Chapter 575: T-shaped strings, getting tighter and tighter
Lin Ruhai thought about it carefully and felt that Feng Ziying's words made sense.
Since he is still here, the best solution for the Supreme Emperor and Emperor Yonglong is to wait and see. What are you looking at? Of course, it’s not just about looking at the changes that may be brought about by opening up the sea, but also about one’s own attitude.
As for myself, I can just use this time to make proper arrangements for my leisure time.
Feng Ziying naturally wanted to do something good when she came to Yangzhou this time, and why did he open up the situation in Yangzhou with his bare hands?
Even if they have a reputation as a seafarer, these merchants in Yangzhou are all old people who are used to seeing the storm. To put it bluntly, when the Emperor went to Jiangnan, which of these big salt merchants had never met Tianyan? A few even took over driving.
Even now, there are many people who have some kind of connection and affection with the Emperor, not to mention that Prince Yoshitaka has been flirting with them a lot in the past few years.
Thinking of Prince Yi Zhong, Lin Ruhai felt agitated for no reason.
This prince's hands were too deep. Not only did he constantly instruct people from all walks of life to reach out to Yanyin, but these people also colluded with the salt lords.
Lin Ruhai knew that the Metropolitan Procuratorate had been targeting him for a long time, but he couldn't tell the truth. To be honest, he really hoped that the Metropolitan Procuratorate could learn to be investigated by the Metropolitan Procuratorate like the Zhejiang Province Salt Envoy Si Yamen did the year before. Let’s clean up the hospital and let the silverfish inside and outside learn a lesson.
In the end, this guy even planned to go into battle naked and do it himself, which made Lin Ruhai very troubled but could not find a suitable way to deal with it.
After all, His Royal Highness was the Crown Prince in the past, a person who was worth less than ten thousand people, but now he is disregarding his face for a few taels of silver. He has really lost the dignity of the royal family, and he doesn’t know where the money he has earned over the years has been used.
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Prince Yoshitaka's somewhat pale cheeks looked particularly ferocious at this time. The tall nose bridge and cheekbones made the entire face look more aggressive. The slightly plump cheek flesh slightly alleviated the aggressiveness and irritation caused by some words.
"Why, is this how the Zhen family plans to send me off this year? Last year, I made a lot of excuses, and I had my own concerns, but what about this year?" Prince Yi Zhong walked back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back, "Liang Zhejiang" It is said that they were purged by the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the income from the salt business has been reduced a lot, but what about the sea trade? The sea has not opened yet, so why is it silent? "
Wang Ziqiang sighed. This master is really difficult to take care of. He only cares about money, but it is not easy down there.
"And here in Nanzhi, isn't it said that Lin Ruhai is seriously ill?" Prince Yi Zhong's face became more ferocious, "Didn't I invite the concubine Yi Zhi to be sent to Yangzhou together? Since Lin Ruhai is seriously ill and can't take care of things, What about Tao Guolu? Why do you still push back and block him?"
"Your Majesty, although Lin Ruhai is seriously ill, he has not fallen ill. He is still able to take care of his duties. Tao Guolu has been under his rule for a long time, and his prestige is far less than that of Lin Ruhai. Moreover, Lin Ruhai also has a group of people under his command, so Master Tao is also very Difficult." Wang Zinian couldn't help but explain for the other party.
Tao Guolu was the salt envoy of the Huaidu and Huaidus, and was the nominal head of the Yamen of the salt envoy of the Huaidu.
However, since the Ming Dynasty, the Xunyan Censor has replaced the Duzhuan Yanshi to firmly control the power of the Duzhuan Yanshi's Yamen, and the Duzhuan Yanshi has been reduced to a deputy.
Even the more powerful Salt Patrol Censor will not let you, the salt envoy, intervene at all, and will directly arrange salt affairs through your deputy and subordinates.
No other, the Salt Patrol Censor has the right to solo, and you are just an ordinary official, and you cannot challenge him.
Tao Guolu was promoted by the prince himself and he put a lot of thought into it. It is impossible to say that Tao Guolu had other thoughts, but it would be unrealistic for him to compete with Lin Ruhai.
Unless Lin Ruhai is really too ill to see things, and the new Salt Patrol Censor has not left yet, then Tao Guolu still has some chance.
“Mr. Chu, how do you feel about being alone in the current situation?”
Suppressing the anger and resentment in his heart, Prince Yoshitaka returned to his seat and sat down. He took a deep breath and then spoke slowly.
"Your Majesty, if this strategy of opening up the sea is fully implemented, I'm afraid our income from the sea will be cut off this year, right?" The old man surnamed Chu said leisurely.
Prince Yi Zhong looked at Wang Zinian. Wang Zinian hesitated for a moment and finally said: "The imperial court has decided to open the sea to Ningbo, Quanzhou and Guangzhou. It is estimated that it will start in May and June. Only Zhangzhou can still have some, but Basically, it doesn’t make much sense. Even if we have people in the Navy who can release the water, I’m afraid those maritime merchants who have paid the charter fee will not be able to agree and will try their best to report and suppress them..."
Smuggling revenue from Fujian and Zhejiang is one of the largest sources, but as soon as this sea-opening strategy came out, the foundation of the entire source was basically destroyed.
Now that sea trade can be conducted openly and openly, and it is encouraged by the imperial court, who would risk their lives for smuggling?
Although the charter fee and sea tax are a bit heavy, there is no longer any chance of interception by the navy, no more sudden attacks from the government, let alone secret visits by the imperial censor and Long Jinwei.
"Lin Ruhai on the Lianghuai side is generally quite relaxed and has left a path, but this guy has always refused to make this path wider. For example, Huguang and Jiangxi have never allowed us to infiltrate, and the suppression is severe. The income from the salt industry in Zhejiang and Zhejiang depends entirely on income from the sea and the Huaihe River, but if the income from the sea is cut off, it will still be the same here, and it will be difficult."
Wang Zinian explained everything about the situation, and Prince Yi Zhong couldn't sit still. His strong body couldn't help but twist, and he felt a little bit on pins and needles.
“Mr. Chu,...?”
"Your Majesty, if such expenses remain the same, then the income from the sea cannot be cut off, and the income from the Lianghuai Salt River must open up new paths. Jiangxi and Huguang must be opened..." The old man surnamed Chu's eyes were gloomy, but his tone was not tolerated. question.
Prince Yoshitaka's eyes lit up, then dimmed again.
However, Wang Zinian understood his master's thoughts very well and asked in a deep voice: "Mr. Chu, the strategy of opening up the sea is a matter decided by the imperial court, and even the Supreme Emperor has nodded. How can we maintain it? Those maritime merchants are not stupid and regard smuggling as a risk. They won't do it when they are better than paying the royalties and sea taxes. In addition, Lin Ruhai, not to mention Lin Ruhai, is responsible for the transfer of salt between the Huaihe River and the Huaihe River. The next salt inspection censor, the Supreme Emperor and the Emperor are afraid that Can’t you argue?”
“Humph, this dispute is our chance. If Lin Ruhai dies early and the salt inspector cannot be decided, Tao Guolu can take over for the time being..."
The old man surnamed Chu glanced at Wang Zinian and said, "As for the sea trade, even though the sea opening strategy is unstoppable, there is still a chance of delaying it for a year or two. Although the big players nominally approve of the sea opening, if there is a chance to block it, If we extend it for one or two years, don't they want to make more money? Who is willing to pay the charter fee and sea tax?"
The words of the old man surnamed Chu made both Prince Yizhong and Wang Zinian's eyes brighten.
"Besides, since everyone knows that the sea is about to be opened and sea trade is going to become open and legal, the government will definitely not control it so tightly anymore, and the Navy will not interfere. If the strategy of opening the sea is delayed, If it is not implemented, then in the past two years, wouldn’t it be that the door has been opened wide, allowing everyone to come and go freely... It can be said that the longer it is delayed, the more people who are originally running this will have more profit..."
Wang Zinian came to his senses, "I'm afraid that the gentry who are now interested in entering maritime trade will not agree, and they will definitely take measures..."
"So what? They have just stepped into this door. They are not familiar with the depth of this sea trade at all. They will definitely not dare to get involved easily. Our people don't even dare to take this risk, and they still want to make money? Don't If you don’t do anything, people will give you money, and there is no such thing as this in the world!”
Prince Yi Zhong angrily interrupted Wang Zinian's words.
Doesn’t he know that the gentry in Jiangnan who are eager to get involved in sea trade are not easy to deal with?
These people who dared to get involved in maritime trade only after opening up the sea have a solid background behind them, and are not the same as those powerful maritime merchants who engaged in maritime trade smuggling before.
They are real gentry. They not only own a few acres of land, but also have strong connections in the central court and local officials. They even have family members who are officials in the court and local governments.
How can they give up once they find out that their long-awaited way to make a fortune will actually be delayed?
It can even be said that some of the people here have some relationship with me, but in the face of interests, everything has to be thrown away.
If you cannot give them more of what they want, they have to fight for it yourself, and this is precisely seizing the benefits that originally belong to them.
Do you have a choice?
No.
Without money, will the ruffian generals and soldiers in the capital camp listen to you and sacrifice their lives for you?
How can those in the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division and the Patrol Battalion still maintain such an ambiguous attitude?
Will the heavily armed military officers in various towns in Xuanda support themselves at critical moments? Unless you have an absolute advantage.
But without their support, how could one have an absolute advantage?
As well as those military heroes, will they still stand firmly on their side?
Even if you don’t have any money, I’m afraid you won’t even be able to get decent gifts for your father and mother’s birthday, right? Those guys who follow the trend still think that they are destiny?
Prince Yoshitaka does not believe in this at all, he only believes in interests.
The several chief officers in the Beijing camp are now at both ends of the spectrum, but the people below them have to live... The same goes for the guerrillas, generals, and guards in Xuanda. They all have to live and want money, so then Easy to handle.
I have been sorting out my thoughts these days, and I always feel that readers who like Red Mansions and officialdom games are not the same group. Perhaps Lao Rui has not been able to achieve a perfect integration, so I will think about it carefully. Please give book reviews, reviews, likes, full subscription and automatic subscription, and give Lao Rui some encouragement!
(End of this chapter)