In the past half a year, a charter has actually been established.
Waterways and land routes, including personnel and support, are all ready.
In addition, the Taiping Mansion was densely populated with car dealers and there were many merchants. Therefore, the Prince's Mansion began to put out lists to recruit cars, horses and boats. Suddenly, there were many applicants.
Immediately, cartloads of grain and boatloads of grain began to set off.
First, the railway from Zhili was used to deliver the grain to the boundaries of Henan and other places, and then it was transported overland to Henan, or along the waterway to Huguang.
All of them are under the banner of Jinyiwei.
A motorcade and fleet, accompanied by three Jin Yiwei personnel, and a dozen assigned model battalion captains, also picked up driving stickers and dropped them off in advance at the inn along the way.
In addition, Zhang Anshi also found a way to mobilize a large number of people from Dongchang to coordinate actions.
The manpower and horses of the carriage shop received money from the Taiping Mansion and began to work hard.
What's more, with the development of sea trade, Taiping Prefecture in various prefectures and counties in the world has already established contact with a small number of local nobles. The focus of these people is now not on the land, but relying on their local relationships to start
Dumping Taipingfu goods.
Nowadays, although these people... are still gentry, because they have done more business, their relationship with Taiping Mansion has become increasingly close. Although they are not attracted to Zhang Anshi, they are compradors of Taiping Mansion.
The guild hall is responsible for contacting fellow villagers in various places, using them to provide local support, and using their caravans, carriages and horses to carry goods on weekdays, and paying them some money afterwards.
These people also knew that it would be difficult to offend Zhang Anshi, not to mention whether the Jinyiwei would cause trouble for them, and if they wanted to use Taiping Mansion's goods to make profits for themselves in the future, they had to agree.
Everything seemed to be going extremely smoothly.
However, there are also times when things don't go well. For example, in many workshops under the Qixia Chamber of Commerce, some people began to complain.
Many people are dissatisfied with the Qixia Textile Workshop because the workshop starts early in the morning and returns in the evening. In order for everyone to have the energy to work, Qixia Trading Company, as the employer, will provide a lunch.
However, following Zhang Anshi's edict to save food, the portion of this lunch dropped a lot.
Even the oily smell is much less.
Although it is enough to eat enough to prevent starvation, the treatment is lowered after all, which makes people feel that this must be the shopkeeper of the workshop using chicken feathers as arrows, in the name of His Highness the Prince of Wuhu County, and deliberately missing the portion they should eat.
.
There was a commotion in the workshop for a while, and even the shopkeeper didn't know who was beating him.
The officers of Taiping Prefecture even happily went to various inns to post notices on saving food, which also made many merchants feel dissatisfied. It was rare for everyone to go out to a restaurant, because they just wanted to eat.
Have you drunk enough? As a result, things like this are posted everywhere, and servants come to hang out for a few times from time to time. Who can eat this meal?
Such a fuss made Yin Gaoxiang of Taiping Mansion very angry, but there was nothing he could do about it. After all, this was an order from the Prince's Mansion.
At this time, a large amount of food finally began to enter various prefectures and counties.
As soon as the food arrived, a relief flag was immediately put up.
In addition, there were guards and model camp guards, and the accompanying porters and cart drivers were also equipped with some simple weapons. I didn't worry about any robbers along the way who would dare to cause trouble.
Kaifeng Mansion.
This sudden uninvited guest immediately caused a stir in the Kaifeng Mansion. Hearing that there might be a grain distribution, it seemed that many refugees began to come to the city.
On the Jinyiwei side, they also took out some food, set up a porridge shed themselves, and started distributing it.
Seven porridge houses were set up outside Fucheng and inside the city.
As soon as the news came out, people inside and outside Kaifeng Mansion were in a state of excitement.
But at this moment...someone was anxious.
Liu Jin, the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture, has a good official reputation. He pursues governance by doing nothing. Now that the disaster is urgent, he has urged the court to send grains several times.
As for the food sent by the imperial court before, after all, the disaster was so severe that it was a drop in the bucket and could not be dealt with at all.
At this time, he was leisurely admiring a calligraphy and painting. His eyes fell on the place where the ink fell, and he made a tut-tsk sound in his mouth. He pinched his beard and nodded: "Good, good, good. This painting is vigorous and vigorous. It is indeed worthy of Zhou's calligraphy and painting."
Juren’s painting skills are much better than those of Zhou Juren.”
As he was talking, a servant came in a hurry and said, "Zhou Ju and Zhang Gong are here to see you."
Liu Jin stood up straight, put his hands behind his back, puffed out his belly, and said calmly: "Come here."
Not long after, Zhou Juren and a gentleman named Zhang came to the house.
When they met each other, they naturally greeted each other and took their seats slowly. Someone offered a tea cup and took a sip of tea slowly.
Liu Jinfang calmed down and said calmly: "A few days ago, when I was reading the Book of Changes and mentioned the six dragons of the Qian hexagram, I saw the word "Qianlong", which made me quite enlightened."
Zhou Juren said with a smile: "Please give me some advice."
Liu Jindao: "A hidden dragon is a person who is virtuous and reclusive. This dragon "doesn't change the world, and cannot become famous; it is not bored in the world." Just like the hermit who has both ability and political integrity, although he is talented, he is hidden from the world.
out."
Zhou Juren said with a smile: "Did your husband mean something by what he said?"
Liu Jindao: "The Duke of Zhou has a great talent, but he hides in the countryside and refuses to serve as an official. However, I appreciate the knowledge of Duke Zhou. Whether it is poetry, calligraphy or painting, I can call it exquisite and make people admire him. Duke Zhou would rather place his affection on the mountains and rivers.
He is also unwilling to serve as an official, which is really a great misfortune for the world."
Zhou Juren laughed and said: "The Lord of the House is trying to discredit me. There is no talent in this student. It's just that he knows he has little virtue, limited talent and little knowledge, so he doesn't dare to overestimate his ability."
After saying that, everyone smiled and bowed their heads to drink tea. The prefect Liu Jin then asked: "What do you mean when you come here?"
Zhou Juren said: "The royal guards suddenly came to the city, and they also took food. They said they wanted to help the people. Does the governor know about this?"
Liu Jindan said indifferently: "I know a little bit about it, so I say it's an order. Since it's an order, what can I say as a mere prefect?"
"Master Fu, the county has been providing relief to the people, but now the Jin Yiwei has come to do something unnecessary. I don't know what the intention is? Master Fu is a parent, how can he not notice it?"
Liu Jin sighed, shook his head and said: "It's not that I don't want to investigate, but I just can't investigate. It's good that the Jin Yiwei didn't cause trouble for me. They are used to being cruel, what can I do to them?"
Zhou Juren smiled slightly, and he bowed politely and said politely: "In my opinion, they are here to take the credit for the relief work. Who doesn't know that the disaster has been alleviated in the past half year since the Lord's relief work? Alas... that's all..."
He shook his head, showing regret.
Liu Jin raised his eyebrows and said: "I already know the purpose of your visit, but... I am also a clever woman who cannot make a meal without rice, and I really can't control it..."
Zhou Juren and others showed disappointment.
However, he also understood that Liu Jin could not help him this time, so he had to discuss some calligraphy and painting techniques with Liu Jin before leaving.
After leaving the government office, everyone came to Dadian Street.
This Dadian Street is adjacent to the Drum Tower built in the twelfth year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty. It is the most prosperous place in Kaifeng. The main businesses here are calligraphy, painting and the Four Treasures of the Study, so many scholars are willing to come here.
The Zuiyue Tower here is the busiest place in the local area. It is said that every few days, some Yangzhou thin horses are brought here. These women have been learning music, chess, calligraphy and painting since they were young, and one by one they
The beauty is outstanding, not to mention the beauty of the country, but they are all excellent looks.
This place has become more and more lively recently. It’s not that a large number of new skinny horses are coming. You need to know that raising a skinny horse requires training from an early age, from makeup to reading and writing, to words and deeds. It’s not a day’s work. Only in this way,
Only such a woman can be called the number one.
It's just because Zuiyuelou has recently acquired many girls. These girls are all pretty and pretty, and it is said that the prices are low. Now they are taught to tidy up one by one and come here to serve the literati who come and go here.
Zhou Juren and several other acquaintances entered the Zuiyue Tower, but they did not let the Madam choose anyone to accompany them. They even offered to play, play, and sing, but they declined and only sat down in a wing near the river embankment.
Everyone drank their tea, and someone said with a bit of annoyance: "This Magistrate Liu is really hateful. I give him a lot of benefits on weekdays, including writing, entertainment, calligraphy and painting, and everything from Bing Jing to Tan Jing.
Now, I am hiding."
Zhou Juren pressed his hands and said, "Hey, brother Wang Xian, there is no need to say such things. Magistrate Liu has his own reasons. How can he provoke this Jin Yiwei?"
The person who is called Wang Xiandi is called Wang Jin. He comes from a wealthy family in Kaifeng, and is known as semi-Kaifeng. This means that his family has a lot of land, accounting for nearly half of Kaifeng's land. This is naturally an exaggeration, but...
It is evident that his family has a great business.
Wang Jindao: "I heard that the price of food... has dropped by 30% now. Duke Zhou, if someone gives them food and feeds them, who is going to buy food? We... there is so much food in the warehouse."
There is a lot of food, Duke Zhou...I'm afraid..."
There is no need to say more about what follows, as it is actually self-evident.
So everyone fell into a worried look.
Some people couldn't help but said bitterly: "The prince of Wuhu County has evil intentions and wants to win people's hearts. I pity those stupid people who are lazy and greedy. Now..."
Zhou Juren opened the folding fan, pressed it, and said: "Okay, there is no need to say these depressing words. I am waiting here, even if I curse day and night, what can I do? I am the king of the county, and here is the Jin Yiwei..."
"In my opinion..." Wang Jin gritted his teeth and lowered his voice: "It's better... to simply teach others to grab food..."
Zhou Juren sneered and said: "Didn't you see that there are actually school captains from the model camp accompanying them? They are carrying firearms, not to mention... Have you forgotten the lessons from Jiangxi? I'm afraid that Zhang Anshi is still eager for us to take action.
Woolen cloth."
Wang Jin jumped to his feet anxiously and said: "This can't be done, and that can't be done. After all, there is a big disaster. The family has a little food, but they teach these unscrupulous people who usually do nothing to eat and drink for free. If the price of food drops again,
Go down, let's...who will sell the grain in this warehouse? We spent a lot of money to stock up on grain this time."
On the other side, there was a grain merchant. At this time, he was also wiping his sweat and stammering: "Yes, yes... But we can't go on like this. All the gentlemen are capable people. If you can't think of anything else,
The only way to do that is..."
Zhou Juren stood up, pacing with his head slightly lowered, as if he was thinking about something.
After a while, he sighed: "The government can't use it now, and it can't be snatched away. That Zhang An Shiju has sinister intentions, and he obviously expected that we would have no way to deal with him..."
Having said that, he was worried, and then slowly continued: "It's not that there are no other ways..."
Everyone looked at Zhou Juren and said, "Please give me some advice."
"Collect grain!" Zhou Juren gritted his teeth and said: "There is not much grain on the market, but the biggest variable now is the grain shipped from Taiping Mansion. As long as we collect grain, we can maintain the price of grain."
As soon as these words came out, Wang Jin was shocked: "But...but...who knows how much food there is in Taiping Mansion. Besides, the current price of food...is out of reach."
What Wang Jin said was ridiculous. When he talked about the food his family had hoarded, he was worried that now that food prices had dropped by 30%, life would be difficult.
But when it comes to harvesting grain, he can blurt out the words that the price of grain is unattainable.
And when I said this, no one thought it was inconsistent.
Sell high, sell low, and make huge profits from it. This has been the case in all dynasties. For them, this is what they should do.
Zhou Juren said: "Don't you read the Di newspaper?"
"Di Bao..." Wang Jin was stunned.
Zhou Juren said: "In this newspaper, the Taiping Mansion has already advocated saving food. It can be seen that this Taiping Mansion... must also be short of food, but... Zhang Anshi has always liked to be in the limelight, so he wanted to use it.
This opportunity shows that he can only relieve your worries. And there are so many places he wants to help. How much food can be provided in Kaifeng? As long as we collect it, those unruly people who are lazy and lazy will have no food to use. Naturally,
Only when food prices can be maintained."
"This..." Some people think this is reasonable, but they still hesitate.
However, Wang Jin was a little worried: "Could this be a hard-to-get trick of the Taiping Mansion?"
Harvesting grain requires spending real money, so Wang Jin will naturally be more careful.
Zhou Juren said: "There is also some news from Taiping Mansion. It is said that many businesses in Taiping Mansion have begun to save food. It seems that... it has also caused a lot of controversy. This should not be false. That Zhang Anshi is the most
He likes to win over people's hearts and use some small favors to cover up his wolfish ambitions, so that he will never cause public dissatisfaction in Taiping Mansion..."
Wang Jin and others, with dark and uncertain faces, seemed to be starting to think.
After a long while, Wang Jin said, "Are you willing to sell the grain that Jinyiwei escorted to us?"
"As long as the price is right, don't be afraid of not giving in." Zhou Juren said calmly and calmly: "When the government provided relief to us in Kaifeng, didn't the government's relief grains appear in various grain stores the next day? The imperial court was like this,
How much better can Jin Yiwei be?"
He seemed confident.
Wang Jin and others nodded and said: "This is the only way. In this case, our families need to work together to help each other. Let's find a way to collect food."
Everything is agreed upon.
Immediately, someone secretly began to contact Taiping Mansion personnel.
The other party would rather simply sell the grain, but it would have to be 20 to 30% higher than the market price.
When asked how much food the other party had, the other party just smiled and said nothing.
However, Wang Jinren and others have actually already mastered this kind of thing.
Every time we provide relief, the government and imperial envoys generally approach each other in this way. As long as the price is sufficient, there is no need to worry about getting through.
So... everyone started to raise money.
Then bags of grain were moved to each family's barn overnight.
The next day, Jinyiwei continued to distribute porridge and water.
However, for Zhou Ju, Wang Jin and others, they understood very well that the Jin Yiwei came here under orders, even if it was superficial work, it would take a few days, so there was no need to worry.
This is true not only in Kaifeng, but also in almost every prefecture and county.
Many people quietly invited the Jinyiwei people to come, secretly hooked up and got married to each other.
At the same time, Jin Yiwei's fast horses kept delivering reports to Qixia from all directions almost day and night.
In Qixia, a group of scribes recruited by the Changshi Mansion were almost like crazy, constantly calculating the amount of grain delivered every day and the money earned after selling the grain.
This is definitely a huge profit.
The price of grain starts at seven times, and even retail sales are omitted. After excluding the cost of transportation and loss, and a small amount of grain for soup, the profit is also about four to five times.
Zhang Anshi looked like a mouse that had fallen into a rice vat at this time, with sparkling eyes and an unstoppable smile on his lips.
Looking at these overwhelming reports and numbers, he was really happy.
However, many problems have arisen.
So after feeling very happy, Zhang Anshi had people call Zhu Jin, Chen Li and others over.
With eyes wide open, he scolded with a mutter: "Why hasn't the grain from Xi'an been shipped yet? And... what's going on in Luoyang? Why hasn't anyone contacted me to buy grain? The price of grain in Luoyang is...
It’s almost half gone.”
"By the way, the latest batch of grain must be shipped as soon as possible. Everyone has sold the grain. If the grain on hand is not enough to give porridge, can you teach the refugees how to live? Besides, I still have a lot of grain.
It’s for sale!”
After a pause, he seemed to have thought of something important. He rolled his eyes and then said: "Yes, let's make a fuss in Qixia and say that the people have no food to eat. Our Taiping Mansion actually takes food."
When providing relief to other prefectures and counties, the troublemakers must be chosen well."
"Is there a thorn in Qixia Iron Works... Ah... No, there is a worker named Chen Liu? This guy once caused a big commotion because a colleague was injured at work. This guy himself
If the king thinks it is possible, let him take the lead. The movement should be louder and the most important thing is to have momentum. The workers should not be idle, I will wait to see their performance. "
"We need to show the momentum of the workers and tell the shopkeepers that if there is a shopkeeper who is injured by a worker, I will pay for the medical treatment, I will pay for the tuition of the children, and the salary will be tripled while recovering from the injury! If it is not possible, I will support them.