After living for most of his life, how could he not know the power of this?
Why do you serve as an official thousands of miles away?
Is it really for Saint Kong?
This is a net profit of 70,000 taels of silver for one round trip.
Within a few years, he would have a fortune of millions.
Naturally, merchants also have many disadvantages.
For example, it is easy to be looked down upon by scholars, but his son is a real number one scholar. Even if he is not an official, his fame is real.
In the county, scholars can speak and talk, and when it comes to raising people, they can almost have a cup of tea with the county magistrate. As for Jinshi... even if they are not officials, they are not someone who can be bullied by just anyone!
If he is the number one scholar, to be honest... although he cannot be an official and cannot bully others, he is definitely not someone who can be bullied.
Plus so much free money.
As for being an official...it's certainly a pity, but to be honest, the dangers involved are beyond what ordinary people can predict.
This was the early Ming Dynasty. Starting from Emperor Taizu Gao, no matter how noble he stood in the temple, since the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, this minister's head has been like a leek, and I don't know how many stubbles have been cut off.
Emperor Taizu Gao killed several groups, and after the Jingnan, he purged Jianwen's party members and killed another group.
Now, because of the New Deal, another group of people have been killed.
Serving as an official in the court is really more dangerous than going up the mountain to become a bandit!
If you are not careful, not only will your own head be in danger, but your family may also suffer.
The reason why he sincerely hopes that his son can achieve fame is because for the Ma family, there is only one way to go.
But now, there is a new way. Although it sounds hard to say it, the benefits are real.
After he gave Ma Chao a vicious slap in the face, he looked back at Ma Yu and his expression suddenly softened. He held Ma Yu with both hands, looked directly at him, and said: "You are not a traitor in this business."
Ke?"
Ma Yu quickly said: "My son is responding to the Taiping Mansion's move to open the door. My son's fleet has arrived in Luzon, and the local Prince Ning's Mansion is even more delighted. This is an upright business, and there is absolutely no crime."
Father, after so many years of reading, don’t I still understand these things?”
When Ma Yangming heard this, he was greatly pleased, and his whole body seemed to have some energy all of a sudden. He hurriedly said: "This...that's good, that's good. As long as you can stay in peace and don't commit crimes, our Ma family will
You are the smartest, and you have been the most obedient since I was a child. As the saying goes, everyone has his own ambitions, and as a father, he supports you."
As he spoke, he gently stroked Ma Yu's face and continued: "The attack I just made on my father was not serious. It didn't hurt me, good boy."
Ma Yu shook his head.
Ma Chao on the side covered his face and looked at Ma Yangming with tears in his eyes, but hesitated to speak.
He felt that he was heartbroken again.
However, Ma Yangming seemed to suddenly realize something at this time. He stood up and immediately knelt at Zhu Di's feet, saying: "The common people will die."
After hearing this, Ma Yu seemed to understand all of a sudden. He had always doubted the identities of Zhu Di and Zhang Anshi, and felt that the two were not ordinary people. Now after listening to his father's words, he suddenly realized that he also knelt down to Zhu Di and said: "Wan Shi
!”
Zhu Di actually felt quite sorry.
He originally thought it would be a catfight, father and son turning against each other, or some kind of human tragedy, but who knew it would end in such a happy ending.
Zhang Anshi was also greatly surprised. He didn't expect that the rumored number one scholar... would actually be hiding in Qixia just to do business.
All of a sudden, Zhang Anshi's head began to race rapidly, and he immediately said: "You and your father and son are causing trouble. Do you think you are guilty?"
This matter is not trivial. Ma Yangming immediately said: "This matter was done by the grassroots people and their son Ma Chao. They wanted to kill or behead them. The grassroots people had no complaints. As for the eldest son of the grassroots Ma Yu, he really had nothing to do with this matter. Please ask your majesty to
Know everything clearly."
Zhu Di glared at Ma Yangming fiercely.
However, at this time, he could quite understand the feeling of this horse becoming famous for licking its calves. However, when he glanced at Ma Chao, he couldn't help but think that this horse's famous feelings for licking its calves were there, but not much.
Zhu Di put away his thoughts, looked up at Yang Rong and Hu Guang and said, "Yang Qing, Hu Qing, do you have any suggestions?"
Yang Rong took a deep look at Ma Yu and felt a little weird.
Hu Guang, on the other hand, was heartbroken. He looked at Ma Yu with the eyes of a beautiful woman but a thief, but he still said: "Your Majesty, I thought that because this horse became famous and believed the words of the market, it is an unpardonable crime."
, but it is understandable. Your Majesty attaches great importance to loyalty and filial piety. As a son, you should abide by filial piety, and as a father, you naturally need to love your son. This is the fundamental ethics. I think... it is better to be dealt with lightly."
Even though the father and son were not in Hu Guang's liking, even Ma Yangming's philistine aroused Hu Guang's great resentment.
But Hu Guang still believed that if Ma Yangming was held accountable just for this reason, the punishment would be too much.
Zhu Di nodded and said, "What Hu Qing said is not unreasonable."
He stood up, but looked at Ma Yu: "Others work hard to get fame, and if they have an official career, they will be ecstatic. You are good, you are different from ordinary people! Naturally, there are people who resign, but these people resign.
, it’s all about making a name for yourself, but you, the number one scholar, resigned from office just to go into business. It’s really unbelievable and unprecedented.”
Ma Yu breathed a long sigh of relief, but replied: "Your Majesty, when the saint was alive, he had three thousand disciples and seventy-two sages, but the saint never taught these seventy-two sages and his three thousand disciples had to be officials.
At that time, the disciples of the saint included farmers, merchants, and of course nobles."
"It can be seen that what the saints taught was not just knowledge for becoming an official. Nowadays, after reading the Four Books and Five Classics, one has to be admitted to the imperial examination and enter the temple. The common people think that this is really weird."
After Zhu Di heard this, he said, "What exactly do you want to say?"
Ma Yu said frankly: "Later generations praise the saints and say that the knowledge of the saints is the most holy knowledge. Such great knowledge should be able to solve the problems of all walks of life. After learning it, no matter what business you are in, you can succeed."
Learn the skills from it. But now we only use the knowledge of the saints to serve as officials. From the perspective of the common people, the people of the world underestimate the saints. However, any great way can be learned to reshape a person, making him mount a horse and be able to fight and dismount.
If you can write well, why should you stick to being an official?"
"The common people engage in business not only because of their interest, but also because the common people seek profit. There is one less scholar in the world, but there is one more merchant. What's wrong with that?"
After hearing this, Yang Rong stared at Ma Yu, his eyes flashing, and nodded secretly.
Hu Guang only blew his beard, but was speechless.
After Zhu Di heard this, he said: "This is not unreasonable. The saint you are talking about is ten times more brilliant than the saint mentioned by the Hanlin. I thought that saints only know this. I see you
Sincerely, I am sure about your resignation. You have your own ambitions, so I won’t force you to do so. And your father, he committed a heinous crime, but I am kind-hearted and can only forgive him for missing him.
, then there will be no punishment. From now on, you can take care of yourself."
Ma Yu hurriedly kowtowed in gratitude and said: "Your Majesty's kindness is so great that it is hard for ordinary people to repay it even if they die."
Zhu Di waved his hand and looked at Hu Guangdao: "Hu Qing's family, do you have anything else to say? Do you still want to complain about the Ma family?"
These words were like a needle pricking Hu Guang. Hu Guang blushed, shook his head and said, "I have nothing to say."
Zhu Di said: "In that case, don't watch the excitement and leave."
Zhu Di did not stay long. He walked away, thinking deeply.
Ma Yu made a deep impression on Zhu Di. This person... was not an ordinary scholar, and his conversation just now also impressed Zhu Di deeply.
After walking out of the horse house, Zhu Di couldn't help but said: "What a pity."
Zhang Anshi said: "Your Majesty, what's the pity?"
Zhu Di said: "Such a person cannot be used by the imperial court. Even if I force it, I am afraid that I may not be able to make him sincerely convinced and willing to die. Wouldn't it be a pity..."
Zhang Anshi smiled and lowered his voice and said: "Who said it cannot be used by Your Majesty? Your Majesty, think about it. If his fleet is managed well in the future, it will be of great benefit to open up many routes. Your Majesty..."
Zhang Anshi gave a thief smile and continued: "When he brings the goods back, he has to pay customs duties..."
The voice was barely audible, but it was heard by Hu Guang and Yang Rong.
The two pretended not to hear and turned their heads to the other side.
When Zhu Di heard this, he felt relieved.
When he became an official in the dynasty, I spent my money to support him, and when he engaged in business... he earned money to support me.
With this in mind, Zhu Di's slightly wrinkled brows suddenly relaxed, and he felt much happier. He smiled and said, "That's good. This person is quite talented. Maybe he can be Tao Zhu in the future."
Hu Guang muttered: "Or Lu Buwei..."
Zhu Di also heard this and turned around to glare at Hu Guang.
Hu Guang realized that he had made a mistake and hurriedly said: "Ten thousand deaths."
Zhu Di was too lazy to pay attention to him and continued to talk to Zhang Anshi: "The Taiping Prefecture has opened its doors. Even Ma Yu is engaged in shipping and has earned so much money. It seems that the Taiping Prefecture's shipping has begun to take shape.
"
Zhang Anshi introduced it enthusiastically and said: "Your Majesty, now there are hundreds of newly opened shipyards, big and small, and almost all of them are building ships day and night, recruiting countless manpower. In addition... once you have a ship, you must
To purchase a large amount of goods to go to sea, many merchants had to gather a large amount of goods to Taiping Mansion to board ships and go to sea..."
After Zhu Di heard this, he couldn't help but asked curiously: "There are hundreds of shipyards, how to deal with this ship material...?"
Zhang Anshi smiled and said: "Yes, the wood on the ship needs to undergo special treatment if it wants to withstand seawater corrosion and wind and waves. Now everyone is still using the wood left over from the past, but this wood is not
It is inexhaustible and inexhaustible.”
"However... several shipyards here at Qixia Trading Company are trying their best to... improve the wood."
Zhu Di was stunned and looked at Zhang Anshi and said: "I heard that it takes ten years of work to make good ship wood before it can be used on a ship. How can you improve your wood?"
Zhang Anshi said with a smile: "Nowadays, there is a huge demand for ordering ships, and the price has naturally gone up. Therefore, the price is not a problem after the ship is built. The biggest problem is indeed the required ship materials and the long time. But on Chen's side, we are working on it."
Find ways to improve some shipbuilding processes, especially the processing of wood. If we can succeed, we can greatly reduce the use of ship materials. By then... the speed of shipbuilding will be even faster."
Zhu Di asked: "Is there any progress?"
Zhang Anshi said: "There has been progress. In just one or two months, the new ship will be launched into the water for trial sea trials. If it can succeed... the construction speed of the ship will be greatly accelerated, and the processing of wood will also be greatly accelerated.
simplification."
Zhu Di said: "This is very good."
Zhang Anshi smiled and said: "Actually, building more ships is not a problem for me, more or less. If there are more ships, the freight will be larger. If there are fewer ships, the price of goods will be high, and you can make money anyway. But this time I am
The ship built by Qixia Trading Co., Ltd. is actually just a demonstration."
"Demonstration?" Zhu Di looked at Zhang Anshi suspiciously.
Zhang Anshi said: "Many shipyards only focus on building ships. The ships they build are mostly the same, and they all hope to meet the construction deadline and earn money."
Zhang Anshi paused and continued: "The Qixia Trading Company's shipyard is actually to set an example for them. That is to tell them that they cannot make a lot of money by just recruiting a large number of manpower to build ships. They can only use their brains more and think more.
By looking at how to improve production and innovate new ships, it is possible to greatly reduce the construction period and improve the technology, so that we can make a fortune."
"Only the shipyard of Qixia Trading Company made a fortune through it, so this concept can be deeply rooted in people's hearts. The most difficult thing to change in this world is people's hearts. Only when people's hearts are changed can everything go smoothly."
Zhu Di looked at it with interest and said, "I'll wait for your good news."
…………
After seeing off Zhu Di and others, Ma Yangming went back to pick up the letter. After reading it again several times, he breathed a long sigh of relief.
He raised his head, with a look of relief on his face, and looked at Ma Yu with piercing eyes: "My son... is really promising. He won the top prize, and he can easily earn such a big family fortune... Chao'er..."
Ma Chao was beside him, his head drooped and he said: "Here he is, he is here."
Alas, he always felt that he was not his biological child.
I saw Ma Yangming saying: "You go back to your hometown, bring your mother and other family members to the capital, sell everything you can at home, and move the whole family to the capital."
"Ah...Dad..." Ma Chao couldn't care less about feeling sorry for himself and said in shock: "Dad, where are our roots..."
Ma Yangming sighed: "Now that something like this has happened, you can't go back to your hometown. After you return...if you find out that your brother is doing business, you will be laughed at by the neighbors. Rather than being laughed at, let's just stay together as a family.
Move here and settle down again. Trees will die if you move them, and people will live if you move them. Don’t you understand this principle?"
"Of course, when you go back this time, you have to prepare a sum of money and give it to your cousin, asking him to take care of the ancestral graves. When the time comes, ask someone to bring some money back."
With that said, Ma Yangming ignored Ma Chao and said to Ma Yu: "This brother of yours has no future, he has no skills, but he is a brother who fights tigers. If you think he can help you, give him a
Of course, it's an errand, and since the other person is honest, it's not necessarily all bad. At least he'll listen to what you say."
Ma Yu said: "Of course."
After Ma Yangming explained this, he sat down and said with great interest: "My son, are there any big risks in doing business on the sea?"
"Don't worry, if you want to buy insurance, if you really encounter any risks, you can at least get back some of your losses, so you won't lose everything. What's more, this time I go overseas to do business, actually..." Ma Yu thought for a while and said with a smile:
"Actually, the money I earned is just a small amount."
"Little head?" Ma Yangming's face finally calmed down, and he was once again shocked.
Can you not be surprised? This is tens of thousands of taels of silver!
Come to you, is it Xiaotou?
Ma Yu said: "Now everyone in Qixia is waiting to see whether the sea trade business is profitable. My son went to sea first and took this opportunity to establish relationships. However, sea trade is not a workshop business after all. Everyone sees that a certain workshop is profitable.
It’s a good idea, so it must be done in a rush. But sea trade requires proficiency in routes, spending a lot of money to buy ships, and having certain connections overseas. The troubles involved are countless. Many people have seen this
Huge profits, even if you want to make money from this right away, you will definitely be daunted by the thought of all the trouble."
Ma Yu paused and continued: "Because of this, this is a good time for my son to take this opportunity to expand his business area. If the fleet returns safely this time, when his son distributes the dividends to others, everyone will
After getting the money, everyone is happy, then...I am afraid that more people will want to give their son money to invest in maritime trade, and even if the son wants to refuse, it will be difficult."
"My son's next step is to find a way to raise 500,000 taels of silver. In addition to purchasing more new ships and opening up several new routes, he also wants to purchase several warehouses in commercial ports in Luzon and other places.
For the purpose of collecting and distributing goods..."
Ma Yu thought for a moment and then said: "Of course, it is inevitable to cooperate with some local merchants. Now, if Luzon and other places can first invest in several cane sugar workshops to extract sugar cane and make cane sugar, then it can be transported by our ship
Transporting it back would be a huge profit. Of course, although these are just to make money, it is not the purpose. Rather, the land in Luzon and other places is fertile and there are many sugarcane plantations. Both King Zhao and King Ning also urgently need to use this land.
The sugar cane grown was exchanged for real money and silver to maintain the palace's income and expenditure. At this time, the son cooperated with them and solved a big trouble for them, which was equivalent to selling a favor."
Ma Yangming seemed to understand, and finally said simply: "Just tell me how much money you can earn in the future?"
Ma Yu smiled bitterly and said: "This is not easy to calculate, but...if it succeeds, I'm afraid this gold and silver can fill all the rooms in this mansion."
Ma Yangming took a breath and felt that his heart was a little stuffy again. He covered his heart and tried hard to steady his suddenly beating heart and said: "Oh, oh, don't say it, don't say it. Just keep talking.
, Dad will die soon."
Ma Chao immediately stood by and helped Ma Yangming rub it, saying: "Dad, the eldest brother has no expression. Don't scold him."
Ma Yangming stared at him with a red face and squeezed out one word from between his teeth: "Get out!"