Idle courtiers

Chapter 54
Seeing Zhou Nan's hesitation, Yunniang quickly said softly, "Master, I think so. Although you are working in the yamen now, you have a few taels of silver salary every month, but it is not much. The land at home is also We can’t count on it. Now it’s just us, husband and wife, and Xiaolan. Although it’s enough to eat. However, how can it be enough to import more in the future? A person has to think in the long run. This time, Dad wants to build a boat. My brother said, if If it's done, my husband can take [-]% of the shares. I'm a woman, and I don't understand the outside world, so don't blame me if I say the wrong thing."

Hearing what she said, Zhou Nan's heart moved.He was very poor now, and the debts outside made him terrified.Relying on salary alone can't change my embarrassing situation in a short period of time.As for taking bribes and breaking the law, for a while, due to a modern person's moral concept of honor and disgrace, it is impossible to eat the defendant and eat the defendant.Besides, he is an official, even if he wants to collect gray money, doesn't he know that he will go directly to the joint of Tongxian Zun and Xiancheng, and still come to him as a master?
However, what Yun Niang said was a train of thought.

He wanted to give it a try in his heart, but he said verbally: "It's not so easy. There are not many other things in Huai'an Mansion, but there are many officials in the yamen. I am really a person like a mustard seed. I can't talk at all. I will come back tomorrow. Go and find out."

After finishing speaking, he looked back at Yunniang.However, it was probably because Yunniang couldn't help waving her fan that her whole body was drenched in the hot summer sweat.In her own home, she didn't have anything to pay attention to, she only wore a thin linen shirt.At this moment, it is tightly attached to the body, and it seems to be transparent in the night light.

Zhou Nan is at the age of youth, how can he bear it.He got up suddenly, hugged Yun Niang and walked towards the house.

Yun Niang let out a low voice: "Mr. Xiang..."

Zhou Nan smiled lowly: "Didn't the lady just say that she wanted to add imports to our family? The old man will do my part."

Yunniang blushed with shame, hid her face in Zhou Nan's arms, and said in a low voice, "I'm covered in sweat, it stinks."

"But I don't care about so much. Plant the seedlings early and thresh the rice early, and give birth to a son early to enjoy the blessings."

A night of tenderness makes people refreshed, and the next day is rest and bathing. The yamen has a day off. Zhou Nan wrote a post and went straight to the governor's office in Andong County, where the Capital Salt Transport Envoy set up, to meet Shi Qianshi.

Soon, a pawn came over and said that Governor Shi was fishing by the small river behind the office, and Zhou Dianli could go there to see the master.

The people who came were all guests, not to mention that everyone was walking around on the scene, Shi Qianshi was already losing face by being so big.Zhou Nan was annoyed in his heart, but after thinking about it, although he is a low-level official, he is still of high grade.Besides, I have to ask for others, but I have to bear this tone.

Soon he arrived at the land, but saw Shi Qianshi standing by the river, he couldn't stop swinging his club, and burst out laughing: "I caught another one, Mrs. Thief, today the fish are all hungry ghosts reincarnated, and they will eat as soon as they see it." Bite?"

There were two athletes standing beside him, and they all smiled and complimented: "Master Shi, it's not that the fish are hungry, it's because you are so majestic, the fish are so frightened by you that they keep hitting the hook. It's time to sacrifice!" The temple of the five internal organs of the master is also their blessing, and they will definitely have a good pregnancy in the future."

Shi Qianshi scolded with a smile: "Did the two of you eat too much oil today? You are so glib. I don't know, but you have already eaten here and raised fish nests. Straight mother thief, do you think I am a fool? "

He was born in a military man, and he had the independent right to cast spells in salt transportation. He dealt with private salt dealers on the water all day long.

Zhou Nan stepped forward and cupped his hands slightly: "Zhou Nan, the official of Andong County, has met Governor Shi."

Shi Qianshi looked back at Zhou Nan with his fat face, then turned his gaze to the float in the water, and asked: "Our salt transport does not engage in negotiations with your local authorities. What are you doing here? Who told you to come?"

Seeing his unconvinced look, Zhou Nan knew that today's affairs were a bit difficult.

He smiled slightly and said: "It's not official business, it's just like this. I want to get three or four boats to transport salt to the salt field. I heard people say that this matter needs to be approved by the master, so I came to see the governor, and I would like to ask the governor to do something." It's convenient. If the governor agrees, Zhou Nan will write down this affection."

"How many ships to transport salt?" Suddenly, Shi Qianshi frowned and said, "Master Zhou, you have found the wrong person. I am just a small eighth-rank official who counts in the salt transport yamen." An egg. Anyone who comes to Fucheng is an old man, so we have to be careful to serve him. In the past, who will do the work of Yuanyan, and how many boats will be given are determined by the transfer envoy of the Yanyun Yamen and the old master Tongzhi. , I can’t be the master. Since you asked me for it today, I’ll tell you the truth. If the elder in the yamen says a word, I’ll agree with how many boats you want to let in.”

Zhou Nan cursed inwardly, if I can pass the way of transfer envoy and transfer envoy Tongzhi, from the third-rank and fourth-rank officials, and I still use it as a small pawn in Anton, you are obviously prevarication to me.

Now that he came today, Zhou Nan naturally refused to return empty-handed, he just said: "Shizhi County, Yanyun Governor has been in Anton for more than [-] years, right? Naturally, if there is something in the local area, I won't bother your office, but if your office If there is a conflict with the local people, the yamen is also needed to mediate. Please also see that the two yamen have been walking around for many years, and it will be convenient."

Shi Qianshi said in his mouth that the salt transport and the local government would not engage in negotiations, but something really happened, and sometimes he still had to go to the county government.Things on the scene, you give me face, I will give you face, people in sedan chairs carry people, this ideal must be understood by thousands of stones.

Zhou Nan's words were to remind Shi Qianshi that if something happened to the salt transportation in the future, don't expect the county government to come forward.If it's not good, he will find someone to bring some bad luck to his governor.

How could Shi Qianshi not understand Zhou Nan's implication, suddenly lowered his face, and said coldly: "Master Zhou, I was born in a military man, I have a strange temper, and I don't like Yang Qiu's kind of human skin. This is true. I can only say I'm sorry, come and send Master Zhou off."

Zhou Nan was also annoyed and was about to explode.Suddenly, a clerk from the governor's office came running profusely with sweat and shouted: "Master Governor, it's bad, it's bad, something happened at the salt field. The salt workers said that it was busy farming and they wanted to go home to cut the millet. Give up the pick and quit. Now, there is no one working in the saltworks, let alone shipping. If this month's quantity cannot be finished, who will be punished by the superiors, who can afford it."

"Ah, all the fuck's gone? It must be that the wages paid in the yamen are too low. These unscrupulous people are not popular enough! Come on, prepare guys, follow me to arrest people, and see how grandpa deals with those unscrupulous people. "Shi Qianshi threw away the fishing rod in his hand and stood up with a ferocious expression.

He also realized the seriousness of the problem. The salt tax was the most stable and reliable source of the Ming Dynasty. With this income, the central government also had confidence.If there is a mistake on the Yanzheng side, even if it is a small matter, it will be reported to the boss's ears as soon as possible.At that time, the governor himself will be done.

These rascals don't even work. This is fighting against the yamen. First catch a few leaders and beat them up. After a few days of closure, they will be honest.

Shi Qianshi was born in the army, and when encountering a problem, the first thing he thinks about is to use violence to solve the problem.

At the moment, it is necessary to recruit manpower to enforce the law.

Suddenly, Zhou Nan opened his arms and said coldly, "Governor Shi, what are you doing?"

Shi Qianshi shouted: "What else can you do, arrest people, are you blind?"

"Arresting people, dare to ask who was arrested and what was committed?"

Shi Qianshi said angrily: "Catch the salt workers, they don't work for the salt field, so is it wrong for me to catch them?"

"Salt workers, dare I ask, where are the household registrations of those workers, but they are craftsmen?" Zhou Nan said lightly: "If I remember correctly, they are all farmers in my Andong County, neither artisans nor craftsmen. The lowly labor is not under the control of your salt transport yamen. Governor Shi, let me remind you that it is summer harvest. Farming and mulberry are the foundation of the country. If you arrest farmers in our county and delay the farming season, you will be charged with a serious crime. If the county magistrate Hand over a memorial, I am afraid that no one will be able to protect you. Please think twice about the consequences of this."

It turned out that the Ming Dynasty implemented a strict household registration system.The common people are divided into civilian households, military households, and artisan households according to the different industries they are engaged in, and they are inherited from father to son and cannot be changed.In other words, if your father is a soldier, sorry, you have to do this too, and wait for the imperial court to call up at any time.

The salt workers in the Lianghuai Salt Field are naturally artisans, but Anton's side is an exception.

Anton is located in the northernmost part of the salt field, with low output, and it is a salt field that has only been opened up in recent decades. The system has not yet been perfected, and there are no professional salt cookers.Even if they want to recruit, everyone is not a good family, why should they dare to degenerate and become a craftsman.

In order to avoid trouble, the Yandao Yamen simply recruited temporary workers in Andong, let them work in the salt field, and gave them a certain amount of work and food on a monthly basis.

"You guys want to fight against me, who gave you the courage?" Shi Zhishi was furious, clenched his fists, his eyes seemed to burst into flames, as if he wanted to punch Zhou Nan at the slightest disagreement face.

Zhou Nan was not afraid, and said awe-inspiringly: "It's not that I want to fight this with the governor, it's the system. It's the system that gave me Zhou the courage. The laws of the country are as big as the sky, and the rules of the court are as big as the sky. You today If you dare to harass the place and destroy our county's farming, don't say it's me, Shi Xianzun will not tolerate you."

Shi Qianshi is not a fool to get to this position today, how can he not understand the power of this.Immediately, his face was livid with anger, but he was helpless.Standing there, I was speechless for a long time.

Seeing that Shi Qianshi was shocked by the success, Zhou Nan smiled suddenly: "Governor, in fact, this matter is not easy, but I have a way to get the best of both worlds."

The book office that came over just now shouted: "What can you do?"

Shi Qianshi said with a gloomy face, "Tell me."

Zhou Nan: "Governor, the county government has been with your governor for decades, and we will have to deal with each other in the future. It is true that we can't make trouble. An said that our government is also duty-bound to deal with Yandao. It's just that it is really busy now, so we don't have to hire If there are no workers, if the summer harvest is delayed and the common people are hungry, the county officials will also have to eat, and this matter is in the final analysis because your saltworks did not have any artisans who came here."

Shi Qianshi: "Craftsmen, to put it lightly, where would anyone be willing to come?"

Zhou Nan said leisurely: "The Japanese invaded the southeast, and a large number of refugees crossed the river, and many of us came to Huai'an. The imperial court ordered them to register on the spot, and each county in our prefecture has a certain number of quotas. The magistrate of the county called me Responsible, there are sixty households, a total of 410 and four people, do you know if it is enough?"

"Enough, enough." Shi Qianshi was overjoyed: "Master Zhou, you mean to enlist those people to me?"

Zhou Nan nodded: "I came here today for personal reasons, and for public affairs. I have already mentioned private matters. As for business matters, I plan to transfer these refugees to the salt farms and become craftsmen. The income of the salt farms is also good. It is a thousand thanks for the refugees to have a bite to eat, and of course they are willing. However, before I finish speaking, the governor will drive them away, so we can only see each other indefinitely."

After all, let's go.

Shi Qianshi hurriedly stopped him, and kept bowing his hands: "Hey, master, why are you doing this? You are here, let's talk about it after dinner. I am from a military family, and I speak like this. If I offend, please forgive me, master." Three boats, three boats... no, five, five... six, no more. The official salt that the salt farm needs to transport every day is only fifty boats, and some of it is given to other people!"

Zhou Nan pondered for a while, six boats, four for his father-in-law and brother-in-law, and two for himself.There is a shipping fee of 30 qian to [-] tael of silver every day, and it is [-] taels a month. It only takes less than a year to pay off the debts of the Mei family.Moreover, this job can be done for a long time.After working for several years, a house and a car are not a dream.

Just nodded: "Okay, let's do it like this. I don't eat your food, it's important to do things. Governor Shi wants to treat me to a drink. After finishing this matter, let's get together again. I just want to get close to the governor!"

In the next few days, Zhou Nan handed over all the refugees to Yandao.Those refugees who escaped from the southeast already lived by the sea, so they were no strangers to the work of boiling salt, and they got started quickly.In addition, the salt farm is a large state-owned enterprise with money, good treatment, and ready-made housing, and they are willing to change it to a craftsman household.

This time, the refugee resettlement problem was solved so smoothly, and it ranked first in the entire Huai'an Prefecture, and was praised by the superior. Shi Zhixian was in a good mood, and thought about rewarding Zhou Nan with some money.

The old saying of the day was brought up again: "Zhou Nan, are you short of money recently?"

Zhou Nan was shocked: "My lord can't reward me any more, if I continue to reward the lowly position, I'll go bankrupt if I only have human relations. If I really want to reward the lowly position, can you sell me the two broken boats of the county government at a low price?"

There is a lot of water in Huai'an, so you have to take a boat to go out.Without a boat, it would be inconvenient for the yamen to do business, so I prepared a lot.On weekdays, yamen servants go to the countryside for business, and when the waterway is smooth, they just paddle across, which is quick and easy.This also saves everyone from staying overnight and adding a lot of expenses.

Government procurement is also lucrative. After a small boat is purchased, the masters, clerks, and government servants who have passed on each have something to pay.Although it is only enough for two meals, but if it is good, if you don't take it, you will be a bastard. Mount Tai does not refuse to save the land.

In this way, over the past few decades, each county magistrate will build a few small sampans, and gradually there are more.The unused boats were thrown on the river beach and gradually rotted away.

Therefore, Zhou Nan bought two obsolete wooden boats at a very low price and handed them over to the carpenter for repair. Once they were repaired without leaking, they could start business by hiring two porters.

Zhou Nan was happy, and said to Yun Niang: "Bring a letter to Taishan Boss and your brother, saying that the salt transportation has been done, so that they have time to go to the governor's office."

Yunniang was overjoyed: "The matter is done, thank you, Mr., thank you, Mr., I will go back to my mother's house in person."

Zhou Nan suddenly remembered that his brother-in-law Yang Youtian had promised him 20 taels of silver as a thank you, but now he was a little embarrassed to ask Yunniang to ask for it, so it was fine.

Another person from the governor's office came with a post, saying that Master Shi invited Master Zhou to drink.

In the future, Zhou Nan will deal with Yan Yun's gang, and he intends to make friends with Shi Qianshi.It happened that Yunniang was not there, and he was bored at home, so he accepted the post and went with that person.

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(End of this chapter)