The asking price is high, and the money is paid back on arrival.
Zhu Ming wanted the rich households to allocate 3,000 guan, but after crying for poverty, the rich households only agreed to 1,200 guan. Moreover, as the scope of apportionment became larger, the gentry of Xixiang County also had to pledge; the number of households to be apportioned was larger, and the three thousand guan were apportioned.
Waiting households also need to make a symbolic contribution.
Before all the apportioned money was collected, Ju Ming used all the thousand gu left by Huang Qianshan to buy paper, clothing and grain, and requisitioned small and medium-sized merchant ships to transport them to the mountains.
In the Song Dynasty, the cotton planting area was not extensive. The rich naturally had all kinds of cold-proof clothing, while the poor could only wear paper clothes to survive the winter.
There are two types of paper clothes. One is made of bark paper, which is relatively more expensive. The other is made by beating paper bark directly. The texture is very close to paper, and it is actually a bark coat.
It's lightweight, windproof, thick and durable, and keeps warm thanks to being airtight.
Even the lower class scholars relied on paper clothes and quilts to survive the winter.
Fatty Zheng followed Ju Ming into the mountains, and was accompanied by his brother-in-law Li Zhifang.
The Li family was very active in this, because a large number of rebels fled into the mountains, and some of them took refuge with Gong Xiu, the big tiger.
Gong Xiu occupied the abandoned gold mine. According to the laws of the Song Dynasty, 20% of the gold, silver and copper mined by private parties must first be used to pay taxes, and the remaining 80% must be sold to the government. However, the government purchase price was too low, and Gong Xiu was
Sold privately to the Li family, the Li family took control of the waste gold mine in disguise.
Now that the rebels have taken refuge in Gong Xiu, Gong Xiu's strength has greatly increased, which is not conducive to the control of the Li family.
"Gong Xiu's cottage is right in front." Li Zhifang pointed.
Ju Ming asked the fleet to dock at the foot of the mountain, moved some paper clothes and food ashore, and then the fleet and officers withdrew five miles away.
This move showed goodwill and immediately won Gong Xiu's favor.
Gong Xiu personally went down the mountain to negotiate and asked Li Zhifang: "Who is this noble person visiting?"
Li Zhifang said: "The son of Duke Yuanzhang, Jinke Tanhualang, the magistrate of Jinzhou, Zhu Tao Ming Zhu Xianggong!"
Gong Xiu was in awe: "It turns out to be Mr. Zhu. I also grow corn and sweet potatoes in this mountain. I finally have no shortage of food this year."
Zhu Ming smiled and asked, "Don't you invite me to sit in the village?"
"Please." Gong Xiu said with cupped hands.
This place is not as steep as Heifeng Village, and there is little flat farmland at the foot of the mountain. It relies entirely on barren mountainous land to grow food, and corn and sweet potatoes are of great use here.
There are traces of mining everywhere in several nearby mountains.
Some mines, even dating back to the Han and Tang dynasties, have been covered by vegetation.
Gong Xiu was not tall, but his body was extremely strong, and his weapon was a wrought iron rod.
As Zhu Ming slowly climbed the mountain, he said in a casual tone: "Does the owner of Gongzhai know that gold mining requires a 20% tax, and the remaining gold can only be sold to the government?"
Gong Xiu sneered: "The purchase price of the government was set a hundred years ago. The upper-grade gold is 5,000 wen per tael and the second-grade gold is 4,500 wen per tael. I am a fool who would sell it to the government. Although Zhu Xianggong is an official
, but I respect your father and son's benevolence and righteousness. Since you are the governor of Jinzhou, please don't interfere with the affairs of Yangzhou."
The government's gold purchase price is only one-sixth of the market price.
Ju Ming added: "If you privately accept the rebels, it is also an act of beheading."
Gong Xiu stood on the hillside, turned around and said, "Xiangong Zhu will make it clear when he has something to do. There is no need to talk too much to scare me."
"Speak quickly, you must be a good man," Zhu Ming stopped beating around the bush, "I don't bother to take care of the rogues who have defected to you. But your cultivated land here is limited, so you certainly can't accept too many. Many rogues must have gone into the mountains."
"You send someone to tell them that I, Ju Ming, will guarantee that the government will not pursue any further investigation, but they must go to the lower reaches of Daming Village to open up wasteland and settle down. The gold diggers in Huanghuangxia also sold their gold to you. You send someone to send a message to those gold diggers.
, let them go to the mountains and deep valleys in Huanghuang Gorge and tell the rebellious people what they just said."
"As long as they go out of the mountain and pass the Golden Gorge Plank Road, there will be a boat waiting on the shore every day. If they go to Daming Village, each person will be given a piece of paper clothing and three measures of food. Next spring, they will also be loaned seeds and rented
Give them cattle for farming, and you don’t have to pay taxes for the first three years of land reclamation.”
"I brought some small gifts to Master Gong today, fifty pieces of paper clothes and thirty stones of food."
After hearing this, Gong Xiu was silent for a moment and said with emotion: "Xianggong Zhu is indeed kind and righteous, and he can save countless lives. Fortunately, it didn't snow this year, otherwise most of the people who fled into the mountains would have froze to death. I agreed to help, and it counts.
You have accumulated virtue and done good deeds.”
Li Zhifang was a little anxious. The Li family was afraid that Gong Xiu would become bigger, and their original intention was to let Ju Ming claim the rebels who had taken refuge here.
Unexpectedly, Ju Ming did not mention this issue at all.
Ju Ming continued: "If those rioters have wives and children at home, they can be picked up and reunited next year."
Gong Xiu joked: "With such a good thing, I want to go to Daming Village. Although my village is poor, there are several jars of fine wine. I will have a good drink with Mr. Zhu today."
"I won't go up the mountain anymore. I have to rush back to the village. There will be many opportunities to drink in the future." Zhu Ming's purpose of this trip has been achieved.
Gong Xiu called some of his men to carry back the paper clothes and grains given by Ju Ming, and immediately sent people to spread the word.
Zhu Ming took the remaining paper clothes and food, took a boat out of the mountains, and went south along the Golden Gorge.
Gong Xiu stood on the shore and shouted: "Xiangong Zhu comes to the village to have a drink when he is free!"
He was completely impressed by Ju Ming. Putting aside other factors, the fact that Ju Ming, as the magistrate of the state, did not put on any airs and was willing to surrender to a gangster was enough to flatter Gong Xiu.
For example, you are engaged in illegal industry in a poor mountain ravine, and suddenly a mayor comes to you. Not only does he make friends with you, he also takes the initiative to give you gifts. How do you feel?
There is also an official ship parked by the Han River, and Zheng Yuanyi and others are on the ship.
After reuniting, Ju Ming said goodbye to Fatty Zheng: "I'll leave it to my brother-in-law to deal with Yangzhou."
Zheng Hong patted his chest and said, "Put it on me!"
Zheng Hong's task was to use the money allocated by wealthy households to buy paper clothes and food and transport them to the place where the rebels were received.
Watching the fleet leave, Li Zhifang said depressedly: "I came here in vain. From now on, if Gong Xiu gets bigger, I'm afraid he will drive up the gold price again."
Zheng Hong said: "You have already lowered the price harshly. It is reasonable for him to raise the price. If you lower the price like that, sooner or later someone will take away your business. How many people are watching the gold trade."
Li Zhifang was speechless. Gold trading was indeed very profitable, but buying gold illegally was a serious crime, and the government spent a lot of money every year. His Li family's business was not as profitable as others thought.
Ju Ming passed the Golden Gorge and found a place with slow water, leaving the fleet and supplies there. Bai Sheng stayed behind to take in the troubled people, and officials sent by the government came to assist.
That night, dozens of rioters came to seek refuge.
They were hungry and cold in the mountains, and some people had already died of hunger and cold, but they would not miss it if they saw some hope.
Bai Sheng first made the rebels wear paper clothes, and then distributed food to them. He collected a boatload and transported it back to Daming Village.
But when Fatty Zheng returned home, his grandfather Zheng Lan asked him: "Has success come?"
Zheng Hong said: "Go back to Daming Village."
"Why don't you keep him for a few more days? He must be treated well." Zheng Lan scolded.
Fatty Zheng smiled and said: "He is a busy man, I will just go there again during the Chinese New Year."
Zheng Lan stroked his beard and said: "The imperial officials are so busy, please bring more etiquette with you."
Zheng Lan made a lot of money by giving her granddaughter to Ju Ming as a concubine.
Officials at the state and county levels all looked at him differently. The gentry and merchants in and outside the city were also more enthusiastic than before. Even the common people's perception of the Zheng family had changed.
Even Huang Qianshan's random taxation this time did not force the Zheng family too hard.
In the evening, Ju Ming landed at Shangbai Village.
He led his entourage straight to Lao Bai's maternal home. On the way, he met someone holding a bowl and eating in the yard. Ju Ming smiled and said hello: "It's cold weather. Uncle Bai isn't eating in the house?"
The man was stunned for a moment, then said happily: "Zhu Xiu... Mr. Zhu is here!"
People in the room ran out one after another and gathered around Ju Ming, as if they wanted to gain some official aura, but were afraid of the official power and did not dare to get too close.
"Xianggong Zhu has returned to his hometown!" The villagers next door also came out, and soon someone shouted at the top of their lungs.
Wealth that does not return to its hometown is like walking in brocade at night.
Although this is not Ju Ming's hometown, he also experiences these feelings.
More and more villagers came after hearing the news, and even the children jumped up and down to clear the way for Ju Ming.
The Zhu family and his son have become legends in the village, and the rumors are getting more and more evil. Whenever a woman returns to her natal family, she is asked about the father and son. Those strange stories spread to other villages, and gradually spread to the county, prefecture, and other villages.
city.
Some villagers even said that when they first met the Zhu family and his son, they noticed a red light on their bodies.
Some villagers said that they witnessed Zhu Guoxiang using magic to turn a barren mountain land into a field, and the crops in the field could have a good harvest without fertilizing.
This is somewhat related to the conquest of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty. Anyone who gets involved with the emperor will always become bizarre. If Zhu Guoxiang does not know the magic of immortality, how can he get the respect of the emperor?
Combined with the promotion of corn and sweet potatoes, the dissemination of Zhu Guoxiang's agricultural books, and the fact that Zhu Ming passed the imperial examination in one fell swoop, many people have become convinced of such messy stories.
Grandma Yan has moved to the riverside, and it is very convenient to take a boat back to Shangbai Village. When she goes to Baishitou to go to the market, she often goes back to the village to sit and chat with the old sisters she knew before.
Every time I come back, I am greeted by stars.
Even the eldest girl and the daughter-in-law sat around with needles and threads, asking for gossip around Grandma Yan. They flattered Grandma Yan the whole time, making Grandma Yan smile from ear to ear.
"Meet Mr. Zhu!" Bai Dalang came to greet him with his servants.
Zhu Ming handed over the letter from home: "This is what Sanlang asked me to bring back."
Bai Chongwen held it with both hands: "How is my third brother in the capital?"
Ju Ming smiled and said: "It's still the same as before. He's humble, has intrigues, and is not very happy as an official. My father is often in front of officials. I will find an opportunity next year to recommend Sanlang to be an official."
Bai Chongwen immediately became more respectful, bowed forward and said: "We all have to rely on the kind words of Mr. Zhu. The last time my third brother wrote to me, he said that he had not passed the examination, and it was only because of Mr. Zhu's recommendation that he got the job."
"Brothers, you should help each other. Don't be too outspoken." Zhu Ming said.
Bai Chongwen said: "Zhu Xianggong still misses the past, and I am very happy in my heart."
Halfway through, Old Bai also arrived. He asked his servant to carry him on his back. He tremblingly landed on the ground and bowed: "The common people pay homage to Mr. Zhu!"
Once you become a high official, everything is different.
