Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 242 0237 [Pressing Merchants]

Zeng Xiaoduan cleared up his mother's grievances and took back his family's property. He respected and worshiped Ju Ming beyond words.

Ask him to help find candidates, and it only takes one day to find them.

"Prefect, this is You Jiyu, named Zhenshi," Zeng Xiaoduan introduced, "Brother Zhenshi used to be a classmate with me, and his family ran an iron smelting factory."

"Meet the prefect!" You Jiyu bowed respectfully.

This man was nearly thirty years old, had given up the imperial examination long ago, and was honestly assisting his father in business.

Jinzhou has no Jinshi for a hundred years, and it belongs to a cultural desert, and the scholars have already accepted their fate.There are also those who are not willing to go to Yangzhou or Guanzhong to study, but basically give up after a few years. The cost of long-term study in another place is really too high.

If you say a thousand words and ten thousand, the local economy is still not good!

Ju Ming said kindly, "Please sit down, both of you."

You Jiyu expressed a lot of respect, and then went straight to the topic: "I already understand what the prefect means, and this matter is not difficult to handle. However, mining merchants have been exploited repeatedly, and the profits are not very high. Losing money, there is no need for the prefect to mine iron ore."

Zhu Ming frowned and said, "What's going on here, and who is in charge of the mine? I haven't figured it out after reading the court decrees."

You Jiyu sighed and said: "My family is in the iron smelting business, so even I don't know who is in charge. Anyway, it must be in charge of the Tongsan. Just give him money."

During the reigns of Song Shenzong and Song Zhezong, the mining industry in the Northern Song Dynasty reached its peak.

During the reign of Song Huizong and Chongning, the industry situation took a turn for the worse!

Under the auspices of Cai Jing, all the newly developed mines across the country were handed over to the Changping Division (the mining profits of the states and counties were collected by the central government).

From then on, the county magistrate had some management power, the general judge had some management power, and the Changping Division also had management power.The general judge often also serves as the chief official of the local Changping, so the general judge has the final say.Multiple management and multiple exploitation, and the staff of the Changping Division must be supported.

A large number of private mining farms have closed down, and new mines are very rare.

Cai Jing's original intention was to strengthen the control of mines across the country through the direct management of the Changping Division, thereby increasing the output of gold, silver and copper mines, and alleviating the money shortage that gradually spread across the country.

However, he himself took the lead in corruption, and most of the Changping Division officials in various places are Cai Party.Under the frantic exploitation and corruption, the mining industry was depressed, and the money shortage became more serious!
You Jiyu said: "If you want to mine iron ore in Xicheng County, you must first send money to the magistrate of Xicheng County, and then send money to the Tongpan. If you send enough money, you can mine, and I will help the prefect to complete it. But every year more There is a matter of apportionment... this is apportionment from the general judge, I am afraid the eunuch has no right to ask about it."

"Let him share the share!" Ju Ming sneered.

As long as You Jiyu helps complete the purchase and obtains the mining license, Zhu Ming is not afraid of exposing himself.

"Prefect! Prefect!"

At this moment, Fan Zhun, the governor of Zuodu, ran out of the yellow hall happily.

Zhu Ming asked, "What's the matter?"

Fan Zhun said: "The gentry and merchants of Jinzhou have gathered hundreds of people to offer umbrellas for the people, and they have arrived outside the gate of the state government!"

Zeng Xiaoduan and You Jiyu immediately stood up, bowed to each other and said: "The prefect loves the people like his own son, and Wanmin Umbrella is well deserved."

No matter what the purpose of the umbrella sender is, Ju Ming is very happy.Although he has prestige, it is still not enough. A Wanmin Umbrella is just right.

Zhu Ming strode to the gate of the state government office, where many officials had already gathered.

The street was very lively with gongs and drums beating. People who didn't know where they were, came to watch the excitement when they heard the sound of the drums. The crowd gathered more and more and it was almost a thousand.

In order to show their sincerity, the merchants also invited more than a dozen elderly people.

They even sent sedan chairs to pick up old men in their 90s from the countryside, and offered Wanmin umbrellas through the hands of old birthday stars.

"The prefect is here!"

A yamen official shouted.

The crowd rushed forward immediately, and the gentry and merchants surrounded the old birthday star.

The old man was dazzled and deaf, and had difficulty even walking, so he was forced to help Zhu Ming: "The prefect is benevolent and loves the people. This old man is on behalf of the people of Jinzhou. Thank you for the great kindness of the prefect!"

Zhu Ming hurriedly supported him: "Old birthday boy, please come in quickly, don't blow the wind outside."

The Wanmin Umbrella was held by two young men, and the old man only touched it before handing it over to Zhu Ming.

It's a pity that there is no camera, otherwise this scene can be photographed and published in the newspaper.

I heard that the leaders of various industries in Jinzhou also came, so Zhu Ming invited them all in.

The black tea brought from Daming Village was served in a big pot, and the Yellow Hall of the prefectural government was full.

After some encouragement, Zhu Ming sent someone to send the old man back home, he was too old to stand up, and it would be ugly if he died in the state government office.

In the end, only gentry merchants remained in the Yellow Hall.

"Everyone's good intentions are well understood," Zhu Ming said, "Being an official and serving the people, what should be done, there is no need to be so grandiose in the future."

Ding Fengnian, the richest man in Jinzhou and a medicine merchant, said: "The prefect pleads for the people, and deserves an umbrella for all people."

"Brother Ding's words are justified, the eunuch must not be modest." All the gentry and merchants echoed.

"Ugh!"

Ju Ming began to put on airs again: "When it comes to pleading for the people, man-made disasters are easy to eliminate, but natural disasters are hard to prevent. This year's spring drought is severe, and the summer grain harvest is bound to fail. I don't know how many people will go hungry."

As soon as this remark came out, the gentry and merchants did not dare to speak again, for fear that the prefect would ask them to share the disaster relief.

The scene was a bit cold, so Zhu Ming could only talk to himself: "Let me tell you one thing first, don't hoard food, don't sell food at a high price! If someone doesn't obey orders, you will know my tricks."

"Don't dare."

"Follow the prefect's orders."

Everyone expressed their opinions one after another, for fear of offending Zhizhou.

Jinzhou merchants have been exploited for many years and have become deeply afraid of the government.Among the previous magistrates, Ju Ming is also a hardliner. How could they dare to openly oppose it?

Zhu Ming continued: "Food prices will definitely rise, and you can't lose money. But how much should be raised is subject to the order of the state government at any time. At that time, I will ask you to discuss it every five days. You can also put forward opinions, but listen to them." Whether to listen or not, that is my business!"

"Yes!" Everyone quickly agreed.

Zhu Ming said again: "You all go back and accumulate some goods, and in May, they will be transported to Xiangyang for sale. I will send officials to guard the goods along the way, and privately store them along the way, so there is no need to pay taxes."

Everyone was overjoyed when they heard that, the biggest headache for them was the illegal tax cards along the way.

In Jinzhou, Ju Ming can be banned, but outside Jinzhou, he can't control it.However, if there are officials escorting the boat, the illegal tax card can be carried and refused to pay. At worst, it will cause unpleasant troubles with the local government.

Zhu Ming said: "I have saved you a lot of taxes, and you have to reciprocate. When you return to the voyage, you will help the government transport food back for disaster relief."

Dai Chengsi asked: "Has the prefect bought food in the south?"

"I'm about to send someone over there to contact you," Zhu Ming said.

The specific method is to sign a contract in advance and pre-order this year's new grain from southern grain merchants.No matter whether the harvest is poor or the harvest is increased, the contract price will not be changed, which is the most primitive futures transaction.

The news of the drought in the north must have spread to the south, and the price of grain will inevitably increase this year. The sooner you buy grain, the cheaper it will be.

It is estimated that the price has already started to rise by this time.

The merchants were hesitant, and Ju Ming's request meant that they would not be profitable when they returned to the voyage, and they would help the government deliver disaster relief food for free.

"Who has any objections?" Ju Ming glanced around.

Everyone bowed their heads quickly, not daring to make eye contact with the prefect.

Zhu Ming said: "Since that's the case, we can only forcibly confiscate merchant ships."

Dai Chengsi was the first to react: "The Dai family is willing to deliver disaster relief food for the people!"

"The Ding family is willing to transport relief food for the people!" Ding Fengnian also blurted out, he is the richest man in Jinzhou, and he must have a part in the forced confiscation of merchant ships.

Seven or eight people expressed their opinions one after another. Zhu Ming smiled and said, "This is a charity business. When the disaster relief is over, a monument should be erected."

As soon as this remark came out, two more merchants promised to help transport grain.

They are not for the fame on the inscription, but because they are afraid that their names will not be engraved on the inscription!In the future, if Zhu Ming wants to find trouble with merchants, he must choose targets other than stone tablets.

"Very good." Ju Ming was quite satisfied.

He never thought that all merchants would cooperate, and there are always many people who take chances and pretend to be stupid.

Zhu Ming will not retaliate afterwards, but if there are any preferential policies, he must first give those who have their names on the monument.

Going south to sign a grain futures contract, this matter must be arranged early.

The most suitable person to do this must be Qian Chen.This person was originally a great businessman in the south of the Yangtze River, and most likely he would not take the opportunity to embezzle. It would be perfect for him to pre-order disaster relief food.

As for patrolling the counties, we had to change people because of this.

The famine will appear in May. At that time, the new rice has not been harvested, so we can only buy new wheat and new millet in the south.

The two crops of wheat and millet were rarely grown in the south before the Song Dynasty.

During Zhao Guangyi's reign, the imperial court began to promote wheat millet in the south for the purpose of "planting to prevent drought".The seeds are provided by the government and transported from the Jianghuai River, and the first few years of planting wheat millet can be exempted from tax.

As a result, some states and counties in the south have gradually introduced the double crop rotation method of rice and wheat.

There are also many dry lands in the south where wheat and corn are widely grown.

The merchants drank tea in the state government office, listened to the prefect's admonition and encouragement, and left together with different thoughts.

Ding Fengnian and Dai Chengsi ride in the same car.

Ding Fengnian said with emotion: "This eunuch is not easy to deal with, and he has to spend money to eliminate disasters."

Dai Chengsi said: "No, the prefect just borrowed the boat and did not extort money. What's more, helping the government deliver disaster relief food can at least gain a good reputation and save some blessings for the descendants. It's no worse than being corrupted by those treacherous officials." Strong? It went into the pocket of a corrupt official, and I didn’t even hear a sound.”

"I also obey this prefect, but I'm afraid he won't stay in Jinzhou for long!" Ding Fengnian was worried.

Dai Chengsi said with a smile: "Last year, there were many leaders in the north and south who organized strikes. Both Chang'an and Luoyang went on strike, and Chang'an even went on strike for more than two months. It's time for us Jinzhou businessmen to learn from it, and we can't just let them be officials. Even if Governor Zhu leaves office, he has set many rules, and we will appeal according to his rules in the future when we go on strike.”

Ding Fengnian said: "It's difficult."

Dai Chengsi's expression became ferocious: "At that time, my grandfather had a family property of [-] guan. My father and I worked hard to manage it, but now there are only a few thousand guan left. If we continue to be exploited like this, it will be a matter of time before we break up and flee. Really put us I'm in a hurry, just contact the thieves in the mountain!"

Ding Fengnian remained silent.

The gentry and merchants left the state office, and Zhu Ming was not idle, he was writing a letter to the emperor.Said that the spring drought on his side was severe, and asked the emperor to grant a thousand-degree ultimatum.

The degree certificates of the Song Dynasty belonged to securities.

The first time to use the ultimatum for disaster relief was during the reign of Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty. Since then, Pandora's box has been opened.

At the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, Jiaozi was abolished, and Duyi could even be used as banknotes to pay taxes or pay for goods.

In the first year of Yuanfeng, the repair of the city gate of Tokyo City was completed, and the imperial court could not afford the money for the time being, so it gave a thousand certificates to compensate for the project funds.

In the second year of Shaoxing, Yue Fei asked the imperial court to allocate funds to pay military salaries and build fortifications.Zhao Gou said he had no money, and gave Yue Fei two hundred certificates...

It is impossible for Zhu Ming to directly ask the emperor for money to relieve the disaster, but it is easier to ask for some monks and priests.

Anyway, Song Huizong planned to promote Taoism, and Taoist priests were very generously rewarded.

This thing can't be sold at a high price in Jinzhou, but it is sold in Jiangnan, but it is priced like gold!

(End of this chapter)