Chapter 167 Group Purchase of Harbour City: Hong Chengchou feels that the imperial court is not fragrant
In the sixth year of Chongzhen, it was mid-November.
Many places in the north have been covered by snowfall.
Only when you enter the area south of the Yellow River and the Huaihe River Basin is it not so cold that your body will tremble and your hands and feet will not be numb from the cold.
When the four-wheeled carriage with strong shock-proof performance drove onto a concrete road that was more than three meters wide and could barely accommodate two carriages running parallel, the members of the visiting and purchasing group in the carriage got rid of the feeling of bumpiness and discomfort, and their appetite for food improved.
A lot, the quality of sleep has improved a lot.
After entering Yangzhou.
The means of transportation have been upgraded again.
Everyone got on the more comfortable and high-end electric tricycle. Not only was it less noisy, but it was three times faster than the four-wheeled carriage. It was so fast that it traveled more than 300 miles in half a day.
Finally, on the afternoon of the 18th, we arrived at Harbor City, the first modern city in the late Ming Dynasty.
Because they are all distinguished guests, they don't have to go through the procedures of taking disinfectant baths, taking photos, and applying for visas. They can just enter the city directly.
So the electric three-wheeler parked at the entrance of the four-star hotel - New Century Hotel. The members of the visiting and purchasing group in the car got off the car one after another and stood inside the Harbor City to observe this modern city.
Indescribable.
Hong Chengchou, Cao Wenzhao and others who came to Harbor City for the first time were a little confused about how to describe their feelings about this city.
First of all, it is big. The buildings here are very huge, the roads are flat and wide, very clean and tidy, giving people a sense of grandeur.
The second is straightness, which is full of various horizontal and vertical lines, such as the edges of buildings, road planning, and erected road poles, all giving people a straight and orderly feeling.
There is also brightness, the neon light emitted by the store lights, the sunlight reflected by the glass, and the lights inside the building all give people the feeling of shining everywhere, as if they have entered a jeweled city.
In addition, the prosperity, liveliness, wealth and other characteristics can be seen very intuitively.
But these things that can only be seen from the superficial level have already made them feel very surprised and dreamy. If they understand more deeply, then no matter how rich their vocabulary is, they will not be enough to describe it.
However, they were not too surprised.
Under the reception arrangements of the hotel staff, Hong Chengchou, Cao Wenzhao and other eighty people (each purchasing team member can bring four attendants) were placed in their respective suites.
Then they all took a long bath and put on comfortable and warm casual clothes.
After soliciting their opinions, the hotel arranged a seafood feast with the most local characteristics for them in the evening.
“Not bad, it tastes very good.”
“Fresh, very delicious.”
“I’ve never tasted food like this.”
"I eat from the sea. I didn't expect that there are so many big fish and shrimps in this sea."
"You are ignorant. The various giant beasts recorded in "The Classic of Mountains and Seas" all come from the sea; Zhuangzi's "Xiaoyaoyou" said that there is a fish in the North Underworld, and its name is Kun. The Kun is so big... This Kun is the big fish in the sea.
Yeah." The staff member shook his head and couldn't help but drop his book bag.
The guide introduced them: "The marine fishing industry in Xujiazhuang has only developed in the past two years. Marine fish and seafood are not easy to preserve and are easily perishable after landing. It is difficult for most people in the mainland to eat seafood, and coastal fishermen also
It is impossible to get rich by relying on the sea, but Xujiazhuang formulated the "Marine Strategy" to fully obtain resources from the ocean. In the five years of Chongzhen, our ocean catch volume was 1.15 million shi, and this year it will reach 3 million shi, which can not only satisfy the 2.5 million shi in Xujiazhuang
According to the needs of villagers, canned sea fish and various types of dried fish can also be made into canned fish and various dried fish, and then sold to various parts of the Ming Dynasty. Not only is it delicious, it also has many health benefits, and the price is very close to the people."
"Three million stones?"
Cao Wenzhao's eyes widened: "If one stone of seafood is worth one stone of grain, wouldn't Xujiazhuang not have to work hard to cultivate hundreds of thousands of acres of land to get three million grains, just go to the sea and fish for it?"
Cao Bianjiao said sadly: "With such a good thing, why do we have to work so hard to plant so much land? We should have launched the "Ocean Strategy" earlier and fished for fish from the sea earlier, otherwise so many people would not have starved to death. "
"It's all the fault of those turbaned civil servants. The Ming Dynasty banned the sea for more than two hundred years. If it had not banned the sea but vigorously developed the ocean, the Ming Dynasty would never be in the situation it is now." Some people immediately found the culprit.
"Ahem~"
As a member of the civil servants, Hong Chengchou had to explain aloud: "Although the civil servants made mistakes, seafood is not easy to preserve, and the people on the seashore have not been rich for thousands of years. It can be seen that if you want to make good use of the ocean, you must be like Xujiazhuang Only the strength will do.”
"Okay, everyone, stop arguing and eat. I'm exhausted from traveling these days. Don't talk too much." Someone tried to smooth things over.
Finished the seafood dinner.
Everyone was stroking their round bellies and preparing to go back to their respective suites. They would have a good rest first and then spend a day visiting Harbor City tomorrow. Then they could start group shopping the day after tomorrow to purchase all kinds of merchandise they needed.
But this planned plan was quickly disrupted.
The street lights of Harbor City turned on, entering the state of a city that never sleeps.
And every night, after most of the factories in industrial areas with large electricity consumption are shut down, sometimes in order to consume the excess power generated by wind turbines and avoid damage to the power grid, light tubes and light strips are set up on the surface of the building. And boiling more fresh water consumes extra electricity.
Tonight, the wind turbines on the levee produced an obvious excess of electricity. Not only did many electric boiler rooms and bathhouses in Harbor City enter the mode of boiling large amounts of water, but the 138 high-rise buildings in Harbor City were equipped with a large number of light tubes and light strips. , also lit up one after another.
Suddenly colorful lights shone in all directions, illuminating the whole city.
It formed a more splendid and shocking scene.
It’s a city that never sleeps even more than before.
It deeply attracted the attention of the visiting purchasing group members.
They had to temporarily put aside their plans to rest, walked out of the hotel, went outdoors, and stared at the glowing street lights and buildings in a daze.
"Wonderland on earth is nothing more than this."
"Is this magic, magic, or a blind trick?"
"The prosperous age, is this the scene of the prosperous age that can only be seen after the world is at peace? Can I see it in the Ming Dynasty in my lifetime?" Qin Liangyu sighed.
"It's so bright at night, which goes against the law of day and night. Can people still sleep?"
"Under such circumstances, if a large army wanted to launch a night attack on Harbor City, it would be extremely difficult." Someone thought of the military aspect.
"A night attack on Harbor City? Is this possible? Even the surrounding manor and fortresses cannot be penetrated, and an attack from the sea is impossible. Xujiazhuang did not think of seizing the Ming Dynasty. He was already tolerant and kind." This man. Shaked his head.
"If Xujiazhuang can bring the current situation of Harbor City to all parts of the Ming Dynasty, it will be okay for Xujiazhuang to take over the world."
"How can you speak like this? No matter what, we are also ministers of the Ming Dynasty and must be loyal to the Ming Dynasty! How can we see these vain scenes and change our minds without authorization? How weak."
"You are not someone who is easily fooled by vanity. You just know that behind this scene of vanity is the real strength of Xujiazhuang."
silence.
These words made everyone fall silent.
The splendid scene of the Evernight City was enough to shock everyone, but the following news broadcast seemed to have a mediocre effect and just made them feel novel.
…
the next day.
Harbor City tour begins.
Originally, according to the guide's arrangement, an electric four-wheel sightseeing car was used to take everyone around the city for a few rounds, visiting the sea embankment, salt factory, business district, high-end residential area, department store, Xu's military barracks and other places.
However, the purchasing team members each had their own ideas about this arrangement.
Some people want to visit freely and see wherever they go, or just go wherever they see.
Some people want to visit the business district to understand the market situation in advance to avoid being ripped off in the next group buying.
There are also people who have never seen the sea and want to see more of the beach. It would be better if they could experience it by boat.
In short, everyone has their own ideas, and the tour plan arranged by the guide obviously cannot meet their needs.
"How about we divide it into multiple groups and visit each one in his own way. Then we can discuss our own gains at night, as if everyone has seen every corner of the city. Wouldn't it be wonderful?"
At this time, Hong Chengchou's heart moved and he proposed a plan.
Everyone's eyes lit up and they all expressed their approval.
The guide had no choice but to ask for instructions. After receiving an agreed reply, he found a way to temporarily recruit more than a dozen private guides, and then divided the troops into sixteen groups to start their own tours.
But it's different from others.
There are three places Hong Chengchou wants to go to most: a medium-sized ordinary people's home, a plate armor manufacturing factory, and a prison.
When his requests were submitted, to his surprise, they were approved. Xujiazhuang seemed to be completely unafraid of exposing some details.
"Liu Sanbao, take the governor, uh, take me to a middle-class home, no, to a poorer home. Do you know where there is such a home?"
Hong Chengchou asked the guide Liu Sanbao in front of him.
"Yes, there are many in the south of the city. My family is also considered a poor household. Why don't you go and have a look at my house?" Liu Sanbao said.
"Find one that's worse than yours." Hong Chengchou didn't believe that Liu Sanbao, who was dressed in flashy clothes, could be a poor household.
"no problem!"
…
The slums in the south of the city are a place that sounds like a poor place.
But the buildings inside are still scattered and neatly laid out, and the streets are very clean. There is no stinky smell, sewage flowing across the sky, or a very dilapidated scene. Each house is no less than two stories and is neatly and elegantly maintained. Even
There are small vegetable plots, chicken pens, fruit trees and small flower fields.
"How can this be considered a ghetto?"
Hong Chengchou had the urge to leave after being deceived. The configuration of some wealthy families in the Ming Dynasty was nothing more than this.
"This is really a ghetto. There is no worse place in Harbor City."
The guide Liu Sanbao tried his best to explain and swore his assurance, saying that even if he traveled all over the city, it would only be a little worse in the slums.
Hong Chengchou reluctantly believed his words and entered this so-called slum area.
And he quickly found a typical poor household, a poor household that Hong Chengchou could not find any problems with.
This is a middle-aged couple.
I gave birth to a total of six children, all of whom were young and were not old enough to work at the age of 16.
The wife has to take care of the children at home and be a full-time housewife.
Only her husband has a formal job, but he works as a sanitation worker who sweeps roads and collects garbage and feces. His monthly income is only 10 silver dollars, making him an absolute low-income class.
In the Ming Dynasty, a family like this would definitely go hungry four or five times in three days, and no matter how hard they worked, they would never be able to turn over.
"Brother, are you doing well?" Hong Chengchou asked.
"It's okay, it's okay." The middle-aged sanitation worker replied.
"Is the money earned enough to provide food and clothing for a family of eight?" Hong Chengchou asked again.
"It's not bad. More than two hundred silver dollars a day is enough for food. I buy clothes twice a year for about forty silver dollars. All other expenses add up and only cost thirty silver dollars. That's enough." said the middle-aged sanitation worker.
.
"This is not enough. Brother, I have a deficit of at least twenty silver dollars every year. How can I fill this deficit?" The staff behind Hong Chengchou did some calculations and immediately discovered the problem.
"Good Samaritan, it's not easy to live in Harbor City..." The middle-aged sanitation worker wiped away his tears and began to complain.
"That's enough! Zheng Buxu, these are distinguished guests from Xujiazhuang. Don't bring trouble to Harbor City."
Liu Sanbao had no choice but to interrupt and expose Zheng Buxing, who was trying to deceive and gain sympathy.
Then he introduced the actual situation of Zheng Buxu's family in front of Hong Chengchou.
Yes, as a sanitation worker, his monthly income is indeed only ten silver dollars, and he belongs to the low-income class.
But poor households like this still receive a monthly living allowance of 5 silver dollars.
All six children go to school, where meals and accommodation are free, and top students are given subsidies for good studies.
In addition, Xujiazhuang encourages childbirth. Families with more than three children can receive a maternity subsidy of three silver dollars per child per month, which is 18 silver dollars per month.
The sub-district office also sends some oil, rice and meat to these families almost every month.
In addition, occasionally some kind-hearted people from out of town will donate.
And although slums sound unpleasant, housing prices are the lowest in Harbor City. A house in a high-end residential area costs at least a thousand silver dollars, but a house here can be built on land for two to three hundred silver dollars.
"There are so many benefits in the slums, even some rich people are vying to live here!" Liu Sanbao revealed a secret.
"this……"
Hong Chengchou was stunned, his eyes met Zheng Buxuan's sly eyes again, and he immediately believed that what Liu Sanbao said was true.
He is obviously a poor household, but actually he is a rich man?
Can even a sweeper live such a good life? The average monthly income adds up to more than thirty silver dollars, which is equivalent to the income of a seventh-grade county magistrate in the Ming Dynasty?
this……
Hong Chengchou led his staff and walked out of the slums in a daze.
I went to the industrial area in the afternoon and visited the plate armor manufacturing factory. I learned that under the standardized and assembly line production model, the production cost of a set of 23.5 kilograms of half-body plate armor was reduced to 6 silver dollars, and a maximum of 500 pieces of armor could be produced every day.
sets, that’s hundreds of thousands of sets a year.
The production cost of alloy Yanling knives and Zhanma knives is lower, and the output is even more exaggerated!
Comparing it to the military production system of the Ming Dynasty...forget it, there is no comparison at all.
In the evening, I went to a certain street detention center without stopping (there is no prison in Xujiazhuang, and criminals are usually punished with hard labor or exiled to Shandong as miners), and happened to witness the handling of a civil dispute case.
I heard a cry for mercy.
I saw a strong man kowtow to a thin man.
"Brother, I was wrong, I was wrong, I kowtow to you!"
"Don't go to court to sue me. I will accept the punishment. I will do whatever you want me to do. As long as you don't sue me, I can pay you even a small amount!"
"How about you give me a good beating, no, ten times! As long as I don't leave a criminal record."
See this scene.
Hong Chengchou asked strangely: "Why does this strong man admit his mistake? I think the thin man didn't suffer much harm. Why did he kneel down and beg for mercy?"
Liu Sanbao explained: "The legal provisions of Xujiazhuang are very simple. As long as he has three criminal records, he will be directly vetoed with one vote. He will be expelled from Xujiazhuang and sent to Shandong to mine. This strong man named Wang Dashan is used to bullying others. He has already
I have filed a criminal record twice. If I cannot get the victim’s forgiveness this time, all my energy will be used for mining.”
Hong Chengchou asked: "Three convictions, one vote to veto?"
Liu Sanbao said: "Xujiazhuang will send those who refuse to change despite repeated admonitions and persist in their evil deeds, no matter whether they are small or large, as long as they do it three times, they will be sent to Shandong to mine. They will never be pardoned and will never have the chance to correct their evil ways."
, so in Harbor City, there are no longer even fights. After the quarrel, only those who lie down on the ground and beg the other party to come and beat them. The one who is beaten will never fight back. In this way, no one dares to do anything. This Wang Dashan
The person is so stupid, maybe he was provoked to the point of taking action, and the situation was taken advantage of."
Hong Chengchou immediately saw that the thin man reluctantly accepted Wang Dashan's apology, but Wang Dashan emptied his pockets and paid a full 100 silver dollars in compensation, and then the settlement was successful.
After this lesson, I believe that no matter how strong Wang Dashan is, he will never dare to hit anyone again.
This made Hong Chengchou feel thoughtful.
…
night.
Return to New Century Hotel.
I don’t know what happened, but after only visiting for a day and seeing a few corners of the iceberg in the overall view of Xujiazhuang Harbor City, Hong Chengchou had a feeling in his heart.
That was the feeling that the Ming Dynasty was no longer popular and not worthy of his following and service.