In Lin'an City, the Minister of War, Wei Weng, went to Weng's house.
In the lobby, Wei Liaowen sat with a dark face, and his wife beside him was crying, wiping her tears with a handkerchief and mumbling.
"The son-in-law has also been killed, the daughter is looking for life and death, and both Yu'er and Sisi have gone to the frontier. How will they live in the future?"
During the Sichuan Road anti-corruption earthquake, the eldest son-in-law An Gongxing was ransacked and beheaded, and the eldest daughter and her son were sent back to her parents' home. The younger son Wei Jinyu and the younger daughter Wei Sisi both went to the frontier fortress after graduating from Jinling Lecture Hall. Instead, the eldest son Wei Jinsi, who had been traveling abroad, returned home without leaving home and became the family's only support.
"Mom, the matter has come to an end. Fortunately, the eldest sister, mother and son have not been implicated. You should be more open-minded."
The eldest son Wei Jinsi comforted his mother in a low voice.
Wei Jinsi is twenty-three years old, tall and thin. Compared with his younger brother Wei Jinyu, he is more mature, but also much more taciturn.
"Dalang, your eldest sister is only in her twenties. How will she live with someone who ransacked her house and beheaded her?"
Wei's mother sobbed and complained about her husband again.
"Tell me about your father, the dignified minister of the Ministry of War, or some other vice-principal of several schools. He follows the emperor all day long. Why doesn't he say a word? Why is he so cruel?"
From beginning to end, An Gongxing was beheaded from being caught, and Wei Liaoweng never asked the emperor. I don’t know what he, a close minister of the emperor, is thinking about?
"Mom, the emperor even killed the ruling minister Hu Ju, not to mention An Gongxing? He committed more than just corruption, he committed far more crimes than Hu Ju. Dad is trying to protect my eldest sister, mother and son, so don't blame dad."
Noticing that Wei Liaoweng's eyes widened and he seemed to be angry again, Wei Jinsi quickly excused his father.
"That should be a reminder. Keep silent, pity my daughter and grandson."
Wei's mother still resented her husband's indifference.
"Mom, if dad does that, he will be deceiving the emperor. No one can save An Gong because he is corrupt and perverts the law. You'd better have a good rest."
"Did you hear it? Did you hear it? Da Lang understands things better than you. Your Majesty governs officials with an iron fist. Whether they are ministers in power or local officials, they are investigated and dealt with in accordance with the law. Any violation will be punished. As for your precious daughter, let her be content. Bar."
The eldest son supported him, and Wei Liaowen finally felt proud.
The law is ruthless, the emperor is implementing the New Deal, and anti-corruption is fundamental. Knowing the law and breaking the law at this time is definitely seeking death.
"You, the Wei Gao family, are all stubborn and hard-hearted. You only have eyes for the Song Dynasty court, and you never care about the life and death of your family. You don't care about your daughter, but I still feel sorry for their mother and son."
After her son and husband comforted her and she had finished complaining, Wei's mother became calmer. Suddenly she clutched her chest, felt dizzy, and leaned on the chair.
"Mom, what's wrong with you?"
Wei Jinsi patted his mother on the back and asked with concern.
"Silly boy, you are going to be the big brother again."
Wei's mother calmed down and said something angry to her son.
She had her eldest daughter when she was eighteen years old. She is already forty-three years old this year, so she was embarrassed to have a son at such an old age.
Wei Jinsi looked at his parents who looked embarrassed, suddenly realized, and smiled happily:
"Mom, this is a great event, you have to take care of yourself!"
No wonder the father, who had a strong temper, didn't blow his beard and glare. It turned out that he knew that the mother was pregnant, so he restrained himself.
"You father and son talk, I'll go check on my daughter and grandson."
Mother Wei stood up, muttering, and left the lobby accompanied by the maid.
"Da Lang, don't take your mother's words to heart. The family tradition of my Pujiang Wei Gao family is that I will die without sweating in five days. I am open and honest. You must not forget it!"
Wei Liaoweng changed the topic and asked about his eldest son.
Despite Zhao Hong's instructions, he remained tight-lipped and never revealed anything to his son-in-law An Gongxing. Others thought he was unkind, but he felt at ease.
An Gongxing committed a crime so great that he can no longer look back. If it is just a minor offense, he can also give him a slap in the face, treat illnesses and save lives. After weighing the left and right, and the emperor's warning, how could he dare to act rashly.
If that were the case, he might have harmed his daughter and himself.
"The child will remember his father's teachings and dare not disobey them."
Wei Jinsi nodded and replied softly.
Although he did not enter an official career, he was still a member of an aristocratic family. He was well-read in poetry and books, so he naturally knew the Wei Gao family's family style by heart.
"Dad has a lot of things to do now, including Jinling, Lin'an City, and the frontier fortress. He can't stay at home for more than a few days a month. Your mother is pregnant now, and your eldest sister is like this. When you have time, take good care of your family."
It is difficult for an upright official to deal with household affairs. There are so many things at home and state affairs are complicated, which really gives him a headache.
"Dad, don't worry. Xiuyun and I are here and we will take good care of the family."
Wei Jinsi looked at his father, hesitant.
"Dalang, say what you have to say, don't hesitate."
Knowing a son is like a father, Wei Liaoweng could tell at a glance that something was wrong with his son.
"Dad, that's it. I want to do overseas trade. What do you think?"
"Overseas trade?"
Wei Liaoweng couldn't help but be stunned.
Although his son traveled widely and visited various state capitals in the Song Dynasty, he had never been overseas. How could he dare to engage in overseas trade?
"Dad, wait!"
Seeing that Wei Liaoweng had no objection, Wei Jinsi stood up, took out some porcelain from the box behind the chair, including vases, plates, bowls, and pots, and placed them on the table.
"Dad, look!"
Wei Jinsi was very interested. Wei Liaoweng picked up a vase about one foot high and was shocked.
"This is... blue and white porcelain!"
Blue and white porcelain has been produced in Longquan, but the texture of the porcelain can be thick or thin, and the blue and white hair color can be dark or light. The blue and white porcelain in front of you is light and beautiful. The blue and white porcelain has rich color, heavier rust marks, sparse decoration, delicate depiction, and white base glaze. It is of high quality at first glance.
Compared with Longquan porcelain, it is simply a world of difference.
"Dad, look at the bottom!"
Following Wei Jinsi's guidance, Wei Liaowen looked at the bottom of the vase. The words "Xingqing 2nd Year" and "Jingdezhen" were clearly visible.
Wei Liaoweng nodded. Needless to say, this was a new product created by the emperor's porcelain factory in Jingdezhen.
Drive local employment and promote local economic development with several important industries.
The emperor's words rang in Wei Liaowen's ears at the right time.
"Can this blue and white porcelain be sold?"
Wei Liaoweng looked at several pieces of porcelain carefully and was secretly surprised.
Jingdezhen's blue and white porcelain can be sold overseas. There should be no shortage of markets for these fine products.
"Dad, we showed it to merchants from Dashi, Korea, Japan, Champa and other countries, and they were very interested. The price of blue and white porcelain is more than four or five times higher than that of blue and white porcelain, and the profit margin is astonishing. Especially A few boxes of those large pieces of porcelain can be exchanged for a shipload of grain, so the prospects are good!"
Seeing the excitement in Wei Jinsi's eyes, Wei Liaoweng couldn't help but be surprised again.
"You? Is there anyone else?"
The Wei Gao family was from a famous family. He learned a lot and sold it to the emperor's family. Wei Liaoweng was very unhappy when his son joined the merchants and competed with the people for profit.
But it turns out that his son followed him today because he had other plans.
"Dad, sit down and listen to me slowly."
Wei Jinsi asked his father to sit down and started talking.
"Business firm? Shi Mijian, Lin Wuji, Zhou Jiacheng, Li Shenyan, Yang Mu..."
His son's explanation made Wei Liaoweng feel confused and confused.
Lin Wuji and Li Shenyan were both well-known maritime merchants in Lin'an City, while Shi Mijian was the younger brother of the treacherous Prime Minister Shi Miyuan, and Yang Mu was the nephew of the current Empress Dowager Yang Guizhi.
Another partner, Zhou Jiacheng, was the father-in-law of the current emperor Zhao Hong and the head of the state. Has he also gotten involved in this overseas trade?
"Dad, you don't know something. The head of state, Zhou Jiacheng, took the lead in this matter. The others are all celebrities without official positions and famous maritime merchants in the Song Dynasty. Including me, there are nine people in total. Currently, I plan to buy six more ships. The sea ships are divided into Goryeo, Japan, Champa, Chen Dynasty, Bo Ni, and Dashi. Except for porcelain..."
"You are doing this. If you are not the only one, how can other maritime merchants survive?"
Wei Liaoweng interrupted his eloquent son and refuted angrily.
When the head of the dynasty, the descendants of powerful people, retired officials, and Shanghai merchants are added together, doesn't this mean that they are living alone, pretending to be public servants for personal gain?
Pujiang Wei Gao family must not get involved in such a scandal.
"Dad, don't worry, listen to me first."
Wei Jinsi seemed to have predicted his father's reaction and patiently explained.
"Are you saying that establishing a trading house and expanding overseas trade is your Majesty's instruction?"
His son's explanation made Wei Liaoweng's eyes widen like a bull's eye.
"That's right! Not only did the nine of us set up trading firms, but also large and small firms were established in Lin'an City, Jinling City, Mingzhou, Quanzhou, and Guangzhou, mainly to avoid risks. As for the goods sold, in addition to porcelain, tea, Silk, etc., as well as swords, ironware, soap, soap, etc. The emperor said that this is called opening up the sea and enriching the country. Only by expanding production and stimulating exports can we achieve the goal of enriching the country and strengthening the army."
Seeing that his father was full of doubts, Wei Jinsi took out the newspaper and pointed to a place on the newspaper.
"Dad, look, this is what the emperor said, not my nonsense. There is nothing wrong with following the emperor's will, right?"
Wei Liaowen read the newspaper for a moment, put it on the table and nodded lightly.
"Expand production, stimulate exports, open up the sea and prosper the country. The emperor does what he says and does it resolutely. It's amazing!"
If the Song Dynasty could not make an economic breakthrough, it would be inevitable for it to decline or even collapse.
Clean up the sea surface, rectify the city's shipping department, reduce export tariffs, develop blue and white porcelain, bone china, glass, etc., and then encourage exports. It turns out that the emperor had already laid out the plan, and every step he took was traceable and targeted.
With the strong ships and cannons of the Song Dynasty navy as escorts, and the huge overseas market attracting them, it is no wonder that a large number of maritime merchants were eager to try it.
"How is your trading company organized? How do you ensure that you can make money?"
Wei Liaoweng raised his head and finally returned to basics.
And this is probably what my son wants to talk about most.
Overseas trade has long distances and vast oceans, and it is extremely risky to rely on one's own efforts. Raising funds to establish a trading house and build a fleet seems to be an ideal way.
"Three ship merchants invested in sea-going ships, and the remaining six shareholders each contributed 50,000 to 100,000 guan. The business bank is divided into nine shares and employs accountants and sailors to operate it. At the end of each year, the business bank distributes dividends to shareholders according to how much money it makes. ,..."
Wei Jinsi made some popularizations again, and Wei Liaoweng understood at least seventy-eight points.
Needless to say, shares and dividends are new terms for the emperor.
"So, you want 50,000 yuan to become a shareholder?"
It should be easy for the Wei Gao family to put together 50,000 yuan.
"Now that blue and white porcelain has been made, you know, what is the current situation of bone china and glass?"
Feeling touched, Wei Liaowen asked subconsciously.
