However, in just a few months, under the rule of Quanzhou, the people of Jinjiang County all knew that now a unique general had come to Quanzhou. He asked the people to help build the salt farm and even paid them ten coppers a day and two meals. Ganfan, such good treatment cannot be found anywhere in Quanzhou, let alone the government.
However, because of the construction of a salt drying field, Wang Zhong, who had just arrived and was young, was given the name Wang Qingtian by the people of Jinjiang County. When Chen Jun, the magistrate of the state, heard the news, he was a little stunned.
I think that Chen Jun has served as the magistrate of Quanzhou for nearly three years. Not only did he work hard, but he was also conscientious in encouraging farming and mulberry farming. He was neither greedy nor exploitative. He can be regarded as a good and upright official, but he was actually A newcomer stole the show.
This makes Chen Jun feel so comfortable.
But this was done spontaneously by the people, and Wang Zhong couldn't be blamed. How could Chen Jun be upset?
Fortunately, Chen Jun is not a small-minded person. He sighed a few times and let it go. Instead, he started to think about the secret.
After thinking about it, Chen Jun found that it was simply because of the salary of ten cents a day and two meals of rice that Wang Zhong offered to the people.
On this day, Wang Zhong was teaching ten students to study in the front yard. Suddenly, on the second day of Chu, he came to report that Chen Jun was here. Wang Zhong hurriedly asked the students to study on their own and went to greet him in person.
"Ming Gong is here, but I am disappointed to welcome him from afar. I hope Ming Gong will forgive me!"
"I came suddenly, what does it have to do with Zihou!" Chen Jun seemed to have another purpose.
Wang Zhong immediately led Chen Jun into the front hall, and the envoy served him freshly brewed hot tea.
"What's important, Mr. Ming?" After exchanging a few words with Chen Jun, Wang Zhong asked directly.
Chen Jun took a sip of tea, put down the tea bowl, looked at Wang Zhong and asked, "Zi Hou! Now that the salt field has been built, when will the salt production start?"
It's no wonder that Chen Jun was so anxious. All the expenses for building the salt field were funded by the state government treasury. Although Wang Zhong had the imperial decree from Emperor Jiayou, if he could only get out but not get in, the people below would inevitably gossip.
Wang Chong said with a smile: "Ming Gong Ming Jian, the salt field we built is different from the salt field in the traditional sense. It is made from seawater that has been sedimented and filtered many times before being sun-dried. This method has never been used before. Therefore, The officials specially ordered me to test it in Quanzhou, but it is still unknown whether it will succeed or not!"
Chen Jun frowned slightly and asked, "How sure is Zihou?"
"About 70% to 80%!" Wang Zhong said: "But when it comes to drying salt, in addition to technology, it also depends on God's face."
Chen Jun also learned about the detailed process of drying salt with Wang Zhong in advance, so he naturally knew what Wang Zhong meant.
"I wonder what Zihou said years ago about the inspection?" This was the real purpose of Chen Jun's trip. When the salt farm was being built a few years ago, Wang Zhong made a drunken blunder and said that in addition to the salt farm, before leaving, the official The family also specifically asked Wang Zhong to come to Quanzhou for a careful inspection to see if Quanzhou was suitable for establishing a shipping department.
That is the Shipping Department. Quanzhou is close to the sea and has a very advantageous geographical location. If a Shipping Department can be established and a port can be established to attract passing merchant ships to stay, over time, Quanzhou will be able to completely get rid of its remote and impoverished status quo and become the next Hangzhou.
Wang Zhong looked at the big fish that took the bait with a half-smile but said, "It depends on the courage of Duke Ming!"
"My courage?" Chen Jun pointed at himself and said, "What does Zihou mean by this?"
Wang Zhongdao: "Quanzhou is close to the sea and is located in the middle of Hangzhou, Mingzhou and Guangzhou Shipping Departments. The geographical location is superior, and there are natural ports such as Quanzhou Bay. It is indeed suitable for building a shipping company, but whether it is suitable or not is not something I can say. Decision, and Quanzhou is not the only choice. Let’s not talk about distant places, just Fuzhou. The geographical location is exactly the same as Quanzhou, and the wealth and population are even greater. I dare to ask Ming Gong, if you were asked to choose, Ming Will you choose Fuzhou or Quanzhou?"
"This..." Wang Zhong's words left Chen Jun speechless. Fortunately, Chen Jun's brain was quick enough. He immediately leaned forward, grabbed Wang Zhong's hand, and couldn't wait to ask. Said: "Why should Zihou teach me?"
Then he realized what he was doing and hurriedly let go of Wang Zhong's hand. He cupped his hand with some embarrassment and said, "I was so excited that I couldn't help myself. I made Zihou laugh."
However, Wang Zhong had a serious look on his face, and he cupped his hands towards Chen Jun and said: "Ming Gong is devoted to Quanzhou and the people. This heart can be seen from the sun and the moon. Zhong only has admiration in his heart!"
Chen Jun breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time he became more and more satisfied with Wang Zhong. Different people said completely different things. In just a few words, Wang Zhong praised Chen Jun to the level of caring about the country and the people, serving the public wholeheartedly, studying and becoming an official. , what he seeks is nothing more than power, fame and fortune. Chen Jun is not short of money, but what he lacks is a reputation that will last forever!
Wang Zhong said this, how could he not make Chen Jun happy: "If Zihou has any good ideas, tell me quickly!"
Wang Zhongdao: "If Ming Gong is interested, he can expand the port and build a wharf in Quanzhou Bay to attract passing maritime merchants and encourage merchants to go to sea for trade. As long as we make achievements, those merchants will spread the name of Quanzhou throughout the world for us. At that time, Ming Gong said how the officials would choose?"
"Expanding the port and building a wharf is not that easy!" Chen Jun sighed.
After all, it is nothing more than the word money.
Time passes day by day.
In late February of the seventh year of Jiayou's reign, the city of Tokyo was bustling with excitement. Scholars from various states and prefectures gathered in Tokyo to participate in the triennial spring festival, all seeking to be named on the gold medal list and pass the exam.
Quanzhou City, thousands of miles southeast of Tokyo, is also very lively.
Quanzhou Bay, on the pier, Wang Zhong had been waiting here for a long time after receiving the news. Several large ships with a length of more than ten feet and a width of several feet were parked in Quanzhou Bay. Sheng Wei took Chang Song and several Wang Zhongbu The person he knew quickly walked towards Wang Zhong after getting off the boat.
After some pleasantries, Wang Zhong led the people to Danbi Tower where a banquet had been arranged.
Amidst the singing and dancing, with the background of silk and bamboo orchestra, and at the banquet, Sheng Wei introduced the people he brought to Wang Zhong. They were all big businessmen who had a good relationship with Sheng Wei. One of them was Chang Song's uncle, and all of them were Ying Sheng. Wei's invitation came to fulfill the agreement made with Wang Zhong last year in Youyang.
Although Wang Zhong is young, none of these wealthy businessmen dare to look down upon him in the slightest.
At the age of twenty, he became the general judge of a state, and he was an official of the sixth rank. His future was limitless.
Businessmen are all driven by profit. How could a stock with such great potential like Wang Zhong not be worthy of their investment?
What's more, others don't know it, but Changsong's uncle Li Yong knows very well that his brother-in-law's business is now so prosperous and he is making money every day. None of the prosperous businesses is related to Wang Zhong.
"Everyone sitting here today is older than me, and has far more experience than me. As for business experience, that's not to mention. You are all good hands. You have been favored by officials and have been awarded the title of Quanzhou Tongpan. One position!”
"You are all leading merchants. I don't need to tell you what Quanzhou's geographical location is. You all know it in your mind. With a natural port like Quanzhou Bay, it is a very advantageous location.
In the decades since the Taizong Dynasty, the imperial court has encouraged merchants to go to sea for trade, and in order to establish a maritime Silk Road, it has successively established municipal shipping departments in Hangzhou, Mingzhou, and Guangzhou to take charge of all matters related to maritime trade and provide various conveniences. The right time! "
"Now that you are all gathered here, we are harmonious and harmonious. The time and place are favorable and people and people are harmonious. How can we worry about not being able to achieve great things?"
"What the judge said is absolutely true!" Sheng Wei was not the first to speak up, but Li Yong, Sheng Wei's uncle, was the first to speak out: "How can we miss such a good opportunity? My Li's business name has been decided. Set up a branch in Quanzhou, purchase three sea-going ships, and go out to sea for trade!"
The remaining people were not in a hurry to express their opinions. Instead, after looking at each other, one of them, a very wealthy middle-aged fat man, cupped his hands at Wang Zhong and said: "We also agree with what the general judge said. It's just that although the profits from overseas trade... It’s high, but the risk is also high. Let’s not talk about pirates. Even storms on the sea are beyond the control of human beings. Whenever we encounter one, it’s just a loss of cargo and cargo, but we’re afraid of losing our lives!”
"There is no such thing as a pie in the sky in this world! Although the sea is dangerous, the profits from a trip are also extremely high!" Wang Chong said with a smile: "Nowadays, the two shipping companies in Hangzhou and Mingzhou have an annual round trip. There are more than thousands of ships, and a large amount of musk, wood, gold and silver and other items have flowed into our country from overseas trading companies. You all know how profitable these things are. I don’t need to tell you. Know."
Another businessman raised his hand and asked: "The common people have doubts in their hearts. I wonder if Tong San can help the common people clear up their doubts?"
"But it's okay to ask!" Wang Zhong smiled with relief.
The man said: "Although we are also businessmen, we only do business within the territory of our country, nothing more than the north, south, east and west. We have never experienced going to sea. Tongpan also said that there are so many people going to sea every year, why does Tongpan choose to go to sea? Why don't you wait for me?"
Wang Zhongdao: "I was ordered by the officials to judge Quanzhou, so I naturally had to make some achievements in order to live up to the officials' entrustment. However, Quanzhou has many mountains and few fields, and the mulberry farming is not prosperous. If I want to make some achievements, We can only find other ways.
Quanzhou is close to the sea and has natural ports such as Quanzhou Bay. The geographical location is extremely advantageous. Nowadays, overseas trade is increasingly prosperous. As you know, there are only three shipping companies in Hangzhou, Mingzhou and Guangzhou, which bring taxes to the court every year. how many? "
Everyone looked at each other and shook their heads.
Wang Zhongdao: "The detailed amount is a secret of the imperial court, and it is not convenient for me to tell you, but what I can tell you is that the tax levied by the imperial court on maritime trade every year is not much higher than the salt tax, and this number is increased year by year. It’s all growing.”
"Tongjian, are you serious about this statement?" Several businessmen were stunned.
Wang Zhongdao: "I can't convince everyone just by what I say. There are also many merchants in Quanzhou who go to sea for trade. You may as well go and find out for yourself."
Wang Zhong didn't have to be so polite to these businessmen, but these people came with Sheng Wei, and they all cooperated very closely with Sheng Wei, had a good relationship, and their character was not bad, otherwise Sheng Wei would not Won't bring them here.
Of course Wang Zhong wanted to give Sheng Wei some face.
After the banquet, all the businessmen looked for a place to live. Wang Zhong led Sheng Wei and Chang Song back to his house in Quanzhou.
Wang Zhong's residence is just a small house with two entrances. The only bright spot may be that it has two quite spacious yards. Moreover, the house is rented, not bought.
It's a little far from the bustling city, but it's quieter.
In the study room in the front yard, Wang Chong drank two cups of fragrant tea and knelt down on both sides of the long desk with Sheng Wei.
"Among the people I brought this time, there were thirty-three shipbuilders, twelve skilled blacksmiths, more than forty apprentices, fifty spinning machines and fifty looms each, and skilled female workers. Twenty people, and..."
Wang Zhong poured a cup of tea for Sheng Wei and joked: "Uncle, are you planning to move your family to Quanzhou?"
Sheng Wei also smiled and said: "Since Zihou is determined to make great achievements in Quanzhou, as an uncle, I will naturally give my full support!"
Wang Zhong said: "Uncle, aren't you afraid that if the stall is too big, you won't be able to recoup the cost?"
"I remember Zi Hou said that as long as there are still people in this world, we will not worry about our family's cloth not being sold!" Sheng Wei looked at Wang Zhong with a half-smile.
"Besides, You Zihou is now the general magistrate of Quanzhou. With Zihou here, it is a good opportunity to open up the Quanzhou market. As the saying goes, if God does not take what he wants, he will suffer the consequences. What does Zihou think?"
"Zhong Zi should fully support uncle." Wang Zhong cupped his hands and said.
Sheng Wei said: "As the saying goes, brothers must settle accounts clearly. Today is different from the past. The newly built cotton mills, cloth mills, shipyards and fleets in Quanzhou, I want to separate them from the previous family properties. Establish another business with a total investment of 200,000 yuan. My eldest brother will hold 50% of the shares, my aunt will hold 20% of the shares, and my sixth niece will hold 30% of the shares. What does Zihou think?"
"As for the business name, it's fine for my uncle to make the decision himself!" Wang Zhong said.
In the seventh year of Jiayou's reign, on February 17, Wang Zhong once again went to see Chen Jun, the magistrate, and held a banquet in Danbi Tower. He invited the oiran from Danbi Tower to accompany him.
After a while of pushing cups and changing cups, Wang Zhong asked directly: "I wonder how Ming Gong has considered the matter about the port and wharf that I told you last time?"
Chen Jun's face was stunned for a moment, and then he looked at Wang Zhong. He didn't answer directly, but asked: "I heard that Hou held a banquet at Danbi Building a few days ago?"
Wang Zhongdao: "We are receiving an elder in the family, the elder brother of my future father-in-law, my uncle from the Sheng family in Youyang County, Jiangning Prefecture, and several of his friends."
"Oh? He's Shanda Ren's brother?" Chen Jun was quite surprised.
Wang Zhongdao: "There are three houses in the Sheng family. My future father-in-law is the second house. Most of the children in the house are studying for the imperial examinations in order to become officials. The head of the eldest house is Uncle Sheng, who specializes in taking care of Sheng. The family has various properties, this time Uncle Sheng was invited by his subordinates to come to Quanzhou, hoping to open a business in Quanzhou and go overseas for trade."
Seeing that Chen Jun was still hesitant, Wang Zhong said again: "Ming Gong has now been honored as the magistrate of a state and is serving Fei in the fifth rank. But if you want to go further and be promoted to Tokyo, it will not be easy. Even if you really go to Tokyo, it will be just a matter of time." It’s just a casual job, I don’t know how long it will take to make further progress. Ming Gong is so wise, virtuous, shrewd and capable, so I don’t need to be reminded by my subordinates, Ming Gong must be very clear about it!”
Chen Jun's face became solemn. After pondering for a moment, he remembered the imperial edict that Wang Zhong had brought. He couldn't help but trembled in his heart. He raised his eyes and looked at Wang Zhong and said: "Zi Hou can have such courage at such a young age. Chen The eldest son has been a fool for so many years, how can he be willing to be second to his son?"
Chen Jun comes from a wealthy family with a good family background. He is a serious second-class Jinshi. He has both talent and learning. He has been working abroad for many years and served in many places before he climbed to his current position. He is well aware of the difficulty of promotion, and now Chen Jun has In the recent years of destiny, it is said that people are rare in the past seventy years. How many people can live to be sixty?
If Chen Jun had not made great achievements, he would have been able to retire at the third level in his life, which would have been like smoke rising from his ancestral grave.
"Thank you for your support, Ming Gong!" Wang Zhong showed a smile on his face, stood up and walked to Chen Jun, bowed and bowed deeply.
Zhizhou and Tongpan have united, and naturally there will be no more strange voices in Quanzhou.
On February 24th, the Jihai Shipyard officially started construction in Quanzhou Bay. At the same time, the first two large ships of the Jihai Company were escorted by Caobang and driven by locally recruited crews and sailors. Using the chart provided by Wang Zhong, the first voyage southward began. Sheng Wei stayed in Quanzhou to get an overview of the overall situation, while Changsong followed the ship southward and headed straight for Nanyang.
But as time went by, a problem gradually appeared in front of Wang Zhong and Chen Jun, and that was spring plowing.
Spring plowing is coming, and people are busy plowing and sowing, entering the busy farming season. No matter how the policies of the state government change, farming is always the top priority, because at this time, the Song Dynasty was still a country dominated by agriculture.
It was Chen Jun who personally went to the Xinghua Army in the north and transferred two battalions of troops. While stationed in Quanzhou Bay, he was also responsible for the construction work of the dock and port. Of course, Quanzhou was responsible for all the construction work at the beginning.
Time came to March, and the salt field, which had started diverting water into the reservoir as early as February when the tide was high, officially began to dry salt. Although the newly recruited salt workers had received theoretical training in advance, they had really reached the practical stage. Still a little confused, Wang Zhong could only go into battle himself and direct everyone to dry the salt.
The seawater entering the storage has been evaporated, precipitated, filtered, and sublimated. Most of the impurities in the seawater have been removed, making the brine saturated. But this is just the beginning. The real wonder lies in the next step of drying the salt. step.
On March 12, Chen Jun was invited to the salt field.
In the morning, with the rising sun and gentle sea breeze, Chen Jun was finally moved when he looked at the layer of crystallized salt grains as white as snow at the bottom of the salt field, his face filled with astonishment.
The salt particles were splashing on the bottom of the pool, and there was a deep layer of sea water above. This phenomenon was beyond Chen Jun's understanding.
Wang Zhong gave an order, and the salt workers, who had been preparing for a long time, stood barefoot on one side of the salt field with special tools, and pushed the sea salt crystals precipitated in the salt field to the other end for accumulation.
Looking at the small snowy mountains piled up like snow-like salt grains, Chen Jun couldn't help but be curious and walked over.
"Is this really salt from the sea?" Chen Jun squatted down, picked up a handful, and put it into the palm of his hand. The salt grains were white, large, not fine, and distinct. Withdrawing troops was like looking at palm prints. After observing carefully for a while, he raised his hand and poured the salt grains into his mouth. His eyes widened and his pupils shrank.
"What do you think of this salt?" Wang Zhong, who was following Chen Jun, asked with a smile.
Chen Jun stood up, looked at Wang Zhong, and suddenly bowed his hands: "Zi Hou is really a great talent. Such a wonderful method has never been heard of. Once this salt comes out, Quanzhou will be rich!"
Naturally, Wang Zhong couldn't let Chen Jun salute him, so he quickly stretched out his hand to support him and said: "Ming Gongrong, this is the crystallization of salt grains. It needs to be processed before it can be the table salt we usually use!"
"I don't know how to deal with it?" Chen Jun couldn't bear to be polite to Wang Zhong and asked curiously.
Wang Zhong smiled mysteriously and said, "My lord, go and see it yourself. Isn't it better than the thousands of words of the lower officials?"
"Not bad, not bad!" Chen Jun also showed a smile on his face, grabbed Wang Zhong's hand and said: "Let's go, let's go quickly!"
In the evening, the results of the first salt drying were also calculated. The salt drying fields totaled 24 acres, and a total of more than 10,000 kilograms of salt was produced.
Nowadays, the price of salt on the market ranges from 30 to 100 yuan. The quality of the salt produced in the salt farm is almost the same as the best green salt on the market. If it is sold at a price of 100 yuan, it will be 100 yuan. Thousands of dollars, a thousand pounds of profit.
Of course, the price cannot be calculated like this, and salt merchants naturally want to make money.
Seeing this figure, even Chen Jun couldn't help but be stunned. In just seven or eight days, he could earn nearly a thousand dollars. If things go on like this, the scale of the salt drying field will be expanded and the sites selected by Wang Zhong that are suitable for building salt fields will be expanded. All the tidal flats were built. Chen Jun couldn't even imagine the situation at that time.
Chen Jun excitedly grabbed Wang Zhong's hand and said: "Zihou, we will start construction immediately on the places you have chosen to build a salt farm..."
Wang Zhong couldn't help but laugh bitterly at what Chen Jun said, and immediately said: "The salt farm will naturally be built, but not now!"
"Why?" Chen Jun asked puzzledly.
Wang Zhongdao: "First of all, the process of drying salt is very complicated. We don't even have a skilled salt worker now. I have to keep an eye on it all the time. Even my few students who have been following me are not familiar with it yet. What’s more, it’s an ordinary salt worker!”
"What does Zihou mean?" Chen Jun asked.
"We'd better be prudent. We'll expand the salt field first, and then recruit more salt workers. First, let these salt workers be familiar with every step and process of drying salt. After they become proficient in skills, we can move on to the other salt workers. Build a salt farm in a suitable place and let these old salt workers lead the newly recruited salt workers."
Chen Jun calmed down after hearing this, and couldn't help but nod his head: "What Zihou said is absolutely true, I was just impulsive!"
Wang Chong said with a smile: "Salt affairs are the cornerstone of the country. Duke Ming is dedicated to the court and the people. It is inevitable that he will be excited for a while. It is not too late to admire him!"
"Hahaha!" Chen Jun looked at Wang Zhong and couldn't help stroking his beard and laughed: "Then listen to Zihou, let's do it step by step!"
"Ming Gong is wise!" Wang Zhong cupped his hands and said.
Early the next morning, carrying the memorial written by Wang Zhong overnight and two jars of sea salt, the messenger took a boat all the way north from Quanzhou Bay and headed straight for Tokyo.
The results of the salt drying field have been produced, so it is natural to report to Emperor Jiayou immediately. This is a proper political achievement!
(End of chapter)
