Chapter 607 T-shaped benefactor, noble person
It is not necessary to gain the favor of the salt merchants. Feng Ziying does not need this, at least for now, but prestige cannot be established in this way.
It is not only Yi Di who are afraid of power but not moral. Businessmen are also like this. If they blindly show favor and win over them, or even promise them benefits, Feng Ziying believes that she can get what she wants from these salt merchants, but this is not the best. Strategies, even the worst possible means.
Seeing Feng Ziying shake her head slightly, Wang Wenyan felt a little scared.
Although she said verbally that she recommended this method the most, in fact Wang Wenyan did not agree with this method. It was just that she did not want to leave an impression of being too harsh and calculating in front of Feng Ziying, so she said it against her will. Such a sentence.
"grown ups?"
"Wen Yan, are these the only two strategies? This shouldn't be the case." Feng Ziying's gaze was deep, like a sharp sword, almost cutting open the depths of Wang Wenyan's heart and exposing it to the outside. "If you are worried about anything, there is no need to do so. After being in contact with me for so long, you should understand my temperament."
Wang Wenyan's body felt cold, but his face was burning. He stood up and bowed, "Wenyan is too narrow-minded."
Feng Ziying waved her hand, "Wen Yan, we have plenty of time to get to know each other in the future. I have said that I talk about both deeds and heart. The key lies in what things are. Small things are about the heart, and big things are about both deeds and heart. But There’s no need to be rigid,…”
“Well, there is another strategy in classical Chinese, which is to use military force first and then courtesy, to combine grace and power, to use fierce fire first, and then to use slow medicine to correct the timid and evil…”
Hearing Wang Wenyan speak slowly, Feng Ziying smiled.
This is the style of the Donglin Party’s think tank. Of the first two strategies, one is too fierce and fierce, which will definitely encounter fierce backlash, and is not conducive to one’s follow-up arrangements. The other is too steady and generous, which is also not conducive to establishing one’s prestige and morality. .
What he said at this time was in line with his inner thoughts and intentions, and Feng Ziying could also be sure that although he was comparing the other party, Wang Wenyan was also thinking about himself. It is normal for a king to choose his ministers and for his ministers to choose their king.
Of course, there is no need to point it out, trust is built step by step on such things.
"…, Wen Yan, this strategy is very much to my liking, but you will have to work hard in the early stage. You have to perform the trick well. The court is pressing hard, and my classmates are coming soon. I have to leave some time for them before returning to Beijing. Isn’t this the next scene that you can barely watch?”
"Wen Yan understands." Wang Wenyan bowed, but sighed secretly in his heart. It's really hard to figure out this person's thoughts, but the more he behaves like this, the more he values himself, which is a mixed blessing.
************
Kwai Garden.
"How to say?"
The old man grabbed a handful of fish food in his hand and let the pellets slip from his fingers. Under the verandah and in the pool, bits and pieces fell, and red crucian carps swarmed towards him. The red shadows on the blue waves were really beautiful.
"I didn't say much. Xiao Feng Xiuzhan only said a few words briefly, and then Wang Wenyan made the detailed introduction." The middle-aged man standing behind him said cautiously.
"Wang Wenyan? It seems that Mr. Lin is determined to reward his son-in-law." The old man didn't care too much, "What do you think of what Wang Wenyan said?"
"It's hard to judge the small ones, but from what the people around me think, it's still the same as donating money. In name, you have to pay interest, but the interest is very low. It's said to be guaranteed by the imperial sea tax, and people can be selected by everyone to enter. The Shipping Department carries out supervision, but the specific operation is unclear... The situation in the bank is similar. I heard that Prince Zhongshun and the Feng family of Xiao Fengxiuzhuan all invested in the shares, and there were also many clan princes and princes in the court who invested in the shares, including The Account Department will also open an account at the bank,..."
"Huh, don't listen to that. The household department is empty now, so what's the point of opening an account?" The old man dismissed it, "It's just a formality. What's the point of saving three to five thousand taels of silver?"
"But Wang Wenyan said that all the money from the sale of Kaihai bonds must be deposited in Haitong Bank, and the sea trade franchise fees agreed upon by the maritime merchants in the early stage must also be deposited in Haitong Bank." The middle-aged man hesitated, "In addition, the small I also heard Wang Wenyan introduce the business scope of this bank. In addition to attracting merchants to deposit cash, withdraw money and pay interest, it is mainly engaged in lending, but the interest rate is much lower than ordinary lending. Of course, its lending targets are also very It’s harsh and requires several formalities to be reviewed...”
"Humph, the news coming from the court is to fool everyone, let them buy shares and deposit money, and then use it for the court to build docks and shipping lines in Denglai and Liaodong to support the supply of Liaodong. Such important matters of the court will ruin the money. Going in is like a tiger borrowing a pig - once you go, you never come back..."
The old man raised his hand contemptuously and scattered all the fish food in his hand, causing the red crucian carp to swarm in the pool and compete with each other.
“Then what do you mean…”
"Wait a minute and take a look. I guess there won't be many people interested. If it doesn't work out, then why not buy a bond worth thirty to fifty thousand taels? It should be treated as a gift. As for the bank, thank you very much..." He clapped his hands and said, The old man suddenly asked: "Apart from me who didn't go, how many other family members didn't go?"
“The Tan family and the Gui family both stayed away because of illness.”
A smile appeared on the old man's face, "If Xiao Feng Xiuzhan invites you again next time, I will go there. I always need to save some face for the court."
"Huh, it's just Lin Ruhai exerting some pressure. There are still some people who care about their old friendship and give him some face, but we, the Gao family, don't have to." A gentle smile appeared on the old man's face, "I heard that the imperial court Bian is also not very satisfied with Lin Ruhai being bedridden and unable to see things. The Metropolitan Procuratorate will also send people to inspect, and perhaps Mr. Tao will be in charge temporarily..."
"Huh?" The middle-aged man was surprised, "That's good, then our Gao family will..."
"Let's not mention this matter for now. It is estimated that the Supreme Emperor is still discussing with the Emperor the new Salt Patrol Censor, and it cannot be decided for the time being. But once Lin Ruhai dies, there must be a result. Well, it is probably the last one." The old man said lightly. He sighed softly, "We, the Gao family, have to deal with all kinds of problems in this last term..."
"What about the Zhen family..." The middle-aged man couldn't help but ask again.
The look of disgust on the old man's face flashed away, but then he regained his composure, "Ignore him for now."
************
To everyone's expectation, Xiao Feng Xiuzhan did not take any other action after he convened a meeting with a group of salt merchants and made a promotion.
Except for a few people like Wang Wenyan, Jia Lian, Duan Xigui and Wu Yaoqing who made public appearances and were willing to meet a group of businessmen, Feng Ziying was nowhere to be seen.
The issue of sea bonds involves the supervision of the Municipal Shipping Department and the payment of annual sea tax revenue. It is not the turn of Jia Lian and Duan Xigui to intervene. At most, they can only recommend a "technical talent" to several Municipal Shipping Departments.
After seeing the several people brought by Duan Xigui doing calculations and accounting, especially the convenience and clear effects brought by the new accounting method, Lin Ruhai also took the initiative to hire two people, and prepared As an official, he was admitted to the Yamen of the Capital Transport Salt Envoy.
“Feng Zhu has met the uncle.”
“Duan Peng has met the uncle.”
Duan Xigui stood aside, looking at his two "favorite disciples" who were kneeling on the ground with a complicated expression, and felt infinite emotions in his heart.
Lin Ruhai asked for these two people. On the one hand, these two people are indeed quite talented in arithmetic and accounting. On the other hand, they naturally have a bit of Feng Ziying's face.
But this was a feat that changed the fate of these two people.
Two poor boys who had hardly studied in school, and one poor boy who didn't even have clean clothes before entering school, through their own efforts, and now, with the turn of events, they actually have the opportunity to become an official. .
Perhaps in the eyes of scholars, officials are an inconspicuous existence, but for poor people like them, who may only be able to work in the countryside of Datong or Linqing for a lifetime, this transformation is like a leap like a fish leaping through a dragon's gate.
The transfer of salt to the Si Yamen involves the sending and receiving of salt imports and salt departments, which is quite complicated in itself, and also involves reconciliation and accounting with the Lianghuai Salt Farm and the three branches below, which is a huge workload.
How to establish a set of accounting mechanisms that are clear and verifiable and can be compared horizontally and vertically has always been the biggest problem in the yamen. It all relies on people to check and supervise the accounts. Every year, just the various accounts can make you exhausted. .
Even if you know that some people are doing ghosts inside, if you cannot accurately determine at which time period and in which area there is a problem, it is almost impossible to rely solely on people to verify it, so this is the biggest headache in every such yamen. of.
Unless the insider is revealed and there are external clues to report, no one can easily make up his mind to check the accounts. It would be too much of a fight, and if it is not verified, it will also hurt morale.
But now the new double-entry accounting method has greatly reduced the workload, and also greatly facilitated the difficulty of checking accounts. Even a layman, as long as he is a little familiar with this method, he can Understand how to check accounts. If you meet an expert, this efficiency will be greatly improved.
This also means that the risk of corruption will be greatly increased.
The two people knelt on the bluestone and kowtowed three times in a row, which showed their sincerity. Feng Ziying did not stop him. He knew that the other party was using this method to express gratitude, and he had to accept it.
The two boys' eyes were all red. It was obvious that they were so excited and grateful that they couldn't suppress their inner excitement after learning about such an opportunity.
They originally thought that when they went south this time, they could find a big businessman like Fengrunxiang and get a stable job. Even if they were temporarily called to help in the salt transport office, they never expected to stay in such a government office for a while. A bowl of rice, but now this kind of thing actually happens, and even the official status is given.
No matter how ignorant they are, they understand what such an opportunity means to poor boys like them. Their destiny will completely change. They will become masters and be able to honor their ancestors.
It can even be said that even if they are really no longer here in the future, if they work in the salt transfer office, as soon as they walk out of the door, countless people will come to hire them with high salaries.
No other than this qualification.
The officials who came out of the Yamen of Duzhuan Salt Envoy are like the technical cadres who came out of the Ministry of Finance or the Central Bank in later generations. Which large enterprise is not hungry for talents?
All these changes come from this noble man in front of me.
(End of this chapter)