Chapter 491 What a simple thing! (Please vote for me!)
Lin Tailai's journey along the canal was different from the previous ones. The main difference lay in his different status.
His original identity was mainly about being a scholar rushing to take the exam, but this time his identity is that of the Nine Yuan Xiangrui plus Chaotang Supernova. Although the capital is tired of seeing the Nine Yuan Xiangrui, the local people have never seen it.
Lin Tailai could not cross the border quietly and low-key like the previous few times. There were many social gatherings along the way, unless he arrived at the territory where the Qingliu forces were in charge.
As a newcomer, it is not easy for Lin Tailai to refuse other people's enthusiasm.
Since you are involved in officialdom, these are inevitable. Fortunately, you are not in a hurry as far as time is concerned, so you can just go slowly.
What's more, getting to know more people and understanding more about the conditions in some places is not a bad thing after all.
When he arrived at Huai'an Prefecture, Lin Tailai went to visit Pan Jixun, the governor of the river channel who was nearly seventy years old.
"As for dredging the old route of Wusong River, I still need some kind words from the seniors to the court." Lin Tailai requested.
Pan Jixun, who has served as the governor of the river four times, is today's number one water conservancy expert. Regardless of his level, in the eyes of the court, Governor Pan is the authority on water conservancy.
In terms of relatively large water conservancy projects, the imperial court often consulted Governor Pan.
A few years ago, Pan Jixun was also dealt with by the Qingliu forces, but the court still had to appoint Pan Jixun as the river governor for the fourth time.
Hearing Lin Tailai's request, Governor Pan smiled bitterly.
When Lin Tailai went north last year, he also made this request, but he declined it.
Although the words are still the same now, the identity of the speaker is different, and the intensity is naturally different.
Even Shen Shoufu wrote to himself a few days ago, and the subject of the letter was just four words: "Don't mess with him."
Thinking of this, Pan Jixun asked: "I'm a little curious. If you have the idea of criticizing and framing me, how would you implement it?"
Lin Tailai said "haha" and replied: "Old seniors are joking. I respect seniors the most. How could I do such a thing?"
Pan Jixun said again: "If people in the light don't tell secret stories, I will have ups and downs all my life. What else can I not look away from?"
I'm just curious about what methods you can use against someone like me."
As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat, Governor Pan really wants to know why the chief assistant repeatedly emphasized "don't mess with him"?
After Lin Tailai pondered for a moment, "The old man created Hongze Lake by using water to attack the sand, with the intention of harming the Sizhou ancestral mausoleum!"
Pan Jixun: ""
I can't tell, but this young man also knows a little bit about the conditions of the Huanghuai River.
The strategy of confining water to attack sand can indeed alleviate the current flood damage in the Huanghuai River, and it was still used hundreds of years later.
However, this method impounded water in the southwest, creating a Hongze Lake, and the lake surface is still expanding.
The key is that the ancestral mausoleum where the ancestors of the three generations of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Gao are buried is in Sizhou in the southwest.
After coming back to his senses, Pan Jixun explained: "The lake is still far away from the ancestral mausoleum, not to mention that embankments can be built to keep water out. There is no danger."
Lin Tailai continued: "That's what it is, but it doesn't matter how others want to exaggerate it.
The lake is still far away from the ancestral mausoleum now, but what about decades or a hundred years from now?
The trend of the lake surface is to keep expanding in the direction of the ancestral mausoleum. We will see the day when the lake surface invades the ancestral mausoleum sooner or later.
Moreover, building embankments and waterproofing will always work. Will it work every time?
Old-time water conservancy workers should know that even if they prevent it ninety-nine times, if they fail to prevent it even once, it will be over."
Pan Jixun: ""
After hearing these almost threatening words, I wanted to run away with the bucket. The chief assistant was right, don't mess with him if you have nothing to do!
Then Governor Pan quickly changed the topic, "As for your idea of dredging the old route of Wusong River, technically speaking, it is not a problem at all.
But there are two issues that need to be considered. The first is investment. Where does the money come from?
The second is efficiency. Will there be sufficient benefits to the country and the people after completion?"
Lin Tailai showed his strength, "These are things that the court and I have considered. Seniors don't have to worry at all!"
If I am not sure about raising funds, or if it cannot produce sufficient results in the future, then I will not vigorously promote this project!
So the old man only needs to tell the court that this project is technically feasible, and that is enough!"
Those who serve as technical consultants should strictly abide by their duties and do not try to dictate investment, operations and other aspects.
Governor Pan could do nothing. Even the chief assistant who was protecting him was impressed. What else could he do?
After leaving Huai'an Prefecture, Lin Tailai continued southward and soon arrived at Yangzhou City, which he was very familiar with.
Here in Yangzhou City, he also has his home, his career, his relatives and friends, it cannot be used as a passing point to leave after spending the night.
So Lin Tailai decided to stay in Yangzhou for a few more days and sort out the affairs of Lin's Salt Industry in person.
By the way, I took some time to cross the river to Taicang Prefecture and helped Wang Shiqi of the same year bring a letter from home to the old leader Wang.
If leader Wang Lao insists on dragging him to discuss the future of the literary world, then do it reluctantly.
At the large pier outside Lijin Gate in Yangzhou City, gongs and drums were blaring today, trumpets and suonas were blaring, and officials from the transportation department, government, county, and health officials appeared at the same time and stood on the shore waiting.
Even when Governor Fengyang arrives, he may not be able to have such a high-level greeting lineup.
At least the Salt Transportation Department, which is its own system and is vertically managed by the imperial court, does not need to be patrolled very much.
But if the person who arrived was Lin Tailai, it would be very reasonable.
After all, Lin Tai had caused great disturbance in Yangzhou City in the two or three years before he came. From the Yunsi to the government, no one in the county dared to look down upon him.
Moreover, Lin Tailai himself was the brother-in-law of the Minister of Household Affairs, so the Salt Transport Department did not dare to treat him lightly.
According to the official etiquette, it is indeed not necessary to come to greet you, but as long as you come to greet you, you will definitely not go wrong. This is the reality.
Only Censor Cui, who was patrolling salt, really had no reason to go out of the city to greet him because of his dignity.
Mr. Lin, editor of the Hanlin Academy, doctor in the Ministry of Etiquette, brother-in-law of the Minister of Household Affairs, and top thug of the Chief Assistant, walked out of the cabin, glanced at the lineup on the shore, and nodded with satisfaction.
After getting off the ship, Lin Tailai said to the officials: "My second brother is now living in Yangzhou, so today is the time for our relatives to meet each other, so we don't dare to disturb you!"
Wu Xiu, the prefect, said: "Then I will take care of Mr. Lin tomorrow."
Yangzhou Linfu, located on Dongguan Street, has now doubled in size.
After entering the house, Lin Tailai first spent two hours comforting Mrs. Lin and Wang, whom she had not seen for half a year, and then looked at the potbellied Mrs. Tian.
Immediately, Lin Yunlai, the second brother of Lin's Salt Industry, and Lu Junbi, the chief storekeeper, were summoned in the front hall to inquire about the salt industry affairs.
Lu Junbi was mainly responsible for reporting, “In April, the Transportation Bureau finally completed the registration of salt merchants.
The final approved number of merchants is 150, including 15 from Lin’s Salt Industry.”
Lin Tailai said happily: "That's good."
According to the new system, only these 150 people will be allowed to subscribe for salt from the Transportation Department in the future and exchange for salt on an annual basis.
If others want to enter the Yangzhou Salt Industry, they can only rely on these 150 people.
Either rent the nest capital from the nest merchants, or become a merchant or transporter in the upstream and downstream links.
In the future, the number of nest merchants will not be expanded unless there are special circumstances, so every nest merchant quota is precious.
Lin's Salt Industry took advantage of the fact that it had foresight on the policy and designated a dozen small salt merchants to "hold salt on behalf of others" in advance, and finally registered more than a dozen nest merchant quotas.
"How many places do other families have?" Lin Tailai asked again.
Lu Junbi smiled and said: "How can other families expect changes in government policies? All nests are concentrated in the hands of the owner, and in the end most of them will register a nest merchant.
All in all, out of the 150 places, Lin's Salt Industry accounts for 10%, emerging Huizhou merchants account for 50%, and traditional old Western merchants account for 40%."
Lin Tailai praised: "This ratio is very good! If there is a collective decision-making situation in the future, our 10% will be able to influence the situation."
Lu Junbi added: "But now there is a new situation, which is not optimistic."
Lin Tailai asked in surprise: "Under my arrangement, the situation is so good, what's not to be optimistic about?"
Lu Junbi replied: "When I was registering as a nest merchant, I saw that our Lin's Salt Industry family had more than a dozen places. The Huizhou merchants and the Western merchants made a fierce fuss. Fortunately, it ended with no result.
Now they are thinking of organizing salt merchants and setting up a salt industry office."
Lin Tailai still didn't understand, "The office is just a guild, right? We can just join as usual, how can it make us less optimistic?"
Lu Junbi explained in detail: “They also decided that only those with a nest capital of more than 5,000 can join the public office and become stewards.
Mr. Lin, you also know that the internal composition of our Lin's Salt Industry is complex, and we can only find one or two places to join the future Salt Industry Office."
At the beginning, Lin Tailai knew that he could not live in Yangzhou permanently. In order to prevent Lin's Salt Industry from being controlled by others, he designed the internal equity of Lin's Salt Industry to be very complicated and dispersed.
There are permanently "rented" nests, there are nests owned by Jinongcang in Suzhou, and there are nests owned by Lin Wang in the form of dowry.
Later, in order to occupy the quota of merchants, more than a dozen small "shareholders" with only a few hundred salts were created.
This is why, according to the Salt Industry Association’s “5,000 Yin” joining standards, “minor shareholders” such as Lin’s Salt Industry are not qualified.
Therefore, if such a salt industry office is really established, it will weaken Lin's Salt Industry's right to speak in the industry.
It can even be said that this was a conspiracy devised by Huizhou merchants and Western merchants to counter Lin's salt industry.
After Lin Tailai figured out the reason, he confirmed again, "Does everyone else agree?"
Lu Junbi smiled bitterly and said: "Except for us, Lin's Salt Industry, almost everyone agrees with this plan.
In Shangyan Shang, it is impossible for us to destroy all other salt merchants."
Lin Tailai sighed, frowned and criticized: "I thought your work was excellent, but I didn't expect there were still so many shortcomings.
You have really disappointed me. How can you unite Huizhou merchants and Western merchants?
Huizhou merchants and Western merchants have been fighting for business shares in Yangzhou for hundreds of years, and you actually let them unite."
Lu Junbi really wanted to say that under your guidance, Lin's Salt Industry was too strong in doing things.
Therefore, it will definitely force others to unite. This is an objective law that must happen, and it will be the same no matter who is in charge.
Lin Tailai warned: "You cannot be satisfied with maintaining success, you must always be prepared for danger in times of peace and stay vigilant!
Therefore, we must continue to provoke struggles between Huizhou merchants and Western merchants, and we must not let them have a tendency to unite, so that our Lin's Salt Industry can be stable and strong."
Brother Lin, who had been silent for the whole time, took over and said, "Others are united for the interests of the salt industry. If you want to provoke others to fight against each other, you need to have new interests. What other interests can be greater than the salt industry?"
Lin Tailai sighed helplessly, "When I first watched the Three Kingdoms, I didn't understand why Prime Minister Zhuge had to do everything himself and exhausted himself to death.
As I dealt with more things, I gradually understood. If all his subordinates were reliable, why would Prime Minister Zhuge do this?
Do you still need me to handle such a simple thing?
Let me show you tomorrow how simple this thing could have been!"
The next day, the government office and the transportation department jointly held a banquet to welcome Mr. Lin.
Lin Tailai took his second brother Lin and Lu Junbi to participate.
Traditionally, local celebrities will be invited to such banquets.
Therefore, Mr. Lin saw many acquaintances, such as Zheng Dachaofeng, the leader of Huizhou merchants, and Sun Da, the manager of the Western Merchant Guild Hall.
Before the banquet started, Lin Tailai was chatting and laughing with the prefect Wu Xiu when he suddenly asked:
"I heard that schools in Yangzhou Prefecture and Jiangdu County have reserved a few places for Western merchants?
Those descendants of Western merchants who are residing in Yangzhou can take the imperial examination in Yangzhou?"
Magistrate Wu replied: "It is true."
Lin Tailai asked curiously: "Now in Yangzhou, there are more Huizhou merchants than Western merchants, right? So are there more places reserved for the children of Huizhou merchants in the imperial examination?"
Magistrate Wu laughed and said: "Lord Lin, you don't know something! Huizhou and Yangzhou belong to the same province of Nanzhili. According to other words, they are the same province.
Therefore, Hui merchants living in Yangzhou cannot be considered as residing in other places, and the children of Hui merchants are not eligible to participate in the imperial examination in Yangzhou."
"Oh! That's it!" Lin Tailai glanced at Zheng Dachaofeng, the leader of the Huizhou merchants, and said with compassion: "So, you Huizhou merchants are really pitiful!
Even if they have been doing business in Yangzhou for two or three generations, they are still regarded as outsiders and cannot even participate in the imperial examination. They are not as good as Western merchants from other provinces."
Being pitied in such a way, Zheng Dachaofeng's small flames of anger ignited in his heart began to burst out.
Lin Tailai said to Magistrate Wu again: "This is a matter left over from history, and it is a bit out of date.
In fact, the government could consider allocating half of the imperial examination quotas for Western merchants to Hui merchants, which seems more fair."
"This is impossible, absolutely impossible!" General Manager Sun of the Western Merchant Guild Hall suddenly shouted: "This is the quota that the imperial court awarded to us Western merchants, and we will not give it away even to death!"
Zheng Dachaofeng, the leader of Huizhou merchants, directly cursed: "Fart! What kind of reward from the court is clearly a collusion between officials and businessmen!
Because in the officialdom, there used to be a saying that people from the south would rule from the north, and people from the north would rule from the south!
Therefore, most of the officials in Yangzhou in the past were from the north, and they were closer to you Western businessmen from the north!
Therefore, regarding the issue of imperial examination quotas, the government has always been biased towards you, the Western merchants, and has never been corrected!"
Manager Sun retorted unceremoniously: "You are farting! Huizhou and Yangzhou are in the same province, and the court does not recognize you as a registered citizen. You come to fight over this!"
Everything is of inferior quality, except for things like academic excellence and imperial examinations, which are the white moonlight in the eyes of the people of the Ming Dynasty, and no one is willing to give up.
Especially wealthy businessmen who had enough money in their warehouses and it was time for them to learn etiquette paid special attention to the opportunity to take the imperial examination.
As the leaders of both sides started scolding each other, the other Huizhou merchants and Western merchants present immediately became divided and started to quarrel with each other.
Lin Tailai hid his merit and fame and quietly retreated to the side of his second brother Lin and Lu Junbi.
"Look, aren't they starting to fight now? Such a simple thing?"
Brother Lin: ""
Lu Junbi: ""
It can only be said that some people are really talented in certain aspects.
