Zhu Gaosui frowned subconsciously after hearing Xie Jin's words.
To be honest, Zhang Anshi usually took advantage of him. Finally, he had a chance to take advantage of Zhang Anshi. Instead of letting him take advantage of it, Jie Gong not only refused to let him take advantage of it, but also extended great favors.
But Zhu Gaosui is not stupid either. He is just a prince, and he can easily accomplish things that others struggle with without using their brains.
Because of this, he, like the King of Han Zhu Gaoxu, usually uses his brain less, and gradually his brain is no longer their strong point.
But Zhu Gaosui still knew this.
Especially when he came to Java, without Zhu Di's protection, he had to make his own decisions on everything. By this time, he had already tempered himself.
After pondering for a while, he said: "This is what I should do. Is this the only way to do it?"
"The general policy direction is like this, but the details must be handled well." Xie Jin thought for a while and continued patiently: "This is how human nature is. If anything is not done properly, all the previous efforts will be wasted. We will move all the remaining grain in the plantation first.
Go to the port to stock up. In addition, it is best to make the grains into polished rice first. In this case,
With the same load, more people can eat it. Let's get this done first, so that on the one hand, the debris in the valley will not waste the transportation capacity, and on the other hand, after it is transported to Taiping Mansion, they can
It can be put into the warehouse at any time without wasting time to thresh grain. This grain is emergency grain. If you waste less time, it will be of great use."
"In addition, before the rice is put into storage, it is best to seal it and find a way to remove the moisture. When it is loaded onto the ship, it will also avoid the seawater getting wet along the way, so we need to requisition some tarpaulins first."
"Oilcloth?" Zhu Gaosui was shocked, with confusion on his face.
You know, this oilcloth is a good moisture-proof material. This thing is definitely not a rarity in Taiping Mansion, but it is extremely precious in Java.
After all, Java is already humid, so the storage of gunpowder requires a huge demand for oilcloths, and these oilcloths were originally purchased from Taiping Mansion.
But once the oilcloths are used to protect the grain from moisture, what should we do with the gunpowder? Will we have to order it again in the future? I'm afraid it will be another expense.
Zhu Gaosui felt heartache when he thought of this.
Why didn't Jie Jin know Zhu Gaosui's thoughts? He smiled and said: "Your Highness, if you want to be a good person to the end, you must not be a half-hearted person. If not, it is better to make some small profits. Once the oilcloth for military supplies is requisitioned,
, it does have an impact on us, especially in the military. But think about it, Your Highness, gunpowder is temporarily
It can't be used for a while. Let's wait for a few months and wait for the ordered oilcloth to arrive. Then there will be no problem. Now that the natives have heard about His Highness, they are frightened. His Highness has not moved for these months, and they absolutely dare not make any mistakes. Even if they make mistakes
, our Zhao army has enough refined food, even if the amount of gunpowder is reduced, it is enough to subdue them."
"But His Highness has to think about what the victims of the Ming Dynasty are thinking about, and what His Highness the Prince of Wuhu County is thinking about. His Highness has thought about everything they thought about and what they couldn't think of. This... is different."
After saying that, Xie Jin's face became solemn, and he said very cautiously: "Your Highness, think twice."
Zhu Gaosui was tangled up, but he was still convinced by Xie Jin's words. So after pondering for a moment, he finally nodded and said: "That's what Jie Gong said. Is there anything else?"
Xie Jin then said: "We have to repair the book, but don't send it out now. When His Highness the Prince of Wuhu's grain ship arrives, Your Highness will teach them to bring it back. In this letter, the words must be sincere, and naturally there is no need to be too respectful. After all, Your Highness is
Tianhuang Guiwei is a prince, so in the letter, there is no need to mention the common people, just talk about the old relationship with His Highness the Prince of Wuhu County."
"This... you can do it. Xie Gong will write a copy, and then I will copy it according to the instructions of the cat and the tiger."
Regarding this, Zhu Gaosui was very self-aware, and Xie Jin was more capable in writing essays.
So Xie Jin said: "I will try my best to do it."
However, Zhu Gaosui still said with some concern: "Jie Gong...will there be no grain ships coming?"
"There will be."
Zhu Gaosui said: "But... even if there are many disasters, Taiping Mansion has accumulated a lot of money and food on weekdays, and the imperial court also has a lot of food, so it should be able to support it."
Xie Jin smiled and looked at Zhao Wang Zhu Gaosui with a determined look: "Your Highness does not know that the so-called major disasters often do not necessarily mean the world's food. It is really not enough to fill the stomachs of the people in the world. In this world
There have always been people who are hungry and thirsty
, then the more hungry and thirsty, the more scarce food will be. So... Unexpectedly, I think that this food gap may become an important competition in the Ming Dynasty temple. Now the competition is, who has the most food on hand?
There’s a lot of food.”
Zhu Gaosui took a breath of cold air: "If you say this, I will become even more confused. Hey... Is the Ming Dynasty such a place of right and wrong?"
Xie Jin said: "Your Highness is in Java because here in Java, the enemy and we are clearly defined. The enemy is the enemy and I am myself. We can resist foreign aggression together. If the same room fights against each other, then these 100,000 Han people will die without a burial place. If someone is really greedy,
Think about it, the worst case scenario is to take it from the natives."
Having said this, Xie Jin paused and then said: "But the Ming Dynasty is different. If you have more points, he will have less points. What is the so-called benevolent government and the so-called rule by doing nothing? It means that the court should meddle in other people's affairs and the countryside
Things have to be taken care of by people, and the people who take care of these things have long had deep roots in the countryside, so naturally they don't want the court and the government to interfere."
"And what about the so-called New Deal? The name of the New Deal sounds nice, but if you think about it carefully, isn't it actually about taking away the land and population of people who had big trees and deep roots and meddling in their own business? Here, everyone is
They have their reasons, and all of them have high-sounding excuses. Because of this, this is a life-and-death struggle."
Zhu Gaosui sighed: "Are there no good people?"
Xie Jin said: "It doesn't matter whether you are good or bad. What matters is which side your highness is on. If your highness is a gentry with thousands of hectares of fertile land in the Ming Dynasty and thousands of servants, and he has gained fame by reading the Four Books and Five Classics, he will naturally stand there."
It makes sense. But if His Highness is engaged in business, controls the sale and purchase of ships, or... works in a workshop, you may feel that the new policy makes sense."
Zhu Gaosui immediately said: "Then I and Zhang Anshi are in the same group."
Xie Jin said: "Yes, the crux of the problem is here. Because His Highness has an interest in the Wuhu County Prince, so he needs to do everything possible to donate food. Our Zhao State can be short of food savings for one or two years, but His Highness the Wuhu County Prince
But we must win,
Because this is closely related. We, the State of Zhao...after all, share the same relationship with it. We have thought through the stakes. Other things...are just minutiae and are not worth mentioning. Just some grains and some tarpaulins, it doesn't matter.
Very important."
When Zhu Gaosui heard this, he suddenly looked at Xie Jin with a complicated look, and then sighed: "If Mr. Xie had such thoughts at the beginning, maybe... he wouldn't have fought with Zhang Anshi to the death."
Zhu Gaosui's face showed a bit of emotion.
Xie Jin was still calm and said without changing his expression: "If I were still a bachelor of Wenyuan Pavilion, I would still have to fight for it. In a position like yours, you can sail against the current and retreat if you don't advance. Since you are already in a high position, how can you succumb to one?
juvenile
Why do you want to rely on others? When I fought with you in the beginning, you are now kind to me when I was in Java. This is precisely because I can think clearly about the pros and cons and do not act emotionally at any time. Your Highness, this is how a man should act."
Being able to say these words shows that there is already a trustworthy relationship between Jian Jin and Zhu Gaosui.
The two of them were originally in the Ming Dynasty, and they were very proud of themselves at the beginning. One was ordered to guard Beiping, which meant that his father handed over his base camp to him. At the same time, he also controlled the border towns and, as the prince, guarded the North for his father.
In Zhu Gaosui's view, his father had complete trust in him, and he also had military power, so there might be a real possibility of competing for the heir apparent.
The other one is a bachelor of Wenyuan Pavilion, who is also deeply trusted. It can be said that he is a young man who has achieved great ambitions, and his future prospects can be imagined.
But who would have thought that both of them would be beaten up and finally come to Java obediently.
But here, as far as I can see, there are unexplored dense forests and countless natives. It makes me want to cry without tears.
This also forced the two of them to rely on each other and help each other.
What's more, the two people's temperaments are actually quite similar. Xie Jin has a deep mind and has the unique arrogance of a scholar. The king of Zhao, Zhu Gao, Sui Tianhuang Guiwei, has a higher eye than his head, but at the same time he is also very scheming.
The two of them can be regarded as a bastard meeting a mung bean, and they actually feel like confidants.
Therefore, Jie Jin can say some heartfelt words. In fact, there is nothing you can do about it. For a very smart person, in such a place, the people around him are not rough and tumble. Even if they have some education, their education level is probably enough to even be a civil servant.
I can't speak, I can't even say anything, I have so much talent, I can only hold it in my stomach.
Only Zhu Gaosui, who had truly seen the world and received a good palace education, could barely understand it.
But Zhu Gaosui also relied heavily on Xie Jin. In addition to speculation, he actually discovered that many of Xie Jin's words were really useful here. There are no truly talented people except Xie Jin.
If people want to come to Java, if you kneel down and beg them, they will definitely not come.
As for the gentry who were deceived, they all had some abilities. Although the gap between Xie Jin and Xie Jin was not small, on the other hand, both Zhu Gaosui and Xie Jin were wary of them.
We are not fools. They tricked your whole family to come to Java. Fools all know that the other party must hate you with all their teeth. It’s just that they can’t do anything about you. How dare you trust him?
After taking a long breath, Zhu Gaosui said: "I understand, in short, just do everything according to what Duke Xie said. This matter... should be taken as a top priority. How much food does Zhao have? As long as the food ships are enough."
, as long as that guy Zhang Anshi wants to take it, all of us in the Zhao Kingdom will tighten our belts and support it to the end."
So Xie Jin said happily: "With your highness's words, I will go and make arrangements now."
Everything went as Xie Jin expected.
Sure enough, after another half month, a large number of ships docked.
They brought a large amount of firearms, silk, cotton, and tea. As soon as they landed, they immediately started buying food.
What surprised these merchants was that the Zhao State had already prepared. A warehouse of grain had been prepared and tightly packed. All the foot power seemed to have been mobilized, and they began to carry it directly.
Get on board.
Everything is in order.
Within three days, the ship returned directly.
If it were in the past, even if it was the fastest, from purchasing to transporting to the port, loading and sealing, plus ship supply and repair, it would not be possible in less than a month.
Java doesn't have a lot of anything, it just has a lot of food.
In Luzon, Annan and other places, the situation is actually quite similar.
The King of Han was heroic, and Annan indeed had too much food. Zhang Anshi was in urgent need of it, so he naturally agreed.
King Ning was shrewd. He not only asked the ships arriving in Luzon to load grain, he even offered bounties near Luzon to invite Western ships to deliver grain to Taiping Mansion.
Most of these local merchant ships are small in size and cannot withstand strong winds and waves. Going out to sea is almost like risking their lives. However, under the heavy reward, there must be brave men, and there are actually many people rushing to get there.
Even many pirates in the depths of the ocean are watching the wind. After all, the business of beheading has not been easy to do in the past two years. Transporting grain seems to be very profitable, and it has received the approval of various vassal kings to pardon their past crimes. Now
, actually entered Hong Kong.
At first they were very wary, fearing that this was a fraud by the government and the army, but who knew, the other party did not ask about their identities, and only taught them to bring things as a trade, and then taught them how to carry food and board the ship, and then taught them how to grow long pine trees.
Take a breath.
Food is actually not valuable in places like the West. On the one hand, the population of the entire West is far less dense than that of the Ming Dynasty. On the other hand, the land here is really too fertile. Even a lazy man can get two crops a year without intensive farming.
, a place where grain can grow even if you sow seeds, and the grain yield may even be high.
Suddenly, hundreds of ships rushed to Songjiang Port along various routes.
On Zhang Anshi's side, there were also many grain ships passing through the rivers in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, slowly transporting them.
Of course, these grains are still a drop in the bucket. Now he does not miss any opportunity to get grains. He tries all channels, from sea transportation to river transportation, to inspecting the grain depots in various prefectures and counties in Zhili. It can be said that he is trying his best.
In the blink of an eye, it’s the end of the year.
Over the past few months, the entire Taiping Mansion seems to have become a huge barn.
Storing grain is the most challenging thing for officials. From warehousing to preventing moisture, to ensuring that grain is not wasted in large quantities, and even to auditing and accounting, every aspect is crucial.
Although these things are done with great fanfare, in fact, there is not much concern.
On the one hand... not many people are interested in knowing about maritime transport. Apart from collecting some grain in Jiangsu and Zhejiang and letting people know about it, some people think that Zhang Anshi used it to relieve the victims in Zhili.
Soon after, Yang Pu and Zhu Jin, the left ministers of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, came to see him.
Zhang Anshi was in a good mood and looked at them with a smile.
Both of them have lost a lot of weight, especially Zhu Jin, who used to have a big belly, but now he feels like he has lost a lot of weight.
Zhang Anshi said: "I have been thinking about you all the time, and I have been wondering in my heart how you are doing on your errand. How come there is no news so far? Who would have thought that just after I finished reading, you guys arrived.
.It can be seen... If the heart is sincere, the metal and stone will be opened, and if you never forget it, there will be an echo."
They both laughed.
Zhang Anshi continued: "Have the grain silos everywhere been inspected? There are also newly imported grain ships... How many are there every day now?"
"Your Highness." Yang Pu said: "The official here has already inspected it. In order to deal with so much food, Taiping Mansion built several large granaries and converted many of the original warehouses into granaries.
, and now I have verified it carefully, Taiping Mansion currently has a stockpile of grain... 17 million dan..."
Zhang Anshi: "..."
Yang Pu said: "Your Highness..."
"Why so many?" Zhang Anshi was a little surprised.
Yang Pu himself is confused. Didn't you ask everyone to buy food yourself? Now everyone is working hard, up and down, from Jiangsu and Zhejiang to buy food, to transport food overseas, and in Taiping Prefecture in previous years.
Save food, this is what you said yourself.
Why are you confused now?
You know, in the past few months, everyone has done nothing but just focus on Guangji Liang.
Even many ships that could not sail far took the risk to go to sea and ran along the coastline to Annan like crazy dogs.
Now His Highness comes to ask, why are there so many?
In fact, I really can't blame Zhang Anshi for looking so fussy. Seventeen million stones is indeed a terrifying amount.
Because the entire Ming Dynasty's annual food income was 20 million dan.
This is the revenue from grain taxes in all prefectures and counties in the world!
Of course, this amount... is actually not much that the imperial court can actually use.
On the one hand, there is a fixed annual amount of money and food for all the guards in the world, as well as the salary of the officials all over the world, many of which are calculated in terms of grain.
There are also various kinds of salary and rice, as well as horse feed from the Ministry of War, work grain from the Ministry of Industry, sacrificial grain from the Ministry of Rites, not to mention the household grain.
After taking out these fixed expenses, the real food available to the court will not exceed 3 million shi. If the various losses are added, the actual amount of food that can be used is 1.5 million shi, which is already considered good.
.
As for Zhang Anshi... the food he is currently hoarding is actually more than ten times the amount of food available to the court, and if nothing unexpected happens, as long as Zhang Anshi doesn't stop, there may continue to be a steady stream of food shipped.
"My dear sister..." Zhang Anshi murmured in surprise: "This West... is a damn good place. Compared with them, the land of plenty in the south of the Yangtze River and the land of abundance are all inferior."
"Your Highness..." Zhu Jin said with a wry smile: "There is enough food, but now we can't collect a lot of food, and a lot of food can't be put into the warehouse. What should we do now? This food can't be collected.
Received?"
Zhang Anshi turned to sneer and said: "Who said we won't collect anymore? Keep collecting as much as you can. If there is not enough space to store it, just continue to build a warehouse. I just want to get grain now, don't worry about anything else!"