The weather gradually cooled down. Even if it was cold, one only needed to put on an extra layer of clothing. Furthermore, it was still possible to wear a thin layer of clothing during the day. This was how the temperature here was.
Apart from Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan, the other family members who came with Zhang Zhong were curious about this kind of weather. Even though they already knew it would be like this when they came, the furs transported from the capital could not be made into clothes, but they could be made into various kinds of furniture.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan originally planned to make a spring to make a big comfortable bed. In the end, they found that it was possible to find hard steel, but it was difficult to find elastic iron.
The two of them discussed for a few days and found Li Xun, wanting to continue working with him to open up a business. There was no need to care about Xin Er, she was still there to continue studying the cloth doll. Although it was just a cover with cotton stuffed inside, it was not simple at all when it was actually made. The main thing was that when other people were making a cloth doll, they would not just hold it, they might even fiddle with it and make all kinds of movements.
The cotton stuffed inside was not as good as the technology at the place where Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan came from. It could roll and roll. A lot of wire nets were needed to fix it in place, and they could not affect the doll's movements on the outside.
Xin Er felt that this was the beginning of her success. It was more profitable than the things she did before, so she was very invested in it. She was determined to make this cloth doll into a human body. She also planned to make more improvements in the future.
Li Xun did not follow Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan around these two days. Instead, he stayed in the cotton field to see if planting this kind of cotton was more beneficial than planting grains. He was afraid that some people would occupy the good fields for the cotton. If that happened, he did not want this thing.
After observing for two days, Li Xun found that it might not be good to plant in other places, but it was a good idea to plant in Lu Zhou's place. This place was vast but sparsely populated, which was far worse than Chang 'an. A lot of land was uncultivated, and some places were still covered with trees. Those with a large family might cut down those trees and turn them into fertile fields. That way, they would not have to pay rent for a few years.
When Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan sent people to find Li Xun, Li Xun was already covered in cotton. Without cleaning up, he brought the cotton to one of the two rivers. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were at this place, thinking about how to raise fish.
As soon as Li Xun arrived at the place, he said excitedly to the two of them, "I've decided to plant more cotton here. There is a lot of unused land there. We can also cut down the trees on the mountains and continue to plant them. There are so many mountains behind, we can't use up all the trees."
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan had already discussed this matter. The two of them would not stop others from cutting down trees, but they did not want to do so, especially the Hundred Thousand Mountains behind. Although the area of the Hundred Thousand Mountains was not small, and there were many kinds of animals and plants in it, it was far from what it was now.
The two of them wanted to protect this place and leave it to their descendants. It was not that there were no other ways to make money, so why should they destroy it at the cost of it? The two of them originally wanted to talk to Li Xun about the sofa. The leather they brought from the north was very good. If they could make sofas, they could sell them to the rich people here.
In this way, they could cooperate with the cotton business and make some cotton cushions or pillows to cooperate with the sofa. Not only were they comfortable to sit on, but they could also use the cotton cushions to absorb sweat. When the time came, they could change the cushions. They could even provide some local people with jobs, such as flicking cotton.
When the two of them heard Li Xun's idea about the Hundred Thousand Mountains, they looked at each other. Zhang Xiaobao said, "You can cut down trees, but you can't cut down the trees inside. Remember, you can't just leave the trees outside alone after cutting them down. We can only make money from the trees and use them to make paper or furniture.
You have to calculate the growth time of the trees and divide them into pieces. If you cut down a piece, you have to plant another piece. Forget about the cotton. There is a lot of open space here. We can improve these fields. You don't have to worry about the alkali soil. You can use a lot of water to wash it repeatedly. It's enough to grow cotton. "
"Ah? You can't cut down the trees to grow cotton? You have to plant more trees? There are so many trees taking up space. Instead of leaving them to grow, it's better to make money. If you want to wash the alkali soil, it will take at least three years. By then, your father won't be here anymore. "
Li Xun didn't understand environmental protection. He couldn't understand why they couldn't cut down the trees and turn them into fertile fields. Now, the imperial court was encouraging the people to do so, but Zhang Xiaobao was against the imperial court.
"You're just thinking about yourself?" Wang Juan spoke at this time. When she saw Li Xun looking at her, she continued, "Do you know why so few people died in the flood this time?"
"I know. It's because Xiao Bao's father was here. Otherwise, many people would have died." Li Xun didn't deny Zhang Zhong's contribution, but this didn't seem to have anything to do with what he was talking about, right?
"What washed down from upstream was water and trees. There was only a little bit of sand. If all the trees were cut down, a lot of sand would wash down the next time there was a flood. At that time, not to mention wooden rafts, even iron rafts wouldn't be able to block it. They would all be buried.
The roots of the trees will hold on to the soil. Only when there are many trees will the mountain be stable. If they are cut down and planted over a few years, they will be able to continuously obtain the resources of these trees. Don't underestimate these trees. They can be used to make boats, paper, and furniture. Every year, a part of them will be cut down and planted again. This way, they will never die out.
Otherwise, if you cut down some, and others cut some. If you just cut down some but don't plant them, when our descendants cry and curse our ancestors, you won't have the chance to regret even if you want to. Even if there is a provincial governor here, it doesn't matter. We can buy these places when Xiao Bao's father is still in office.
Our families will pay for it, and these places will be ours. The money will enter the provincial yamen and be used to build the infrastructure. In this way, we won't have to worry in the future. Don't you want to use this place as a place to play? "
Wang Juan really didn't want to touch the Hundred Thousand Mountains. That would be too wasteful. How many people were there in the Tang Empire now? How much land could be used? The land here could be rested in rotation. That was to say, one year of farming and one year of rest. With so much land, wouldn't it be enough to grow food?
Now that the grain output was low, there was no need to worry. There was research by the Sinongsi Temple and the Zhang family. When the time came, it would be good to combine the research results. It was said that the Sinongsi Temple had researched a lot of good seeds. However, one was that transportation was not convenient, and the other was that the seeds would degenerate.
With development, these would not be a problem. Transportation could be solved. Wasn't it just a matter of building roads? It was a simple matter as long as they were willing to pay. In a few years, when he and Zhang Xiaobao earned more money, they would start to build roads all over the country. After building a section, they would open shops there and guide the local logistics.
Everything was done by people. He and Xiao Bao knew what would happen in the future. It was a kind of pain that they couldn't bear. People now didn't have such awareness, so they had to cultivate it. They had to leave something and rules for the future generations.
Li Xun's mind still couldn't understand for a while, but this was not important. He believed that Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan's words would not be wrong. Since the two of them had such plans, he would listen to them.
Thinking of this, Li Xun said to the two of them, "Then we will do as you said. Now, we will start to lead the water from the two rivers to some alkali soil. Soak it first. When it's almost soaked, we will plant things. If it's not enough, we will go somewhere else to plant."
"Yes, go somewhere else to plant. For example, in other countries, buy a piece of land, or buy a place with trees, cut down the trees, and then turn it into a good field. The wood can be used to make things, and the field can also produce things."
Zhang Xiaobao still agreed with this aspect. He was not a member of the Environmental Protection Association. He just felt sorry for his own country. Whether other countries were good or bad had nothing to do with him. He was not selfless to the point of taking the world's peace as his own responsibility. As long as he had a good life, so what if other countries died?
Wang Juan heard Zhang Xiaobao's words and knew what he was thinking. It was too early to talk about this kind of thing. It was better to do what should be done first.
"Young Master Li, this time I asked you to come here to discuss something. We already know the approximate location of the alkali soil. We are not going to soak it with fresh water immediately. Instead, we want to dig a big pond in that place to raise the fish here."
Wang Juan saw that Li Xun mentioned the place to plant cotton and alkali soil, so she talked about this problem first. The real matter of making the sofa could be postponed.
Li Xun did not expect that the two of them called him here to discuss the matter of raising fish. He asked puzzledly, "Raising fish in the sea? Then do we have to move the seawater there? There are already fish in the sea, so what is there to raise? There are so many that we can't catch them all. "
"Raising rare species is not a fish that can be seen casually. For example, some fish are red, some yellow, and some fish that can't be caught in a few days. Then we should raise them."
Wang Juan introduced the matter of raising fish. She felt that there were new species born every day, and there were original species dying every day. Even if human beings did not destroy them, it would still be the same. It was just that human beings' development accelerated the process.
It included animals, plants, and some microorganisms. Since there was no ability to keep all the species, they should try their best to cultivate new species and then sell them for money.
This was the purpose of Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan here. Zhang Xiaobao added, "The water in this river is fresh water. We can use a net to block the big freshwater fish, so people can eat two kinds of fish that come out of the water here.
When it comes to the part of the sea, we don't have to worry about it. If the fish can withstand the seawater, they can swim over. If they can't, they will naturally stay here. The same is true for the fish in the sea. The two sides can be merged together. When it's time to lay eggs, there may be new fish.
Especially the fish with different colors and shapes, we can raise these fish separately. When the fish lay eggs, the small fish that grow will be the same. Then we can cultivate them little by little and turn them into ornamental fish. As long as they are done well, it will be easy to sell them for thousands of strings of coins.
Is Mr. Li willing to join in? Maybe the initial investment will be very large, and there won't be any profits for a few years. If you are willing, then Mr. Li can take out 2,000 strings of coins, which will be 10% of the profits. "
"2,000 strings of coins for 10%?" Li Xun was attracted by this plan, but when he heard about the money, he hesitated. If he took out 2,000 strings of coins for 10%, it meant that the Zhang Family and the Wang Family had to take out at least 18,000 strings of coins. He didn't know if 20,000 strings of coins was appropriate for raising fish. It seemed a little expensive.
"Xiao Bao, you spent so much money just to raise fish? Even if we eat fish with this money, it will be enough for us to eat for a lifetime. How can we use 20,000 strings of coins? "
Li Xun continued to ask.
Zhang Xiaobao smiled and said confidently, "20,000 strings of coins is not much. This is taking into account that there will be output while we are doing it. Otherwise, we will need more. This is because not only do we need to raise fish in this place, but also in some other places. This requires a lot of manpower and material resources. How can it be simple?"
At this moment, Li Xun understood that the Zhang family wanted to open up the business directly. If they were going to do it, they wanted to do it on a large scale instead of doing it bit by bit. The Zhang family was rich. Perhaps, they did not care if they failed or not.
When he thought about the previous deals that the Zhang family had done, it seemed that they had only lost a portion of their profits because of the natural disaster when they first arrived in Lu Zhou. They had not lost money at all. Li Xun had an idea. He nodded and said, "Alright, it's settled then. I'll get someone to prepare 2,000 strings of coins in a while. Remember, it's 10%. Don't regret it when the time comes."
Although Li Meng said that, he already understood that the other party was helping him out this time. Otherwise, if the other party did it himself, he would earn more money. Why would he need to share 10% of the profits? Although it was only 10%, when this business was done on a large scale, the 10% would be more than all the money they had invested.
"Don't worry, Young Master Li. We won't regret it. When our glass industry is established, we won't only be selling fish alone. Although glass is good, it's expensive, and it's not easy to make it completely transparent. It's better to have glass than to raise fish."
Zhang Xiaobao did not care if Li Xun agreed or not. It was better if he did not agree. He could earn the money himself. However, if he did not say it out loud and let Li Xun choose, he would appear to be disloyal. Li Xun would find fault with him.
When Wang Juan thought of glass, she had a new idea. She said, "We can spend a lot of money to buy a glass factory. When the time comes, we can try to make glass that can match the color of the fish we buy. That way, we can sell it at a higher price."
"Do what you want. After all, it's up to the two of you. Oh, there's something I need to talk to you about. My imperial uncle wants to build a canal and connect more places. However, the imperial court is short of money now. I'm going to send 100,000 strings of cash. Are you willing to send some over with me?"
As Li Xun spoke, he brought up this matter. He had just received the news. His father knew that he had money and did not have much to spend. His father wanted him to take out the money and give it to his younger brother, Li Longji.
"This matter needs to be discussed. Young Master Li, please wait here. I'll be back in a while." Zhang Xiaobao left with these words and pulled Wang Juan away.
The two of them rode for about ten li before stopping. They let the horses find food for themselves. The two of them sat under a big tree and discussed the matter.
"Xiao Bao, did the Tang Dynasty build a canal at this time? How come I don't remember? And this flood, it seems that there's no record of it in the books I've read before. "
Wang Juan pulled up a few strands of grass from the ground and asked Zhang Xiaobao, who was weaving a small rabbit.
"There are many things that are not recorded in the books. How can it be possible to write down everything? But I feel that the matter of building the canal should be because of us. We made several trips to the other side, so we must have made a lot of money. The Emperor was jealous. Fortunately, we gave him enough gifts. Moreover, my father's ability was great enough.
He might think that this road is not bad, but there are too few places connected by the canal. Thus, he wants to build more. Although this is the Kaiyuan period, it is not the most prosperous period. The imperial court does not have much money. I've decided to fork out the money. I don't know how much money we can fork out if we add up all the transactions over there. "
Zhang Xiaobao analyzed. The flood was not easy to say, but the canal did seem to have something to do with them. The emperor was not only thinking about how much money they had in the national treasury, but also how much they could make the lives of the common people during this process.
The current Xiao Li was not bad. He knew how to treat the common people well. In the future, he would be too old. Otherwise, no one would judge him like Xiao He. His success was because of Xuan Zong, and his failure was also because of Xuan Zong.
Wang Juan also knew that if she could contribute now, she would receive more in the future. Thinking of Li Longji, she sighed and said, "Yang Guang is actually not bad. At least he built the canal. Many people say that he did it for fun, but that is not the case.
There is no one who does not want to rule their country well after becoming the emperor. It is only because of different abilities and different levels of effort that the results are different. The Grand Canal. Perhaps when Yang Guang was building it, he could not imagine what a person with a bad reputation like him would leave behind for future generations.
The Grand Canal, there are countless stories about it. It is a dream that has spanned thousands of years. The ancient people are no longer here, but the water in the canal is still surging. I've decided to build the dam in Hangzhou. I won't wait for Su Shi anymore. When the time comes, it will be called the Cuckoo Dam. "
"Why not call it the Baodi?" Zhang Xiaobao was in a relaxed mood.
"Then let's call it the Cuckoo Dam. No, it should be called the Cuckoo Dam. It is all because of you men. When people think of a name, they unconsciously put men's names first."
Wang Juan had just said a name when she suddenly changed it. She felt that even though there were many times when men would listen to women, men and women were still not equal, especially in some of the top industries. There was also the choice of officials. Although there were many women who became officials, there was no such thing as a woman who could reach the best level of an official.
Zhang Xiaobao had a more thorough understanding of this. He said, "A capable man will never be equal to a woman. Only a incapable man will be suppressed by a woman. This depends on the ability to obtain productivity and a woman's status in the family. At that time, we had to look at the background and the amount of production resources obtained.
If a man obtained less and did not have the ability, he would naturally listen to a woman. Wu Zetian was so powerful. How much did she pay when she obtained her position? If it was a man, he might not have the same opportunity as her, but if he really had the same opportunity, he would have to pay less than her.
A man without capability will treat a woman as a person, while a capable man will treat a woman as a resource that can be exchanged or bought. Forget it, let's not talk about this. Let's talk about how much money we can take out. No matter what, it can't be less than Li Xun. "
Zhang Xiaobao felt that it was meaningless as he spoke, but Wang Juan did not think so. She stared at Zhang Xiaobao and asked, "Then are you a capable man or a man without capability?"
"I feel that you are a capable woman. Although I said that, I am a rather traditional person. The so-called tradition is not an ancient tradition, but a modern tradition that should not be a tradition. That is what I mean. I respect myself, and at the same time, I respect women. After all, my mother is also a woman."
Zhang Xiaobao did not directly answer Wang Juan's question. Instead, he went around in a circle to express his thoughts.
"That's more like it. Then let's donate 110,000 strings of cash. Some of the industries over there should have made a lot of money. There are also the goods that are shipped over. I think we can raise this money."
Wang Juan was satisfied. The money she offered was 10,000 strings of cash more than what Li Xun had offered. She knew that this money would not be spent in vain. She might be able to obtain some benefits, such as taxation. She might also be able to obtain some political benefits, which would be given to her father and Zhang Xiaobao's father.
Zhang Xiaobao did not feel bad about this small amount of money. As long as he could do something for the good people of the country, he was very willing to invest money. He had already invested a lot in the past. When he was about to come here, he had also arranged for several funds to be operated. When the time came, he could help the country do many things.
It was not that he was selfless, but that people always had a spiritual pillar in their lives. The capable people would put this pillar in their hearts for the sake of the whole nation, and also for themselves. The incapable people would believe in various religions and seek a pillar in these religions.
Seeing that Wang Juan was willing to pay 10,000 strings of cash more, Zhang Xiaobao agreed. "Well, then let's do it. Li Xun will not be angry. After all, he is not on the same level as us. His identity determines that his efforts and returns are not proportional to others' efforts and returns. Even if he only pays 10,000 strings of cash, he will be more appreciated than us."
"Yes, identity is sometimes like this. Whether it is fair or not, there is no way to explore. Then we have to wait a while. When it is about time to go back to the state capital, we can go back and see Li Xun. After all, we can't directly decide such things. Well, Li Xun thinks so."
Wang Juan put the woven rabbit in Zhang Xiaobao's hand and looked at the grass in front of them that was blowing by the breeze.
The two of them estimated the time and sat there looking at the surrounding scenery. There was still a certain distance from the sea. They could not see the sea, but it did not affect the feelings of the two of them to feel the sea.
Li Xun was just as Wang Juan had predicted. He felt that Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan had left to go home. He had to ask his family about this matter. After all, it involved too much money. If it was a few thousand strings of cash, the two of them would be able to make the decision directly.
While waiting, Li Xun thought about the effect of giving out the money this time. It was 100,000 strings of cash. How many people would be jealous? At the very least, his cousins would miss him, but so what? Even if they were jealous, he would not give it away. With the Imperial Uncle there, he could not rob openly.
He could not fight secretly either. As long as he was caught and sent to the Imperial Uncle, whoever made a move would be punished. Other than the Crown Prince, if others made a move, the Imperial Uncle would definitely not show too much mercy. After all, this was considered fratricide. The Crown Prince would not dare to do so. What did it mean to make a move on him?
He had not become the Emperor yet, but he had already made a move on his own brother. What good would it be when he became the Emperor? En, yes, that was it. When the time came, he could ask for more benefits. For example, if he had a fief somewhere else, and others wanted to stay in the capital, he did not want to. He could use benefits in exchange for the Zhang Xiaobao and Wang family to follow him. He could also transfer Zhang Zhong to the fief to be an official.
"Hahaha, with the Zhang family's people, why would I be afraid that the fief would not be well managed?" As Li Xun thought about it, he said the words in his heart. At this time, a fish jumped up from the river, shook its tail, turned around, and dived back, leaving only the water droplets that had not yet fallen into the water and ripples in the air.
After waiting for about four hours, it was already past lunchtime. Li Xun still did not leave. He knew that the two of them would not be back for a while.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan also calculated the time and rode over. When Li Xun saw the two of them, he asked with his eyes.
"Young Master Li, my family can take out 110,000 strings of coins this time, but the new canal cannot let people go back and forth for free. We need to charge a certain fee. After all, digging the canal also costs money. How about this, we have thought about it. According to the size of the boat, there are four classes.
"For the smallest ship, if it's a local ship, you can apply for a monthly card. As long as you pay 30 copper coins a month, you can pass by as you please. If it's not a local ship, you have to pay 1 copper coin for each pass. If it's a medium-sized ship that's slightly bigger, you have to pay 10 copper coins. If it's a big ship, you have to pay 100 copper coins. You have to pay both ways. If it's a ship like ours, you have to pay the same amount.
After all, they are all businessmen. If we don't ask them for money, wouldn't we be helping them dig the river for free? You tell this matter to the Emperor. When the time comes, the Emperor will take more and we will take less. "
Under Li Xun's questioning gaze, Zhang Xiaobao began to tell him about his and Wang Juan's plan. Don't underestimate this little fee. As long as there were enough boats going back and forth, the money accumulated would not be small. It would take more than 10 years to get this money back, or even less.
Li Xun was stunned when he heard Zhang Xiaobao's words. He had never thought that they would have to pay for passing by. However, when he thought about it, this money would not be paid by the imperial court, but by his and Zhang Wang's families. It was not a big deal to ask for some money. As for whether it would succeed in the end, it would depend on the Imperial Uncle's plan.
However, when he thought about the increase of ten times the fee for each of the four classes, he asked worriedly, "Could it be that the big boats feel that it is too expensive and don't go to the place where the fee is and specifically look for the local boats to transport the goods?"
"Yes, as long as the goods are small, it will be like this. However, if there are a lot of goods, they will have to pay a lot more money to hire the boats. At least they are not fools, they will know what to do. If the local boats want to make money, then let them make money.
When more small boats can make money, we can ask the local government to collect taxes and issue a tag. Those who don't pay taxes won't be issued. When those big boats hire small boats, if there is a tag, then the goods can be guaranteed to be delivered. If there is no tag, then the price may be lower, but the government won't care if the goods are lost. "
When Zhang Xiaobao thought about the fee, he had already considered these things. When Li Xun asked, he directly said it.
Li Xun did not dare to guarantee that this matter would work, but he could try his best to fight for it. As for the result, it was hard to say. Thinking of this, he said to Zhang Xiaobao, "I will write a letter to tell you about this matter. Whether it will work or not, I don't care. I understand what you said. The cost of hiring boats is not less than the toll. Moreover, if the people who hire boats can make money, the local government can also make money.
Another thing is, as long as the canal is built, no matter if it's the ships that carry the goods or the merchants that drive the ships over, there will always be people who have to pay. Otherwise, if they take the land route, the transportation cost will be more. Is that what you mean? "
"That's what I mean." Zhang Xiaobao nodded in agreement. He did not want to spend the money without any benefits. Of course, the people who are passing by to do business have to take out this part of the money. Otherwise, it would be a waste of money.
Even if it was a passenger boat, it was not directly collected from the customers. It was all paid by the boatman.
Although this kind of thing might not be possible in this era, he still had to give it a try. If the emperor agreed, then he would do it. If not, then forget it. He could not go against the emperor for this matter. That would not be worth it.
*****
While Zhang Xiaobao and the others were discussing how to get rich, the two boats of the Ning family finally returned to Qinzhou Prefecture at the fastest speed. Young Master Ning stood at the bow of the boat and looked at the river in front of him. He did not know what to feel. Originally, he had planned to transport some valuable things from the other side to sell here.
But in the end, the things at the bay were all robbed. Although it was said that they were robbed, they could not report it to the authorities. After all, the other side said that they were collecting toll fees. If they really reported it to the authorities, they would have to report it as well. Wouldn't that cause trouble for the Ning family?
Moreover, the Ning family had collected the toll more often and for a longer period of time. The other side had only collected it once. If they used this reason to write a memorial to impeach them, the other side could just quibble and say that there was no such thing. If they did not believe it, they could ask others. Even if the higher-ups sent people to investigate, it would still be the same.
They could just find a random reason to shirk this matter. However, if the other side also wrote a memorial and told the authorities about the Ning family, then the people in the imperial court would immediately understand that the Zhang family was taking revenge on them. If they took revenge once, and it was the Ning family's boat, then no one would say anything.
However, if they stopped all kinds of people, then it would be a big crime. When the time came, not only would they not be able to move the Zhang family, but they would also be implicated.
Thinking of this, Young Master Ning did not know who to vent his anger on. If these responsibilities were really investigated, then he would have to bear it. However, since the steward was willing to bear it, then he could breathe a sigh of relief. As for what would happen in the future, he first had to protect the steward. Then, he would take it slow.
With this contradictory thought, Young Master Ning got off the boat and went to the yamen by car. Without his order, the steward on the boat directly took all the responsibilities.
Young Master Ning was actually an ordinary member of the family. The Ning family was a big family, so it did not matter whether he was there or not. However, his task this time was more important, which was to see if he could succeed in learning from the Zhang family. In the end, the two boats that came back were empty. Except for people, there was no food.
This was really unacceptable. Young Master Ning was naturally reprimanded, and the steward was whipped. Fortunately, the Ning family also knew that the steward was taking the blame for this child. It was rare to see a steward like this, so they did not want him to be injured. However, the Ning family was very dissatisfied with the Zhang family's actions.
Even though they had taken money from the merchants who came from Lu Zhou, they did not think so. They felt that the money they took was only a part of the money, and they did not take all of it. However, the Zhang family took away all the goods on the boat this time. That was not right.
This was the Ning family's idea. Perhaps many people thought this way, but Zhang Xiaobao definitely didn't think this way. As long as you show hostility, I will directly beat you until you don't have the slightest strength to fight back.
Tang: Governor Ning received some news from Cao Herui and the others a few days ago. He was very angry, but he did not think those words were very credible. However, when he saw the two empty boats coming back today, he felt that those words were somewhat credible. It was with this thought that he decided to make a move on the Zhang family in advance.
The Ning family was a big family. Naturally, their foundation was not bad. If they wanted to make a move on someone, they would have to think carefully. They were also the kind of people who would not show mercy to others when they made a move. As long as there was a chance to kill the enemy, they would not give the enemy any chance to turn the situation around.
"Someone, call Cao Herui and the other two here. I have something to say to them." Tang: Governor Ning thought about it and ordered the servants before he made a move. He needed to meet the three people. He had to understand the situation on the other side before he could make a move.
In fact, he had already sent some people to take charge of this matter. However, when those people came back, the information they gave was not what he wanted at all. They said that they planted rice, planted white folded rice, dug the river, and built the seawall. These things were not useful at all.
From these methods, he really could not find any fault. If he really used these things as a reason to impeach Zhang Zhong, then not only would he not be able to impeach Zhang Zhong, but he would also implicate the entire Ning family. If the people in the imperial court heard this news, they would definitely reward Zhang Zhong.
Because of this, he did not make a move for a long time. At the same time, he did not look for Cao Herui and the other two. He always felt that these three people were scheming against him and Zhang Zhong. They wanted to watch the two sides fight so that they could vent their anger or get some benefits from it.
He also knew that the three people were talking about the Shen family. Wasn't it just that there was a prince behind them? The Emperor had many sons. He was not the Crown Prince, so there was no need to consider these things.
After waiting for a while, Cao Herui and the other two came over. These days, they had a good life here, but they were not in the mood to enjoy it. They had been waiting for Tang: Governor Ning to make a move. The problem was that they did not know what Tang: Governor Ning was thinking. He had no intention of going over.
The three people were worried about their family. They were afraid that after they left, their family would be wronged. However, they did not get any news. The only thing they could do was to wait.
They had asked to see the Provincial Governor several times, but they were rejected with various reasons. Today, they finally got the chance. First, they wanted to fan the flames again. Second, they wanted to ask the Provincial Governor if there was any news from that side.
Tang: Governor Ning was waiting for the three people in the study. When the three people saw him, Tang: Governor Ning said with a smile, "I've been busy in the mansion these days. I really didn't have time to meet you. Now that I have time, I wonder if the three of you have any other thoughts about Zhang Zhong?"
"My lord, you are busy for the country and the people. You don't have to worry about us. My lord, are you asking about Zhang Zhong? Then we know a lot. Zhang Zhong doesn't care about the face of the Imperial Court. He actually took out his family to help the people in Lu Zhou. Isn't this inviting the people without permission?
This place is so remote. Oh, I'm not talking about my lord's place. I'm talking about Lu Zhou's place. It takes a lot of time to send a letter. Zhang Zhong is taking advantage of this and taking advantage of the fact that the Imperial Court doesn't know about it. If things go wrong, Zhang Zhong is likely to use this place to start a rebellion. My lord, you should be more prepared. Don't let Zhang Zhong be the first to attack.
Also, why was Zhang Zhong so hostile towards his colleagues? Why was that? The three of us know a lot of things over there. He must be afraid that we will see through his plan. That's why he did that. Also, when there was a flood, he didn't ask the people to divert the water away. Instead, he asked the people to tear down the houses.
I see that the houses here are still intact. Zhang Zhong deliberately let the people live in the place he set. This is not a small crime. My lord, you must tell the Imperial Court about Zhang Zhong's ambition. Then, let the Imperial Court deal with Zhang Zhong. Otherwise, there will be endless disasters. "
Cao Herui kept talking at the side. He described all the good things that Zhang Zhong did as bad things and waited for the Provincial Governor to make a move.
Tang: Governor Ning initially wanted to find out something from the three of them. He wanted to find out something that was correct and not biased. However, when he heard Cao Herui's words, he knew that his hopes were dashed. What nonsense was this? Could Zhang Zhong still rebel? With his small number of people?
If he really wanted to rebel, wouldn't it be better for him to go to the land of Sichuan? It was right next to Tubo. When the time came, he could even get the support of Tubo. If he rebelled in Lu Zhou, was he trying to get the support of the sea? Others could talk about this kind of thing, but he definitely could not use it to attack Zhang Zhong. Otherwise, he would be the first to be unlucky.
When he saw Cao Herui and the other two looking at him, Tang: Governor Ning pretended to listen and nodded. His expression changed, and he said angrily, "Zhang Zhong, how dare he do such a thing? I can't just stand by and watch. Do the three of you have any other evidence? Hand them all to me. When the time comes, I won't forget about this."
When the three of them heard this, they were a little dumbfounded. They did not dare to say these rumors and implicate themselves in it. If this kind of thing was investigated, it would be a false accusation. The three of them shook their heads at the same time. Cao Herui continued to speak.
"My lord, the three of us can't get involved in this kind of thing. I think it's enough for my lord to do it alone. Oh, my lord, you're asking if Zhang Zhong has anything else. Yes, I do. Zhang Zhong asked his family members to change their identities and lend usury to the common people.
Not only that, but Zhang Zhong also didn't care about the lives of the common people. He asked them to work more during the day and at night. I saw with my own eyes that two common people died of exhaustion there. It's so pitiful. But those common people couldn't do anything. Even the three of us couldn't persuade them. As a result, we provoked Zhang Zhong and took away our real power.
Also, Zhang Zhong actually let people dry the seawater at the seaside. This clearly showed that he didn't care about salt at all. Who didn't know that salt had to be boiled? Not only could you get salt by boiling it, but the salt that was boiled would also be fine if people ate it. However, if he dried it out, it might even kill people.
Also, in order to get more tributes, Zhang Zhong asked the common people to risk their lives to get them from the sea. Many common people died because of him … "
"Well, Magistrate Cao is right. I'll remember all these. Is there anything else?" Tang: Governor Of Ning saw that Cao Herui was getting more and more suspicious, so he quickly interrupted him and looked at the other two people.
When Fan Jianxi saw the Governor looking at him, he immediately said, "Yes, yes, and Zhang Zhong used the name of an official to make other merchants listen to him. God knows how many benefits he got from it. He even took out his own family's money and combined it with the local merchants to deceive the common people.
I've seen it three times. They asked the common people to give them good things, saying that they would help them sell them. In the end, not only did they not give the common people money, but they also said that the common people didn't give them anything. They also seriously injured the common people who went to look for them. The three of us wanted to find the seriously injured common people and help them. Unfortunately, we don't know what Zhang Zhong did, but we couldn't find the common people anymore.
My Lord, in addition to these, Zhang Zhong deliberately asked the common people to make shrimp sauce with prawns. He said that he would take them for 15 strings of coins per jar. However, when the common people were about to finish making the shrimp sauce, he didn't take them. In this way, the common people delayed their work and couldn't sell the shrimp sauce. "
"Oh, it's so infuriating? That Zhang Zhong should die a horrible death. In that case, I will definitely seek justice for the common people of Lu Zhou. It's a pity for those people who made the shrimp sauce. They have done so much, and some of them even owe money and can't pay it back. How can they live like this? "
Tang: Governor Of Ning had already found out some things after sending people out. The three people in front of him were obviously out to get revenge on Zhang Zhong. They actually turned many of the good things that Zhang Zhong did into bad things. This ability was really not ordinary. At the same time, such people couldn't be kept. Otherwise, they might betray him one day by spreading rumors.
After Tang: Governor Of Ning finished speaking, he looked at Jiang Huanshi, who had been silent all this time. He wanted to see what he would say.
When Jiang Huanshi saw his Lord looking at him, he forced a smile and said, "My Lord, it's not just what the two of them said. Zhang Zhong also destroyed the people on the other side of the mountain. Even the people on our side of the mountain were harmed by him. He asked the mountain people to leave the mountain and said that he would give them a lot of good things. However, when the mountain people really came down, he didn't give them anything.
That's a big deal. Those mountain folks are already hostile to us. Now that they've been tricked by Zhang Zhong, they'll definitely be angry. When they escape to the mountains, they'll tell the other mountain folks about this. It'll be too difficult for us to persuade those mountain folks to come down.
My Lord, you must also write this down. Otherwise, if so many mountain people come down with weapons one day, who can bear the responsibility? And all of this was caused by Zhang Zhong. Oh right, my Lord, did you send someone to ask around? When the three of us came out, we were in a hurry. We don't know what's going on at home. "
Jiang Huanshi added fuel to the fire. Finally, he couldn't hold back his longing and worry for his family and asked about this matter.
The more Tang: Governor Of Ning listened, the more disappointed he became. It seemed that everything was expected from the three of them. Looking at the three of them, Weiwei nodded and said, "The three of you can rest assured that I will take care of this matter. As for your family, I have sent someone back to report that they are fine. However, Zhang Zhong has already sent someone to your home to look for you. He said that he has something to do. If you don't go back now, I'm afraid that you will be punished even more severely.
How about this, the three of you go back first. This official will write a letter to Zhang Zhong to protect you. I believe that Zhang Zhong will give me face. What do the three of you think? If you think it's okay, then this official will write a letter. "
"My Lord, we can't do that. That Zhang Zhong wants us dead. If the three of us go back now, then we will really be finished. If my Lord is willing to help, why don't you think of a way to bring our families here? That way, we won't have to be afraid. At most, we can just write a memorial to the imperial court.
In fact, we have already written it, but unfortunately, Zhang Zhong actually sent people to block it, and didn't let it pass at all. Milord, please quickly think of a way. "
When Jiang Huanshi heard that the three of them were going to be driven away, he was frightened. At this time, the two sides hadn't started fighting yet. If they just left like this, then once they went back, they would definitely be arrested first. Even if they had to wait for the imperial court's judgment, who knew what kind of suffering they would have to suffer if they were really locked up in prison?
After he said this, the other two people also said the same thing. On one hand, they expressed that they didn't want to go back. On the other hand, they wanted the Tang: Governor Of Ning to bring their families here.
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