In the dead of night, when Sun Jingxuan and Hu Zhiyong arrived, Qin Chengzu and Lin Mengde went into the city with them and went to Xicheng Posthouse to meet Chen Huawen, Chen Mingzhe, Su Pinxiao and others.
"The Huaidong Army has been stationed in Shengsi, and Haiyu has been replenishing food and fodder for nearly two years." Chen Huawen complained first, "However, the situation in Haiyu in the past few years, you adults should also be able to see clearly from across the river. Today.
Compared with the past, the price of rice in Pingjiang has almost doubled; the price of raw silk has even dropped by more than double. This rise and fall can be said to be more damaging to everyone's vitality than the East China Sea bandit raid in the ninth year of Chongzhou
.In the past two years, I have also relied on my previous family resources to support me. If the world situation does not improve for a long time, I don’t know if it will last three to five years!"
Lin Mengde remembered a new word "economic crisis" that Lin Fu said on weekdays. The current economy is often interpreted as managing the world and benefiting the people. Lin Fu explained that this word is more simple, and economy is livelihood.
Most areas in Jiangdong County were not directly affected by the war, but the livelihoods of the vast majority of people in Jiangdong County were seriously affected by the war. Not only the general public, but also the powerful gentry were also greatly affected.
Lin Fu had long pointed out that there would be big problems in Pingjiang Mansion, and the current facts have only verified his prediction.
Although Pingjiang Prefecture has the most fertile land among the counties in the southeast, because the income from growing mulberry, cotton, and tea is much higher than growing grain, large areas of fertile grain fields in Pingjiang Prefecture have been converted into mulberry fields and tea gardens in the past hundred years.
Cotton fields.
Although Pingjiang Prefecture has become the richest in the world because of this, the reduction of grain fields requires a large amount of grain from other counties every year to meet normal needs.
The war caused the prices of many bulk commodities, including raw silk, to plummet, and the prices of rice, grain, ironware and other necessary supplies to skyrocket. Pingjiang Prefecture almost suffered a severe double blow. Chen Huawen said that this kind of blow was worse than the Donghai bandits' plundering in Chongzhou in the 9th year.
It's not an exaggeration to say it's serious.
Lin Mengde knew that Chen Huawen had other intentions when he proposed this. He glanced at Qin Chengzu and others, and still pretended to be confused and said: "My family has also noticed this phenomenon in Pingjiang Mansion. He once said that Pingjiang Mansion should be...
We should take the lead of prefectural and county officials and large gentry households to convert part of the mulberry and cotton fields into rice crops on a large scale, instead of just sitting there waiting for the world situation to improve!"
Chen Huawen thought secretly that what Lin Mengde said was undoubtedly a way to solve the problem, but he still hesitated in his heart. Who knows whether the world situation will improve in the past three to five years? What if the mulberry garden is converted into a grain field?
The situation is getting better again. If you want to change the grain fields into mulberry gardens, it will take a lot of effort. After doing this twice, the Chen family doesn't know how much vitality it will lose! The Chen family does not dare to take this risk easily.
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Let's talk about Pingjiang, Hailing and other cities. A large number of urban households rely on silk weaving and dyeing to make a living. Suddenly, mulberry gardens are converted into grain fields. These weavers and dyers have lost their livelihoods. It is really impossible to predict in advance whether they will get together and cause trouble.
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"As far as I know, the Huaidong Military Division built a silk factory in Chongcheng, recruited thousands of people, and purchased silkworm cocoons from traveling merchants in Chongzhou, Gaocheng, Xinghua, Hailing, Jianling and other places," Chen Huawen
Said, "Haiyu can directly supply part of the raw silk to Huaidong. I don't know what you think here?"
Chen Huawen made this request straight to the point, and Lin Mengde also found it difficult to handle; at this moment, there was the sound of horse hooves galloping outside.
Qin Chengzu and others sat upright and looked outside the door. Horse riding was strictly prohibited in the city unless it was for urgent military matters. Listening to the rapid sound of horse hooves would inevitably make people nervous.
"My lord is back!" Someone announced outside at this time.
"Can't we come back tomorrow and the day after tomorrow?" Lin Mengde and others muttered. They stopped outside the post house after hearing the sound of horse hooves. They knew that Lin Fu was coming straight here, busy with Chen Huawen, Chen Mingzhe, Su Pinxiao and others.
When I went out to greet him, I saw that Lin Bing was rushing back in a dusty state.
"Why did you come back so early today?" Lin Mengde walked over and asked.
"Is this General Pinxiao?" Lin Fu still held the riding whip in his hand and looked at Su Pinxiao who was standing next to Chen Huawen and asked. When he saw that he had recognized the wrong person, he explained why he rushed back at night, "Mr. Chen,
General Su and Ming Zhe are visiting Chongzhou, especially since General Su is coming back to Chongzhou for the first time. How can I dare to neglect it? Hecheng happened to send some good horses and they wanted to try their feet. We set off from Yanqing in the afternoon and went to Hecheng.
I took a break and came back now. These horses are not bad! I’ll go back tomorrow and lead two horses for each of you!"
No matter how true Lin Fu's words were, Chen Mingzhe was still very impressed by what he said. Su Pinxiao could not hide his excitement on his face.
Although Su Pinxiao was the leader of the Bai Nao Army and the deputy general of the Haiyu Army at this time, he was only a fisherman. This was because during the East China Sea bandits' plunder of Taihu Lake, he gathered the villagers to resist the most fiercely, gained the most, and was good at using troops.
Only then was he promoted to lead the Bai Nao Army.
Lin Fu washed his face and removed some of the dust on his face, came out to meet everyone again, sat at the center seat, and asked Lin Mengde: "What did you talk about?"
"We just came back from Crane City not long ago..." Lin Mengde briefly explained to Lin Fu what he had just talked about.
Lin Fu lowered his head and thought for a moment, then looked at Chen Huawen and said: "A gentleman treats others with sincerity. I can introduce you to the situation in Haidong. I also want to know from you how serious the situation in Pingjiang Mansion is.
?”
Chen Huawen and Chen Mingzhe's uncle and nephew looked at each other. Chen Huawen hesitated for a moment and said: "The situation in Hailing is better, but there was almost trouble in Pingjiang Mansion last month. Almost half of the people in Pingjiang Mansion depend on it.
During the meal, thousands of craftsmen communicated secretly, intending to call a break and blackmail the shop owner to increase wages. Fortunately, we got the news in time and arrested the leading ones. It won't be long before they are probably sentenced to prison in Chongzhou."
Lin Fu frowned, tilted his head and said to Qin Chengzu: "Everything has gone into a dead end and there is no way out."
Qin Chengzu sighed slightly and saw that Chen Huawen was puzzled and said: "In the past two years, among the prisoners received in Chongzhou Prison, there are more and more craftsmen who call for rest and make trouble because of their difficult livelihood. Master Chen said,
It just further confirms our speculation."
Not only the farmers who can't survive will raise the flag to rebel, but also the urban households who can't survive will also cause trouble.
"Calling for a break and making trouble" is actually the "strike" in later generations.
Although the world was still a farming society, an urban agglomeration that was rare in the world had already appeared between Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
Jiangning has 160,000 urban households, Weiyang has more than 80,000 urban households, Pingjiang and Hangzhou both have more than 40,000 urban households, and Haiyu County has more than 10,000 urban households.
Such a huge number of urban households is due to the fact that Jiangsu and Zhejiang are located in rich areas, with fields and people who hire people to farm, so they are accustomed to living in the city for enjoyment; on the other hand, Jiangsu and Zhejiang have developed handicraft industry and commodity economy, and a large number of urban households do not have to go to the fields.
By working hard, you can make a living by engaging in weaving and dyeing and other industries.
Chen Huawen said that half of the households in Pingjiang Prefecture relied on weaving and dyeing for their livelihood, which was not an exaggeration.
Commodity trade has suffered setbacks, while rice prices continue to rise. Workers in the handicraft industry have suffered the most, and it is difficult for most people to make ends meet.
If farmers cannot eat and have no way to survive, they will raise a flag to rebel. If these urban households have lost their livelihood, will they sit back and wait for death?
"The price of silk in Haidong is high, several times higher than that in Jiangdong. However, the amount Haidong can bear is very limited. It is saturated at about three to four thousand tons," Lin Fu said to Chen Huawen. "Pingjiang Prefecture can produce about
How much raw silk will be produced? Twenty thousand dan or 30,000 dan?"
"About 28,000 tons of silk are produced every year," Chen Huawen said.
Pingjiang Poplin Industry Guild Hall, the head of the Chen family, the raw silk production of Pingjiang House is a mystery to outsiders, but Chen Huawen knows it in his heart. The Pingjiang silk industry has been so bleak in the past two years, and there is no need to hide this figure from Lin Fu.
"It's about what I expected," Lin Fu said. "The amount from Hailing Prefecture plus Huai'an Prefecture is less than one-fifth of Pingjiang Prefecture. Pingjiang Prefecture's raw silk output is too high! I can eat it every year from Haiyu Prefecture."
Two thousand loads of raw silk is almost the limit of my ability. After all, I want to ensure that there will be no trouble in Hailing and Huai'an..."
Chen Huawen didn't dare to covet too much. Huaidong could help digest two thousand loads of raw silk, which would almost solve the Chen family's problems. At this time, everyone was clearing the door, and it was enough to solve the Chen family's problems.
Of course, he was more concerned about the price of raw silk offered by Huaidong, but he suddenly found it difficult to speak because Huaidong could obtain cheaper raw silk from other places.
Lin Fu saw the hesitation in Chen Huawen's eyes and said, "I won't give you too high a price for raw silk, but I won't treat the Chen family too badly. After all, the Chen family has helped Huaidong a lot in the past two years." Lin Fu asked sideways.
Mengde said, "Pingjiang Prefecture's high-ripening fields can produce three pounds of raw silk and three stones of japonica rice by planting mulberry and raising silkworms. How about we calculate the silk price for Haiyu based on one pound of silk and one stone of rice?"
"Okay!" Lin Mengde said.
Lin Fu asked Chen Huawen again, "Can Haiyu accept this price?"
Chen Huawen was not so greedy that Huaidong could directly allow the Chen family to send shipping silk to the sea. The price Lin Fu offered was actually 40 to 50% higher than the current market price. The key is that rising rice prices will be a major trend in the future. Lin Fu
By agreeing to use rice to fold silk, the Chen family would not have to worry about the price of silk falling due to rising rice prices, which was an even greater benefit.
"Haiyu is deeply grateful for the loyalty of the Zhizhi envoy." Chen Huawen said.
Lin Fu smiled and said: "Reciprocate kindness in return. Master Chen does not need to be polite."
Lin Mengde was secretly heartbroken. Huaidong could definitely obtain cheaper raw silk from the market. Even if Huaidong purchased cocoons and produced silk himself, it would only be half of the silk price given to the Chen family.
The price of silver is about to become unbalanced, and rice grains will become a new standard for measuring resource scarcity. Huaidong has just obtained a rice grain reserve of 300,000 shi from the feudal lord and Yudong Palace, and Lin Fu promised to take 200,000 shi a year.
Shi Mi purchased two thousand loads of raw silk from the Chen family, which made Lin Mengde not heartbroken!
However, when weighing the pros and cons, we cannot simply limit ourselves to monetary benefits. The Chen family and Haiyu's economic collapse will not be of any benefit to Huaidong!
Lin Fu first needs to support the Chen family and block Dong Yuan's tentacles from Pingjiang Mansion. He must help the Chen family tide over the difficulties and control the Haiyu army. He must also let non-Haiyu generals, including Su Pinxiao,
Able to unite around the Chen family.
If the Chen family relies entirely on Huaidong's support to barely control the Haiyu Army, it will undoubtedly mean that Huaidong has its lifeline in his hands, and will cooperate with Huaidong's actions in more aspects.
Chen Huawen, Chen Mingzhe and Chen Huazhang, the current head of the Chen family, all play a decisive role in the Wu Party. The Chen family's ability to continue to control the Haiyu Army is also the result of the weighing of the forces of the Wu Party.
Needless to say, there are past grievances. At this time, the Dongyang clique needs to join forces with the Wu Party to fight against the Ning Prince's family.
"In the past, our army could gain a firm foothold in Shengsi with the support of the Chen family and the Haiyu family," Lin Fu said. "Now that the military commander can get more food and salary from Hailing Mansion every year, Shengsi does not have to spend any more money."
The sea is in danger, but all the military officers and I will keep our previous help in mind..."
In the past, Haiyu and other counties asked Huaidong to protect their flanks, so they subsidized Huaidong's garrison on the Shengsi Islands in real terms every year. Now that Haiyu wants to increase its troops, its own money is also tight. After adding more troops, its own strength will be strengthened.
, there is no need for Huaidong to help protect the flanks.
Chen Huawen came here this time hoping to cancel the previous financial and food subsidies to the Shengsi defense line. However, it was difficult to ask, and he did not expect Lin Fu to take the initiative.
Even though they knew that Lin Fu was trying his best to repair the relationship between the Dongyang Clan and the Wu Party, but could do so easily, Chen Huawen and Chen Mingzhe's uncle and nephew still felt that Lin Fu was reasonable and far easier to deal with than Dong Yuan.
These two things set the tone, and the rest will be much easier.
On the basis of the Haiyu Township Camp, the Wu Party will transfer key personnel from the township camps in each county to form the Haiyu Army, including infantry and water camps. The establishment will be expanded to 20,000, but most of the soldiers and equipment will be maintained at the level of the township army.
need to be improved.
The continuous large-scale war has caused a serious shortage of ordnance and armor reserves in Jiangning City, and the production capacity of the ordnance workshops is limited. Nowadays, troops are being expanded everywhere. Before the Ning Palace and Yue Lengqiu restricted the Haiyu Army, it was too late.
How could it be possible to squeeze out as much of the already scarce soldiers and armor supplies for the Haiyu Army?
Prince Ning's Mansion and Yue Lengqiu would rather allocate more silver and let Haiyu's army raise it themselves.
Where can the Haiyu Army raise funds? Dong Yuan is still in short supply. Pingjiang Prefecture also smelt iron, and there are many blacksmiths. Making ordinary spears and arrow clusters is not a problem, but if you want to make sophisticated knives and armor, it is difficult to make them.
Not just anyone can do it.
The only option was to ask Huaidong for help.
Huaidong has won many great victories in recent years, most of which were near-annihilation victories. Such great victories can best capture soldiers and armor.
Huaidong's initial armor and weapons were almost all replenished through capture.
However, a careful calculation shows that Huaidong's first windfall was when he purchased a large number of soldiers and armor at a low price from the defeated army when he was in Jinan. As a result, before the battles in Yannan, the soldiers and armor of the Jiangdong Left Army reached the level of bows and arrows.
The crossbowmen abandon their longbows and use a powerful crossbow, and the swordsmen all wear heavy armor. Even the Jiangning workshop can only produce more than a hundred sets of fish scale armor a year, and Jiangdong Zuojun also has seventy or eighty sets!
As the scale of the Huaidong Army grew larger and larger, the armor and armor equipment could no longer rely entirely on capture. Lin Fu promoted the production of armor and armor very early. Today, the craftsmen in the workshops under the jurisdiction of the Ordnance Supervision Office of the Huaidong Army Division
The scale has reached more than 4,000 people.
In addition to iron materials, Huaidong also purchased a large amount of leather materials from the Haidong area to make light armor such as leather armor and composite armor.
Lin Fu had originally planned to sell soldiers and armor to the Haidong area to make up for the lack of expenditure. He could predict that the Haiyu Army would be Huaidong's ally for a long time, so he sold soldiers and armor to the Haiyu Army in a controlled manner.
Things planned.
Chen Huawen and others came over this time and made a list: 5,000 steel knives, steel guns, and steel spears each, and 5,000 bundles of arrows. The Haiyu Army mainly ensured the armor of the military attachés, and only needed to replenish 1,000 sets.
The Haiyu Army needed crossbows, but the production cycle of crossbows was longer. Huaidong also lacked the reserve of crossbows, and only provided them with 400 longbows and 400 arm-length crossbows.
Huaidong all settles at cost price plus twice the interest, which is much cheaper than the market price.
The Haiyu Army wants to form a water camp with considerable combat power based on the Bai Nao Army. The production of warships at the Guanyintan Shipyard under the jurisdiction of Huaidong has surpassed that of the Jiangning Ministry of Industry through poaching.
The Haiyu Army affiliated with Longjiang Shipyard also wanted to purchase a batch of warships from Huaidong.
Lin Fu was also worried that after the Haiyu Army's water camp's combat power was strengthened, they would come to compete with Huaidong for control of the Haidong trade route, and naturally they would not help them develop their far-sea combat power.
Lin Fu used the reason that Hecheng needed a large number of fishing boats to go out to sea to catch marine fish, so he only provided the Haiyu Army with three Jiyun-class warships. There was no restriction on small and medium-sized warships.
Hecheng Fishing Ground has been as famous as the offshore fishing ground of Mingzhou Prefecture since ancient times. However, since the East China Sea pirates became more powerful, Hecheng's fishing industry has been almost destroyed. Huaidong Military Division needs a lot of meat, and raising pigs and sheep takes up a lot of land.
Resources and a considerable amount of rice grains are consumed. It is an inevitable choice to use the resources of the Hecheng fishery and the Lianghuai salt area to develop the fishing industry.
Compared with providing so much help, Huaidong's request to Haiyujun was to ensure that coal, iron, wood, lime and other resources in the southwest of Taihu Lake could be transported to Chongzhou through Taihu Lake without hindrance.