Chapter 128

Zhang Fangyuan got the news on the second day that the property of the merchant’s family was more than 50,000 yuan, and the innocent people who had no bad lawsuits could go to the county government to be inspected by the salt administration.

These are the basic conditions for selecting salt merchants. Merchants who are interested in the salt industry know that the family business is strong enough to maintain the operation of the salt industry. Province.

Siyang can also be described as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and there are still quite a few merchants who meet the requirements. Although the news has been announced, the higher-ups have never said anything to prepare. So impatient to go, the Yanzheng didn’t see it, and was detained by the county magistrate first.

Zhang Fangyuan took the trouble to inquire, and the news came back that if he wanted to meet the Yanzheng, the admission fee was 10,000 taels, and those who wanted preferential treatment had to take another 5,000…

He knew that things were not that simple, but he never expected that the county magistrate would try to be fair in front of the Yanzheng, and then privately block the applicants at the door for personal gain. The merchants are simply fat on the cutting board Meat, when slaughtered, is much more greasy than ordinary people.

“Should we take this money or not? If we don’t take it, we won’t even see the Yanzheng.”

Xu Heben was still immersed in the joy of Ruijin High School, but the sudden bad news broke the original good mood.

Zhang Fangyuan had a headache, and he was also troubled. After thinking about it, he decided: “Take it first, the first thing is to see the Yanzheng.”

Xu He sighed slightly, it would be fine if he could win Yanyin in one fell swoop, but if he couldn’t, the money would be in vain.

But no matter what, he supported Zhang Fangyuan’s decision.

After paying the money, Zhang Fangyuan was invited to go to the county government to meet the salt government. On that day, apart from the Zhang family, there were several big local merchants, including the Qin family.

“Boss Zhang has always been aloof and restrained. I didn’t expect to come here today. It’s really rare.”

Zhang Fangyuan knew about Qin Zhong’s sarcasm, so he didn’t take it seriously, but he didn’t let Qin Zhong take advantage of it: “The Qin family and the county magistrate are related by marriage, and the magistrate must have spoken well to the Qin family. Young Master Qin is determined to win.”

His voice was not too low, and the surrounding merchants couldn’t help but glance at Qin Zhong. They were proud of it, but the Qin family never took advantage of the county magistrate’s son-in-law in the matter of Yan Yin this time.

The Qin family never gave out 50,000 taels of silver to honor the county magistrate, so naturally they did not receive special treatment.

This time, like ordinary merchants, it usually cost 10,000 taels of silver to come here, but Huang Guan can collect money, and he gave up 50,000 taels to come up with such an idea. More than ten merchants came here, and most of them made money. The family loves to take care of them.

Qin Zhongxin was not happy at all, and everyone in the court thought he was taking advantage of it, he was a dumb man who ate coptis, and couldn’t tell what he was suffering.

He snorted coldly, and glared at everyone in a domineering manner.

“Zhen Youxin, see Yanzheng.”

There was a chanting from the yamen servant, and the merchants who were discussing in a low voice immediately fell silent, and the merchant whose name was called immediately got fully dressed and entered the room with a brocade box in his arms.

After the people left, the merchants discussed: “Salt officials meet and inspect one by one?”

Everyone felt uneasy, probably because they knew what the magistrate’s so-called preferential treatment is. When they meet each other, the ones in front will inevitably take advantage. Even the Yanzheng can’t see it.

Zhang Fangyuan saw that instead of worrying around here, it would be better to wait with peace of mind. No matter what happens, the result will not change. He simply found a stool beside him to sit down and rest, sorting out and checking whether the things he brought were in order.

The inspection of the salt administration depends on sufficient proof of family background, and it is necessary to show a family property worthy of being a salt merchant, so as to prevent someone from making false reports.

If it wasn’t for the fact that the family had iron mines, they would still be short of qualifications as a salt merchant, but now they only have fields and forests, so they can probably make up enough.

Yanzheng is quick to meet people, and he met three merchants in a short time. The expressions of the merchants that Zhang Fangyuan saw could not tell whether Yanzheng liked it, but it reassured the merchants behind him. Zhang Fangyuan was also more curious about this Salt politics.

“Could it be that the merchants in front of here have stuffed too much silver taels, why is it so late to come to the master.”

Seeing the crowds of people coming in and out, Qin Zhong looked proud when he saw Yanzheng coming out, and cast a sideways glance at Zhang Fangyuan.

Zhang Fangyuan twitched his eyebrows, the weather was hot, and the waiting was even more frustrating.

He looked up, and although the merchants who went in and out didn’t get any results, most of them were already sitting comfortably under the eaves of the corridor, drinking tea and enjoying the cool air. Hands look into the interior.

After a long while, all the standing merchants met with Yanzheng one after another, and it was not until the end that Zhang Fangyuan heard the yamen servant sing his name.

He put down his teacup and stood up, and asked the servant to respectfully go to the hall holding the brocade box.

For nearly two hours, fortunately Yanzheng didn’t bother, otherwise he might not see Yanzheng later.

In his heart, he felt that the magistrate’s arrangement was very interesting, impartial, and he was placed as the last one. The two sides had already been at odds with each other, so he was specially placed here together.

Just as he was concentrating on his thoughts, the door opened in response to the sound, Zhang Fangyuan was about to salute, when he looked up and saw the person sitting on the main seat who was drinking tea after talking a lot, he couldn’t help being startled.

He didn’t expect that the Yanzheng who made Siyang’s merchants so popular was actually Yu Mingda who had a banquet with Luo’s family a few days ago.

That day, he was happy because of Ruijin High School, and he saw that the old man was kind and friendly, and he talked a lot during the dinner.

He knew that Yu Mingda was an old friend of Luo Yan. He thought that Luo Yan had a wide network of contacts. He thought that he was either a scholar or an official. Over the years, there were many people who came to visit Luo Yan. He had never seen him before. When I asked myself, I felt a little clinging, and I really didn’t think about Yanzheng.

“It’s a coincidence. I don’t want Zhang Xiaoyou to come to bid for this salt merchant.” Yu Mingda was a little surprised to see Zhang Fangyuan. He met more than a dozen merchants at a time. Yuan smiled slightly, and he put down the teacup: “Sit down.”

Zhang Fangyuan didn’t relax because he met Yu Mingda, he was looking for days to eat and drink without paying attention to the rules for the sake of everyone’s comfort, but not knowing the importance of serious things makes people feel ignorant.

He saluted honestly, handed over his property to Yu Mingda for review according to the procedure, recommended himself at one end, talked about the good deeds he had done for the people in recent years, picked up the bigger events, and said something about his allegiance to the imperial court very obedient.

Although he had never heard how other merchants talked with the Yanzheng, but what he wanted to say was nothing more than this, the court wanted face.

Officials are role models for the imperial court, regardless of whether they are good officials with a clean sleeve or corrupt officials, they all care about their reputation. For this reason, it naturally depends on whether a merchant has helped the victims, as well as his character and character.

How to choose is naturally the most choice related to one’s own vital interests.

Zhang Fangyuan has not released any words of benefit to the Yanzheng, but Yu Mingda carefully read the industrial deed submitted by Zhang Fangyuan, and said: “Zhang Xiaoyou has accepted the victims of the disasters as farm laborers these years, opened up wasteland and cultivated, increased local taxes, and after the autumn harvest every year Opening warehouses to help the people should be an example for merchants.”

After boasting a few words, Yu Mingda said again: “It’s just that the property handed over is not qualified for the court to recruit salt merchants. Is it something that was missed in the rush, or is there something else hidden?”

Zhang Fangyuan replied carefully: “My lord, the fields and forests that the villain handed over are not enough for the imperial court’s requirements, but the forests are not more than the market price.”

“Although your hill is not small and has 120 mu, even if it is more fertile than the market price, it is only 30,000 to 20,000 to 20,000, and the land is not enough.”

“To be honest, my lord, there is an iron ore source in the forest here, which was discovered not long ago, and the villain has not had time to report it to the county government.”

Yu Mingda sat up slightly after hearing the words: “Is this really true?”

“How dare a villain deceive an adult.”

“There is nothing wrong with this. Salt and iron are important matters for the country. It is good for you to be cautious.”

Zhang Fangyuan cupped his hands and said humbly: “The villain is willing to donate 60% of the iron ore to the court.”

Yu Mingda took a long look at Zhang Fangyuan, but didn’t say yes or no.

After a while, he said: “I know your thoughts well, go back and wait for the news.”

Zhang Fangyuan didn’t follow up to increase the chips, but only respectfully responded, and then withdrew.

The last merchant also met with the Yanzheng, and whether he succeeded or not, he was the one present.

When Zhang Fangyuan came out, several merchants surrounded him and asked how the result was. Like other merchants, he simply said a few perfunctory words, not knowing what the Yanzheng was thinking.

Others couldn’t find out why, and he couldn’t find any reliable information.

But what Zhang Fangyuan said was not a lie. Yanzheng is a shrewd man. He has been struggling in the officialdom for many years. People like them who met him for the first time can’t figure out his thoughts, and they really can’t see his heart. .

The matter has come to this point, and it is only waiting for Yu Mingda to make a ruling, everyone dispersed one by one under the announcement of the yamen servant, Zhang Fangyuan also went home to report to Xu He.

“My lord, these salt merchants are either donating wealth or treasures, or beauties, but the conditions offered by the Qin family are very impressive. If it is true as he said, he is willing to donate 30% of the annual profit after getting the salt. It’s not a small sum.”

Yu Mingda had been busy all morning, and in the afternoon, he sat in the cool of the house, and when his attendant was serving tea, he mentioned the merchants he met today.

“You, looking at things too one-sidedly.”

Yu Mingda shook his head: “The salt merchant is rich and powerful. If he is willing to donate 30% of the profit every year, it is certainly not a small account. It is better than how much money others give at a time, but because the contribution is not cut off in one go, On the contrary, there is an affair with the old man, if the Qin family asks the mansion for a big or small matter, will they make a move or not?”

The attendant was enlightened immediately by Yu Mingda’s point: “My lord has clear eyes and a bright heart, but it’s because the young one’s vision is narrow. This Qin family is really thoughtful.”

Yu Mingda chuckled lightly.

“Such an adult is more interested in the Zhang family? Sell a favor to Lord Luo?”

“Rather than selling favors to Luo Yan, it is better to say selling favors to Xinke Scholars.”

Luo Yan didn’t mention anything about the salt affairs when he was in the Luo residence, and he never told him that Zhang’s family would also get salt. The guy didn’t care about this matter, and the low-level merchants really weren’t enough for Luo Yan to make a move.

However, he went to Luo’s house and learned a lot of news. Zhang’s eldest son is Luo Yan’s favorite student, and now he is a Jinshi in the second list. At first, he was a businessman who could not match Luo Yuxing, but now he has achieved fame in high school, presumably Coming back this time and marrying the Luo family, it can be regarded as a happy event.

Luo Yan’s disciples spread all over the government and the public, and the only young grandson married into Zhang’s family. Even if he didn’t think about his favorite student, he would definitely think about Luo Yuxing, and he would pave the way for his grandson-in-law to **** him in the court.

Zhang Ruijin can be said to have a bright future.

Since he knew that Zhang Ruijin would enter the court sooner or later and would be supported by someone, why didn’t he win him over earlier?

In addition, the Zhang family made a lot of money. The iron ore was offered to the imperial court through his hands. This year’s performance appraisal is also worth seeing. There are many things that cannot be bought with money.

Regardless of these, he is still looking at the Zhang family, knowing the relationship between him and Luo Yan, today he has not said a word about the meeting in the past, so it is embarrassing for him not to be related.

The attendant was silent for a while: “So the Zhang family has been settled? The villain will give orders.”

“Don’t worry, I’m tired today, just wait.”

He also wanted to delay for a few more days, waiting for the Xinke Jinshi to return to his hometown, and meet up at that time, so that we can meet again in the future. If things are done in a hurry, how can Siyang continue to rely on it.

Huang Guan, who personally led the servants to bring the ice basin, heard the servant’s words to set the Zhang family, his heart skipped a beat, he stopped the servant’s voice, and after a while, he asked the servant to put the ice basin Sending it in, he didn’t enter the door, so he quickly turned back to the study.

“Hurry up and call Qin Zhong.”

He paced back and forth in the study, although he was unhappy that the Qin family did not contribute as he requested, but he finally thought of a good way and did not get away with it this time, even if he was unhappy with the Qin family, but after all There is also a layer of in-law relationship in the relationship. If Yan Yin falls in the Zhang family, it will be nothing good.

In the early years, he had a bad relationship with the Zhang family. Although he has maintained superficial skills these years, the Zhang family has treated him no better since the lawsuit in Qin Zhong. Let him get the salt guide.

Comparing the two sides, he would naturally choose the Qin family.

When Qin Zhong returned home, he was called over before his **** was hot, and hurried into the county mansion through the back door.

“The Zhang family?!”

He didn’t care about the heat all over his body, this news was like a basin of cold well water in the cold winter directly on the top of his head, it was so cold that it pierced through his heart.

“Fortunately, I trust you so much, and I speak kindly or unintentionally in front of the Yanzheng. Although there was friction at the beginning, I didn’t take it to heart. Seeing your sister’s face, I did not hesitate to tie the knot for you. I thought things could be done. Chengxiang didn’t win it!” Huang Guan hated that iron could not be made into steel, and Qin Shang said: “What else can you do!”

Qin Zhong repeatedly accused him of crimes, but since he was called here, it meant that things could turn around.

After Huang Guan reprimanded him, he said: “I have already found out about Yanzheng’s intentions. Before the news is announced, you should quickly think of a way with your old man. If you can’t remedy it, I can only help you here.” here.”

Qin Zhong gritted his teeth: “The villain will definitely live up to the expectations of the adults.”

“Go, go, go quickly.”