to meet the imperial carriage.

Upon hearing the news, other local officials along the canal between Huai'an and Yangzhou cursed the prefect of Pizhou: He was too stupid. He made the emperor have a bad impression of Jiangnan as soon as he entered the territory of Southern Zhili.

In fact, most of them are afraid.

There were only about a thousand elders and common people, so this was not a big welcoming ceremony.

The praises were just right, starting from the people's livelihood, especially showing that he was promoting new learning in major cultural and educational events.

Unfortunately, there are unexpected events in life.

After this incident, a clear decree was transmitted from the imperial boat: No places were allowed to organize a welcoming ceremony for the emperor. Whenever the emperor arrived at a place to stay, only the chief officials of the prefecture, state, and county would report to the emperor on their work, while the rest of the people were to focus on their official duties.

The local officials did want to show their face in front of the emperor, but after the incident in Pizhou, starting from Suqian, every local official was nervous when meeting the emperor.

The question they were asked most often was about numbers, which made Yangzhou start preparing early: they must be fully aware of all the data under their jurisdiction.

However, the next big problem is: numbers are not easy to deceive, especially... Although the emperor has been in the imperial carriage, he has no idea how many people are investigating in front of him.

It was in this atmosphere that Zhu Changluo arrived in Huai'an.

Here, he first disembarked the imperial boat and allowed the fleet to pass through the Huai'an locks.

Huai'an is located at the confluence of the Yellow River and the Huai River, which is also very important.

On the riverbank of Qingjiangpu, He Shengrui, the former Minister of Works, and Li Congxin, the current Governor-General of the River, accompanied Zhu Changluo. Next to them was Zhang Jiude, a Jinshi in the first year of Taichang who worked in the Ministry of Rivers.

"Mr. Yinchuan built dikes to control water and attack sand with water. From the 44th year of Jiajing to the 11th year of Wanli, the Yellow River and Huai River are now generally fine. Mr. Yinchuan has made great contributions." Li Congxin said, "The Ministry of Works planned the national water conservancy affairs. Cheng Zhong and I were trusted and entrusted with the important task of river management. But now, the siltation of the Yellow River and Huai River is getting more and more serious..."

After the beginning of summer every year, the Huaihe River Basin begins to have more rainfall, and heavy rains are often seen in midsummer.

How could Zhu Changluo not know?

He looked at the muddy river surface after it merged with the Yellow River and asked worriedly, "In your opinion, can we stop the flood like the one in the 21st year of Wanli next time?"

Li Congxin and others looked stern and were speechless.

In the 21st year of Wanli, the Huaihe River rose, and boats were pulled from the flat ground. The flood entered the city. Boats sailed on treetops, and people lived in trees. The city was almost submerged. Gaoyan broke through 22 dikes, including Gaoliangjian and Zhoujiaqiao, and countless dikes in Gaobao were breached.

But the biggest upheaval of the year was the flood that submerged the Ming Dynasty's ancestral mausoleum in Xuyi. For this reason, Yang Yikui, the Minister of Works when Zhu Changluo first ascended the throne, was demoted to a commoner.

In the past decade or so, perhaps because Zhu Changluo was lucky, or perhaps because of Pan Jixun's contribution, there has been no such a severe flood in the Huanghuai River.

But with today's flood control level, let alone floods that occur once in a hundred years or once in decades, even one that occurs once in twenty years would be quite difficult to resist.

Seeing that they were silent, Zhu Changluo spoke up: "In the 21st year of Wanli, a flood submerged the ancestral mausoleum. In the past, it was said that the ancestral mausoleum could not be moved, otherwise the dragon energy would leak out and the country would be unstable. But now I am working hard to govern the country, and the Ming Dynasty is finally moving in a good direction."

He turned and looked at the others: "Don't be constrained, make preparations early. After the establishment of the Executive Yuan, the General Administration of Rivers has not yet been clearly under the jurisdiction of the Executive Yuan. I make the decision that the General Administration of Rivers will be directly under the Executive Yuan in the future, and river management must not be interrupted. While the influence of Lord Yinchuan is still there, we must let go and do it, considering the overall situation."

Zhu Changluo ordered someone to find Xu Xiake and continue the previous topic.

"As I said, the Hetao area in Shaanxi and Shanxi should plant trees to consolidate the soil and sand, and the lower reaches should not just keep building embankments in the Huanghuai area. Zhensheng, after you return to Beijing, follow the river to its source for your next trip." This was why he wanted to find Xu Xiake. "For great rivers, the first step starts here."

Li Congxin and others looked at the young man with some curiosity, only to see him respectfully accept the order.

"First, let's focus on preventing this summer's flood. When I return to the capital, you will bring the strategy with you and come back with me to discuss and formulate a plan." Zhu Changluo looked to the south, "I and the ministers will find a way to pay for the required wages."

After leaving Beijing and arriving here, Zhu Changluo actually took a look at the condition of the dikes in the Huanghuai area which is most prone to flooding. He felt that this on-the-ground visit was of great significance.

In the past, he really couldn't spare much energy and financial resources to do such things, but it had to be done.

The situation is much better now. After the situation with the Tumed and Ordos tribes has entered a new stage, the upper reaches of the Yellow River can also devote their energy to doing things other than border defense. And the most direct purpose of appointing all ministers to implement the new policy is indeed the financial issue.

The Ming Dynasty must collect all the taxes that should be collected and no longer allow local governments to evade taxes.

During his two-day stay in Huai'an, Zhu Changluo only focused on two things: river management and the transfer of water transport to the government-owned property office.

The former was mainly to encourage the officials of the Ministry of Rivers, express support for them, and motivate them to study this matter with greater enthusiasm and a more professional perspective.

The latter has long been determined, and has also gone through the transitional stage of the previous division of the transport army into the transport army and the transport protection navy. Now it is just a matter of clarifying the framework and formally operating by learning from the management method and transportation settlement method of the Zhayanghang.

Next we should go to Yangzhou. After Yangzhou, we will be close to Nanjing.

After seeing the Yellow River and Huai River dikes with his own eyes and deciding to formally launch the river management project with a sense of preparedness, Zhu Changluo really wanted to make money.

Yangzhou was a prosperous place where the salt transportation from Lianghuai was concentrated, and it also involved the major policy of incorporating the salt administration into the Official Property Office.

At this moment, countless big salt merchants were waiting in Yangzhou.

Yangzhou is a good place. In the Tang Dynasty, there was a saying that Yangzhou is the best and Yizhou is the worst. However, Yangzhou has also experienced many wars.

If things were still fine at the end of the Sui Dynasty or the end of the Tang Dynasty, then after Zhao Gou moved south, Yangzhou would have become a frontline area.

After the Yuan army destroyed the Song Dynasty, only a few thousand people were left in Yangzhou City. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, Zhang Mingjian occupied Yangzhou City. After Zhu Yuanzhang took over Yangzhou City, he found that there were only 18 households left in the city. Otherwise, some had died or fled, and "there was not a single house left, not a single piece of land left."

Now, more than two hundred years have passed, and Yangzhou City is prosperous again.

During the Jiajing period, Japanese pirates repeatedly looted the outer city of Yangzhou. The Yangzhou prefect therefore petitioned the government to build a new city, and the prosperity of Yangzhou city reached a new level.

Today, Yangzhou City is roughly square, about five miles long from east to west and four miles long from north to south, with four gates in the north, three gates in the south, two gates in the east, and one gate in the west. The roads in the city are roughly two horizontal and three vertical, and there are more rivers. There are six rivers running from north to south, including Haocao River, Erdao River, Toudao River, Jiushi River, Xinshi River known as Xiao Qinhuai River, and the Ancient Grand Canal; there are four rivers running from east to west, including Hangou, Chaohe River, Beicheng River, and the Ancient Grand Canal in the south of the city from north to south.

From then on, "merchants still gathered in the market; the young helped the old to win, the strong carried loads on shoulders, and people who enjoyed delicious food still filled the streets; in the windy mornings and moonlit evenings, the sounds of singing, drums, pipes and flutes still filled the ears; string music and recitation were everywhere in the village schools." The city's dense population was very rare in the entire Ming Dynasty.

"You said, those ships are also residential houses?"

"That's right. Master Chang, I heard that there are more river houses like this over at Dongshuiguan. Half of them are on the river, and half are on the shore. It's true that every inch of land in the city is worth a lot of money."

"So, the salt merchants all live in the southern part of the new city, east of Chaoguan City?"

"It's on the right back. Although Chaoguan City is a big market, the right front is where the most shops are located in Yangzhou."

"Those alleys..." the man called Master Chang looked ahead, "There are so many people, dozens or hundreds of them, all wandering around, what's the point?"

"...It is insulting to Master Chang's ears."

"What's there to be said? I asked you to come here just to see what Yangzhou looks like."

"...They are all guides... Turtle slaves..."

"..." Mr. Chang looked around and asked, "Nine alleys... all in this area?"

"...There are at least hundreds of fine rooms and close-fitting doors, most likely..."

"You've already walked half a mile along the Qinhuai River after getting off the boat and entering the city. I'm afraid there are many people in Yangzhou who recognize you. Just let him lead the way, and go back and prepare first."

"Master! You are worth a ton of gold, why don't you just go and rest first?"

"Those salt merchants, after you make an appointment, I will go there before nightfall."

This so-called Master Chang is naturally Zhu Changluo.

He did not go on a secret visit, but he arrived in Yangzhou a day in advance. The person he called to greet him and do the work was Fan Yuanzhu.

The purpose of this visit is to meet the salt merchants first and get some money.

This money is not to be obtained through the open reform of the salt administration, but through a private franchise cooperation. It is to encourage them and also to make them not only focus on developing salt industry in China.

Zhu Changluo and Fan Yuanzhu had no idea how much wealth they actually had - it was said that some tycoons used to show off their wealth, but in recent years they have been very restrained for fear of being slaughtered like fat pigs.

But Fan Yuanzhu hesitantly said a number, saying that he estimated that the assets of the top ten salt merchants... should be about 20 to 30 million taels?

And there is a lot of cash.

Zhu Changluo did not explain to Fan Yuanzhu, and Fan Yuanzhu's son Fan Yongdou was terrified to see that he had to go on the journey.

Of course he knew who this Mr. Chang was.

Zhu Changluo didn't know that Fan Yongdou would become quite famous later on, but when he walked forward and looked at the prosperous city of Yangzhou, he did think of the "Ten Days of Yangzhou" which was somewhat related to Fan Yongdou.

The prosperous city of Yangzhou was going to be in trouble soon, but now...

Fan Yongdou had no idea what "Master Chang" was sighing in his heart. He turned around and looked at his father, only to see his father nodding at him with a serious face and a complicated look in his eyes.

Although he could not understand the specific meaning of that look, he had to be careful in his words and actions and serve well. The most important thing was to not let this "Master Chang" fall into a trap.

Zhu Changluo looked at him: "Let's go? Just say we are your new friends."

"...How dare I accept this, Master Chang..." He met Zhu Changluo's gaze and said with a stiff face, "Then please come this way, Master Chang, please forgive me for my incompetence. Even if you give me the courage, I still can't act well and will be exposed."

"Well, you really can't act like a friend. Then you don't have to act. Just say that this is nothing more than a matter of fact about the emperor's visit to Guangdong, and you want to get in touch with me to make a big deal."

"...Excuse me, Master Chang, what big deal is this? Why can I only rely on you?" Fan Yongdou shrank timidly with a sad face.

With his awed look, how could anyone believe that they were friends of Mr. Fan?

Fan Yuanzhu first entered the salt merchant community in Huai'an, and then moved the Changming Salt Company headquarters to Yangzhou, the salt merchant base. He has an official position and is an elder of the Shufei family. He is now a prominent figure in the Ming Dynasty salt industry. The son of such a big shot is naturally very famous in Yangzhou.

Of course, someone who even he has to approach and whose words and actions are so awe-inspiring must have a legitimate identity.

Zhu Changluo smiled and pointed at Liu Ruoyu who was accompanying him: "Look, someone from the palace is here, you just need to show your respect to him. As for me, I am just the one who comes forward to do the work, it is normal for you to show some respect to me. I will tell you the rest."

Liu Ruoyu felt quite helpless.

There were all kinds of people in Yangzhou. In addition to ordinary people, scholars, and merchants, there were also many people following them on the streets.

Although Zhu Changluo was followed by Liu Ruoyu, two accompanying guards, Fan Yongdou and a servant of the Fan family, they were actually not very conspicuous.

However, Fan Yongdou and the Fan family servants seemed sneaky.

"Master Chang" had given the order, so Fan Yongdou had to obey. As for Fan Yongdou's friends... they had already made an appointment.

After the imperial edict arrived, Fan Yuanzhu was going to invite their father today, but Fan Yongdou just invited them to "get drunk", which was a daily routine for them.

When they arrived at a large restaurant on the bank of the Qinhuai River, the enthusiastic waiter rushed to the door as soon as he saw Fan Yongdou.

"Hey Mr. Fan, it's been a while since you came. I'm finally looking forward to seeing you."

Fan Yongdou said quickly: "Go straight to Yangfeng Xiaoyuexuan and ask the shopkeeper to serve you!"

The waiter bowed and led the way: "The shopkeeper has been waiting for you for a long time..."

He was telling the truth. The chancellor had originally reserved this private room on the top floor for today, and the guests to be entertained were all important figures in Yangzhou. When the reservation was made, the waiter heard the shopkeeper mutter something, saying that he was hoping that everything would go smoothly for the emperor's visit to Yangzhou.

As a result, yesterday, it was the Fan family who rejected the Prime Minister's request and changed the banquet to that of Master Fan.

The name of Fan Xingshou was known to many people in Yangzhou City, especially waiters like him who worked in top-notch restaurants specializing in serving officials and wealthy families.

Although Fan Xingshou was an official, why did he have to delay the important affairs of the government office? I'm afraid there must be another reason.

Not knowing what kind of distinguished guests they were, the waiter first secretly glanced at these four new faces.

As a result, the young man was seen looking at the shopkeeper in astonishment as he walked towards him.

Zhu Changluo was not aware of any other strange secrets behind the change of Yangfeng Xiaoyuexuan, but what shocked him now was that the owner of the restaurant specially appointed by the Fan family to receive him was actually a woman?

(End of this chapter)