It took 12 days for the fleet to reach Kaifeng. Fortunately, this waterway was relatively straight, unlike the upstream where there was a "several" character. Otherwise, according to the fleet's practice, they would have to spend more money and cause local floods.
As soon as the fleet passed, the Yellow River was immediately open to navigation. Some of the fishermen had boats and were very grateful to the Zhang family's fleet for opening up the road. They could cast nets in the river to catch fish again.
There was also a small group of people who were very angry. They could have dug holes in the ice to catch fish, but now, they couldn't catch any.
The people who were ferrying people back and forth had work again. The people who could walk on the ice were a little resentful. They couldn't see too much and only knew that they had to spend money again. However, they didn't know that fewer people fell into the ice this year.
Even if the Zhang family's fleet didn't break the ice in advance, it would have to open the river in a few days. It was very dangerous to walk on the ice.
The Zhang family directly paid more than 30,000 strings of coins for this trip. Salt, that cost money. There was also the iron used to charter the ship. In addition, there was also a ship that was unlucky enough to encounter a big hole in the ice. Its wheel was also broken, so it could only be left in the local area to be repaired.
"They should be grateful to us," Li Xun stood at the bow of the ship, his nose red from the cold wind, and muttered.
Now he was no longer as ignorant as before. His way of judging things was more and more similar to Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan.
Spending a lot of money to break the ice was a little benefit that the Zhang family left for the capital. They could lead water downstream to soak the land in advance. Since the Zhang Family and Wang Family of Sanshui County, Zhuangzi, most of the people followed suit.
This method of compressing manure was fast and the manure was fertile. The main reason was that it could compress a lot of straw and leaves together. It had been used for several years. In addition, according to the method provided by the Zhang family and the seeds cultivated by their own research institute, the Sitong Temple had been planted near the capital for two years.
The output was very high. Last year, the amount of grain transported from the south had decreased by a lot. The Zhang Family and Wang Family did not fight over this credit. They gave it to whoever deserved it. Presumably, the people in the imperial court all understood this.
In addition to being able to soak the ground in advance, it could also make the ice melt faster upstream. The faster the water flow, the faster the ice melt. This could prevent the formation of ice dams in the shape of a cross and minimize the possibility of a spring flood.
This method was very good. If it could be used together with the burying of gunpowder, it would save him a lot of trouble every year.
The insightful people in the Imperial Court also discovered this problem, but the investment was too large. 30,000 strings of cash, and this was the cost of the Zhang family's own business.
There might be a spring flood once every five years. The scale of this flood might be large or small. If it was large, then it was worth investing tens of thousands of strings of cash to clear it in advance. If it was small, there might not be any danger at all. No one could bear to spend so much money every year. No one dared to mention using money in exchange for unknown dangers.
The people in the Imperial Court clearly knew the benefits, but they could not mention it. Li Xun was different. He had his own ideas. He was going to discuss with Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan about buying gunpowder and learning the fixed-point blasting technique. This technique had always been mastered by Wang Juan, and no one else knew how to do it.
Li Xun believed that the Zhang family had mastered the method. He wanted to take out 50,000 strings of cash every year to break the ice before the river opened. He thought it was worth it, although 50,000 strings of cash could buy 25 million catties of good grain in normal times.
He had money. All kinds of business with the Zhang family could provide him with an income of more than 200,000 strings of cash a year. This did not include the money that had been invested in the development of new industries. When those few places could make money, his income would be even more.
He was not going to rebel, so he really did not know what to do with so much money. In the past, he earned money so that he could have a better life. At the same time, he could show off to his peers in the Imperial Family.
Now, his life was much better. He had the most comfortable furniture and his own fleet. Others might buy them at a high price, but he was buying them at a cost. It was a crime not to spend money when one had so much money, and others would be jealous.
Li Xun now understood Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan's theory. That was, consumption could improve the national strength of the entire Tang Empire. When there was demand, there would be output. Many people were too simple-minded. They did not think about how to make more money. Those who had land would only guard that small amount of land.
They only planted one crop of grain a year. They were busy in spring, followed by summer, and harvested in autumn. In winter, they stayed at home and did not go out. How could this work? Li Xun had seen the construction of the people in Lu Zhou. They could always find work to do, and they were not tired. They spread out their rest time, and their annual income was a hundred times that of the ordinary people around the capital.
Part of it was because of the region, but most of it was because the people could not think of more ways to increase their income, so they had to be guided.
Li Xun wanted to do this now. He had learned many ideas, and they were not taught by Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan. Instead, he figured them out based on Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan's way of doing things.
There were all kinds of animals in the capital. They were not raised for food, but for viewing. Then, the people could raise them as well. They could raise rabbits and deer. Why did they have to go hunting in the mountains?
Li Xun thought about it. First, he would invest 50,000 strings of coins a year to dredge the river that was about to be developed. Then, he would take out another 50,000 strings of coins to encourage the people in the capital and the north to raise animals, especially in places where the land was sparsely populated. He would casually plant some food that people did not like to eat, and when the time came, he would raise animals.
A coat made of rabbit skin could be sold for 700 to 800 copper coins.
"Backward. My thinking is too backward." Li Xun moved a chair and sat at the bow of the ship. He looked at the beggars on the dock and gestured for someone to bring them over.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan felt that Li Xun seemed to be obsessed. It was fortunate that they brought him along to do business. Otherwise, based on his ideas, there was no need for them to live. Whenever there was a small matter in the imperial court, he would take money. It was fine if he took it himself, but every time, he would have to drag Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan's families into it.
Even the other merchants who worked with him could not escape. For example, the construction of the canal should be done by the autumn of this year. The imperial court had originally planned to invest 250,000 strings of coins to build a simple canal to connect to the main canal.
In the end, just Li Xun and his family took out 210,000 strings of coins. The other merchants added up to a total of 400,000 strings of coins. Li Longji immediately stopped taking the money and changed the blueprint of the canal, making it wider and farther than the original one.
Fortunately, the person in charge of building the canal was an official from an aristocratic family under the Ministry of Works. With Liu Zhirou's suppression, he did not dare to be greedy. Otherwise, he would rather waste manpower and send people from the inner court to build the canal.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were not afraid of spending money. They would have more income in the future. They were worried that the money they took out would not be completed and instead be embezzled. The two of them hated embezzling project funds the most.
If they were really capable, they could turn a lower county into an upper county. It was acceptable for the county magistrate to embezzle one-tenth of the rent. The commoners did not care how much they embezzled. As long as they could eat more and live in better houses, they were good officials.
While Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were thinking about this matter, Li Xun saw that the two of them were not speaking. He said, "Xiao Bao, say something. How can we make the commoners not be ignorant?"
"Isn't that simple? Let them be literate and read all kinds of books. Let them understand how vast the sky is and what the sea is like. They will naturally change. "
Wang Juan directly gave the answer.
"That simple? Then you have to help me. I plan to provide such a place for the commoners to learn in three years. "Li Xun was full of confidence.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan shook their heads vigorously. "Three years? It will be good enough if all the commoners can become literate in 30 years. We can't take out tens of millions of strings of money to help you achieve your wish in three years. "
"Why do you need so much?" Li Xun's idea was simple. He wanted people to build schools in poor places. He wanted to build one in each village. It did not require too much money. He would use local materials and the commoners would be able to learn.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan did not need Li Xun to say it. They knew what he was thinking. Zhang Xiaobao felt that he had to continue teaching Li Xun. He was thinking too simply.
"Don't think that building schools is enough. The commoners won't learn. If you want the commoners to free up time to learn, you have to feed them. You have to increase productivity. This is not difficult. Within three years, we will definitely find crops with higher yields for the commoners to grow.
Then we have to build roads. We have to encourage the commoners to raise more poultry and livestock. In the early stages, we even need to borrow money from them. Next is the printing of books. This is not difficult either. We have already improved on papermaking. Little Cai's method is not bad. We can build factories overseas and use the trees there to make paper. When we open up wastelands in the Great Tang, we should try not to burn them.
We will not leave the grass and grass behind. We are willing to invest this money. We will set up papermaking factories everywhere. We have new printing methods. This is simple. The most difficult part is the literati. When we print books, we can't do it like now. Look at that ice. In the literati's words, it is ice. The water is colder than water.
How long will the commoners have to learn? They can say that water will freeze when it is cold. But this is definitely not possible. The literati finally have something to show off. Will they let you use simple words to express simple things?
Wouldn't people find fault with my raising earthworms to feed the chickens? It was said that the Earth Dragon was born in the Earth and existed from the Earth. Chickens eating the Earth Dragon was chosen by the Heavens. Humans could go against the Heavens. He was doomed.
This was pure bullsh * t. How was it heaven-defying for me to raise some earthworms? But what the common people want to learn is precisely this kind of knowledge. You teach them, 'There are many fishes in the water, there are fish in the water, there are carps in the water, there are carps in the water, there are carps in the water, there are carps in the water, there are carps in the water, there are carps in the water, there are carps in the water, there are carps in the water, there are carps in the water, there are carps in the water, there are carps in the water, there are carps in the water.
People just want to know how to plant more food, how to raise chickens to grow faster, and what can't be eaten together with what. This is called class. In order to protect their own mystery and interests, they can do anything. "
When Zhang Xiaobao mentioned this matter, he felt sullen. If he wanted to teach more people, he had to consider the current environment. A lot of knowledge could only be taught to the villagers. Outsiders were not allowed to know.
Li Xun also remembered this matter. He chuckled and said, "That official who impeached your family was exiled. Why do you still want him? He is also stupid. Of all the times to impeach you, why did he have to impeach you when there was a plague of locusts in the Henan Province? Your chickens were eating the locusts.
Since there is too much resistance, let's do it slowly. At least under my rule and your father's rule, no one can stop us. Do you know why your father was assigned to Shuzhou? It was not only because your family exchanged two good things. The most important thing was that the previous provincial governor was too unreasonable.
In the past few years, Shuzhou handed in 110,000 strings of coins. The fluctuation was not big. But in recent years, it was getting less and less. Before the shipment at the end of last year, it was reported to be 60,000 strings of coins. That was Shangzhou. It was not even as much as your Sanshui County.
The tax of Sanshui County was more than the tax of two Shuzhou. If you don't teach them a lesson, who do you want to teach them a lesson? Nowadays, the imperial court would compare Sanshui County with other places. In the past, they would always be praised after paying the tax from other provinces. However, ever since Sanshui County's tax was introduced, even if Chuzhou City sent 180,000 strings of coins as tax last year, the imperial uncle only said, "Got it."
This time, I sent your father here because I hope to repeat the situation. The most important thing is to fight with the local families, officials, and rich merchants who have been bribed. It's not that they don't have money, it's that they can't collect it. "
"Oh! I see. Good, I like it. "Zhang Xiaobao nodded, indicating that he understood.
Wang Juan was also very excited. She wanted to see Zhang Xiaobao's methods in business. When Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Family were at their most difficult time, Zhang Xiaobao was able to do whatever he wanted. He made all the merchants who came to look for trouble suffer.
It had been a long time since he last saw them. He missed them. The more powerful the businessmen in Shuzhou were, the better. There were many movies that portrayed ancient times. The government officials were troubled first, and then they found evidence to deal with them in one fell swoop.
That was a little bad. Why did they have to find something to deal with them? Wouldn't it be better to fight with the merchants directly?
Zhang Xiaobao did not know that Wang Juan was thinking about this. He said that it was because the situation there was complicated, and it was easy to train his father. That place was not Lu Zhou. It was difficult.
As for whether he would fail because he could not win, there was no need to think about what would happen after he failed. There was no such result.
Li Xun was not worried. He did not believe that anyone could win against the Zhang family. Other officials were afraid that the local families and merchants had connections with someone or a few people in the imperial court. They were afraid that they would make trouble behind the scenes. They were afraid that they would be involved with a marquis, a county prince, or a prince. The Zhang family was not afraid.
If it was related to the imperial family, it was enough for him to show up. Everyone was of the same status, and no one could suppress the other. Besides, he was rich. Didn't Xiao Bao and Cuckoo say that money could make the world go round? More importantly, he could write to the imperial uncle at any time.
It was not a memorial, just like a letter to home. This was a privilege that only he could enjoy. Who asked him not to live with the Zhang Family and the Wang Family? If the imperial uncle wanted to know about the situation of the experts in the Zhang family, he would have to write a letter. A letter to home was much more useful than a memorial. No matter what happened, he could write it. Whoever dared to make trouble in the imperial family would be punished by the imperial uncle.
There was no need to worry about the pressure from the officials of the imperial court. The news had probably reached Shuzhou by now. It meant that he could not count on them to speak for him in the imperial court. He had to think of his own way.
Zhang Zhong's matter could not be fooled by anyone. The imperial uncle, the prime minister, and a few other important officials were watching. They could impeach him, suppress the memorial if it was reasonable, and punish him if it was unreasonable. If it was said directly in the imperial court, they would change the topic. They hoped that the Zhang family could create one miracle after another.
Li Xun could guess what the imperial court was thinking. If Sanshui County could be turned into an upper county and pay so much rent every year, wouldn't the upper province pay even more rent? Whoever dared to make trouble was no different from courting death.
*****
"Your Highness, they are here," the person who went to lead the beggars came back and brought the six little beggars to Li Xun.
"Well, take them to wash and change their clothes. Then go with the boat. Ask them if they have families. If they do, take them with you. If they are rich, take the children with you. Remember, if you see such people, take them back to the manor. Help as many as you can."
Li Xun casually glanced at the six children. After giving the order, he did not mention this matter again. He now understood that as long as it was within his ability, he would help. If all the rich people in the Tang Empire could be like him, would there still be beggars in the Tang Empire?
Begging did not mean that they could not do anything. In fact, there were no other opportunities. With the knowledge they had learned, it was still very easy to find a job. Let the children study. When they grew up, they would be useful.
The six beggars did not know how noble Li Xun's identity was. They only knew that the person who gave them food and clothes was more powerful than the county magistrate. The county magistrate trembled at the sight of him, not to mention the village chief. It was very scary.
"Xiao Bao, how many days will the boat stop? Don't delay the spring plowing. "After the six children were taken away without even asking for their names, Li Xun asked Zhang Xiaobao in boredom.
"Originally, we planned to leave today after replenishing our supplies. But since we will encounter trouble there, we can only stop for two more days to prepare. Two days of delay is not a big deal. When you get there, there will be a lot of good farmland. You can plant whatever you want. At the same time, you can also buy the wasteland."
Zhang Xiaobao was also very leisurely. He and Wang Juan did not have much work now. Every day, they only had to study, exercise, and play with their younger brothers and sisters. They did not have to care about the livelihood of the people and had more energy to spend on calculations. It was very interesting.
Li Xun nodded. He believed that Zhang Xiaobao would not lie to him for no reason, but he could not think of what to do with buying the wasteland. Before he asked, Zhang Xiaobao explained to him.
"After buying the wasteland, we will build houses on it. Most of the land will be used to raise scorpions. I want to do an experiment on a small part of the land. If there is a mountainous area, we can also raise more snakes. The development direction of that area will be changed in the future. Every place needs to have its own characteristics.
This summer, there will be no shortage of food. A lot of food will be shipped back from overseas. Shuzhou does not have to produce much food. I plan to build a base of medicinal herbs there. You will be the first one to eat crabs. After eating it, teach it to the local people and try to grow other medicinal herbs. "
"Oh! Medicine can be raised and planted? What about selling it? In the future, there will be no shortage of medicine in the palace. " This was the first time Li Xun had heard of such a thing. In the past, it was always a place that had medicinal herbs as a tribute, using all kinds of things to replace the rent. If they could be raised, then fewer snake catchers would die, and they could just find snake catchers to raise the snakes.
Zhang Xiaobao nodded. "It can be planted and raised, but the effect of the medicine may be a little worse. It doesn't matter. Just increase the amount and sell it to the hospital. You need to summarize the various problems during the planting and raising, then let the local people plant and raise them. We will buy all of them. It is not like the scams of the Five Lakes Chamber of Commerce."
"Can the hospital still make money? If there are too many medicinal herbs, what if the hospital can't sell them? " Li Xun was worried that if the output was too large, the hospital would lose money. Otherwise, the hospital would not be able to make a loss. Otherwise, if the income was not enough, the hospital would die.
"It is not enough. I plan to open Deyi Hospital all over the Tang Empire. I don't expect to make money. I just want to maintain the capital. The rich spend more, the poor spend less. For pregnant women, children, and people who have reached a certain age, free medical treatment will be implemented."
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