After Sha Shiqing left, Zhou Jun waved to Zhou Shang, who was standing at the end of the table.
The latter took two steps closer and saluted the emperor.
Zhou Jun: "I know everything about Puzhou's flood control. Your method of borrowing money from commercial banks with the government as guarantee is quite novel."
Zhou Shang lowered his head and said: "I dare not hide it from the emperor. This method was not invented by me, but was told to me by others."
Zhou Jun: "Oh? Who told you?"
Zhou Shang: "Lu Ensheng, the minister of the Municipal Maritime Department."
Zhou Jun: "Lu Ensheng? Is that the one who came from Anxi Trading Company and was Kang Kejing's deputy?"
Zhou Shang: "Yes."
Zhou Jun nodded slightly. He was originally surprised that Zhou Shang was not outstanding in managing the economy. It was not like he could come up with such a method of local government loaning money.
Thinking of this, Zhou Jun nodded and said: "You are honest. You could have taken the credit for yourself, but you still told the truth."
Zhou Shang: "It is not the behavior of a gentleman to covet the merits of others. A minister who is self-conscious and stupid can make up for his weakness with diligence."
Zhou Jun glanced at Zhou Shang and said, "It seems like you have a good personal relationship with Mr. Lu, otherwise he wouldn't be able to give you this method."
week
.”
Zhou Jun: "How was it discussed?"
weeks
Shang Shu asked for the opening of warehouses for disaster relief. However, if the flood really came, it would be too late for the state capital to go to Shang Shu at this time. At that time, the roads were washed away and the county lost contact. Even if the court put down money and food for disaster relief, the government arrived
When it comes to Puzhou Prefecture, it will be at least a month later, and it is simply impossible to send it to the disaster area in time."
After Zhou Jun listened, he nodded slightly.
Zhou Shang: "So, I discussed with Minister Lu that instead of waiting for the court to agree to provide disaster relief before releasing money and food, we should contact the people first to find out how to save themselves. So the state government acted as a guarantee and asked merchants to release food. This is how it was done
It’s been worked out.”
Having said this, Zhou Shang raised his hand and suggested: "Your Majesty, the method of government guarantee may be implemented nationwide. In this way, if there is a disaster in the country in the future, the affected people can receive timely assistance."
Zhou Jun shook his head and said: "It can't be implemented yet."
Zhou Shang was stunned.
Zhou Jun: "The government acts as a guarantee and commercial banks release grain. To implement this method, a prerequisite must be met, that is, private commercial banks must be able to ensure that the money and grain they release will be recovered on time and in quantity in the future. The people of Puzhou trust
Government, but can you guarantee that people in other states and counties also trust their officials?"
Zhou Shang fell into silence.
Zhou Jun waved his hand: "Okay, since you have come to Chang'an and are the young Yin of Jingzhao Prefecture, you will concentrate on your work from now on. In addition to the daily management of Chang'an, your main job is to serve as an elected representative with
The contact person between the imperial officials... the person just now, named Sha Shiqing, is the chairman of the elected representatives of Chang'an. You will have more dealings with him in the future."
Zhou Shang raised his hand and said yes.
Zhou Jun glanced at Zhou Xiao next to him, and then said: "You and the prince were study partners in the past, and later served in Chang'an. You two, please remember to move around more."
Zhou Shang first responded and then saluted the prince.
Zhou Xiao stood still, looking at his childhood playmate with a complicated expression, and finally just nodded lightly.
After coming out of the imperial city, Zhou Shang breathed a long sigh of relief.
When he was in Anbei, Zhou Shang would often listen to his father mention this former "Tuesu Lang".
His father Zhou Ze mentioned Zhou Zhoulang with words of respect, such as wise and decisive, knowing things like a god, knowing people and making good use of them, etc. Zhou Shang did not know how many times he had heard them.
After Zhou Shangqian became the Shaoyin of Jingzhao Prefecture, Zhou Ze once said to Zhou Shang - When you are undecided, use the imperial edict as your ruler. Do whatever His Majesty wants you to do, and you must not disobey.
Zhou Shang was thinking this when a person suddenly walked up the long street.
Glancing at that person, Zhou Shang couldn't help but stop and immediately recognized the other person's identity. That person was Speaker Sha Shiqing.
Sha Shiqing looked at Zhou Shang, grinned, and said, "If Zhou Shaoyin is free and Sha is the host, why don't we have a drink together?"
Remembering the emperor's instructions when parting, Zhou Shang nodded and agreed to the invitation.
After getting on Sha Shiqing's carriage, Zhou Shang saw that the decoration inside the carriage was completely different from that of ordinary people. There were swords, shields, and even a hunting bow hanging above the back seat of the carriage.
Sha Shiqing followed Zhou Shang's line of sight and said with a smile: "Sha comes from the military and always brings some guys with him. It's an old habit."
Zhou Shang turned away his eyes, nodded slightly, and said no more.
Arriving at a wine shop in Xingyefang, Sha Shiqing didn't wait for the carriage to stop, jumped down first, and walked straight into the door.
When Zhou Shang was hesitating, a group of people in different costumes walked out of the wine shop and walked toward the carriage.
Sha Shiqing led the group of people to Zhou Shang and said: "These people are elected representatives of the people who came to the court to listen to the meeting. Let's come together to welcome Zhou Shaoyin."
Zhou Shang followed this group of people to the small courtyard of the wine shop.
Looking at the banquet that had been set up in the middle of the courtyard, Zhou Shang began to have some doubts. Perhaps today's party had been planned a long time ago.
Sha Shiqing first waved his hand to clear out the ladies in the wine shop, then raised his glass and said to Zhou Shang: "Let's toast Zhou Shaoyin with this glass."
Zhou Shang first humbled himself, then drank the wine in the cup and began to wait for these people to tell their intentions.
Sha Shiqing: "Your Majesty has allowed people to enter the court to listen to discussions for several months. When we first came here, we made a lot of jokes. For example, we walked into the wrong palace gate, didn't understand etiquette, and didn't even know the format for writing official documents from the court.
How to start."
After hearing Sha Shiqing mention these things, the representatives sitting in the seats laughed and said many embarrassing things, all making fun of each other.
Sha Shiqing: "In the past few months, we people have learned a lot from the court meetings. Now, both etiquette and official documents have improved, and we have never made any more jokes. However, as we listen to more meetings,
From the officials, more and more problems will be discovered."
Zhou Shang couldn't help but ask: "What's the problem?"
Sha Shiqing: "Many officials appear to be busy with government affairs, but in fact they are doing it for their own benefit."
Zhou Shang: "Private business? How to do it privately?"
Sha Shiqing: "For example, the imperial court formulates a budget every year. When officials formulate budget plans, they often form groups to fight for the interests of the families behind them; another example is the imperial examination and the exile, there are civil and military officials and government staff.
, officials have formed interests with each other due to relationships such as township party, same family, clan kinship, marriage, etc., excluding civilian talents. "
When Zhou Shang heard this, he said angrily: "Your Majesty has repeatedly issued orders not to regard himself as a nobleman or to form cliques for personal gain. Don't these officials know this?!"
Sha Shiqing: "To be disrespectful, Mr. Sha, in this day and age, old clans are being eliminated and new clans will emerge. How can we stop it... But budget, imperial examinations, leakage of government officials, etc. are still trivial matters.
, there is a bigger trouble for the people right now."