Early the next morning.
Before dawn, Lou Dongfang brought four or five businessmen to the barracks.
These businessmen all have one thing in common: they are honest and kind people, their business is medium-sized, they come from other places, and they have been doing business in Liping Prefecture for seven to eight years, and for three to five years.
Lou Dongfang paid a visit last night by knocking on the door. He first identified himself as the prefect, and then explained his purpose of coming.
Then he described the predicament faced by the prefect in an elaborate manner, and finally expressed his attitude, hoping that they could donate money and food to help the government tide over the difficulties.
The worst case scenario is to lend the government a sum of money, which will be repaid with interest next year when the prefect's government's finances improve.
These businessmen are indeed honest, but they really have no money. Because they were robbed by the rebels and their wealth was wiped out, these people really can't come up with money.
However, intimidated by the official power of the prefect, they all expressed their willingness to donate, but it was only three to five taels of silver. Even shopkeeper Sun of the Xiguan Silk and Satin Shop, which had the largest business, could only donate ten taels of silver.
Therefore, Lou Dongfang revealed his true purpose.
It’s okay if you don’t donate money or food, but you must act as a supporter for the prefect and accompany him in a play.
Otherwise, you will no longer be able to stay in Liping Mansion.
After listening to Lou Dongfang's plan, these people suddenly realized that there was no loss for them, and they could also gain a good reputation and please the prefect, so why not do it?
Therefore, these people agreed one after another and agreed with Lou Dongfang to meet in front of the barracks at five o'clock in the morning, and Master Lou would take them to meet the benefactor.
"Who is coming?"
Seeing seven or eight people suddenly pouring into the yard, Minzhuang, who was patrolling, unsheathed his saber and shouted vigilantly.
Lou Dongfang cupped his fists and said, "I am Lou Dongfang, the master of Liping Mansion. I am a friend of your Mayor Zhu and Liu Gongfu. If you need help, tell me that I am here to see them."
"No need to report it, I heard it."
Liu Gongfu was used to going to bed early and getting up early. He had just finished washing up and was about to stretch his muscles when he heard Lou Dongfang's voice.
"Haha... Brother Gongfu still got up earlier than the chickens." Lou Dongfang smiled and walked forward and patted Liu Gongfu on the shoulder.
Liu Gongfu said modestly: "Master, you go to bed later than me and wake up earlier than me. I don't dare to take your compliments seriously."
Lou Dongfang smiled naively: "Brother, I'm famous for sleeping in. It's just that I have something to do today, otherwise I could sleep until midnight."
Liu Gongfu shouted into the barracks: "Mayor, the master is here to see us."
"Get up now."
Zhu Renxia, who was still asleep, quickly put on his boots, wrapped himself in a robe, and lit a candle. "Mr. Gongfu, bring Master Lou and the others in to talk!"
Although Guizhou is located in the western border, the early morning of the first lunar month is still bitingly cold.
The temperature on the fifth watch day is around 5 or 6 degrees Celsius. When you talk, your breath will turn into white steam. Talking outside the door is obviously not a polite thing to do.
There are ten beds in the barracks, which used to be used for accommodation by civilians. Although they have been left to dry for more than a month, there is still a sour smell.
Zhu Renxia had no choice but to leave his brothers here and go stay in an inn or a post house, so he could only pinch his nose and make do with it for the night.
Seeing Lou Dongfang and others entering the house, Zhu Renxia quickly opened the two windows and said, "The conditions are a bit rough, so don't laugh."
These businessmen were a little surprised. How could a young man who was reluctant to stay in an inn become a financial sponsor? How much money can he donate, and how dare he act as a trustee for the prefect?
Lou Dongfang smiled sheepishly: "I feel wronged by Mayor Zhu. It's because our Liping government office has poor conditions and treated our distinguished guests so slowly."
"Are these the businessmen accompanying the actor?" Zhu Renxia stopped being polite and asked straight to the point.
Lou Dongfang nodded and introduced the businessmen behind him one by one: "This is Shopkeeper Sun from Sun's Silk Shop, this is Shopkeeper Chen from Southeast Grain Store, and this is Boss Li from Zuihongyan Restaurant..."
Zhu Renxia didn't bother to remember their names, so he cupped his fists and saluted politely: "Nice to meet you, nice to meet you."
Lou Dongfang continued: "Mayor Zhu divided the gold and silver into five parts, sent someone to follow them home, and then rushed to the donation site with the silver after dawn."
Zhu Renxia nodded in agreement, and asked Liu Gongfu, who had the most financial resources among the five people, Shopkeeper Sun, who owned the silk shop, to follow him to his home first before dawn with one thousand five hundred taels of silver and one hundred taels of gold. go.
Wait until daybreak, then walk out of your house with a box in your hand and let the neighbors know that this is the money your shopkeeper Sun wants to donate!
"One thousand five hundred taels of silver, one hundred taels of gold?"
As soon as Zhu Renxia finished speaking, the five businessmen were dumbfounded and couldn't close their mouths in surprise.
They probably won't be able to earn this money in their lifetime, let alone donate it!
Even Shopkeeper Sun, who had the best business among the five, had only five to six hundred taels of silver before he was robbed by the rebels. Earning a hundred and ten taels of silver in a year was considered a high price.
"Sir, the neighbors around me still know how much Sun Dahai weighs. I'm afraid no one will believe me if I donate so much." Sun Dahai frowned, feeling huge pressure.
Lou Dongfang reminded from the side: "Just say you are lending it to the government, and the government will pay you an annual interest of 4%. In order to earn interest, you borrowed it from all the seven aunts and eight aunts, and finally collected these." Silver and gold can earn one hundred taels of interest a year. If you say this, people around you will believe you."
Zhu Renxia laughed and said, "What does it matter whether others believe it or not? If you bring real money and silver to the stage, others have to believe it or not! Maybe others think you haven't told the truth before and think you are low-key. It turns out that He is a rich man with a fortune, and he will be very impressed with you in the future."
After listening to Zhu Renxia's words, shopkeeper Sun suddenly felt that his waist straightened up.
Yes, as long as I take out the money, who dares not believe it?
Several other businessmen were inspired and bowed one after another: "We are willing to help the prefect raise money and food. Please give me your instructions."
Zhu Renxia also ordered Jin Zhu to escort one thousand taels of silver and thirty taels of gold to the home of shopkeeper Chen in the grain store, and ordered Ding Xiao to escort one thousand taels of silver and thirty taels of gold to the home of Boss Li who owned a restaurant.
The remaining 1,500 taels of silver and 40 taels of gold were divided equally between the other two merchants, allowing them to take Minzhuang to the donation site as a trustee.
After making arrangements, Zhu Renxia divided the thirty people into five groups, followed Liu Gongfu, Jin Zhu, Ding Xiao and others to escort Jinyin separately, while he hid in the crowd to observe the situation.
"In that case, I'll leave it to you all."
Loudong bowed to everyone and thanked everyone, and then returned to the prefect's Yamen to report to Li Yao.
Five groups of people took advantage of the darkness to divide the gold and silver into five parts, followed the five businessmen home under the cover of night, and waited for dawn to carry the gold and silver to the donation site with great fanfare.
After everyone left, the sky was still hazy, and Zhu Renxia returned to the house and took a deep sleep.
This fund-raising event has been planned for nearly half a month. Even if Li Yao has just arrived, he is the number one figure in Liping Mansion and the fourth-rank magistrate appointed by the imperial court. On the surface, the landowners and gentry in the city still want to support it.
In the morning, around nine o'clock, the recruitment site was already crowded with guests.
Li Yao was wearing a crimson official robe, sitting in the middle, followed by his master Lou Dongfang.
Sitting on either side of him were Liu Yangang, the prefect, and Ding Kewang, the magistrate of Lipingtong. They were colluding, wearing the same pair of trousers, and couldn't wait to see Li Yao get into trouble.
The gentry and merchants in Liping City had just been looted by the rebels, so it was really bizarre to ask them to donate money.
Liu Yangang didn't even think he had to make a stumbling block, as these cunning businessmen would make up all kinds of excuses to deal with the prefect.
