Speaking of the distribution of political power in this era, Lin Tailai doesn't know whether it is good or bad.
Anyway, the imperial court's authority over local areas gradually declined, and the gentry had an increasing say in local affairs, at least in Jiangnan.
If it weren't for such a social environment, Lin Daguan would not have been able to flourish in Suzhou and control a large number of local affairs.
The situation in Songjiang Prefecture is even more serious than that in Suzhou Prefecture. Therefore, if you want to carry out major projects in Songjiang Prefecture, it is very important to deal with big dogs like Songjiang Prefecture.
Lin Daguan said a little annoyed: "Let's stop here for now, wait until I have contacted these three companies, and then talk about the others!"
Feng Shike added, "I also want to talk about Chen Jiru. I hope that Lord Jiuyuan can also help Chen Jiru build momentum and become famous when he arrives at Songjiang Mansion."
In history, Chen Jiru made great achievements and was regarded as the best scholar in the world at that time and the leading brother in the Songjiang Prefecture literary circle.
At that time, the Songjiang Prefecture was compiling the official annals, and Chen Jiru, whose highest degree was only a student official, was able to outdo all the township officials and become the editor-in-chief.
But now Chen Jiru is still a young man in his early thirties. Lin Daguan asked curiously:
"Why do you value Chen Jiru so much? When the New Literary League was established, you helped him fight for his position. Now that I'm in Songjiang Mansion, you asked me to help him build momentum. Could it be that he is your unknown illegitimate son?"
"Don't talk nonsense!" Feng Shike's face turned dark, "Nowadays, the literary world in Songjiang Prefecture is stagnant. I'm just optimistic about Chen Jiru's potential and have a love for talents!"
Of course, there is no need to go into too much detail about the fact that Chen Jiru is the accompaniment of Wang Heng, the eldest son of Wang Xijue Pavilion, and now Mrs. Wang Heng is Feng Shike’s niece, so Chen Jiru and Feng Shi are in the same small circle.
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Lin Daguan glanced outside a few times and saw that there were many towns and cities outside, densely populated, and water networks. The scenery was almost the same as Suzhou.
I also remembered a statistic I don’t know where it came from. It is said that the urbanization rate of Songjiang Prefecture in the late Ming Dynasty was as high as 19%, ranking first in the world and even higher than Suzhou Prefecture’s 15%.
When he arrived at Fucheng, Lin Tailai entered the city from the Jixian Gate at the south gate and went straight to the Taishi Mansion, which was popular among the people.
After thinking about it, Lin Daguan decided to meet the big dogs first and then go to the mansion to study.
In a densely populated place like Jiangnan today, there is no distinction between high and low living in the city or outside the city, and there is no chain of contempt.
For example, the Xu family's Imperial Palace is in the city, while the Gu family's Xiyuan is outside the city. It all depends on personal preference.
So in order to contact the Xu family, Lin Daguan went to the city first.
Not far after passing the south gate, there was the Chongenfang built for Xu Jie. As a courtesy, Mr. Lin stopped to pay his respects for a while.
Well, he is much stingier than his two top civil and military champions.
I just don’t understand why the Xu family would move their beautiful archway to another place.
The Xu family attaches great importance to the visit of Lin Daguan. Xu Jie's great-grandson, Xu Youqing, the original Xiaoyin official of Pujie, personally greeted him at the gate.
Xu Jie's eldest grandson, Xu Yuanchun, the former minister of Taichang Temple, greeted him at Yimen, and Xu Jie's eldest son, Xu Fan, who was sixty-one years old, was waiting in the atrium.
Three generations of elders, old, middle-aged and young, went out together. This treatment was nothing short of grand.
After the guests and hosts took their seats in the main hall, Mr. Lin exchanged pleasantries while looking at the three generations of the Xu family.
To be honest, the three generations of heirs below Xu rank are quite magical. Although there are not many traces in the official historical materials, there are many legends and gossips.
For example, Xu Fan's effect on Xu Jie is similar to Yan Shifan's effect on Yan Song.
After Xu Jie retired, the Xu family's massive land occupation was also led by Xu Fan. As a result, Xu Fan was actually exiled, and almost met the same fate as Yan Shifan, and was later brought back by Zhang Juzheng.
Let’s not talk about Xu Youqing being bullied by the admiral butler of the East Factory.
In history, the most legendary gossip about Xu Youqing is that when Emperor Wanli went to inspect Mount Tianshou, Xu Youqing accompanied him.
Because Xu Youqing was handsome and beautiful, he was attracted by the young and restless Emperor Wanli, and finally Xu Youqing resigned in shame and anger.
Official Lin felt that this gossip was a bit unreliable. If Xu Youqing had such a relationship with the emperor, could he still be bullied by the admiral and steward of the East Factory?
Anyway, in this time and space, Xu Youqing resigned and returned to his hometown because Lin Tailai killed Xing Shangzhi. Xu Youqing was worried about being retaliated, so he took the initiative.
Out of politeness, Lin Daguan did not look at Xu Youqing, his peer, for fear that he would not be able to hold back his laughter.
He mainly talked to Xu Fan and Xu Yuanchun, two generations old and middle-aged, and asked curiously: "I just visited the Taishi Archway, but I didn't know why it was moved?"
Xu Fan smiled bitterly and said: "Under the heavy pressure of rural discussions, I had to move again."
There are a hundred officials in Lin who don’t believe it. With your Xu family’s status in Songjiang Prefecture, who can force you to move the Xujie Archway?
Xu Yuanchun explained: "Previously, Chong'en Square was located in the west of Qiao, but the place was too narrow and inconvenient for traffic. Last year, it was moved to the east of Qiao.
Then last year during the provincial examination, all our students in Songjiang Fucheng were wiped out, which was a great shame and humiliation.
As a result, there is a folk saying among the people - when Chong'en Archway crosses the river, the students in the government will be discharged!
Faced with this kind of public opinion, our Xu family couldn't stand it, so we wanted to move back to Qiaoxi.
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I would also like to ask you, the Nine Yuan True Immortal, to come forward to preside over etiquette and guide Feng Shui!"
Lin Tailai: ""
After some guessing, it turned out to be feudal superstition.
In Xiong County, Jiangnan, the students in the prefectural city had their heads shaved during the provincial examination. It was indeed a shame and shame for the whole city. No wonder the Xu family, who was inexplicably taking the blame, couldn't bear it.
Both parties were interested in making friends, and Feng Shike was the one pulling the strings. As they chatted, the atmosphere gradually became heated.
Seeing that the fire was almost done, Xu Fan, the head of the Xu family, said: "I heard that Lord Jiuyuan was blessed with a son in April. We, the direct descendants of the Xu family, also had a daughter. We would like to marry Lord Jiuyuan as a good friend of the Qin and Jin Dynasties."
This suggestion was quite unexpected, and Mr. Lin was confused.
He just wants to talk about profit cooperation today, but you want to turn your partners into relatives?
In everyone's opinion, this marriage is a perfect match.
The Xu family is still the most influential family in Songjiang Prefecture, and Lin Tailai is the largest overlord in Suzhou Prefecture. It can be said that they are a perfect match.
However, deep down in his heart, Lin Daguan prefers to choose a family that will be strong in the imperial examination in the future, such as the Wang family in Shandong.
And the Xu family, which seems to be full of flowers, currently relies on favors to become an official, and has not produced many ministers. In the future, the imperial examination will mean nothing.
Therefore, Mr. Lin had a slight disdain for the Xu family, but of course he could never say this out loud.
I can only say first: "My children are still too young now, and the future is very uncertain. Let's wait and see in a few years."
At this time, it was time for Feng Shike to play his role. He interjected: "Our Feng family also intends to marry Jiuyuan. We said it on the road. If Jiuyuan wants to consider it, we should consider our Feng family first, and then the Xu family."
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Xu Fan smiled and said: "Our Xu family can claim 20% of the shares of Xinwu Club! If we can get married, all 20% of the shares will be used as dowry in the future!"
At this point, the guests and hosts are enjoying themselves.
At this moment, the disciple came to report: "Master Gu from Xiyuan is here!"
This Mr. Gu of Xiyuan is the one Feng Shike mentioned on the way, the one Gu Zhengxin, the head of the Gu family in Chedun, bought land as a charity field with one hundred thousand taels of silver.
Moreover, Feng Shike also mentioned that Gu Zhengxin often helped prisoners who were imprisoned for debts and taxes to repay their arrears, and then rescued them from prison.
If it weren't for the peaceful and prosperous times, Lin Daguan would have doubted whether Gu Zhengxin was trying to buy people's hearts and try to rebel.
With this kind of appeal, in troubled times, how can tens of thousands of guerrillas be mobilized to disperse their bravery?
"Hahahaha! I heard that the Nine Yuan True Immortal came to the clouds and arrived at the Grand Master's Mansion first, so I couldn't wait to come uninvited!"
Following the bold voice, a fat scribe with slightly darker skin color walked in from outside.
For some reason, Lin Daguan always feels that this appearance is highly overlapped with Jiyu Songjiang. Super extra-large Songjiang Jiyu?
Gu Zhengxin took the lead in saluting Lin Tailai and implored: "In recent years, my Gu family's literary reputation has not been very good, and I am just a student supervisor. I hope Lord Jiuyuan can help me and help make my name famous!"
Xu Fan laughed and scolded at the side: "Just let the children at home read carefully. Why are you so anxious to ask for a literary title?"
Gu Zhengxin replied: "Ten years of cultivating people, I don't know how long it will take to achieve something, I can't wait! I can't wait!"
The reputation of our Gu family and the dignity of our noble family must be maintained first!"
This anxiety is understandable. Lin Jiuyuan asked curiously: "What do you want me to do?"
Gu Zhengxin said: "Can you please invite Lord Jiuyuan to come to our Gu family to study, and then praise the children of the Gu family and write a poem to praise them?"
Lin Daguan was speechless and said with disdain: "This kind of praise is too blunt, has no characteristics and has no point of spreading."
"Then what else can we do?" Gu Zhengxin asked doubtfully, isn't this the case for all scholars?
Lin Tailai devised a routine on the spot: "On a dark night, when the wind was high and the moon was sparse, I, the Nine-Yuan Immortal, passed by Xiyuan in a boat.
Suddenly, I vaguely heard the noise, and asked the local guide, who was making the noise at night?
The local guide replied that this was the sound of the children of the Gu family in Chedun reading!"
Gu Zhengxin excitedly slapped the table and shouted: "Wonderful!"
This scene design is really wonderful, a thousand times better than my own idea!
He praised from the bottom of his heart: "Jiu Yuanjun is truly an immortal!"
It’s true that a capable person can do anything. No wonder he was able to defeat the most powerful pretender in the literary world, Mr. Wang Laoli, in just a few years!
Then Gu Zhengxin turned to Xu Fan and asked: "How many shares of Xinwu Club do you, the Xu family, claim?"
Xu Fan replied: "Twenty percent."
Gu Zhengxin took the initiative and said: "I heard that Jiuyuan Lord only gave away 50%, so our Gu family will claim 10% first, and leave the rest to others for the time being."
Mr. Lin Daguan is very satisfied. The trip to Songjiang Mansion has been so smooth so far.
The Xu family, the largest family, and the Gu family, which has extensive social influence, have agreed to cooperate, as well as the Feng family, their old friends, so the project will basically have no major problems.