After visiting the Pearl City for a few days, the merchants began to think about it. With such favorable policies and strong support from the local government, merchants from all over the northwest have begun to transport goods here from the southeast to the northwest for trading.
It is obvious that it is already a distribution center for the north and the south. If you hesitate at this time, the business opportunities will be gone.
Moreover, the shops are limited, there are thousands of shops in the city, and the invited merchants are coming one after another. In addition to the 500 shops reserved by the northwest merchants, there are only 500 shops for foreign merchants to compete for, so they cannot hesitate any longer.
Li Chong's four-way warehouse office began to squeeze through the threshold. In order to sign a settlement agreement with the government, merchants even fought each other, and some began to use their connections to go through the back door in order to win a shop.
Li Chong, on the other hand, was in charge personally and had his own way of choosing. Each of the three hundred and sixty lines must have something. You can't sell cloth and I can't sell cloth too. There must be cloth merchants all over the city. This is how the selection was done.
After several days, more than 500 merchants were finally identified to settle in Pearl City.
The remaining merchants who did not get the opportunity to settle in were naturally dejected, but good news came one after another. The government summoned the remaining two hundred people to announce that they were willing to provide land at the expense of the merchants and build their own shops to settle in. They only needed to follow the planned location and style.
Just build it; the merchants considered it again and again, and many people accepted the proposal. Although the investment was large, the shops would be their own, which made them feel more at ease than those who got free shops. After all, they would still have to do it a year later.
Just pay rent or buy a shop.[
Of course, Su Jin came up with this idea. Although the new city was originally built, due to the lack of funds, if the buildings and pavements were built according to the design, it would not be enough to add millions more. But through this method, Su Jin Province
Save money and effort, don't spend money, only provide worthless land, and you can attract more merchants to settle in, and the merchants who settle in this way will never run away halfway through the work, because they spent too much money to buy properties, loyalty
It's even higher than merchants who get free shops.
As businesses open their doors one after another, every day in Pearl City seems to be a happy event, with firecrackers exploding continuously; and the docks outside the city are becoming increasingly busy. In addition to local merchants attracted by the low tax rate, they come to Pearl City for transactions.
, the merchants who went back to prepare for opening also brought the news back to their respective state capitals. Every day, admiring businessmen came to explore the road, and many people heard about the uniqueness of Mingzhu City and came to visit; inns, restaurants and shops.
Trees have sprung up like bamboo shoots after a rain, and the streets are already bustling with people, showing their prosperity.
…
As the eyes and ears sent by the emperor, Gao Ruona naturally wanted to report Su Jin's every move to the court. When Su Jin decided to build a new city in April, Gao Ruona had already sent Zhao Zhen a secret report every ten days.
Tell the news.
Zhao Zhen didn't quite understand what Su Jin was going to do. He originally sneered and laughed at this kid's whimsical toil. How easy was it to build a new city? Zhong Shiheng spent nearly a year building a slender city on the border. The imperial court
After spending a lot of money and materials, the Slender City was breached a year later and turned into a pile of scorched earth. Zhao Zhen felt distressed for this for a long time.
Now Su Jin has also begun to build the city, but it is obvious that the geographical location of this city was not built to defend against enemies. In addition, Su Jin did not reach out to the court to ask for a penny, and Zhao Zhen did not say much. When the court officials reported, Zhao Zhen just said
Humming twice means you know something.
Zhao Zhen wanted to see what Su Jin was up to and wait and see what happened, so he didn't want to interfere more than ordering Gao Ruona to report the news in time.
Su Jin was well aware of Gao Ruona's actions, but he was always busy and had no time to pay attention to this guy. However, when the new city was completed, Su Jin wanted to move the road office to Pearl City.
, Gao Ruona suddenly jumped out to object.
Gao Ruona said plausibly: "The imperial court designated the Luzhi office, which involves the relocation of various military and political offices and their dependents. In addition, the relocation to this small city is further away from the original office of each Lu, and it is not convenient for officials from various places to report government and military affairs.
, Your Majesty’s move without permission from the court is really questionable.”
Su Jin patiently explained: "The reason why I want to move the government office to Mingzhu City is to use the power of the government to promote the prosperity of Mingzhu City. The new city has just been built, and the people are not used to it. The government takes the lead.
Then the people will definitely follow; once the popularity is established, you can return to the original office and work, so there is no need to make a fuss."
Gao Ruona firmly refused and threatened: "Building this city is unnecessary and wastes people and money. I don't know Mr. Su's intention of building the city. With so much spare money, why not strengthen the original state capital and provide more relief to the people? You
If you want to move, then move, but I won't move; I am in charge of military matters, and no one from the yamen under my jurisdiction is allowed to move."
Su Jin sneered: "Spare money? Do you think this is the court's money? Let me tell you, the northwest four-way court has already lost a cent. Not to mention military and civilian food and salary, even your Lord Gao's salary is worth it to me, Su Jinlai."
There is no way to pay; I built the city to attract business because I want to have more ways of making money, otherwise everyone will go drink the northwest wind; I won't force you to move here, but you can shut up for me; I am the boss in the northwest, and it is still the turn here.
Before you could say anything, you had the ability to settle the salary and military rations for the 120,000 officers and soldiers in the northwest without me spending a penny. You also said that you were in charge of military affairs. I cut off your food and salary supply. You are nothing. I pinch you.
Your calves, if you keep nagging, I will be rude to you."
Gao Ruona was depressed to death. How could he know about the agreement between Su Jin and Zhao Zhen? This matter was quite unreliable. The imperial court had never ignored the finances of local state governments, especially those like the Northwest Fourth Road.
It is a key relief target of the imperial court, how could it be possible to not pull out even a hair?
Gao Ruona didn't quite believe it. He asked Zhao Zhen about this in the secret report, and the answer he got was actually affirmative. Zhao Zhen clearly reprimanded Gao Ruona not to get involved with Su Jinming. As soon as Su Jin dropped the problem, the northwest would be a big one again.
The imperial court was concentrating financial and material resources to quell the rebellion among the tribes in Guangnan, but they did not want to cause trouble at this time.
Gao Ruona hit a snag and felt extremely depressed. He couldn't stand Su Jin's attitude towards him. He treated him like a young man and an old man. He treated him with special respect. No matter what, he was more qualified than Su.
Jin has aged countless times, and with Zhao Zhen as his eyes and ears around Su Jin, her relationship with Zhao Zhen is undoubtedly much better than Su Jin's. I really can't bear this tone.
On the surface, Gao Ruona gave in and moved the Yamen to Pearl City along with Su Jin and others, but in fact Gao Ruona was not looking for Su Jin's flaws all the time. He wanted to avenge this humiliation.
In early September, Su Jin, who had a little leisure time, was lazy and did not go to the Yamen for a long time. He hid in the courtyard of the new house in the middle room and played chess with Yan Biyun. Xia Siling, Huan Niang and others were pointing and discussing the advantages of Su Jin and Yan Biyun playing chess.
inferior.
The servant came quickly to report that the imperial edict had arrived. Su Jin had no choice but to leave his chess pieces, crown and belt and rush to the Yamen lobby not far away to receive the edict. From a distance, he saw Gao Ruona chatting and laughing happily with a chamberlain in the hall.
While waiting, Su Jin met the chamberlain. He was the chamberlain of Zhao Zhenyu's study. The chief was named Zuo Daoying, and he had met Su Jin several times.
After being polite, Zuo Daoying immediately announced the edict. The content of the edict shocked Su Jin. It turned out that Zhao Zhen had heard that Su Jin had built a new Pearl City, so he asked Zuo Daoying to come to the Pearl City to inspect the construction of the city for half a month. He said he wanted to learn from experience.
I want Su Jin to give me a warm welcome.[
Su Jin was extremely puzzled. When he built the Pearl City, he reported it to Zhao Zhen. Zhao Zhen was noncommittal and vaguely mentioned the Slender Waist City as an issue. In fact, he didn't agree with it. But Su Jin pretended not to understand what Zhao Zhen said.
Meaning, he took Zhao Zhen's non-committal as acquiescence and started doing it in full swing. Su Jin also knew that since Zhao Zhen didn't spend a penny, he had no reason to stop him.
But now why did Zhao Zhen suddenly become so interested and send his personal servant to investigate? Is the name of Pearl City really famous all over the world?
"Master Su, I am going to be bothering you here for a while and causing trouble to Master Su." Zuo Daoying said with a smile.
Su Jin smiled and said: "Whatever you say, Mr. Zuo is someone you can't even invite. Being able to come to this newly built town is a favor for Su. However, this place is located in a remote place, so I might not be able to provide good hospitality."
Zuo Daoying chuckled and said: "Master Su is too polite. Your Majesty heard that Mingzhu City was built in a good way. The merchants who had been here in the capital went crazy when they returned to the capital. Mingzhu City is the first city in the northwest and is the best in the world.
It's rare, so the emperor sent me to take a look. If it's really good, the Ministry of Industry may soon send someone to record the process for future generations."
Su Jin chuckled and said, "Your Majesty is very thoughtful. Your Excellency can travel freely in this city. However, I am busy with affairs and may not have time to accompany you. If you have any instructions, I can send someone to inform you in advance."
Zuo Daoying chuckled and said: "Master Su has many things to do every day. Naturally, I will not delay Master Su's efforts. I have just made an agreement with Master Gao that he will accompany and guide the whole process. I would like to thank Master Su for your permission."
Su Jin glanced at Gao Ruona and found that there was a kind of uncontrollable excitement in Gao Ruona's expression. Seeing that he and Zuo Daoying seemed to be very familiar with each other, he suddenly understood that Gao Ruona had been in Zhao Zhen.
I have worked as a housekeeper, so I am very familiar with the emperor's chamberlains. It is natural for me to be happy to meet old friends. It does not seem strange.
Su Jin still vaguely felt something was wrong with Zuo Daoying's sudden arrival. If someone from the Ministry of Works or the Museum of History came, Su Jin would not be surprised at all. After all, building a new city is a major event, and the Ministry of Works may send people to study the engineering layout.
Such craftsmanship, the history museum may come back to record the construction of the city and compile it into history books for future generations, but what is the purpose of this Zuo Daoying? He is the chamberlain next to the emperor. It would be appropriate if he came to deliver a secret edict or oral instructions.
It was a strange thing to come and see the city.
Could it be that the emperor really wants to know the uniqueness of this new city and wants to see it for the emperor? But the emperor can order himself to write a detailed memorial to explain it, or directly order himself to send someone to explain it in person. Wouldn't it be even more important?