“There are quite a few people coming.” Wang Shaoquan chuckled and raised his glass.
Weng Qiming on the other side also raised his glass in response, "There are quite a few. I see that all of you from Shanxi and Shaanxi are here? No exception?"
"Haha, Huilong and Anfu are everywhere in the Dongting of the Sky. Even the salt merchants dare not neglect to attend. Who wouldn't understand that this event will determine the fate of the next ten or even decades?" Wang Shaoquan sighed. , "Xiao Feng's bet is a bit big."
Weng Qiming asked: "So Shao Quan, do you think Xiao Feng is too impatient? He is still young and has plenty of time, so why bother?"
"Young Master, do you think so?" Wang Shaoquan asked back: "Xiao Feng, Chief Assistant, has never been eager for success. When I first met him more than ten years ago, he seemed to be calculating every plan and taking action after making up his mind. Since he dares To create such a big storm, we must have expected it.”
Weng Qiming nodded, "I think so too, but since I'm young, why not be more prudent? I heard that many people here in Beidi don't agree with Xiao Feng Chief Assistant. Is this true?"
"A mantis's arm is like a cart, and a cricket is shaking a tree. There are people like this everywhere. Relying on their seniority and age, they feel that everyone should listen to him and it's no big deal." Wang Shaoquan knew who Weng Qiming was referring to and said casually: "Look Well, Xiao Feng, the First Assistant, is trying to save face for them. If it is really not the case, then it is no big deal. We Shanxi people are not the ones who have the final say."
Weng Qiming laughed and said, "This is the best. Xiao Feng has put so much thought into it and even invited us to attend the auditorium. This is an honor for us. The old man also walked around Nanzhi and asked about it. There are some We have different opinions, but I also think that it does not affect the overall situation. Even if there are some young people who want to stir up trouble inside, they are seeking their own death..."
Wang Shaoquan pondered for a moment, and then slowly said: "My lord, Mr. Feng should also know some inside information. I visited Mr. Feng some time ago. According to him, it is normal for him to have different opinions. , after all, how can the billions of people in the Great Zhou Dynasty all have the same understanding? This requires a process. Even if these people have different opinions, they can still express them. They can either write to the court or explain them through newspapers, as long as they comply with the laws of the court. , this is not a problem, the court will not be guilty of any crime for words, express it openly and welcome everyone to discuss, isn't the reason for such a big court meeting, this is the purpose?"
Weng Qiming thought intently, with a bit of inquiry in his eyes: "Is Xiao Feng Chief Assistant really so sure?"
"Haha, Mr. Weng, if you really don't feel at ease, why don't you come and find out what's going on in person? There are still three days left. You can come. No matter how busy Mr. Feng is, he still wants to see you. Well, I feel that Mr. Feng is also interested in borrowing money. This opportunity must create a wave of momentum, and the impact of this event must be fully utilized. As he said, it is not easy to invite representatives from all walks of life in all places. Even in the future, We still need to do it, but it may only happen once every three to five years, so we need this opportunity to maximize its effect.”
Wang Shaoquan has been working in Gyeonggi and Anshanyi. These two coal and iron complexes are dominated by Shanshan and Shaanxi businessmen. In the Xuzhou Liguo Coal and Iron Complex, although Shanshan and Shaanxi businessmen also participate, Jiangnan capital dominates. .
However, although the production capacity of the Liguo Coal and Railway Complex is also growing, it is still not on the same level as Gyeonggi and Anshan Station. However, the Liguo Coal and Railway Complex is close to the Jiangnan consumer market, which is indeed a major advantage. So in the long run, competition between the two sides will continue.
The Weng family's energy is not focused on the coal and iron complex. It was originally focused on trade. However, under Feng Ziying's reminder, the Weng family began to invest in industry. The silk industry has become the largest growth pole of the Weng family. In addition, it has also begun to enter the cotton industry.
It can be said that the eight major families in the North, headed by the Wang family, have become giants in comprehensive heavy chemical industries such as coal mining, iron ore, iron smelting, ironmaking, metallurgy, tanning, military industry, wood processing, cement, etc., mainly concentrated in Beizhi , Shandong (Liaodong), and also began to expand into Shanxi, Henan and Shaanxi. Jiangnan is a cluster with consumer industries such as silk weaving, cotton spinning, tea making, porcelain, shipbuilding, and pharmaceuticals as its core. At the same time, maritime trade is becoming more and more prosperous, spreading all over the country. South Zhili, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Jiangxi provinces are also penetrating into Huguang and Nanyang.
The industrial and commercial industries in the north and the south are showing a prosperous situation, and there is an urgent need to open up more sources of raw materials and consumer markets.
However, generally speaking, these industries are still on the eve of large-scale development from traditional handicraft industries.
It is precisely because they feel this vigorous and high-spirited state that businessmen from the north and the south are so eager to participate in this grand event and understand the court or Xiao Feng’s views on the future development direction of the country at the first time. A direction so that they can follow Jiwei and seek for their family to continue to move forward in the tide of the times.
"Maybe I really should go visit." Weng Qiming also felt the meaning of Wang Shaoquan's words. If he does not seize this opportunity, Jiangnan businessmen may lose such a leading advantage, especially after seeing the Shanshan businessmen in the past ten years. With the momentum of catching up, no one will not feel the pressure.
************
Zhang Fengxiang glanced at Song Tongyin who was walking alongside him, and asked with a smile: "Why, you don't know much about our little fellow? You are his classmate and the same subject."
"But since you are classmates in the same department and are from the same hometown, there is no reason not to get close, right? There is such a big age difference between Chu Cai and him, and they are not classmates, but why are we mixing things up now?" Zhang Fengxiang didn't seem to believe it.
"Brother Zhiyu, if you put it this way, you and Ziying are also from the same hometown, and both are from Dongchang Mansion. Why are you not familiar with Ziying? This requires some chance. Ziying has always paid attention to Regarding military affairs, it happened that Brother Chu Cai was working in the Ministry of War at that time. Ziying had close contacts with Brother Chu Cai during the period when he was watching the government. Later, Brother Chu Cai went to Sichuan to pacify the Bozhou Rebellion, and the exchanges became even more frequent. It should be at this level. We got close because of our origins.”
Song Tongyin’s judgment is basically true.
He and Feng Ziying were also classmates at Qingtan Academy, but they were eight or nine years older than Feng Ziying. They were almost a generation apart in the academy, so although they had contact with each other, they were not many.
The group of people like them after entering the officialdom, such as Ye Tinggui, Fang Zhenru, Luo Shangzhong, Cai Maode and Lian Guoshi, who were of similar age, were relatively close, but less so with Feng Ziying.
Fortunately, now that we have the bridge of practicing state affairs, many things will be much easier to handle.
"This is also a chance." Zhang Fengxiang sighed, "Chu Cai has been staying in the capital and became acquainted with Ziying because of military affairs. But after I came to watch the government, I went down to Guangping Prefecture, and then moved to Baoding Prefecture and Luoyang Prefecture. There is a lack of information in the local area, and by the time many things are known, it has already passed three autumns. Only by taking this opportunity to attend the great court meeting can we learn many secrets."
Hearing Zhang Fengxiang use the word "secret" to describe some news, Song Tongyin also knew that this countryman had something on his mind.
But this is reasonable. Who doesn’t want to take a further step in his official career?
Any opportunity is indispensable to them.
In a sense, this grand meeting is not only an explanation and outlook of the current government's chief ministers and even core ministers on their policy strategy, but also an inspection of the recruited officials.
Zhang Fengxiang came to Beijing as the prefect of Luoyang, and he came to Beijing as the prefect of Ruzhou. It was an opportunity for both of them.
At least Song Tongyin knew that he was being recruited this time, and the current Minister of Civil Affairs, Lian Guoshi, had negotiated with Henan Chengxuan Political Envoy, otherwise such a good thing might not have happened to him.
“Then our coming to Beijing to participate in the imperial meeting this time is considered an opportunity?” Song Tongyin asked with a smile, and then said: “Maybe this is also a trend that the imperial court wants to convey.”
Song Tongyin visited Lian Guoshi after entering Beijing. His current status was not qualified to visit Feng Ziying, and with Feng Ziying's current busyness, he did not have time to see him.
Even if he goes to see Lian Guo Shi, Lian Guo Shi still takes time out of his busy schedule to meet him.
But after all, they were classmates, and Lian Guo Shi had talked a lot with him. Song Tongyin still keenly caught something in Lian Guo Shi's words.
Song Tongyin felt that Lian Guo Shi still valued these students, or this may also represent Feng Ziying's attitude, so he also carefully chewed on some of the things conveyed in Lian Guo Shi's words.
Lian Guoshi talked about some views on industry, commerce and agriculture. Song Tongyin was in Ruzhou and did not have a deep understanding of the development of industry and commerce. However, in terms of agriculture, Ruzhou is also a big agricultural state. Naturally, he also has some say in new crops. The imperial court attached great importance to its promotion.
In addition, Lian Guoshi also talked about the porcelain making industry in Ruzhou, which also surprised Song Tongyin.
Ruzhou is the birthplace of Ru kiln in the pre-Song Dynasty. Everyone knows this. However, after the pre-Song Dynasty, Ru kiln declined without a trace. After the Yuan and Ming dynasties, even now there is still some foundation, but it is different from the current Jingdezhen in Jiangxi Province. There is a huge difference between local areas, but Lian Guoshi still proposes that all localities should develop industry and commerce according to local conditions. This is almost a clear statement.
This means that the new cabinet will use the development of industry and agriculture as an important basis for the evaluation of officials. In the past, the reputation of the gentry, which was most valued by the Ministry of Personnel and the Metropolitan Procuratorate, was not even mentioned in the state affairs. (End of chapter)