Eunuch Sun finally realized that he might have been tricked. Just now, Lin Tailai was really pretending to be crazy and acting stupid, and then waited for himself to fall from active to passive.
But facing the local bully in Suzhou, Eunuch Sun decided to show some respect and have a dialogue as an equal.
It's not because Lin Tailai deserves respect as a person, but because Lin Tailai's strength in Suzhou deserves respect.
Official Lin asked again: "Which one will make more profit, levying 10,000 pieces of silk and satin, or selling 10,000 pieces of silk and satin across the two oceans?"
Without even thinking about this question, Eunuch Sun replied: "Of course it's the latter!
But how can I do it? I am in charge of weaving, not shipping department!"
After the Japanese Rebellion, the Shipping Departments in Zhejiang and Fujian were abolished. Now only the Shipping Department in Guangdong is still operating, and the other two have not yet been restored.
There is still some time before the outbreak of foreign trade, and the imperial court does not seem to be so urgent about restoring the shipping department.
Lin Daguan responded: "Sun Gong's pattern may as well be enlarged. As the saying goes, if there are no conditions, we must create conditions!"
Sun Long was not slow in thinking, and immediately thought of another economic news from before - Lin Shoubei's speech pointed out that Suzhou must have a direct seaport!
Lin Daguan said leisurely: "I heard that the Wusong River originating from Taihu Lake has abundant water, a wide and straight river channel, and it directly merged into the sea from west to east.
In the Song and Yuan Dynasties, overseas ships could go directly to Suzhou from the ancient Wusong River estuary along the Wusong River.
Unfortunately, siltation occurred in the lower reaches of the Wusong River. Twenty years ago, when Hai Qingtian was the governor of Yingtian and built water conservancy projects, he diverted the Wusong River into the Dahuangpu River to the north.
From then on, the Wusong River became a tributary of the Greater Huangpu River, and there was no downstream or entrance to the sea."
The Great Huangpu River that Lin Daguan called at this time was the well-known Huangpu River in later generations.
The entrance of the ancient Wusong River to the sea was in the famous Pudong in later generations. Everyone knows how backward the Pudong coast was before it was opened, and it was directly related to the abandonment of the ancient Wusong River estuary.
Of course, for Lin Daguan people, the difference is that shipping from the Wusong River Estuary to Suzhou was extremely convenient in ancient times, but it was not convenient from the Dahuangpu River.
Sun Long was not an incompetent eunuch, so he immediately asked: "Then do you know why Hai Rui did this?
First, the Great Huangpu does not directly enter the sea, but flows into the Yangtze River near the intersection of the river and the sea. There are many military camps there and the river is tightly guarded.
Second, the river downstream of Dahuangpu is very winding and winding, and is blocked by Dianshan Lake. If foreign ships want to go upstream through Dahuangpu, it will be very difficult to sail.
Therefore, Hai Rui turned Wusong River into a tributary of Dahuangpu and abandoned the entrance of the ancient Wusong River to prevent foreign enemies from attacking at sea and ensure the safety of Susong hinterland.
What does this mean? It means that the imperial court’s requirement for Jiangnan is safety first, and it does not think that Jiangnan needs a seaport!”
In short, what Eunuch Sun meant was that it was inconvenient to go deep into Suzhou from the Dahuangpu River, but it became a defensive advantage in the eyes of the court.
This is the difference in concepts, the difference between extroverted oceanic thinking and introverted continental thinking.
After Lin Daguan thought for a while, he said: "I will only say three points. First, there is no law that will never change in the world. For example, trade with the Northern Lu was prohibited for two hundred years, but it was still closed in the Longqing Dynasty.
What is the beginning of ancient Wusongkou?
Second, if after the ancient Wusongkou is reopened, there are really strong foreign enemies that can break through Wusongkou and penetrate into the hinterland, then the Yangtze River Estuary will not be able to defend it either!
It is simply ridiculous to think that the Yangtze River Estuary is safer than the ancient Wusong Estuary!
Third, Mr. Sun, you know better than me what kind of person the emperor is. People who lack self-control will only sink deeper and deeper step by step.
If you think that just the few hundred looms in the Weaving Bureau can satisfy the Emperor's future demands, then I have nothing to say."
In fact, among these three points, the key point is still the third point, and it is the third point that impresses Eunuch Sun the most.
While the foreign ministers were still angry because Emperor Wanli did not go to court or acted recklessly in East Palace affairs, the eunuchs must have realized more deeply that the emperor no longer suppressed his nature, and all kinds of desires exploded.
For example, all the eunuchs knew that Zhang Jing, the governor of Dongchang, had something that made the emperor angry, but after he donated a batch of treasures, everything was fine.
This is called the duck prophet of spring river water warmth.
Sun Long stared at Official Lin in surprise for a long time. He didn't expect that a military attaché far away in Suzhou could feel the emperor's wind direction so accurately.
From now on, if anyone says that Lin Tailai is reckless when doing things, he will say "poof" to the other person's face.
Of course people with such knowledge can cooperate. For eunuchs, whoever can figure out the emperor's thoughts is a powerful person!
In the end, Lin Daguan made arrangements: "In the beginning, we should just do it and not talk about it. In the past two years, we have slowly repaired the Wusong River in the name of dredging, and did not mention the reopening of the ancient Wusongkou.
At the same time, Sun Gongqin secretly explained to the emperor and persuaded him.
The last step is to win the support of local scholar-officials and try to eliminate local hidden dangers.
It would be great if we can finish it all in two years! Maybe by then, Mr. Sun, you can also serve as a city shipping official!"
The reason why Lin Daguan is not so anxious is because the scale of his industrial park has not yet increased.
Even if the ancient Wusongkou is reopened tomorrow and direct sea trade channels are opened, it will still be an advantage for others.
After leaving the Weaving Bureau, Lin Tailai came to Shen Mansion again.
As late spring passed and the weather got hotter, Mr. Shen became more informal and came out of the inner room shirtless to meet the guests. It seemed that he was working hard for the prosperity of the family.
Official Lin advised: "Second Master, the lawsuit is over. Don't stay at home all the time. Go out and walk more."
Second Master Shen was already very familiar with Lin Daguan's speaking style, so he directly asked the key point: "Where do you want me to go?"
Lin Daguan replied: "Songjiang Prefecture next door, especially Shanghai County, it is actually okay to move there.
After all, your father and brother will definitely come back in the future. You will be very limited in Suzhou. It would be good to move to a separate room next door in the future."
Second Master Shen sighed bitterly and said bitterly: "I know that there is no room for two tigers in one mountain. I guess you don't need me as the leader of the alliance anymore, right?
Your strength has developed to this point, but I have become an obstacle to you, right?
So you need me to leave Suzhou and make way for you, right?"
Lin Tailai: "."
Second Master Shen said consciously: "I understand, I understand, there is no family affection in the face of power, let alone a mere in-law."
Lin Daguan took a deep breath and explained: "Is it possible that because I have been too busy in the past two years, I entrusted you to do it for me and go there?
The business is so big, I can’t do everything myself, right?”
Second Master Shen is so sensible that it makes people feel distressed, "It's okay, I don't mind even if you are exiled. After all, Suzhou Songjiang is just around the corner. It's not like you have to travel to places like Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi."