Xin Zi Juan Chapter 141 I am very optimistic about you, but...
"Why do I want to work hard to clean up Tongcang? On the one hand, the internal corruption of Tongcang has reached an urgent level. Secondly, and more importantly, I am worried that if something happens, the capital will not be able to provide usable food, which will lead to
Big disaster." Feng Ziying calmed down and then exhaled.
Emperor Yonglong's eyes turned cold, "There are many internal problems in Jingtong Ercang. I have heard about this situation, but it's not to the point where I can't get food out, right? I know there is a deficit inside, and the deficit is definitely not small.
When Zheng Jizhi took office, he wrote to me, saying that his biggest regret was that he had not had time to clean up the second warehouse of Jingtong, leaving behind this disaster. Huang Ruliang, his successor, also said that the problem of the second warehouse of Jingtong was not small, and he estimated that the deficit should be about 30%, which is consistent with Zheng Jizhi
The judgments are almost the same, Feng Qing, where is your judgment?"
Feng Ziying silently calculated it and concluded that Zheng Jizhi and Huang Ruliang should be relatively reliable. This judgment was basically reasonable.
"I thought it was around 30%, or maybe a little lower, around 25%." Feng Ziying nodded.
Emperor Yonglong breathed a sigh of relief. He thought that if Feng Ziying really blew up a big deal for him and lost 40 to 50 percent, it would be really ridiculous. I don’t know how courageous these worms are.
.
The 30% figure was also estimated by Zheng Jizhi and Huang Ruliang. Zheng Jizhi and Huang Ruliang had also dealt with Emperor Yonglong on this point. This kind of thing can only be estimated at the worst and cannot be underestimated. This is a sign of caution.
"Well, it does make people angry, and I am also very angry, but this is a problem left over from years of abuse. I have always wanted to solve it, but I always consider too many other factors, so I have delayed it until now. If it is 20-30%,
I feel confident." Emperor Yonglong nodded and relaxed a little.
"Your Majesty, the deficit does not depend on the size, or rather the actual number of the deficit. Everyone knows that there is a deficit here. Even if a random passerby in the capital city asks, they all know that this is a legacy of ten or twenty years.
The problem with the hole that came down is that when everyone thinks that this hole exists, then it will inevitably form an expectation. Once there is an accident and there is a shortage of food in Beijing and it is necessary to use the Jingtong Second Warehouse, the Jingtong Second Warehouse has a huge deficit. At that time, it will definitely
Rumors are flying all over the sky that food prices will skyrocket, and hundreds of food stores in Beijing will stock up on food and be reluctant to sell it. That would be a huge disaster!"
Feng Ziying's words made Emperor Yonglong unable to react for a moment. How big a deal could this be?
As long as the deficit is not big, no matter the rumors or not, as long as the food is continuously shipped out and sold, how big a problem can there be?
Seeing that Emperor Yonglong was puzzled, Feng Ziying patiently explained: "Your Majesty, the key is not the food in Jingtong Ercang, but the food in each grain store in the capital city. Which of these hundreds of grain stores does not have it?"
Thousands of tons of grain are stored? But if something unexpected happens, such as the interruption of water transportation, or a serious harvest failure in Jiangnan and Huguang, no grain can be transported to the capital, which itself creates an expectation of food shortage. Now there is news that the second warehouse of Jingtong is short of grain.
Rumor has it that grain stores in Beijing must be restricting sales and prices are skyrocketing. What should the people who cannot afford the high-priced grains, or even cannot buy grains at all, do?"
Only then did Emperor Yonglong realize that the most important food channel in Beijing still comes from the private food circulation channel. It is not the guaranteed food of Jingtong Ercang at all. This is a relief and expected role, so that the people can use it with confidence. Generally
Under such circumstances, it is impossible to earn money from the grain stored in the grain store, but once expectations of price increases arise due to some accident, and suddenly there is a large deficit in the Jingtong Second Warehouse, which was originally used to ensure supply and relief,
What will happen?
I'm afraid that the grain stores in Beijing will immediately restrict sales or even hoard grain without selling it, and wait until the price of grain rises to sky-high prices before they can make a big fortune. The wealthy families may not have much, but what about the ordinary people who account for more than 90% of the population of the capital?
?Can they tolerate such a round of looting of their life's property? They are afraid that it may immediately trigger a civil commotion or even a riot. If there are people with ulterior motives to control it, it is really unimaginable.
Emperor Yonglong was not an emperor who did not understand political and economic affairs, otherwise he would not have stood out among his many brothers so quickly after Prince Yizhong was deposed.
He is very clear about the virtues of these high-ranking families and wealthy merchants in Beijing. Once there is huge profits to be made, he will make them at all costs, and unless violence is used to forcibly deprive these grain merchants of their grain control
Otherwise, even if the court strictly orders the sale, it will be difficult to curb their crazy behavior.
Seeing Emperor Yonglong's expression change slightly, Feng Ziying knew that Emperor Yonglong had realized the seriousness of the problem.
Gyeonggi is different from Jiangnan. Jiangnan not only produces its own grain, but also has extremely convenient water transportation. Grain can be transported from Huguang easily. The grain produced in Gyeonggi cannot meet the needs of the capital at all. It relies on canals for transportation all year round. What is really going on?
Unexpectedly, if things come together, it will really become a big deal.
After pondering for a while, Emperor Yonglong asked: "What you said, Feng Qing, is not unreasonable, but even if water transportation is interrupted due to some unexpected factors, as long as the time is not too long, these grain merchants in Beijing will have to restrict sales and push up grain prices."
It can't be too long, just delay it for a while, because they know that once the canal is opened to navigation, there will be no room for food prices to rise, so..."
"Your Majesty, this is what I am most worried about. Under normal circumstances, the canal cannot be interrupted for too long. Whether it is a shipwreck, low water, or a blockage in a certain river, it will be cleared in a very short time.
, but what I am worried about is whether this accident will really become an accident."
Emperor Yonglong didn't understand Feng Ziying's words, "Feng Qing, what do you mean?"
"What I mean is that if the accident is the kind of accident that we can predict, then that's it. It's nothing more than the people in the capital spending more money. But if it's the kind of accident that we didn't expect, such as..."
Feng Ziying's words were rudely interrupted by Emperor Yonglong: "Feng Qing, what do you think this kind of accident will be, a rebellion, a military rebellion, or a civil commotion?"
"Your Majesty, I encountered a civil uprising in Linqing. However, the scale was not large at that time, but there were already some bad signs. I found traces of the White Lotus Sect there. This is on the one hand, and on the other hand,
Since last year, the public opinion of the Jiangnan gentry has been clamoring, putting pressure on the court to reduce taxes in Jiangnan. However, the court cannot give in, which has formed a deadlock. I am worried that in the second half of the year, water transportation and even private grain transportation may be blocked, and some helplessness will arise.
Something that was expected..."
At this time, Emperor Yonglong's eyes were as sharp and deep as an eagle, "Feng Qing, you don't have to hide anything, what are you worried about?"
"As far as I know, the drought in the entire Northland this year is extremely serious. I don't know how the situation is in other provinces and prefectures. Shuntian Prefecture is considered good, but due to the drought, the summer harvest has been reduced by more than 40%. The situation in autumn may be worse, and I
I also learned from other channels that the situation in Yizhou in Baoding Prefecture is very bad. The production reduction may be more than 80%, or even no harvest. The situation in autumn is similar. You can see the leopard at the first glimpse. Yizhou is like this. I don’t know that there are places like Zhending Prefecture, Hejian Prefecture and Daming Prefecture.
How is the situation in these places in the government, what is the situation in Shandong, Shanxi and Shaanxi? If the situation is as I fear, then the people's public opinion will definitely be turbulent. Shandong has a long canal and the most economically developed areas along the canal. In order not to starve to death,
These people are very likely to take risks, and the canal is their best hunting ground. If the situation we mentioned before happens again, a few sparks may trigger turmoil in the capital city. "
Feng Ziying said this a little tactfully, but Emperor Yonglong understood it instantly.
If there is a severe drought in Shandong, the refugees will be the biggest hidden danger, and there is also the White Lotus Sect making waves. It is entirely possible that the canal will be interrupted. Then the situation Feng Ziying expected may happen, but the imperial court can withstand how many times.
A lot of trouble?
"In addition, if people with ulterior motives in Jiangnan fan the flames and manipulate public opinion, causing merchants to go on strike, shipping workers, and boatmen to go on strike, it is not impossible, and the situation may even be more serious..." Feng Ziying paused, "Forget it then.
It is for the imperial court to deal with it decisively, but I am afraid that it will not be able to deal with it in a short time. If there is any twists and turns here, the capital will be in chaos, and the grass and trees will be soldiers, and I am afraid it will also lead to a civil uprising."
The civil uprising in the capital is very dangerous, because a large number of the people here are the family members and relatives of the soldiers in the capital. A lot of them were eliminated in this purge of the capital. They are already full of hatred and dissatisfaction with the imperial court. If they encounter this kind of situation again
This kind of thing will definitely become a trigger, and these people will become the main force causing trouble.
Speaking of this, Emperor Yonglong still didn't understand who Feng Ziying was alluding to, so he was really unworthy of sitting in this position. His eyes narrowed, but his gaze became sharper, and he nodded, "Feng Qing is dedicated to the country.
I understand, but the little noise in Jiangnan is not worth mentioning. No one will take the risk of genocide, because they know there is no chance at all..."
Seeing that Feng Ziying was silent, Emperor Yonglong looked relaxed and confident, "Does Feng Qing have no confidence in the border army? Or does he have no confidence in me?"
"I don't dare, I just..." Feng Ziying sighed. Indeed, this possibility is relatively small. Although Tang Binyin and the others danced happily, they still used this to put pressure on the court and the emperor.
It’s just in exchange for more compromises and concessions from the court, but there are always surprises, what if?
"I understand Feng Qing's hard work. Well, I agree to Feng Qing's request. It is also a good thing to eliminate the Tongcang disaster in advance. I will give an order to the Shenji Camp..." Emperor Yonglong was in a good mood. Perhaps he felt that Feng Ziying had worked so hard to achieve nothing.
I am very pleased that I have been working hard on state affairs and being loyal to myself. "Feng Qing, do a good job. I am very optimistic about you."