Back To The Beginning Of Ming To Do Charity

The sun is shining and the sky is clear. Lin Yuan is sitting in the official office, sitting on a chair with a cup of hot tea in his hand. Since he arrived in Taizhou, the tea he can drink is no longer inferior tea dregs. The official office is where Lin Yuan lived through time travel. The largest mansion.

"All down?" Lin Yuan turned his head and asked.

Chen Bosong took a sip of tea, the tea was scalding, he almost knocked over the teacup, his tongue was burnt, he didn't speak, pretended to be calm, nodded and said: "Yeah."

Lin Yuan told the yamen servant next to him, "Let them in."

The food and drink are all ready, and the open-air meal is served in the courtyard behind the yamen, served by cooks from several big hotels.

Zhao Pinghou was a small merchant. He was just a street peddler at first, but after he made a fortune, he started to be a merchant. He had his own caravan. He was originally a merchant in Suzhou and Hangzhou, but the money he earned was not enough. Not too much, if you have a big heart, you naturally want to make a big fortune.

Hearing that many merchants are coming to Taizhou, he thought it over and chose to follow.

Taizhou is not under the control of the imperial court now. He is here to sell it now. If he can establish a relationship with Taizhou in the future, Taizhou will have a new owner. Naturally, he will need more things. If he takes the lead, he will be able to eat meat. If you come later, you can only drink soup.

He was also uneasy when he first started, after all, he had never dealt with rebels before, so when he came here, he was completely motivated by enthusiasm.

When I really walked into the Taizhou city gate, I felt terrified and trembling.

"I've been in business for so many years, and this is the first time I've had this kind of treatment." The middle-aged man sitting next to him wore a huge jade wrench in his hand and said to Zhao Pinghou with a smile on his face. For those related to the imperial court, they are always nodding and bowing down as grandsons, and they have to send money out, and sometimes they don’t even hear back.”

Zhao Pinghou had never done business with the imperial court, so he didn't know the key points, so he asked, "How much does the imperial court want?"

The man said: "In the early days, only [-]% of taxes were paid, and later it was [-]%. In recent years, [-]% dare to speak up."

Zhao Pinghou was taken aback and stuttered a little: "Eighty percent?"

The man said with a smile: "There is still filial piety, the official doesn't need to be filial?"

Zhao Pinghou swallowed, frightened.

It is true that a businessman earns money, but it is also hard money. How much effort does it take to negotiate business when traveling all over the world?

A small businessman like Zhao Pinghou usually pays [-]% of the tax and half of the tax, so he can live a good life.

Can it be [-]%?It's a little better than farming at home.

Zhao Pinghou was sitting on a chair. They were all businessmen. They were brought here after entering the city, and their goods were all detained. They whisper to each other and laugh when it comes to speculation.

After all, he hadn't experienced many things before, so Zhao Pinghou asked the people beside him: "Our things are all detained, so there is no hurry? If they kill us, that thing..."

The people next to him were stunned, obviously amused by Zhao Pinghou's words, and couldn't help but chuckled and said, "Little brother, if they are greedy for our little things, our heads will fall to the ground before we enter the city, and let us wait here." ? Eat and drink? Stay here?"

Zhao Pinghou still didn't understand, so he looked at the other party.

The man probably thought that an honest person like Zhao Pinghou was not suitable for business, and looked at him with a bit of pity. He didn't know whether it was pity that he thought too much and was too timid, or that he was too stupid.

"You don't have to worry, just wait." The man said, "I've been traveling all these years, and I've seen everyone. Now that I'm here, feel at ease."

While talking, a person walked in. This person was wearing a dark robe, with a smile on his face, white hair and chicken skin. He was old, and he looked like he would not live for a few years. As soon as he walked in, many businessmen rushed to him. Stand up, knowing that this is the boss who wants to see them.

This is also the first time for Song Shizhao to deal with businessmen. He is not a serious scholar. The education he has received since he was a child is against the Yuan Dynasty and the Song Dynasty. He has no stereotyped prejudice against businessmen. Now that Lin Yuan asks him to meet these businessmen, he has not refused. After all Lin Yuan asked him to do it, it was to give him a chance, and he would only be reused in the future if he seized this opportunity and proved his ability.

One has to do something in one's life. He wasted his time in the first half of his life. Now that he is old and has few years to live, he naturally has to seize every opportunity.

It's also good for Lin Yuan to know about Song Shizhao's abilities.

"Everyone." Song Shizhao saluted.

The crowd also hurriedly bowed.

Song Shizhao smiled and said: "Song is not talented, but the supervisor of the merchant."

Everyone didn't know what a business manager was. Now Taizhou is not good at this point. Unlike the officials outside, they often open their mouths and don't know how to call people. It was Zhao Pinghou who yelled: "Director Song!"

Song Shizhao laughed again: "Everyone is tired all the way. My lord said that it is convenient for you to come with you, and it is convenient for you, so I asked you to come with me and have fun together. Then go with me. Meals and wine are prepared in the backyard."

Someone said: "Why does Director Song need to be so polite? I'll just follow Director Song."

Song Shizhao led them through the garden. Along the way, he saw the servants coming and going lightly, not in a hurry, and all of them were very well-behaved. When they saw them, they saluted and greeted them.

Zhao Pinghou considered himself a man who had seen the world, and it was the first time he had seen such a well-behaved servant.

You can't talk about rules, but for servants, honesty and obedience are the most important thing, but it's rare to be so sensitive in actions.

It seems that it is not a servant... but a soldier.

Song Shizhao also saw the eyes of the merchants on the subordinates, so he said: "These are people brought from other places. Our lord has said that there is no rule without rules, and you must have rules in everything you do."

The merchants quickly responded: "It's natural, we also have rules for doing business."

After they walked through the corridor, they came to the backyard. The round table was filled with wine and cold dishes, and the hot dishes were served only when people were seated.

These are the housekeeping skills of the cooks, and they are also used to stand out in front of Lin Yuan. If they are done well and are watched by the people above, their worth will also increase.

Lin Yuan also discovered that although there are no celebrities now, there is a star effect.

For example, tributes, things dedicated to the emperor, can often command sky-high prices among the people, this is the star effect.

Although he is not the emperor, he is also the leader of Taizhou. Many people are chasing and vying for the people or things he has praised.

Hearing that the merchants had passed by, Lin Yuan took Chen Bosong there.

As soon as he arrived at the scene, the merchants stood up quickly. Their eyes were vicious, and they knew that Lin Yuan was the current head of Taizhou. After being praised for a while, I almost have the illusion that I am a Bodhisattva who saves the suffering and the living.

"Everyone has come from afar, so I can only prepare a little thin wine to express my heart." As soon as Lin Yuan finished speaking, he drank a glass by himself. The wine was all rice wine, and the alcohol content was not high. After he drank the wine, the people below naturally couldn't move, and they all drank the wine in one gulp.

Lin Yuan said with a smile: "Business is not discussed at the wine table. Eat well, everyone. We will talk after the wine table."

Everyone promises.

However, after Lin Yuan sat down, there were still many people who came to toast, and they only said a few words, the main purpose was to let Lin Yuan have an impression of himself.

"It is often heard that Nan Bodhisattva treats people like children and is born with the heart of a Bodhisattva. He is a person whom everyone looks forward to." He is a middle-aged man in his early forties, but he is born well, with thick eyebrows and big eyes. He is also a romantic person, but despite his age, his eyes are beautiful, and when looking at people, people will always think that he is a little darker.

Lin Yuan picked up the wine glass, with a smile on the corner of his mouth: "I don't know how to call it?"

The man said: "My surname is Xie, Xie Zichang."

Lin Yuan: "Thank you, Young Master."

Xie Zichang added: "I have heard of the virtuous name of Nan Bodhisattva in my hometown, and I was yearning for it, so I came here in a hurry, and I am willing to do my best for you."

This is a sign of loyalty.

He also said: "Although I don't have anything special, but I have some worthless things in my hand. They are all useless things. I am afraid that I will not be able to use them if I offer them to you, Nan Bodhisattva."

Lin Yuan waited for him to finish his polite words before asking, "I don't know what it is?"

Xie Zichang said, "It's just some salt."

Xie Zichang said the price again.

Lin Yuan was dumbfounded, this is simply a free gift, this price is probably not enough for Xie Zichang's round-trip travel expenses.

To put it bluntly, the first time I came here was to hand in the name certificate. These businessmen are so smart, how could they make money the first time, maybe they didn't even expect to make money the first five times.

This is for investment, looking at the long-term benefits.

Many of them came to Taizhou, seeing what Taizhou is like now, they are all ready to join Lin Yuan.

For them, business is actually putting their heads on their belts. To make money, they must be able to take risks.

Nowadays, there are constant protests from all over the world, but except for the Red Turban Army, most of them are thunderous and rainy. If you gather hundreds of people and dare to become king, the imperial court can dispatch them with only one county's troops.

If they can choose a backer as soon as possible, they can also get the benefits earlier.

After the banquet, Lin Yuan still handed over the merchants to Song Shizhao, and asked Song Shizhao to talk. If he had evil intentions, he could not be allowed to step out of Taizhou.

After Song Shizhao talked, he sent someone to tell Lin Yuan that one of the merchants was not here for business.

They came to help Lin Yuan.

——that is, to "subsidize" Lin Yuan and make political "investments".

Quite far Shen Wansan sponsored Zhu Yuanzhang.

Lin Yuan was really surprised now.

Did he attract Shen Wansan?

I don't know what Shen Wansan is doing now. According to history, he should be in Suzhou now.

In history, Shen Wansan funded Zhu Yuanzhang, but he was also forced to do so.

At that time when Zhu Yuanzhang attacked Suzhou City, Zhang Shicheng defended it for eight months because of the support of wealthy households in Suzhou.

Lin Yuan could also understand, and even felt that Zhu Yuanzhang just exiled him and didn't divide him into five horses, which was considered kind.

Probably because he had been in a high position for a long time, Lin Yuan felt that he seemed to be able to understand the "tyrants" in history more and more.

And why do emperors need a courtier by their side.

Chengchen is very useful. If he wants to deal with someone but can't find a good reason to convince the public, Chenchen will be useful.

Then the courtiers became more and more angry with the sycophant, and he only needed to chop the sycophant.

At that time, he will still be a pure and white lotus flower, and all the crimes will be blamed on the courtiers.

Lin Yuan took a sip of tea, and while waiting for Song Shizhao to bring someone over, his mind wandered.

He is also increasingly able to understand the collusion of politicians and ministers.

Sometimes the monarch is strong and the ministers are weak, the court is the king's words, the less power the ministers have, the more they have to rely on the imperial power.

But sometimes the courtiers also want to stand up and become masters, colluding with each other, and putting pressure on the king.

As long as you push up, the courtiers are the masters, and if you take a gamble, maybe you can reach the pinnacle of life?

What I didn't understand before, seems to understand everything now.

Lin Yuan thought, if he was a courtier and a tyrant in his head, maybe he would have to find a way to form a clique. The emperor would fear him, and his life would be easier.

After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, people from outside came in.

The person brought in by Song Shizhao was not young, around 50 to [-] years old, but he was well maintained, and he felt rich at first glance. He was wearing silk and satin, with flesh on his face, and no obvious wrinkles.

Rich people always look younger than poor people.

This man's name is Zhou Fu, who is from Huizhou. As soon as he saw Lin Yuan, he immediately bowed respectfully. It was Lin Yuan who helped him up himself.

Zhou Fu's eyes are not big, commonly known as "thug eyebrows and mouse eyes", but because he is fat, he can still give people a sense of honesty and prudence. He first flattered Lin Yuan: "I knew that Nan Bodhisattva was a good-looking talent when I didn't come here. I saw him today. Only then did I know that the rumors were inconsistent, I think Nan Bodhisattva is a born benevolent and kind, and he is not just a good-looking talent, it is clearly a jade tree facing the wind."

Lin Yuan almost laughed when he heard the word Yushu Linfeng.

He remembered the jingles in the TV series, some of them were out of play.

But Lin Yuan still said with a smile on his face, "Master Zhou, you don't need to praise me, if you have anything to say, just say it."

Zhou Fushun climbed up the pole: "Zhou already knew that Nan Bodhisattva was a quick-talking and straightforward person. Now that Zhou looked at the situation, he felt that it was not easy for the people. There is only one place in Taizhou, where the people live and work in peace. Thinking that it was heaven and earth, Zhou decided to do his best for the Southern Bodhisattva, so that more people could live a life like this."

Erduan came over with a teacup, first tested the temperature with the back of his hand, and then put it in Zhou Fu's hand.

Zhou Fu hurriedly said, "How dare you bother me?"

He was stunned for a moment and looked at Lin Yuan. He hadn't experienced many things, and he didn't know the official accent of these businessmen.

Lin Yuan gave him a wink, and he quickly withdrew.

Lin Yuan asked Zhou Fu: "I don't know what's going on in Huizhou now?"

Zhou Fu said: "In recent years, it has become worse and worse. Every year, there are a lot of taxes, and the people are planting the land but they can't eat enough. The people are living in poverty. If it weren't for this, Zhou would not leave his hometown. If I can live on, I won’t leave my hometown.”

Lin Yuan asked again: "I don't know how Master Zhou can help me?"

The smile on Zhou Fu's face became more sincere: "Where is the South Bodhisattva, how can it be said that Zhou helped you, that Zhou respected you, and you will have to support you in the future, but whatever Zhou has, you In a word, if you don’t obey, Zhou will not be a human being.”

Lin Yuan nodded, he had to carry it, and he couldn't be too kind to others.

This is something to be particular about. When you get close, others will think you are a fool, and if you are too high-handed, others will not dare to talk to you.

Sometimes to see a person is to listen to what he says.

Lin Yuan said to Zhou Fu: "Of course, I can't refuse Master Zhou's wishes. You stay here first, and if you have anything to do, just tell the servants."

Zhou Fu hastily expressed his gratitude sincerely.

In the end, when Zhou Fu was led out by Erliang, he even wanted to kowtow to Lin Yuan, but Lin Yuan stopped him.

In fact, Lin Yuan has never believed that people have slavishness. It is not so much a slavishness as a habit.

Some people are servants from birth, and they have been educated to be loyal to their masters since they were young. They have been brainwashed day after day, year after year, and everyone around them thinks this way, and they all do the same thing, so they will naturally believe it suspect.

It's like when he was in junior high school, all the boys in the class went to play online games after school, and they talked about a game every day, so he would try it and integrate into the group.

Humans are group animals, and this cannot be changed.

"What did he bring?" Lin Yuan asked Song Shizhao.

Song Shizhao was sitting at the bottom of Lin Yuan, with a smile on his face, obviously in a good mood. It was the first time for him to do such a prominent thing, and he was quite proud of being flattered by a group of people. He said: "He brought some gold and silver utensils. , and some things like saltpeter and sulfur.”

Lin Yuan understood that saltpeter and sulfur are all the raw materials for making gunpowder. Zhou Fu's move really tickled his own itch.

Sure enough, there are smart people everywhere, it just depends on whether these people are willing to spend their minds on themselves.

"Then take them all." Lin Yuan said, "I don't think Zhou Fu is a person who can sit idle, you ask someone you trust to get in touch with him, and give him some work after a while."

Song Shizhao nodded, as for what to do?As a businessman, it is natural to ask him to go out and do business.

There is never too much money. Paper money is useless now, and copper plates are used—this stuff is not very valuable. Gold and silver are the only things that are valuable now.

That's the way the market is now.

A coin of silver used to be able to exchange for a thousand copper plates, but now it can be exchanged for more than 300.

There is not much copper in the copper plate, and it is not uncommon for it to be broken into several petals when it is dropped on the ground.

In fact, Lin Yuan also knows the benefits of banknotes, but to promote banknotes, what is needed is a sound market and anti-counterfeiting printing methods.

Now that neither of these is available, gold and silver are naturally better.

Song Shizhao asked Lin Yuan: "Do you think Zhou Fu is trustworthy?"

Lin Yuan shook his head: "Believe it or not, there are useful methods. Now there are only useful and useless people."

Song Shizhao was taken aback for a moment, and replied, "What the master said is true."

Now Lin Yuan's former subordinates all called him "Boss" to his face. As for the title of Lord, they all called him outside.

Lin Yuan heard that the lord was a little awkward, and thought about letting them call him governor?

But the province is an administrative unit, and there is no document issued by the court, so it is strange to call it out, so there has been no change.

After Song Shizhao left, Chen Bosong came in and said to Lin Yuan, "It's time to take the medicine, take off your pants."

Lin Yuan nodded, and sure enough, he took off his trousers quickly. The abrasion on his thigh hadn't healed yet. He had been taking medicine for a while, and at first he was given it every two taels. Recently, Chen Bosong also came to help out when he was free.

"Your skin is just too tender." Chen Bosong said while applying the ointment carefully, "I've never worn it like this before."

Lin Yuan bared his teeth and said, "You have rough skin and thick flesh, can I compare with you?"

Chen Bosong patted Lin Yuan's buttocks, saw the flesh tremble twice, and laughed, "I have rough skin and thick flesh, so I can't compare to you."

Lin Yuan: "You are obviously envious."

Chen Bosong pursed his lips and smiled, not to continue talking with Lin Yuan.

After wiping off the medicine, he had to let it dry first, and he couldn't put on his pants immediately. Lin Yuan only felt that his butt was too cold, so he turned his head and asked Chen Bosong, "How are the Yan people practicing now?"

Those are all his soldiers.

Chen Bosong raised his eyebrows and said, "I thought you didn't ask."

Lin Yuan cleared his throat: "Do you have a problem with me?"

Chen Bosong: "Of course not."

Now Lin Yuan gets along with Chen Bosong more and more naturally. There is no strangeness and restraint at the beginning. It seems that they have returned to the days when the original owner and Chen Bosong were in their hometown. They can also chat and joke together. Lin Yuan said: "Be good. Practice, otherwise it will be us who will be beaten."

Chen Bosong sat aside, looked at Lin Yuan's bare butt, couldn't help laughing, and felt bad after laughing, so he said: "The practice is good, it's the old way, the best practice in each class will be rewarded, All of them are reckless."

Lin Yuan: "That's how it should be."

Lin Yuan closed his eyes and rested his mind, and said: "The imperial court has no energy to deal with us now. If we don't take this opportunity to grow stronger, when the imperial court has energy, we won't even have the ability to protect ourselves."

Only then did Chen Bosong's expression become serious, and he said to Lin Yuan, "I want you to rest assured that I will not relax for a moment, nor will I tell them to relax."

Lin Yuan said: "A combination of work and rest is still necessary."

Chen Bosong looked at Lin Yuan, not quite understanding.

Lin Yuan waved his hand and said, "You still have to rest when you should rest."

Chen Bosong continued to look at Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan: "... Anyway, don't be too tired, tell them to take a breath."

Chen Bosong: "Understood."

Nowadays, the number of weapons in the arsenal has increased a lot. Lin Yuan found a few blacksmiths before and told them about the idea of ​​crossbows, that is, ordinary crossbows, not Zhuge crossbows, which don’t need to be so big, but compared to ordinary crossbows The bows and arrows have a longer range and lower requirements for archers. The blacksmiths have heard of them, and they are still available today.

The cost is too high, so it is not promoted.

Now Lin Yuan doesn't care about the cost, and just asks them to try it out first, and mass-produce it as long as it can be done.

It costs a lot, but it has to be had.

After all, archers are very scarce, and wrist and eyesight are indispensable.

Not everyone can be an archer.

It's just that the crossbow is different. It has the lowest requirements for the shooter, and its lethality and range are much stronger than ordinary bows and arrows.

Now that Lin Yuan had made up his mind, he naturally didn't hit the south wall and didn't look back.

As long as it can be done, it must be done.

He wants people, and he also wants weapons.

Lin Yuan felt that he was becoming more and more greedy.