Almost everyone, including Zhu Ying, was dressed in casual clothes.
"This can be regarded as a private visit incognito."
Looking at the lively scene on the street, Zhu Ying said with a smile.
Business has always been prosperous here in Suzhou, and the Qunying Chamber of Commerce has seven or eight strongholds here.
The most important thing is that there is already a Public Security Department in Suzhou City.
That is Lan Yu's nephew Lan Tian.
Finding a dock somewhere to stop, Zhu Ying carefully looked at the faces of the people in the city.
Most of the people still couldn't hide their appearance and were rather skinny, especially the porters on the dock.
In many people's minds, those who work hard like this should be relatively strong. In fact, at a glance, everyone is very skinny.
The huge sack was carried directly on the shoulders, and everyone who saw it was a little panicked. The sack felt wider than a human being.
Just like if a gust of wind blows, these porters will be blown down.
However, even though they were carrying heavy objects on their shoulders, these workers seemed to have great strength, carrying them steadily and moving very fast.
After moving the last item, it’s time to move on to the next item.
On the stone pier next to the dock porters, there was a cashier who kept raising his head and drawing on the paper.
Moving at the wharf has always been calculated on a piece-by-piece basis. The more you move, the more the labor will be paid.
So everyone is rushing to move more times.
"These workers are very strong."
After looking at it for a long time, Uncle Zhang couldn't help but said with admiration.
Although Suzhou City is the main stronghold of the Qunying Chamber of Commerce, Uncle Zhang has never been here in person and is with his employer.
In the past, we mainly operated in the Western Regions, deserts, and grasslands.
There are not many water transport terminals like this one.
Zhu Ying shook his head: "No one is strong. They are all poor people. They are just trying their best to support their family in Hukou."
Seeing the dock workers looking like this, Zhu Ying couldn't help but think of the issue of meat.
If you want to develop animal husbandry, you cannot do without feed.
The most high-quality feed is undoubtedly corn.
Corn kernels are the finest concentrated feed for livestock and poultry, and have a significant effect on improving the yield and quality of pork, milk and egg products.
Corn straw is also a good feed, especially high-energy feed for cattle, which can replace part of the corn kernels.
The disadvantage of corn straw is that it contains less protein and calcium, so it needs to be supplemented.
Straw silage not only keeps stems and leaves fresh and juicy, but also produces lactic acid and other substances through the action of microorganisms during the silage process, which enhances palatability.
Silage can not only be used all year round and is less affected by natural disasters, but also has a long shelf life, about three to five years.
The threshold for silage technology is very low. Basically, Zhu Ying can complete it just by asking for it.
In this case, more of the meat in the Ming Dynasty could be served to the dining tables of ordinary people.
It cannot be said that these things can be changed in just one or two years, but Zhu Ying has to control his direction so that Ming Dynasty will always develop on a good line.
While thinking about it, Zhu Ying saw a familiar figure coming with several guards.
Seeing that the man was approaching, he was about to kneel down on one knee and bow in salute.
Zhu Ying waved her hand to stop this behavior.
Lantian immediately understood what His Highness Taisun meant.
Just bowing and bowing, not too prominent.
"Find a better restaurant and have a good chat," Zhu Ying said with a smile.
"Follow the order." Lan Tian immediately clasped his fists and said.
The prosperity of Suzhou has naturally given rise to many high-end entertainment and consumption places, such as the restaurant where Zhu Ying is now.
The restaurants in Suzhou have their own special advantages. They are three stories high with a huge void in the middle.
Next to the corridor on the second and third floors is the private room.
You can also close the screen and watch some performances or other entertainment activities below.
At this time, the most popular thing in Suzhou City was naturally the storyteller telling the Di Bao.
Although there is some time difference due to the distance, the content of the Suzhou newspaper is delayed by about half a month compared to the capital city.
"Tell me about it. I have been here in Suzhou for a long time. What feelings do you have and what problems have you encountered? I will tell you today."
"Especially from the Department of Public Security, for the people, whether they accept it or reject it."
"And how do you communicate with the Suzhou government?"
Zhu Ying took a sip of tea and asked.
When Lan Tian heard this, he immediately understood that the next step was very important to him.
Strictly speaking, it has a lot to do with your own future.
If his actions in the Suzhou Public Security Department are not satisfactory to His Majesty the Grand Sun, it may be very difficult for him to go further.
It's just that His Highness Taisun came too directly. There was no preparation at all in Lantian, and he never even thought about reporting, so he could only tell it on the spot.
Seeing Lan Tian's deep thoughts, Zhu Ying did not urge him, but quietly waited for Lan Tian to speak.
After thinking for a long time, Lan Tian finally sorted it out in his mind and said:
"When I first entered Suzhou City, I was relatively unfamiliar with the functions of the Public Security Department. Fortunately, I got the regulations written by His Highness himself."
"After entering the city, there was nothing uncooperative on the part of the Suzhou Prefect, including the Yamen of the Public Security Department. They also chose a relatively good location. In all aspects, Suzhou Prefect Yang Youwen has no intention of delaying."
"The only problem we encounter is that the merchants in this city, including the landlords and gentry, are the first class. Most of them join forces to suppress the people and are not allowed to file complaints if necessary."
"They even mobilized guards secretly, with a vague intention of confrontation."
"The first step I take is to find out the details of the big families in Suzhou City."
"I feel ashamed to say that my brothers have made no achievements in this area. In the end, we asked the Qunying Chamber of Commerce for help, and then we took control of some large households."
"I was worried about triggering a mutiny, so I didn't want to go too far all at once. So after I understood the contradictions between them, I joined one faction and fought another, and then slowly started to fight in the city of Suzhou."
Lantian described very clearly the step-by-step development of the Department of Public Security here, including the problems encountered and how to solve them.
After solving these problems, how to carry out their own responsibilities?
After Zhu Ying listened, he nodded to express his approval.
For Zhu Ying, Lantian can be said to be a direct line of troops.
Regardless of whether you are an emperor or a grandson, you all need people to help you manage your affairs.
Therefore, when it comes to selecting talented people, those who can correctly implement their own ideas are the best people.
Lantian has done an excellent job at this point.
It can be said that the regulations formulated by Zhu Ying are completely followed and strictly implemented.
Of course, for now, this is just Lantian's opinion. Whether this is the case still needs verification from many aspects.
In fact, as far as Suzhou is concerned, whether it is the addition of the Public Security Department or the Suzhou government itself, it is a key supervision area of the imperial court.
The main problem does not lie with the government, but with the big local households.
Almost all the big families here are involved in business, and most of the shops on the streets are in the hands of these big families.
Even if the farmland is hit hard, it can hardly be said to shake their huge foundation.
Zhu Ying pondered for a while and said: "There is something to be learned about the water transportation."
Suzhou Prefecture's biggest profiteering source is water transportation.
This is especially true in Yanguan.
Taking advantage of the convenience of the waterway, there are many private salt sellers, such as Zhang Shicheng, who was born as a salt seller in Suzhou.
Zhu Ying went directly to Suzhou for two purposes.
The first is the examination of the Department of Public Security. So far, the results are good. At least some corruption on the surface will be gradually eliminated.
The second purpose is to build a Suzhou shipyard.
Here in Suzhou, because of the developed river system, there are particularly many ships coming and going.
If there is demand, there will naturally be a collective formed in response to it.
For example, boatmen, workers who are good at water.
And the most important thing is the boatman.
In the entire Jiangnan area, many large clans control craftsmen with superb skills in building ships.
Although river boats and sea boats have different requirements, they reach the same goal through different routes.
After all, the earliest sea-going ships were built by craftsmen who built river boats.
Zhu Ying's idea was to promote maritime trade throughout the Ming Dynasty.
If you want to open a shipyard, the first thing you can't avoid is Caobang.
There was a big difference between the Caobang in this period and the Caobang in the Manchu and Qing Dynasties.
During the Manchu and Qing Dynasties, it was a real gang organization.
As for the current Cao Gang, the people behind it are all those wealthy clans.
Hearing His Highness Taisun talk about water transportation, Lantian could only clasp his fists helplessly and said: "Reporting to Your Highness, I haven't had any contact with water transportation."
Zhu Ying nodded when he heard this, without any intention of blaming her.
The fact that Lan Tian is able to reach the current situation has exceeded Zhu Ying's expectations.
Perhaps this is because Lantian himself has always been in a military camp and is relatively upright.
After thinking about it, Zhu Ying put down the tea cup in his hand and said, "Uncle Zhang, inform the Chamber of Commerce here in Suzhou that it is my wish to open the Suzhou Shipyard here in Suzhou Prefecture."
"The ships built are all used for maritime trade."
Having said this, Zhu Ying smiled slightly and said, "If we want to spread the news, let's say that 40% of the shares of Suzhou Shipyard will be distributed to the public. Anyone with a Ming Dynasty household registration can buy shares."
What Zhu Ying wants to do is not to defeat all the businessmen in Suzhou.
This is an unrealistic idea.
Moreover, a large factory like a shipyard requires a huge astronomical amount of money.
As far as the current situation is concerned, the funds of the Qunying Chamber of Commerce have actually reached a very embarrassing state.
Among them, one is the drag of paper mills and printing plants.
While focusing on larger-scale social benefits, economic benefits are naturally declining.
The placement of 'advertisements' in Dibao has not yet been officially opened, so it is equivalent to a constant loss-making business.
The dumping of foreign newspapers can actually make up for this difference.
But there is also a derivative problem, and that is time.
The time required to transport a batch of residence reports from the capital of the Ming Dynasty to outside the border areas often took several months. The number of shipments per year was also very limited and the cycle was long.
According to current estimates, it will take at least a year and a half to stabilize before the current losses can be matched.
There is also the collection of treasure notes, which can be regarded as buying money with money, constantly making up for the previous losses of treasure notes.
Coupled with the construction of the North-South Cement Official Road, investment in cement plants in various places, including expenditures in other industries.
If you want to spend a lot of money to build a relatively high-end shipyard, it seems to be very stretched.
Selling 40% of the shares is very important.
One is the wooing and screening of many businessmen and big players.
Second, while risks are shared, there is no need to search for outstanding craftsmen by yourself.
In the name of Taisun, those who want to invest will only follow suit.
The next day was only half a day.
News about the Suzhou Shipyard has spread throughout the city of Suzhou.
Here in Suzhou City, there has never been a shortage of businessmen with a keen sense of smell. They immediately realized that this was a huge opportunity.
Groups of businessmen, large and small, immediately began to unite to discuss matters regarding the shipyard.
"Selling 40% of the shares is a big deal, but I don't know how much one share will cost."
"Don't think too much. Didn't you read the notice? This is to build a sea-going ship, not a river ship like ours. Any one of them will probably cost thousands of gold coins."
"I heard from the gossip that the ships from the shipyard this time will be sold to the private sector, not for the imperial court's own use."
"How is it possible? Suzhou is not a coastal area, so what use can it be?"
"Don't forget, His Majesty has issued a decree to lift the sea ban, which means that we can also take sea ships to do business overseas."
"Overseas, I heard that there are treasures everywhere, such as spices and ivory, which are first-class goods. Our Ming Dynasty's tea and porcelain are in great demand outside, and we are not afraid of running out of sales."
"If it's so good, then why does Taisun want us in Suzhou to follow suit in sea trade?"
"Silly, who were doing maritime trade before? Isn't it just the people on the seaside? His Highness Taisun must want to support our side and compete with those doing maritime trade along the coast."
"It's a good thing, but I don't know how His Highness Taisun can enter into this stake."
The intention conveyed by Zhu Ying this time was very obvious, almost without being stated explicitly.
However, Zhu Ying, who is well versed in candidates, knew that speaking out clearly would not have such a sensational effect.
If it is 'leaked' from the Qunying Chamber of Commerce, it will be easier to attract attention.
Wait a day or two, and after the news spreads from Suzhou City to Suzhou Prefecture, Zhu Ying can sell the shares and prepare for the shipyard.