Early the next morning, Yunxi had an audience with Xuanbai Wenxuan and asked him to contact the Li family. After all, Yunxi couldn't do such a thing personally, and the relatives and followers around him were not suitable for contact from the beginning; as for Jin Yiwei, Yunxi
He felt that it was better for them to just be an intelligence agency and not get too involved in other matters; and in Yunxi's view, Bai Wenxuan was an enlightened civil servant and a local magistrate, so it was reasonable to meet with the big merchants under his rule.
Yunxi gave Bai Wenxuan some key points and said to him: "We must tell them that the government will not deliberately get rid of them. If they are really worried, they can first use a small number of silk workshops to test..."
As expected, Bai Wenxuan agreed without any hesitation, although he seemed reluctant. But this is normal. Even a civil servant like Yang Zirong, who grew up in Yongjian, a city with a strong business atmosphere, although he does not reject business, still thinks that he has a higher status than a businessman.
First class, let alone ordinary literati.
But in the afternoon of the same day, Bai Wenxuan reported back: "Your Majesty, although the Li family is a little moved, after talking with me, they still don't want to make the first move, so they politely declined."
"The Li family said that if Suzhou Prefecture or Wuxian County wants to build any project and there is not enough money in the treasury or county treasury, they are willing to contribute some or two, but the rest will be waived."
Yunxi was quite sorry. The Li family is the merchant with the most industries and the most powerful power in Suzhou. It would be best if they are willing to cooperate: not only in industrial matters, the money and industry of merchants in this era are far inferior to those of Ming Dynasty in history.
Among similar people at the end of the period, the Li family was already the top businessman, so the Li family had considerable influence in the business circles of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and could play a very good role model and lead.
"It's a pity that there is nothing we can do now." Yunxi sighed secretly.
Yunxi could only initiate a preliminary plan: summon the Shang family. The Shang family specializes in tea and almost monopolizes the tea fields and preliminary processing of Suzhou Dongting tea (Biluochun). Dongting tea (Biluochun) is one of the most famous teas in the country (this
Yunnan's tea was not yet famous at that time), and in this era tea was a strategic material; the Shang family also had some reputation in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, so it could barely replace the Li family.
However, after being contacted by Jin Yiwei and interviewed by Bai Wenxuan in person, the Shang family also refused in the end, and also said, "If Wu County wants to build any project but there is not enough money in the county treasury, they are willing to repay the favor."
Yunxi had a headache: 'Are businessmen in this era so afraid of the government? Historically, businessmen in the late Ming Dynasty were very bold!'
But at this point, Yunxi could only give up the idea of ​​conducting experiments in Suzhou. Other businessmen in Suzhou Prefecture did not have enough influence, and their industries were not suitable: in order to realize Yunxi's idea, it must be high value-added
Industry is suitable. In this era, only a few industries such as iron, ceramics, silk, tea, and stone are suitable. Others are not suitable.
'Fortunately, there are many cities similar to Suzhou in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. At least Hangzhou is on par with Suzhou. The worst is to try it in Hangzhou. After the experiment in Hangzhou is successful, businessmen in Suzhou will definitely hear about it, and then it will be implemented in Suzhou.
Okay. At that time, we can solve the problem of Suzhou people's hatred of the imperial court." Yunxi thought.
In this case, there is no need for him to continue to stay in Suzhou. Yunxi ordered: "The day after tomorrow, September 18th, we will set off for Songjiang Prefecture." He also sent someone to call the local prefect Xiang Bao over: "I will set off the day after tomorrow to continue my patrol.
In other places, you must not organize people to see him off and delay their livelihood."
Xiang Bao was an honest man and did not misunderstand Yunxi's meaning when he said: "Your Majesty cares about the people, which is a blessing to them. On behalf of the people of Suzhou Prefecture, I thank God for his kindness."
"Also, Zuo Guibao, the magistrate of the Suzhou Prefecture, is doing nothing but doing nothing. This year is exactly his third year as the magistrate of the Prefecture in Suzhou. Please write a review for him." Yunxi thought of Zuo Gui.
Bao, ordered.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Xiang Bao said again: "But Your Majesty, according to the current evaluation system, although Zuo Tongzhi is not considered promising, I will rate him as average at most, and it is difficult to rate him as low."
Xiang Bao himself actually hates this kind of officials who sit on their butts, but according to the existing evaluation standards, he would be rated as middle-lower at best, and cannot be rated as lower-low. Moreover, his assessment of Zuo Guibao as middle-lower would also cause controversy. If Zuo Guibao was
There are acquaintances in the Ministry of Personnel or the Office of Personnel, and the Procuratorate, and some of them are making excuses.
"I want to implement a new evaluation system. I will implement it after returning to Beijing, so you don't have to worry." Yunxi said.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Xiang Bao said. Since he had the emperor's support, he didn't worry anymore.
The servants and guards who were walking around were also packing their things in preparation for setting off the next day.
But that night, what Yunzhi said to Yunxi caught his attention and made him postpone his departure.
===============================
At noon that day, in a cubicle on the third floor of Furenju, the most upscale restaurant in Suzhou, Yunzhi ordered a few dishes and said: "Just these dishes, and another Tremella and Lotus Seed Soup, don't want anything else."
Already."
After the man went out, Qianxue, the personal maid who came out with her today, said: "Miss, today's market is more lively than the previous few days. Why is it so depressed?"
Yunzhi said: "Although the market is lively today, it will not be seen tomorrow."
"Is the third young master planning to leave Suzhou?" Qingyu, another palace maid, asked.
"No, third brother has finished his work in Suzhou, so he will naturally go to the next place." Yunzhi said.
"Miss, why should you be depressed? The next place is Songjiang Mansion, right? The third young master must go to the Shanghai Shipping Department. You can also go shopping there. There are many overseas merchants in the Shanghai Shipping Department, and I heard that there are many strange things.
The rare treasures should be more interesting than the market in Suzhou." Qian Xue said.
"Third Brother will not let me go to the City Shipping Department. The City Shipping Department has a complicated staff. I heard that many merchants are gangsters and they are daring. Shanghai is also close to the sea and I can escape at any time. It is too dangerous. Third Brother will definitely not allow it.
I'm going." Yunzhi said with understanding and some regret.
"Since it's so dangerous there, it's better not to go. Safety is the most important thing." Qingyu said hurriedly.
Qian Xue changed the subject and said, "Since we are leaving soon, why don't you order a few more Suzhou specialties to try?"
"No, the third brother said that the food outside is not as clean as at home, so these are the dishes I ordered. It is easy to ignore the hygiene of other special dishes, so I didn't order them." Yunzhi said.
They also all knew that the emperor had strict requirements for kitchen hygiene. Even the most exquisite restaurants outside could not meet his requirements. Yunzhi was also infected by him with the habit of having high requirements for kitchen hygiene, so they did not.
said.
Yunzhi continued: "But there are some dishes that are really delicious. I will ask the chef at home to try making them later."
"There is also the little sister named Li. I haven't seen her since the last time I saw her. It's time to go. I want to see her again."
"Miss, I am also our young lady. Of course I have homework, so naturally I can't go out to play every day. It's normal if I don't touch her." Qian Xue said.
At this moment, I suddenly heard a female voice coming from outside the door: "Boss Su, is there anyone in the cubicle with the best view that I go to every time?"
"No one, no one, I'm leaving it for you, how could there be anyone?" a man's voice sounded.
"Boss Su, your mouth is really good at talking." The woman's voice sounded again.
It sounds like this has nothing to do with Yunzhi and the others, but after hearing it, Yunzhi said in surprise: "This is the voice of the little sister I met a few days ago who was quite sympathetic!" Yunzhi's ears are very good, not only can
He can hear soft sounds clearly and is also very good at distinguishing the differences between different people.
Yunzhi stood up and walked out as she spoke. Qianxue wanted to stop her but was unable to do so in time, so she quickly followed her out. Then she heard Yunzhi say: "Sister Li, I haven't seen her for several days."
"Hey, little sister Zhang, are you eating here too today?"
"Yes, Sister Li, sister, you said this is the best restaurant in Suzhou. I will be leaving Suzhou the next day, so I came here to try it."
The two talked for a few more words, and the little girl from the Li family said: "It is better to meet by chance than to invite each other. Since we have met again, let's have dinner together. Besides, sister, you will leave Suzhou the day after tomorrow, so you should do it for your sister."
Yunzhi smiled without any scheming: "Then I'll trouble Sister Li."
Qianxue secretly wondered: 'This little girl named Li is too close to her princess. Even if she fell in love with her at first sight, she would never be like this.'
How did she know that the jewelry store Yun Zhi visited a few days ago belonged to this girl from the Li family? Because many of the jewelry were very innovative, Yun Zhi bought a lot of them at that time. So when she heard that Yun Zhi was about to leave Suzhou,
Although I was worried, I immediately thought of taking Yunzhi to visit another jewelry store in the afternoon. Compared with the profit from selling jewelry, a lunch, no matter how extravagant it is, is still a small amount of money.
Then the guests and hosts were seated. The girl from the Li family had sharp eyes and could see that these maids were not simple. She opened another table next to her and let her closest maids chat with Yunzhi's confidant maid.
Under the deliberate warmth of the Li girl, the two little girls immediately started talking affectionately.
After a while, the dishes Yunzhi ordered before were ready and served, and the girl from the Li family ordered a few more dishes and they were also served. Suddenly, the whole compartment was filled with the aroma of dishes.
The two of them chatted while eating, talking about topics that the little girl was interested in. The two maids on the other side also chatted enthusiastically, as if they were old friends for many years.
But under the warm surface, Yun Zhi was still keenly aware that the girl from the Li family was a little absent-minded: "Sister Li, I think you have something on your mind?"
The Li girl was stunned for a moment, then said: "It's nothing."
Yun Zhi knew in her heart that it was something that was inconvenient for her to tell to someone she didn't know very well, so she hurriedly picked up the topic just now.
