Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Chapter 229 Meeting old friends 1
  But it is said that Jia Lian, Xue Pan and his entourage meandered out of Jinzhou and separated at Guangningwei. Jia Lian took the housekeepers of the two houses to take over Zhuangzi at the foot of the Black Mountains, while Xue Pan took more than a dozen carts of goods and housekeepers to Liaodong Town. go.

A few days later, Xue Pan finally arrived at Liaohaiwei and hurriedly went to the garrison to pay his respects.

When Jia Cong saw his post, he was surprised and happy to meet his old friend in a foreign country, so he rushed out to greet him in person.

"Brother Xue, it's been a long time! What wind brought you to this bitter cold place?" Jia Cong followed Xue Pan at the gate and laughed.

"Brother Cong, don't I miss you? I came here to see you and do some business. I heard that you have done a lot of great things here, so please take good care of me." Xue Pan said with a smile.

"Easy to say, please come in." Jia Cong smiled and introduced Xue Pan.

Order the girl to bring tea and listen to Xue Pan explain his intention.

Jia Cong smiled and said: "This is easy, I have already sent people to inform the four passes, but if any Jurchens come to barter, they will be directed to the special trading market in the city for centralized trading.

Brother Xue can charge as much as he wants. But let me explain two things first. "

"What two things?" Xue Pan asked hurriedly.

"First of all, when doing business here, you must abide by my rules. Whether you are Han or barbarian, you must trade fairly. You must not buy or sell by force, commit rape or cheat. Violators will be severely punished."

"This is natural." Xue Pan hurriedly patted his chest and assured.

"Secondly, both parties to the transaction have to pay 10% of the commercial tax."

"That's easy too."

"Then everyone will be happy." Jia Cong said.

Xue Pan took out a box from his arms, handed it to Jia Cong, and said with a smile: "My sister asked me to bring you a letter."

Jia Cong was a little surprised and said, "Thank you, Brother Xue."

Xue Pan waved his hand and said: "We are all members of our own family. If we don't work hard, I will go and rest first. This journey has exhausted me to death."

Jia Cong hurriedly ordered the girl to take him down.

When I opened the box, I saw two letters inside, one each for Baochai and Daiyu.

The meaning of the letter was almost the same. It mentioned some reasons for leaving and missing him, and also said that the old lady and others were furious and sent Jia Lian to Liaodong to investigate the affairs of the farm.

When Jia Cong learned that the old lady had killed all the remnants of the Wu family who had escaped, he nodded slightly. Only the old lady in the Jia family became more awake. Jia Lian? Haha, you want to take over Zhuangzi with just a few housekeepers? Just go and have your mother's spring and autumn dream.

Let's not talk about Jia Cong's power here, but the newly promoted stewards in the farm, who have just gained power, are not willing to succumb to others easily. Jia Lian's journey was destined to be in vain.

Jia Cong put down the letter, thought for a while, and sent someone to call Rong Liu.

"How is the trade between Han and Yi going these days? Are there any drawbacks?"

"Thanks to your lord, since your notice on fair trade between Han and Yi was posted, people and merchants no longer have to hide or sneak around. Yi people now dare to enter the city to do business openly.

As a result, I estimate that I can increase tens of thousands of business tax money every year. Your Excellency is really a genius who can turn rain and clouds and turn stones into gold. "Rong Liu said with a smile.

Jia Cong smiled and shook his head: "There's no such thing as turning stone into gold. It's just that the gold has always been here and no one has picked it up. You have always regarded the barbarians as savage beasts, so there is no need for it.

The country of Wu was conquered by iron and gold. Even the 300,000-strong Tatar army was defeated. How could they still be afraid of a few barbarians? "

"What your lord is saying is that I never thought of this level before." Rong Liu said.

"How many tribes of barbarians are there in the city now to trade?"

"People from the Jurchen, Fuyu, Wuhuan, Xianbei and other tribes are gradually coming to trade, dozens of times a month. I think as long as the city's reputation for fair trade and fair trade is established, more and more people will come in the future. "

Jia Cong nodded and said: "This is what worries me the most. I know the nature of Han merchants. They are not treacherous and do not engage in business. And because they are in their own territory, they inevitably like to take advantage of themselves, bully the Yi people for being honest and ignorant, and even bully the weak. The shop bullies customers, this trend must not last long!
  Yu Hong, Lei Tai and others were ordered to pay close attention to the market situation, but if there are merchants who act recklessly, they should be severely punished, and those who deserve to have their homes confiscated and those who deserve to be killed will be killed! Remember, to put it in a smaller way, the barbarians can provide us with a large amount of scarce goods, which is the source of tax. Without the barbarians to trade, who will we turn to to collect taxes?

To put it more broadly, the barbarians in Liaodong will be our important help in containing the Tatars in the future. Anyone who dares to torture them will be severely punished. "

"I understand, let's do it now." Rong Liu bowed.

"Well," Jia Cong waved his hand and said, "Come back."

"Sir, please order."

"Did you find the thing I asked you to look for?"

"The official sent someone familiar to him to search everywhere in Fengtian City and Liaodong Town. He finally found him and spent a total of 24,000 silver."

Jia Cong smiled and said: "Okay, okay, just buy it. Money is a trivial matter."

"In addition, two evil gentry were identified during the last inspection. Their houses, furniture, antiques, and servants were all sold, as well as the silver stored in their homes. A total of more than 89 taels of silver were obtained, and more than 20 dan of grain were obtained. There are also more than acres of fertile farmland, of which more than acres are in the suburbs of the city.

The lower official was thinking privately. Your Excellency had generously donated money when you first arrived and advanced a lot of money for official duties. How about I transfer the 20,000 acres to your name and use it as offset against your advance? Is that okay? "

Jia Cong held his chin and smiled, secretly praising Rong Liu for being a good man. He only paid 20,000 to 30,000 silver in advance, but he changed hands and gave him 20,000 acres of fertile land, which was several times more profit.

Jia Cong doesn't want to be a good official who is as clear as water and as clear as a mirror. He used to be a cashier in Yangzhou, and now he doesn't pay attention to these 20,000 acres of land. He is only worried that if he opens his mouth, things will get worse. It ruins the hard-earned rules.

Yin shook his head and said, "It doesn't have to be like this. I'll take as much as I can in advance to prevent the upper beams from being out of alignment and the lower beams from being crooked. I bought these 20,000 acres of land at the market price. The rest of the land was sold, and all the money and food were put into the treasury."

"Your Excellency is of high moral character, and I will bow down to you as an official." Rong Liu sighed.

Jia Cong smiled and said, "There's no need to bow down. Just tell the people below that everyone should be careful and don't let me have the opportunity to raid their homes. I only know that raiding homes can make money faster than greedy money."

Rong Liu smiled awkwardly and said: "My lord's kindness is as great as the sky, how dare my subordinates dare to take advantage of me and be greedy."

"Just go."
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  Jia Lian was in trouble in the village. He didn't even catch a hair. He looked at the mountains of money and food piled up in the fortress, lying there in vain, and couldn't get out a penny.

When the new stewards saw that he was holding the Rongguo Mansion's cards, they respected him. After all the good words he said, they kowtowed and bowed, but they just didn't do anything. They kept saying one thing over and over again:

"Second Master Lian, please forgive me, because Third Master Cong has just issued the military order, and I dare not violate it if I wait. However, I would like Second Master Lian to get the paperwork and proof from Third Master Cong first, so that I can obey the order. If I offend, , Wanwang Erye Haihan."

Zhang Cai, the steward who went with Jia Lian, said angrily: "You are so brave. Who is the second master Lian? Today, I have been ordered by the old lady to come with the house's cards. You still dare to push back and forth. I'm tired of living." Why don't you hand over the warehouse keys, account books, and playing cards in the village?"

The stewards were well prepared. They knelt on the ground and kowtowed: "Second Master Lian is so generous, how can the servants dare to be rude? It's just that Third Master Cong's military law is very strict. He once said that without his order, the property of the farm would be modified without permission." Those who cause trouble will be killed.

If the slave obeys the order, don't tell me I'm waiting, or even the housekeeper from the mansion will..." He winked at the door, and dozens of heroes from the countryside rushed in with knives and guns.

"What are you doing? Are you going to rebel?" Qian Qi said angrily.

Jia Lian was also startled, and his momentum suddenly dropped.

The first captain of the Xiangyong Squadron sneered: "Master Cong has an order. Anyone who dares to disturb the affairs of the farm will be killed! If the old lady in the mansion has any order, it is for Master Cong, but not for me."

We just obey orders, and if we dare to disturb you again, don't blame me for being blind. "

Jia Lian felt a little scared when he thought of the dozens of heads hanging on the city. He was afraid that these mountain villagers would be cruel, so he quickly waved his hands and said: "Forget it, they people in the mountains are ignorant, why should we be acquainted with them? Let's go see Brother Cong first. That's it." After saying that, he led several housekeepers and left.

"Farewell to the Second Master." The housekeepers behaved in a polite manner from behind. Everyone secretly laughed in their hearts. Second Master Lian was too naive. He wanted to take the farm away just by talking in vain, thinking that this was Shenjing.

He went to Heishan Village to try again, but the result was mediocre. Jia Lian gave up completely and had to go to Fengtian, planning to meet Yang Xiong first before discussing anything else.

　I heard that ten thousand days can change your destiny against the will of heaven. . . Come on then.

　　
  　
  (End of this chapter)