After Lin Mengde left, Lin Fu and Zhou Pu went down to the river beach, stepped on the pebbles, and walked to the edge of the river where they had chosen to build a warehouse and dock. They pushed aside the guard soldiers to guard; after a while,
Lin Jingzhong led Cao Ziang, Hu Qiaozhong and two muscular men in ragged clothes with straw ropes tied around their waists to the river beach below.
"Mr. Lin, these two are the Ge Cunxin and Ge Cunxiong brothers I mentioned to Mr. Lin a few days ago. Their real names are rarely known to outsiders. Others call them Bailang Loach, also known as Big Loach Master and Little Loach Master. They are very famous.
They were supported by the fishermen, but hated by the government. Most of the thirty men who were arranged to enter Jiyun Society were brothers of Big Loach and Little Loach..." Cao Zi'ang introduced.
"What Bailang Loach? It's just a loach fish in the mud. It can't survive on the Huaihe River. Cunxin, Cunxiong, please ask Mr. Tan to take him in." The Ge brothers clasped their fists and saluted Lin Fu.
Lin Fu was slightly startled, and then he immediately figured it out. The Ge brothers only thought that Lin Fu was his pseudonym and Tan Zong, the East China Sea Fox, was his true identity. He cupped his fists and saluted the Ge brothers: "You're welcome, nothing more.
We are just miserable brothers hanging out together, so you should call me Lin Fu in Jiangning..."
"Master Cao has already ordered us to call Master Tan Master Lin in Jiangning," Ge Cunxin said.
"Haha, it's just a title..." Lin Fu smiled and stood by the river beach to discuss how many of the Ge brothers' brothers should be incorporated into the Jiyun Society, how many guards should be incorporated into the fleet, and how many sailors were suitable. In the end, he had to ensure that
Cao Ziang and the Ge brothers can completely control a three-masted, thousand-stone ship.
Ge Cunxin, the big loach master, is in his early forties. He is tossed in the wind and waves all day long. His face is dark and rough, and his beard is thorny. They abandoned the ship and followed the tide of refugees and took the overland route. Their chins are thin and pointed, but they look very handsome when they stand there.
Strong and strong, with piercing eyes, his impression is that he is suitable to be the leader of a merchant ship guard; the little Loach Master Ge Cunxiong is only in his early thirties. In addition to having a similar face to his elder brother, his image is more similar and he can be a merchant ship together with Cao Ziang.
Stewardship.
In fact, the little Loach Master Ge Cunxiong really studied in the county for several years. The Ge family in Xuchang Prefecture on Huaishang is classified as a "rich and powerful family". Although they are civilians, they are fishermen in the Nanru River Basin.
He had great influence in the Central Government. After Xuchang Prefecture set up the Hebo Office and started to collect river donations, Ge Cunxiong, as a descendant of the Ge family who had attended the county school, was appointed as the Hebo Office. Since the war on the northern front became tense, the She family raised troops in the southeast again.
Due to the provocation, the taxation of people in the central and western regions has become more and more serious. Xuchang Mansion's river tax has been increased from the initial two hundred yuan per fishing boat to six hundred yuan. In addition to the river tax, a fish tax has also been levied. The fishermen are struggling to survive, and they are in conflict with the government.
The conflict was acute. The Ge family decisively sided with the fishermen, so Ge Cunxiong abandoned his official position and secretly organized fishermen to steal fish and resist donations with his brother Ge Cunxin and other Ge family children.
After the bandit Chen Hansan returned to the government, the power of the anti-theft camp in Xuchang Prefecture increased greatly, and the Ge family suffered a great blow. Two of Ge Cunxin's three sons were hanged by the anti-theft camp, and Ge Cunxiong's wife was also killed.
Zhu died before the official office.
This time Cao Ziang returned to the Huaihe River to recruit people. In addition to the Ge brothers who took nearly thirty people directly to Jiangning to join the Jiyun Society, Ge Cunxin's eldest son Ge Changgen led the fishermen and their families and took three to four hundred people out to sea along the Huaihe River in batches.
Changshan Island.
"People are coming to the island one after another, and Changshan Island will soon exceed a thousand people. Just unilaterally importing materials from Jiangning to Changshan Island will consume too much. On the one hand, the uneven accounting will easily arouse others' suspicion.
, On the other hand, Jiyun Society must operate for a long time in order to be the backing of Changshan Island for a long time." Cao Ziang frowned slightly and said with worry on his face, "I have been thinking about this matter these days.
What supplies should be transported from Shandao to Jiangning to maintain balance..."
"Make a cabin and bring salt over!" Lin Fu said.
"Private salt?" Cao Ziang asked with a brow, "Isn't it too risky?"
In this dynasty, salt, iron, tea horses and other goods were exclusively sold by the government. Salt merchants paid 3,000 yuan of copper to the salt and iron envoys to receive a salt coupon, which could be used to receive 200 jins of salt from the salt farm. This meant that production and marketing costs were not calculated, and only direct
The salt tax paid to the Salt and Iron Commissioner Yamen amounted to fifteen yuan per catty of salt, which eventually brought the price of salt in Jiangning and other places to a level equivalent to that of meat and oil.
Although the current criminal law of the dynasty is that selling thirty kilograms of smuggled salt can be punished on the spot, such huge profits lure smuggled salt dealers. There are even wealthy families in Huai'an Prefecture and other places who have been selling smuggled salt for generations. Qin Chengzu and others rescued Cao Ziang in Qingjiangpu.
When the Fourth Lady was a child, she received some assistance from local private salt dealers. It was not difficult for Qin Chengzu and others to obtain private salt, and they could even organize people to cook sea salt on Changshan Island.
It is not a problem to obtain private salt or even smuggle it to Jiangning, but it is extremely difficult to secretly market private salt in Jiangning. Jiyun Society does not have this foundation at all, and it is too risky to cooperate with other private salt dealers.
"Every day on the prison island, ten prisoners are forced to use simple tools such as net bags and fishing poles to catch three to four hundred fish every day. If more people are added to pull the nets with fishing boats, or even directly purchase fresh fish from nearby fishermen, Mr. Cao said the prison
How many pounds of fish can the island use to make pickled fish every day?" Lin Fu asked with a smile.
"Wonderful, what a clever plan. I have spent all my brains these days, but it is not as good as Mr. Lin's plan to hide the truth..." Cao Zi'ang gave Lin Fu a clear explanation and shouted at the top of his voice, "One pound of pickled fish consumes two pounds of salt."
Two, two thousand kilograms of fresh fish are marinated every day, which requires four hundred kilograms of salt. Even if one hundred kilograms of official salt is purchased to cover up people's eyes, three hundred kilograms of private salt can be mixed in, and tens of thousands of kilograms of private salt can be mixed in a month..."
The Ge brothers listened with bright eyes. When Cao Ziang asked them to join the group, they brought a letter from Qin Chengzu. The letter said that Donghai Fox had great strategies and unparalleled talents. They had doubts in their hearts. At this time, Lin Fu casually said
The ingenious idea of using pickled fish to hide and sell private salt thought Qin Chengzu might not be bragging. They heard from Cao Ziang that the situation on Prison Island and Jiyunshe was that salt transportation, fishing, pickling and transportation and marketing were separated.
, how could outsiders see that they were doing something in the pickled fish?
"If Changshan Island can transport one hundred rock salt every month, we can almost balance the accounts," Lin Fu said with a smile. He also tried his best to think about these things. Changshan Island maintains a scale of more than a thousand people.
To ensure sufficient combat power, we must have sufficient material support. Otherwise, no matter how talented Qin Chengzu and others are in training and leading troops, they will not be able to make hungry soldiers like tigers. Lin Fu added, "In addition to pickling fish, there are many places
Using salt means feeding pigs on the island. A pound of salt must be added to a hundred pounds of grass to make the pigs grow faster. However, this official salt is too expensive. Not only people can't afford it, but pigs can't afford it either.
…”
Lin Fu's words about pickling fish and raising pigs were in line with the brothers' temperament, and they all laughed after hearing this.
Lin Fu asked Cao Zi'ang again: "Where are my sister-in-law and nephew Wenlong?"
Lin Fu will purchase a thousand-stone ship in the name of Jiyun Society and give Cao Ziang full responsibility. At least in name, Cao Ziang is the most important person in Jiyun Society. If other forces want to explore the foundation of Jiyun Society, they will basically trace Jiyun
If Cao Zi'ang, an important figure in the society, was alone, no matter how perfect the Yapai household registration was, it would still arouse suspicion. That's why he specially brought his wife from Changshan Island to hide his identity.
"On the shore, we are still hanging out with the refugees seeking labor for the time being. Your sister-in-law and I are used to hardship, so the conditions here are considered good." Cao Ziang said.
Lin Fu didn't go there for the time being and went to make special arrangements for Cao Ziang's wife and son. After they discussed the matter, they found a gentler place to go up the river embankment. These people who wanted to recruit more workers and displaced people must choose some people first.
Only by being a leader can you organize so many people in an orderly manner, so when Lin Fu, Lieutenant General Lin Jing, Cao Zi'ang, the Ge brothers and others called over to talk, others would not feel anything unusual.
After coming up, Cao Zi'ang and the Ge brothers dispersed among the refugees who were recruiting workers.
At this time, the river bank was crowded with refugees seeking labor. Some families of the refugees who had worked hard all the way were sitting on the ground to rest, but more people were seizing the time to build a few more shacks that could protect them from wind and rain. A little further away, some people were digging in the ground.
Bricks and stones were built for the stove, and an iron pot was set up to heat hot water. Some people took buckets to the river to draw water and wash rice for cooking.
In order to prepare for the arrival of these people, Lin Fu, with the help of Lin Mengde, prepared a large amount of supplies and tools at the mouth of the river. At this time, Qian Xiaowu organized people to put up two flagpoles, pulled the ropes, and waited for dark
Just light the wind lantern and hang it up. The weather is better today, but no one knows whether it will rain tomorrow. The weather has not warmed up yet. If it rains, there will be no shelter from the rain, and the situation will become serious.
, we still have to rush into the night to build the shack, and we can’t stop for a moment.
************
Although he knew that the affairs at the mouth of the river were very complicated, after dark, Lin Fu still handed over the river mouth to Lin Jingzhong. He and Zhou Pu returned to the prison island. Fortunately, Cao Ziang, the Ge brothers and others were officially selected as the leaders of the refugee workers.
Helping Lin Jingzhong made people feel a little more at ease.
Back on Prison Island, there were many things waiting to be dealt with. When Lin Fu and Zhou Pu returned to the house and were about to have dinner, Yang Shi pulled Zhao Hu over to report the matter to him.
Yang Shi came here to complain. The soldiers had to practice every day, be on duty, and go out to supervise the prisoners for labor. It was extremely hard. The food rations given to the soldiers before could no longer meet their daily consumption. Because this group of soldiers had to
He was newly transferred to the island, and he was a little resentful, but not serious. However, Yang Shi knew the hard work and knew that it would not work in the long run. These soldiers were so thin that they had sharp mouths and monkey cheeks. How could they become elites?
Master Lin Fu is the highest officer on Prison Island. He can only come to Lin Fu to help him increase the food supply for the soldiers.
Zhao Hu didn't say a word when he came to Yang Shi. After listening to Yang Shi's complaint, Lin Fu asked: "Is the Wushu Academy having a meal at the moment?"
"It hasn't started yet, why don't you go and see for yourself?" Yang Shi said.
"Okay," the guard at Lin Fu's gate called in, pointed to a table of dishes that he and Zhou Pu had not yet used their chopsticks on, and said, "Take these dishes to the military guards' courtyard. I will be with the guards guard tonight.
Dine!”
Lin Fu and Zhou Pu's dinner in the evening was not a luxury. It only had three dishes and a basin of soup, but there was a plate of braised fish and a bowl of braised pork. It was considered very rich. Yang Shi thought to himself, apart from the soldiers on duty,
There were forty soldiers in the military prison preparing to have a meal, and none of them could get a piece of meat. He wanted to see Lin Fu preparing to have a meal with the guards...
After entering the martial arts academy without entering the dining room, Lin Fu stood outside the door and heard the soldiers inside complaining about the lack of food and water and the lack of food to satisfy their hunger. They were all quasi-elites selected because of their tall stature, strong bodies, and large appetites.
It is inherently bigger than ordinary people, not to mention that the training intensity is so intense and you have to be on duty and supervise every day.
"There are many factors in the way of a good soldier. One of them is not to let the soldiers go hungry." Lin Fu talked to Yang Shi and Zhao Hu, and asked the guard soldiers to bring the dishes in first. "They all talk about how to be good at strategy as a general."
, I looked through the notes of my predecessors, and I found out the fact that what those famous generals and marshals did the most was to solve the problem of keeping the soldiers full."
Hearing that Lin Fu ran to the Military Academy, thinking that something was going on, Changsun Geng also ran over.
When they saw someone bringing the food in, the soldiers inside knew that the chief was standing outside the door, and there was a sudden silence. The sound of a needle dropping could be heard.
"The rigorous training these days has paid off." Lin Fu smiled and talked to Yang Shi, Chang Sun Geng and others before pushing the door open and walking in.
There were ten large square tables, and forty warriors surrounded five of them. There was another table where Yang Shi and Zhao Hu were sitting. The four kinds of soups that Lin Fu ordered to be served were placed on this table.
Lin Fu came over and sat down facing the soldiers. Yang Shi stood at the door and gave a strong instruction: "Master Lin is sympathetic to your training and hard work in supervision, and I have come to have dinner with you all——Master Xie Lin
Be considerate!”
"Lord Xie Lin, you are sympathetic!" all the soldiers said in unison.
"What's so considerate or not? I didn't let you all have enough food to practice and watch your duty. If you didn't scold me behind your back, you're being very polite to Mr. Lin." Lin Fu's rough words made all the soldiers look confused.
Relaxed, Lin Fu pointed to the empty seats in front of the table and said to Yang Shi and Zhao Hu, "Only this table has richer food, but it can't accommodate all the people. Each of you recommends three people who train on weekdays to be the hardest martial artists."
"Sit down here..." Then he pointed to the seat next to him and said to Changsun Geng, "Changsun Secretary, you also come to dine with us, Yang Dianwei and Zhao Hu are waiting first."
Changsun Geng sat over as Lin Fu said, thinking that Lin Fu had some details to make these soldiers realize that Zhao Hu and Yang Shi had equal status on Prison Island.
Lin Fu added: "I will establish two new rules today. As long as I am on the island, there is no need to prepare meals for me alone. I will come and eat with everyone. The other one is that all military attaches must have meals before all the soldiers have done so."
After dinner, if all the soldiers are hungry, there is no reason to let the military attaches have enough to eat - what do you think?"
"I obey your orders," Yang Shi and Zhao Hu said loudly. Yang Shi himself had the dream of becoming a famous general and was very energetic. It was not difficult for him to accept what Lin Fu said. Zhao Hu was even more indifferent and said
To be honest, he was not used to military attachés openly eating small dishes in front of other soldiers.
Yang Shi and Zhao Hu each selected three soldiers from the soldiers they led for daily operations. The soldiers who were on duty came out to have dinner with Lin Fu and Changsun Geng.
Lin Fu picked up a piece of braised pork from the bowl and didn't rush to put it into his mouth. He just put it in front of him and stared at it for a while, then said leisurely: "As the saying goes, the emperor is not afraid of hungry soldiers. Secretary Changsun, such a small piece
We must ensure that the soldiers can eat three pieces of meat in both meals. Each table must have a fish, double the cooking oil, and enough white rice. Practice twice in the morning and evening, and use steamed buns, flower rolls or meat buns as extra meals.
Can it be done?”
Changsun Geng threw down his bowls and chopsticks and wanted to go out. When he was not in the family, he didn't know how expensive oil and salt were. Prisoners allocate prison food, officers allocate work and food money, and soldiers allocate salary, silver and food. There are quotas, and there are additional allowances in addition to the quotas. This is Jiangdao.
The prison's deficit. After Zhou Shide was arrested, Chang Sun Geng was the only scribe left in the prison. The matter was ultimately decided by Lin Fu, but the prison accounts gave Chang Sun Geng a headache.
The food and vegetable standards for military soldiers are already the same as those for ordinary officers. If we follow the standard of food and meat provided by Lin Fu, and apply to the superiors to relax the standard by twice, it may not be enough. Fish can be caught by prisoners.
, regardless of the cost, four ounces of meat is worth three pounds of rice. Obviously, it is impossible for the superiors to agree to relax even one inch, and the shortfall will be borne by the prison.
The shortfall caused by improving the lives of prisoners is actually limited. After all, making the prisoners work can more than make up for this shortfall. However, if the soldiers eat freely, it will be enough to make a big hole in Jiangdao Prison, not to mention that the soldiers have to gradually make up for it.
There are one hundred and fifty. Even if we only prepare four taels of meat, one kilogram of rice, and half a kilogram of noodles for the soldiers, after the soldiers are replenished, there will be a shortfall of almost one thousand taels of silver a year. The former prison chief
Ge Zuxin, Zhou Shide and others worked together to force the female prisoners to work as prostitutes in Quyang County, and they only made a fortune of more than a thousand taels of silver every year.
No matter how bitter Changsun Geng felt, all the soldiers jumped for joy and excited, shouting together: "Thank you for your sympathy!"
Changsun Geng originally thought that raising pigs outside the high wall was a dirty thing, but at this time he wanted to run outside and take a look. However, he also confirmed that Lin Fu was not a greedy person. If he really wanted to be greedy, he would hug him once a year.
One thousand taels of silver went into his pocket. One thousand taels of silver could buy more than a hundred acres of land in Moling County, which was equivalent to the property of a wealthy family. Lin Fu actually let the soldiers eat it without feeling any distress.
, he still has to do everything possible to think of ways to make up for this shortfall.