Although he felt that Lin Fu had concealed something about Huaidong's annual military expenditure, Gu Wuchen felt a little uncomfortable. After talking to Zhao Qinmin, he just complained. Later, he asked Zhao Qinmin again: "Do you think Huaidong is setting up a bank?"
Is it reliable?"
When it was time to say goodbye, Zhao Qinmin would not tell the truth, but when he heard that Gu Wuchen had complained and was dissatisfied with Lin Fu, he thought of adding more firewood calmly and said: "I have two things to do when running a bank. I am a grain merchant.
It is a good thing to issue flying certificates to facilitate money settlement; there seems to be some problem with giving usury money to the refugees to reclaim wasteland..."
"What's the problem?" Gu Wuchen asked doubtfully, "This is good governance no matter what!"
"It is good for Huaidong, but not good for banks," Zhao Qinmin said. "The prospect given by Huaidong is to reclaim 500,000 acres of wasteland in four years, and plans to resettle 30,000 displaced households... The land reclamation is spread over ten counties in Huaidong.
In a county, how many people do banks need to invest in order to put usury money into the hands of homeless households? How many people do they need to invest in order to collect the money and interest from so many homeless households in a timely manner every year, and ultimately ensure that the principal is recovered?
?Too many people are invested, and the expenses for labor, food, foot fees, shop fees, food, and mules and horses are all astonishingly high. If the interest rate is set low, there will be no profit at all. If the interest rate is set high,
, the displaced households cannot afford to pay the money and interest just by cultivating wasteland, and in the end they will default. Huai'an has finally settled the displaced households, so how can it allow banks to force the displaced households to collect debts and cause public resentment? "
When Zhao Qinmin worked as an aide to Wang Xueshan, he specialized in money and grain management and loan sharking, so he knew the ropes very well.
After hearing Zhao Qinmin's analysis, Gu Wuchen really felt that it made sense, but he didn't take it seriously and said: "It would be good if it can be beneficial to Huaidong. The bank matter is still worth doing..."
"It's easy to trick people into it, but after the first year, the bank can't make any profits, and people who invest in banking stocks will want to quit. By then, the conflict will become bigger, and Huaidong may not be able to control it," said Zhao Qinmin.
Gu Wuchen didn't care much about the damage to the interests of merchants, but the Dongyang Township Party was the foundation for him to gain a foothold in Jiangning. He had to consider their interests for them. What if all the Dongyang Township Party's money was stolen and could not be exported to Huaidong?
Come on, it will be difficult for him to find someone to raise money.
Gu Wuchen thought for a while and said: "We can't hold back Huaidong, but the pros and cons are up to everyone to consider individually. We don't want to push anything... How much money does the house still have?"
"A sum of money has just been shipped back from Qingzhou, and there are still 240,000 taels of silver in the silver cellar." Zhao Qinmin replied.
"If you keep the silver, it might come in handy; for the bank matter, I think we can just come up with 40,000 taels of silver. Too little won't look good..."
*************
Lin Fu returned to Jiyunju, and the moon reached the middle of the sky.
Lin Mengde also came to the city at night. The main purpose of their trip to Jiangning was to attract as many Dongyang Township Party members as possible to invest money in banks. So no matter how tired it was, Lin Mengde had to talk to Lin Fu every day.
Let's meet and update you on the latest situation.
Jiyunju and Baiyuan are connected by a door. Lin Fu stayed at Jiyunju at night, so naturally he wanted to meet Su Mei.
When passing by the west wing, he heard the voices of Xiaoman and Su Mei talking in the room, and Lin Fu's mind flew over, but he still had to discuss things with Lin Mengde first.
"In the afternoon, the Yongchang Marquis Mansion and the Fan family also sent people." Lin Mengde told Lin Fu about Yuan Jinsheng and Fan Ding's visit to the Hekou Cottage in the afternoon. "Don't let them have a hand in the bank matter."
?”
"No one is dissatisfied with the money!" Lin Fu said, "If Yongchang Hou wants to get involved, we have no reason to turn him away. They are just playing their tricks. Don't pay attention to what they have in mind at this time. As long as
If Huaidong can establish a solid foundation and support a hundred thousand elites in two or three years, all the so-called power schemes will be eclipsed!"
Lin Mengde said: "The She family has a foundation of nearly two hundred years in Jin'an. The combined forces of the eight surnames control Dingkou, which is about the same size as Huaidong. There are only 100,000 elites. If you tell such an ambition,
Probably no one will believe it!"
Lin Fu smiled and said nothing.
Thinking of tonight in the back garden of Gu Mansion, when he said that the Huaidong Army only needed 400,000 taels of silver per year to support the army, Gu Wuchen's face was hesitant, and Lin Fu's smile also faded, thinking: Although it is
Mr. Weng, he can't trust Huaidong.
In Lin Fu's eyes, the Dai Viet Dynasty was already terminally ill and there was no cure, but Gu Wuchen did not necessarily think so. Although he fought fiercely with Zhang Yue and others, his fundamental political ambition was to revitalize the Dai Viet Dynasty.
Chen. In this regard, Gu Wuchen is very similar to Tang Haoxin. Compared to Li Zhuolai, Tang and Gu are more tactful and pragmatic. Of course, they also have selfish motives that cannot be given up.
Lin Fu can clearly know and plan the path Huaidong will take, but he can't clearly see the choices Gu Wuchen will make; if they eventually part ways, how will Jun Xun deal with it?
Thinking of this, Lin Fu also felt a headache, thinking that maybe the worst outcome wouldn't happen.
Lin Mengde knew that Su Mei was waiting here, and after discussing the most important matters, he said goodbye and left.
Lin Fu walked into the west wing of the courtyard, and his mother-in-law was waiting outside. However, she was very tired and was dozing off against the pillar. When Lin Fu walked in, he suddenly woke up and hurriedly bowed to say hello.
, but it alarmed Xiaoman and Su Mei who were talking in the room.
Just as Lin Fu was about to open the door and enter the house, Xiaoman came out wearing thin clothes and blocked him from the door. He said, "Why did you come back? My sister and I have gone to bed. You can sleep in another room!"
"I'll go in and talk!" Lin Fu took Xiaoman's hand, hugged her slender waist, and squeezed in through the crack in the door.
Su Mei and Xiao Man were already lying down. It was a hot day and they were only wearing underwear. When Lin Fu came over, she took a piece of clothing and shawl, wrapped it a little, sat on the carved bed with her legs bent, and looked at Lin Fu with a smile.
She came in with Xiaoman in her arms and asked, "Why are you back so late?" She looked gentle, like a wife waiting for her husband to come back.
Lin Fu stood leaning on the dressing table and wanted to hold Xiaoman in his arms. Xiaoman jumped on the bed first and was with Su Meiyi. Lin Fu said: "The imperial court is going to abolish the two Zhejiang counties and establish a system for northern Zhejiang."
As the envoy, Pingjiang Prefecture was also incorporated into its jurisdiction. Dong Yuan took charge of the right minister of the Jiangning Ministry of War and also led the establishment of the envoy in northern Zhejiang. No one could have expected this matter. Just discussing this matter would be a waste of time.
A lot of time.”
"Wouldn't that be detrimental to Huaidong?" Su Mei asked.
"There are advantages and disadvantages, and it's hard to tell for a while," Lin Fu said, "but the Yongchang Marquis Mansion is willing to repair relations with Huaidong today..."
"The death of Mr. Tang..." Su Mei asked hesitantly.
Lin Fu turned his eyes to the candlelight, sighed slightly, and said: "The plans of Marquis Yongchang and the Liang family should be different. They are just hypocrisy and compromise. Besides, Marquis Yongchang is the key to whether the grievances of the Su clan can be resolved..."
At this moment, the sound of soldiers' armor suddenly sounded in the courtyard. It was extra unexpected in the quiet night. Su Mei and Xiao Man both sat up in shock. Lin Fu opened the door and watched the chief guard, Chen Hua-face, wearing armor and carrying a knife as he entered the yard.
He came and asked in a deep voice: "What's going on?"
"There is a message from the front that three heavy-duty carriages are coming to Dustpan Alley. Master Wu ordered that the alert be raised to first level!"
"Let's explore again!" Lin Fu said, "Let all the civil servants in the front yard gather here!"
"What happened?" Su Mei and Xiaoman hurriedly put on their clothes. Seeing the lights of swords and halberds in the yard, they looked like a powerful enemy was approaching, so they came over and asked.
"Maybe it was a false alarm!" Lin Fu said, extinguishing the candles in the room.
The guard brought his clothes and armor, and Lin Fu stood at the door and put on his clothes and armor, asking Su Mei and Xiaoman to stay in the room.
The Fourth Lady and Lin Mengde came to this courtyard one after another. Su Mei did not care about the shyness of being alone in a room with Lin Fu late at night and being bumped into by outsiders, so she greeted Lin Mengde.
Zhou Pu led the main cavalry force to station outside the city, while Lin Fuming only led a hundred cavalry guards into the city. The guard team was headed by Chen Hualian, but the actual guard work was secretly presided over by Wu Qi, the crow. In addition to the squad that secretly guarded Su Mei
In addition to the troops, dozens of additional sentinels were sent to Jiangning City a few days in advance.
Three heavy-loaded carriages can hold fifty or sixty soldiers. Although there are nearly two hundred guards inside and outside Jiyun Ju, it is still very dangerous if the opponent unexpectedly approaches and launches a surprise attack!
After a while, Chen Hualian hurried from the front yard, took a greeting card, and replied: "It's Old Master Zeng who is here..."
Lin Fu was stunned, and looked at each other with Su Mei. Why did Zeng Laoguo sing this play late at night? He also brought three heavy-duty carriages over, causing a false alarm here.
Lin Fu hurriedly took off his clothes and armor, and went out with Lin Mengde to welcome Zeng Mingxin in; Su Mei and Xiaoman also hurried in to tidy up their clothes.
Compared to the last time we met, Zeng Mingxin was much older, with most of his hair turning gray. Under the lamp, there were also faint age spots on his face. Besides the old housekeeper, there was also a man in his twenties who followed him into Jiyun Residence.
A young man of five or six years old, dressed accordingly.
"If the Duke of the State comes to see me for something, send someone to tell him. Why bother, the Duke of the State is so tired late at night?" Lin Fuchang bowed and saluted.
"Don't look at me as the Duke of the country. I usually look majestic. Sometimes I can't help but come over late at night." Zeng Mingxin shook his head and laughed at himself, "You don't waste much time. You
I want to set up a bank in Huaidong. I can't have any other suggestions. There are 180,000 taels of silver in the car. You can find someone to move it in. This money has been saved one after another. I want to find an opportunity to give it to you. Since Huai
If Dong wants to set up a bank, that would be the best thing..."
"This..." Lin Fu was quite confused.
Zeng Mingxin saw the confusion in Lin Fu's eyes, sighed slightly, and said: "I am getting old, and I don't have a few more years to live. In a few days, the affairs of the house will be completely handed over to the juniors.
, maybe we can still live a comfortable life for a few more years in this chaotic world..."
Every family has its own scriptures that are difficult to recite. Lin Fu could understand something like this when Zeng Mingxin said it.
Due to the Su family case, Mu Guogong's Mansion has been suppressed by Yongchang Marquis' Mansion in Jiangning City for more than ten years. They are both dignitaries in Jiangning City, but they are suppressed by Yongchang Marquis' Mansion, and the internal affairs of Mu Guogong's Mansion will also be suppressed.
There are deep grievances.
These grievances were not only against the Yongchang Houfu, but also to a large extent against the head of the family, Zeng Mingxin.
Mu Guogong is a hereditary noble, and the position of prince and future duke is designated to be inherited by the eldest son. This is something Zeng Mingxin himself cannot change.
The dissatisfaction within Mu Guogong's palace is getting deeper and deeper, which will naturally lead to differences and conflicts between the old and new generations.
Zeng Mingxin sent the money late at night. In addition to hiding it from outsiders, he also had to hide it from the people in Duke Mu's mansion.
Mu Guogong's Mansion has been a noble family for two hundred years. Even if his children live a luxurious life, their savings will be very deep. However, in the past ten years, the Yongchang Marquis Mansion has always been pressured, and many industries have suffered a lot.
It is not easy to get out 180,000 taels of silver. If Zeng Mingxin publicly took out 180,000 taels of silver and invested it in Huaidong Bank, it would arouse the vigilance of Hou Yuan of Yongchang and others from the outside, and there would also be resistance within Mu Guogong's government.
It will be huge.
Lin Fu took a step back, bowed to Zeng Mingxin, and said, "My dear Lin Fu, thank you so much for your righteousness!"