Chapter 103 The Queen Mother chose your pharmacy layout
Spring outside the Great Wall comes later than inside the Great Wall. When Manager Han and his steward arrived at Dongliao City, the city was still covered in white.
Liu Jing, the chief steward of the Dongliao City harbor, came to greet him personally. Seeing Shopkeeper Han disembark, he smiled and said, "I heard Shopkeeper Han has joined the Imperial Household Department. My family lives in this remote and poor village, so I haven't had time to rush to the capital to congratulate you. Please forgive me, Shopkeeper Han."
Shopkeeper Han laughed heartily and walked over quickly, laughing as he walked, "How could a lowly official like me, just on a temporary assignment, deserve your special mention? If you want to congratulate them, congratulations should go to your master and your great-grandmaster. One of them is now the chief eunuch of the imperial palace, commanding all the maids and eunuchs in the harem. The other is the ancestor of the palace, living in a private palace in the harem, with servants to serve him. Who wouldn't be envious?"
Isn't it true? Who wouldn't envy him? Liu Jing was also envious. If he had followed his master into the palace, he would now be the eunuch in charge of many palace servants.
Shopkeeper Han noticed Liu Jing's envy and advised him, "Don't overthink it. You're now in charge of the Dongliao Port. Even General Bai respects you. You're the same position as the Governor-General here. What else could you possibly be dissatisfied with?"
Liu Jing invited Manager Han to board his carriage and told the driver to go into the city. The two men sat in the carriage with the windows closed while they talked. Liu Jing whispered, "I'm in charge of the port now. Now that the emperor has ascended the throne, I don't know if he'll send officials here."
Just like Dongshan Port, there will be another governor.
Shopkeeper Han, who knew something, said, "The Empress has told the Emperor that the Dongliao City port is the princess's dowry and no one can touch it. The governor sent by the court will be in charge of other matters, so you will still be in charge of the port."
When the emperor ascended the throne, he rewarded his meritorious officials. Although Miss Gu was the empress's sister and not a member of the royal family, she was named a princess for her contribution in saving the empress and the crown prince. She was given a princess's mansion in Luoyang, and a plaque of the princess's mansion was also hung in the Gu Mansion in Dongliao City. In the spring, all the regulations of the mansion would be changed.
Liu Jing asked: "What about the port's tax revenue?"
"I'm going to see the princess soon and was just about to talk to her about taxes. The Queen suggested that the taxes collected at the port belong to the princess, and since she's not short of money, why not cut the taxes in half? With lower taxes, ships from the south heading to the grasslands will naturally pass through here."
Liu Jing's heart skipped a beat: "Then... wouldn't Dongshan Port be in decline?"
Shopkeeper Han smiled and said, "Dongshan Port will be duty-free in the future. But don't worry, the ships that go through Dongshan Port are all going to Songjiang City to buy medicinal herbs, fine timber, etc., unlike the ships that go to the grasslands here."
If you buy furs, medicinal herbs, etc. from the grassland just to ship them through Dongshan Port tax-free, then after calculating the distance and the cost of food and biscuits for people and horses along the way, I'm afraid it would be better to pay the tax and ship them through Dongshan Port.
The Empress Dowager meant that Dongshan Port and Dongliao Port outside the Great Wall should be given equal importance in the future, and neither side should be abandoned.
Compared with the heavy taxes in southern ports, the half tax in Dongliao City and the tax exemption in Dongshan Port have increased merchants' willingness to trade in the north, and trade between the north and the south will flow smoothly in the future.
"When will the imperial court post the notice?" Liu Jing asked about the specific implementation time.
"Don't worry. The imperial court will launch a military operation against the north in the spring. We must first stabilize the north and then clean up the south. Once everything is cleaned up, the imperial court will lift the ban on sea trade in the south and promulgate port-related taxes and other regulations."
Shopkeeper Han guessed that the emperor and the empress might arrange for the prince's husband Chen Yizhi to take care of this matter. Chen Yizhi would bring the Chen family's relatives to seek refuge with the empress. After the sea ban was lifted, all the Chen family's relatives overseas would come back.
"You have been working under the Queen all these years. Our family says it would be appropriate for you to take charge." Liu Jing said politely.
Shopkeeper Han said with a smile, "Even though we are family, there's no need for Eunuch Liu to flatter me like that. I know my own worth. I'm just a traveling merchant, and I can't compare to a great scholar like Mr. Chen."
Chen had passed the imperial examination and was a serious scholar before he even reached adulthood. The emperor and empress appointed him as an official, and no one in the court could find fault with him.
Shopkeeper Han sighed, "Who could have known I would have such good fortune? If the gods had told me earlier, I wouldn't have traveled the world as a merchant to please my father. I should have stayed home to study and take the imperial examinations. Who knows, I could have become a high-ranking official."
Liu Jing laughed and said, "There's no such thing as knowing it earlier. If I had known it earlier, I would have followed the master and not left. Even if the master chased me away, I would have stayed."
Liu Jing was ambitious for power. He was very satisfied when the Queen Mother gave him the management of Dongliao City Port. But now, he is not so satisfied anymore.
Manager Han asked him, "If I asked you to drop your job and go to the palace, would you be willing?"
Liu Jing thought about it carefully and decided that he would feel more comfortable outside the palace.
"That's it, how can sugarcane be sweet at both ends?"
Liu Jing smiled and said, "You know, we eunuchs are all rootless people. No matter how many godsons and apprentices we have, we are still rootless people. My master and his master serve their master. The historians will remember them in the future. They can be said to have gone down in history with their master."
Shopkeeper Han looked at him differently: "I never thought you had such ambitions."
Liu Jing smiled and waved his hands: "No more talking, no more talking, we've arrived at the Princess's Mansion."
After the palace held a banquet on the ninth day of the first lunar month, every family in Luoyang City also held a banquet to entertain guests. Axuan, the only princess from a different family and the queen's sister, was naturally the guest of honor in every family. Axuan happily joined in the fun and ate at the endless banquets. She was tired before the end of the first lunar month and ran back to Dongshan Port to find some peace and quiet. It has been more than two months since she came back.
Manager Han came to pay a visit in person. In addition to discussing the tax issue, he was mainly here to deliver things to the princess on behalf of his master. There were ten carriages behind him carrying many good things, including antiques, treasures, silk jewelry, and everything else.
Ah Xuan asked happily, "Are these all given to me by my sister?"
Shopkeeper Han said with a smile, "There are five carts of items that Madam Cheng'en gave to you and General Bai."
Gu Wen is not only the Empress's father, but he has also made great contributions to Songjiang City and Prince Qi's Mansion over the years. The Emperor conferred the title of Duke Cheng'en on Lord Gu, and the title has been passed down for three generations.
Ah Xuan ordered the maid to carry all the boxes to her room, and then asked Shopkeeper Han, "Are you going back to Songjiang City?"
Shopkeeper Han nodded and said, "The Queen told me to go back and look after the business."
"Then you better be careful. During the New Year, I heard from my sister and brother-in-law that there was going to be a war in the north."
Ah Xuan added, "There are only a few thousand soldiers left in Songjiang City. The Northeast Army on the grasslands has been transferred to Ningxia and hasn't returned yet. Manager Han, please be careful if you go to the grasslands. You are my most capable subordinate, and I absolutely cannot do without you."
"That's too small a statement to bear." Shopkeeper Han laughed and said, "But don't worry, Princess. I will be safe and sound and serve the Queen for another twenty years."
Shopkeeper Han had watched the princess of the Gu family grow up, and he spoke to her in a friendly manner. The two chatted and laughed for a while, and after thanking her for the meal, Shopkeeper Han said goodbye as he was going to Songjiang City.
Just after Manager Han left for a while, Bai Jie returned from the military camp. A Xuan was admiring the good things his sister had given him.
"Now that you're back, come and take a look at this jade crown. The jade is delicately crafted, and the carving is exquisite. The two bamboos carved into the relief are very proud. This jade crown is perfect for you. And this belt, it's obviously embroidered by the palace. Come and try it on."
Bai Jie stepped into the room and saw the open boxes, the tables, and the treasure shelves, all filled with priceless treasures. He couldn't help but smile: "The Queen is really worried about you."
"I feel sorry for you too. These two boxes are for you. My mother has also prepared a crown, belt and robe that suits you. My father gave you a box of books to carry to your study."
"You don't have to put it in the study, just put it in the bedroom. I'm busy in the military camp now, and I don't have time to sit in the study and read. Put it in the bedroom, and you can find time to read it in the morning and evening."
"Okay, I'll have them move the tree outside our bedroom so that some light can come in. It will be brighter for you to read in the room from now on, and it won't hurt your eyes."
Bai Jie sat down beside her and asked with a smile, "Is Manager Han just here to deliver something to you?"
Ah Xuan glanced at him with a smile: "Manager Han has already left, what do you think?"
Bai Jie put his arm around her waist and said with a smile, "I'm a clumsy and dumb general who can't speak. Please forgive me, Princess. You are the most favored person in our family, Madam. Does the Emperor and Empress have anything for Madam to convey to me?"
"Are you still clumsy?" Ah Xuan threw back her head and laughed. After she had finished laughing, she said, "There's nothing to tell you. Shopkeeper Han came to deliver something and mentioned the tax reduction for the port in the future."
“Tax cuts?”
A Xuan told Bai Jie the details, and Bai Jie sighed, "The Emperor and Empress truly dote on you, to the point of giving you such a great benefit."
"For me, and for our children and grandchildren."
However, it was only their children and grandchildren. Her sister had told her in person that both the title given to their father and the port given to her would be extinct in three generations, and Bai Jie also knew this.
Bai Jie also figured it out. He said, "Three generations has been around for a hundred years. If our children and grandchildren can't stand on their own after a hundred years, then they deserve to be poor. If they have a promising future, things will naturally get better and better."
His father couldn't even manage his own generation, but he was able to manage three generations of his descendants. It was already very good.
Besides, let alone their family, even the royal family may not be around anymore after a hundred years.
Even if the royal family was still in existence at that time, the two families had lost their affection after three generations. If the royal family wanted to take back the huge interests of Liaodong Port, would the Bai family dare not refuse?
Ah Xuan asked with a smile, "General Bai, aren't you afraid that outsiders will say you rely on nepotism?"
Bai Jie pinched her soft cheek and smiled, "I've never been afraid. I knew this would happen when I came to introduce myself. Don't worry about the rumors outside. The most important thing is for us to live our own lives well."
Smart people know best what they can hold on to and what they don’t need to care about, so even if they fall to the bottom, a small opportunity is enough for them to get up.
When Manager Han returned to Songjiang City, Zhou Chen personally picked him up at the west gate.
When Manager Han got off his horse, he suddenly remembered the post station many years ago. He was still young at that time. He was just a small manager of the Han family. He encountered a group of exiled criminals who were captured by bandits. In order to establish a relationship with Prince Qi's Mansion, he eagerly sent someone to deliver the news to Prince Qi's Mansion. Zhou Chen came on horseback with many people and horses just like he did today. He greeted him with a smile.
Many years later, the former chief officer of the royal palace, now the mayor of Songjiang City, actually came to the city gate to greet him in person.
Zhou Chen walked over with a smile: "Manager Han, now it's time to call you Lord Han."
Shopkeeper Han smiled and said, "No, you should just call me Shopkeeper Han. I've gotten used to it after all these years."
"Oh, that won't do. You're the Queen's favorite now, how dare we act rashly?"
Shopkeeper Han laughed, and all the past events drifted away in the blink of an eye.
The two of them went to the government office on a street in the west of the city, had some tea, and then got down to business.
A letter was handed to Zhou Chen. After reading it, Zhou Chen said, "Now that the Northeast Army's food and wages are paid by the imperial court, it's much easier. Our Songjiang City's granary was mostly empty due to the war last year, but there's still some left, which is enough to trade with Duoli's tribe."
Zhou Chen said, "The letter didn't mention it either. We have built so many granaries in Songjiang City over the years. What should we do with them in the future?"
"I've heard Lord Xu mention this. Half of Songjiang City's granaries should be used to store grain, and the remaining half can be used for other purposes or rented out to other households for storage. In short, they can't be left unused."
In the past, the government office in Songjiang City often rented the houses built by the government in the village to the people for use. The government office was used to this, and Zhou Chen knew it well.
"By the way, how is the cloth shop in the eastern suburbs doing this winter?"
"That's good. In winter, people have some free time. Some go to the cloth shop to do odd jobs to supplement their family income. This winter, the cloth shop has accumulated a lot of goods. Half of them will be sent to the port for shipment, and the other half will be sold back to the grassland. This business is good."
Two hours passed as they discussed business, and it was almost evening before they dispersed. Zhou Chen invited Manager Han to have a drink, but Manager Han said, "Forget it today. I've sent someone to deliver a letter to the Hu family. Tomorrow, when Hu Changpu comes down, the three of us can get together."
Zhou Chen hurriedly asked, "Could it be that the Queen has other arrangements at the pharmacy?"
"Yes, there are some arrangements. We will discuss them in detail tomorrow." With that, Manager Han went home.
Zhou Chen saw him out, and when he returned to the room alone, he snorted softly, "This old fellow is actually playing tricks on me now."
It's just that they bully him because he doesn't show up in front of his master all the time.
To be honest, Shopkeeper Han was not bullying Zhou Chen. He really felt that there was no need to say the same thing twice. It would be better to say it together tomorrow to save trouble.
Besides, the pharmacy is the business of the Queen, not the government office. Asking Zhou Chen to go and listen is also to let him know what is going on. There is no harm in not telling him.
Times have changed and the status between the two has shifted. They each have their own stance.
Zhou Chen could understand it after thinking about it carefully, but he was now in a weak position and felt a little uncomfortable.
The next afternoon, Hu Changpu brought his nine-year-old son Chonglou and seven-year-old daughter Nanzhi to the city. In the evening, they met Zhou Chen and Manager Han at Han's house.
Hu Changpu arrived first, but Zhou Chen hadn't finished his work at the yamen, so he sent someone to tell him that he would arrive later.
Hu Changpu always liked to bring his son with him when he went out to discuss business. People who knew him well knew this. Shopkeeper Han took out two jade gourds and gave them to the brother and sister: "This is Uncle Han's New Year gift for you."
The brother and sister thanked him politely. Shopkeeper Han was delighted to see them. He looked up and said to Hu Changpu, "Your two are obviously smart kids. How can you bear to keep them in the mountains?"
Hu Changpu smiled and said, "Let's keep them in the mountains first. We've hired a teacher at home, so it won't be a problem for him to teach them to read and write."
The son will definitely inherit the family business in the future. The daughter likes to study medicine. In the past, she worked as a medicine boy in Zhang's pharmacy for half a year every year, and spent the remaining half of the year at home to spend the winter.
This year, Doctor Zhang Shinan went to Luoyang, so his daughter had to ask the elders at home to teach her. When she was older, she would send her to Luoyang to ask Doctor Zhang to teach her.
The two of them didn't go into the house, but sat in the yard and chatted. Zhou Chen said, "The Empress is a person who cherishes the past. Although she is not here, she is also thinking about you. If you want to send Nanzhi to Luoyang, write a letter to the Empress, and everything will be solved."
Hu Changpu naturally knew the Empress's temperament, but she was already the Empress, and as a country boy, it was difficult for him to actively approach her. Hearing his old acquaintance, Shopkeeper Han, say this, Hu Changpu knew that the Empress was probably still the Empress he knew.
Hu Changpu smiled and said, "Tell me, what news did the Queen send you back to deliver?"
Before Hu Changpu went down the mountain, the Hu family had discussed it several times. The Queen's status was different, and the business of the medicine store might not be the same as before. Whether it was good or bad, their words were not final. It all depended on what the Queen said.
"No hurry, we'll talk when Master Zhou comes."
Zhou Chen arrived two quarters of an hour late, just in time for dinner. The three of them sat at the same table, not drinking, but talking about things at the table.
Shopkeeper Han personally conveyed that from now on, the pharmacies in the Great Zhou Dynasty would be divided into government-run and privately-owned. All the pharmacies under the control of Prince Qi's Mansion would be converted into government-run and under the command of the Great Zhou Pharmacy General Administration.
The Da Zhou Pharmacy General Administration has the right to identify and set prices for medicinal materials, and has the right to manage private pharmacies. It can be said that the Da Zhou Pharmacy General Administration is the government's pharmacy guild, and has more power than private pharmacy chambers of commerce.
"Under the pharmacy, there should be a pharmacy. All major medicinal material producing areas in the country should have pharmacies that specialize in making pills or preparing medicine bags for sale, making it convenient for the public to buy."
Hu Changpu frowned: "Are you trying to steal business from the pharmacy?"
"We can't compete with pharmacies for business. Take Songjiang City for example. How many people in the city, as well as those in the counties, towns, and villages outside the city, can afford to see a doctor when they're sick? Most people just go to the mountains to dig some herbs, boil them down, and drink the water. Whether they can be cured depends on luck."
"The pills and medicine bags sold in government pharmacies are definitely cheaper than those sold in drugstores. As long as they're suitable for your condition, they'll have some effect. It's better than taking random medicine or praying to gods and Buddhas, right? Isn't this a great thing for the people?"
"The city's pharmacies serve the wealthy families who can afford doctors, so this doesn't conflict with this."
Zhou Chen had been with his master for a long time. He said, "Her Majesty is worried about the small population of the Great Zhou Dynasty. This is probably to prevent the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty from dying of illness."
Hu Changpu thought carefully and asked, "Where is the headquarters of the Great Zhou Medicine Store built?"
Shopkeeper Han smiled and said, "You've hit the nail on the head. The headquarters of the Great Zhou Pharmacy is located in Luoyang, and the chief executive is a third-rank official."
Zhou Chen's eyes lit up: "An official position? Isn't he a local official?"
Shopkeeper Han laughed heartily. "Don't even think about it, Mr. Zhou. The General Manager of the Great Zhou Pharmacy will only choose from people like Shopkeeper Hu. Besides, even though he's a third-rank official, he's only in charge of the pharmacy. He can't be compared to a third-rank official in the imperial court."
"That's fine too. Since ancient times, when has it ever been the turn of merchants to become officials?"
Shopkeeper Han smiled and said, "Now you see, from now on, in addition to medicine shops, all businesses related to people's livelihood, such as salt, iron, mining, grain, and shipping, will have a government-run general manager."
Zhou Chen exclaimed, "They've set up a separate general department for all of this, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs doesn't care about anything anymore?"
"From now on, the Imperial Household Department will only be responsible for purchasing what the royal family needs and will not be involved in trading."
Zhou Chen hurriedly asked, "We can't control other things, but has anyone chosen the first director of the Pharmacy General Administration?"
Shopkeeper Han personally served Hu Changpu a bowl of soup and said to Zhou Chen with a smile, "Isn't the first director of the Great Zhou Pharmacy General Office right in front of you?"
Hu Changpu was shocked. It was him? Not a member of the Du family or Manager Han?
Shopkeeper Han smiled and said, "The Queen is interested in you."
The Hu family members were spread all over the Great Zhou Dynasty. Gu Youan first proposed to make the pharmacy a state-run business in order to set an example. He chose Hu Changpu as the first director of the Great Zhou Pharmacy General Administration in order to avoid any problems.
The three of them should have figured out the reason, but Hu Changpu was still shocked: "How can I, a country bumpkin who has barely read a book, be a third-rank official?"
"Who said you haven't read many books? You've been memorizing medical books and classics since you were little. You must have memorized at least dozens of them by now." Shopkeeper Han deliberately laughed at him: "Why, do you feel you're not worthy enough? Don't you want to do this?"
Hu Changpu could only feel his heart pounding in his chest. He let out a long breath to calm his emotions. He said, "If the Queen has any orders, I will obey!"
"Hahaha, that's right!"
"Manager Hu, the Empress didn't give this job to Doctor Zhang from the Imperial Hospital, nor did she give it to one of her own clansmen. She chose to give it to you. You must be worthy of the Empress's trust."
“It’s natural!”
Power does not disappear, it only shifts.
I heard that the Empress Dowager and the royal family were not on good terms, and the big business that was once controlled by the royal family and the royal family was gradually transferred to people like Hu Changpu, which was equivalent to being controlled by the Empress Dowager.
Based on Zhou Chen's understanding of his master, he could only see this level.
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