"Don't be polite, everyone, come on, have a drink first." Zhang San raised his glass and said to everyone.
"Respect to Mr. Zhang! Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Zhang!"
Everyone stood up and picked up their wine glasses and said.
"Sit down, don't be restrained today. Let's have a meal and chat. I'm new here, so I have to look up to you all in the future." Zhang San said with a smile.
At Wang Sima's signal, everyone sat back down.
"Wang Sima, this is Mr. Song you just mentioned, right?" Zhang San asked Wang Sima beside him.
"Yes, sir, this is Mr. Song from Songzhuang. Everyone within a few dozen miles knows Mr. Song's name." Wang Sima replied.
"Come, I want to have a drink with Mr. Song. Mr. Song is really strong and strong. Will I still rely on Mr. Song for support here in the future?" Zhang San stood up and toasted to Mr. Song.
"You're welcome, Sir, I respect you, old man!" Mr. Song quickly stood up and said.
"You are all the most prestigious people in the local area. I want to get close to you today. Come and eat!" Zhang San picked up a piece of chicken and said to everyone.
After three rounds of drinking, everyone gradually let down their guard when they saw Zhang San drinking and eating with everyone. For a while, the room was filled with glasses and cups, and it was very lively.
"Sir, you are already a county magistrate at such a young age. You are really young and promising!" An old man named Liu Yongzhong standing beside Zhang San praised him.
"Mr. Liu is so polite. To be honest, I am also a businessman myself. I only received this honor thanks to the emperor's love." Zhang San replied humbly.
When everyone heard this, they were surprised to find that Zhang San was a businessman similar to everyone else.
"Haha, really, I'm not going to lie to you. When you go to Chang'an in the future, you can go to Zhangjia Village in Wannian County to find me. The fruit candies we produce are very popular. I forgot to bring them this time." Zhang San said with a smile.
"Oh, I once went to Lantian for business and saw a kind of candy wrapped in transparent white paper. It was colorful and tasted very sweet, with a smell of peach. It turned out that it was actually invented by County Uncle Zhang!"
A merchant named Gao Fusheng exclaimed.
"Oh, Mr. Gao Lang has also heard of it. Yes, those are what I make. We also deal in furniture, ironware, papermaking, etc." Zhang San talked eloquently, sharing with everyone the interesting things and difficulties he encountered in doing business.
Come together.
"Alas! Although we, the merchants, have no worries about food and clothing, we are at the bottom of society." Gao Fusheng sighed.
"Yes! We pay taxes compliantly and do business with integrity, but sometimes we are treated unfairly."
Everyone agreed, and when Zhang San revealed his other identity, he immediately gained everyone's approval and became more harmonious when talking.
"Don't belittle yourselves. Without merchants like us, the market would not be prosperous. We just have different social divisions of labor," Zhang San said.
"What Uncle Zhang said is that people go to higher places and water flows to lower places. Who doesn't want a better background?" Liu Lao sighed.
Hearing Mr. Liu say this, Zhang San felt happy and finally found a breakthrough.
"Actually, there is something good that can make you famous and your worth double." Zhang San said with a smile.
When everyone heard this, their eyes lit up and they all looked at Zhang San. Although Wang Sima didn't care, he was also curious about what Zhang San wanted to say.
"Look, there is a serious drought in Xuzhou now. If everyone played a role in this matter, what do you think the saint would think if the news reached the emperor's ears?" Zhang San said seductively.
Everyone has matured with age, and they have never seen anyone who has traveled all over the country. Hearing what Zhang San said, everyone thought to themselves: It took so long to prepare the ground, so it turned out that he was waiting for everyone here.
Zhang San saw that everyone was just looking at him and no one answered. Zhang San didn't care and continued: "It seems that no one is interested in this matter. Alas! I was thinking of being a businessman and wanted to help everyone.
, when the time comes, let the emperor personally write a commendation and set up a merit monument for everyone, so that it can be passed on to future generations. Forget it, let’s not mention it, let’s drink.”
Zhang San pretended to feel sorry for him, so he raised his glass and continued drinking with everyone without talking about it again.
Everyone except Wang Sima was shocked. If it was really as Zhang San said, wouldn't it mean that he would become famous?
"Uncle Zhang, is everything you said true?" Mr. Song asked quickly. The old man has been thinking about how to shine for his family all his life. Although he has a good reputation in the local area, it is limited to this. After hearing what Zhang San just said,
Mr. Song instantly saw the opportunity to become famous.
Zhang San pretended to be confused and asked: "Mr. Song, what is true or false? What do you mean?"
"Uncle Zhang County, you said that if we contribute in this disaster relief, you can ask the emperor to erect a merit monument for us."
Everyone also looked at Zhang San eagerly.
"Oh, this! Isn't it just a matter of a word? Of course, it also depends on whether everyone is willing to contribute. After all, the emperor does not just bestow calligraphy treasures casually."
Zhang San is full of big words. It doesn’t matter whether Li Shimin will write it himself, but I am doing something for you and I am doing something hands-on. I am sure you won’t refuse! Zhang San said sadly in his heart.
When Wang Sima heard Zhang San speak so confidently, he couldn't help but glance at Zhang San secretly, and he didn't quite believe that Zhang San could do it.
But Wang Sima didn't dare to expose it. After all, if these people worked together, the pressure on the government would be much less.
"Then I wonder how we should contribute? How much effort should we exert to meet the requirements? Is there a charter?" Mr. Liu then asked.
"You also know that not just anyone can fall into the eyes of the Emperor, and I dare not apply for too many places, otherwise the Emperor will be displeased and blame me. Therefore,
Seats must be limited.
Of course, I will definitely recommend those here first, but if this news spreads, it will definitely attract a large number of businessmen to join, so if you are interested, you must have the money and strength to contribute." Zhang San said ambiguously.
.
"This...then what should I do to maximize my chances of getting on the list?" Song Lao asked hurriedly after hearing Zhang San's unclear explanation.
"Actually, I have a method that will ensure everyone is on the list without causing you to lose a lot of money and food all at once." Zhang San felt very happy. As expected, these people were very enthusiastic about this matter.
"What method?" Mr. Liu and others asked one after another.
"This sounds a bit like using power for personal gain, but I had a great time chatting with you all today, and since he is someone recommended by Wang Sima, I naturally have to take care of him."
Wang Sima also echoed: "Everyone should remember County Uncle Zhang, and don't talk nonsense when you go out."
"Of course, I'll forget about it as soon as I get out of here." Mr. Song and others replied flatteringly.
Zhang San secretly praised Wang Sima and continued: "Actually, the biggest headache for the court right now is how to resettle the victims. You can start from this aspect."
"How should I get it? I would like to ask Mr. Zhang to make it clear that I will give you a drink first." Mr. Song raised his glass and asked in a respectful manner.
Zhang San and Mr. Song clinked their glasses and said: "Actually, it's easy to say. I see that many wells in various villages have dried up. You can organize a group of refugees to dig wells, or renovate the bridges and roads that have been in disrepair for a long time.
Furthermore, whether you are doing business or doing work, you need manpower. You can choose more workers from the refugees.
You only need to provide the refugees with meals and a small salary to attract a large number of people to follow. Building bridges, roads, and water conservancy projects are great deeds that will benefit the present and the future. They can also help the court absorb some refugees. The emperor will definitely know this.
I will express my appreciation for your kind deeds.”
"Then what if someone says that our move is an invitation to buy people's hearts, what should we do if we are charged with something?" Mr. Song asked.
"Haha, since I told you so, I won't let you take the responsibility. The government will come forward to give you a formal document on this matter, so you can go ahead and do it with confidence!" Zhang San said with a smile.
Everyone was very understanding after hearing this, and toasted to Zhang San to express their gratitude.
"Everyone, after you go back, discuss carefully what to do and report to me then, so that I can report it to the court and ask for credit for you first. Of course, you can't perfuse me!" Zhang San said and laughed.
.
Everyone also hurriedly expressed that they would do their best to ask Bo Duo of Zhang County to speak kindly to them and others in front of the emperor.