Fan Xian's gaze leaped over the green trees by the side of the road, the endless fields behind the trees, and the flowing river not far away. He moved further and further, as if he wanted to see through everything here. Finally, his gaze landed lightly on the large workshop where the river flowed to. There was smoke rising into the air, but it was not the faint green smoke of a farmhouse. Rather, it was black smoke with a familiar smell.
Was it a blast furnace?
The commoners of this large area had all been recruited by the court to work in the palace treasury. The wages were much higher than growing grain, so there was less interest in taking care of the fields. In the large fertile field, weeds and first rice struggled to grow. It looked somewhat messy.
Fan Xian took a deep breath and smelled the fresh scent in the air. He relaxed. It seemed that the environmental pollution here was not as bad as he had thought. Of course, further away in the Tongshan mine, the environment was certainly much worse than here.
Looking at the scene in front of him, it seemed that a feeling that had left him for many years gradually returned to his mind. However, that feeling was still gentle and not turbulent. It made him feel somewhat lost. Last September, he had always felt that there was something deep in his heart that he longed for, but he had never been able to find it.
Seeing that he was lost in thought, Haitang's hands were in her sleeves like an old man's. She furrowed her brows and looked at the handsome face by the window. She also sank into deep thought. What did this young and powerful official want to do?
"How do you feel?" She saw that Fan Xian's mood was not at peace today and asked with a smile.
Fan Xian said quietly, "I should be the one asking you that."
Haitang smiled. "It is indeed a rare sight. I had never thought that the Qing Kingdom's palace treasury would be so large. I couldn't even name the things I saw earlier."
Fan Xian replied, "Look at it. I don't think you'll be able to go back and make one."
A strange light appeared in Haitang's eyes. She smiled and asked, "You have that much confidence in the palace treasury?"
Fan Xian was slightly startled. He then quietly replied, "It's not that I have confidence in the palace treasury. It's just that these things should not have appeared in this world. If you can learn to make them just by looking at the outside … then there's something fishy."
She seemed to have thought of something, and fell silent. After a while, she said, "The people in the palace treasury are all trusted aides of Xinyang. How do you plan on taking over?"
Fan Xian raised his eyebrows and a faint smile appeared on his face. "No matter whose people they are, they are all mine now."
Haitang glanced at him suspiciously, "Do you really intend to … fight to the death with him?"
Fan Xian fell silent. A moment later, he said in a heavy voice, "This question of yours seems to have come a little too late."
Haitang furrowed her brows. "I believe that your mother-in-law isn't a foolish person. She can't see the current situation clearly. Logically speaking, both you and her have the desire to renegotiate and live together. Moreover, with benefits at hand, it seems that neither side wants to see you and her shed all pretense of cordiality."
"If I don't shed all pretense of cordiality with her, I think you and the Northern Qi Emperor won't be willing to see it." Fan Xian smiled mockingly and said, "Relax, I won't join forces with my mother-in-law again to bully the orphans and widows in the North."
Haitang was silent. She didn't know if she believed him or not.
Fan Xian wasn't worried about Northern Qi's attitude. After all, as long as the palace treasury existed, the Northern Qi people would have to rely on him. As for what Haitang said earlier, it wasn't without reason. In the eyes of the important figures who played politics, any hatred from the past could be cast aside in the face of a large enough bargaining chip. This was especially true when Fan Xian and the Eldest Princess had Wan 'er acting as a lubricant between them. In the eyes of the common people, as long as the Eldest Princess was willing to make concessions, Fan Xian had no reason not to accept the peace talks.
In reality, the Eldest Princess had already made concessions. After the assassination in Cang Mountain, the most beautiful lady in the Kingdom of Qing had truly felt Fan Xian's great power. She had written a number of letters and tried in this direction — it was just that Fan Xian hadn't accepted it.
"Calm your heart." Fan Xian didn't withdraw his gaze from outside the carriage. He said quietly, "The Eldest Princess is already willing to accept the fact that I control the palace treasury, but I … don't care."
Haitang suddenly raised her head. Her bright eyes stared at Fan Xian's back. She didn't know why he would refuse Xinyang's compromise.
Fan Xian explained quietly, "She wants a 30 percent share so she can cooperate with me to easily take over the palace treasury … this condition isn't harsh."
Haitang furrowed her brows. After a moment of silence, she said, "Not only is it not harsh, it can already be considered a very sincere condition. Originally … from the standpoint of the Qi court, the more you and the Eldest Princess get into conflict, the better it is for us. But from the standpoint of a friend, I want to give you a piece of advice. When all is said and done, your power was given to you by the Qing royal family. After all, she is your mother-in-law. There is no reason not to accept such a good condition. "
Fan Xian laughed self-mockingly. "Is that so? I don't think so. Perhaps it is from my very bones that I believe that in the matter of the palace treasury, I will not allow anyone to fight with me. "
"Why?" Haitang still couldn't figure out what he was thinking.
"This is the business my mother left behind." Fan Xian smiled warmly. "I don't have her ability, so I can only be a second-generation ancestor. But … I can't ruin this family."
The carriage fell silent.
…
…
After a long time, Haitang said quietly, "But the present palace treasury still belongs to the Qing court."
"The court is nothing more than an illusory image," Fan Xian said. "What is the court? The Emperor? The officials? The empress dowager? Or the common people? "
He finally said, "The key is to see what kind of use the palace treasury will have in my hands and what the silver can be used for. If … if the court does not use it well, then I will use it on behalf of the court. I will turn this illusory image into the real words of the common people. "
Haitang smiled slightly and said, "You're used to playing the role of a saint again."
Fan Xian smiled and replied, "I told Yan Bingyun before that occasionally playing the role of a saint is a very beneficial supplement to one's spiritual world."
After bringing out the secret negotiations he had with the Eldest Princess and giving Haitang a peace of mind, Fan Xian once again fell silent. He looked at the scenery outside the carriage in a daze. The waterwheels by the river, the sound of some kind of mechanism in the workshop, and the black smoke rising from the furnaces in the distance were all urging the unknown desire in his heart.
… …
"Sir, we've arrived."
The humble voice of the palace treasury transport company official roused Fan Xian from his thoughts. He looked with confusion at the two women in the carriage. Only now did he know that the palace treasury transport company had arrived. He quickly tidied his clothes, lifted the curtain, and jumped out.
He jumped out and did not maintain the bearing that an official should have by slowly and steadily walking down. Just this action displayed the strange nervousness and excitement in Fan Xian's heart. After all, he had finally arrived at the palace treasury, the place where his mother had made her fortune. How could he still maintain his usual calm?
His feet landed on the hard ground. Fan Xian narrowed his eyes slightly and examined everything around him. He found that by the side of the street was a normal yamen. It was not at all the bustling scene of the Great Leap Forward that he had imagined. The street was rather quiet. Although the buildings around him were new and beautiful, it did not seem like a construction site.
Perhaps the transport company official responsible for welcoming him from Suzhou had seen this kind of attitude from Jingdou officials many times and carefully explained, "The three workshops are still far from the yamen. Sir, please rest today. Tomorrow, you can go down to inspect."
Fan Xian was a bit disappointed. He had planned to go blow glass, weave cotton, and shake hands with the workers today. He didn't think he would have to wait another day.
The yamen's doors were all opened. The palace treasury transport company, as well as the officials of the Overwatch Council responsible for security, split into two lines to welcome the imperial envoy's arrival.
Fan Xian walked in first. Gao Da brought a few Tiger Guards and followed silently behind him. A group of a hundred or so people had been settled down in a short amount of time. It looked like the palace treasury's operations were still very fast. Haitang and Sisi were brought to the back residence. In addition to the new servant girls they had bought on the way, the previously quiet and quiet manor of the transport company immediately became lively.
After the officials paid their respects to Fan Xian, everyone took their places in the yamen and waited for Fan Xian to speak.
Fan Xian was not very familiar with the situation in the palace treasury. Furthermore, this was the first time he had opened a yamen, so he felt it was strange. He indicated for Su Wenmao to represent him and say a few useless words. He then had everyone disperse and wait for the yamen to officially open the next day.
After returning to the back residence, he didn't have time to familiarize himself with his own official residence. At the first instant, he summoned the Overwatch Council's resident commander of the palace treasury. This official was about 40 years old and had a head of white hair. It looked like the palace treasury's security work was truly exhausting.
He indicated for him to sit and didn't waste words. Very straightforwardly, he asked, "Tell me the situation."
This Overwatch Council official was under the jurisdiction of the Fourth Bureau. Since last autumn, he had already received the Yan father and son's secret letter and had long made preparations. Seeing Fan Xian's questions, he quickly dug out everything he knew.
Of course, he understood that Commissioner Fan had just come to the palace treasury and did not have many trusted aides. If he wanted to quickly take control of the situation, then he had to find someone trustworthy in the treasury. As an official of the Overwatch Council, he was in a favorable position. Naturally, he had to quickly climb up in order to not waste the opportunity heaven had given him.
Fan Xian listened and nodded his head repeatedly. This Overwatch Council official's words and actions were very nimble. In their conversation, he had clearly explained the current situation of the palace treasury. The duties of the three workshops and the factions of the various treasurers were all left out.
"Why has the palace treasury lost so much these years?" Fan Xian was born daring. He asked this kind of question openly, not caring at all that it was inconvenient for the Overwatch Council official in front of him to speak.
The Overwatch Council official's name was Dan Da. In front of Fan Xian, he didn't dare be too daring. How could a lower-level official like him explain the palace treasury's matters in a few words? However, he still said after some deliberation, "Actually, it can't be considered a loss. It's just that the taxes sent to Jingdou have indeed decreased by a few percent."
Fan Xian smiled bitterly and helplessly. "For an old hen that gives birth to a golden chicken to earn less and less each year, what's the difference between that and a loss? I don't know how the previous one managed it. "
The previous head of the palace treasury transport company was the cousin of the Eldest Princess' chief strategist, Huang Yi, in Xinyang's Li Palace, Sir Huang Wanshu. When Fan Xian took over the palace treasury, he did not meet with this Sir Huang. The two sides were like fire and water, so he was too lazy to go through the formalities of taking over. They were both single people.
Dan Da didn't follow up on his words to belittle the Eldest Princess. Sincerely, he said, "The reason the profits have decreased year after year is because the three workshops' expenses are increasing. Including the masters of the workshops, the treasurers take too much. Secondly, there have been some problems with the export channels. The pirates on the sea are too rampant. I don't dare to say too much, but at least one or two out of 10 halts are lost on the sea. Thirdly, there is the problem of supplies to Northern Qi. A few years ago, the accounts were too messy. I don't know how much the Cui family took with them, but no one dared to investigate this matter. Fortunately, the commissioner made a move and investigated the Cui family before the year. Just this alone could save the court a lot of losses. "
Fan Xian listened with interest, but he knew very well in his heart that what pirates? It was all a trick of the Ming family stealing their own goods. He looked at Dan Da, wanting to say something but then hesitating. He asked curiously, "What other reasons are there?"
Dan Da glanced at him and smiled bitterly. "Also … the Council's expenses have increased too quickly these years. As you know, the majority of the Council's expenses come directly from the palace treasury. The Palace's expenses haven't increased much these years. On the contrary, it's the Council that spends too much. Adding on the things I mentioned earlier, with this cut, no matter how much the palace treasury can earn money for the court, it's no longer as grand as it was in the past."
Fan Xian sucked in a cold breath. He had not thought that the Overwatch Council was also one of the palace treasury's vampires. Thinking about it, the brothers of the Third Bureau researched weapons of mass destruction every day, and the crows of the Second Bureau searched all over the world for information. No matter how they disguised it, they would always need financial support. Not to mention the Fifth and Sixth Bureau, these two black hole yamens that had no construction and only knew how to destroy and suck in money. Of course, even if these Council matters didn't count, he had played in Chen Garden many times. That old cripple had raised so many beautiful women and lived a luxurious life comparable to that of an Emperor.
He shook his head and smiled bitterly. "Let's not talk about the Council's matters for now. If it gets out, it'll be embarrassing. Just investigate those routes."
Dan Da and Su Wenmao, who was behind Fan Xian, couldn't resist laughing. They thought to themselves that the commissioner spoke very directly.
…
…
"I'll take care of the problem of the distribution channels and the problem of the pirates." Fan Xian stared into Dan Da's eyes. "Two out of the four evils have been removed. I just don't understand how the treasurers of the three large workshops can be mentioned in the same breath as these abuses. Those officials stay in Jiangnan for a long time and are not allowed to leave without permission. It is indeed hard work. It is right that the court gives them a generous salary. "
Dan Da didn't dare meet his eyes. He lowered his head and said, "The three large workshops are responsible for all production in the palace treasury. Those goods were all made by them, so … so …"
"So what?" Fan Xian smiled coldly. "Do they dare to use this to threaten me?"
"Naturally, they don't dare to threaten me," Dan Da replied with a bitter smile. "But, the court's management of the palace treasury is strict. All the processes, ingredients, and recipes are only known to the upper, middle, and lower levels of the treasurers. The things in their heads are like the court's silver production machines. As long as they use a bit of cunning, they can reduce the output of the palace treasury. Thus, their positions in the palace treasury have always been special. The court also looks at them differently, so much so that they are somewhat arrogant."
"Oh?" Fan Xian narrowed his eyes in amusement. He thought to himself, Even those little helpers from the Ye family had now become technocrats who monopolized and became rich?
"If this isn't threatening, then what is?" Fan Xian increasingly felt that this matter was absurd and funny. He chuckled and said, "Then, how did the Eldest Princess deal with these treasurers in the beginning?"
Dan Da thought for a bit and furrowed his brows. "The Eldest Princess only wanted the output not to drop. She basically did her best to satisfy the requests of the treasurers. She also raised their positions very high. Of course, if there were any treasurers who didn't know their limits, the Eldest Princess would have her methods. Six years ago, she killed seven treasurers who caused trouble in one go. From then on, the treasurers learned to silently make a fortune. They don't have a good attitude toward us officials of the same level, but they still don't have any disrespect toward the court."
Fan Xian smiled coldly. "Arrogant? A very high position … then the first thing I can do is knock them into the dust. "
He was a bit angry in his heart. His mother-in-law was indeed not made to be a manager. She had managed such a large enterprise to such a state. No wonder the Emperor complained every day and his father also had headaches about the empty national treasury.
Dan Da jumped in fright. He thought to himself that the commissioner was still young. If a new official took on new responsibilities and calmed his anger with lightning, he would truly offend all of the treasurers. Putting aside the palace treasury's distribution channels, it would probably be difficult to guarantee their own output and the quality of their goods.
He raised his hands in a salute and said in a low voice, "Sir, please think carefully. There is no harm in responding to them with a soft heart and then slowly planning. “
"I can't plan slowly. Ten thousand years is too long. I have to seize every moment. In 10 days, I have to return to Suzhou to preside over the opening of the palace treasury to welcome the bids. If I don't beat the dissatisfied people in the palace treasury into submission in these 10 days, how will you manage things in the future? I don't have the interest to come to this place every day. "
Dan Da said with a pained expression, "This matter is not easy to deal with. Even if we beat the treasurers into submission on the surface, they will secretly do something in the workshop. They don't even need to do anything to lower the palace treasury's output. If we investigate … we won't be able to find anything. In the end, I'm afraid this responsibility will still have to be shouldered by you."
Fan Xian somewhat admired this person's straightforward attitude. The atmosphere of the Overwatch Council officials was indeed much better than that of the Jiangnan Road officials. He waved his hand to stop the other party's admonition and smiled. "Don't be afraid. After killing Butcher Zhang, do we have to eat furred pigs?"
Dan Da and Su Wenmao paused. They didn't know where the commissioner got his confidence from. The treasurers were in charge of production. This was not something the Overwatch Council was good at. Suddenly, Su Wenmao's mind moved. He remembered that the palace treasury had once been the property of the Ye family, and he was a descendant of the Ye family. Did the commissioner have his own way?
Fan Xian didn't explain anything. He only had them prepare for the true opening of the yamen tomorrow. He himself went to the rear courtyard and ate two bowls of porridge unhappily. He then sincerely invited Haitang to walk with him to the three large workshops at night.
A subordinate had already helped him get a pass. Even if he didn't reveal his identity at night, there shouldn't be any problems. The reason he had called Haitang to go with him was not because he was kind and wanted to extend the glory of the palace treasury to Northern Qi. It was purely because he needed a powerful bodyguard like Haitang.
The rooster crowed, and the sky turned white.
A shadow floated by the back wall of the palace treasury transport company's manor. Fan Xian and Haitang had finished a night of exploration and returned to the study.
Fan Xian's face was heavy. He furrowed his brows and said, "Singing every night, corrupt management … are these two words?"
Haitang was still immersed in shock. Tonight, she had followed Fan Xian around the three large workshops. Although she hadn't come into contact with the military or anything like that, she was still shocked by what she had seen and heard. So, cotton was made using that kind of spinning machine. Furthermore, it didn't use human power, but water power … how could the power of a river be so tamed? Thinking back to what she had seen and heard tonight, she felt even more admiration for the mistress of the Ye family, who had long disappeared in the long river of history. Her gaze toward Fan Xian also burned a little hotter.
Wasn't Fan Xian the son of the mistress of the Ye family?
Fan Xian was not as shocked as she was. His initial sense of novelty had worn off. Although he still felt the joy of admiring his mother's legacy, the treasury of the Qing Kingdom was probably not even as good as the village enterprises of his previous life. It was just some very basic things. If it were not for the Qing Emperor's intelligence and how he kept a close eye on all the industries, they would probably not be as valuable as they were in the past.
However, it was just Shunde and they couldn't even produce refrigerators. How could Fan Xian be surprised? What he was surprised about was another matter. The treasurers of the palace treasury indeed lived extravagantly. His heart couldn't help but itch. If he swallowed the silver these people ate into his stomach, how much money would that be?
As for the things that the Eldest Princess was worried about, he was not too worried. What bullsh * t technical monopoly? It wasn't a particularly difficult way to survive. Although he had not come from a science background, blowing a few glasses was not too much of a problem. Most importantly, he had people behind him.
Knowledge was power. Knowledge was confidence. Knowledge was silver. This was the powerful understanding Fan Xian had developed on his first day in the palace treasury.
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