Lu Dou guided Su Ze and Gui Youguang to the living room in the backyard.
For salt merchants like them, being able to organize activities in the literary world is a shameless thing.
Although today's scholars will not take the initiative to praise salt merchants at a literary conference, as long as they spread the news about the literary conference, the scholar's attitude towards salt merchants will be better.
Gui Youguang and Su Ze met in the Lu family's house. If they write some famous articles and write about their garden in the postscript or postscript, then the Yangzhou Lu family's status in the literary world will become higher and higher in the future. .
Just when Lu Dou was about to close the door and let the two literary figures have a private chat, Su Ze called out to him.
"Master Lu, please stay."
Lu Dou looked at Su Ze doubtfully. Most literati actually looked down on salt merchants. They thought merchants were vulgar and did not understand literature.
Su Ze and Gui Youguang talked about why he should stay.
Full of doubts, Su Ze saluted Gui Youguang and said:
"Mr. Zhenchuan."
Gui Youguang also looked at Su Ze. In fact, Su Ze didn't even know how famous his own reputation was in Jiangnan.
As soon as The Peony Pavilion came out, the entire Jiangnan opera troupe was waiting for his performance.
As soon as Nanke Meng in "Warning Words" appeared, it immediately became popular in Jiangnan.
Su Ze is now the top performer in Jiangnan folk art!
Although folk art is relatively low on the contempt chain of literature, it has a high degree of dissemination.
Although prose like Gui Youguang has a high status in the literary world, its popularity among the people is still not as good as that of Su Ze.
Gui Youguang also had some understanding of folk art. He originally thought that Su Ze wanted to discuss folk art with him, but he didn't expect Su Ze to say:
"From Mr. Zhenchuan's perspective, how is the situation in the DPRK?"
Gui Youguang was stunned for a moment. To put it nicely, he had an easy-going personality, but in fact he had a cowardly personality.
Gui Youguang in the history of the Ming Dynasty finally passed the Jinshi examination, but when he became an official, he could not convince the local powerful and subordinate officials. When judging cases, he rarely used punishments and sentenced him harshly. In the end, he offended his superiors and was demoted. Got a horse.
From his articles, we know that Gui Youguang is a good person, but he is not a skillful official.
In the early Ming Dynasty, he might have been a good official who valued education and could be tolerant to the people, but in this era he was destined to be unable to have an official career.
When Su Ze asked this question, Gui Youguang was stunned, and soon he gave the standard answer for Jiangnan scholars.
"The treacherous ministers are in power. Only by removing the Song thieves can the finances be restored to a clear state."
Su Ze asked again: "If Yan Song falls, who can take charge of the government?"
"Of course Xu Ge is old. Xu Ge has always been the leader of the Qing Dynasty. As long as he can serve as the chief assistant, he will definitely be able to clean up the evil spirits and bring clarity to the court!"
Gui Youguang said firmly.
Su Ze looked at Lu Dou and suddenly asked Lu Dou a question.
"Master Lu, tell me the truth. Your family has been in the salt industry for generations. How much salt does your family have now?"
Lu Dou was stunned for a moment. He looked at Su Ze, then at Gui Youguang, lowered his head and said, "Now there is no one left in our Lu family."
Gui Youguang was stunned and asked: "How is it possible? Your Lu family is not a wealthy family in Yangzhou? This garden?"
Lu Dou smiled bitterly and said, "Mr. Zhenchuan, if it weren't for this garden, our Lu family would have been ruined long ago."
Su Ze asked Lu Dou: "To whom did the Lu family's salt yin sell to?"
Lu Dou said to Su Ze: "Mr. Su, this is impossible to say."
Su Ze said: "I came to Jiangbei this time on Jia Yue's order to check the direction of the salt diversion."
"Is Ling Yue that lord?"
Su Ze nodded, and Lu Dou had a surprised expression on his face.
There have long been rumors that Su Ze is the son-in-law of Fang Wanghai, the newly promoted Minister of Household Affairs. Now that it was confirmed from his mouth, how could Lu Dou not be overjoyed.
You must know that the Nanjing Ministry of Household Affairs is in charge of salt administration. If the Lu family can get along with Su Ze, wouldn't it be possible for them to turn around?
Even Lu Dou had other ideas. Perhaps Fang Shilang sent Su Ze to Jiangbei just to get a share of the salt business?
If so, wouldn’t my own brand be the best white glove?
Lu Dou immediately said: "All the salt from my family has been given to the Xu family."
Gui Youguang was stunned for a moment and asked, "Which Xu family?"
"Which Xu family is there in South Zhili? Of course it's Huating Xu."
Gui Youguang was in a daze. His hometown in Suzhou had also heard some rumors about the Xu family in Songjiang.
Originally, Gui Youguang thought that these were all a trap for the Xu family, but hearing the news from Lu Dou still made Gui Youguang feel a little disillusioned.
He asked again: "Are these all instructed by Mr. Xu Ge?"
Su Ze said, "I believe this was not ordered by Mr. Xu Ge."
Gui Youguang felt better now, and he said: "That's right, that's right. Mr. Xu Ge has been working hard, but he just doesn't manage the family strictly."
Lu Dou smiled bitterly and said: "There is no need for Mr. Xu Ge to take action in this kind of matter. The Xu family has to work in Nanzhili. Who from the official to the business would dare not to cooperate?"
When Gui Youguang heard these words, he felt even more harsh.
Su Ze also said: "Actually, I believe Mr. Xu Ge doesn't know about this matter, at least it wasn't something Mr. Xu Ge asked his family to do."
"But even if Mr. Xu Ge doesn't know, all the officials from the Southern Zhili government will do it for the Xu family. What do you think, Mr. Zhenchuan?"
Gui Youguang is also fifty years old. There are some things that he just doesn't think about, but he quickly figured it out after Su Ze pointed it out.
Su Ze said: "Mr. Zhenchuan should know better than me, a Fujianese, what Jiangnan is like. The rich have vast land and the poor have nowhere to stand. Is this the credit of Yan Song and his son?"
There is light and there are no words to answer.
Su Ze said: "The people are squandering money and plundering the people."
"Is this court issue a matter of one person and one surname?"
Gui Youguang was silent again.
Su Ze said: "Today there is Mr. Xu Ge, and there will be other Mr. Ge in the future. As long as the world still operates like this, the world will always be like this."
Su Ze said to Gui Youguang: "Mr. Zhenchuan, I would like to ask you to do something for me."
Gui Youguang looked at Su Ze in confusion and said, "I am just a mere scholar and I don't know anything about money. What can I do for you?"
Gui Youguang knew that Su Ze's father-in-law was the Minister of Household Affairs in Nanjing, and thought that Su Ze asked him to do the banknote customs duties.
Unexpectedly, Su Ze said:
"Of course! They say that writing is like a knife. What I want to use is sir's knife. I would like to ask you to join "Warning Words"."
A word of warning?
Of course Gui Youguang knew about this magazine. Under Xu Guo's management, "Jingshi Tongyan" had become the most influential publication in Jiangnan.
Su Ze said: "I want to split the section of "Warning Words"."
"The "Jingshi Tongyan", which was originally published twice a month, was split into two parts, one is the "Jingshi Tongyan" published every five days, and the other is the "Tongyan Shuo" which is published twice a month."
"The original operas were all published in Tongyan Shuo."
Gui Youguang asked: "What about the "Jingshi Bao"?"
Su Ze smiled and said: "Of course it is used to publish some current articles and discuss current affairs."
Gui Youguang looked at Su Ze in surprise. He didn't expect Su Ze to be so courageous?
Discussing current affairs is what almost all literati and officials do, but it is different when it is published.
The words in black and white are on the ground. If you add the word "wilfully discussing government affairs", you will not be able to live with it.
Su Ze continued: "Jingshi Bao can submit articles anonymously, and the royalties can also be paid anonymously. Our Jingshi Bao accepts all comers and does not set up a position. As long as it is meaningful, we can publish it."
Su Ze looked at Gui Youguang and said:
"Mr. Zhenchuan, I would like to ask you to be the editor-in-chief of "Jingshi Bao"."
Gui Youguang looked at Su Ze doubtfully.
Su Ze's desire to hire Gui Youguang as editor-in-chief was not entirely a whim.
Nowadays, the literary world of Ming Dynasty can be said to be full of famous people. In fact, Gui Youguang's position in the literary world is also very embarrassing.
Although he was sought after for his articles, his status in the officialdom was too low.
Although the cultural circle is powerful, its influence is far less than that of the academic circle.
Gui Youguang was treated as a guest of honor at various cultural gatherings, but when someone with real power came, he was treated as an embellishment of the cultural gathering.
To put it bluntly, the status of literati in today's cultural circles is more similar to that of actors and musicians in the Tang and Song Dynasties. They can be regarded as a party atmosphere group and the mascot of banquets.
This is also the reason why the Jiangnan scholars scolded Yan Song, but Yan Song still maintained a stable position.
Mr. Yan Ge doesn't care about the insults of you poor literati. No matter how harshly you scold Yang Jisheng, it won't reach Mr. Yan Ge's ears.
But what Su Ze appreciated about Gui Youguang was the theory of "true love" he advocated.
Judging from Gui Youguang's articles and his later experience as an official, Mr. Zhenchuan is indeed a good man with true feelings in his heart.
Don't underestimate this "good man". When Yan Song first entered the officialdom, he was also praised as a gentleman and a good man with integrity.
Many ancient treacherous officials were good people before they became rich.
Perhaps those who can float in the big dye vat of officialdom for many years and still maintain a sincere heart are the rarest ones.
Young Gui Youguang has become famous, and it is not easy to be able to maintain his original intention.
Only then did Su Ze invite him to be the editor-in-chief of "Jingshi Bao".
Gui Youguang said hesitantly: "Mr. Su, it's better to hire someone else."
Seeing that Gui Youguang was about to leave, Su Ze finally said:
"Mr. Zhenchuan, does he know why this newspaper is called "Warning Words"?"
Gui Youguang said: "As a general statement to warn the world, I have read the first issue of your publication. Isn't this the original intention of Mr. Su in founding the newspaper?"
Su Ze nodded and said: "When will I wake up from a thousand-year dream? Who will sound the alarm bell in my sleepy land?"
"Mr. Zhenchuan, China has reached a time of great change, so I want to publish this magazine."
Su Ze looked at Lu Dou, and Lu Dou immediately left the room smartly.
Half an hour later.
Gui Youguang stepped out of the living room and said to Su Ze who was escorting him out:
"Mr. Su, I will return to Suzhou immediately to prepare the "Warning World Newspaper"."
Xu Shixing and Xu Guo, who were waiting at the door, looked at each other. They didn't know how Su Ze persuaded Gui Youguang to let Mr. Zhenchuan from Jiangnan help him run the newspaper.
Xu Shixing also lamented that Su Ze was definitely a talented person as prime minister. Wasn't he persuaded by Su Ze's few words to work for him obediently?
After sending Gui Youguang away, Su Ze called Lu Dou again.
"Master Lu, Jia Yue is preparing to issue a new salt guide."
Lu Dou said with a bitter look on his face: "I, Mr. Su, even though our Lu family looks so glamorous, I really can't afford the money to subscribe for Yanyin."
Su Ze said: "Instead of forcibly apportioning it, what if the salt issued this time can definitely mention salt?"
Lu Dou's eyes lit up, but he quickly dimmed and said, "Don't be joking, Mr. Su. There are hundreds of thousands of unexchanged salt coins on the market now. If you exchange them for new coins first, those with old coins will How can people accept defeat and let it go?"
Su Ze waved his hand and said: "This is not something Mr. Lu has to worry about. Let me ask you, as long as you get new salt quotations, you can exchange them for salt. Are you Huaiyang businessmen willing to pay for it?"
Lu Dou immediately said: "I am willing! Of course I am! Even if the Xu family in Huating gets the salt, it will be sold through our Lu family. As long as we can get the salt, our Lu family can always make money."
Su Ze pawed and said, "Very good, in that case, you Lu family can start collecting money!"
Lu Dou still asked: "When can Xianggong Su get the salt?"
Su Ze waved his hand and said: "It can be as short as one month, or as slow as two months. As long as you are willing to subscribe to the new Yanyin, you will definitely get the money!"
Lu Dou still didn't believe it, so Su Ze said directly: "It doesn't matter if Mr. Lu doesn't believe me, but the new salt trigger is only available in limited quantities, so hurry up if you want to buy it!"
After saying this, Su Ze took Xu Guo and Xu Shixing and left the Lu family directly.
Just after the Lu family’s Shouzhiyuan was removed, Xu Guo couldn’t help but say:
"Brother Rulin, if you tell Lu Dou, wouldn't the entire Southern Zhili know about it?"
Xu Shixing also said: "Yes, brother Rulin, if the matter is not kept secret, you will lose your identity. This leaked the news in advance. Those people who hold a large amount of salt in their hands will definitely not let it go."
Xu Guo also nodded repeatedly. He was a member of the Huizhou Prefecture and knew the salt merchants very well. He knew that these merchants were called "Confucian businessmen", but in fact they had no ethics at all.
Despite Lu Dou's current submissive appearance, he gritted his teeth towards the Xu family and turned around to inform the Xu family.
Su Ze said nonchalantly: "What I want is for them to spread the news."
(End of chapter)
