Chapter 208 The South is not suitable right now!
The next day.
Xinglinju in Dongcheng.
Tian Jing arrived here very early.
He was really restless. After sitting for a while, he simply went to the door.
As the deputy director of salt transportation in Kyoto, his position is not high, but his authority is not small. However, in the realm of Kyoto, his status is slightly lacking. This time he invited Xia Zhibai to meet with him. An act of desperation.
Normal situation.
The Yanyun Department will not pay attention to Xia Zhibai at all.
A mere fifth-grade official is not qualified to see them at all.
But today is different from the past. In this year, there has been great turmoil in the court, and many Jinshi have risen to high positions, and Xia Zhibai has faint signs of being valued by His Majesty. They can't guess, Xia Zhibai Will Zhibai suddenly creep up on them?
Therefore, some misunderstandings must be explained in advance.
To avoid causing trouble in the future.
Tian Jing paced back and forth outside the store, taking a few steps and then looking outside, eager to see the person he wanted to see.
Tian Jing did not wait long.
In just a quarter of an hour, a figure appeared.
Although Tian Jing had never met Xia Zhibai, he recognized Xia Zhibai at just one glance.
Because Xia Zhibai is so easy to identify.
Always dressed in a gray shirt, and only in his early twenties.
Tian Jing walked over quickly, raised his hands and asked, "Is the person here Xia Zhibai, the bachelor of Xia? I'm Tian Jing, deputy director of salt transportation."
Xia Zhi Bai Gongshou said: "I have met Deputy Tian Yun."
Tian Jing looked happy and said proactively: "It is true that a hero comes from a young age. I have heard of the reputation of Xia University Scholar for a long time. It was just that I was busy with political affairs in the past and did not have the opportunity to meet him. But now that I meet him, his reputation is indeed well-deserved."< br>
"Grand Bachelor, please come inside."
Xia Zhibai nodded with a smile and followed Tian Jing into the store.
In the wing room on the third floor.
It seems very empty at the moment.
There was only a pot of tea and nothing else.
But as soon as the two of them sat down, a waiter served them wine and meat.
Tian Jing hurriedly explained: "Grandmaster, please don't misunderstand me. These money for wine and meat are very clean. I asked for it from my own pocket. When meeting a person like the Grandmaster, I, Tian Jing, really don't dare to neglect this." The wine and meat cost me more than half a month's salary, which made the great scholar laugh."
Xia Zhibai said: "The salary set by the imperial court is indeed low."
"For me. The fifth rank of Banzheng only has 16 dan per month, and the salary of lower-level officials is even thinner.”
Hear the words.
Tian Jing looked happy.
He is not afraid that Xia Zhibai will speak, but he is afraid that Xia Zhibai will not speak.
It was just a matter of salary, so he did not dare to say anything more, so he laughed and said: "Your Majesty is also thinking of the world. In the past dynasties, it is almost unavoidable that there is a problem, that is, if there are many people who eat, there will be no life. There are only a few of us, and it is natural for us to suffer.”
“For us to be appreciated by His Majesty and receive an official position and a half title is already a great favor from the Emperor, so how can we covet more? ”
"On the other hand, the Grand Bachelor is only in his early twenties and is already in the fifth rank. If he hadn't wasted most of the last year, his future would have been brighter. However, after all, the Grand Bachelor is still young and has a long road ahead. This really makes me happy. The older officials are so envious.”
Tian Jing joked.
Xia Zhibai smiled, also feeling interesting.
The officials of the Ming Dynasty seemed to be good at dancing with long sleeves, and they just opened their mouths.
Not long after.
The wine and meat are all served.
Tian Jing picked up the chopsticks and said proactively: "Grandmaster, you can try it. These dishes are all made of salt from the Kyoto Salt Shop. The Kyoto Salt Industry founded by the Grandmaster is really beneficial to the country and the people. Not only It has greatly improved the efficiency of salt production and also greatly improved the quality of salt. Now even poor families can buy it.”
“Who would have dared to buy such a beautiful thing before? "Think?"
"To make the bachelor laugh, I didn't dare to buy these refined salts myself before."
As he said this, Tian Jing put a piece of chicken into his mouth. Inside, eating with a look of enjoyment.
Xia Zhibai was not polite either.
Picked up the chopsticks and started eating.
Seeing this, Tian Jing was still a little worried, but he completely relaxed, and the two of them started eating. After eating for a long time, Tian Jing finally put down his chopsticks and poured Xia Zhibai He drank a glass of wine and said in a deep voice: "Master Xia, during your absence, our Salt Transportation Department did some things."
Xia Zhibai kept his eyes fixed and continued to chew slowly. With.
Tian Jing continued: "What is going on, the bachelor must have known for a long time."
"However, the original intention of our Salt Transportation Department is not bad. As an official in charge of the salt industry and just promoted, it is natural that he needs some political achievements to stabilize his official position. At this time, Li Sheng took the initiative to join in and offered himself I got the blueprint of the steam engine. I was so confused that I accepted the blueprint."
"The bachelor will know the next step."
"I have the blueprint of the steam engine. Help, salt enterprises such as Kyoto Salt Industry are constantly established throughout the world.”
“The local salt price has dropped a lot, which has really benefited the people.”
“It is true.”
"This kind of thing is not kind."
"But as officials, we should put the people first."
"And the bachelor also knows that the court of my Ming Dynasty, "It's never that easy." "We, the Salt Transportation Department officials, seem to have a lot of power, but in fact we are restricted by all parties. We didn't want to publicize the steam engine drawings at first. We just wanted to imitate Kyoto Salt. He started his business and opened a large one in each of the chief secretaries in the south. However, few people spoke lightly, and some officials were interested in steam engines, so it became what it is today."
Tian Jing sighed. A sound that seemed full of helplessness.
Xia Zhibai put down his chopsticks and said with a calm smile: "Deputy Tian Yun is worrying too much."
"I actually don't care about the leakage of the steam engine drawings."
"And"
"Before I left Yingtian Mansion, I told people privately that when I came back, I would completely publish the steam engine drawings, but I really didn't expect that Li Sheng would go against my ideas and publish them in advance, but he The published drawings of the steam engine are not perfect.”
“I will go south and publish new drawings after a while.”
Hear the words.
Tian Jing was stunned for a moment.
He looked at Xia Zhibai suddenly, unable to react for a moment.
"Master Xia, what do you mean by this?"
"You were going to publish the steam engine drawings? Then Li Sheng also knew about this a long time ago? He..." Tian Jing's face He drooped down and his eyes became even more gloomy. According to what Xia Zhibai said, doesn't that mean Li Sheng lied to them?
Get their trust and benefits in exchange for a drawing that will be published for sure?
Li Sheng dares to lie to them?
Soon.
Tian Jing calmed down and his expression returned to normal.
He had already realized that Li Sheng did not dare to lie to them. Even if he borrowed some courage, Li Sheng did not dare to fool them. But what did Xia Zhibai mean by these words? Don't want to make this matter a big deal? Or give them a step down? So that the lion can open his mouth?
Tian Jing's eyes were uncertain.
He poured himself a glass of wine, pretending to be angry and said: "Li Sheng, this guy is really hateful. Not only did he turn a deaf ear to the words of the bachelor, but he also deceived us. He really deserves to die. It's a shame for us to do this." I've been uneasy about this for a long time, but I would like to thank you for your great integrity."
"I give you a toast,"
finished.
Tian Jing drank the wine without waiting for Xia Zhibai to speak.
Xia Zhibai smiled faintly and said: "I can't speak of high integrity. After all, I have taken over a lot of salt affairs. Now the steam engine drawings can allow you to keep your official positions and gain the trust of the court. I have done a lot." Make up for it.”
Tian Jing’s eyelids twitched.
He squinted his eyes slightly and looked up and down at the immature young man in front of him, but he was secretly thinking in his heart.
Xia Zhibai is difficult to deal with.
Think deeply.
These few words turned things around.
In one fell swoop, Xia Zhibai changed from being responsible for a loss to not being owed anything.
Tian Jingdao: "Grand Bachelor, the steam engine drawings are steam engine drawings, and the salt policy is the salt policy. How can the two be confused so easily?"
"But when the great bachelor intervened in the salt policy, it was true. It shouldn’t be. Nowadays, salt transportation departments all over the world are very critical of the Grand Scholar. In the past half year, many salt officials have written letters of impeachment against you. Because of the Grand Scholar’s previous interference, local people were very angry. If it hadn’t been like this. , why should we take this step?"
Tian Jing's attitude was a bit tougher.
Xia Zhibai smiled and said: "As long as the result is good."
"It's just that you really shouldn't use steam engines in the south."
"The south is not suitable right now."
Hear the words.
Tian Jing sneered and said, "Why is this?"
"Is it just you who can do it alone, and we and other officials are not allowed to do anything?"
"If you hadn't intervened, the great scholar, how could the salt market in the world be so chaotic? How could the local people have so much resentment? What we do is to obey the emperor's heart and obey the people."
Xia Zhibai said slowly: "The situation in the north and the south is different."
"There are more people in the south. There are few people.”
“Salt production in the south is relatively developed, while the north is even more backward.”
"The steam engine can indeed greatly improve the efficiency and quality of salt production, but it will also make many kitchen households unemployed."
"Have you, the salt officials, considered this?"
"Nowadays, the chief secretaries in the south, ranging from princes and ministers to gentry and merchants, are actively working to build salt enterprises in local areas, trying to get a share of the huge salt market. However, there are only so many local needs, and it is really suitable for them. To run so many salt enterprises?”
“What’s more?”
“Does the local government have a way to resettle the eliminated kitchen households?”
"You guys are too impatient."
Xia Zhibai looked at Tian Jing with a half-smile, with a hint of mockery in his eyes.
Tian Jing's face changed slightly.
He looked at Xia Zhibai and said with a gloomy face: "Have you known about these situations for a long time?"
Xia Zhibai nodded, shook his head again, and said: " It’s not too early, but after you poached many employees from Kyoto Salt Industry, Kyoto Salt Industry can still operate normally, which means that you don’t need so many people to run a salt company.”
“There are so many salt companies in the world now, and it is true that so many people are needed in a short period of time, but over time, many salt companies will no longer be able to operate, and these kitchen households will become unemployed.”
“ This is a huge social problem.”
“That’s why I didn’t think about introducing it to the south.”
“The conditions in the south don’t allow it.”
( End of chapter)