After Fengyang Governor Lu Kun set out for Beijing, Yingtian Governor Shen Li and Fujian Governor Jin Xuezeng also set out for Beijing one after another.
Unlike Lu Kun who opened a government-run papermaking workshop, Shen Li opened a government-run equipment workshop in Suzhou, specializing in building more advanced mixing trucks and merchant ships for sale to civilians and ordinary merchants.
Since the opening of the sea, the trade volume between Ming Dynasty and its surrounding areas has increased, and the world's demand for Ming Dynasty's more advanced equipment has also increased. However, Suzhou is one of the areas with the highest concentration of skilled craftsmen of all types, and it is also one of the areas with the highest concentration of refugees. 1; Therefore, in order to solve the employment problem of the refugees, Shen Li used the power of the government to gather a group of craftsmen to specialize in making instruments and develop new instruments, instead of letting each craftsman work alone in different workshops as before.
As for Jin Xuezeng, he saw that there were too many Fujian civilians going overseas to do business. Especially after the imperial court adopted tax protection for domestic merchants, more people went overseas to ship goods to Haojing.
But those who go to sea are mostly wealthy people with big ships, and most civilians cannot afford big ships to go to sea, so the risk of accidents when going to sea is very high.
Therefore, Jin Xuezeng took advantage of the fact that there was nothing going on at sea, and mobilized some warships to set up an official ship merchant company, which specifically recruited ordinary merchants and people who needed to go to sea for business, and regularly transported them to Haojing, Annan, Japan, Champa and other places. And these ordinary businessmen only need to pay shipping fees of varying specifications.
In this way, ordinary merchants who cannot afford big ships or many professional sailors can go to sea to do business, and the government can also increase income by collecting shipping fees. The protection capabilities provided by key warships are also better and can be larger. to avoid the threat of pirates. In addition, the navy can also increase income by providing some value-added services to merchants on these ships.
There are even different levels of cabins. If you pay more, you can also enjoy the sensual services provided by Japanese girls specially recruited and trained by the boat company.
Therefore, as soon as the official ship merchants opened, there were a lot of customers taking care of their business. Many wealthy people even used it as a way of tourism and entertainment. Even if it was not for business, they would board some luxuriously decorated ships to go to Haojing and Japan. Waiting for a trip to other places, since the official ship guarantees their life safety, they are naturally not afraid.
Like Lu Kun, Shen Li and Jin Xuezeng's actions harmed the interests of local wealthy gentry.
Originally, advanced equipment and large ships that could go to sea were the means of production monopolized by the wealthy gentry, except for the government.
Therefore, before Lu Kun, Shen Li, Jin Xuezeng and other bureaucrats did not let the power of the imperial government come to an end, no matter it was domestic trade or foreign trade, even if legal means were used, even if the wealthy gentry accidentally took advantage of them, ordinary merchants could not compete with the wealthy gentry. But now As soon as the government stepped down, they gave the advanced means of production directly controlled by the government to ordinary businessmen through cooperation or leasing. Naturally, these wealthy gentry lost their advantage and made it more difficult to monopolize the market.
this day.
It is already the twelfth lunar month of the eleventh year of Wanli, and the feeling of winter is getting stronger.
Dead branches and fallen leaves covered the courtyard of the chief minister's official residence. Only the wintersweet breathed out its fragrance early, and Shen Shixing sniffed it carefully.
"What Yuan Fu, Shen, Lu, and Jin are doing is damaging the foundation of the world, and it is not the behavior of a gentleman. There is no reason for the government to engage in business and compete for profits with the people!"
While Shen Shixing was sniffing and pruning the wintersweet branches, he also listened to the chatter of Li Zhi, the young minister of Taipu Temple.
"This dynasty has not been promoting business for a long time, and many systems are not mature enough. So Rupei, don't be too hasty to reject new phenomena. Maybe on the surface they are competing for the interests of the people, but in fact they are for the convenience of the people. .”
"After all, there are too many common people in our court. Even in the business sector, small businessmen and hawkers also account for a large part. They cannot be suppressed too much by the court, but they also need the court to help them become wealthy merchants. Otherwise, they will not be able to do anything on their own. With such power, I am afraid that even after a lifetime of hard work, I will not be able to become a wealthy businessman, and the only ones who can become a wealthy businessman are those who suddenly become prominent in their family."
"So, since the imperial court wants to focus on business, it not only facilitates small businessmen and hawkers in terms of business taxes; the government must also provide them with loans, technology, and institutional conveniences, and even organize and guide them in the name of the government. Don’t be too focused on speculation and forget that the foundation of business is integrity and law-abiding.”
Shen Shixing said something to Li Zhi sincerely.
After hearing this, Li Zhi glanced at Shen Shixing's back with a disappointed expression, and after thinking about it, he said: "But encouraging farmers to mulberry trees is the fundamental thing. Will this make the world's bureaucrats only focus on business and profit and forget about agriculture?" The mulberry incident even drove the plowmen out of the fields and into the workshops.”
"There is no need to persuade farmers, farmers will be diligent! As for whether the bureaucrats will abandon agriculture and favor commerce, it depends on how the court controls it, and also depends on the amount of money brought by farmers and commerce. If the income from business happens to be greater than that from farming The taxes and taxes collected are just a small amount of corvee to help farmers and mulberry trees."
"There is no need to worry unfounded. We must trust the officials in the world. After all, we are all scholars. If we don't even believe in ourselves, how can we make His Majesty believe in us and the people believe in us?"
After Shen Shixing said that, he smiled calmly.
Li Zhi raised his hands and said yes, then clenched his fists, glared hard at Shen Shixing's back, and then said in a submissive tone, "I'm leaving!"
"What did Shenwu County say?"
Li Sancai hurriedly asked about Li Zhi after Li Zhi came to meet him at the Yiqingguan Villa as promised that night.
Li Sancai's face dropped and he said: "This old guy has made it clear that he supports these three governors. On the surface, he wants to wait and see what happens, but in fact he is deliberately conniving! Just like he is conniving at Wang Xue's development."
"How could this happen? Doesn't his family also want to start in business?"
Li Sancai asked disappointedly.
Li Zhi said: "I don't know, but his eldest son not only did not participate in the competition this year, he also worshiped the Duke of Ji Kingdom."
Snapped!
Li Sancai suddenly burst into laughter: "No wonder the imperial edict was issued recently to encourage scholars to go out to sea to gain fame and fame. Shenwu County has really good intentions in order to cater to the emperor's love of success!"
"I decided to go to Prime Minister Fang and change the court."
Li Zhi said.
Li Sancai was stunned after hearing this and looked at Li Zhi: "What do you want to do?"
"Of course I am helping Prime Minister Fang to overthrow Shenwu County. Prime Minister Fang does not advocate supervising and supervising the actual affairs."
Li Zhi said.
Li Sancai thought for a while and said, "You still have to be cautious. Changing the family is a taboo."
"What's the matter? Good birds choose trees to roost in."
Li Zhi refused to listen, and stopped Fang Fengshi on the day when Fang Fengshi returned to his residence, and asked Fang Fengshi to see him alone.
So, Fang Fengshi took him into his official residence and asked him, "What's the matter, sir?"
"In the past, the Duke's return of the title to preserve his saintliness was praised by everyone in the world. His subordinates also deeply respected the Duke's courage. They also knew that the Duke was the pillar of the dynasty and the country. It is important to protect the Duke from being harmed by treacherous ministers. I’m here to inform you that Shenwu County intends to let Qi Shichen, the public commentator, join the party to join you, so that the Duke will be impeached due to the dispute over the governor’s establishment of the actual affairs, and let Ji Guogong take charge of the Privy Council to become an independent prime minister!"
Li Zhi spoke.
After hearing this, Fang Fengshi narrowed his eyes and looked at Li Zhi. After a while, he got up and walked to the bookshelf, flipping through the books and smiling: "That's good. I have long wanted to become an official. Although Ji Guogong is a military minister, he is not He is not domineering, and he knows the military strategy, so he is suitable to be in charge of the Privy Council. However, I accept your kindness. You can go back, I will not tell anyone that you have been here."
