half life slave

The next day, Rong Yu woke up with a severe headache. Lin Sheng thoughtfully brought over hangover soup, but his tone was not gentle at all, "My lord can't drink and still drinks so much. I'm usually not a greedy person. Why did she hand it over? Don't drink a glass, drink it all?"

Rong Yu was stunned for a moment, and it took him a long time to realize who the "she" was referring to, and subconsciously rubbed his nose and smiled coquettishly.

Lin Sheng was relentless, "What are you going to do? Maybe Lord Duan will send him over later, whether to stay or let go, you can tell me."

Hearing the three words sent, Rong Yu was even more embarrassed, and asked with evasive eyes, "Yesterday, I, did I say that I want her?"

"You didn't say it! But you didn't refuse!" Lin Sheng teased, "Master Duan said at the end that he ordered someone to bring her to you later, but you just kept smiling and didn't say a word!"

There is no memory at all, the so-called smiling and silent, it should be that he has lost the ability to think and speak, Rong Yu dare not look at him anymore, just lowered his head and remained silent.

Lin Sheng ignored him, and after a while, Rong Yu remembered that he still had business to do, so he hurriedly interrupted, "Duan Xun said he would send the list of salt merchants, did you send it?"

Lin Sheng pouted on the book case, and there were thick files and registers on it.Rong Yu calmed down, and simply didn't think about the topic just now. After getting up and washing up, he concentrated on studying the situation of Lianghuai salt merchants.

He carefully flipped through the records, and soon he had nothing else to do.At that time, the Lianghuai salt merchants were a special group of merchants. Although they were named after Lianghuai, they were not limited to people from this area. Many came from different regions, and the most powerful merchants were from Shanxi and Huizhou.Among them, Wang, Cheng, Jiang, Hong, Pan, Zheng and Xu had the most capital, and Jiangchun, a Huizhou merchant, ranked first among the eight.

According to the county annals of Yangzhou Prefecture, the Huai salt year class was 70 citations, and 180 taels of silver was collected, which was several times more than other salt-producing areas.

Salt business can make money, resulting in the extravagant and competitive style of salt merchants. Salt merchants in Yangzhou poured money and material resources to forge gardens, making friends with officials and dignitaries. At that time, Yangzhou gardens were the most prosperous in the world. There are dozens of miles of buildings connecting each other, but there is no repetition.

So much so that even Emperor Shengping sighed that the salt merchants had great financial resources.

Rong and checked the papers at the desk, full of thoughts, imagining what it would be like to meet these wealthy businessmen later.When I saw it, I couldn't help feeling more and more emotional. The so-called richness of the salt merchants in Lianghuai can be seen from the clothes.

However, there are exceptions. Jiang Chun, a Huizhou businessman who is the head of the Eight Great Families, has the air of a celebrity.

As usual, Wang Yunwen talked about the rules of the game first, and the representatives of the Eight Great Families listened carefully, but when it came to transporting food to the frontier fortress, everyone felt a little embarrassed for a while.

Since Jiang Chun is the leader of these people, he must be the first to ask, "The imperial court's method is good. It can transport food and grass for thousands of miles, and bandits and thieves will be infested along the way. I'm afraid it will be difficult for us to deal with it. When the time comes, the food and grass will not be donated. , Yan Yin was also ruined, and his wife lost his army, so how should this loss be calculated?"

After finishing speaking, he just stared at Duan Xun, implying that the Yangzhou government promised to send some troops to escort food and grass all the way to solve the security problem.

Duan Xun couldn't understand what he meant, and nodded with his beard, "There is a hidden danger, and I have considered it. But the haunting of Qiangliang cannot be solved by one state and one government. Now which state dares to say that there are no bandits on the ground I, Duan, convinced him! But then again, even if I can guarantee that Yangzhou Mansion, and even the entire Yingtian Mansion will not be flawed, the rest can’t be guaranteed. I’m afraid I have to contact the provinces Governor, please ask them to send more troops to protect the caravan."

Cheng Ruwen, a Jin merchant, had a straight temper, and asked, "Your Excellency can't guarantee things other than Yingtian Mansion, but you can always support us. The imperial court asked us to pay food, which is also for the stability of the frontier. It is an achievement for the country and the people. Those of us have made a lot of contributions to the local government, and my lord will not see us go bankrupt, and it is reasonable to send some troops to protect us."

Duan Xun glanced at Rong Yu and sighed, "This is reasonable, and I have the same thoughts. However, the number of troops that a Yangzhou government can deploy is really limited. Since the cabinet reorganization, Lord Shoufu has established an official assessment system. Every year, I have to pay attention to local political achievements, and one of them is public security. I am busy suppressing bandits and suppressing bandits all day long, not to mention studying politics, paying donations, and collecting taxes. Too much."

Shaking his head and sighing, he went on to say, "Think about it, everyone, send the government soldiers to the frontier to protect the caravan. If something goes wrong in Yangzhou, where can I go to rescue the soldiers? So, Lie You can't count on me alone, for this matter, you have to unite with the provincial officials, and the big guys work together, the only way is the right way."

"In my opinion, the cabinet still has to take the lead." He pointed to Rong Yu during his speech, "This is Mr. Lin, the imperial envoy personally appointed by the emperor, and he is the most able to talk to the elders in Beijing. , you should also ask him to pass the suggestion to Beijing, and let the elders come up with a plan, won't it all be solved?"

Jiang Chun is a gentleman, so he got up immediately after hearing this, and cupped his hands towards Rong Yu, "Master Lin, we can understand Mr. Duan's difficulties, but there are also our own difficulties. It is difficult to say that it is difficult for everyone here. It’s all right for a few, but the escorts are all family members who have been with us for several lifetimes, we can’t disregard their wealth and lives, my lord will see if the court can give us an explanation, as long as we can ensure safety, we will have nothing to say.”

Rong He deeply gnawed his head. If he wanted to talk about this half-day debate, the focus was nothing more than this one. He had already thought about it earlier. After all, in this era, transportation is underdeveloped, local governments are independent, and bandits and bandits are indeed common.

So he slowly said what he had thought before, "Long-distance transportation of grain is neither safe nor costly. The original intention of the court was not to let you waste your money or even endanger your life. Have you ever thought about collecting local materials? Hire people in the frontiers to reclaim the fields, and store them locally in exchange for salt. In this way, safety can be guaranteed and more profits will be made. You only need to confirm which wasteland at the garrison point you want to claim , and then send trusted people to the local area to hire people, and the rest will just wait for the next year’s autumn harvest. I don’t know what I’m talking about, what do you guys think, and is it feasible?”

Seeing the salt merchants in the hall whispering to each other at first, and then gradually showing joy, they knew that this method could probably solve their biggest problem.

After a while, Jiang Chun motioned the rest of the people to be quiet, "We understand Master Lin's meaning. It is indeed a good solution, but how to solve it for the first time? Now we need to go to the frontier to stockpile land. I'm afraid we won't be able to make it in time."

Rong Yu smiled at him, "It's just what I said just now. You don't need to escort them thousands of miles away. Temporarily having no land does not mean that there is no food. You can collect food locally. Although the harvest is not as cost-effective as hoarding land, it is always better than nothing. What's more The more you collect, the more salt you will exchange, and you know this deal better than I do."

Jiang Chun pondered for a moment, and the corner of his mouth slightly raised, "My lord said so, we have some confidence in our hearts, and we should thank you for your guidance." He bowed to Rong Rong and bowed at the same time.

Rong He smiled and nodded in return. Seeing that the problem was solved, Duan Xun twirled his beard and smiled, "Master Imperial Envoy is better! A few sentences or two will hit the point! Although Master Lin is young, he has extraordinary knowledge. I can't blame the emperor for his appreciation and reliance on you!" "

The old fox came to praise this move again, Rong Yu quickly waved his hands, "It's not that I have knowledge, this is the method that the emperor had thought up before leaving Beijing, I just said it for the emperor."

Slightly raising his head to the people in the hall, he said again, "Everyone here has made contributions to the imperial court. The emperor naturally cares about your safety, so the only way is for the emperor to order me to tell you. I also hope that you can continue to do well for the imperial court. The salt business will benefit more localities and set a good example for salt merchants in other places.”

These remarks are still second to none, but they reveal a message that the policy of exchanging grain for food is not limited to Lianghuai, and salt merchants in other places also have the opportunity to intervene.However, there are only so many troops stationed by the imperial court. Whoever strikes first will occupy more land for the strong, and I am afraid that they will not have to worry about not making money in the future.

The representatives of the Eight Great Families are all shrewd people, and their faces immediately overflowed with joy, and then expressed their gratitude for the mighty grace of heaven, and then made a good statement.

Rong Yu saw that they had no other questions for the time being, so he discussed with Wang Yunwen, and then let them claim it according to the list and register it.

This end calmed down for a while, thinking about what to do next, Rong Yu took the opportunity to ask Duan Xun, "Recently, I have met Yan Ji, the new Yangzhou Xuezheng, and he is a second-class Jinshi in the imperial examination this year. I don't know how he will do after arriving in Yangzhou." ?”

"Your Excellency asked Yan Ji?" Duan Xun twirled his beard, smiled meaningfully, and said after pondering for a while, "This man is interesting. I remember that he is from Shanxi. When this old Xi'er took office, I just took it," he narrowed his eyes, and slowly stretched out a finger, "a servant. The head shop said that he originally wanted to send some commonly used things to his house, but in the end, he returned them all. return."

Rong Yu frowned, but secretly smiled in his heart, this person is still so stubborn, he likes to be alone, "From Lord Duan's words, I'm afraid Yan Xuezheng doesn't get along well with others?"

Duan Xun stroked his beard again and laughed, "I will tell you a story, just listen to it. This year's Mid-Autumn Festival, just in time for the Nanjing Yuma Supervisor to print Bingbi, and the newly transferred Suzhou Admiral weaving through Yangzhou, this new Officials who are promoted, as usual, the big guys also have to celebrate. But this Yan Ji, guess what he gave?"

Seeing his face and shaking his head, he didn't hold back, "A pair of water chestnuts, two liang of Gorgon fruit, and an almanac."

Rong Yu was startled, then smiled, and Yan Jixuan's arrogant appearance appeared in his mind.He thought to himself, this person really seems to be someone who is not afraid of offending people and is not greedy for money. It just so happens that these two points are in line with Shen Hui's current needs.

After the inquiry, there was no further news for the time being, because in the next few days, Rong Yu was busy answering questions about salt merchants big and small, as well as handling matters such as registration and bookkeeping with Wang Yunwen's supervisor, and it was usually late in the evening when he returned to the post. .

Just set up a meal and sat down, but saw Lin Sheng running in, his face was not angry, he just said a vague sentence, "Here is a person, he is in the flower hall outside, my lord will show me."

Rong Yu was at a loss, and Lin Sheng looked at his blankness as if he was pretending, so he curled his lips and said, "It's that girl Fang Yufang, and she's here now."

It's only been a few days, and Rong Yu has already forgotten about the Hongmen Banquet that day, but it seems that Lin Sheng has not forgotten it, and he is still angry.

Hearing Fang Yu's name, Rong Yu thought about the follow-up to this matter, thought for a moment, and said sincerely, "Then please, Ah Sheng, ask me if she has a contract of prostitution. If so, I will write a document to release her." Just go."

Lin Sheng glanced at him slightly satisfied, then nodded and left.After less than half a cup of tea, she ran back again, and said angrily, "She won't leave! She will see you no matter what. Now she is kneeling outside, and if she says she can't see you, she won't get up."