The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 429 Lin Ruhai Opposes

The merchant could no longer control himself, but he knew he was scared. He held back his sobs, but his face was full of tears.

I'm feeling bitter inside.

He was different from the others. The others were all from wealthy local families with deep connections, while he was just an ordinary person who had built up his fortune through hard work and daring.

I'm too old to run anymore.

The risks of traveling merchants are high. Many people die far from home while doing business, and it's considered lucky if their bodies are brought back by their fellow villagers.

"The military governor's office supports you all in changing professions," Wang Xin encouraged. "Or you could participate in the competition to trade in grain and vegetable goods."

"Can we also open a grain and vegetable store?"

Li Hao's eyes lit up. Although it was his first time meeting Wang Xin, he was indeed as amiable as rumored. With that in mind, Li Hao became bolder and even started to set his sights on the grain and vegetable store.

These matters are not something I handle in detail.

However, in order to appease Taiyuan as soon as possible, it must be admitted that this group of people did have a huge influence, so Wang Xin personally stepped forward.

He designed the grain and vegetable market, and he could explain it with ease.

"The grain and vegetable market was not established by the Datong Military Governor's Office, but was run by merchants."

It turned out to be true.

In fact, most people knew something about what happened in Datong, but since they had never seen it, they always harbored doubts.

Not only Li Hao, but everyone else listened carefully, afraid of missing a single word.

Everything is negotiable as long as we can talk.

Seeing the expressions on everyone's faces, Wang Xin smiled and continued to explain.

"In addition to requiring merchants to have a certain level of strength, there will also be various guarantee clauses, which means that the merchant has the ability to pay compensation, or in the event of a breach of contract, it can pay huge compensation to make up for the damage to the market."

At this point, Wang Xin sighed, "These stringent requirements meant that ordinary people and small businesses were excluded."

Wang Xin's感慨 (feelings of deep emotion), and everyone's excitement.

Li Hao was the first to react and obediently replied, "That's how it should be."

"Oh?"

Wang Xin remained calm.

Wang Xin knew the identities of the people in the hall, but since he hadn't met them, he wasn't sure he could match them up, except for Li Hao.

This man was an important advisor to Tao Yi, the governor of Shanxi.

Many ideas for dealing with Datong came from this person.

This includes things like blocking trade routes.

"Brother Li."

A friend, unable to bear it, carefully reminded Li Hao to be mindful of his actions.

Li Hao didn't care and continued, "Isn't the imperial examination only for smart people? Not every path is suitable for everyone; in fact, it can cause congestion, making everyone feel stuck."

Changing the subject, Li Hao smiled and said, "Everyone should follow their own path. Small businesses have their advantages, and large businesses have theirs. Everyone benefits from following their own path."

Aren't industries like grain and vegetable trading specifically designed for large businesses like theirs?

They have powerful families behind them and enormous wealth in their own households, so they would never dare to give up and act recklessly.

Wang Xin nodded.

There is no shortage of intelligent people, and Li Hao truly deserves to be an important advisor to the Governor of Shanxi.

Whether it's emotional intelligence or cognition, they are indeed better than the average person.

However, he missed one point.

"In the past, you all conducted business with power, which was greater than the law. Business in Datong is different; the law is greater than power. We wish you all great wealth and that you earn as much money as possible. As long as you pay your taxes honestly, both we and the Jiedushi Prefecture will be happy for you to make more money."

Talk is cheap.

A million repetitions of a principle are less effective than a single act of legal punishment.

The day after everyone happily returned home, the Datong Inspection Team and the Audit Team flooded into Datong.

The number of troops in Datong Military Town remained unchanged at 55,000, but the personnel of the inspection team, supervision team, and the newly established tax assessment team continued to expand.

Some were recruited from retired veterans, some were recruited from the community, and some were selected from the children who had grown up in the Child Scouts.

There were also agricultural reclamation teams and ranch teams.

More than two thousand teams, each with a size of one hundred or so, held their own elections. Over the years, a large number of outstanding individuals emerged. The actual results were more convincing than words, and these talents were all absorbed into the Jiedushi's office.

The inspection and supervision teams expanded from a few hundred people initially to more than 10,000 people in just three years.

Especially the inspection team.

The inspection team, numbering as many as 7,000, was responsible for maintaining order in various areas and indirectly replaced some of the duties of the militia.

Each county town has over a hundred inspection team members, while the prefectural capital has several hundred.

And it is still expanding.

When the inspection team arrived in Taiyuan, they visited the local people and even put up eye-catching signs on the bustling streets. Fearing that some people might not be able to read, the team members took turns shouting in the streets.

"Those who have been wronged, come and seek justice!"

The team members, dressed in simple and neat black long-sleeved shirts and trousers, solicited business on the street like street vendors, without feeling that they were superior to ordinary people.

They receive six qian and six taels of silver each month.

Food, drink, lodging, and transportation all cost money, and the team does not cover any additional expenses.

Moreover, the rules are very strict. Citizens can file complaints with the inspection team. Once a complaint is filed with the inspection team, the team will definitely come to investigate. If it is just a common mistake, that's fine. But if it is illegal, then knowingly breaking the law will be punished more severely.

However, what comforts them is the relative stability.

As long as one works diligently and abides by rules and regulations, it is not difficult to rise to the third or fourth level of clerk. Although one may not become extremely wealthy, one's family can live a peaceful and worry-free life.

"You're not from the government, are you? What gives you the right to seek justice for others?"

Finally, some ordinary people tentatively inquired.

No matter how the inspection team members explained, the people still couldn't understand.

“The people in the government have always been high and mighty, ordering us common folk around. When did they start behaving like this? When we ask you if you are from the government, you give us all sorts of nonsense. Why don’t you just give us a straight answer?”

"I can't believe it," a man said impatiently.

The members of the inspection team looked at each other, and one of them continued to explain patiently.

The man looked surprised.

"Although I still don't understand, I appreciate your kindness. I'll go back and tell Aunt Li that her husband has been harmed by the yamen officials. I wonder if you dare to help, so I don't make a wasted trip."

"Even if the governor breaks the law, we will still arrest him," the leading captain said sternly.

The man said no more.

All beginnings are hard.

What is not difficult?

If you could get things done while lying down, who wouldn't want that?

“It’s not easy for the inspection team to carry out their work in Taiyuan, but we trust them.” Wang Xin moved into the governor’s mansion.

Zhou Wen voluntarily gave up the opportunity, thus making his stance clear.

"Amazing." Zhou Wen's expression was relaxed. Now that things had come to this, he had no more thoughts and was completely bound to the Datong Military Governor's Office. He sighed, "I never expected the military governor to start with law enforcement."

"Everything else is a symptom, only the treatment method is the root cause."

Treatment methods are not about who shouts the loudest. Nor is it about simply talking about your treatment methods.

Zhou Wen neither agreed nor disagreed with Wang Xin's actions, as he was unsure. In any case, Wang Xin was the victor today. However, Zhou Wen had to remind Wang Xin that if Wang Xin lost, he himself would not fare well either.

"One of the important reasons why the Taiyuan Army was easily defeated by the Datong Army was that the Taiyuan Army had been owed military pay for too long. The reason why the military pay had been owed for so long was that the imperial court and the Shanxi government had no money."

"I urge the General to make preparations as soon as possible regarding the resettlement of the Taiyuan army," Zhou Wen sincerely hoped.

"Do not worry."

Wang Xin, with a friendly expression, understood Zhou Wen's current feelings and treated him with the utmost courtesy, saying, "Purge some of the bad apples, eliminate some, and absorb some."

Zhou Wen said no more.

The rule of law is certainly not limited to the civilian sector; the military must also be included.

Including supervision
The army is subject to the supervision of the inspection team, and the inspection team also has the right to inspect soldiers. The army and soldiers have no privileges beyond the Great Zhou Law.

The number of troops in Taiyuan was no less than that in Datong.

Wang Xin did not give an exact number as to how much it could absorb, but said it would depend on the actual situation.

After seeing Zhou Wen off, Zeng Zhi and Yan Zhongzheng stayed in Datong. Zhang Yuncheng came to take charge of Taiyuan. Zhang Yuncheng was extremely busy and finally managed to find time to meet with Wang Xin.

The Datong army entered Taiyuan, and there were many problems that needed to be solved.

Wang Xin couldn't handle it all by himself, let alone motivate his subordinates.

Therefore, everyone has their own specific tasks and duties.

"What difficulties are you facing?" Wang Xin asked with concern.

Many small things may seem insignificant, but if not handled properly, they can easily lead to an explosion of accumulated conflicts. What the Jiedushi government needs most is stability, and the faster the stability is achieved, the better.

“There are many difficulties, but not major problems.” Zhang Yuncheng felt a heavy weight in his heart. “The treasury of Taiyuan Prefecture is empty.”

Wang Xin was not surprised.

It's not surprising that the Taiyuan Prefecture's treasury might be empty; it would be strange if it were full.

Zhang Yuncheng knew that the Datong Military Governor's Office was already heavily indebted, and now with the added burden of Taiyuan Prefecture, it was impossible for him to feel at ease. He hoped that the Military Governor would come up with a solution as soon as possible, and reminded him: "The biggest problem now is money and grain."

Wang Xin nodded.

Zhang Yuncheng couldn't come up with a solution and looked worried. "Although Datong has started tax reform, it's too late to solve the immediate problem. The most promising option is bonds, which have attracted many merchants because of the good news of Da Ning's defeat of the Hu. But now that we are heading south, I'm afraid no one will continue to buy them until the situation in the court becomes clear."

Don't be afraid to spend money from the future.

The momentum of Datong Prefecture is growing rapidly. The money spent now is not being wasted, but rather used to build a solid foundation.

As long as Datong Prefecture maintains its current momentum, it doesn't matter if it weakens a bit.

Once the initial expenditures are significantly reduced, the Jiedushi government will have a larger surplus in just a few years.

But we must have confidence in the future.

Only when the Datong Military Governor's Office has confidence will there be a profit in purchasing the Datong Military Governor's bonds.

Wang Xin had no better solution.

"I'll write a letter to the Xue family."

It's one thing if other families lack confidence, but the Xue family and my Wang family are not only economic partners, but also staunch political allies, bound together in every way, except for a marriage alliance.

Therefore, the Xue family must support him even if they have no economic benefit.

Moreover, there are huge economic benefits involved, but other businessmen dare not take the risk because of the high risk. However, this risk is something that the Xue family does not need to consider.

I'm not afraid of formidable opponents, but I'm afraid of incompetent teammates.

If Xue Pan were the head of the Xue family, I might not be so at ease.

Heaven knows what kind of trouble Xue Pan will cause.

If he messes up, my plan will be completely exposed, and I won't even have time to cry. Knowing that Xue Pan is unreliable, yet still treating him as an ally, wouldn't that be asking for trouble?

Zhang Yun acknowledged the agreement.

Such a large gap is beyond the capacity to fill, even if one has great confidence in the military governor's office.

The Xue family has it.

Over the years, the Xue family has monopolized the cattle, sheep and horse markets in Jiangnan through trade outside the Great Wall. They are undoubtedly among the wealthiest families in Jiangnan, and their businesses are all based on cash flow.

Otherwise, how could they have supported the banknote banks, which spread throughout the north and south in just a few years?

It was precisely because they knew the Xue family was wealthy and had the ability to protect their wealth that the other merchants maintained confidence in the silver notes issued by the Xue family, which was also the foundation for the circulation of Xue family silver notes.

Beijing.

Wenhua Hall.

Although the emperor assumed personal rule, he never moved away.

Anyone with eyes to see knows that the emperor is worried about the remaining eunuchs in the palace and fears that he will be harmed. However, because of Dai Quan, the emperor cannot turn against the emperor and carry out a large-scale purge of the palace eunuchs.

"I can't be worse than Wang Xin."

The emperor, with a cold face, said unhappily, "Wang Xin talks about integrity all day long, but he acts perversely in Datong. Many people used to curse him, but now, even the Zhou family there has fallen silent."

Consort Wu's brother had been working in the Embroidered Uniform Guard and had now been promoted by the emperor to be the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

In the past, the retired emperor's people would try to curry favor with the emperor in order to show their loyalty, so the emperor had control over many things.

Liu Ru was also sitting.

When the retired emperor was alive, he would let the ministers sit and even show them various intimate gestures. The emperor did not feel that he was inferior to the retired emperor, but he could not be like the retired emperor, otherwise wouldn't the retired emperor be right?

Therefore, only the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet could sit there. Liu Ru was the emperor's mentor and had been loyal to him for decades. No one could object to him, both morally and logically.

Tao Jie glanced at Li Yuan, the Minister of War.

Li Yuan kept his head down.

After Zhou Shiming's death, the Zhou family immediately quieted down and turned to the Datong Military Governor's Office.

The Zhou family hadn't forgotten him. In the letter they sent, they told him everything, including that they had purchased 200,000 taels of silver in bonds issued by the Jiedushi government, expressing their support for the Jiedushi government and hoping for his understanding.

What can I do?
Although he had been very respectful to the emperor at the time, he was ultimately still the emperor's man. Who knew how long he could stay in the position? Li Yuan kept a low profile and remained silent.

Tao Jie sneered.

He was the Minister of War, but had been suppressed for many years. Sooner or later, the position of Minister of War would be his.

Moreover, I am getting old, and in order to be able to join the cabinet, I cannot wait too long.

"First Datong, then Liaodong, and then the Northwest." Tao Jie stepped forward and said seriously, "Wang Xin's calamity is extraordinary. The court is currently powerless to deal with it. We must appease one, suppress another, and eliminate the last one."

The original plan was to eliminate the Prince of Dongping, since he was nearby and the only connection to the interior was the Liaoxi Corridor.

This semi-enclosed geographical environment gave the Prince of Dongping the confidence to become the head of the four princes.

He suppressed Wang Xin, the military governor of Datong, and won over the Prince of Xining.

With Wang Xin subdued and the strength of the Nine Border Regions secured, how could the Prince of Xining dare to show his face?

The situation has changed now.

Compared to the arrogant and domineering Prince of Dongping, Wang Xin's aggressive behavior, and the increasing rumors, suggest that his harm is no less than that of the Prince of Dongping. Without considering the overall strength of the Four Kings Alliance, Wang Xin's strength is showing signs of surpassing that of the Prince of Dongping.

The main reason was that Wang Xin did not follow the court's arrangements.

"I object!"

Lin Ruhai stepped forward.

(End of this chapter)