The famous Zuo Zongtang was a great official and became a high official.
Of course that was in troubled times.
And today's Red Mansion Era is on the threshold of troubled times, which will end in troubled times at most within thirty years.
The life span of feudal society is very short. A long-lived person who was born at the founding of the country will have basically entered the later stage of the dynasty by the time he dies, and the rise and fall of the dynasty can be clearly seen.
Jia Rong was a civil servant. In the eyes of the people in Jia's family, he could at least find a job as a magistrate in the south of the Yangtze River. However, he ended up on an island in the south. Isn't this someone's obstruction? What is it?
You must know that at this time, going to be an official in a borderland is equivalent to exile in disguise.
Of course they didn't know that this was agreed upon by Jia Lian, Jia Baoyu and Jia Rong.
…………
Jia Rong came to a certain island in the south, and Jia Lian and Xue Dashazi accompanied him to take office.
With a population of more than 60,000, everyone is in poverty. Many people only have one piece of clothing all year round. Fortunately, this is a tropical area and there is no need for any clothing.
There are very few people who own land, and most people work as part-time or long-term workers.
The rest of the land belongs to the masters and chieftains.
Jia Rong did not come to office alone. He brought with him one hundred and twenty followers, 80 servants, and 40 guards, all of whom he paid anyway.
"Let's see, in less than three years, this place will become our industrial base." Jia Rong said with great ambition.
Then the local environment teaches him how to behave.
A week later, he caught a cold, suffered from vomiting and diarrhea, and alternated between cold and hot.
In the room, Jia Rong was wrapped in a thick quilt, which made her miserable.
"This is malaria, the local mosquitoes are too fierce." Jia Lian also wrapped himself up like a rice dumpling, even if it was hot, he wouldn't let go.
"Damn it, I miss my alien species. Although it is stupid, greedy and unable to speak, and is not as cute and fun as Xiao Huan, at least it can make me immune to all kinds of diseases." Jia Rong said bitterly.
"Just wait and see. With luck, you can get through it in two or three weeks."
"Bad luck?"
"That's the entry in the county annals: On a certain month of a certain year, the magistrate of Jia County, Ba Rong, died of illness in less than a month while taking office."
"I don't want to be so miserable."
"There are two pieces of news now. One is good news. I have asked the Xue family to quickly buy cinchona cream, and now I have bought it. The bad news is that you have to hold on for at least seven days. The road is far away now. Only the north has stocks, and the south has it.
But not."
"I will endure."
Seven days later, the dying Jia Rong finally received the special medicine Cinchona cream. After taking it, the malaria was relieved.
"You are very lucky. You must know that Cao Yin died of malaria. By the way, Cao Yin is Cao Xueqin's grandfather." Jia Lian said with a smile.
"Damn it, I want to kill mosquitoes!" Jia Rong did not engage in industry. Instead, he started cleaning up the area first.
He led all the officials in the yamen and spent 1,500 taels of silver from his own pocket, and began a large-scale cleaning and tidying up inside and outside the yamen and inside and outside the county.
Abandoned gullies, waterlogged areas, filthy places, sewers...all were cleaned up.
This treatment lasts for three months.
It has been unanimously praised by local village elders, edicts, historians, inspections, official officials, etc. who are famous and powerful local gentry officials.
Although this matter is troublesome to people, it does not harm their interests and is beneficial to everyone.
In other words, it is in line with the fundamental interests of most people. Only a few people feel that their interests have been harmed in this process, such as some government servants, scribes, assistants, etc. who have been here for generations...
Because the master did not distribute the 1,200 taels of silver through their hands, but directly distributed it to the hired short-term and long-term workers with the help of people around him.
But it can be tolerated. The county magistrate will stay for three to five years at most and then leave.
Jia Rong and Jia Hui, through three months of cleaning, took the opportunity to find out important information such as the geographical environment, power distribution, population... etc.
"Now that we have the information, where should we start?" Jia Rong asked.
At this time, the window screen was closed in the room, and the mugwort was smoked and roasted, leaving a pungent smell.
"Building pharmaceuticals." Jia Lian said confidently.
"Isn't it engaged in the silk industry?" Jia Rong asked doubtfully.
"No, the silk industry has no foundation here, and there are many links. Once there are changes, we can easily be strangled by the imperial court in the supply chain." Jia Lian said.
"That's true," Jia Rong nodded, "but what's the point of pharmaceutical production? Transplanting cinchona trees?"
"This is one aspect, but not the main one. We will first develop various tonics, starting with cooling oils for scholars, refreshing medicines, and tonics for the elderly. Do you still remember the ginseng Yangrong Pills that Sister Lin took?" Jia Lian asked.
road.
"You know, Linxue Ercao is used to nourish the body, so it is called Yangrong Pill. If both of them take the pill, it indicates that the two families will be sucked by the Jia family." Jia Rong sighed.
"Yes, pharmaceuticals are already a big industry in this era, especially aristocratic families, which cannot do without various pills." Jia Lian nodded.
"It's a pity. If we could get the reincarnation medicine that Xiao Huan talked about, we would be happy."
"It's not far from death. Only the royal family can save this thing."
The two of them made a good plan. With the protection of Jia Rong, the county magistrate, money, reputation and people, the sky is high and the emperor is far away, and there are not many tyrannical conservative forces in the local area, there is only one limit to what Jia Rong can't accomplish: nature.
The rules don't allow it.
First, he acquired a large amount of barren mountains and wasteland that could not grow food, and then hired landless farmers to plant various refreshing herbs that had been proven by later generations.
For example, cocoa contains stimulant plants.
They also hired bankrupt Chinese patent medicine merchants from Jiangnan, and finally began to use steam engines, build assembly lines, and produce large-scale batches.
In this way, without competing for land with local tycoons, conflicts will be reduced by half.
We are manufacturing medicines, so we do not compete with other local industries for the market, and we reduce many conflicts.
Moreover, there are very few cases of officials squeezing for benefits. After all, the magistrate here is nominally the largest.
Even if some benefits are given, they are only in name.
Textiles can be worn every day, and tonics can be taken every day, not to mention that these tonics are similar to tobacco.
The scale and profits of the tobacco industry will be extremely astonishing in later generations, let alone this era?
The entire county's surplus labor force has been fully utilized.
Jia Rong lost no time in letting her servants publicize that it was Mr. Jia who gave them their jobs. As a person, you must be grateful. Before entering the factory every day, you must sing: "Listen to me, thank you. Thank you for having you, who warms the four seasons..."
Of course, I dare not say that I am loyal. The only person who is openly loyal is the emperor. He dares to say that he is loyal to the county magistrate. Next year, officials who have become official will write to the capital, saying that someone in his hometown wants to rebel.
Fortunately, it is normal for slaves to be grateful. The big family emphasizes this, because they are afraid that these slaves will steal things when the master is not paying attention and harm the little master.
A lot of money quickly flowed in.
If you only have money but no supplies, there will be inflation.
Therefore, daily necessities such as food and cloth were also transported.
Three years later, Jia Rong thought of a way to stay in office.
As long as the evaluation is rewritten, the county magistrate can stay in office for a maximum of ten years before being transferred.
…………
At the same time, in the Jia Mansion.
Everyone is celebrating.
Because Jia Baoyu became a Jinshi!
This is very efficient.
Within three or four years, it is very rare to be selected as a scholar, a scholar, or a scholar in the whole history.
"I can rest assured now. My brother is only twenty years old, but he is already a Jinshi. How many young people in the world can get such an honor?" A group of Qing guests surrounded Jia Zheng and praised him.
"Hahaha, this son of mine has finally made his mark, and all my hard work over the years has not been in vain." Jia Zheng said happily.
"Yes, this is all due to the skillful teachings of the old man, which is really enviable. How many people in the world are there who are Jinshi under the age of twenty?"
"This old man will live in peace and prosperity for the rest of his life."
"It's easy to talk about." Jia Zheng was greatly relieved that he no longer had to worry about Jia Baoyu's lack of progress in studying.
At this time, Jia Zheng was still too naive. He had no idea that if his son was too motivated, it would be a hundred times more terrifying than if his son was not motivated.
One day in the future, when looking back on the past, Jia Zheng will definitely regret it. If time could go back again, he would rather raise Jia Baoyu and let him be a dandy for the rest of his life...
At the same time, inside the Rongxi Hall.
Jia Mu, Mrs. Wang, Mrs. Xing, Yingchun, Tanchun, Xichun, Li Wan, Wang Xifeng, Lin Daiyu, Xue Baochai and other female scrolls were gathered around Jia Baoyu, who was wearing Jinshi uniform, and they were also very happy.
"My sweetheart, you have finally made your father and your mother feel at ease. We, a moderately wealthy family, only hope that our children and grandchildren can take over the work. Now that you have become a Jinshi, even if I go to see the old prince now, you can
You have the nerve to speak to him." Jia Mu shed tears at the end of her sentence.
"This is all the blessing of our ancestors," Wang Xifeng smiled and changed the subject. "Our ancestors also want to bless Baoyu before he can ascend to the Emperor's Hall. How can he meet the old Duke now?"
"That's right, ancestor, you can't leave your grandson behind. You will definitely live a long life." Jia Baoyu said, leaning on Jia Mu.
"Isn't that right, ancestor, you may live a thousand years. This is the Wuji health pill from the south. We have all tried it. It is indeed effective in enhancing qi, blood and spirit. Many old people in the south are taking this."
As everyone said, he presented a portion of pills.
"Okay, okay, you are all filial. I will take care of you for a few more years." Jia Mu smiled and looked at the children and grandchildren in the hall, especially her grandson Jia Baoyu, who was exactly the same as her husband.
I feel comfortable.
Then there was a banquet, wine and orders.
There is a table for seniors and a table for girls, divided into two sides, where you can have fun as you like.
Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai here were also very shocked to be honest.
They never expected that Jia Baoyu, who was known as a scoundrel, would pass the Jinshi examination in just three or four years.
The two of them were shocked when they were admitted to the scholar examination before, but now they are admitted to the imperial examination, it is more like a dream.
"Baoyu, didn't you always say that those who want to gain fame are useless people? Now you have become one of those people," Lin Daiyu joked.
"I still think that getting fame is a waste of money. I entered the official career just to find a solution." Jia Baoyu shook his head.
Lin Daiyu nodded slightly, she already understood what Jia Baoyu was going to say.
Xue Baochai was a little confused and couldn't help but ask: "Brother Bao, what kind of solution are you looking for?"
"Sister Bao has a shop at home, right? Do you know that this shop has experienced ups and downs?" Jia Baoyu said.
"Know a thing or two." In fact, Xue Baochai knew that the biggest problem with his identity was that he was a businessman.
Compared to Lin Daiyu, this is her biggest weakness.
Lin Daiyu was a scholar, farmer, industrialist, and merchant. Her background was the highest. Her father was a third-year-old. Her weakness was that her parents died and she had no kinship influence.
Although Jia Mu prefers Lin Daiyu, sister Daiyu is not in good health and is destined not to last long.
This is also a weakness.
"When this shop was first planned, everyone worked together to expand the customer base, save raw materials, and strive to make a profit. Then it prospered. When the business got on track, the shopkeeper began to have selfish motives, and the servants also had selfish motives, and everyone began to poach the corner of the shop.
, Even if this shop is prosperous, if water drops penetrate the stone every day, the shop will decline." Jia Baoyu sighed.
Xue Baochai looked awe-inspiring, and the other party used the store as a metaphor for the dynasty.
As for Xue Baochai, because her brother Xue Fan had been doing bad things since childhood, she often looked at the shop's accounts.
In the Xue family's small and large shops, just as Jia Baoyu said, everyone has selfish motives and everyone is digging up this big tree.
Buy raw materials at high prices and sell finished products at low prices.
The shopkeeper himself runs a private shop and does the Xue family's business, and there are countless tricks.
Those old shopkeepers are all good at deceiving people.
Eat inside and outside, move your hands up and down, and be proficient in everything.
Xue Baochai only wished that she was not a man and could not come forward to scold these people in person.
My brother and mother are good at lake business, so they always let these people occupy their positions.
But she saw it in her eyes and was anxious in her heart. She could only make a few suggestions, but couldn't take any action.
"I don't know, brother Bao, do you have a solution?" Xue Baochai asked sincerely.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "If it were Sister Bao's shop, there would be some ways." Jia Baoyu said with a smile.
"Brother Bao, tell me quickly." Xue Baochai couldn't help but get closer and listen.
"Alas, Sister Bao is so eager, just like the flying geese in the sky." Lin Daiyu was disgusted and said sourly beside her.
"My dear, my family's business is in decline, and my mother is worried every day, but she doesn't know what to do. As a child, filial piety comes first, and there's nothing I can do about it." Xue Baochai sighed.
Lin Daiyu suddenly looked apologetic: "In this case, it's my sister's fault."
"Okay, I'm going to say it right now. In short, it's just eight words. Running water doesn't rot. Just hang up the curtain and ask." Jia Baoyu said, looking at Xue Baochai's plump skin.
Zhao Han really sighed at this time, there is such a good-looking, good-smelling and good-looking person in the world.
Cold-flavored and cold-flavored.
Even though she is a girl, she still wants to marry him.
"Flowing water is not rotten. Why don't you hang up the curtain and ask? That's it."
This is to let her first become a mistress and then follow the example of the ancient queen mother in governing the country.
Those shopkeepers and servants must be replaced from time to time, and one person cannot be allowed to stay for a long time.
As a result, they have no time to manage their power.
"But what should we do if we change repeatedly and people's hearts are unstable and they only think about temporary gains?"
"So we need to establish KPI, no, it's a performance system, to give shopkeepers a hope for promotion, plus various share incentives. Of course, this is not absolute. In short, we still have to be careful all the time." Jia Baoyu thought of those who were ruined in later generations. In large enterprises, the management measures are not perfect, and they eventually declined.
There is nothing in this world that does not decay.
This may be the reason for the enduring popularity of Dream of Red Mansions.
No matter how good the system is, no matter how good the people are, they cannot remain prosperous for a long time.
