Great Qing Dynasty talker

Chapter 125 The most profitable businesses in the world are nothing more than three
"Master, Fan Dianshi is here."

Fan Jing, dressed in official robes, knelt down on one knee when he entered.

"It doesn't have to be like this. Come, have some tea."

Inside Lijiabao,
I don’t know when it started, but the default etiquette rules were formed.

When subordinates see their superiors, they kneel down in obeisance.

As for the main backbone, there is no need to do this. They only need to bow to Li Yu.

For example, Du Ren has always been like this.

Fan Jing's etiquette was indeed a bit excessive.

Before he could get down to business, Liu Qian came again.

He also walked in a hurry and knelt down on one knee to worship.

"What kind of wind is this today? It's bringing two busy people here." Li Yu said with a smile, "Who among you will say it first?"

Fan Jing quickly gave in:

"Old Liu, come first."

Liu Qian was not polite and took out a note from his sleeve:
"There was a riot at the Changxing Coal Mine in Huzhou Prefecture. Negotiations between miners and mine owners failed, and armed confrontation was about to break out."

Li Yu took it and browsed it roughly:

"Changxing County, are you ready to crack down?"

"Correct."

"What is the source?"

"The mine owners are reluctant to invest, and the tunnels always collapse if they are not reinforced."

……

"Have you also deployed manpower in Changxing County?"

Liu Qian hesitated for a moment, glanced at Fan Jing from the corner of his eye, and said:

"There is no formal network, just an informant in the county government."

"This person took a boat overnight last night and sent information."

Li Yu was very satisfied:
"Don't be stingy with the information fee. I will allocate 5000 taels to you in two days."

"My subordinate understands."

"What do you think?"

"Gong Huo, take the opportunity to capture the Changxing Coal Mine for my use. One is to dig coal, and the other is to train troops."

"You have spoken to my heart. However, Huzhou Prefecture has no official connections, and it is not appropriate for the Li family army to end in public. Do you understand?"

"My subordinate understands."

"Then what are you going to do?"

"Secretly support the miners with weapons and let them fight the mine owners. Then we will come out and swallow up the Changxing Coal Mine."

"How to swallow?"

"Let the miners kill the mine owners, and before the officers and soldiers encircle and suppress them, take action to stabilize both parties. Buy the owner-less mining area from the county government with a lot of money, and hand over the leader of the miners at the same time."

"Will the miners be willing to be loyal to me?"

"This is what my subordinates think. With the soldiers approaching, they have no other choice. Promise again, after the leader is imprisoned, he will be replaced with a white duck before he is killed."

(White Duck Killing: In the Qing Dynasty, wealthy families paid large sums of money to bribe poor people to take the place of the real murderer and plead guilty. Those who paid the money and died in exchange for food for the whole family were called white ducks.)
Fan Jing was shocked.
He peeked at Li Yu's expression, which was expressionless.

He secretly thought that he had underestimated Liu Qian before!

If I don't see you in three days, I will look at you with admiration.

This combination of punches is impeccable.

Unless you meet a Haibijia-style magistrate, it will definitely work!
……

"You go ahead and allocate manpower to get this thing done first."

"Subordinates obey."

"I will allocate a warship and two teams of musketeers for you to dispatch. They will return after the mission is completed."

"Yes."

Liu Qian left, taking Li Yu's warrant with him.

Ji Kang No. 1 belongs to him for the time being.

The warehouse area and weapons store will provide him with dozens of swords and a few crude matchlock guns.

Used to arm miners and arch fire.

Otherwise, he may not be a match for the mine master's thugs.

"Old Fan, continue talking about your business."

"The Fan family wants to take a stake in the development of Xujiang Wharf and also wants to open a restaurant."

"Don't let the wealth flow to outsiders. That's your old man. That's right."

Fan Jing felt embarrassed and wanted to explain.

Li Yu reached out to stop him and explained with a smile:
"I know your loyalty. The Xujiang Pier was originally taken from the Fan family, so there is no reason to reject it."

"By the way, you spread the word. Xujiang Wharf is inviting investment, and we won't reject anyone who comes."

Fan Jing was stunned and then asked:

“What industries are included in the investment scope?”

"That's a good question. In addition to the core area, there are also laborers, trackers, and everything else can be done."

"So, the pier will be expanded, right?"

"Expand 5 times."

Li Yu drank tea and waited for Fan Jing to ask questions.

really,

He thought of one of the key issues.

"Are we going to kill all the surrounding docks?"

"Old Fan, you still understand me."

The two laughed.

There are many piers, large and small, 50 miles around Xujiang Pier.

Killing all these docks will form a local monopoly.

……

Li Yu wrote in his diary:
The most profitable business in the world,
Nothing more than three things,

Monopolize operations, collect protection fees, and pump money out of the poker table!
Don't ask for the reason. If you ask, you will feel that there is a kind of "simplicity that has not been contaminated by knowledge."

News from Xujiang Pier,
Soon word spread among the officials and gentry in Fucheng, and many people began to inquire.

The best candidate is naturally Fan Jing and Fan Dianshi.

As the son-in-law of the Fan family and the Fourth Master of the Wuxian County Government, this status can easily arouse goodwill.

In a word, one of our own!

This is also the character design that Li Yu deliberately created for Fan Jing.

Li Jiajun,
We need someone of our own who is wedged into the officialdom.

Lao Hu is one of our own, but his status as a Green Camp guerrilla general is a bit of an eyesore.

any time,

It is a taboo for a military attache leading troops to have too much contact with the local area.

Li Yu probably had caution to his very core.

however,
Many people sneer at you. Look at the things you do, which one is done by a serious and prudent person.

……

Fan Jing is very busy,

I drink three meals a day during a busy day, but each meal is different.

Colleagues, wealthy businessmen, and gentry all sent him invitations.

Endless banquets and countless smiling faces.

In the signing room,

Fan Dianshi's invitations were piled up one foot high.

Menzi took the paper and sold it in exchange for money for a drink.

These are thick stamped papers, not waste paper costing 5 cents per pound.

Fan Jing,

I was drunk every day and would vomit when I got to the yamen gate.

Then, after eating a few stray dogs on the street, they became light-footed and swayed from side to side.

It has become one of the topics of conversation among the idle people in Fucheng.

Mrs. Fan,
I can only take care of him angrily every day, an alcoholic.

However, as time passed,
It always affects feelings. Mrs. Fan couldn't bear it anymore and rushed to the restaurant to cry and scold her.

The world is finally quiet.

The husband's eyes became clear again, and he no longer bumped into the wrong door, recognized the wrong person, and caused unnecessary casualties.

……

Xujiang Pier,

It is located on the west side of Fucheng and on the west side of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.

Li Yu bought 500 acres of surrounding land.

Half of them were free of charge and belonged to the property of the victims in Hengtang Town.

Yan Jiansheng,
After all, he knew the importance and didn't dare to make trouble.

On the contrary, he was shy and wanted to open a silk and satin shop at the pier.

Li Yu actually agreed, surprising everyone.

Zhang Youdao, the magistrate of Yuanhe County, said,

Yan Jiansheng's house did not catch fire, which was unexpected.

Yang Yunjiao asked quietly,
Li Yu smiled and said nothing, saying that he just wanted to earn some merit.

after all,

In the future, I will often do things that are harmful to my merits.

"Master, if you really believe this, please go to the temple and donate some incense money."

"next time."

"Oh, by the way, the Nu family suddenly remembered that Hanyuan Temple is doing charity donations."

"Donate what?"

“Donate and build greenhouses for the homeless.”

Green house, commonly known as chicken feather house!

In fact, it is a relatively sealed house with only one door.

The ground is covered with thick layers of straw and chicken feathers.

In the cold winter, homeless beggars can take shelter inside for the night.

otherwise,

When it snows, the road becomes a mess.

There are many chicken-feather rooms in Beijing, and the room fee is three cents.

Therefore,
Beggars in the capital will go around begging for money during the coldest days of winter.

Before evening, I got three pennies,

Life can be renewed for one day.

If you can't ask for it, you will never see the sunshine of tomorrow again.

There is a poem from the Qing Dynasty that says: At dusk, Wan Yu begs for three coins and buys a sleep in a chicken-feather room.

……

Li Yu was in awe after hearing this.

"Donate 100 taels for me."

"I will go there tomorrow and pray for the master's health."

"Then the abbot is called Miekong?"

"Seems to be."

In an instant, the image of a king-like figure with kind eyebrows and kind eyes appeared in front of his eyes.

Li Yu is a person who believes in intuition and said without thinking:
"I'll send two guards to go with you."

"Is there danger in the temple?"

"Not really, just be careful. After all, you are very important."

Yang Yunjiao's eyes turned red:
"With these words from the master, the slave family will die without regrets."

"It's unlucky. Don't act like a little girl and cry."

"The slave family is originally a little girl."

"You have been idle for too long. Please help me take care of the island's internal affairs and daily expenses."

Yang Yunjiao was stunned and looked at Li Yu with a look that didn't look like a joke.

He also nodded solemnly,
"My slave knows."

……

The stalls on Xishan Island are getting bigger and bigger, and the management difficulty has doubled.

Although Du Ren is in charge of the business situation.

But there are many flaws in the details.

Li Yu can trust Yang Yunjiao because she is a woman, a woman who can only rely on herself.

It is impossible to be greedy and collude with outsiders.

After being here for a long time, Li Yu wanted to train her to become a general in the internal affairs department.

Two days later,
The Ministry of Internal Affairs is established.

The members include more than two dozen bookkeepers who are literate and can calculate accounts, as well as an armed force of hundreds of people.

The first fire,

Just remaking the roster.

Reorganize the list of personnel in each department based on the original list.

Name, place of origin, age, family situation, former occupation, current department,
And, is there anyone else on the island who can prove it?
This one is very crucial,

If there are any fellow countrymen, classmates, friends, or relatives who can prove it.

The identity is relatively credible.

If not, it doesn't necessarily mean there is a problem.

but,

It should not be placed in key positions, such as warehouse armament areas, machine tool workshops, and gunpowder workshops.It took Yang Yunjiao a full 6 days.
After completing this task, we started making identity cards.

With the cooperation of Xishan Iron Works,
More than 2000 steel ID badges were distributed.

Name, department, and a string of numbers.

Since then,

Anyone who cannot produce an identity card can be arrested on the spot and await proof.

Taking into account the convenience of carrying, a small hole is pierced on the steel plate.

Can be hung with a rope.

……

"Yunjiao, what do these numbers mean?"

"The slaves wrote it randomly, and each person corresponds to a unique number. If someone pretends to copy it, you can check the manuscript."

Li Yu looked at this woman in surprise,

I thought, he is a talent.

"Master, what do you think I did?"

"Very good. From now on, all personnel under my command will be issued identity cards."

"I have another suggestion."

"speak!"

"Only by assigning patrol boats to the Ministry of Internal Affairs can we form a real defense circle."

This is a request that no one else would dare to make.

Li Yu agreed without hesitation:

"There are a total of 12 small patrol boats on the island, and they will all be at your disposal from today on."

"I want to transfer Miss Wei Xiu to the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

"can."

Yang Yunjiao thought, put her on the water patrol team.

"Sir, it's time for you to appoint a commander for the navy."

……

Li Yu was stunned, it was true.

Many ships were built in one go, and cannons and firearms were quickly equipped.

Sailors, besides the original journeymen,

Subsequently, more than 200 people familiar with water properties were selected from his subordinates and are familiarizing themselves with warships.

But who should this Li family navy be handed over to?

"In addition to the naval commander, the captains of each ship must be determined as soon as possible, especially the Taihu Ghost."

However, this does not trouble Li Yu.

He quickly came up with a promotion plan and took the exam!

Captain?
Naturally, you need to be familiar with hydrology, know how to control sails, know how to use cannons, and be familiar with the common sense of navigation.

Make a theoretical paper first. It doesn’t matter if you are illiterate. You can answer the paper orally.

Then, it’s on-site practice.

"Tell everyone that they can run for office. I will appoint them on a merit-based basis."

However, the naval commander has to make his own decisions.

Liu Wu,

Seems to be the most suitable candidate at the moment!
This person has no illusions about the Qing court and is a hardcore rebel.

Loyalty seems to be fine so far.

The water quality is good, otherwise I would have died in Linqing long ago.

His old man, Taishan, was Director Kuai of the shipyard.

This made Li Yu hesitate for a while.
It is reasonable to say that it is an advantage, but it is also reasonable to say that it is a hidden danger.

……

That's all, the Caotai team doesn't care about that much anymore.

"Little five."

"exist."

"Let Liu Wu come to see me."

Li Xiaowu, the captain of the Guards, is also his adopted son.

He is getting taller and taller, growing very fast.

And that Li Dahu has also changed a lot. The young man who used to put signs on the roadside in exchange for money to bury his father is now covered in tendons.

It is said that

He has eliminated the youth version of the flintlock and replaced it with a normal-sized flintlock.

Then he followed Wu Simai and learned to ride a horse for a while.

At least it can ensure that the horse does not fall to the ground and can control the horse with one hand.

"Dahu, can you swim?"

"will not."

"Learn from a dog. He fishes by the water every day, and loaches are not as smooth as him."

"As ordered."

Although he said he obeyed his orders, he was dissatisfied in his heart.

How old is the dog?
His age is not even 7 years old.

Actually, I have to learn to swim with a little kid.

"My foster father's career is inseparable from the Navy. Once we fall out with the Qing court, our operations will mainly focus on the areas along the Grand Canal and the Yangtze River."

"Don't worry, foster father, I will issue a military order. If you can't learn to swim in one month, I will quit the Guards."

"Okay, a man should be fierce. I'll give you 5 days of leave. You can go."

Li Dahu rushed away happily,

I found an empty gourd to use as a life-saving device for swimming.

With a bunch of candied haws, he successfully earned the dog's trust.

……

"Goodbye sir."

Li Yu waved his hand and motioned for him to sit down.

"Have you been going to the shipyard a lot lately?"

"Hey, give Lao Taishan some food. He spends time on the boat every day."

"How about it?"

"Awesome, with these ships, five Taihu Associations can be defeated."

Liu Wu's eyebrows were beaming. It was obvious that he had boarded the ship many times.

"How about I leave the navy to your command?"

"Thank you sir."

Liu Wu solemnly left his seat and knelt on one knee.

"My subordinates must bring out an elite navy."

"You go to Ji Kang No. 2 first and experience it for a while."

"As ordered."

then,

Liu Wu began a life without his feet on the ground, soaking in battleships every day.

Ji Kanghao,
It is an improved river gunboat with balanced performance.

Li Yu also put forward a bold idea,

Abandon hard sails as soon as possible, change to soft sails, and add a bowsprit.

It must have been very uncomfortable at first, and it became more difficult to control the sail.

but,

Once you get started, soft sails have far more advantages than hard sails.

Ji Kang No. 10 is the test ship.

……

There is a moon tower in the capital city.
Dozens of gentry and wealthy businessmen gathered together.

Li Yu is the host, these people dare not not come.

however,
The atmosphere of the banquet was very depressing.

A table was set with delicacies from all over the world.

Drinks are even more expensive, costing one tael of gold per bottle.

The amber liquor exudes a mellow fragrance.

Take a small sip and feel comfortable all over.

"Everyone, Mr. Li has a heartfelt request."

"I want to acquire all the docks within 50 miles north and south of the Grand Canal."

Li Yu held the wine table and looked around at these people.

Silence, no one answered.

Everyone present is related to the dock business and has some shares.

"I will give you a fair price, or buy a stake in Xujiang Terminal. If you are willing, just stay. I, Li, express my gratitude and remember my friend."

"If you don't want to, leave Deyuelou before this incense stick burns out. From now on, when you meet again, you will be a stranger. Whether you are on Yangguan Road or a single-plank bridge, it all depends on whether you are lucky or not."

"Let's be honest, I want to eat alone."

After saying these words, Li Yu drank it all in one gulp.

Turn the glass over to show sincerity.

When the atmosphere was almost depressing to the extreme, a gentleman stood up angrily and left.

Immediately afterwards, several others followed suit,

Some left without saying a word, while others drank a glass of wine and apologized before leaving.

……

at the door of the restaurant,

Li Xiaowu, with more than a dozen guards, reached out to stop him.

Noisy, dissatisfied.

Li Yu opened the window on the second floor.

said aloud:

"It's going to rain and my mother wants to get married. Get out of the way."

The guards then retreated to both sides.

A little beggar with disheveled hair stood watching from a distance.

He stretched out his hand, hoping to ask for a few pennies from the man dressed in luxurious clothes.

The door to a restaurant is the easiest place to get rewards.

However, today is different from the past.

The diners were in a bad mood;
Boy, the grooms immediately scolded the beggar and drove him away.

Li Yu watched it clearly from upstairs.
A groom, eager to show off in front of his master, reached out and pushed.

The beggar looked thin, but he did not fall.

He just staggered back two steps and stared at him with hatred.

"Kid, come here."

Li Yu waved at the window, and everyone was stunned.

The little beggar also pointed at himself and checked twice before daring to approach.

"Come up."

The owner of Yuelou, the shopkeeper, hesitated to speak.

Not daring to stop the dirty little beggar, I watched him walk up the stairs.

……

The door of the private room,

Li Yu pointed to the empty table of dishes and said:
"It's all yours, what's your name?"

"Thank you, sir. My name is Ergou."

The little beggar parted the hair on his face and showed a happy smile.

"Ergou, what a good name. Where to set up the stick?"

"I'm from the Hunchenghuang Temple Beggar Clan, the Dirty Clothes Sect."

Li Yu thought to himself,

I can see that you can't get along with the Pure Clothes Sect with your appearance.

"Eat slowly. If you can't finish it, ask the shopkeeper to pack it for you."

"On behalf of the brothers in the gang, thank you sir."

The waiter brought a tray.

On top is a snow-white towel.

"Master Li, the shopkeeper asked me to give it to you. Wipe your hands before eating."

"Your shopkeeper is a kind man."

After receiving Li Yu's approval, the boy nodded, bowed, and closed the door.

The little beggar was left alone, frantically cooking in the private room.

The snow-white towel turned black.

then,

He grabbed the fat chicken with his left hand and fished the sea cucumber with his right hand.

From time to time, he poured some wine into his mouth.

downstairs,
The boy complained in a low voice:

"Shopkeeper, we are talking and laughing in the Yue Tower. There are scholars and scholars but no white people. When have you ever received such a lowly person?"

"Speaking of it, the Beggar Clan really doesn't belong to the lower class. Except for being poor, they are not cheap."

When the boy heard this, he realized that this was the truth.

……

(End of this chapter)