Ming Zuo

Chapter 494 Marines

"Nowadays, the weavers in Songjiang Prefecture are having a hard time. The cotton cloth they weave cannot be compared with other textile factories in terms of cost or quality. It is impossible to sell it on the market. Many weavers are now I can't live anymore, and I complain about the Chamber of Commerce and the textile factory. My father said, I'm afraid something big will happen soon."

Xu Erjue introduced the situation of Songjiang Mansion and was worried.

Compared with him, Zuo Menggeng is calmer.

This is the inevitable result of the impact on traditional handicrafts after the emergence of advanced productive forces.

Falling into the history books, maybe just a few paragraphs of text, very common.But in fact, in the real world, there is bloody cruelty behind it.

Zuo Menggeng knew very well that if the situation continues to develop, the fate of the scattered weavers in Songjiang Mansion is inevitable.

Bankruptcy is inevitable, and in more serious cases, even families will be destroyed.

Xu Erjue also thought of this possibility.

"Father said that we can make money by doing business, but we can't do unjust actions. Otherwise, we will be extinct from the world. He plans to discuss with the leaders of the chamber of commerce to see if some measures can be taken to help the merchants who are in trouble .”

Zuo Menggeng didn't pay attention at all, and asked abruptly: "What's the move of the Yamen of Songjiang Mansion?"

Xu Erjue almost failed to keep up with his jumping thinking.

"The prefect of Fang has always loved the people like a son, and upheld justice. In view of the plight of the weavers, he has approached the chamber of commerce many times..."

As he spoke, his face became more and more gloomy.

Zuo Menggeng noticed it and hurriedly asked.

"What's his attitude?"

Xu Erjue trembled unconsciously.

"His rhetoric became more and more intense every time, and he was afraid that if this continued, he would be hurt."

As a businessman and a businessman of Ming Dynasty, he obviously has a PTSD-like fear of the official.

Because in the environment of Ming Dynasty, businessmen had almost no resistance against officials and scholar-bureaucrats, and they were really in the hands of life and death.

Although Xu's family doesn't have to worry about being uprooted by the government because of Xu Guangqi's presence, it is clear that Songjiang Prefecture's fledgling textile industry will definitely suffer a devastating blow.

"No, I have to hurry back and persuade all the merchants. Even if I make a lot of profit, I must not give the government an excuse."

Zuo Menggeng stopped him.

He sees this kind of matter more clearly than Xu Erjue.

"Second brother, do you think the government will let you go if you give up the profit?"

Xu Erjue didn't know why.

"The government also needs to be reasonable. I'm all about being kind to others, but I'm not a fool. If Fang Yuegong really dares to do something wrong, he will go to the capital to file a lawsuit at worst."

Hey, what a naive person.

Zuo Menggeng only asked one question.

"Have you ever noticed that since the rise of major factories, have the number of self-cultivating farmers and tenants in Songjiang Prefecture decreased?"

Speaking of this, Xu Erjue became proud again.

"There is no need to pay attention. Now the fields in many places in Songjiang Prefecture are abandoned, and there is no one to cultivate them. Those farmers and tenants have worked hard for a year, and their income is completely incomparable with the salary of our textile factory. Now Many people who were originally poor can live on food and clothing just because they work in our factory."

Facing his smiling face, Zuo Menggeng's words were as cold as a knife.

"Then have you ever thought about how the government composed of the landlord class and those landlords who have lost their tenants should feel?"

With just one sentence, Xu Erjue felt as if he had been splashed with a basin of ice water in an instant.

Although the writings and ideas on the Shandong side have not been widely spread in the south of the Yangtze River.But inside the chamber of commerce, everyone has to read through it.

He can be regarded as an introduction to the distinction between the bourgeoisie and the landlord class.

As soon as Zuo Menggeng mentioned the land, farmers and tenants, he knew the big deal.

"You mean, the government over there..."

What is the government of Ming Dynasty?
Nature is the spokesperson of the landlord class.

When these capitalists in the emerging textile industry violated the interests of the landlord class, they would inevitably be counterattacked by the government represented by the landlord class.

Even if they go to court, they have no chance of winning.

Because the emperor and officials in the court are the spokespersons of the larger landlord class.

"Could it be...could it be..."

A picture flashed in front of Xu Erjue's eyes.

Countless vicious officials broke down the gate of Xu Mansion. All the men, women and children in Xu Mansion were shackled and imprisoned. The gate of Xu Mansion was sealed, and the savings of generations were wiped out.

"Ordinary weavers are pitiful, but at the historical moment when new and old productive forces alternate, personal experiences cannot reverse the general trend. What these weavers can do is to conform to history and find their own position in the new historical environment .If they cannot accept this reality, then what awaits them must be the most miserable situation."

"After the second brother returns, he can discuss carefully with his father-in-law and the businessmen of Songjiang Mansion to see if more loose weavers can be brought into the factory. If there are really stubborn ones, there is nothing we can do about it."

Zuo Menggeng paid great attention to people's livelihood, but he had to be cold-blooded in such matters.

After all, it is a trend related to the development of the Chinese nation, and it must not be stopped because of the stubbornness of a few people and the old forces.

Even if a tragedy is caused because of it, it can only be attributed to the price of historical inertia.

After hearing this, Xu Erjue couldn't help but nodded.

He also understands that this is the only way.

Now the industrialization of Songjiang's textile industry has been in full swing, massive wealth is being created, and the number of beneficiaries has reached a very considerable level.

At this time, even if they want to brake, the participants will not agree.

But he has more worries.

"If the government takes advantage of this to make a big fuss, and even spares no effort to kill them, all my colleagues are afraid that they will be doomed."

For his panic, Zuo Menggeng was really angry.

"You guys, dare to fight for interests, why don't you dare to protect them? Faced with the oppression and encroachment of the old forces, you just catch them without a fight?"

Xu Erjue jumped up in shock.

"You mean...you mean..."

Zuo Menggeng rolled his eyes.

"Otherwise what do you think we're doing?"

Xu Erjue was dumbfounded.

That's right, what Zuo Menggeng did was rebellion.

Obviously they knew about it a long time ago, and they have already boarded the chariot, so why are they still so panicked?
Immediately, he understood the reason for his gaffe.

"Songjiang Mansion is hanging out alone, there is no danger to defend, once the court and the government attack, even if we have the heart to cheer up, I'm afraid..."

Zuo Menggeng understood what he meant.Also know that this is indeed a problem.

Regardless of whether the Xinxing Group in Songjiang Mansion has the courage to resist armedly, they are still seedlings that have just broken the ground, and their strength is not strong enough.

Once facing the suppression and massacre of feudalism, there is not much room for resistance.

At this time, it is necessary to protect this cluster of seedlings, which are still very young but destined to start a prairie fire.

On the second day, Zuo Menggeng called all the generals in Jiaozhou Bay to report the matter.

"I decided to dispatch the seventh and eighth brigades of the militia to convert them into regular troops on the spot. Once there is a change in Songjiang Prefecture, we can also invest in military forces for support."

After hearing this, everyone couldn't help thinking.

The two brigades together constitute a division.

In terms of the weapons and equipment of the new army, this is definitely an extremely powerful force.

In terms of Daming's military strength in the south of the Yangtze River, even if it concentrates all its strength, it may not be able to defeat it.

E Hong slightly worried about another problem.

"A new army is formed, but we don't have enough generals. I'm afraid such an army cannot support independent extraterritorial operations."

Seeing that everyone thought so, Zuo Menggeng couldn't help laughing.

"This new force does not belong to the army, but to your navy. I call it the Marine Corps, which is the combat force your navy puts on land."

(End of this chapter)