Fang Yun nodded and said, "First, the papermaking workshop. When I went to the Yueyang Tower, I didn't see any papermaking workshops outside the city."
Dong Wencong sighed and said, "You also know that papermaking consumes a lot of water. It requires lime to bleach and discharge the black liquid from the straw pulp. In addition to the other waste water, papermaking workshops are famous for their waste water. Producing a thousand catties of paper will produce a hundred thousand catties of waste water, a hundred times more! The craftsmen have been thinking of ways to reduce the waste water from papermaking, but there hasn't been any major innovation. Therefore, the waste water from papermaking has become the biggest headache for the human race. "
Fang Yun nodded. Not to mention the current Saint Origin Continent, even the countries of ancient Huaxia were worried about the pollution from papermaking and had no way to solve it.
Dong Wencong continued, "Back then, Gyeongo didn't treat the people of Xiangzhou as human beings, so they built a lot of papermaking workshops near the rivers of Xiangzhou. Due to the excessive waste water, some of the rivers and waterways had problems, which led to the citizens of Xiangzhou protesting against the papermaking workshops. This matter caused a lot of trouble, and some righteous people even went to the Notre-Dame to set themselves on fire, which alerted the Notre-Dame to send people to investigate. Gyeongo had no choice but to reduce the number of papermaking workshops in Xiangzhou, and at the same time shut down those workshops. This was because the more a workshop produced, the more waste water it produced. "
"However, there was originally a papermaking workshop outside of Baling City. After Jingguo took back Xiangzhou, Qingjiang Trading Company used the excuse of the excessive waste water from the papermaking workshop to shut down the last remaining workshop, and then withdrew all of their people and machinery. However, some people say that Qingjiang Trading Company's papermaking technology is the best among the human race, superior to Jingguo's papermaking technology. The reason why Qingjiang Trading Company withdrew was to prevent Jingguo from learning from them. "
"Although Qingjiang Trading Company withdrew their papermaking workshop from Baling City, they still have papermaking workshops in various places. They are still the largest papermaking company in Xiangzhou, and they earn a lot of money from Xiangzhou. Now, Zhao Trading Company is building a papermaking workshop in Baling City. They can get local materials, and the cost will be lower, which will affect Qingjiang Trading Company. Due to the impact of Jingguo Trading Company, the Gyeongo Trading Company's income has already decreased by about ten percent. If the Zhao Trading Company builds more papermaking factories, the Qingjiang Trading Company's income in Xiangzhou will drop by seventy percent. This is something the Qingjiang Trading Company does not wish to see. "
"Therefore, this lowly official believes that the people of Baling are protesting in the streets because Qingjiang Trading Company is behind the scenes. They want to force Zhao Trading Company away and almost guarantee that they will dominate Xiangzhou."
"I basically understand. However, how do you plan to deal with the citizens of Baling taking to the streets? "Fang Yun asked.
Dong Wencong looked ashamed and said, "This official did not come up with a foolproof plan. After all, this matter is intricate and complicated, and a slight move in one part will affect the whole situation. If it causes a riot, this official is afraid that this official will be judged as inferior by the Ministry of Personnel and will be demoted. This lowly official is preparing to gather the staff and officials today to discuss a foolproof plan. "
"Okay, I'll leave this matter to you," Fang Yundao said.
After Dong Wencong left, Fang Yun was preparing to read, but he remembered Dong Wencong's words about being demoted. He stood motionless in the courtyard.
"As the governor of two provinces, I can naturally act first and report later. However, I cannot decide the mobilization of the provincial magistrate, provincial governor, and provincial court magistrate. I have the authority to control all officials of the third rank and below in the two provinces. The Ministry of Personnel and the Left Minister also have the authority! I can find excuses to deal with those officials who are biased toward Gyeongo or the Left Minister. Mount Liu can also find excuses to deal with Jingguo. Since I encountered thousands of citizens protesting in the streets when I first arrived in Xiangzhou, I cannot just stand by and do nothing. "
As Fang Yun thought this, he walked toward the side door of the government office. When he reached a place where no one was around, he took out a brush and ink and used the power of the painting path to quickly change his appearance. Then, he changed into an ordinary student's uniform and walked out.
The soldiers on both sides of the door glanced at Fang Yun, then looked straight ahead.
Fang Yun strode out of the government office and walked out of the narrow alley. Before he had taken more than a few steps, he saw several carriages parked outside.
Fang Yun waved his hand, and the coachman at the front immediately drove the carriage forward.
The horse pulling the carriage was a common yellow-maned horse. The carriage was very old, and the gaps between the wooden planks were as wide as a finger.
"Master Tong Sheng, may I ask where you are going?" The middle-aged coachman bowed respectfully.
Fang Yun fished out two taels of silver and tossed it to the middle-aged coachman. He smiled and said, "I'm going to the Northern Workshop District outside the city. You might run away empty-handed on your way back. Take it."
The middle-aged coachman was very excited. He said, "Thank you, Master Tong Sheng! Thank you, Master! We can't even earn two taels of silver a day. "
The nearby coachmen were all envious when they saw this scene.
Fang Yun entered the carriage and instinctively frowned. This carriage was too old, and even gave off a moldy smell. Fang Yun, who was used to driving luxurious carriages, was very uncomfortable. However, Fang Yun's expression turned solemn. He inwardly criticized himself for letting his emotions fluctuate because of external influences. If this went on, it would be very difficult for him to become a scholar with a righteous heart.
With a righteous heart, one would not be affected by the negative side of oneself or external influences.
Fang Yun was reflecting on his excessive extravagance and even pretentiousness when the coachman's voice came from outside.
"Master Tong Sheng, seeing that you are an honest person, I'll tell you the truth. There are people causing trouble in the Northern Workshop District today. I'm afraid I can only send you as far as the Northern Workshop District. This money is too much. " The middle-aged coachman's face was coarse and dark brown. He had been exposed to wind and rain for a long time, but his tone revealed a comforting honesty.
Fang Yun smiled and said, "I'm afraid that the people causing trouble there will affect you, so I'm giving you more money. Take it first, and go as far as you can in the end."
The middle-aged coachman hurriedly said, "In that case, I'll send you wherever you go. This money will allow me to circle around Baling City."
"Let's go." Fang Yun nodded.
"Okay! Go! "The middle-aged coachman waved his whip. The tip of the whip was ear-piercing, and the carriage moved forward.
After a while, the middle-aged coachman said as he drove the carriage, "Master inside, the Northern Workshop District is not peaceful these days. You are the kindest."
Fang Yun was about to thank him when his heart skipped a beat. He asked, "I'm a Tong Sheng. Could it be that there are people who dare to rob a Tong Sheng?"
"You don't know, but there are even high scholars among the people causing trouble. Do you think they dare to hit a Tong Sheng?"
"Oh, is that so? Then do you know why they are causing trouble on the streets? "
The middle-aged coachman said, "Actually, they can't cause trouble. They are doing it for the good of Baling. A few days ago, the officials of Jingguo took good care of our Baling in Xiangzhou. But recently, there has been a sudden change. They actually want to build a large papermaking workshop in Baling. The slightly older Baling people all know that that thing is harmful. Once the papermaking workshop is built, the stench will spread for ten li, and the crops within a hundred li will fail. So some people in Baling City went together to oppose the construction of the papermaking workshop. The reason they are causing trouble is that I saw quite a few local ruffians following them. I also heard them secretly going there to get money. But please don't tell anyone else. This will cost you your head. "
Fang Yun smiled and said, "Don't worry, I won't cause trouble. I'm just curious about this matter. What do you think about the papermaking workshop? "
The middle-aged coachman said helplessly, "Let's not talk about the papermaking workshop. The people of Xiangzhou buy paper at a higher price. All the money is taken away by Gyeongo. If we talk about the papermaking workshop, the people of Baling will suffer for generations. What else can we do? The papermaking workshop can be built in other parts of Xiangzhou. Just don't build it in Baling. "
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