Chapter 7 Life is like a play, it all depends on acting skills
Hearing the good news brought back by Chen Boda, Suning couldn't help laughing. Although he gave up 70% of the profit, he still got the salt worker he wanted most.
Maybe many people don't understand why Suning is so keen on salt workers. That's because people don't know that salt workers and absentees are the best sources of soldiers. After being squeezed for a long time, each of them is a destructive existence.
In the original time and space, Zhu Yuanzhang had just occupied the Chuzhou and He County areas, and the Mongolian and Yuan armies attacked from the direction of Liuhe. In fact, the main target of the Mongolian and Yuan armies at that time was Zhang Shicheng, who occupied Gaoyou and Yancheng.
The salt people led by Zhang Shicheng were the most durable unit. They withstood wave after wave of attacks from the Mongolian and Yuan armies. They also controlled the Gaoyou section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and completely strangled the Mongolian Yuan army by the throat.
Meng Yuan had to recruit Zhang Shicheng again and again. Unfortunately, Zhang Shicheng and Zhang Shide were both short-sighted opportunists and actually defected to Meng Yuan.
As for Zhu Yuanzhang at that time, in Meng Yuan's eyes, he was a dispensable "little pitiful", and his attacks were just like chasing rabbits, which gave Zhu Yuanzhang the opportunity to grow stronger.
"Everyone is very happy today because we got the salt people we wanted and needed most.
But we still can't relax, so let's not drink alcohol today." Suning said with a smile to Chen Boda and Li Shanchang, using tea instead of wine.
"Well! What the boss said makes sense!
We are now walking on thin ice with a heavy burden, and the happy time must be compressed to the shortest possible time." Li Shanchang agreed with Suning's sobriety.
Soon Suning asked his servants to remove the spirits, and the three of them celebrated with tea instead of wine, "Father-in-law, Shanchang, because the salt workers are very important, so I will personally take people over to manage the salt in the Jianghuai Salt Fields.
People.
Chuzhou relies on you two!"
"Master, don't worry!
We will definitely guarantee the Chuzhou base camp."
"Well! I can rest assured that you will do your job!" Suning had no doubt about Li Shanchang's ability.
"Shan Chang, how is the establishment of the Jinyiwei?"
"The Dong family relies on the Chen family's restaurants and teahouses for its operations, so it is not difficult to establish Jinyiwei.
We now have intelligence bases around the Yangtze River, and I believe intelligence will be gathered here soon."
"Well! Everyone generally has no awareness of confidentiality now, and it is quite easy to obtain information.
However, our Longmen Escort Bureau must also take warning and pay attention to confidentiality."
"Master, don't worry!
Recently I have paid attention to the Longmen Escort Bureau, and the confidentiality work is indeed very good.
Even the escorts of Longmen Escort Bureau still think that they are just ordinary employees."
"Haha, it seems that our work is still very effective.
Father-in-law, you are good at it, because our goal is the area south of the Yellow River, and our first step to capture the target is around Jiqing Road, Suzhou, Yancheng, Gaoyou, Yangzhou, Haozhou, Dingyuan, Chuzhou, Jiqing, and Hexian
, Liuhe, therefore, the key monitoring direction of Jinyiwei should be in the direction of the counterattack of the Mongolian and Yuan armies."
"Ah? Occupying so many areas at once?" Li Shanchang and Chen Boda were both shocked.
"Haha, that's why I desperately want to take control of the salt people in the Jianghuai Salt Farm. They can send nearly 100,000 soldiers to our side at one time.
If two thousand to five thousand legions are deployed to guard various places to recruit troops on the spot, this area will definitely be controlled as soon as possible.
Moreover, we must ensure that we have 50,000 Chinese troops to deal with the Mongolian Yuan’s counterattack.”
"Huh? If the number of legions stationed locally is between 2,000 and 5,000, they must be at the level of regular troops. In this way, a large number of auxiliary troops can be recruited nearby to quickly form combat effectiveness.
It's hard to say about the field battle outside the city, but there should be no problem in defending the city." After Li Shanchang was shocked, he slowly thought about it, and then agreed with Suning's plan.
"Yes! After the incident, we will immediately arrange internal and external attacks. Inside the city will be the escorts of each Longmen escort bureau, and outside the city will be the various legions dispatched, so each of them must carry out the attack secretly."
"In order to prevent the persecution of the Meng Yuan Dynasty, it is necessary to shrink the power of our Longmen Escort Agency. All areas outside the area we divided in the first step must be withdrawn. This can just confirm what my father-in-law told Barbarian Hague about the salt trafficking and stopping the Escort Agency."
"Well! My boss's plan is feasible!"
"The key area is the war on Jiqing Road. At the beginning, in order to paralyze the barbarian Hague, we slowly began to rent their giant ships to transport food and salt to relax their vigilance. We will hire as many as possible for him on the eve of the incident.
"
"Ah? Barbarian Hague has lost his fleet, so we still have the final say in the Yangtze River Basin?" Chen Boda was also made to breathe quickly by Suning's plan.
"Yeah! After taking control of the barbarian's huge naval ship in Hague, Jiqing Road is ours."
"Xian son-in-law, don't worry!
I will definitely serve Barbarian Hague well.
On the eve of the incident, I plan to invite the mid-level and senior officers and soldiers of their navy to drink wine at Jiqing Road, which will be convenient for us to control the entire fleet."
"Haha, father-in-law, you really know everything!
This strategy is great!"
At this time, Suning suddenly took out the military regulations written by himself and handed it to Li Shanchang, who was thoughtful in front of him, "Shanchang, this is the military regulations I wrote personally.
We must know that after an incident, our own discipline is the most important, so please help me see if there is anything else that needs to be added."
"Oh? Let me see!"
“First, follow the command in all actions!
Second, you are not allowed to rob people!
Third, all seizures must be attributed!
Fourth, you are not allowed to demean women!
Fifth, do not abuse prisoners!"
"Ah? Master, you are more powerful than Liu Bang's three chapters of the agreement!"
It's just that you are not allowed to mistreat prisoners. I don't think our soldiers will understand, right?
After all, the people we captured are all high-ranking officials of the Meng Yuan Dynasty, and they will definitely not be able to control their emotions."
"Shan Chang, what types of wealth do you think there are?"
"What?" Li Shanchang suddenly became confused.
Chen Boda on the side said with a disinterested smile, "Isn't wealth just gold, silver, land and real estate?"
"Yes! However, there is another asset that everyone ignores, and that is talent."
After hearing Suning's explanation, Li Shanchang suddenly seemed to understand something. He looked at Suning with eager eyes and his breathing became quickened unconsciously.
"If you are good at growing up, how many years does it take for a scholar to study hard?"
"ten years!"
"Haha, it's more than that!
There are also many people who are twenty or thirty years old!
So it is very troublesome to train a scholar.
If we kill everyone with just one blow, wouldn’t it be our loss?”
"Huh? My dear son-in-law, you said that scholars should be given preferential treatment, and I agree with that!
But what's the use of those arrogant Tatars in Meng Yuan? They might as well be killed by the soldiers."
"What my father-in-law said is wrong!
Everyone has his or her value.
The nobles of the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty all grew up on horses. Even if they are corrupted now, in terms of riding and archery skills, we Han people cannot match them.
Therefore, to resist the Mongolian Yuan, we must unite all possible forces."
These are all based on the experiences of later generations by Suning, and the Ming Dynasty's army also had a large number of Mongolian and Yuan prisoners joining the army. There is no reason why Suning, a modern man from later generations, should not be as ambitious as Zhu Yuanzhang.
...
The Jianghuai Salt Farm is actually just a general name. There are countless large and small salt farms in the Yancheng and Taizhou area. At this time, they are all controlled by the Mongolian and Yuan nobles. The daring salt people at the bottom can only make a fortune by secretly selling private salt, so
The two brothers Zhang Shicheng and Zhang Shide were actually relatively wealthy private salt dealers, and their lives were much more comfortable than those of ordinary salt residents.
As for the conflict between the two brothers and the managers of the salt field, it was more about the uneven distribution of the spoils. They rebelled because they wanted to sell for a price, but did not drive away the Tatars' ambitions.
"Brother, have you heard?
Our salt field here has been taken over by the Longmen Escort Bureau!" Zhang Shide looked at his eldest brother Zhang Shicheng with excitement.
"What? Longmen Escort Agency?
Is that the "Great Good Man" Suning from Chuzhou?" Zhang Shicheng's eyes widened in surprise when he heard the news about his younger brother Zhang Shide.
"Yes!
Haha, life will be much easier for us salt people now!"
Looking at his silly younger brother Zhang Shide who looked happy, Zhang Shicheng was so angry that he hit his younger brother hard with his hand and said angrily, "Idiot! The salt field has been taken over by Longmen Escort Agency!
What else is there about us two brothers?
What do we private salt dealers eat and drink?
The people of Yan are living a comfortable life, are you still willing to follow us brothers through life and death?"
"Ah? Brother, what should we do?" Zhang Shide also realized the seriousness of the problem.
"Hey! Wait and see!
I don’t believe that Longmen Escort Agency is just an egg without seams!”
"Brother, I will listen to you!"
Suning knew not to pay too much wages to the Yan people, because paying too much would cause public outrage and backlash from the Yan people, and would also be considered by Meng Yuan as a way to win people's hearts. Suning was not a hypocritical person.
Know how to truly relieve the salt people from their suffering.
"Bang bang bang!"
There was a rapid sound of sticks, and the salt people stopped what they were doing and ran over quickly, because they knew it was the sound of eating.
"Everyone, stop crowding! Come one by one!
Everybody line up properly!"
"Foreman! What shall we eat today?"
With a new owner, will our food be better?"
"Hmph! You poor guys, what good food have you ever eaten?
Well! Our new owner is kind!
Each salt farmer can receive two picnic cakes and a bowl of porridge."
"Ah? Cooking cakes?
The boss is even willing to cook cakes for us!" As soon as the foreman finished speaking, the salt people became excited.
The salt residents excitedly accepted the two colorful gray cakes and the porridge that could stand up with chopsticks. They couldn't help crying.
Suning looked at the expressions of the salt people in front of her who were crying excitedly while eating, but their eyes were empty without sadness or joy. It was not easy for the Chinese people to get this bowl of rice, and the suffering they suffered was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.
"Dongjia Su, I think this is a bit redundant?" Mr. Sui, a close aide of Prime Minister Zuo Fushou, looked at Suning with disdain.
"What?"
"Dongjia Su, you shouldn't be so nice to these bastards!"
"You bitch? Master Sui is also a Han, right?"
"Hmph! Although I am from Han origin, I am serving the noble Mongolian nobles. This is the honor of my ancestors." Master Sui looked at the salt people in front of him with pride.
Looking at the proud Master Sui, Suning suppressed his nausea and explained with a smile, "Since Master Sui is serving the Mongolian nobles, have you ever seen Mongolians feeding horses?"
"Feed the horse? I've seen it before! What's wrong?"
"Master Sui, since you have seen horses being fed, you should know that if you want a horse to run, you need to feed the horse well."
"Well?"
"Master Sui, after eating for a while, the salt people's work enthusiasm will change immediately, and the salt output of the salt farm will definitely increase a lot this month."
"Ah? It's impossible!"
"Also! Master Sui, according to regulations, the salary you paid to the salt people was ten cents, but the most they got was six cents.
And now I directly send them five cents every month, so it is understandable for them to eat better!"
"Ah? Su Dongjia, you are still smarter!
Let me tell you that you businessmen are very smart!
Haha, Sui admires me!" Master Sui became happy after hearing Suning's explanation.
"Master Sui, you are a popular person in front of Prime Minister Zuo. I hope you can speak kindly to Su in front of Prime Minister Zuo in the future!" Suning deceived Master Sui, and then secretly placed a silver ingot on Master Sui.
in the hand.
Feeling the texture and weight of the silver in his hand, Master Sui almost narrowed his eyes, "Haha, easy to say! Easy to say!"
Seeing Master Sui leave with satisfaction, Suning also sighed helplessly. These bastards from Mengyuan are not stupid at all, but are very smart.
After Prime Minister Zuo Fushou received the heavy gift and 50% of the profit, he did not relax his vigilance against Suning. He sent Master Sui, a "thing" to monitor him. This made Suning spend all his efforts to monitor Master Sui and Fushou.
Explain your behavior.
...
As soon as it dawned early in the morning, the foreman was banging on the wooden doors of each work shed, "Get up! Get up!"
Get up and train soon!”
"Ah? So early?
It's not day yet!
Why are you training?" The saltmen looked at the sky outside and complained feebly.
"Stop talking nonsense! From now on, there will be training every morning before going to work. Those who participate in the training can have an extra meal."
"Ah? What?
Can I have one more meal?" As soon as they heard that there was food, the refugees all woke up and looked at the foreman with hungry wolf eyes.
"That's right! Those who participate in training will have three meals a day.
Those who do not participate in training will still eat two meals a day as before.
Therefore, training or not depends on your own free will."
"Train! Of course you have to train!
You are a fool not to train!" The salt people no longer felt sleepy at all, and they all got up quickly.
The saltmen who quickly got dressed came out in twos and threes and came to the open space outside the work shed. They looked at their foreman in confusion, "Foreman, what are we training for?"
"Eh? If you ask me, I'll ask who will go!
Maybe the new owner sees that all of you are "weak chickens" and wants you to be trained to work harder?" The foreman was also confused by the salt people's questions, and then he could only guess what he said to the salt people.
of.
"Haha, such a good owner.
We really need to let people make more money, so that they can afford such good food." The salt people are all simple, and they soon understood "capital".
The salt people did not wait too long, and many capable young men in red uniforms appeared. They looked at the salt people in front of them with disdainful expressions, "We are the escorts of the Longmen Escort Bureau, and we will be your instructors from now on.
And you have to train with us every day."
"Ah? We are salt people. They won't let us be escorts, right?"
"Hmph! With your dry looks, are you worthy of being an escort?
My boss only trains you so that you can work well."
"Oh! So that's it!"
"Okay! Now there are eleven people in a class, and you can choose one of you to be the acting class leader."
"Ah? Monitor?" Upon hearing this unfamiliar word, the salt people all showed puzzled expressions.
"That's right! From now on, your food and accommodation will be arranged according to your classes, and your work will also be arranged according to your classes. This will facilitate your unified management."
Although the salt people didn't understand and didn't know why they were asked to do this, when they saw the cooking cakes and hot porridge placed next to them, they all swallowed hard and followed the escorts' training obediently.
In fact, the training content is very simple. They are asked to take off the shoes on their left feet, and then practice left and right movements according to the escort's commands. Of course, they also have to stand still.
In the beginning, the salt people endured the demands of the escorts just for the sake of food. With the training day after day, they gradually got used to this kind of life, and the three good meals a day made them more and more satisfied.
strong.
One month soon came and the salt output of each salt field increased significantly. Master Sui, Fushou's close confidant, was happy, but he started to curse at the salt people.
"Bah! These damn salt people were actually lazy before!"
"Huh? These are all small things.
Haven't we increased the salt production now?" Suning really couldn't understand this kind of "traitor" brain circuit.
"Well! I'll just do the hard work for Su Dong's family!"
"Haha, it's an honor for me to serve Prime Minister Zuo. Where does the hard work come from!"
"Haha, the Su Dong family is so smart!
I will definitely put in a good word for you in front of Prime Minister Zuo when you get back!"
"Haha, thank you Master Sui!"
Today is also the day for the salt farmers to collect their wages. The difference from usual times is that this time they need to go directly to the Longmen Bank next to the salt farm to collect their wages themselves. They no longer need to take it from the foreman.
Master Sui did not leave immediately. He watched at the door of Longmen Bank. He wanted to see if Suning really only gave five cents to the salt residents. Fushou personally told him to pay attention to this matter and never allow Longmen Escort Bureau to buy people's hearts.
.
"Ah? Why do you only have five cents?
We used to have ten cents!" came the displeased voice of a Yan citizen.
"Hmph! How much did you get?" the employee responsible for distributing money at Longmen Bank retorted to the salt residents.
"Huh? Even if there is exploitation, I still get six cents a month!
This is a penny missing!"
"Haha, let me ask you, what do you eat every day?
Has the food gotten better?
It’s just that I’m getting a penny less every month, so I won’t give up on you here, and I’m not afraid that my boss will feel bad.”
"This..." The salt residents were speechless when they were retorted by the bank employees, and they could only shake their heads and leave.
"Next!" The bank employee's voice was as cold as a machine.
When Master Sui saw the turbulent salt people, he showed a self-righteous smile of surprise, and then left with satisfaction. He wanted to rush back to Jiqing Road as soon as possible to tell Prime Minister Zuo Fushou the good news.
Seeing Master Sui, the "God of Plague", finally leave, Suning couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. As for the indignant salt people, Suning had made arrangements early, and he would definitely make the salt people be grateful to him.
However, all of Suning's attention was focused on Master Sui. He did not notice the two brothers Zhang Shicheng and Zhang Shide squatting in the corner. Looking at the angry salt people, the two brothers showed surprised smiles.
"Haha, I'll just say it!
How could the Longmen Escort Bureau be so kind? It turns out they are waiting for the Yan people here!" Zhang Shicheng couldn't help laughing because he finally found the "weakness" of the Longmen Escort Bureau.
"Brother, what should we do next?"
"Shide, tomorrow we will spread the news secretly, saying that the Longmen Escort Bureau is oppressing us Yan people, and then we will lead the Yan people to rebel with us!"
"Ah? Are you anti-Yuan?" Zhang Shide suddenly became frightened.
"Idiot! We are the Anti-Longmen Escort Agency!
What does it have to do with Dayuan!"
"Eh? That's good! That's good!
You scared me to death just now!" Zhang Shide showed a happy expression when he heard that his eldest brother was not anti-Yuan.
"Huh! Shide, look at your potential!" Looking at his younger brother Zhang Shide's ugly appearance, Zhang Shicheng helplessly shook his head.
...
Ge Er, a salt man, rushed home with a dejected look on his face. His family could be happy on this day when he only got paid his wages in a month, but why couldn't he be happy today with the five cents in his hand.
At this time, Ge Er's heart was full of regrets. If he had known that his wages would be one penny less, he would have left one or two cooking cakes every day. The cooking cakes saved in this way would be enough for the family to survive the famine.
Ge Er, who looked decadent, had no intention of paying attention to the crowd next to him, but at this moment he heard a familiar voice calling his name, "Ge Er! Ge Er!"
Ge Er turned his head to look in confusion, and saw his wife and two children standing there with smiles on their faces. Seeing the smiles of his family, Ge Er suddenly felt even more uncomfortable.
"Ge Er, what are you doing standing there?
Have you been paid today?"
"Well! I only have five cents this month!" Ge Er lowered his head in shame, feeling ashamed to see his family.
"Haha, it's okay!
I also paid it yesterday, and I got five cents!"
"What? How is this possible!" Ge Er's eyes widened in surprise, as big as gongs, because he had a bad guess in his mind.
Seeing her man's eyes and angry expression, how could Ge Er's wife not know what Ge Er was thinking, "Bah! Ge Er, what the hell are you thinking?"
I earn my hard-earned money from making shoes!"
"What? Making shoes?
Who do you make shoes for?"
"Hmph! Of course it's Longmen Escort Agency!
Last month, their Longmen Escort Bureau built a workshop near the salt field, and all the wives and adult children of salt residents can go to work."
"Ah? You, a bitch, can earn five cents a month?" Ge Er looked at his wife with a questioning look on his face.
"What's wrong! Do you look down on us old ladies?"
"Uh..." Of course Ge Er looked down on them, but he didn't dare to say it unless he didn't go to bed today.
"Dad, there are us!
We also all have two cents!" At this time, Ge Er's child said to Ge Er with a "treasure offering" look on his face.
"What? Are you making shoes at such a young age?"
"No!
The Longmen Escort Bureau lets us go to private school, gives us two cents a month, and also provides us with two meals."
"ah?"
"Hey! What's this?
Our neighbor's Sanqi mother is almost sixty years old, and she is arranged by the Longmen Escort Bureau to clean up the garbage and clean up the situation on the street. She only gets five cents a month!" Looking at the shocked husband, Ge Er's
My wife told me even more exciting news.
"Ah? No way!"
At this time, similar situations occurred in various places in the Jianghuai Salt Fields, but the Mongolian and Yuan nobles and their lackeys did not notice it, and even if they did, they would not care.
Suning knew that if he wanted to completely control the Yan people, he had to control their families first. Only in this way would they have a deep sense of identity and belonging, and they would desperately resist the Mongolian Yuan army when they rebelled against the Yuan Dynasty in the future, because this was the time when they fought against the Yuan Dynasty.