The manor given to him by Prince Yu was located in Greenwillow Village, 70 li away from Yujing City. It was also called Greenwillow Manor. After Hong Yi returned from the Prince's Mansion, he moved there overnight.
He didn't have much property to begin with, so it was easy for him to move. A carriage carrying several large boxes, four horses, and four people was very flexible.
Greenwillow Village's location was very good. Outside the village was a large river called Bailang River. It meandered from the south for thousands of li, passed through Yujing, and entered the East Sea.
This Bailang River connected almost half of the water transportation in the Da Qian, so all the materials and goods in the south could be continuously transported to Yujing and the surrounding towns.
Therefore, Greenwillow Village was also very prosperous. If one wanted to buy something, there was no need to travel to Yujing.
The manor was located in the depths of Greenwillow Village. There were willows everywhere, small bridges, intersecting inlets, and dense springs. The fields were fertile, and the fish ponds were fat. It was simply like a land of fish and rice in the south.
"There are so many big houses."
This was what Mu The Younger thought when he saw the manor for the first time.
Indeed, there were many houses in the manor. There were more than thirty of them, all of them made of high-quality cedar wood and built with thick green bricks. Even the outside was surrounded by thick brick walls that were as tall as three people. There were iron spikes on the walls to prevent people from climbing over them.
More importantly, there were observation towers built on stone towers in every corner of the manor, allowing people to see the situation outside from afar. They could also shoot at people outside the walls from a high vantage point.
Hong Yi looked at the observation towers and nodded in his heart. No matter what happened, as long as archers who were good at shooting were sent to the observation towers, even if there were hundreds of people outside, it would be difficult for them to attack.
Usually, the courtyards of rich families would also have these things built to prevent natural disasters, riots among tenants, and robberies by bandits.
On the other side of the manor were mills, breweries, oil presses, and farms for raising pigs, chickens, and ducks. Half of them were used for their own food, and the other half were sold to increase their income.
In addition, there were mulberry trees and houses for raising silkworms to weave silk.
Apart from paddy fields, vegetable fields, and mulberry forests, there were also tea mountains and fish ponds.
This was a typical farm. Apart from salt, they were self-sufficient in firewood, rice, grain, oil, vegetables, tea, and meat.
"Marquis Wu Wen's residence also has a manor like this outside of Jade Capital City. There are about thirty of them, and each manor produces wine, silkworms, tea, and so on. They also earn five thousand taels of silver per year. Prince Yu is Wang Ye. There should be more villages, about a hundred of them. "
However, Hong Yi knew that the main source of income for the nobles and ministers in Jade Capital was the annual income from these manors. Apart from that, the salary from the national treasury was just a drizzle.
Nobles, nobles, and ministers did not do business. Occasionally, there were those who were greedy for profits, but they only provided convenience for merchants and gave them dividends. However, this was also easy to be criticized, and it was not the style of scholar-bureaucrats.
"The annual expenditure of Marquis Wu Wen's mansion is about a hundred thousand taels of silver. It is used to maintain the seven to eight hundred people of the Marquis's Mansion in terms of food and drink, as well as various other dignified matters. The income of the thirty manors is just barely balanced! There wasn't much surplus. If there was a flood or drought, the Marquis's Mansion might not be able to make ends meet. However, after so many years, the Marquis's Mansion has never lacked money. I'm afraid that the Zhao Family has transferred money over. "
After Hong Yi familiarized himself with the manor that Prince Yu Yang Qian had gifted him, a thought suddenly surged in his mind.
"No wonder Hong Xuanji relies on Madam Zhao so much. He has to maintain his dignity and clean image, and he can't accept bribes to do things. However, in such a huge Marquis's Mansion, the seven to eight hundred people's food and drink, various ceremonies, offerings, and rewards, it would be impossible without money. Without the support of the Zhao Family, even though the Marquis's Mansion is glorious, it would still be difficult to move forward. "
"That's right, what is his own mother? Even if she is the Saintess of the Supreme Path, she has no wealth or power. Compared to that slut Madam Zhao's hundreds of years of prestigious family, she is nothing! If Hong Xuanji wants to be clean in the Imperial Court, and not let others have anything to use against him, and also maintain his dignity and power, he has to rely on the Zhao Family. "
All of a sudden, Hong Yi deeply understood the combination of his father, Hong Xuanji, and Madam Zhao's money, power, and interests.
Under this combination of interests, there was no room for his mother at all.
After moving, a full three days had passed, and the manor was officially handed over to Hong Yi. The various land deeds were also transferred to Hong Yi's name.
At the same time, Prince Yu Yang Qian had also removed the manor manager, accountant, servants, and guards from the manor. Other than those who worked for the long term, the tenant farmers were left to maintain the manor's production. All the people who were in charge of the manor had left, leaving it to Hong Yi to make his own arrangements.
Hong Yi knew that Prince Yu did not suspect the people he used, and did not use the people he suspected. He did not send anyone to monitor him. This showed the magnanimity of a benevolent person, and made people wholeheartedly serve him.
In the room.
Shen Tianyang had become the head butler, and he was carrying a large pile of account books, counting the money step by step.
Although he was experienced, it was the first time that he had such a large amount of money in his hands. He was very excited as he counted them one by one.
"Benefactor, there is currently seven thousand taels of silver in the manor's treasury. In the past, during good years, the manor's annual income was this much. If we do not pay tribute to Wang Ye, it is enough to cover the manor's expenses."
Hong Yi sat on a chair. The chair was made of yellow rosewood, which was the standard wood for a large landlord's house.
"Yes, although this manor was bestowed to me by Wang Ye, the annual tribute should still be paid. The prince's household's expenses are very high, and since I have promised to help him, I cannot be a burden in terms of money. We have to take care of the manor better, and the yearly tribute should be more than the original amount. "
Although Hong Yi was only sixteen years old, he was considered an adult in the Da Qian, and it was not strange for him to be the head of the household.
After relying on Wang Ye, Hong Yi knew that they were bound together for good or bad.
"But, how can I increase the manor's income? This year's weather doesn't seem to be very good. It has only been a few months, and there has only been a spring rain. I'm afraid the harvest will not be as good as the previous years. "Shen Tianyang frowned.
"Harvest?" Hong Yi closed his eyes. Suddenly, an idea flashed across his mind. "Last time in the secluded valley, I ate the peanuts and sweet potatoes from the little fox. They tasted very good, and they said they were easy to grow. Why don't I go and take a look? There must be seeds left. The people of the Da Qian Jade Capital like rare things. If these two things can be grown, I should be able to sell them at a good price!"
Thinking of this, Hong Yi was quite excited.
On the martial arts field outside the window, the nine-foot tall Shen Tiezhu was practicing martial arts with ten strong men!
These ten strong men all had sharp eyes and were skilled in martial arts. They were taught by the Changle Little Marquis.
It just so happened that after Wang Ye's manor and guards were withdrawn, these people could serve as guards.
"Mu The Younger, prepare the horses. We are going to the West Mountain."
Seeing Mu The Younger shooting arrows outside, and his movements were as smooth as a string of beads, shocking the strong men who had been soldiers until they were speechless, Hong Yi shouted.
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