I

  Chapter 171 169 [Businessmen chasing big profits]

  Chen Maosheng, as the head of the Propaganda Department of the General Military Mansion, married a good prostitute as his wife. This woman was raped half a year ago.

   Moreover, Zhao Han personally officiated the marriage!

  The news spread quickly, not only causing a sensation in the eight counties, but even spreading to farther states and counties.

  Although there are many critics, the positive effect is also significant, and people's ideas are gradually changing.

  In that month, more than 30 prostitutes applied to join the mission team...

  Zhao Han's policy on Goulan brothels is very similar to the status of concubines.

   If the people don’t raise the case, the officials will not be held accountable; if the people are held up, the officials will be held accountable!

   In principle, brothels are prohibited and taxed.

  But don’t take the initiative to check. If a prostitute leaves voluntarily, the brothel must not stop it, otherwise the brothel will be banned directly. In total, seven brothels have been shut down, all suspected of illegally imprisoning women's freedom, and the crime announced to the public is "forced women into prostitution."

   Grain merchant Li Fenglai is spending time in the brothel right now.

  When he came to Ji'an this time, the business was not very good, because Zhao Han was fighting a war and expanding his army, so he consumed a lot of food, and the remaining food had to be stored.

  There are also some large households whose fields have been divided, still living a luxurious life, and they have to sell grain because they don’t have enough money. There are also some small people who sell grain to the Qianliang shop in the village, and the Qianliang shop sells it to grain merchants in other places. Li Fenglai has collected thousands of grains one after another.

  Rural money and grain shops have not been completely banned, but usury is prohibited.

  Because the money and grain shop opened by the landlord is very important in the countryside, farmers must rely on this kind of shop to exchange grain for copper coins or silver.

  Fei Chun's grain stores cannot spread across every village and town, and there are about two to three towns to set up a grain store.

  If the landlord’s money and grain shop is too deceitful, farmers will choose to go a long way and sell their grain to the official grain store for money.

  Listening to the ditty and drinking the flower wine, Li Fenglai was helped to bed by the famous prostitute Pan Saisai.

  He felt something stuck in the back of his head, and reached out his hand to dig under the pillow, but it turned out to be "The Collection of Great Harmony", and he immediately smiled and said, "Miss Pan also reads this kind of book?"

  Pan Saisai explained: "After finishing this month, I will go to the missionary officer exam, and I have to read some articles in advance."

   "The bustard is willing to let you go?" Li Fenglai asked in surprise.

   "How dare she not let her go?" Pan Saisai sneered, "If she hadn't begged hard, I would have left at the beginning of the month. I don't lie to Mr. Li. If I can truly be good, who would be willing to abuse myself?"

  Li Fenglai got up and sat on the head of the bed, and said: "Mr. Zhao has occupied Ji'an Mansion for so long, why is Miss Pan only thinking of becoming a good man now?"

Pan Saisai replied: "Since ancient times, prostitutes have been good, and they have never had a good end. They were just abandoned by their lovers in the end. I was afraid before, and I misunderstood the mission team, thinking that they were doing that kind of thing in the army. It's different now. How noble is Mr. Chen?" , in charge of the Mission Department of the General Military Mansion, but I don’t dislike my background, and Mr. Zhao married a good prostitute, or Mr. Zhao personally officiated the marriage. Since you have a bright future, why don’t you go?”

Pan Saisai began to fantasize about the future, and said with a smile: "I don't want to be too high-spirited. I just need to work hard with the mission team and find someone with good conduct and who can read a few words to marry. If you really treat me well , It’s okay to be illiterate.”

   Seeing the prostitute in the brothel, Li Fenglai sighed, "Alas, there will be fewer and fewer brothels in Ji'an Mansion in the future."

  Pan Saisai sneered and said: "It is best if there is no one in the place where the filth is hidden."

  Since Pan Saisai is determined to be good, she doesn't bother trying to curry favor with the guests, and just says what's on her mind.

   There may be women imprisoned in brothels, but it is absolutely impossible to happen to famous prostitutes. Now with the backing of the government, Pan Saisai can leave whenever he wants, without even paying the ransom money.

  Li Fenglai opened the "Datong Collection" casually, and was forced to buy a copy as soon as his merchant ship docked.

  I was too lazy to read it at the time, but now I am interested, and I gradually read it with horror.

  "Datong Collection" has only five articles in total: "Selected Chapters of the Datong Association", "On the Distribution of Datong Fields", "On the Destiny of Heaven", "On Gewei", "On Good and Low".

  The author of "Geweilun" is signed by Zhao Zhuochen, but it has already spread to Nanchang, and even spread to other provinces. Cai Maode played a role in fueling the flames.

  "On Good and Cheap" was written by Chen Maosheng. Then I asked Wang Tiaoding to polish it, write it with great literary talent, and show it to those who have read it.

  Li Fenglai was born in a big family in Nanchang, but he is a son of a concubine, otherwise he would not be working hard, just lie at home and enjoy the blessings.

   After reading these articles, Li Fenglai felt that his family must be doomed, and the tens of thousands of acres of fertile land would never be preserved in the future.

   First fear, then joy.

  Li Fenglai has already established a relationship with Zhao Han, so if he divides the land, he will divide the land. Anyway, he is a son of a concubine, and he has worked hard for many years. All the money he earns belongs to the family, and he only saves more than three thousand taels of silver.

   Moreover, the more than three thousand taels of silver did not dare to be fully exposed, because more than half of it belonged to private pockets.

   Now he wished that Zhao Han would conquer Nanchang as soon as possible and force the Li family to split up the property, so that he could get a few thousand taels anyway. Then, relying on the relationship with Zhao Han, relying on doing business to make money, all the money earned will be his own!

   Are the rich and powerful families monolithic?

  No.

  Many sons of concubines, even illegitimate sons, are eager to split up as soon as possible, and would rather not have land property than split up!

  Li Fenglai was so excited that he couldn't sleep all night, so he ran to see Zhao Han the next day. He belongs to the long-term partner of the General Military Mansion, and he has the privilege to directly deliver the greeting card to Zhao Han, and he was summoned soon.

   Zhao Han exchanged pleasantries, and apologized: "There are a lot of places to use food this year, and there is no surplus food to sell to Li Yuanwai."

  Li Fenglai said with a smile: "It's okay, the general town will definitely have sufficient food next year. I have asked someone to find out. This year, the general town is located in eight counties and vigorously promotes sweet potatoes and other crops. There must be more farmers willing to sell grain next year."

   Zhao Han ruled the next eight counties, with a large number of barren mountainous areas, and in some poor counties, even mountainous areas accounted for more than 80%.

  In this kind of land, the harvest of traditional grains is very low, even if the corn is not satisfactory, but the cultivation of sweet potatoes can definitely satisfy the farmers.

  Zhao Han reminded: "Mr. Li will come to collect grain next year, so don't push down the price too hard. Low grain prices will hurt farmers."

   "Remember." Li Fenglai immediately understood the meaning, that is, it is okay to lower the price, and the food price will definitely drop next year, but it must not be too much.

  Zhao Han also thought about building grain stations in each town, stipulating that farmers can only sell surplus grain at the grain stations. But in the long run, this idea was dismissed and farmers were allowed to trade freely. Because there are too many places that can take advantage of the loopholes after the government-owned grain operation, it will definitely become the hardest hit area for grassroots corruption in the future.

  Many policies have good original intentions, but they will change after promotion.

  For example, the door stall tax, Zhao Han can only collect taxes and fees based on the area of ​​the store and the booth, and then consider the area where the door stall is located.

  If the charge is based on the turnover, believe it or not, decades later, the relevant stores will all say that they are losing money, and they will all say that they have little turnover?

   After chatting for a while, Li Fenglai suddenly knelt down: "General Town, Nanchang Li Fenglai, I am willing to die to serve!"

  Zhao Han was confused, and quickly helped him up: "Why is Li Yuanwai like this?"

Li Fenglai explained: "I see the benevolence of the general town, and within a few years, the entire province of Jiangxi will be seized. If the general town captures Nanchang one day, I am willing to cooperate with the division of land and family. If there is any news in the future, I will immediately Send someone to report."

  Li Fenglai wanted to be an imperial merchant, and after hooking up with Zhao Han, he couldn't wait to leave the family.

   Breaking away from the family is only the first step.

  When the future develops, the tribe will definitely come to him, and then he will be the talker of the family. This was impossible in the past. A son of a concubine can honestly work for the family.

  But Zhao Han's rise made Li Fenglai see an opportunity, and he was willing to take a gamble.

   Throughout Jiangxi, Ji'an Prefecture is one of the best.

  In terms of the number of Jinshi, Nanchang Prefecture is the first, and Ji'an Prefecture is the second.

  In terms of population, Ji'an Prefecture ranks first, and Nanchang Prefecture ranks second.

  The complete Ji'an Prefecture has nine counties.

  Although Zhao Han only occupies three counties, they are all the most elite counties in Ji'an Prefecture. Regardless of the inconspicuousness of Anfu County, the total number of Jinshi in the Ming Dynasty was more than that of Jishui County (Jishui County has a higher density). After the defeat of the officers and soldiers, countless poor scholars came out to seek officials.

   Taihe County, which was ravaged by rebels, also had more Jinshi than Jishui County.

  Recently, a large number of gentry and poor scholars have fled from Taihe County, and they are also willing to take refuge in Zhao Han. Anyway, the land has been taken away, and Zhao Han seems to be able to make things happen, so he gambled on his future.

  Let's put it this way, the number of scholars under Zhao Han's hands, if you count the children, has exploded.

  Many scholars did not even have the opportunity to be civil servants, so they went to Bailuzhou Academy to attend lectures, hoping to learn Datong theory before seeking officials.

  Having so many resources, and taking down Linjiang Mansion, an important tax town, Li Fenglai felt that Zhao Han's success was certain.

  At least, it is no problem to occupy the whole of Jiangxi, and it is useless for Fujian and Guangdong soldiers to conquer.

  Li Fenglai was afraid that Zhao Han would not trust him, so he took the initiative to say: "General Town, I have three sons. The eldest son is fourteen years old, the second son is eleven years old, and the youngest son is only seven years old. Both the eldest son and the second son are willing to send to Bailuzhou Academy to study."

   This is a hostage.

  Zhao Han laughed loudly: "With the help of the king, why worry about the world's injustice?"

  Li Fenglai is in the grain business, buying grain from Jiangxi and Huguang, and then selling it to various prefectures in the south of the Yangtze River.

  In many places in Huguang, Jiangxi and Jiangnan, the Li family has a business. It must be no problem to put two guys in. Isn’t this intelligence network established?

  After discussing with Li Fenglai for a long time, Zhao Han began to select intelligence personnel, looking for the most loyal and able to do things.

   These people are all left to Xu Ying to manage.

   Half a month later, Li Fenglai brought the bought food and more than 20 intelligence personnel, and led the fleet to Nanchang Mansion.

  After he went back, the first thing he did was to send his eldest son and second son to Bailuzhou Academy.

  As for the intelligence personnel, they quietly ran to contact Xu Ying behind Li Fenglai's back.

   For the time being, Li Fenglai cannot be fully trusted, and Xu Ying's true identity is also inconvenient to reveal.

  But Xu Ying said, this period of time has been very busy!

  (end of this chapter)