The Ming Dynasty's Spokesperson

Lin Tailai's journey along the canal this time was different from the previous ones, mainly because of his different identities.

His original identity was mainly a scholar who was taking the imperial examination, but this time his identity was a nine-yuan auspicious sign and a supernova in the court. Although the capital was tired of seeing the nine-yuan auspicious sign, the locals had not seen it yet.

Lin Tailai could not pass through the border quietly and low-key like the previous times. He had to socialize wherever he passed along the way, unless he arrived at the territory where the Qingliu forces were the chief officials.

As a newcomer, Lin Tailai could not refuse other people's enthusiasm.

Since he was in the officialdom, these were inevitable. Fortunately, he was not in a hurry, so he just went slowly.

Moreover, it was not a bad thing to know more people and understand more about the situation in some places.

When he arrived at Huai'an Prefecture, Lin Tailai visited Pan Jixun, the governor of the river who was nearly seventy years old.

"Regarding the matter of dredging the old course of Wusong River, we still need the old predecessor to say a few good words to the court." Lin Tailai requested.

Pan Jixun, who served as the governor of the river four times, is the top water conservancy expert today. No matter how good his level is, in the eyes of the court, Governor Pan is the authority in water conservancy.

In terms of larger water conservancy projects, the court often consults Governor Pan.

A few years ago, Pan Jixun was also dealt with by the Qingliu forces, but the court still had to appoint Pan Jixun as the governor of the river for the fourth time.

Hearing Lin Tailai's request, Governor Pan smiled bitterly.

When Lin Tailai went north last year, he also made this request, but was rejected by himself.

Although it is still the same words now, the identity of the speaker is different, and the strength is naturally different.

Even Prime Minister Shen wrote a letter to himself a few days ago, and the theme of the letter was just four words: "Don't mess with him."

Thinking of this, Pan Jixun asked, "I'm a little curious. If you have the idea of ​​attacking and framing me, how will you implement it?"

Lin Tailai laughed and replied, "Old senior, you are joking. I respect you the most. How could I do such a thing?"

Pan Jixun said again, "Let's not talk in secret. I have experienced ups and downs in my life. What else can I not see?

I'm just curious. What can you do to someone like me?"

As the saying goes, curiosity kills the cat. Governor Pan really wants to know why the Prime Minister repeatedly emphasized "don't mess with him"?

After Lin Tailai pondered for a moment, "Old senior created Hongze Lake with the strategy of restraining water and attacking sand, which has the intention of harming the ancestral tomb of Sizhou!"

Pan Jixun: ""

I can't see that this young man also understands a little bit of the water situation in the Yellow River and Huai River.

The strategy of restraining water and attacking sand can indeed alleviate the water disasters in the Yellow River and Huai River today, and it is still used hundreds of years later.

However, this method stores water in the southwest direction and creates a Hongze Lake, and the lake surface is still expanding.

The key is that the ancestral mausoleum where the three generations of ancestors of Emperor Taizu Gao are buried is in Sizhou in the southwest.

After coming to his senses, Pan Jixun explained: "The lake is still far from the ancestral mausoleum, and we can build dikes to prevent water from entering, so there is no danger."

Lin Tailai continued: "This is the case, but how others want to exaggerate it is not certain.

The lake is still far from the ancestral mausoleum now, but what about decades or a hundred years later?

The trend of the lake is to expand towards the ancestral mausoleum. My Ming Dynasty will be thousands of years, and sooner or later we will see the day when the lake invades the ancestral mausoleum.

And will building dikes to prevent water from entering always work and work every time?

The old predecessors who work in water conservancy should know that even if they can prevent it ninety-nine times, as long as they fail to prevent it once, it's over."

Pan Jixun: ""

After hearing these almost threatening words, I wanted to run away with a bucket. The Prime Minister was right. Don't mess with him if there is nothing to do!

Then Governor Pan quickly changed the subject, "Regarding your idea of ​​dredging the old course of Wusong River, technically, there is no problem at all.

But there are two issues that need to be considered. The first is investment. Where does the money come from?

The second is effectiveness. Will there be enough benefits for the country and the people after completion?"

Lin Tailai showed his strength, "These are all things that the court and I have considered. You don't have to worry at all, old predecessor!

If I am not sure of raising funds, or if it cannot produce enough effects in the future, then I will not push this project hard!

So the old predecessor only needs to tell the court that this project is technically feasible, that's enough!"

As a technical consultant, please abide by your duties and don't try to dictate investment, operation and other links.

Governor Pan was helpless. Even the prime minister who protected him was convinced. What else could he do?

After leaving Huai'an Prefecture, Lin Tailai continued to go south and soon arrived at Yangzhou City, which he was very familiar with.

Here in Yangzhou City, there is also his home, his career, his relatives and friends. He can't just pass by and leave after spending the night.

So Lin Tailai decided to stay in Yangzhou for a few more days to sort out the affairs of the Lin family salt industry.

He also took some time to cross the river to Taicang Prefecture to help his classmate Wang Shiqi bring a letter to the old leader Wang.

If the old leader Wang insisted on dragging him to discuss the future of the literary world, he would talk about it reluctantly.

At the big wharf outside Lijin Gate in Yangzhou City, gongs and drums were loud, trumpets and suonas were playing, and officials from the Transport Department, prefectures, counties, and guards appeared at the same time, waiting on the shore.

Even if the governor of Fengyang came, there might not be such a high-level welcoming lineup.

At least the Salt Transport Department, which is self-contained and vertically managed by the court, can ignore the governor.

But if the person who came was Lin Tailai, it would be very reasonable.

After all, Lin Tailai had turned Yangzhou City upside down in the past two or three years, and no one from the Transport Department to the prefecture and county dared to be disrespectful.

Moreover, Lin Tailai himself was the brother-in-law of the Minister of Household Affairs, so the Salt Transport Department did not dare to treat him lightly.

According to the official etiquette, it is indeed not necessary to come to greet them, but as long as they come to greet them, it will definitely not be wrong. This is the reality.

Only Cui Yushi, the salt inspector, really had no reason to go out of the city to greet him due to Feng Xian's dignity.

Master Lin, editor of the Hanlin Academy, doctor in the Ministry of Etiquette, brother-in-law of the Minister of Household Affairs, and top thug of the Chief Assistant, walked out of the cabin, glanced at the lineup on the shore, and nodded with satisfaction.

After getting off the ship, Lin Tailai said to the officials: "My second brother is now living in Yangzhou, so today is the time for our relatives to meet each other, so we don't dare to disturb you!"

Wu Xiu, the prefect, said: "Then I will take care of Mr. Lin tomorrow."

Yangzhou Linfu, located on Dongguan Street, has now doubled in size.

After entering the mansion, Lin Tailai first spent two hours comforting Mrs. Lin Wang's wife after half a year's absence, and then looked at the potbellied Mrs. Tian.

Immediately, Lin Yunlai, the second brother of Lin's Salt Industry, and Lu Junbi, the chief storekeeper, were summoned in the front hall to inquire about the salt industry.

Lu Junbi was mainly responsible for reporting, “In April, the Transportation Bureau finally completed the registration of salt merchants.

In the end, the number of merchants was determined to be 150, including 15 from Lin’s Salt Industry. "

Lin Tailai said happily: "That's good."

According to the new system, only these 150 people will be allowed to subscribe for salt from the Transportation Department in the future and exchange for salt on an annual basis.

If others want to enter the Yangzhou Salt Industry, they can only rely on these 150 people.

Either rent the nest capital from the nest merchants, or become a merchant or transporter in the upstream and downstream links.

In the future, the number of nest merchants will not be expanded unless there are special circumstances, so every nest merchant quota is precious.

Lin's Salt Industry took advantage of the "foresight" of the policy and assigned a dozen small salt merchants to "hold the salt on behalf of others" in advance, and finally registered more than a dozen nest merchant quotas.

"How many places do other families have?" Lin Tailai asked again.

Lu Junbi smiled and said: "How can other families expect changes in government policies? The nests are all concentrated in the hands of the family owners, and in the end most of them will register a nest merchant.

All in all, out of the 150 places, Lin's Salt Industry accounted for 10%, emerging Huizhou merchants accounted for 50%, and traditional old Western merchants accounted for 40%. "

Lin Tailai praised: "This ratio is very good! If there is a collective decision-making situation in the future, our 10% will be able to influence the situation."

Lu Junbi added: "But now there is a new situation, which is not optimistic."

Lin Tailai asked in surprise: "Under my arrangement, the situation is so good, what's not to be optimistic about?"

Lu Junbi replied: "When I was registering as a nest merchant, I saw that our Lin's Salt Industry family had more than a dozen places, and the Huizhou merchants and the Western merchants made a fierce fuss. Fortunately, it ended without any result.

Now they are thinking of organizing salt merchants and setting up a salt industry office. "

Lin Tailai still didn't understand, "The office is just a guild, right? We can just join, so how can we be less optimistic?"

Lu Junbi explained in detail: “They also decided that only those with a nest capital of more than 5,000 can join the public office and become stewards.

Mr. Lin, you also know that the internal composition of our Lin's Salt Industry is complex, and we can only find one or two places to join the future Salt Industry Office. "

At the beginning, Lin Tailai knew that he could not live in Yangzhou permanently. In order to prevent Lin's Salt Industry from being controlled by others, he designed the internal equity of Lin's Salt Industry to be very complicated and dispersed.

There are permanently "rented" nests, there are nests owned by Jinongcang in Suzhou, and there are nests owned by Lin Wang in the form of dowry.

Later, in order to occupy the quota of merchants, more than a dozen small "shareholders" with only a few hundred salts were created.

This is why, according to the "Five Thousand Yin" joining standards of the Salt Industry Office, "small shareholders" such as Lin's Salt Industry are not qualified.

Therefore, if such a salt industry office is really established, it will weaken Lin's Salt Industry's right to speak in the industry.

It can even be said that this was a conspiracy devised by Huizhou merchants and Western merchants to counter Lin's salt industry.

After Lin Tailai figured out the reason, he confirmed again, "Does everyone else agree?"

Lu Junbi smiled bitterly and said: "Except for us, Lin's Salt Industry, almost everyone agrees with this plan.

In Shangyan Shang, it is impossible for us to destroy all other salt merchants. "

Lin Tailai sighed, frowned and criticized: "I thought your work was excellent, but I didn't expect there were still so many shortcomings.

You have really disappointed me. How can you unite Huizhou merchants and Western merchants?

Huizhou merchants and Western merchants have been fighting for business shares in Yangzhou for hundreds of years, and you actually let them unite. "

Lu Junbi really wanted to say that under your guidance, Lin's Salt Industry was too strong in doing things.

Therefore, it will definitely force others to unite. This is an objective law that must happen, and it will be the same no matter who is in charge.

Lin Tailai warned: "You cannot be satisfied with maintaining success, you must always be prepared for danger in times of peace and stay vigilant!

Therefore, we must continue to provoke struggles between Huizhou merchants and Western merchants, and we must not let them have a tendency to unite. Only in this way can our Lin's Salt Industry be stable and strong. "

Brother Lin, who had been silent for the whole time, took over and said, "Others are united for the interests of the salt industry. If you want to provoke others to fight against each other, you must have new interests. What other interests can be greater than the salt industry?"

Lin Tailai sighed helplessly, "When I first watched the Three Kingdoms, I didn't understand why Prime Minister Zhuge had to do everything himself and exhausted himself to death.

As I dealt with more things, I gradually understood. If all his subordinates are reliable, why would Prime Minister Zhuge do this?

Do you still need me to handle such a simple thing?

Let me show you tomorrow how simple this thing could have been! "

The next day, the government office and the transportation department jointly held a banquet to welcome Mr. Lin.

Lin Tailai took his second brother Lin and Lu Junbi to participate.

Traditionally, local celebrities are invited to such banquets.

Therefore, Mr. Lin saw many acquaintances, such as Zheng Dachaofeng, the leader of Huizhou merchants, and Sun Da, the manager of the Western Merchant Guild Hall.

Before the banquet started, Lin Tailai was chatting and laughing with the prefect Wu Xiu when he suddenly asked:

"I heard that schools in Yangzhou Prefecture and Jiangdu County have reserved a few places for Western merchants?

Can those descendants of Western merchants who are residing in Yangzhou take the imperial examination in Yangzhou? "

Magistrate Wu replied: "It is true."

Lin Tailai asked curiously: "Now in Yangzhou, there are more Huizhou merchants than Western merchants, right? So are there more places reserved for the children of Huizhou merchants in the imperial examination?"

Magistrate Wu said with a smile: "Lord Lin, you don't know something! Huizhou and Yangzhou belong to the same province in Southern Zhili. According to other words, they are the same province.

Therefore, Huizhou merchants cannot be considered as residing in Yangzhou, and the children of Huizhou merchants are not eligible to participate in the imperial examination in Yangzhou. "

"Oh! That's it!" Lin Tailai glanced at Zheng Dachaofeng, the leader of the Huizhou merchants, and said with compassion: "So, you Huizhou merchants are really pitiful!

Even if they have been doing business in Yangzhou for two or three generations, they are still regarded as outsiders and cannot even participate in the imperial examination. They are not as good as Western merchants from other provinces. "

Being pitied in such a way, Zheng Dachaofeng's small flames of anger ignited in his heart began to burst out.

Lin Tailai said to Magistrate Wu again: "This is a matter left over from history, and it is a bit out of date.

In fact, the government could consider allocating half of the imperial examination quotas for Western merchants to Hui merchants, which seems more fair. "

"This is impossible, absolutely impossible!" General Manager Sun of the Western Merchant Guild Hall suddenly shouted: "This is the quota that the imperial court awarded to us Western merchants, and we will not give it away even to death!"

Zheng Dachaofeng, the leader of Huizhou merchants, directly cursed: "Fart! What kind of reward from the court is clearly a collusion between officials and businessmen!

Because in the officialdom, there used to be a saying that people from the south would rule the north and people from the north would rule the south!

Therefore, most of the officials in Yangzhou in the past were from the north, and they were closer to you Western businessmen from the north!

Therefore, regarding the issue of imperial examination quotas, the government has always been biased towards you Western merchants and has never been corrected! "

Manager Sun retorted unceremoniously: "You are just farting! Huizhou and Yangzhou are in the same province, and the court does not recognize you as a registered citizen, so why don't you come and fight!"

Everything is low-grade, except for good academic performance, and things like the imperial examination are the white moonlight in the eyes of the people of the Ming Dynasty, and no one is willing to give up.

Especially wealthy businessmen who have enough money in their warehouses and it's time to learn etiquette attach great importance to the opportunity to take the imperial examination.

As the leaders of both sides started scolding each other, the other Huizhou merchants and Western merchants present immediately became divided and started to quarrel with each other.

Lin Tailai hid his merit and fame and quietly retreated to the side of Brother Lin and Lu Junbi.

"Look, aren't they starting to fight now? Such a simple thing?"

Second brother Lin: ""

Lu Junbi: ""

It can only be said that some people are really talented in certain aspects.

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