Zhang Xiaobao took out the plan and began to discuss the details with Wang Juan. They discussed how to share the shares, how to distribute the benefits, what kind of people to choose for management, how to cooperate with each other, and how to transport the goods in the future. Apart from sending the goods to more remote places, they would basically be transported by water.
The two of them discussed until the evening. Zhang Xiaobao listed many previous cases and finally came up with a plan. The details were not as confusing as before, and the people here did not need those restrictions. If someone really did it in the future, they would add on.
They found a three star manager and talked to him for more than two hours. They told him to bring people to contact the local merchants tomorrow morning. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan then remembered that Zhang Zhong had already contacted the people over there.
The two-story Hai Tao Pavilion could be considered the best restaurant in the province. It was located in the prefectural city. If you walked along the widest street in front of the prefectural city, you would be able to see the building after walking for more than a thousand steps.
At this time, Zhang Zhong was sitting in a room on the second floor of the restaurant that was separated by a screen. When Zhang Zhong saw the screen, he shook his head. The restaurant did not think about it carefully enough. There was actually only a space separated by a screen and not a separate room.
His family's restaurant had a special place for people to talk about secret matters. Not only was there a separate room, but there were also two floors around the room. The middle was empty, and some linen was stuffed in to prevent noise.
When Zhang Zhong arrived, there were already three people waiting in the room. One was Zhang Yi, the other was Nian Wanjiu, who did not want to come, but had no choice but to. As for the last person, Zhang Zhong had not seen him with his own eyes, but he knew this person. This was all thanks to his son.
Whether it was Zhang Xiaobao or Wang Juan, they both knew the importance of information. When they arrived at this place, the first thing they had to do was to spread the information out. If they did not know anything, they could ask the local people or the local gangsters. These people were well-informed.
As long as the people approved of the officials, they were on the same side. As long as the people scolded the officials, they should be dealt with. There was no need to send special investigators to the government to understand. They just needed to listen to the people.
Zhang Zhong knew that this person's surname was Shen, and his name was Shen Guifu. It was a very ordinary name, but what this person did was not ordinary. He divided the salt pans that were supposed to be managed by the prefecture. One for Zhang Yi, one for Nian Wanjiu, and one for himself. His share was the largest, and the other two had to be given to the people in the yamen.
Apart from that, Zhang Zhong also knew that Shen Guifu had a caravan that traveled here from the capital. However, they did not have a fleet so they had to travel by land and sea. Since Lu Zhou's tributes were good, some people had set their eyes on this place. Moreover, they also had salt.
This salt seemed simple, and it could bring Shen Guifu an additional income of several thousand strings of coins every year. In order to obtain more profits, he joined forces with some people in the provinces and made the Provincial Governor a mere figurehead. He even imprisoned the Provincial Governor so the Provincial Governor did not have any power to use.
The newly appointed Provincial Governor Shi was clearly suppressed to the point that he could not turn the tables. He had no choice but to submit a memorial to the imperial court. However, he did not have any evidence. It was just a feeling. Moreover, his memorial might not be able to be sent directly to the capital. His family was already there, and the 50 mansion soldiers were too weak.
Apart from this information, Li Xun also revealed that Shen Guifu had a prince backing him. He was not the Crown Prince. Therefore, Li Xun's intention was to do what was necessary. If worse came to worst, he would step in and support them. After all, he was not afraid of a prince who was not the Crown Prince.
Li Xun was very dissatisfied with this. Look at the local people who were being cheated by that little bit of money. If he dared to compete, he would smash him to death with money.
In fact, Li Xun's intention was to tell Zhang Zhong that as long as the prince did not come personally, he could deal with Zhang Zhong however he wanted. He was not afraid of luring him out. How much money could he get from here in a year? Just those local specialties and tributes, at most, it would be 10,000 strings of coins.
It was estimated to be 5,000 to 6,000 strings of coins, not including the salt. The money for the salt should be from Shen Guifu's greed. How pitiful. Was it worth 5,000 to 6,000 strings of coins? He was so poor that he went crazy. At worst, he would give him some business and pity him a little. Li Xun was confident in this aspect. He was rich.
Zhang Zhong went through these things in his mind. He said with a straight face, "I am here. If you have something to say, say it quickly."
"Provincial Governor Zhang, there is no rush. It is better to eat first." Zhang Yi was not as afraid as before. He also changed the way he addressed Zhang Zhong.
Zhang Zhong did not care about the way he addressed him. He still said with a sullen face, "I am not used to eating outside food. Tell me, what is the matter with your good friend? Why does he give money to officials for free? What is his motive? "
The three of them did not expect Zhang Zhong to be so difficult to talk to. He had an attitude of condemning them. Chen Wanjiu was the one who got the least money. He was also a little afraid of Zhang Zhong. He did not dare to say anything. Zhang Yi had just said it, so it was not good to continue.
Shen Guifu could only smile and pick up the teacup on the table. He said to Zhang Zhong, "I have long heard of Sir's reputation. Sir loves the people like your own children. When you were in Sanshui County, your family started a business. You also helped the yamen of Sanshui County to give the yamen runners a salary. When you arrived at Huayuan County, it was even more amazing.
I did not expect to meet Sir here. Sir, the wine and dishes have not been served yet. I will use tea instead of wine to toast you. I think that after Sir comes here, the local people will have a good life. "
Shen Guifu held the bowl and waited there. He thought that after hearing what he said, Zhang Zhong would feel uncertain. He would say a few words of kindness and drink a bowl of tea with him. In this way, he would be easier to talk to in front of Zhang Yi and Chen Wanjiu.
Unexpectedly, after waiting for a while, Zhang Zhong just looked at him with a cold smile. He did not have the intention to pick up the bowl. This made him feel awkward. He asked, "Sir, what are you …?"
"What am I? Shen Guifu, you are just a small businessman. I am a fourth-rank official in the imperial court. There are many people who want to respect me. Do you think I will give face to anyone? You dared to show off the news you received two hours ago. Your family in Kaifeng is not planning to live anymore? "
Zhang Zhong's voice was not loud, but it was like thunder in Shen Guifu's ears. He had just received the news. How did Zhang Zhong know? It seemed that he knew a lot of things. He even knew where his family lived. What else did he know?
"Sir, I, I, I, I don't mean anything else. Sir, you, you don't know. I, I, also do things for others."
Shen Guifu changed his previous calmness and wisdom. His hand holding the bowl trembled. The water in the bowl spilled out, but he did not dare to put it down. He said to offer tea, but others did not drink it. He did not say that he should be disrespectful. If he put it down, it would be disrespectful. If he put it down, it would be easy to lose the lives of his family members.
He wanted to remind Zhang Zhong and let Zhang Zhong know that his background was not simple.
Zhang Zhong and Nian Wanjiu could not express how regretful they were now. From Zhang Zhong's words, they knew that Zhang Zhong was not ordinary. When they heard Zhang Zhong talk about his family, they did not believe it. Now, they had to believe it.
Zhang Yi signaled Nian Wanjiu with his eyes. Weiwei shook his head. He did not want to stand out now.
Zhang Yi had no choice but to speak up himself, "Provincial Governor, there are some things you don't know. Brother Shen, sometimes we are forced to do things."
"Forced? You were forced to rob the salt pans in the province? Then, I will write a memorial and ask the Emperor. Which dragon son forced Shen Guifu to do this? Which dragon son forced him to join forces with Lu Zhou's men to suppress Provincial Governor Shi? The Emperor has so many dragon sons. I'm sure one of them will stand out, right? "
Zhang Zhong was confident of his victory. There was a hint of arrogance in his tone. At this moment, Shen Guifu could no longer hold the teacup in his hand. It fell onto the table with a splash. He did not seem to notice that the water had scalded him.
When they heard the commotion, two workers immediately rushed in. They looked at Zhang Zhong first. When they saw that Zhang Zhong was fine, one of them asked, "What can I do for you, sir?"
When the four people in the room saw the two workers, they were stunned. The two workers were not the same one from before. Their clothes were clean and tidy. One of them had a handkerchief on his shoulder and the other on his forearm. They looked energetic as they stood there. They made people feel comfortable just by looking at them.
The most important thing was that there was a rice sprout embroidered on their chests. It was a very cute rice sprout.
"You two …?" Zhang Zhong did not know what to feel. He pointed at the two workers and asked.
"Master, Between the Clouds and the Water has bought Ocean Wave Pavilion. From now on, Ocean Wave Pavilion will belong to Between the Clouds and the Water. My brother and I are workers who have just been transferred over from the shop in Hangzhou. We've just arrived. The same goes for the manager and the master. Master, do you want to eat here?"
One of the workers answered respectfully to Zhang Zhong.
Zhang Zhong nodded with a smile. "Yes, the food cooked by my family is very comfortable. The three of you should have a taste as well."
Zhang Zhong did not need to ask to know that this was arranged by his son. The so-called manager was Zhang Liang, and the master was naturally the original head chef of Between the Clouds and the Water, Master Ni. He was used to the dishes cooked by Master Ni. His son had even thought about this. He could not blame his son and daughter-in-law for not knowing. The two little guys had calculated too many things. If others wanted to know clearly, they would be exhausted just by listening.
The most surprised one was Zhang Yi. He opened his eyes wide and looked at the two workers. "When was it sold? Why didn't I know about it? "
"In reply to County Magistrate Zhang, it was sold the day before yesterday. Your distant relative may not have told you. We came a little late and encountered a big storm. We have to go back and explain. We just arrived today and took over the shop."
The worker replied in a neither servile nor overbearing manner.
"How is that possible? Who told him to sell it? He dares to make the decision under his name? "Zhang Yi shouted loudly. He forgot that there was a provincial governor here.
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