Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 383 Jiangnan Trade Fair? Commander Zhang wouldn't lie to us!

Spring March.

Yingtian Prefecture Government Office.

Compared to the freezing cold of northern Zhili, the Jiangnan region is noticeably warmer after spring arrives.

Several old locust trees near the government office have also sprouted tender yellow buds, which, compared with the chilly spring weather in the north, are full of vitality.

Hai Rui strode out of the government office, and the clerk following behind him had to jog to keep up.

Hai Rui was even thinner than last month. His worn-out official robes were faded from washing, and his hair was neatly combed.

As he walked toward the carriage at the door, he gave his orders in a clear and forceful manner.

"I say, you should write these down one by one."

"Conscript able-bodied men from the prefectures and counties, supervise the people to repair the dikes, and provide them with food and wages according to the law. Dredge the main channels of the Wusong River and Huangpu River. Any powerful and wealthy people who build dikes privately will be severely punished."

The clerk held the notebook and wrote furiously on it.

Although it is now the warm spring of March, the flood season in June and July is not long. If we want to avoid the floods of last year, it is necessary to repair the river embankments in advance.

"The implementation of the Single Whip Law still needs to be cautious. Each prefecture and county should appoint respected elders from the local communities as 'elders' to jointly investigate whether 'excessive taxes' still exist."

"The 'Abridged Compendium of Essential Agricultural and Sericultural Techniques' compiled with the assistance of Xishan at the end of last year needs to be taught by officials again. The paper version can be cheaper, but it must be easy to understand."

"The 'Weaving Workshop Mutual Aid Society' that we discussed last time has been decided by the imperial court and Governor Yin. This is a good policy and should be implemented gradually so that people in Jiangnan can help and learn from each other and overcome difficulties together."

The clerk wrote down Hai Rui's words one by one, checked them repeatedly, and then bowed and said.

"I have noted it all down. I will now draft a document and send it to all the prefectures and counties."

Hai Rui sat steadily on the carriage.

He's less inclined to ride in a sedan chair these days; it's just too inefficient.

The carriages used by the Yingtian Prefecture government were improved by Xishan, resulting in increased speed and stability compared to the previous ones.

While not as comfortable as a sedan chair, it still manages to balance speed and stability to a certain extent.

"and many more."

Hai Rui stopped the clerk, thought for a moment, and said...

"Go and fetch Manager Zhao, and have him come with me."

"Please wait a moment, Hai Xiantai."

The clerk left in a hurry.

A short while later, a slightly overweight young man hurried over. His forehead was still covered in sweat, and he had a very honest and simple smile.

When Zhao Rui saw Hai Rui waiting for him in the carriage, he quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said...

"I am truly sorry to have kept Your Excellency waiting."

Hai Rui glanced at the other person and said in a rather cold tone.

"Stop with the formalities and get in the car to talk."

Zhao Rui looked embarrassed, but he was already used to Hai Rui's temperament, and reluctantly got into the carriage.

The carriage rumbled through the streets, and Hai Rui would occasionally lift the curtain to check on the shops and vendors along the way.

Zhao Rui, trying to make conversation, said, "Since the beginning of spring, Nanjing has become much more prosperous."

Hai Rui paused for a moment and then said, "It's better than we expected."

Under the devastation inflicted by the Jiangnan gentry, the already fragile handicraft economy of Jiangnan nearly collapsed last year.

That was during the dead of winter. If not handled properly, a large-scale famine could break out in the Jiangnan region, which would be a huge problem.

Fortunately, the incident was resolved without serious consequences. Thanks to the efforts of Hai Rui and others, as well as the government's and Xishan's intervention and relief efforts, the economy of Jiangnan gradually recovered.

Zhao Rui cupped his hands and said, "Since the beginning of spring, the Jiangnan Textile Bureau has added more than a thousand weavers. After the Lantern Festival in the capital, many envoys from vassal states have detoured to our Jiangnan region to purchase silk fabrics to take back to their countries. In addition, with trade cooperation with Southeast Asia and Japan, the silk fabrics produced by our Jiangnan Textile Bureau are not only sold, but there is even a shortage of supply."

"Ah."

Hai Rui nodded slightly, feeling much relieved. Nowadays, many people in Jiangnan rely on weaving for their livelihood. If there is a problem with weaving, even a great immortal would be powerless to save the day.

The open space in front of the Nanjing Confucian Temple was cleaned up and a series of stalls were set up on wooden frames. Each stall had a prominent wooden sign that clearly stated the merchant's place of origin, the type of goods, and the marked price.

These rules were all established by the Yingtian Prefecture government and personally supervised by Hai Rui, with no room for ambiguity.

The sun was high in the sky, but the meeting place was becoming increasingly lively, with farmers carrying bamboo baskets and leading children through the venue.

The venue was filled with everything imaginable: silk, dried goods, spices, and novelties brought from the capital.

In the bustling crowd, one could even occasionally spot red-haired, hook-nosed Portuguese and short-statured Japanese people; these foreigners stood out conspicuously among the crowd.

Hai Rui changed into a worn-out set of ordinary clothes, looking like a down-on-his-luck old scholar. When he saw these vassal and barbarian people, he couldn't help but ask Zhao Rui some questions.

"Are all the business dealings between the weaving bureau and these foreigners registered?"

Zhao Rui nodded and said, “Hai Xiantai, please rest assured. Commander Zhang has already given instructions that every ship entering our Great Ming must be inspected and interrogated. These foreign merchants must not be allowed to trade in the Great Ming if they do not have a travel permit.”

"Ah."

Hai Rui nodded slightly and continued to ask about various details.

He came to a stall, his eyes swept over the silk fabrics on it, and his fingers gently stroked the surface of the fabric, the texture of which could be described as fine and dense.

"Shopkeeper, your Songjiang cotton cloth is priced at three qian per foot, which is five fen lower than the market price. Is that true?"

Hai Rui deals with silk fabrics every day and even knows more about prices and materials than ordinary merchants.

The shopkeeper, who always had a smile on his face, knew he had met an expert as soon as he heard this, and replied with a cupped hand.

"This gentleman is a wise man, but you can rest assured that our cotton cloth is produced by the Jiangnan Textile Bureau. The weavers are all skilled workers. Since the establishment of the Textile Bureau, they have been using the Tiangong Textile Machine, and everyone is very experienced."

The weaving bureau gave everyone a way to make a living, and we are naturally grateful. It's not a big deal that the prices are a little cheaper at this trade fair.

"Isn't it all about making friends?"

The shopkeeper spoke very eloquently, and anyone with discerning eyes could see that the material was indeed of high quality.

Not only Hai Rui, but also other ordinary people stopped to watch when they passed by.

Thanks to its excellent quality and low price, more than a dozen bolts of fabric were sold in less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick.

Hai Rui and Zhao Rui quietly left the stall. Zhao Rui couldn't help but expose them, saying, "These are just polite words. In the end, Songjiang cotton cloth is just a name. Previously, due to the influence of Xu Jie and others, it was difficult for weavers in Songjiang to cooperate with the Weaving Bureau. But in the last two months, the Weaving Bureau signed contracts with more than a thousand Songjiang households in one go. As production increased, prices naturally dropped."

In my humble opinion, this price is actually too high.

Hai Rui said, "As long as the prices are clearly marked, and it's not a case of false advertising or a discrepancy between the marked price and the selling price, let them buy and sell freely."

Zhao Rui was taken aback, looking quite surprised. In the past, Hai Rui was known for his hatred of evil and his lack of patience and tolerance towards unscrupulous merchants.

Hai Rui smiled and shook his head, saying, "Being strict for the time being is for the sake of immediate clarity, but governing the economy requires a holistic view. Allowing for small-scale price fluctuations and merchants' opportunistic behavior is the only way for the economy and trade in Jiangnan to flourish."

Clearly, Hai Rui has done a lot of research in economics.

Zhao Rui exclaimed in admiration, "I truly admire the wisdom of Hai Xiantai."

The two toured the venue for half an hour, during which they saw several households cheating the people by raising prices. Hai Rui did not react on the spot, but instead sent someone to find the supervising officers to deal with the matter.

Merchants who refused to comply with regulations were fined in silver for minor offenses and expelled from the venue for serious offenses. Furthermore, the Yingtian Prefecture government would dispatch tax officials to specifically investigate the relevant merchants.

After a busy morning, Zhao Rui was covered in sweat again, and the several handkerchiefs he carried with him were soaked through.

Since arriving in Jiangnan, Zhao Rui's weight has been decreasing, but his sweating problem has not improved.

He wiped the sweat from his brow, downed the tea in front of him in one gulp, and said with emotion to Hai Rui beside him.

"Commander Zhang's promotional event method is simply ingenious. The event provides convenience for the people and gives merchants more sales channels. With increased sales, they are naturally willing to sell more at a lower profit. This is a win-win situation."

Since the end of last year, when a large-scale promotional event was held in the capital, this kind of event spread throughout the Ming Dynasty through the official gazette, and many local officials naturally followed suit.

However, the most successful one has to be Yingtian Prefecture, which oversaw the trade fairs held throughout Jiangnan. It was like a medicine that invigorated blood circulation and removed blood stasis, allowing the economy of Jiangnan to gradually recover.

In a private teahouse room, Hai Rui was leaning back in his chair, resting with his eyes closed. Upon hearing this, he inquired about it.

"Are the merchants and gentry in Jiangnan willing to cooperate?"

Zhao Rui replied, "Of course we dare not refuse to cooperate. The Fan family in eastern Zhejiang is particularly enthusiastic. The trade fairs held in Ningbo Prefecture were all fully assisted by the Fan family. It can be said that they contributed their time and effort."

"Hmph." Hai Rui said with a sneer. "They dare not cooperate. These aristocratic families are the best at flattering and judging the situation. They used to assist Xu Jie, Wang Shizhen and others, and the court did not hold them accountable. Now they are pretending to be great benefactors."

Zhao Rui couldn't help but feel ashamed: "In the end, it benefits the country and the people. It's not just the Fan family, but also the Chang family and the Wang family. They are all vying to be the first to get involved."

Although Hai Rui looked down on these people, he still knew that the overall situation was more important, so he narrowed his eyes and said.

“If those who are willing to turn back from darkness and embrace the light will naturally receive some preferential treatment from Yingtian Prefecture, but those who remain stubborn and attempt to cheat and shirk their duties will certainly be severely punished.”

This is the current attitude of the Yingtian Prefecture government towards the gentry and merchants of Jiangnan.

If you are willing to cooperate obediently, then naturally everyone will be happy and it will be a good thing for everyone. But if you are unwilling to cooperate, then the Xu Jie and Wang Shizhen families, whose homes were confiscated, serve as a warning.

Hai Rui pondered for a moment, then suddenly thought of a crucial point, and frowned as he spoke.

"Why are there no rice or other grains at today's promotional event?"

Compared to coal, firewood, and clothing, food is obviously more important, especially during the spring famine when a lack of food can truly lead to death.

Zhao Rui immediately looked troubled: "Doesn't Hai Xiantai know? The price of rice in Beizhili has been soaring. The situation in Jiangnan is a bit better, but it is still affected by this. Now, many rice merchants in Jiangnan are transporting their grain to Beizhili so that they can sell it at a good price."

This was done spontaneously by the merchants, and it was really in our inappropriate position to stop them.

Yin Zhengmao has always been in charge of grain prices. How could Hai Rui, a mere Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, possibly be responsible for everything?

Hai Rui frowned and said, "What is the grain situation in various parts of Jiangnan? Who allows these merchants to buy low and sell high at will!"

Zhao Rui looked distressed: "Hai Xiantai, the prefectural government is really difficult to control. Can we stop these people from going on business? The most important thing is that the capital of Beizhili is short of food. Does Yingtian Prefecture dare to block them?"

His words hit the nail on the head. This time, it wasn't that the merchants were only after profit; rather, there was a severe food shortage throughout Beizhili.

The capital is short of food. Does your Yingtian Prefecture intend to rebel and prevent merchants from transporting goods?
From Jiangnan's perspective, if too much is transported, coupled with losses along the way, and if Jiangnan subsequently suffers from famine, then the situation will be difficult to resolve.

This is a dilemma.

Hai Rui sighed helplessly.

"During the spring famine, even in the Jiangnan region, there is a shortage of food. In previous years, poorer farmers had to eat shepherd's purse and elm seeds to fill their stomachs. This year, life has finally improved a bit, but there is still a food shortage. Is the suffering of the people's livelihood impossible to end?"

If there were corrupt officials, Hai Rui would naturally not be afraid; he would simply risk his official robes.

But right now there is a food shortage, and Hai Rui is not some kind of deity who can conjure food out of thin air.

He asked in a series of questions.

"Didn't they say the Annamese paid tribute with grain?"

"Given the rough seas, it won't be able to get there so quickly."

"Alas~" Hai Rui sighed heavily. "The transformation of farmers into weavers has indeed solved the livelihood problems for many people, but it has also sown the seeds of disaster. The less farmland there is, the more expensive the grain will be, and people will still go hungry."

On the other hand, the imperial court tacitly approved the textile bureau's promotion of looms, which triggered a revolution in the handicraft industry in Jiangnan and enabled many people to earn money.

However, this may also cause many farmers who originally cultivated the land to no longer be willing to work hard in the fields, and instead turn to planting mulberry and cotton fields to obtain more profits. This is human nature.

Hai Rui naturally didn't think that promoting the Tiangong Weaving Machine was a bad policy. Last year, the disaster victims were all starving and desperate for food. If this method hadn't been implemented, who knows how many people would have become refugees.

"How can one have it all in this world?"

Zhao Rui also sighed and said.

"Commander Zhang's policy of planting sweet potatoes has inadvertently contributed to the rise in grain prices."

Hai Rui squinted and asked, "Manager Zhao, do you think sweet potatoes are a good option?"

Zhao Rui chuckled and scratched his head, saying, "This humble official doesn't know much, but I do know that Commander Zhang has never lied to anyone."

It was hard to tell whether Hai Rui's expression was one of crying or laughing.

If it were a year ago, he would have been furious and gone to the capital to denounce Zhang Yunxiu, this wasteful and disgraceful scoundrel.

But in the past year, he had experienced so much, and he had developed a strange confidence in Zhang Yunxiu.

"Pay close attention to this matter and do not slack off."

Hai Rui gave the order and then planned to put it aside for the time being.

He thought for a moment and asked.

"The Yuanyang Garrison has recently been established in Ningbo Prefecture. How are the preparations going?"

(End of this chapter)