My Brother-in-law is the Prince

  Chapter 437 The Great Eruption of Taiping Mansion

  Many scholars are still waiting for news in the tea shop.

  Especially when I heard that the Ma family and his son had gone to the county prince's mansion to cause trouble, all of a sudden, the scholars who usually lived in seclusion sprung up like mushrooms after a spring rain.

  Being aggrieved for too long a few days ago, Jin Yiwei followed the scholars everywhere, causing people to panic.

  So that everyone lives in seclusion, and even when they go out, they try their best to avoid being recognized by others.

   But now everyone can't hold back anymore.

  This is actually understandable, being bullied by Jin Yiwei every day, it is hard to have a chance to vent.

  The tea shop in the Confucius Temple is rarely so lively today, and the tea drinkers who didn't like to talk in the past are all opening their mouths at this time.

"I heard that His Majesty went there in person. It would be strange not to hear about such a big matter. The Ma family is really pitiful. It was so hard for a champion to be born in the family. In the end, he didn't know whether he was alive or dead. Alas, it has come down to such a miserable state." situation."

   "Definitely dead."

   "Even the champion is like this, do we still have a way out?"

   Everyone gritted their teeth, greeting the 18th generation of Jin Yiwei's ancestors in their hearts, discussing incessantly.

   "If His Majesty doesn't punish you for such a big matter, then in my opinion, there is really no cure in this world."

   "This is the number one scholar, and now the Ma family, father and son, are desperate..."

   While talking, someone came in a hurry and said out of breath, "Oh, oh..."

  Everyone stood up suddenly, or raised their necks to look at the person coming.

  The man was out of breath and said: "Duke Zhuangyuan... found it..."

  As soon as these words came out, the people in the tea shop held their breaths and looked at this man with wide eyes.

   "I found it, is it alive or dead?"

   "Still alive."

   "This is also fate, I must have suffered a lot." Someone showed concern.

   "He went into business..."

  As soon as this remark came out, the tea shop became surprisingly quiet in vain.

   Someone coughed subconsciously, and then said: "No way, no way, who forced him to do this?"

   "No one forced it."

   "Heh... No one forced it? A well-behaved number one scholar actually went into business? Is this possible? This must be a trick of Jin Yiwei... It's just a means of beating him into a trick."

But the man's expression was strange: "At first, no one in Qixia believed it. But later I heard... I heard... There is a Ma's Boat Company in Qixia Wharf, which is the property of the champion. Now everyone knows it. There are more than a dozen sea-going ships under the Mashi Shipping Company. I heard from the merchants over there that this business is not small. Not to mention other things, the value of this shipping company is probably more than one hundred thousand taels of silver. If you really want to buy and sell, Two hundred thousand taels of silver, people may not sell it."

  The tea shop became deadly quiet again.

  Everyone lowered their heads slightly, silent for a while.

   Two hundred thousand taels of silver, I am afraid that for a scholar, no matter how good the family background is, no matter how many acres of land the family has, they would not dare to take the two hundred thousand taels of silver as a joke.

  As for the person who can take out two hundred thousand taels of silver, even if they tie up all the people in this tea shop, they may not be able to extort such a sum from their homes.

   You want to say that Ma Yu was forced, but his worth is enough to make anyone ashamed.

  But they still couldn't figure it out, the top scholar should have entered the Imperial Academy and became a scholar of the Imperial Academy. This is the dream of almost all scholars, and the people here are afraid that they dare not even think about such a thing.

  But this Ma Yu is disdainful of caring, and goes to engage in the business that everyone looks down on the most.

  Someone lowered his head in bewilderment, didn't understand very much, and then hurriedly took out a few copper coins for tea money, and left after paying the bill with a dull look.

   There are also people who are thoughtful, seeming to be thinking about something.

   Some people even sighed, not knowing whether they were lamenting Ma Yu's pity, or lamenting themselves.

  The lethality of this news is too strong, it is even better than Jin Yiwei directly arresting them and sending them to sea ships for exile, it also directly hits people's psychological defense.

  After all... Ma Yu did it voluntarily.

   There are also scholars who do not understand.

  Although such people are a minority, after all, they still leave in a hurry.

   Since they couldn't find the answer, they couldn't help but look for it.

   Arrived in Qixia, the Ma family's mansion, everyone has already recognized it. After His Majesty's personal visit, Ma Yu became a well-known person, and even the mansion newspaper reported his news.

  Therefore...there is a lot of traffic here.

  Many merchants came here, and many people wanted to cooperate, especially after confirming Ma Yu's identity, I always felt that investing and doing business with such people was at least at ease.

  The number one scholar, after all, is a guarantee of credit.

   What's more, his shipping business has started to flourish, and Qixia's shipping business already has a place for Ma Yu.

  Of course, there are also many scholars.

  Ma Yu never refuses anyone.

  For the merchants who came, he seemed very enthusiastic. For business, who would not want to cooperate whenever there is an opportunity to cooperate? Even if it is a small business, the size of a fly is a piece of meat.

  Naturally, he treats scholars with more enthusiasm, and even personally greets them at the middle gate, welcomes them, and answers angrily questioned one by one, until someone leaves in anger.

  Of course, there are hundreds of kinds of people, each with their own differences. Some people come here purely to scold, while others just want to dispel doubts in their hearts.

Facing such a person, Ma Yu patiently explained: "Wuhu County King, how can you be favored by His Majesty? It is nothing more than a business. By doing this, students want to prove to the world that I, a scholar, can also be a businessman!" With the principles of the sages, one can still become a leader in business. The way of the sages is as vast as the sea. We scholars are not as good as people in business and workmanship. Strong, that's why many people ridicule me and other scholars as useless."

Ma Yu eloquently continued, and continued to elaborate: "The knowledge of a sage is not just for writing? The more I read the Four Books and Five Classics, the more I feel that the knowledge of a sage is profound and profound. Therefore, I want to fight for this, not to tell others, scholars How amazing it is, but I want to tell others that what others can do, I and other scholars can do the same, and I can do it better than others.”

   It was a scholar who came from Jiangxi to the capital to rush for the exam. After listening to it, he was thoughtful and quite touched.

  Ma Yu is the number one scholar, and he started business. But he was not famous in this subject, so he was really ashamed to say it, so he said: "But the study of sages, can it be said to be beneficial?"

"Why not?" Ma Yu said calmly: "Is it worthwhile to just read in the study every day? The saints say that self-cultivation, family governance, and the world are peaceful, but many scholars only think that they read in the study. After reading the Four Books and Five Classics, I am full of thoughts about governing the country and the world, but I don’t know that if you want to govern your country, you must first regulate your family. Isn’t this business the way to regulate your family? If you can’t even do such a thing , governing the country and the world, isn’t it empty talk?”

  After hearing this, the man was thoughtful again, obviously different from some who were furious and left in a huff. He pondered for a moment, then said: "Teach me."

  When he said these two words, he also seemed very sincere.

   "Where is Brother Liu from Jiangxi?"

   "I'm from Fuliang County."

  Ma Yu thought for a while and said: "Fuliang County, the ceramics here are famous all over the world."

  The man said modestly: "Where, where."

  Ma Yu smiled and said: "Porcelain from Fuliang County is not expensive in Jiangxi."

   "Yes, if it is shipped to the capital, the price will at least double."

  Ma Yu said: "If it goes overseas, it will be at least five times as beneficial."

  The scholar surnamed Liu was taken aback.

Ma Yu didn't seem to see the man's surprised expression, and continued: "What's more, if it is a large-scale purchase, the cost price can be even lower. If there are several kilns in Fuliang County, there will be a steady stream of kilns. Cargo to Nanjing, and then go to sea through here, in my opinion... it is a huge profit."

  The scholar surnamed Liu lowered his head slightly, as if thinking about something.

Ma Yu said: "However... Even so, in reality, it is even more difficult. It needs to be transshipped at many docks along the way, and coupled with the difficulties of the government, it will cost a lot of money to transport the porcelain to this ship. But it’s not low. The most important thing is that there are too many uncertainties..."

The scholar surnamed Liu pondered and said: "Such things are difficult to say, and easy to say. The student is a local gentry in Fuliang County, and he has some reputation. If it is to write books for the local county magistrate, or Some piers along the way... are actually easy to manage. In this case, the cost will be much lower. As for the kilns, there are official kilns and private kilns in Fuliang County. Regardless of the official kilns, the most difficult thing for the private kilns... Xiao Xiao covets... think about it, students, you don't need to worry about this... Mrs. Liu is still a little bit thin in the local area."

   "The most difficult thing is the transshipment. You need a boat on the river, and you need a business introduction... But you can rest assured about the business introduction. The students have the same year and work in the Jiangxi Transportation Department..."

Ma Yu smiled and said: "If that's the case, then it's a lot of money. The boat is easy to handle, not only that, the boat departs from Fuliang County, and the porcelain is transported. When I return, I have here from various feudal states. Pepper, sucrose, and other commodities can be transported back to Jiangxi for sale, and in this way, this trip back and forth can earn two ends of the money."

   After listening to this, Liu Juren pondered: "Brother Ma means... do you still need to distribute Western specialties such as expenses and cane sugar?"

"nature."

"I have to think about it." Liu Juren said, "It's actually not difficult. It's nothing more than preparing a few storefronts and warehouses in the prefectural and county towns. It's just a piece of cake. Or at least, there are some connections, and they will not be disturbed by others."

  Ma Yu was overjoyed, his eyes lit up, and he said: "If so, you and I will get a lot of money."

   Liu Juren hesitated and said, "It's just..."

  Ma Yu said: "This business is done well, let's not say too much every year, ten or twenty thousand taels of silver, but it's easy to get, and you may earn more in the future."

  As soon as this remark came out, Liu Juren stopped talking.

  Any Juren may be inconspicuous in the capital, but if he is in his hometown, he must be a big shot.

  After all, not to mention that Juren's fame is in the local area, he already has the power to influence local decision-making, not to mention that he can support a Juren family, and he must have deep connections in the local area.

  So... Although there is no new policy in Jiangxi, it is inconvenient for merchants to do business, but if the Liu family is willing to get involved, things will go much smoother.

   At this time, Liu Juren thought for a while and said: "This...students have to study books and discuss with their families."

   "It's not urgent." Ma Yu smiled and pulled Liu Juren's arm, saying: "Anyway, Ma is waiting for the good news."

   This Liu Juren left.

  Ma Yu was in a happy mood, took a pen and ink, and wrote down Liu Juren's name.

  In this roster, there are already seventy or eighty names, and this Liu Juren is actually just one of them.

Ma Chao poked his head outside, then slipped in, and said, "Brother, this Juren...why are you so polite? It's not like we can't buy porcelain, so why do we need his. Even if we buy it in Qixia, there will naturally be merchants who will find a way to sell this floating porcelain. Liang's porcelain is here..."

  After hearing this, Ma Yu laughed, and said, "Why, what's going on with Dad?"

   Ma Chao said: "Father is thinking about furnishing a new house. Next month, the family members will go to Beijing. If we don't arrange it earlier, I'm afraid it will be inconvenient."

  Ma Yu suddenly said: "Father is very accurate."

   "What?" Ma Chao rubbed his head, looking dazed.

  Ma Yu smiled, but put aside the topic, and said, "When buying porcelain, everyone pays for it. In fact, the prices vary widely."

  Ma Chao was still puzzled, and said, "Then..."

Ma Yu patiently said: "But this Liu Juren is from a wealthy family in Fuliang County. We can earn less from purchasing porcelain here. After we cooperate with them, we can borrow their hands to sell the porcelain we purchased in Xiyang." The goods have penetrated into the counties and counties in eastern Jiangxi, and Western specialties and goods... are of course valuable, but if they cannot be distributed, it will not work."

"The demand for these special products in Taiping Prefecture is indeed not small, but if you compete with other merchants in Taiping Prefecture, the profits will inevitably be meager over time. If you want to really do a good job in this long-term business, you must find a way to open up new ones. market."

Ma Yu paused, took a few steps, and then said: "In this world, except for the Taiping Mansion, there are no new policies in other places. The transportation and distribution of goods are very inconvenient. Bandits may lose their money. What's more, most of the prefectures and counties are wary of merchants in Qixia."

"At this time, this Liu Juren will be useful. His family is a big family in eastern Jiangxi. The gentry in various prefectures and counties there may be family friends if they are not his family's in-laws. As for the government...often with the Liu family Friendly, they are responsible for transshipment and distribution of our Western specialties, which is tantamount to creating a new market out of nothing."

As Ma Yu said, he smiled and nodded to other names in the roster, and continued: "There are also the Wu family from Changsha, the Zhou family from Zhangde, these people...don't underestimate them, if they are willing to cooperate with us, They are more capable than many merchants, what merchants are proficient in is business, and they are local snakes, things that others cannot do are easy for them."

  After hearing this, Ma Chao suddenly realized, and said in amazement, "Brother, you are pulling a woman from the Liang family into the water."

  The smile on Ma Yu's face stopped immediately, she couldn't help but glared at him, and cursed: "What nonsense are you talking about, this is a business!"

  Ma Chao was resentful, and quickly apologized. Suddenly, he remembered something, and said: "Brother, you said that these scholars, if they have also done business, are they scholars or merchants?"

  Ma Yu smiled and said: "Maybe they are still scholars in their mouths, but if one day, when their own interests are involved, they will stand with us."

   Ma Chao laughed and said, "Understood, I understand, our Ma family has become a merchant. Hmph! In the future, no one should be a scholar, but let me be a businessman, lest they look down on us."

  Ma Yu only smiled, but did not respond.

  ...

  In the spring of the following year, countless ships set sail to sea, and countless ships returned one after another.

  At this time, Taiping Mansion, not to mention the county, but the wharves of the towns are all large in scale, and all kinds of cargo ships moored fill the river.

  Governor Yin Gaoxiang has to deal with the blockage of the water every day, and he hardly touches the ground.

  So, among the expenditures of Taiping Mansion this year, the biggest expenditure is to clean up the silt in various rivers, widen the river surface, and build new canals.

   "Your Highness, this is the situation of the river this year. Please take a look at it."

  Gao Xiang found Zhang Anshi.

  Zhang Anshi didn't even look at it, he put the regulations aside, and said indifferently: "You can deal with these, but in fact, this king can't understand it."

In the past, Zhang Anshi could still understand when the project volume was not large, but now, projects are everywhere, requiring countless manpower, machinery, and money. I can't finish it either.

  Therefore, he only asked those Shu Zuo of Changshi Mansion to be responsible for sorting out the situation.

   Zhang Anshi thought of something at this time, so he asked: "How is the situation at the customs?"

  Gao Xiang said: "The settlement is already underway. However, the customs is directly under the county prince's mansion, and the lower officials dare not ask about many things. How about, Your Highness invite Mr. Yu to ask?"

  Zhang Anshi shook his head and said: "Forget it, he is also very busy. He has to watch over so many tax collectors. There are so many ships entering the port every day. I don't know how many things happen."

Gao Xiang smiled and said: "The lower officials have also heard that Mr. Yu is ruthless and selfless. Everyone is afraid of him, and all the tax collectors under him are merciless. Now, everyone in the Taiping Mansion According to the legend, it is... not afraid of Jinyiwei, but afraid of customs officials."

  Zhang Anshidao: "In this world, if you want to accomplish something, you need money first, and information second. Without money, everything is empty talk, so this tax collector is more important than Jin Yiwei, and it is not wrong."

  Zhang Anshi stood up, sighed, and said: "I am looking forward to it day and night, it is the tax account of the customs, but this Yu Qian has not yet turned in the account. He is not in a hurry, but this king is in a hurry."

  Gao Xiang looked at Zhang Anshi and said, "How about asking?"

   "According to his own rhythm." Zhang Anshi shook his head and said: "In case this king goes to make troubles, let's wait for him to send it himself."

  (end of this chapter)