Wang Lin had a headache. He could hardly hold back those wealthy gentry. As an official of the imperial court, he was very aware of the consequences of killing the imperial envoys.
Once something happens to Li Qing, no matter whether he did it or not, he will not be in a good position. At the most, he will be dismissed from office, and at the most, he will be killed.
"Damn, you're a bunch of bastards who don't know where the sky is the limit...!" Wang Lin said angrily, "If you want to die, don't get involved with me."
After pacing back and forth for a few steps, he finally felt uneasy, so he put on his official uniform and prepared to rush to the Imperial Envoy Courtyard.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he left the government office, he met Jin Yiwei.
When Wang Lin saw Jin Yiwei, his calves immediately trembled. With the names of people and the shadow of trees, Jin Yiwei was an institution that was really unfriendly to officials, especially civil servants.
The civil servants and the Jin Yiwei were almost at odds with each other.
During the Hongwu Dynasty, tens of thousands of people died in this institution. How could he not be afraid? Coupled with his guilty conscience, Wang Lin almost begged for mercy.
"Is...this sir, is there something wrong?"
The dignified magistrate, but calling him an ordinary Jin Yiwei master, shows his fear of Jin Yiwei.
The Jin Yiwei cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty the Imperial Envoy, please ask the King's Prefect to fully cooperate with the establishment of the Weaving Bureau. If it is not completed within three months, or there are mistakes, I will ask the King to order the flag to kill you!"
Wang Lin's face immediately turned pale, and at the same time, anger welled up in his heart.
This imperial envoy... is too damn good, isn't he?
In the officialdom, especially between superiors and subordinates, it is common for superiors to blame others, but it is rare to do so openly and openly like Li Qing.
Wang Lin was extremely angry, but he was angry, but he didn't dare to show it at all on his face, and kept saying yes.
After the Jin Yiwei conveyed his instructions, he left without looking back, leaving Wang Lin alone filled with resentment.
This time, the pressure was all on his side.
If something happens to the imperial envoy, he will die; if the Weaving Bureau fails, he will die; Wang Lin is in a dilemma.
He would never dare to offend the imperial envoys who represented the emperor, but those wealthy gentry were not cheap. More importantly, his Wang family was the largest wealthy gentry in Suzhou.
With the court officials on one side and his partners and family members on the other, Wang Lin really doesn't know what to do now.
As a member of an official and gentry family, he has often worked for the welfare of the wealthy gentry over the years and received benefits from them. Of course, his family has benefited even more.
Therefore, he also holds the leverage in the hands of the wealthy gentry. If he really forces these people, he will definitely not get any good results.
These rich gentry are not good men and women, they even dare to touch the imperial envoys, let alone a prefect.
Wang Lin's head was about to explode.
After much thought, he decided to stabilize Fu Shen first.
…
Li Qing has been staying in the Imperial Envoy's Courtyard, playing chess, listening to music, and enjoying himself all day long.
More than ten days passed, but there was still no movement at all, and he couldn't help but feel a little annoyed.
Why doesn't the rich gentry come?
He is waiting to ransack the house!
Two days later, the killer did not arrive, but the prefect Wang did.
"I'm here to see you, your Majesty the Imperial Envoy." Wang Lin saluted respectfully.
"Prefect Wang doesn't look too good!" Li Qing chuckled, "No need to be polite, just sit down!"
"Thank you, sir." Wang Lin has really suffered a lot these days. He has dark circles under his eyes and looks haggard. "Sir, I'm a low-ranking official... I don't know whether to say something or not."
"Then we won't talk about it." Li Qing said flatly, "The top priority is to build the Weaving Bureau. The Prefect Wang also needs to keep an eye on the Weaving Bureau. If something goes wrong... hum."
Wang Lin was full of grief and anger, but he did not dare to stand up, so he forced a smile and said: "What your lord said is that the subordinates in the Weaving Bureau have never slacked off, but... regarding the weavers and silkworms, your lord still needs to show up. "
"Yes, that's right." Li Qing stood up and said, "Let's go!"
"Ah? This... now?"
"Otherwise?" Li Qing asked, "Does the prefect Wang think that I am here just for fun?"
"I don't dare," Wang Lin said sarcastically, "It would be better if I let my subordinates inform the rich gentry first and let them prepare."
Li Qing asked in surprise: "What are you preparing for?"
Wang Lin was stunned for a moment, not knowing how to answer.
"Let's go, sooner rather than later." Li Qing said, "My imperial mission's time is precious and cannot afford to be wasted."
Wang Lin: "..."
After leaving the Imperial Envoy's Courtyard, Li Qing called two guards in royal robes and said, "Prefect Wang, let's go to your home first?"
"This..." Wang Lin's heart trembled, "Sir, why don't we go to Rich Master Liu's house? His workshop is bigger."
"Yeah... that's okay." Li Qing followed suit.
Wang Lin is still useful at this stage, but he doesn't want to push too hard.
…
Half an hour later, the group arrived at Rich Master Liu's workshop.
The Liu family workshop is quite large, covering an area of more than ten acres, with nearly a thousand looms and nearly 3,000 workers. The production chain is complete from boiling cocoons and drawing silk to dyeing and drying cloth.
"Zhizhizhi..."
The sounds from the looms came and went, making it very lively.
Li Qing looked pleased. This was already showing signs of industrialization and could almost be called a factory.
When Mr. Liu heard that the imperial envoy had arrived, he immediately put aside what he was doing and hurried over to socialize.
After walking around for a while, Li Qing gained a new understanding and overturned his previous thoughts.
——The wealth of the local wealthy gentry is definitely more than that of the feudal king!
"Your Majesty the Imperial Envoy has worked hard." Rich Master Liu said flatteringly, "I have prepared some simple meals, but I hope you will show your appreciation!"
"Oh?" Li Qing rubbed his belly and said with a hearty smile, "Okay, I happened to be hungry, so I spent money on Mr. Liu."
"Where is it..." Mr. Liu was overjoyed, "My lord, please, my lord, please."
Wang Lin was also overjoyed when he saw this. This was a good sign!
Don't be afraid of corrupt officials, be afraid of honest officials.
As long as you ask for something, you'll be fine.
~
Liu family.
Li Qing sat down unceremoniously on the seat of honor, accompanied by Rich Master Liu and Prefect Wang, who kept on flattering him.
After a while, wine and food were served one after another. Each dish was pitifully small, but extremely exquisite and expensive to make.
Just for the carp whiskers and duck tongues, I don’t know how many fish and ducks have been killed, even if you don’t look at the two small plates.
The wine is also unusual, with a soft mouthfeel and a thin throat.
Li Qing couldn't help but sigh to himself: "Both Lao Zhu and Lao Fourth Master have never been so extravagant."
The wealth of the wealthy gentry in Jiangnan once again refreshed his understanding. These wealthy gentry passed down from generation to generation really made him envious.
Prefect Wang and Rich Master Liu toasted and flattered each other, and Li Qing also looked like he was very useful. The three of them talked and laughed as if they had been friends for many years.
Seeing that the time was gradually ripe, Wang Lin winked at Mr. Liu. The latter understood, raised his glass and said with a smile, "Sir, why don't you let the two officials go and have something to eat? It's not easy for them either."
Li Qing nodded with a smile and sent the two royal guards to retreat.
He knew that the time had come to test him.
Sure enough, as soon as the Jin Yiwei retreated, Mr. Liu clapped his hands several times, and not long after, a group of orioles walked into the room.
"Dance, dance...!"
All the women bowed and twisted their waists.
Jiangnan women are as soft as water, and their unique style is really eye-catching.
Are you going to test me with this?
Li Qing was a little disappointed, he thought he would use money as a bribe.
After a while, the housekeeper of the Liu Mansion called his servants and brought a big box. Rich Master Liu smiled and said: "Your Majesty the Imperial Envoy is a scholar and regards money as dirt. I think only these saints' classics can be discerned by your Majesty."
As he said that, he opened the box and took out a book, "Do you think you'd like it after reading it, sir?"
Li Qing was really not interested in these things, but in order to numb the other party, he still took it and started flipping through it. When he saw what was in the book clearly, he couldn't help but be stunned.
This is not a book, but a piece of treasure banknote.
"Sir, how about this book...?"
Li Qing laughed loudly: "Wonderful, wonderful!"
After a pause, "That's it for now. Tomorrow the prefect Wang will call all the rich gentry. The Weaving Bureau needs the help of the rich gentry. We have to discuss it carefully."
"Yes, I will obey your orders."
Wang Lin was overjoyed, isn’t this enough?
For people like them, as long as they can be solved with money, it is not a problem. Everyone is happy that the imperial envoy is so wise.
Rich Man Liu was also smiling from ear to ear. Killing the imperial envoy was just an angry talk. He would be happy to see it resolved peacefully.
Li Qing ate, drank, and took things, which completely reassured the two of them.
…
Returning to the Imperial Envoy Courtyard, hundreds of households in brocade clothes immediately came forward to report: "Sir, the commanding officer is here."
Li Qing's eyes lit up: "Where are the others?"
"There is a lady in the courtyard, and the commander can't keep her here for long. She has gone to the post house." Baihu in Jinyi asked, "Do you want to invite her over?"
Li Qing nodded.
Half an hour later, Ji Gang, commander of the Jinyi Guards, came on horseback.
He cupped his fists and said, "I have met Marquis Yongqing."
"Commander Ji, Shao Li, get off your horse and speak." Li Qing didn't like to look up and sat on the couch in the courtyard, minding his own business, "How many people are here?"
Ji Gang got off his horse and replied: "One thousand five, the emperor was worried about the safety of the Marquis, so he sent all the idle guards here."
"Well, you go to the posthouse first and don't be exposed for the time being."
"I'm afraid that's not possible." Ji Gang refused, "The emperor asked me to protect the Marquis, and I hope the Marquis will be considerate."
Li Qing didn't bother to explain to him, so he took something out of his arms and asked, "Is it okay now?"
Ji Gang craned his neck to take a look, his expression suddenly changed, and he hurriedly bowed: "Long live my emperor, long live long live..."
Li Qing took back the token of "I am here in person" and said, "Commander Ji, you have been working hard all the way. Go back and have a good rest and wait for news from me."
"Yes." Ji Gang said yes without any excuse.
Being able to have the emperor grant such a token shows how powerful Li Qing is. Even he, the commander of the Imperial Guard, who makes all the officials look down on him, cannot afford to offend him.
"Then I will wait in the post house first. If the Marquis has anything to do, just give me a word."
Ji Gang's attitude before and after was completely different.
Li Qing nodded slightly: "Well, go ahead!"
…
