The first thousand six hundred and seventieth chapters daily into one hundred thousand gold
On this day, there was an endless stream of officials from the Yamen who came to the Imperial Envoy Yamen to "voluntarily" donate money. The carriages and sedan chairs coming in and out blocked the broad avenue in front of the Imperial Envoy Yamen, blocking several people at once.
One hundred meters away.
It was rare to see such a traffic jam in ancient times, and Zhu Ping'an felt like he was dreaming back to modern times.
Yes.
Zhu Ping'an also came here. He came with Deputy Envoy Bai. Deputy Envoy Bai came to represent Zhejiang's punishment and inspection envoy Si Yamen to recognize the silver donation. Zhu Ping'an came to recognize the silver donation on behalf of the Zhejiang Army.
When he came to the door, Zhu Pingan found that not only the yamen, but also the gentry and wealthy businessmen from Yingtian and surrounding areas were here.
Zhu Ping'an found a wealthy businessman with a big belly to understand the situation, and learned that they had received a verbal notification from officials from Yingtian's Ministry of Household Affairs, Ministry of Works and other departments, which conveyed Zhao Wenhua's intention on their behalf, asking them to voluntarily raise taels of silver.
Support the sea sacrifice.
In front of the imperial envoy's Yamen, there was an endless stream of traffic; inside the imperial envoy's Yamen, there was a bustling crowd and a bustling crowd.
This scene is just like an imperial envoy's yamen holding a happy event. Five large tables have been set up in the yamen courtyard. Behind the tables are five scribes who are keeping accounts. There are a row of large boxes under their feet, and the boxes are full of gold and silver.
There are piles of silver notes, piled up like mountains of gold and silver, and the glittering gold almost makes people blind.
Officials, squires and wealthy businessmen lined up to come forward, reported the name of the yamen or root banker they were responsible for, and handed over the silver they pledged. After the clerk carefully counted and confirmed that the amount was correct, he recorded them one by one in the account book.
Zhu Ping'an and Vice Envoy Bai lined up to come forward. After handing over the silver coins, they didn't even ask Zhao Wenhua to pay their respects.
There are many people who want to meet Zhao Wenhua, but only those officials, squires, and wealthy businessmen who have exceeded their quota, or significantly exceeded their quota, are qualified to meet Zhao Wenhua in person.
Zhu Pingan asked at the scene and said that only those with more than 3,000 taels would have the opportunity to meet Zhao Wenhua.
Is it more than three thousand taels?
Of course it's more. These days, most officials' annual salary is only a few dozen taels. However, there are still many people who are willing to pledge more than three thousand taels. Most of them are squires and wealthy businessmen, especially wealthy businessmen.
Zhu Ping'an heard at the scene that a wealthy local businessman from Yingtian pledged and handed over ten thousand taels of silver. He was cordially received by Zhao Wenhua and was also qualified to have dinner with Zhao Wenhua.
As for how much silver can be used to have dinner together, there is no clear standard. Zhao Wenhua personally determined it after being interviewed by Zhao Wenhua. It is said that six people have been qualified to have dinner together, and they all pledged at least six thousand taels of silver.
Doesn't it smell a bit like Buffett's charity dinner?
Zhu Pingan estimated that Zhao Wenhua could receive more than one hundred thousand taels of silver today...
Making money every day is not enough to describe it. No wonder Zhao Wenhua will stay in Jiangnan for so long in the future.
The richness of the southeastern coast can be seen from this scene.
Zhu Ping'an walked around the crowd, silently memorizing the names of the squires and wealthy businessmen who were met by Zhao Wenhua, especially the squires and wealthy businessmen who were qualified to have dinner with him.
There are some problems with these people who transfer large amounts of benefits to Zhao Wenhua.
At present, merchants who are doing business normally in the southeast are generally not willing to give away so much money, and there is no need to spend such a large sum of money. Of course, some businessmen who want to cling to the powerful are not excluded, but they are a minority after all.
At present, the most profitable industry in Jiangnan is sea trade smuggling, especially after the maritime ban, the huge profits from sea trade smuggling are beyond imagination. Many businessmen and local gentry took risks to participate in smuggling, and many officials also secretly participated in smuggling.
At present, although capitalism in European countries is developing, the Ming Dynasty is definitely the world's economic center and trade center. Overseas markets, including Japan, France and other European countries, are also demanding Ming Dynasty's silk, porcelain, cotton and other commodities.
Blowout rapid growth.
However, the Ming Dynasty now implemented a maritime ban. Official channels for maritime trade with the Ming Dynasty were completely interrupted.
However, the huge overseas demand for Ming products is still there. As long as silk, porcelain and other goods are transported to the sea and traded with Japanese and European countries, you can get tenfold or hundredfold profit returns, which is completely like robbing money.
The huge profits prompted gentry and businessmen in many places along the coast of the Ming Dynasty to take desperate risks and risk genocide in violation of the imperial ban and start smuggling. Some officials also secretly took shares and participated in smuggling.
In addition to the risk of investigation by the court, there are also risks in smuggling overseas. There are no rules at sea, the law of the jungle is strong, and there is a risk of being robbed.
Therefore, group smuggling and armed smuggling are prevalent. Sometimes smuggling is also part-time robbery, and some directly become big pirates. This is how Wang Zhen evolved into a big Japanese pirate. Even if they did not become pirates, they had an inexplicable relationship with the Japanese pirates.
It is not uncommon for people to have secret connections with Japanese pirates.
Many times, when the imperial court was suppressing Japanese pirates, they were the ones who colluded with Japanese pirates, reported the movements of generals and troops, and informed the Japanese pirates.
Based on Zhao Wenhua's background of coming to worship the sea and suppress Japanese pirates, Zhu Ping'an can almost conclude that most of the businessmen, squires and officials who sent Zhao Wenhua large amounts of profits were participants in smuggling.
Smuggling brings huge profits. When domestic goods are shipped overseas, the profit is more than ten times higher. Making money is like blowing in the strong wind, so they do not hesitate to bribe. At present, the main source of bribes for the Strict Party is people like Jiangnan.
With the protection of Zhao Wenhua and others, they can get special care, protect their smuggling business, and avoid trouble in the suppression of Japanese pirates.
They spend money to buy peace and protection. They are willing to pay for it, and they are rushing to pay it.
Zhu Ping'an kept these people in mind and followed the clues, which might be a breakthrough for them in the future.
I guess I spent two hundred taels of silver to buy this information today, Zhu Pingan comforted himself.
The constant stream of traffic in front of the Imperial Envoy's Yamen gradually thinned out until dusk.
It was only in the evening that it finally became quiet.
In the Imperial Envoy's Yamen, Zhao Wenhua looked at Wu Tai's box of gold and silver and a box of silver fruits in his room. His whole face was red, his eyes were full of sparkling light, and the corners of his mouth could not fall down.
A total of 120,000 taels of silver. Jiangnan, Jiangnan, is indeed a land of riches and oils. I really came to the right place this time.
hehe
I really enjoy myself and miss Shu.
However, Zhang Jing is really hateful, stubborn, and hell-bent on going against me! He even scolded the people I sent and kicked him out. He also wanted to beat a dog to see if it was his owner, but he didn't give any face to him at all!
"Have all parties sent the money?" Zhao Wenhua looked away from the money and asked the confidant accountant brought from the capital.
"Basically all of them have been sent," the confidant accountant replied, "Except for Governor Zhang's Yamen, Zhejiang Governor Li Tianchong, and Chun'an County Magistrate Hai Rui and a few other Yamen who did not send the money, all the other Yamen have sent it."
Zhang Jing still didn't send the money in the end. He is determined to go against me! And this old bastard Li Tianchong!
Who is Hai Rui? Where did he come from with such fame and reputation? I have made a note of it. Just wait, you will be rewarded!
Zhao Wenhua looked a little unhappy and confirmed again, "Has the money allocated to the Zhejiang Army been delivered?"
"Master Zhu sent it early." The confidant accountant replied.
"It's quite interesting." Zhao Wenhua was slightly satisfied.