Lin Ruhai of the Red Chamber Reborn

Everyone has met each other, and they don't know why Lin Ruhai called them here. They followed the zither to Lin Ru's overseas study.When I was young, I saw Lin Ruhai walking slowly, wearing half-new homely clothes, without the slightest official prestige. Everyone felt relieved, thinking that Lin Ruhai had been an official for many years, and he had never reached out to them. It's a big event, everyone gets up and salutes when they are busy.

Lin Ruhai waved his hands and said, "Everyone, please sit down, there is no need to be polite." Then he ordered someone to pour tea.

Wu Yue and the others saw Lin Ruhai's worried face, and some thoughts were not right, so they boldly said: "Master Lin called me here today, but what's the matter? If there is, you might as well say it, let's discuss it." Discuss."

The rest of the people even claimed that although they earned much less money than usual when Lin Ruhai was in office, and there were salt officials patrolling everywhere, Lin Ruhai never blackmailed them. The money is enough to offset those, so he is reluctant to let Lin Ruhai leave. Who knows if the next one will be like Zhen Yingjia, taking tens of 10 taels of silver at every turn, and it will all come from them, and they will drive up the price of salt.

Lin Ruhai sighed, dismissed everyone in the room, leaving only He Yun, and said softly: "I heard that there are natural disasters and man-made disasters everywhere, and the treasury has not enough money. The Holy One is very worried. Although I have no intention of ordering this official to find ways to alleviate it, but the salary of eating the king is not enough. How can I stand on the sidelines? I want to relieve the sage's worries, so that the sage will look at us in Yangzhou differently. He thinks that our people in Yangzhou are kind-hearted, and we don't know if we will be rewarded. We fought everywhere in the past few years, and we are going to make progress. Now There is no money left."

There is not a single idiot present here who can be a big businessman of tens of millions or a small businessman of a million. Besides, Lin Ruhai explained his intentions straight to the point, and they were happy instead, unlike others who always beat around the bush and ended up being grandiose, unable to hide their desire for money.

Wu Yue hesitated for a moment and asked, "I don't know what geometry is needed?"

Because Wu Yue has been filial to His Highness the Crown Prince for many years, and His Highness the Crown Prince is highly dependent on the saint, and he is good at being a man. The salt merchants in Yangzhou all follow his lead, and when they hear him ask, they all nod their heads.They usually spend money like water, and don't pay attention to the money at all. What's more, with Lin Ruhai's personality, they will definitely not embezzle this money. That is the great face.

Thinking of this, everyone couldn't help but be envious.

Lin Ruhai saw in their eyes and knew that they had moved their hearts, so he said: "I don't know how much the various expenses will cost, but no matter how much money you donate, it is always our intention. I guess the saints are only happy, there is no reason to think too little. "

Wu Yue whispered to Cui Yanshang and others, discussing in a low voice, and finally Wu Yue asked: "I don't know where your lord intends to use this money?"

Lin Ruhai secretly praised everyone as smart people, so he didn't need to spend all his time talking, and said: "I don't have any money, it's just the filial piety of the lower levels in recent years, but it's too early to say that. Besides, it's filial piety Silver depends on where the saint intends to use it. Frontier defense military, natural disasters in various places, whichever one is used for silver."

Lin Ruhai let out a long sigh, looking lonely.

Wu Yue smiled and said: "Although we are merchants, we also have great righteousness in our hearts. There is nothing else, money is enough. Mr. Lin has built bridges and paved roads, relieved disasters and poor people these years. force."

Lin Ruhai couldn't help smiling when he heard this, and asked, "I don't know how much money you can collect?"

Hearing that Lin Ruhai didn't demand them very much, Wu Yue said with a smile, "I spent tens of thousands of dollars on the poetry competition today, and my family's gold and silver piled up like mountains, what is it? If you can win the favor of saints and show the righteousness of salt merchants, I am willing to give 20 taels of silver and [-] shi of white rice, without any old grain or old rice.”

Seeing that Wu Yue paid such a large sum alone, how could the others lag behind, Cui Yanshang glanced at Wu Yue, snorted, and said loudly: "Master Lin, I am willing to offer 25 taels of silver and 15 shixinmi."

The two actually used their thoughts of fighting for wealth here, and compared each other.

Lin Ruhai secretly smiled, wishing this was the case, instead of letting them use it to fight for wealth, it would be better to save people, which can be regarded as doing good deeds for them, anyway, he is not greedy for a penny.

Wu Yue heard the number Cui Yanshang said, and suddenly a trace of displeasure flashed across his face. He had been fighting with Cui Yanshang for a long time, but Cui Yanshang had a good relationship with Haiyanshang. "My family's business is no worse than Brother Cui's. Brother Cui also has 1 more than me. How can I make people laugh? Master Lin, how about I add another [-] taels of gold?"

1 taels of gold equals 10 taels of silver. When converted, he was 5000 taels more than the Cui salt merchant.

At this time, the price of rice was seven renminbi a shi, 7000 shi was 5000 taels, and 5 shi was [-] taels. Cui Yanshang had [-] shi more white rice than him, but [-] taels less silver.

Cui Yanshang's expression sank when he heard this, 25 taels of silver and 15 shi new rice are the best he can produce. After all, he has a lot of money to spend. This year he will build a new garden, and at the end of the year he will honor the prince. Your Highness, I will marry my daughter again at the beginning of next year.But what is 5000 taels?No matter where you saved a sip, it came out, so Cui Yanshang said decisively: "Brother Wu has 5000 taels more than me, so I will add another 500 taels of gold."

Wu Yue glanced at it, but he also knew that he should not add more, otherwise there would be more and more, which he could not bear.

Lin Ruhai pondered for a moment, then stood up slowly, cupped his hands and said: "The amount you paid was far beyond my expectation, and I will never be able to pay this sum of money anyway. This time, I have honored more than fifty saints." With ten thousand taels of silver and more than two hundred thousand new rice, the sage will definitely be happy, and I thank you on behalf of the beneficiary."

Before saying a word, Wu Yue and Cui Yanshang hastily returned the courtesy to Lin Ruhai, saying that they didn't even dare.What kind of person is Lin Ruhai? He is the envoy in charge of their salt transportation, and he is an official from a serious background. How can they accept his courtesy.

Lin Ruhai said solemnly: "The two of you have contributed so much money for the sake of the country and the people. How can you not be thanked by this official? This official is for the people who can get relief from the two, not for yourself. I am grateful for the money this time. The official must write a letter to the imperial court, and the sage must know it and praise the two." Even if Emperor Xuankang didn't think of it, he would suggest in the booklet, what is a few words of praise compared with silver?Don't look at the prosperity and peace, Haiyan and Heqing, in fact, Lin Ruhai knows that he is riddled with holes, spends money everywhere, and there is very little money in the treasury, and often the east wall is demolished to make up for the west, so worried that Emperor Xuankang Restless day and night.

Lin Ruhai still remembers until now that after the Ninth Prince took over from Emperor Xuankang, only a mere few million taels of silver remained in the treasury. The money for wooden tiles and stones should be in trouble for the past year.Therefore, Lin Ruhai understood that Emperor Xuankang must have been very happy when he saw the money. Without him, almost all the fertile land in the world was in the pockets of the rich and powerful, and there was no need to pay taxes. The income was not comparable to the expenses of disaster relief and military pay.

One sentence made Wu Yue and Cui Yanshang's eyebrows beaming, and they forced their hearts to be proud, and their mouths were very humble.People in the world often talk about scholars, farmers, businessmen, and although many people treat them with respect on the face, they are actually afraid of their wealth. How can they be as sincere as Lin Ruhai?If he really got the praise of a saint, he would really be able to straighten his back.

When others saw this, they were naturally not to be outdone, and the sea salt merchant and others hurriedly said, "Master Lin, how can you forget me?"

Lin Ruhai smiled inwardly, pretending to be surprised, and said, "You all want to pay?"

The sea salt merchant nodded and said: "My business is not inferior to Wu and Cui's. There are so many of them, how can I not do it? Therefore, I also offer 25 taels of silver, 15 shi of new rice, and an additional [-] taels." catties of salt."

Huaiyang salt merchants are very competitive. Seeing that the three of them are like this, others are also vying to be the first. The number of million merchants is comparable, and the number of million small merchants is more than 500. Lin Ruhai ordered He Yun to do the statistics. A total of 60 taels of gold, more than three million taels of silver, [-] shi of new rice, [-] jin of salt, and more than [-] shi of grain and wheat.

Lin Ruhai said happily: "The sage is worrying about not having enough money to build coastal defenses. Seeing this, he must be very happy."

Then, he thanked everyone one after another, and looked at the list with them one by one, saying: "This list will definitely be handed to the saint. At that time, all of you can just wait for the saint's reward."

Seeing Lin Ruhai's solemnity and his future, everyone smiled and was full of joy. Compared with Emperor Xuankang's praise, these few taels of silver are nothing. The gold and silver were sent, and then the new rice grains, wheat salt, etc. would be brought together, Lin Ruhai agreed.

After they left, He Yun couldn't help but said: "How did your lord know that they are willing to pay the money straight to the point? Don't they know that if you give the money today, if your lord asks again in the future, if they don't give it, you will offend your lord?"

Lin Ruhai was looking at the list, instead of answering, he asked, "You said how many years I have been in office, when will I ask them for money?"

He Yun was stunned for a moment, then showed a hint of admiration, and said: "The humble staff has been with the adults for many years, and I have never seen the adults asking for money from the lower levels. On the contrary, they are every three festivals and two birthdays, and they put all their energy into filial piety to the master. I still remember this year In February, the son's birthday was not a big deal, but the gifts they gave were more expensive than the one, and the Wu family gave a string of precious pearls worth a thousand taels."

He Yun secretly laughed, these people let him not know what to say.In the past, the salt envoys asked for a lot of money. They felt distressed and wanted to leave earlier. When they left, they felt even more distressed. It was easy to raise them. Before they got much benefit, the salt envoys changed again, and they had to continue to flatter and give gifts. .Now that Lin Ruhai doesn't want money, they give it to them themselves, whatever is expensive.Therefore, He Yun often heard many big and small salt merchants privately say that it is better for Lin Ruhai to do it for a long time.

Lin Ruhai said with a smile: "It's because I have never asked for money, so today is the first time I open my mouth, they are very willing to give me this face. Moreover, they expected that I will not ask for money every year like others, the most important thing is It was I who said, to send their names to the imperial court, this is a great dignity for them, how can they not be enthusiastic?"

He Yunsi and the salt merchants have money but no power, and everything is low-grade at the moment, but the only thing they can do is to study well, so they don't feel silent.

Lin Ruhai personally collected the list and told He Yun: "Tomorrow the money and food will be delivered, and you will bring all your own soldiers to guard them. All the money and food will be sealed separately. It is not a tax from the yamen. When the order arrives, you can hand it over to the imperial envoy immediately."

He Yun agreed, and said, "When does your lord plan to submit the book?"

Lin Ruhai said: "Tomorrow morning, this matter cannot be delayed. The sooner it enters the national treasury, the sooner it will be used on the people." Lin Ruhai smiled wryly, saying that it was used on the people. Who can say that the officials who dealt with it are as clean as water?It is bound to be filled with private pockets, and there are not many serious uses, and it will be sad in the end.

He Yun nodded, this time he won several million taels of silver, which is not a small amount, and it should be so.

After taking care of the matter and explaining the matter, Lin Ruhai walked back from the study to the inner courtyard. When Jia Min saw him, he hurriedly ordered someone to prepare lunch, and then greeted him in person, saying: "I'm going to take a rest today. Met the salt merchant? If you have any official business, go to the yamen and talk about it, the master should have a good rest for a day."

Lin Ruhai smiled and said: "Seeing them fight for wealth, I can't help but want them to put their money to good use."

Jia Min had already heard about Lin Zhi's fight against wealth. He was young, but he imitated the scene vividly, although he spoke intermittently.He also specially showed himself a golden sachet and jade pendant that Daiyu had won, but Daiyu was drooping, because she didn't win the championship, so he promised Lin Zhi that when she grew up, the poem If you do well, you will definitely win the best lottery for Lin Zhiwan.Jia Min has already read that poem, and at Daiyu's age, it is really rare.

Jia Min said: "My lord, don't make things difficult for yourself. It's okay if you can win our hearts, but if you don't, the saints don't have that intention."

Lin Ruhai told her the amount he got today with a smile. He had no intention of hiding it from outsiders, so he didn't hide it. He believed that Wu Yue and the others had done such a good deed, and he wanted to make a big splash. For the sake of the people, don't worry too much, besides, they have gained face, maybe in the future they will give all the money from fighting for wealth to the above.

Jia Min couldn't help but said: "For the money, it's hard for the master."

How many scholars don't talk about money, although their family doesn't think so, but they don't value it very much. On the contrary, they like poetry, calligraphy, calligraphy and painting more. Therefore, when Jia Min knew that Lin Ruhai thanked the salt merchants for the money, he felt quite uncomfortable.No matter how rich those salt merchants were, they couldn't compare to Lin Ruhai's dignity.

Lin Ruhai smiled and said, "Why was it difficult? For the country and the people, this is just a path."

Speaking of this, Lin Ruhai sighed, full of bitterness.Prosperity, the people suffer; death, the people suffer.This idea of ​​money and money for the country and the people is nothing but a drop in the bucket. Only when the people's lives are better and they have enough food and clothing can they be called a peaceful and prosperous age.It's a pity that he can't see such a scene.

Jia Min guessed that something unpleasant had come to his mind, and was about to unravel it when Dai Yu and Lin Zhi came in hand in hand.

Lin Zhi held his stomach and said, "When will we eat? My sister and I are hungry."

After hearing this, Daiyu couldn't help squinting at him, nodded his forehead with her finger, and said, "Chouer, what you said makes no sense. When did I say I was hungry? Obviously you are hungry, I I only had some snacks in the restaurant today. From now on, when you talk to your parents, you are not allowed to lie and deceive others. Let me know, and I will recite two poems tomorrow."

Lin Zhi immediately grabbed Daiyu's hand and shook it, begging: "My good sister, please forgive me, I feel a headache when I read the poems, my sister hurts me."

Lin Zhi's talent is no worse than Lin Rui and Daiyu's, but he is lazy and has a quick temper, so he learns very slowly.Because Lin Ruhai and Jia Min had Lin Rui as the lintel and Daiyu was extremely caring, they treated Lin Zhi more leniently than usual.But even so, they didn't want Lin Zhi to be a playboy, and planned to send him to school after he was five years old.

Jia Min went in and out, and often communicated with the capital. She had already seen the crisis brought about by the incompetence of her children and grandchildren. How could she tolerate her own children and grandchildren being like this? Therefore, she has been very cautious about her children since she was a child. Xunzhi, lest they get tired of reading and never turn it around.

Daiyu thought for a while, and said to Lin Zhi, "If you are well, you won't recite it tomorrow."

Lin Zhi didn't know the cleverness in Daiyu's words, if he didn't recite it tomorrow, it might not be necessary later, so he smiled and agreed, thinking that Daiyu had promised him that he would never urge him to recite poems and books again.

Seeing Lin Zhi being coaxed by Daiyu again, Lin Ruhai and Jia Min couldn't help laughing, Jia Min said: "Look at how close their siblings are, Zhi'er listens to Yu'er, usually when Rui'er is at home , I've never seen them so close."

Perhaps it was because they were siblings in the previous life, and Lin Ruhai was very pleased with this renewing their relationship in this life. He also liked to see the two of them chatting and laughing on weekdays, and they were closer than others. After all, Lin Zhi was the only son of their husband and wife in the previous life, so he had high hopes .After hearing Jia Min's words, Lin Ruhai smiled and said, "Let's set the meal first, isn't Zhi'er hungry?"

Since I was waiting for Lin Ruhai today, I ate lunch late, so Jia Min hurriedly ordered someone to bring it up.

After dinner, everyone rinsed their mouths and sat outside talking together. Not long after, Lin Zhi fell into a drowsy sleep, lying in Jia Min's arms, sleeping soundly. Jia Min told Lin Ruhai that he wanted to take him to take a nap. Unexpectedly, when he got up together, he found that he was still holding on to Daiyu's sleeve while he was asleep.

Jia Min laughed and said, "This kid knows how to be close to his sister, and he has slept so soundly, and he still doesn't let go."

Daiyu proudly said: "Who calls me a sister? If you don't get close to me, who should you get close to?"

Lin Ruhai smiled, opened Lin Zhi's fingers, and Jia Minfang carried him away.

Daiyu suddenly caught a glimpse of Lin Zhi's jade gourd pendant on the ground, picked it up and held it in her hand, remembering that Lin Ruhai was going to buy herself a short piano, she turned her head to look at Lin Ruhai, and said with a smile: "There is no daughter at home. Daddy will play the qin for his daughter, okay? When the daughter learns it, the daughter will play it for her father every day."

Jia Min arranged for Lin Zhi to come back from a nap, and after hearing what Daiyu said, she said with a smile: "I haven't heard the master show off his piano skills for some time, I don't know if the two of us have a good ear today?"

Lin Ruhai smiled, fulfilling the wishes of his wife and daughter, and said, "Zhier is sleeping, let's go to the garden."

A group of people moved into the garden, Lin Ruhai ordered someone to fetch the qin, set it on the table, burned incense and cleaned their hands, and plucked the strings.The sound of the zither flows out from the fingertips like flowing water, light at first, then heavy, and then opens and closes, with three thousand waterfalls, flying straight down.

Daiyu rested her chin and listened quietly, she only felt that she had a broad mind. Unlike Jia Min's piano sound, she liked Lin Ruhai's piano sound more.

At the end of the song, the lingering sound curled up and lingered for three days without end.

Daiyu sighed suddenly, and said: "This song should only exist in the sky, how many times can we hear it in the world? What kind of song is it?" She often went out with Lin Ruhai and Jia Min and his wife, and listened to dozens of qin songs. But it wasn't what Lin Ruhai said today.

Lin Ruhai couldn't help smiling when she saw her sigh like an adult, and said, "It's not perfect yet, I'll play it for you when I'm done."

When Daiyu heard this, she knew that it was Lin Ruhai who did it. She was taught by Lin Ruhai himself. She could recite all the poems and songs written by Lin Ruhai on a regular basis, so she was not surprised. Instead, Jia Min said with a smile: " Master's piano skills have become more and more sophisticated. Although we have never climbed mountains and waded, we can hear the deep meaning. In the future, if Yu'er learns to play the piano, the master will teach her himself. Accounting girls and other trivial matters."

Lin Ruhai looked back at Jia Min, shook his head and said, "I'm busy with business, and their brothers and sisters are all taught by your precepts and deeds. How much can I teach? Besides, Yu'er is a girl, and you will still teach them after all.

Jia Min's eyes rolled, and he answered with a smile.

Daiyu came over and sat next to Lin Ruhai, and said, "Isn't it easy? My mother taught me when my father was busy, and my father taught me when my father was not busy. I learned all the skills of my parents. That's good." Mr. Fang said, There is no end to learning, there are many things in the world that I don't understand, my father is a genius in the words of my husband, I should learn from my father."

Jia Min sighed: "If you are a man, how talented you must be? You are born to be a girl."

When Daiyu was learning to compose poems, there were occasional good lines. When Jia Min saw it, she was very surprised, and couldn't help but feel a little worried. Muxiu will be destroyed by the wind in the forest. How many people in the world are as open-minded as Lin Ruhai, who can Tolerate a mere little girl who is more talented than men in the world, and then there will be people who are bound to gossip.

Therefore, Jia Min treats Daiyu very harshly, and often tells her not to show off in front of outsiders.

Daiyu curled her lips, dissatisfied in her heart, so what if she's not a man?How many brothers of her age are like her?After being educated by Lin Ruhai, she said to Lin Ruhai, "Daddy, Mom thinks I'm a girl!"

Although the words were complaining, but the corners of Daiyu's brows and eyes were full of smiles, without any resentment, Jia Min smiled unconsciously.

Lin Ruhai patted her head, then lightly smoothed the broken hair on her sideburns, and said with a smile: "Your mother is worried about you, but it's not that she dislikes you. You often walk around to see how other people's daughters are doing? Are you at ease? If your mother was pedantic, you would have been like them, and you would never have stepped out of the door."

Daiyu thought of what she had seen and heard outside among her sisters. They were always very envious of her, and instantly realized that her situation was more than ten times stronger than theirs.I am used to seeing the scenery outside, so how can I be willing to stay behind closed doors forever?Even if you go out, you just walk in the inner courtyard garden, and you can't see the colors of the four seasons outside the wall.

Jia Min said: "I'm afraid that if you are used to it now, you will be full of pain in the future."

After saying a few more words, Daiyu felt a little tired. Jia Min ordered someone to send her to take a nap, and then said to Lin Ruhai, "Master takes her out so often, what will happen in the future? She is so arrogant again." Yes, the more you know, the more you don’t want to be restrained.”

After hearing this, Lin Ruhai knew that Jia Min was worried that Daiyu's future husband's family would not be able to accommodate her talent, and that she would be disappointed if she studied the Four Books and Five Classics now, but she would not be able to learn any more when she came out of the court. The daughter of the family can't be a blind person with her eyes open, she must read and understand. Besides, Yu'er knows how to measure, has she ever let you and me down? She is just young now, so she is a bit naughty. In two or three years, she will understand Converged."

Jia Min sighed: "I only hope so. But, what should I do if it is not so?"

Lin Ruhai smiled and said: "That's not easy? Find Yu'er a considerate son-in-law. Our daughter is different from secular girls. Although the world can't see it, no one may understand the benefits of Yu'er."

After hearing this, Jia Min couldn't help but angrily said: "Our daughter is not perfect. Is it true that the master chooses all the men in the world? Don't think too highly of yourself. She is good at taking care of our children. The quality of our children Good character, even if it is not perfect, better than others, only we pick others, not let others pick and choose."

Lin Ruhai smiled and said: "Since you know, why worry? Yu'er is still young. If she still has this temperament after she is ten years old, you can worry about it. Five or six years is not enough for you to teach her? Just don't talk to her." Just like the common people."

Jia Min said: "Why are you not in a hurry? My son's natal family returned the gift. I read my mother's letter, and it was full of praises for Baoyu. We know what kind of temperament Baoyu is. She is one year older than Yu'er, but she doesn't love her more than Zhi'er." Aspirant, I only know how to hang out among my sisters, and I am so stubborn. I didn't like him very much, and my second sister-in-law didn't get along with me. Once Yu'er came in, she was a mother-in-law. She might not know how to torture my Yu'er. I have long I have rejected my mother many times, but my mother still refuses to give up. We only have one daughter, Yuer, and the master gave her many things in the house. Before Ruier was born, I said to my mother that the master treats me well. I told my mother. At that time, my mother also told other people. It was passed on ten to ten. Who else didn’t know? The servants in the Rongguo Mansion are all gossipers. I don’t think it’s necessary to wait for Yu’er to grow up. There are already an endless stream of people who come to propose marriage, no less than Rui Er now."

Jia Min is very proud of her sons and daughters, and a hundred families come to ask for her. However, when other people ask for marriage, they reject it. There is no reason why there is no reason for enmity because marriage cannot be achieved. Only Jia Mu is the mother who gave birth to her and raised her. She remembered her parents' kindness, and even though she hated Rongguo Mansion now, she still didn't want to turn against her old mother.

Jia Min unconsciously remembered that dream again. What truth did she see in the dream?Since then, have you given up any thought of contacting your mother's family?Occasionally, when she dreams back at midnight, she always feels sorry for Daiyu, and she is very disgusted with Baoyu, whom she has never met.

Although Jia's mother doted on Baoyu too much, Lin Ruhai knew that even if someone taught Baoyu well, he might not know how to make progress.Lin Ruhai still remembered what Baoyu had said, that all scholars are lu beetles, and that officials are all national thieves and lu ghosts.This statement is really funny, is it true that everyone in the world is for fame and fortune, not for the country and the people?Although corrupt officials are rampant, this is not the case for everyone.

After hearing Jia Min's words, Lin Ruhai said calmly: "Anyway, let's stay away from the capital, and mother-in-law can't reach her. As long as we don't allow it, they will always be in a hurry. At that time, they will naturally stop bothering you."

Jia Min said: "Baoyu is only one year older than Daiyu. According to my mother's wishes, it may not be impossible to wait a few years. On the contrary, when our Yu'er grows up, it is not easy to wait too old. After all, brothers get married a few years later. No, if it’s a girl, wait a few more years, wouldn’t she be an old lady? Forget it, the child is still young, so it’s okay to wait another five or six years.”

Lin Ruhai smiled and said: "Exactly, don't just worry about these things, the Zeng family lives here in peace, did you hear what Yu'er said?"

Jia Min hurriedly said: "I heard Yu'er say that she was the uncle of the Zeng family, and she learned what you said again, so I knew that the presents had already been arranged, and I just waited to send them over, and then I went to see you. Mr. Zeng is a good friend of the master. , although he is not an official, Master Zeng was also a third-rank official back then, so we can't neglect Mr. Zeng and Mrs. Zeng."

Lin Ruhai nodded and said: "I expect they will come to visit in these two days, so we don't need to rush to give gifts."

The next day, the Zeng family really sent someone to give gifts and sent a greeting card. Jia Min replied to the post. On the same day, Mrs. Zeng brought a pair of children to visit and meet each other. On the third day, Jia Min invited guests again. My wife hit it off right away, so I don't need to elaborate.

Lin Ruhai, on the other hand, was busy counting the amount of silver and putting it into the warehouse, and at the same time sent the notebook written by himself to the capital quickly.

Because the zhezi was very important, they traveled day and night, and it was delivered to the capital in less than ten days.

Every winter, the national treasury consumes a lot. Emperor Xuankang was worrying about this year's expenses, when he suddenly saw Lin Ruhai's booklet and the list included in it. When the booklet was sent out, all the salt merchants had already sent the gold and silver, so Lin Ruhai First he wrote something on the notebook, Emperor Xuankang was overjoyed immediately, called the crown prince to show him, and asked, "What do you think?"

The prince looked at it once, praised him, and said: "The salt merchant is very rich, and everyone knows that if you can get his silver taels, you don't know how many people will be benefited. Father, I think Master Lin's proposal is very good, but it is just to trouble father to write it himself. I don’t know how happy they are to be rewarded with a pair of calligraphy or a plaque! People often say that a single word is worth a thousand dollars, but my father is worth a thousand dollars!”

The prince couldn't help laughing, Lin Ruhai was really eclectic, if it were other officials, they might have despised merchants long ago.

After hearing this, Emperor Xuankang hesitated and said: "Scholars, farmers, businessmen, if you praise them like this, wouldn't it be unfair to scholars and farmers?" of scholars.

Hearing this, the prince frowned slightly, then opened it, and said with a quick smile: "In my son's opinion, what is competing for profit with the people? Whether it's salt merchants or ordinary merchants, they don't get something for nothing. They resell goods from thousands of miles and waste manpower As far as material resources are concerned, they only get a lot of money, so they are considered to be competing with the people for profit, but they really don’t know that this move by the merchants can be regarded as benefiting the people.”

Emperor Xuankang felt that these words were fresh, so he couldn't help asking: "How do you say that?"

The crown prince respectfully sent the zhezi back to the imperial court, and then said with a smile: "The local rituals are not the same, if there are no merchants, how can they be circulated in the city? Northern Xinjiang needs rice, silk, tea and porcelain from Jiangnan, and Jiangnan also needs horses from Northern Xinjiang. Fur and so on, how can I buy them from thousands of miles on my own? Although merchants resell them, although they make a lot of profits, it is much more convenient after all. People don’t have to travel thousands of miles, and they can get what they need. Yizhong, isn't the national treasury getting more money? Therefore, we don't have to despise them very much. Just take this time, the father is very anxious for the money in the treasury, who can help the father solve the problem? Lord Lin Persuading the salt merchants to give money is their righteousness, righteousness is only one word, why should you underestimate them just because they are merchants?"

The prince secretly sighed, as long as it is useful, no matter what kind of line people are, they are all talents, why bother to care too much about high and low?He also felt that it was unfair to the Lehu refugees, fishermen, etc. among the lowly people.Now that the national treasury is empty, tax revenue alone is no longer enough to support various expenditures. It is good to increase revenue and reduce expenditure, but it is not a long-term solution. The only way is to reuse merchants, give them face grace, and make them devote money to the country. Otherwise, , the treasury is short of silver, and the people's grievances are boiling, which will lead to chaos.

The crown prince is not yet the emperor, so he can only hide all his thoughts, not daring to show the slightest bit, so as not to arouse Emperor Xuankang's embarrassment.Now he just wants to wait until he inherits the throne in a legitimate way, and then listen to his own will, and slowly correct the previous rules and etiquette, so as to make life easier for the people.

Emperor Xuankang thought for a while, and said with emotion: "What you said makes some sense. According to what you said, we will follow Lin Ruhai's request and order to reward big and small salt merchants, and choose the one with the most filial piety to give the letter?"

The prince smiled and said: "A few words of praise in a decree, but relieved the urgent need of the father, why not do it?"

Emperor Xuankang listened and fell silent.At that time, there were natural disasters and man-made disasters everywhere. In order to show the kindness of the emperor, when disasters happened, they had to open warehouses to release grain, and after disasters, they were tax-free. The salary needed in the army, food, clothing, housing and transportation in the palace also cost money. Only after becoming an emperor did he know that it is difficult to be a king.Emperor Xuankang took a look at the papers sent by Xihai Yanzi yesterday asking for disaster relief, sighed, and said, "Let's do it like this."

The millions of taels of silver and hundreds of thousands of shi of grain that Lin Ruhai donated as a gift are more than enough to relieve the disasters along the West Sea, and they can also be sent to southern Fujian to build coastal defenses and train an elite navy.

In the end, Emperor Xuankang only selected four big salt merchants to reward the plaque, wrote the word Yishang, and stamped the seal, including two salt merchants Wu Yue, Cui and Hai, and the rest of the big and small salt merchants were only named in the imperial decree. The surname, praised it once, rewarded gold and jade with one handle each, and the imperial envoy who was ordered to collect the money and food finished reading, the whole city of Yangzhou boiled, and countless merchants rushed to tell each other.

Lin Ruhai was very busy, not only had to count the amount with the imperial envoy to deliver money and food, but also accept donations from other merchants, who wouldn't want to get a plaque personally handwritten by the sage?In the Jiangnan area, only the Zhen family has such dignity.

Wu Yue and other salt merchants kowtowed to thank them, hung the plaque on the door respectfully, decorated with lanterns and festoons, set up wine and sang operas, and the sound of demons filled Yangzhou City, their faces were full of complacency and joy. Merchants can also hold their heads high. Haven't you seen the word "Yi" written on the plaque bestowed by the sage?Let's see who dares to pass by the plaque without dismounting.

Although they have money, they dare not enjoy many things in a big way. They cannot wear what the poor peasants can wear.Of course, when the higher-ups turned a blind eye, they didn't care what they were doing in private, and they usually wore everything, but the name was not justified.Now, it has been clearly stated in the imperial decree that these large salt merchants who have obtained plaques are additionally licensed, gold, silver, pearls and emeralds can be used on the top, and silk and satin can be used on the upper body.

Wu Yue thought to himself, money is easily available to them anyway, and it would be good to give some money every year in the future. Maybe the sage Longyan Dayue would allow their descendants to take the imperial examination without having to wait until three generations later.

After hearing Wu Yue's thoughts, Cui Yanshang and others felt that it was reasonable. No amount of money could buy a place in a serious imperial examination. How could the donated officials be comparable to the Jinshi lord who was born in the first class?Although they and their descendants can read and write, they are limited to reading and writing. Even if they are full of knowledge and talent, as long as there is a businessman in the family, the three generations of descendants will not be allowed to take the imperial examination.Piansheng became a salt merchant, so he can only continue to do it from generation to generation, and each generation is a merchant.

Lin Ruhai never expected that in order to repay the salt merchants, he suggested that Emperor Xuan Kang should praise them, which would make them feel ups and downs. After that, he continued to donate money and food to do good deeds.

There must be a brave man under a heavy reward, not to mention that these salt merchants have money, so they think about fame and power.

What kind of turmoil was caused in Yangzhou city, and the impact was far-reaching. Daiyu didn't know anything at this time. October [-]th was Yang Ru's birthday. She first arrived at Liu's house. Adding something to Liu Fang's old birthday routine, I hope Yue's family can't find anything wrong after knowing it.

Yang Ru came here with the orders of her parents on her back. After coming to Jiangnan, people often heard people praise how handsome and talented the son of Lin's parents is.