It seems that the actions of the Senate increasingly changed the course of history. [No pop-up novel website] It’s just that the change of shipping has always received a lot of help in history. This time it went so smoothly. Apparently there were some factors that he didn’t know played a role.
Shen Tingyang was very enthusiastic about talking, and it was obvious that he was very excited to finally have the opportunity to try out his ambitions and ideas over the years. From his mouth, Zhao Yingong roughly knew that the direct transfer of grain and wages from Jiangnan to Liaodong was proposed by Xiong Mingyu, Minister of the Ministry of War. Due to the interference of the Senate, this Xiong Minister appeared decisive and capable in the entire Dengzhou rebellion, so he was favored by the emperor in the eyes of the emperor. His status in the army was acceptable, and although he received a punishment, he was not dismissed from office like in the old days. Continue to occupy the increasingly difficult position of Minister of the Ministry of War.
Why Xiong Mingyu, a slippery bureaucrat who has always been submissive, suddenly made such a bold suggestion is not surprising to Zhao Yiggong - he is now eager to restore the "Sacred Heart". Only by taking risks to show his "talent" can the emperor recognize that he is still "useful". The consequences of the Dengzhou Incident cannot be compensated by "pacification". Sun Yuanhua, who was dealing with the aftermath in Dengzhou, was extremely busy and exhausted, and he still carries the punishment of "dismissal" - Chongzhen would not easily forgive those who were mainly responsible.
However, the reason why Xiong Mingyu was able to make such a bold suggestion was obviously because someone gave him great confidence. I'm afraid this person is not just a simple official like Zhou Yanru and Xu Guangqi. It must be the result of the behind-the-scenes operation of extremely powerful figures in the court.
Could it be that Tongtian Sect advocates Pu? Zhao Yingong thinks this is the most likely. Since the last time I personally went to Taicang to advocate the idea of abolishing the canal and reforming the sea. At that time, I felt that Xianggong Zhang was very interested in this - the restoration of society largely represented the interests of the group mainly composed of Jin gentry and landlords in southern China, and water transportation had always been their most annoying burden. Therefore they are the most motivated.
Xiong Mingyu’s memorial received support from all quarters. Since Shen Tingyang had been campaigning for this matter in the capital for a long time, Xiong Mingyu recommended him. He also presented his "Book of Maritime Transport" and "Illustration of Maritime Transport". After the court discussion, the emperor and ministers felt that they could give it a try to solve Liaodong's urgent needs. He was given the virtual title of Secretary of the Cabinet and had full authority to handle this matter.
"If this can be accomplished, it will be possible to transfer grain from the land to the sea in the future!"
As long as grain can be transported directly from Jiangnan to Liaodong this time, it proves that sea transportation is reliable and cheap. Let’s talk about Taicang’s conversion of white grain to sea. Even the expanded abolition of canals and sea reform can be implemented step by step.
Zhao Yingong knew that things were not that simple. The power of habit and the obstruction of vested interest groups made any reform encounter great resistance. Historically, Shen Tingyang's maritime experiment was a complete success. As a result, water transportation still used the inefficient Grand Canal.
However, since history has been changed due to their arrival, this change will inevitably cause a series of chain reactions - butterfly wings and so on are not just casual.
Zhao Yingong showed a "joyful" expression appropriately and said a few words in agreement. Just wait for the other person to speak. Shen Tingyang specially invited him to discuss. Naturally, there are specific cooperation issues to discuss.
However, Shen Tingyang's happy expression did not last long, and soon became solemn, "To be honest, Brother Yu specially invited Brother Xian to come to Shanghai this time to discuss some important matters."
"I will definitely help you wherever you can find me." Zhao Yingong nodded repeatedly, with a very solemn expression - the joints are below, and Shen Tingyang must feel that there are some things that are difficult to handle. Only then would he come specifically to find himself.
Since he is here to find him, it goes without saying that he has to get involved in this business. If we can take this opportunity to bring the coastal routes into the hands of China Merchants. Our company is a legitimate "official ship of the Ming Dynasty". In coastal areas, it is really smuggling and smuggling, and it can do anything with confidence. Thinking of this, Zhao Yingong couldn't help but feel a little excited.
Only then did Shen Tingyang talk about the details of the food and salary transfer.
The grain shipped to Liaodong this time was to supply Guanning Town with 50,000 shi of brown rice. This amount of transportation is not a heavy burden on Shen Tingyang's shipping power. A brand-new large sand ship can carry about four thousand stones, and thirteen or four large sand ships can meet the demand. The Shen family has as many as one or two hundred sand ships, many of which are already sailing on the Northern Route. It is more than enough to complete the task of transporting food.
But things are often not as simple as they seem. After Shen Tingyang received Xiong Mingyu's support and wrote a letter, he quickly got the order to trial the food and salary shipment. The next question made him feel very difficult.
These 50,000 shi of grain must be allocated from Jiangnan - the amount will be deducted from Jiangnan's grain harvest this year.
This was originally a public-private solution, but when Shen Tingyang went to the Chief Envoy Si Yamen to handle the matter, he was met with disappointment.
The chief envoy's government refused to allocate grain, saying that many prefectures and counties in Nanzhi suffered from floods and droughts last year. There was insufficient grain in various places, and a large amount of grain was urgently needed in the spring. There was really no grain in the vassal treasury.
"Brother, I thought this was just a bad rule of asking for personnel. I didn't expect that the master in charge didn't have enough money. No matter who came to tell me, he wouldn't even ask for personnel. He only said that he had no food and had to give it in cash."
"Discount?" Zhao Yingong was startled. As the name suggests, discount means not allocating grain, but allocating money according to the price of grain. This was very common in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, because silver was easier to transport and use than grain. For areas with long distances and poor transportation conditions, the cost of cashing silver was much lower than transporting grain.
Color reduction involves factors such as the fineness of the silver, heat consumption, etc. Compared with transporting brown rice, there are many places where fraud can occur. The most important thing is that there are no formalities for liquidation after corruption, so it is very popular among officials.
"...You also know that now is the so-called five-month drought and six months, and the price of grain outside is three yuan per dou of rice. One stone of rice, even if you buy it from a grain merchant, it will cost more than two taels of silver per stone. And the current price of grain is right When it comes time to go up, I’m afraid it will be more than this price.”
Zhao Yingong had understood by now: most of the chief envoys' discounts were based on the "official price". He asked: "How much is the official price?"
"One or two taels of rice." Shen Tingyang said with a wry smile, "One or two taels of silver means that the average price is six or seven buckets of rice. To collect 50,000 shi of rice, at least 40,000 taels of silver must be put in."
The Chief Secretary's discounted price was based on one tael, but when the actual reimbursement to the Ministry of Household Affairs was made, it was based on the price of two taels and one stone. As time goes by, these 40,000 taels become a benefit to the person in charge!
Compared with these 40,000 taels, the "routine" and "personnel affairs" of a few hundred taels are nothing. No wonder we have to use such a high-sounding reason
Zhao Yingong secretly scolded the officials for being shameless and being too greedy.
"What should we do? Brother Ji Ming can't do it with his own money."
"Exactly." Shen Tingyang said bitterly, "Brother is also half a businessman. There are all kinds of business paths in the world, but you can't do business that is loss-making. This time, Brother Yu intends to reimburse the imperial court for Guan Ning's food and wages. , and you can’t use your own money to plug the holes of those corrupt officials.”
In the past, since the Shen family was a shipping family, they also had a good business network. No matter where the waterway grain terminal is, as long as there is cheap grain, you can make a large sum of money. Not only will you not lose money, you may also be able to make some small money.
But this time Shen Tingyang encountered a more troublesome thing. It turned out that the masters of Guanning Town, who were responsible for handling food and salary transportation in the capital, had secretly said that Guanning would never want "rotten old warehouse rice." ”, indicating the amount of silver to be discounted.
"Wouldn't this problem be easily solved?" Zhao Yingong was puzzled. Since Guan Ningjun wants silver, wouldn't it be easier to just transport the 60,000 taels of silver and avoid the price difference?
Shen Tingyang smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Brother, you still know too little about the tricks of this officialdom. The reimbursement from the Ministry of Household Affairs is two taels of silver and one stone. How can Guan Ningjun accept one tael of silver? "
No matter how he calculated it, Shen Tingyang, who undertook the shipping, would lose money. This is only a loss on "main items". The sum of all other "expenses" and "management" is not a small sum. In the past, as long as a part of it was "floated", this part of the expenses could be offset. , there are still some small improvements, but this time the gap in the main items is too big, and Shen Tingyang feels helpless.
"Besides, the big guys in the DPRK and China have contributed a lot to this shipping, so they all have to express their efforts." Shen Tingyang couldn't help but frown when he thought of the huge follow-up expenses.
These personnel expenses must not be spared, otherwise he might not even be able to get the discounted silver shipped by sea on time - when the yamen wants to make things difficult for people, there are a set of methods, and you will never be able to find fault. . If there is no big boss in the court to say something, I will not be able to pass this first hurdle.
Originally, according to his idea, this sea transportation of food and salary was originally to contribute to the imperial court. It didn't matter even if he couldn't make money for a while, as long as the cost could be equalized. In the future, if the canal system can be abolished and the sea system can be replaced, it will be of great benefit to both the country and ourselves. We can let go of the current benefits.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the plan to transport food and wages by sea came out, he suddenly found himself at the forefront of the storm. People from all walks of life seemed to think that he had got a huge fat job, and they were all eager to take advantage of him.
"I didn't expect that it would be so difficult to do something!" When Shen Tingyang said this, he couldn't help but sigh, "I wonder if my dear brother has any good ideas?"
Zhao Yingong had already had several thoughts when he said this. He remembered the information he had read in the "Compilation of Political and Social Information of the Ming Dynasty" given to him by the Foreign Intelligence Service and the various business intelligence collected by Shanhaiwu Road over the past year, and he already had a countermeasure in his mind.
He coughed lightly: "According to my brother's opinion, this matter is not impossible..."
Shen Tingyang seemed to be waiting for his words, staring at him solemnly: "Please teach me, dear brother!" (To be continued...)
