June 13th, Rizhao County, Qingzhou Prefecture.
Early in the morning, at the door of the Ruya Building, the largest and most luxurious inn in the city, the waiter opened the door with a smile, and then, together with the shopkeeper, respectfully sent Chu Yunfei out.
Although Chu Yunfei is still the head of the shogunate's commercial department and runs a salt drying field, his net worth is not what it used to be.
With the promotion of the New Deal, commerce and workshops flourished throughout Shandong. Coupled with the accumulation of salt drying fields in the previous few years, Chu Yunfei already had four salt fields in his hands, located in Dapanbao and Dasongwei. Dashan Institute, Haiyang Institute, and Jiacang Town in Rizhao County.
Among them, the salt field six miles south of Jiacang Town was recently reclaimed by Chu Yunfei. He had just completed the construction of salt ponds and other facilities, and built various houses, temporary warehouses, salt field walls, etc., and it was also built in Jiacang Town. He bought a large house as a residence for the salt field craftsmen's family and as a storage place for sea salt.
Nowadays, the authority of the imperial court is gradually diminishing, and local governments no longer monitor illegal salt, and they no longer have the ability to investigate. Therefore, the sea salt produced by Chu Yunfei is almost openly sold, and no one cares about it at all.
"Haha, Mr. Chu, go slowly. Thank you, Mr. Chu, for visiting the shop. The shop is really full of glory!"
Chu Yunfei is wearing a gorgeous silk green shirt. Even if the weather is hot, the thin green shirt is not very hot on her body. What's more, there are two servants beside Chu Yunfei who use fans to fan the wind at any time. Chu Yunfei can do whatever he wants. There wasn't even a drop of sweat on his face.
"Well, your inn is quite clean, so just send it here."
"Yes, thank you for the compliment, sir!"
Chu Yun Fei Shang
The carriage is the latest four-wheeled carriage produced by the vehicle workshop. Not only is it decorated with various exquisite ornaments, the axles and shafts are also of the latest design. The horses are very smooth to pull, and it is more comfortable to sit in the carriage. .
Chu Yunfei was sitting in the carriage, with a hollow iron ball on the left and right, each placed on an iron plate.
Inside the iron ball, there were actually ice cubes, which made the cabin cool. It was the "air conditioner" of this era.
"Go to Jiacang Town."
"yes."
The coachman raised his whip and drove, and the carriage, accompanied by several entourages, left the county town and headed towards Jiacang Town in the south.
Jiacang Town is located more than ten miles south of Rizhao County. It was originally a small town close to the sea. It had a small population, with only more than 100 households. It sold some seafood and specialties from various places, attracting merchants to pass by. , over time it formed a prosperous place, and the population increased to more than 300 households.
Now, with the implementation of the New Deal in Rizhao County, Jiacang Town has become even more lively. Soap, various lamps, Shaoguo wine and other goods can be seen in the town, as well as various leather goods, etc. It has become a town in the south of Qingzhou Prefecture. A trading center.
In addition, there are three cement shops operating in Jiaocang Town, selling cement to the outside world, so there are many construction craftsmen in the town. Every day, you can see employers coming to hire people to build houses, which is also a major feature of Jiaocang Town.
Chu Yunfei was built in the salt fields south of Jiaocang Town. The reason why it took a short time was because cement craftsmen from Jiacang Town were used. The houses and courtyard walls were all built with cement, which was strong and fast.
At this time, the carriage entered Jiaocang Town, Chu Yunfei looked through the window
Looking outside, I could see people coming and going on the streets. It was estimated that there were more merchants and freight teams traveling from north to south than there were ordinary people in the town.
"This Jiacang Town is really lively."
"The officials haven't been here for a while. Now that the New Deal is effective, merchants and wealthy families from all over the country are doing business, opening shops, workshops, and even mines. All kinds of goods are becoming more and more abundant, and even ordinary people are making money. Made a lot of money."
The driver smiled and said: "My eldest son is working in the Langyashan Mine. It's a lime mine. Although it's a bit harder, the pay is generous. It's better than farming. It won't take a few years to save enough money. I’m going to pay the betrothal gift and get married.”
Chu Yunfei said with a smile: "Yes, we have governors in Shandong, which is a blessing for the people of Shandong. Look at Henan, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and all over Liaodong, what kind of life are the people there living, and what kind of life do they have? In comparison, we are living like gods now."
"The officer is right."
The coachman became more and more excited as he talked: "If you ask me, the governor should go to Beijing and become the prime minister. Those adults in the court have no ability. They can't win the war and have no ability to govern. They have made the world like this. They are better than our governor." Your Majesty is far away!"
Chu Yunfei laughed and said, "I hope so."
While talking, the carriage stopped at the entrance of a courtyard, which was the treasury of Yantian.
Chu Yunfei got off the carriage, and the waiters guarding here recognized Chu Yunfei and came over to salute.
"How's it going inside?"
"Don't worry, officials, everything has been packed and can be deposited with sea salt at any time."
"Are the guards in place?"
"They're all here. Thirty-seven people in total are already here.
Arrangements were made for accommodation. Don't worry, officials, as long as the salt fields start drying salt, our place will not be on track. "
"Ah, very good!"
"One more thing..."
Chu Yunfei asked: "What's the matter?"
"Officer, I just heard someone say that a group of armored elite cavalry passed outside Jiaocang Town and headed towards the Yantian."
"Um?"
Chu Yunfei knew that all the battalions of the New Army were shrinking towards Jinan Fucheng, and each place was guarded by the reorganized garrison. Qingzhou Prefecture was the first garrison battalion, and the commander was Jia Hongyu.
But Chu Yunfei felt strange. He hadn't heard that there were elite cavalry in the garrison?
"I heard that the night guard and guards of the garrison have not yet been equipped with armor. They must not be under Jia's command. That would be..."
Chu Yunfei immediately clapped his hands and shouted: "Let's go to the salt field, the governor is here!"
Chu Yunfei got on the carriage in three steps at a time, then sped out of Jiaocang Town, and arrived at the Yantian not long after.
"Supervisor!"
When Chu Yunfei got off the carriage, she immediately saw Miao Shao and Liu Yan who were checking next to a salt drying pond.
"My subordinates pay homage to the governor!"
Liu Yan said with a smile: "It turns out he is from Chu Daguan."
Chu Yunfei clasped his fists with a grimace and said: "Master, don't laugh at me. It's all for business, so I have to pretend. I don't have any airs on weekdays, and I don't wear these silk clothes."
"Ha ha."
Liu Yan said with a smile: "It doesn't matter. If you have money, you can have some food, drink, and clothes. It's not a problem. Just remember, don't take money that you shouldn't take!"
"Yes, that's what the governor taught me."
Liu Yan asked Chu Yunfei to accompany him for a while.
After leaving, Miao Shao followed. The three of them walked and watched everywhere in the salt field. Chu Yunfei enthusiastically introduced the situation everywhere to Liu Yan.
After watching for a while, Liu Yan was very satisfied, but the smile on his face slowly faded, and he said: "This time the governor came all the way from Qingzhou Fucheng. The new policy has basically been implemented everywhere, but there are still some problems. .”
"Now businesses and workshops are blooming all over Shandong. There are merchants doing business everywhere, and people making a living in shops, workshops, and mines. Everyone has more money in their hands, and their hearts are also more impetuous."
"Especially you people in the Commercial Department handle tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of silver coins every day. If you are not careful, something will happen. But don't be blinded by greed."
Liu Yanyue said in a more serious tone: "Why did the imperial court govern the world into chaos? The reason is that corruption is a big reason, and I don't want the officials under my command to be the same. If I really let this inspector find someone who is embezzling money and bending the law, No matter who it is, there is only one word: kill!"
Chu Yunfei was sweating profusely at this time, and hurriedly clasped his fists and said: "Don't worry, Governor, although my subordinates have a small savings, they are all saved from their salaries and dividends from the salt drying field. In order to buy more sea salt, those merchants will give gifts to their subordinates during the New Year." I gave you gifts, but except for some food, the money and real estate were all returned and I didn’t dare to ask for them.”
Liu Yan said with a smile: "Haha, I know that Master Chu is not a money-grubbing person, but it is only the most basic thing to keep oneself clean. What is more important is to control the people below and not let them act recklessly."
Having said this, Miao Shao took over and said: "Master Chu,
, In fact, the governor arrived two days ago and has been visiting Jiacang Town for the past two days. The two men you left in the Yantian treasury are not very clean. They received kickbacks for the silver coins used to build the treasury and the wages for recruiting guards. You must take care of this matter. "
"If Mr. Chu feels that it is difficult to manage, I can also help Mr. Chu take care of it."
At this moment, Chu Yunfei was cursing her mother in her heart. Those two bastards actually did such a thing and even had the governor block them. Now she would suffer as well.
"Don't worry, General Miao Shen. I will definitely handle this matter and give an explanation to the governor."
"This is not an explanation to the governor, but an explanation to yourself and all the craftsmen and workers in the salt field!"
"Yes, I obey!"
Seeing that Chu Yunfei looked like he was facing a formidable enemy, Liu Yan smiled and patted Chu Yunfei on the shoulder and said, "Okay, these problems are not your responsibility. Just pay more attention to them in the future. In the past few years, Your achievements are still great, the net profit of the salt drying farm should be more than 500,000 taels per month now, right?"
Chu Yunfei said: "Yes, it's almost more than 550,000 taels. Now the official salt in the six prefectures of Shandong has been basically washed away by us. Almost all the salt eaten in Shandong is produced by our Haiyan Trading Company. Moreover, a lot of sea salt is sold to North Zhili and South Zhili every month, and the income is very stable."
"yes!"
Liu Yan sighed: "Now the shogunate's military expenditure is very large every month. The military expenditure alone costs more than 620,000 taels per month. Plus the cost of horses and the food and clothing of the soldiers, the military camps are running smoothly." expenses, as well as the construction costs of cities and fortifications. The monthly military expenditure now requires at least one million silver
currency! "
"Your Haiyan Trading Company can supply half of the silver coins, which shows how great your contribution is!"
Chu Yunfei was so moved that she burst into tears, clasped her fists and said, "With these words from the Governor, it's worth it even if my subordinates die from exhaustion."
Liu Yan said: "Okay, I just saw this, and I have to rush to Lingshan Acropolis. There are still big things to do there, and time is very tight."
"Your Excellency, you still want to inspect Lingshan Acropolis?"
Liu Yan said: "Yes, the governor previously requested many shipbuilding craftsmen from Tianjin Guard from the imperial court, and kept them in Lingshan Guard City. Now Shandong's trade and workshops are booming, and the revenue of the Ministry of Commerce has almost doubled. With the increase, the Chamber of Commerce’s income has also increased significantly.”
"Haha, the governor is rich now. Even though the shogunate's expenses have increased a lot, the balance is even greater. It's time to set our sights on the sea!"
Nowadays, all the workshops of the Shogunate's Commercial Department have basically established trading companies, and the profits of each trading company have greatly increased. The Haiyan Trading Company alone has a profit of more than 550,000 silver coins.
If the income of all trading companies in the Ministry of Commerce is added up, the shogunate's income from the Ministry of Commerce alone now amounts to more than 1.6 million silver coins per month, which can basically cover military expenditures and the salaries of all officials.
The income from the Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Agriculture is basically "net profit", which gives Liu Yan a lot of confidence.
Chu Yunfei said: "The governor wants to take the maritime trade route?"
Liu Yan said with a smile: "There are not only trade routes on the sea! You will know in the future."
