Of course, the Xiao family has no reason to refuse.
Sixth grade official.
Even if a good family spends all its resources, it cannot train such an official.
Although there are officials in the Xiao family, except for Xiao Yu who has some real power, there are really not many officials above the sixth rank.
Thinking of this, Xiao Wan had no choice but to say: "If it is just to attract deposits for the bank and promote banknotes, the Xiao family will naturally not refuse. But if they want to be enemies of all the Jiangnan nobles, then don't blame me for being unable to help. The Xiao family can Based in Jiangnan, I have always been harmonious and never fought with others."
Yang Fan clapped his hands and laughed loudly and said: "I deeply agree with what you said. Fighting and killing has long been outdated. Now is the peaceful era. The Tang Dynasty is getting stronger and stronger, and its control over various places is also increasing. With this strengthening, anyone who still wants to be the king and hegemon in the local area is nothing more than a fool's dream. Since Mr. Xiao agrees, then I will wait for your news and ask Mr. Xiao to seize the time to send suitable talents to report and say goodbye. "
After saying that, Yang Fan stood up and saluted, then turned and walked out.
Everyone present stood up and sent each other off.
From now on, everyone has boarded Yang Fan's pirate ship.
…
On the official road, the sound of horse hooves can be heard constantly.
Suddenly, a burst of exclamation sounded from behind.
"Grand Governor, please wait a moment..."
Yang Fan turned around and saw that the Lin brothers were shouting from behind.
When the carriage of the Lin brothers arrived, Yang Fan asked, "I wonder if the Lin family has any advice?"
Lin Dong clasped his fists and asked: "How should I contact you about the salt farm? If the Zhu family pays, will our Lin family still have a chance? In addition, the bidding price for the salt farm is too high. With our background, the Lin family simply cannot afford so much money." Come on, please give me some guidance from the Governor!"
Although Yang Fan promises a bright future, without financial support, everything is empty talk.
That's why Lin Dong was so eager to get Yang Fan's guarantee and guidance.
Yang Fan had no choice but to say: "Whether Zhu will pay or not will be known half a month ago. Head of the Lin family, there is no need to worry."
"As for the lack of money you said, I heard that your Lin family made its fortune in the shipbuilding industry, and now there are several shipyards."
"If you don't have enough money to open a salt farm by then, you can use these shipyards to sell them to someone at a discount. As for the insufficient part, you can also get a loan from Datang Royal Bank."
Lin Dong looked at Yang Fan with bright eyes, and his tone was trembling: "What the Governor means is that as long as the Zhu family refuses to pay, he will give up his quota to our Lin family?"
"Yes, even if Zhu pays, if you want to run a salt factory, I can sell you other indicators at a discount. As you know, I still hold the indicators of five salt factories." Yang Fan nodded and explained.
Lin Dong nodded excitedly and asked again: "Grand Governor, thank you for clarifying my doubts. In addition, some of our Lin family members are quite talented. I don't know when we can report there."
Looking at Lin Dong, who was a bit obsessed with officials, Yang Fan said helplessly: "I really don't know what you guys think, why do you all want to be officials? Although being an official is good, you can gain both fame and wealth, and honor your ancestors, but if you are not careful in the officialdom, You are cautious, but you are always murderous. Now that you have made a decision, you can let them report it at any time, go directly to Huating County Lord Bo Di Renjie, and say that this governor has agreed."
Hearing this, Lin Dong's face turned red. He also knew that he was a little impatient and couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
However, if you can get a chance for the younger generation to enter the officialdom, what does it mean to be embarrassed?
In order to ease the embarrassment, Lin Dong could only quickly change the subject and said: "The Governor treats fame and wealth like dirt. Lin admires me. I wonder what the Governor's ideal is?"
Yang Fan patted his horse and walked forward. As he walked, he said slowly: "The ideal of this governor is to let everyone in the world have food to eat, everyone to have books to read, the young to have something to support, and the old to have something to depend on...At the same time, create a strong big country." The Tang Empire has made those young people no longer dare to bully our people in the Central Plains... It's very simple, right?"
The Lin brothers were speechless.
Is it simple?
How proud a person must be to say such heroic words that are almost like making a wish?
Throughout the dynasties, which emperor did not want to do this.
But these people can’t even achieve the goal of having enough food for everyone, let alone the ideal that everyone has books to read.
Books are a luxury item that ordinary families simply cannot afford.
Therefore, for thousands of years, knowledge was only in the hands of a few people, thus forming a clan of scholars.
If everyone in the world could afford to read, the common people would surely rise. Where would there be any aristocratic families?
Seeing the expressions of the Lin brothers who would be surprised if they believe you, Yang Fan chuckled: "Why, you don't believe it?"
Do we dare to say we don’t believe this?
Lin Dong suddenly felt depressed.
"Haha, I know you don't believe it. Look, in just a few years, the people of Huating County will be able to achieve this."
Yang Fan was in a good mood after showing off in front of the ancients.
Hearing this, the Lin brothers felt for the first time that Yang Fan might not be telling lies.
At the very least, Huating County now has enough food and clothing for everyone.
And they also built schools and hospitals on a large scale...
In the future, it is really possible for the people of Huating County to enjoy the benefits of having everyone read, having someone to rely on when they are old, and having someone to support themselves when they are young.
If Yang Fan is of Yang Fan's age and is promoted at this speed, it will only take a few decades to achieve this goal in the entire Tang Dynasty.
At this time, the Lin brothers no longer thought that Yang Fan was just talking, but really wanted to do something for the people of Tang Dynasty.
Yang Fan's actions and ideals subverted their understanding of official retirement.
Unknowingly, there was a hint of admiration in the eyes of the two of them.
Seeing the shocked expressions of the two people, Yang Fan did not explain too much.
The concepts and world views of the times are different, and Yang Fan knows that no matter how he explains it, it is just empty talk.
Only by actually doing something can others understand why you do what you do.
Moreover, there will be various obstacles encountered in the process of realizing this ideal. It is not easy to realize this ideal.
Thinking of this, Yang Fan felt a little unmotivated, so he clasped his fists and said: "You two, I, the Governor, will take the first step. If there are any changes in the Zhu family's salt farm indicators, our guild will send someone to notify you as soon as possible. We will see you later!"
With that said, Yang Fan and his horses galloped away, quickly disappearing at the end of the road.
…
When Yang Fan returned to Huating County, the Zhu family in Haiyan County was in solemn silence.
Zhu Lai sat on the main seat, looking at the secret report on the coffee table in front of him, with a frown on his face, looking very worried.
The Zhu family belongs to one of the four major families of the Wu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period.
Zhu Huan, the representative of the Jiangdong clan who first followed Sun Quan, was a general of the Wu State and served as the shepherd of Qingzhou and the Marquis of Jiaxing.
But since Wu returned to Wei, their home began to decline.
For hundreds of years, no more colorful characters have appeared.
Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, the Zhu family has used a lot of manpower and material resources to start a layout in the south of the Yangtze River, which has gradually made the family stronger.
In the entire Wujun area, it is also a well-known family.
Especially in recent years, wealth has gradually accumulated, and the entire Zhu family has shown a trend of prosperity, with a faint tendency to catch up with the Xiao family, the leader of the Jiangnan gentry.
But Zhu Lai knew that even if the Zhu family had strong financial resources, it would not be able to shake the Xiao family's position for the time being.
There is no other reason than that the Zhu family is too weak in the officialdom and poses no threat to the Xiao family.
With a slight sigh, Zhu Lai turned to look out the window.
There was a cool breeze outside the window, and the leaves were falling one after another.
In summer, the lush branches and leaves covered the sky and the sun, but now only a few yellow leaves are left fluttering in the cool breeze.
Today's Zhu family is just like these trees.
They look tall and straight in the summer, and their green leaves also make these trees look vibrant.
But once they are blown by the cold wind, these trees can only be left with their lonely trunks, giving them the feeling of being alone.
Zhu Lai sighed sadly.
The rise to success in the officialdom cannot be achieved by accidental emergence of a stunningly talented person.
If you want to cultivate a talent in the officialdom, you need a family's accumulation of connections from generation to generation, and it takes the efforts of countless clan members to promote a person.
Unfortunately, the Zhu family has been in decline since the Cao Wei Dynasty, and was even in danger of annihilation during the Southern and Northern Dynasties.
Fortunately, since the Sui Dynasty, the Zhu family gradually recovered and came to this dynasty, and the family business prospered again.
Although wealth is easy to come by, fame is hard to come by.
In recent years, the descendants of the Zhu family have successively produced a few officials, but they are no more than minor officials in the state capital and have never been able to get on the stage.
If you can't speak out in the court, you can't be regarded as a prominent family.
If there is no backer in the court, there is always the danger of being replaced.
Now the Zhu family faces such a risk, because Yang Fan's strength makes Zhu Lai a little worried about the future of the Zhu family.
Opposite Zhu Lai, there was a middle-aged man sitting. This man was Changsun Wuji's brother, Changsun Anye.
The secret report on the case table was brought over by Changsun Anye. He knew that Zhu Lai needed some time to digest the contents.
Therefore, Changsun Anye did not urge him, but sat down quietly, sipping the tea in the cup, with a leisurely and completely alien expression.
After a long while, Zhu Lai tapped the secret report on the coffee table with his finger and asked in a deep voice: "Brother Changsun, is the content of this secret report true or false?"
The eldest grandson Anye glanced at Zhu Lai lightly and said calmly: "There is no need to ask, of course it is true. This came through the secret channels of our eldest grandson family, and I heard that Duan Zhixuan has already started to set off, and it may not take half a month. Arrive at Jiangnan."
Zhu Lai smiled bitterly and said: "Half a month, now Yang Fan has given us less than ten days. By the time Duan Zhixuan arrives, the day lilies will be cold."
"Nowadays, Yang Fan is spreading rumors everywhere. If he doesn't pay the money in full and comes directly to ask for it, who dares not to give it?"
"I heard that many people have paid loans to Datang Royal Bank. Please tell me, eldest grandson, how should our Zhu family respond?"
As the time to pay off the balance became less and less, Chu Lai became increasingly anxious.
If he had to pay such a large sum of money, he would be unwilling to do so.
If you don't pay, you are afraid that Yang Fan will come to ask for it, or the salt farm quota will be withdrawn.
Even Zhu Lai is jealous of a salt farm that earns hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, let alone other noble families?
There is no doubt that as long as Chu Lai doesn't pay, someone else will buy the indicator.
The Zhu family makes a living from the salt industry. Without this indicator, everything would be over. How could Zhu Lai not be anxious?
Now that the Jiangnan nobles have been defeated one by one by Yang Fan, relying on the strength of one family alone to fight against Yang Fan is like a mantis holding back the army.
Hearing this, the eldest grandson Anye gently placed the tea cup on the coffee table and sighed: "Yang Fan deliberately put pressure on everyone, just to make the Jiangnan gentry on tenterhooks all day long."
"This move is Yang Fan's conspiracy to win over one group, suppress another group, and the loans he made. He wants to tell all the Jiangnan nobles that if they want development and benefits, then follow him!"
"On the contrary, if you go against him, not only will sea trade be completely cut off, but all kinds of commerce will also be restricted. Unless you can obtain more advanced technologies to break Yang Fan's monopoly, there is no way."
Zhu Lai was obviously ill and sought medical treatment. He seemed to be deeply dependent on his eldest grandson Anye, so he hurriedly asked: "Are we just going to watch Yang Fan plunder the wealth of the Jiangnan nobles, and then slowly divide and disintegrate the Jiangnan Alliance? If so? , who in the south of the Yangtze River dares to resist Yang Fan in the future, will he not let that little thief Yang Fan succeed in his conspiracy?"
In fact, Chu Lai had some things that were difficult to say openly.
He didn't have much respect at all for Changsun Anye, a fugitive sent to the frontier.
The reason why he pretended to be respectful was because he wanted Changsun Anye to ask Changsheng Wuji to take action.
After all, the Zhu family was bound to win the salt farm business, but Zhu Lai didn't want to pay such a high price.
Although the salt business is very profitable, paying off such a large sum of money will definitely break your muscles and bones, and it will take several years to recover.
Zhu Lai didn't want to work for Yang Fan in vain these past few years.
In fact, even if there is no salt farm quota, the Zhu family can still sell salt, but the cost is definitely much higher than Yang Fan's method of drying salt.
What's more, once there is no indicator, you can only sell secretly in the future.
smuggling?
He had to face the encirclement and suppression of Yang Fan's navy. Thinking of the tall ships of those navy, Zhu Lai felt a little frightened.
Of course, smuggling is not impossible, but it involves great risks.
You must know that the Haimao Yamen has been established, which is a department of the imperial court.
If they choose to smuggle, once they are caught, even if Yang Fan destroys the Zhu family, no one in the court will speak for them.
Therefore, smuggling is obviously an extremely unwise move. Once Yang Fan targets him, the consequences will be disastrous.
Obviously, Changsun Anye enjoyed Zhu Lai's flattering words, and raised his head proudly, and then said: "Although Yang Fan's actions are very troublesome, it is not without means to break the situation. As long as your Zhu family unites with some Jiangnan The nobles deliberately delayed Duan Zhixuan's arrival, so that there would be a chance for a turnaround."
"Given the hostile relationship between Duan Zhixuan and Yang Fan, once Duan Zhixuan becomes the chief minister of the Governor's Office, Yang Fan will definitely not feel comfortable."
"You also know very well that no matter which governor's office it is, Chang Shi is the specific executor of various policies."
"However, Yang Fan really has some tricks up his sleeve. He actually made most of the Jiangnan nobles obediently hand over their money with just a threat, and even turned from hostility to cooperation. It's really not easy."
Although he didn't take Yang Fan seriously at first, in the end Changsheng Anye was quite dismissive of Yang Fan's methods.
Hearing this, Zhu Lai was extremely unhappy.
Although I really didn't want to admit it, it was difficult to get angry, so I could only say angrily: "That kid only knows some conspiracy tricks. If it weren't for the fear of that kid being ignorant and fearless, who would care about him?"
"Brother Zhangsun, it is said that His Royal Highness the King of Wei has arrived in Beijing. Do you think His Majesty will change his mind and recruit Duan Zhixuan back again? Why don't you let Zhao Guogong inquire about it, so that our Zhu family can have a countermeasure."
(End of chapter)
