Chapter 72: There are always some people who will be your companions...
Song Huan wasn't worried about the money. She asked cautiously, "Aunt, where is the boat now?"
Yunsheng said quickly, "The ship is definitely faster than us. I estimate it should have reached Guangzhou a long time ago."
Song Huan nodded. "Aunt, there must be hundreds of pieces in these kilns, both large and small. They've been firing non-stop for the past few months. Together with Zheng Chan, we've sifted through a lot of good stuff and discarded quite a few. But there are still about 30,000 pieces left. If we really can't get the money, we can just sell this batch first."
Zhao Changning knew she was suggesting something, so he nodded. "Okay, I'll find a way."
She really didn't expect that there were so many. This was mainly due to the big merchants. One of their kilns was equivalent to two or three kilns of a small merchant.
When she arrived in Nanchang Prefecture, the prefect's attitude changed again when he saw her.
"We've taken all the 100,000 taels, but no more money is coming in. Nv Shu Ling, what are your plans for the future?"
Whether this matter succeeds or not, it is definitely linked to his political achievements, and he was forced to get involved.
Zhao Changning briefly explained the situation. "The ship has arrived at the Guangzhou port and is waiting for the porcelain to be loaded onto it."
She hesitated, but finally spoke, "I want to borrow some money from Nanchang Prefecture in the name of the Maritime Customs."
The prefect expressed embarrassment. "The female secretary also knows that Nanchang Prefecture is not a wealthy place. Especially at the beginning of spring, escorting taxes to Yujing is also stretched..."
Zhao Changning pursed his lips. "I will personally repay you an extra thirty thousand taels of silver. My Lord, the people will not lie. What they are willing to support is definitely not a bad thing. If what I do succeeds, your political achievements will also be successful. This is a win-win situation."
The prefect sighed. He had said before that he would not take money from him.
"But, but you also know that those adults above, they..."
"Of course I know." Zhao Changning's face was calm and unconcerned. "But they can't do anything to us. At most, they can just drag it out like this. They dare not do anything else. I have received orders from the emperor. If anything happens, it will all be put on me. It won't affect you in the slightest. Those old masters are old and stick to the old ways, but the emperor is in his prime and full of ambition. Even if I don't come to do this, someone else will. You should know best who to choose, my lord."
The governor fell into deep thought.
The situation has changed. Seeing that Zhao Changning's stage is so solid, and more importantly, the emperor is standing behind her.
Now that he had the boat, how much longer could he delay paying the money? He still had to pay it back eventually. He might as well be a good guy and sell it now; it might even count as a favor later.
Zhao Changning quietly returned to Jingdezhen with 100,000 taels of silver.
"Although this money can't clear the existing debt, as long as this batch of porcelain can be shipped, the money we get back will be enough to solve these problems." Zhao Changning gathered everyone to discuss. "Of course, the most important thing now is to stabilize these people. No matter what method we use, we have to wait until this period of time passes."
Song Huan and others expressed their understanding, including Mingqiu and Zuo Yu. Everyone knew that it was almost time to see the truth.
"Don't worry, auntie, we will definitely comfort everyone."
The Mid-Autumn Festival is almost here. After working hard for half a year, I finally see a glimmer of hope.
At least the people saw the money and finally settled down. Zhao Changning did not blame them. The people lived just for these few pieces of silver.
When Zhao Changning thought of those old guys in the Ministry of Revenue, he couldn't help but sneer. The Minister of Revenue Qi Yuwei, who was also one of the cabinet ministers, was Gao Yun's most proud disciple. If the money couldn't be obtained, the old guy Gao Yun must have made a great effort.
Even if he hadn't made a great effort, the other two people in the cabinet definitely didn't come up with any good ideas.
She really didn't understand why they were so disgusted with this matter. Could she have gotten the money? Did she pocket it? Isn't it good for the national treasury to be well-off?
Thinking of this, Zhao Changning felt a surge of inexplicable anger in her heart. She was exhausted, and those people were still trying to hold her back. Asking for money was like asking for their lives. Why?
She wants to join them.
It took two days to write the memorial before it was delivered. Fang Wenhai's urgent letter also arrived, saying that the ship had arrived at the port and the porcelain had to be shipped as soon as possible. If it was delayed any further, the ship would not return until the beginning of the year.
The letter he wrote was quite detailed, "...If I can return before the end of the year, the whole palace will be overjoyed, the emperor will be overjoyed, and the Nüshu Ling's achievements will be even greater. Most importantly, the wind at sea waits for no one..."
Zhao Changning breathed a sigh of relief. It was finally here. Success or failure all depended on this.
She ignored others' dissuasion and insisted on being escorted to Guangzhou because she was really worried. As for why Guangzhou Port was chosen, it was to eliminate the Japanese and bandit threats in Zhejiang and Fujian. In fact, during the time of the previous emperor, ships from various ports could only transport Dayong's own grain, salt, iron and other things, and were not allowed to go out to sea, but Guangzhou Port was the only port that was never banned.
This is the most prosperous and convenient place for external communication in Dayong.
Zhao Changning was not in a hurry this time. When he arrived in Guangzhou, the porcelain had already been loaded onto the ship.
Although the Mid-Autumn Festival had long passed, it was still very hot in Guangzhou. There was only one thing that made her helpless: the further south she went, the bigger the Xiang Niangzi became. This thing was almost everywhere and might even crawl onto people in the middle of the night, which was scary.
But she had a heavy responsibility and was in no mood to appreciate the scenery along the way.
Fang Wenhai came to greet them in person. His chubby figure seemed to have lost some weight, but his smile remained the same, still squeezed so hard that his eyes were almost invisible.
"Oh, Nv Shu Ling, I've been waiting so long for you to finally come."
Zhao Changning laughed and said, "Why did Lord Fang come to the Guangzhou Maritime Customs in person?"
"Of course not. On errands for the Emperor, even the Imperial Clerk runs around in person, doesn't he?" Fang Wenhai's official language was always tinged with an accent. "Besides, I dare not delay your matter, Imperial Clerk. It concerns the future status of the Maritime Customs in the imperial court, so I cannot ignore it."
Zhao Changning couldn't help but look at Fang Wenhai again. He remembered that he wasn't so sensible when he met him before, and he often had an attitude of indifference.
"Master Fang, what are you doing?"
Fang Wenhai had been in the officialdom for a long time, so he naturally understood Zhao Changning's doubts. "Nüshu Ling, you can rest assured that I am here."
He whispered, "You should have received the account book, right?"
Zhao Changning was a little surprised, but not that surprised. "Master Fang, I'm relieved to have you here. However, I still need to inspect the cargo before it enters the hold."
Fang Wenhai nodded repeatedly, "Nu Shu Ling, we are waiting for you. After the inspection, other things can be brought in."
"Oh?" Zhao Changning was surprised. "Anything else?"
Fang Wenhai had been in the Maritime Customs for a long time and knew a lot. "Yes, warships are different from merchant ships. They all have their own specifications. Thirty thousand pieces of porcelain are not enough. It's just ballast. So, I contacted many merchants who want to sell porcelain overseas. Some of them don't have ships, and some have too much stuff, so they can only borrow cabins. We have so much empty space, so of course we can't lose money."
Zhao Changning nodded repeatedly, his eyes shining. "I wonder how much this cabin will cost? Can you accept cash?"
Fang Wenhai chuckled, his eyes becoming increasingly blind. "Of course, the money has already been paid. I've prepared everything for you, Nv Shu Ling."
Zhao Changning waved his hand, "I don't want this money."
"I know." Fang Wenhai's expression grew serious. "The Imperial Household Secretary has been running around for so long, and the court has been in turmoil. The Ministry of Revenue has been reluctant to pay, and the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works are also delaying. I know all this, and my colleagues at the Maritime Customs know it too."
He sighed, "But I'm just an official at the Maritime Customs Office. I can't help you. Just like what happened to Wan Yu before, although I hated it, I couldn't do anything. However, the affairs of the Maritime Customs Office are related to everyone's future. So once I collect this money, I won't let anyone use it. After all, it was the Nv Shu Ling who worked so hard to find the boat, and this money should be yours to manage."
Zhao Changning stared at Fang Wenhai in a daze for a long time before saying, "Thank you very much. You really helped me out of my urgent need."
Fang Wenhai chuckled at her, his expression looking much happier than before, as if a huge mountain had been removed from before him.
"Nu Shu Ling, you don't need to thank me. This is the time for our Maritime Customs to show up. You don't know that the emperor has summoned me several times. We have been waiting for your arrival for too long."
He swung his sleeves as if nonchalantly, and his chubby back inexplicably looked much more handsome.
Zhao Changning also laughed. When she was a child fleeing famine, someone once told her that as long as she kept walking on the road, she didn't have to be afraid, because there would always be people who would walk with her.
It seems to be true.
She didn't dare to be lazy. Although the influence of the previous experience of more than 10,000 people was still there, money was tempting, so she didn't dare to gamble and went into the cabin to check it herself.
By the time all the cargo was loaded into the cabin, it was already the end of September.
An Yi clasped his fists towards Zhao Changning and said, "Aunt, I'll go right away." Two Yulin guards followed behind him.
Zhao Changning nodded. "Be careful and don't try to be brave. We'll wait for you to come back."
Yunsheng also said with concern: "Have a safe journey."
Zhao Changning, Yunsheng and Fang Wenhai stood at the harbor, watching the sails spread out like an eagle spreading its wings, and sailing away like a small boat under the golden light of the rising sun.
"Nv Shuling, everything will go smoothly this time." Fang Wenhai comforted with a smile.
Zhao Changning also smiled and said, "Then I'll take advantage of your good wishes, sir."
She finally had time to get some sleep.
After two days of rest, Fang Wenhai showed up and said he wanted to take her to the Guangzhou Maritime Customs.
"The Guangzhou Maritime Customs Office has many novelties. Nüshuling can pick some out and bring them back to Yujing as gifts for relatives and friends."
Although the stone in Zhao Changning's heart had not fallen, it was no longer a blockage in his heart, so he happily agreed.
"Then I really have to choose carefully. After all, the Maritime Customs Office in Yujing is already impressive enough, not to mention the Guangzhou Maritime Customs Office. I heard that even the Portuguese and the surrounding small countries, whether envoys or merchants, will first settle in Guangzhou."
Fang Wenhai nodded. "Yes, the port of Guangzhou is very busy. You saw it the other day. There are not only our ships, but also many foreign ships."
"Yes, I saw quite a few tall people with blond hair and fair skin that day." Zhao Changning laughed, "I was too nervous that day and didn't take a closer look."
Fang Wenhai expressed his understanding, "Then today, the female bookkeeper can take a good look at it."
Zhao Changning felt that there was nothing strange about it. The things here were basically available in the palace, maybe just in different quantities. However, she had never seen many of the fruits before, and she thought they were delicious.
The Guangzhou Maritime Customs Office is no less impressive than the one in Yujing. It has a wide variety of goods. Apart from Dayong's own goods, there are even more from Southeast Asia and Portugal, with all kinds of goods, including food, daily necessities, clothing, medicinal herbs, spices, cloth, and so on.
However, she was well-informed, so these things did not attract her attention.
However, Zhao Changning's attention was soon attracted by a peculiar copper-cast object. It was huge in size, with a long and thick barrel. It actually looked a little similar to the bird gun that the emperor liked to play with, except that the bird gun was held in the hand, but this one was moved with a special base and wheels.
She looked around and marveled at it. There were quite a few bird guns and fire guns in the Armory, and she had also seen the small cannons they made themselves, but she had never seen such a huge copper-barreled cannon. There was only one bad thing: the barrel was covered with verdigris, which showed that it had been stored for a long time.
"Where did this come from?" Zhao Changning said, pushing the wheel.
Fang Wenhai laughed as he looked at it. "Nüshu Ling, you can't move this. This is a red cannon from the Portuguese. It's cast entirely of copper, twenty feet long, and weighs three thousand pounds. Has it been sitting here for a few years?"
Zhao Changning asked in surprise, "Why not send it to Yujing?"
Fang Wenhai looked embarrassed. "Our Maritime Customs has neither ships nor money. Anyone can interfere. We always have to beg for favors to transport things. This thing is not easy to move, not to mention such a big thing. Anyway, no one knows about it, so we just leave it here."
He was full of complaints and now he treated Zhao Changning as one of his own.
Zhao Changning also understood. There was no benefit in doing it, and he had to ask others for help when doing it, and he would inevitably be ridiculed. No one would like to take on such a task.
She patted the copper pipe and said with satisfaction, "Have someone come and polish it clean. I will transport it to Yujing and personally present it to the emperor."
"Ah?" Fang Wenhai suddenly remembered that the Maritime Customs had its own ship, and nodded immediately, "Okay, okay, when the ship comes back, we'll ship it directly to Yujing."
Zhao Changning did not stay in Guangzhou for long. He picked some fruits that could be stored, as well as a lot of cloth, medicinal herbs and other things, and then rushed back to Jiangxi.
Of course, he also brought money with him, including the money Fang Wenhai had collected from the Maritime Customs, a total of 50,000 taels. It can be seen that this man is an honest person. At least in the Wanyu case, there was no sign of his involvement. Once Wanyu left, the Maritime Customs seemed to be impoverished.
It’s not much, but she appreciates the friendship there.
When we arrived in Jiangxi, nearly another month had passed, and the weather in Jiangxi was already a little chilly.
Zhao Changning couldn't wait to return to Wazi Street. Fortunately, everything was calm and there was no chaos. She breathed a sigh of relief.
Sure enough, the 100,000 taels were slowly divided up.
Song Huan sighed, "Aunt, what on earth is the court trying to do? Isn't this too much? My father said he's already reported to the Ministry of Revenue several times, but it's useless. They always have various excuses to shirk their responsibilities. I heard the emperor got angry several times."
Zhou Miao also sighed, "Although my family is the Queen's family, we only have the title of Marquis, which is useless."
Zhao Changning took out 50,000 taels of silver and comforted the two men, "At least nothing happened. That's good. It shows that the people here are reasonable."
Zhou Miao nodded. "Fortunately, the county magistrate is a good person. Whenever someone comes to ask for money, he always comes to speak for us."
Zhao Changning patted the two men on the shoulders and said, "Okay, you don't have to run the kiln for us recently. Tell them that we will settle the payment as soon as the ship comes back, so they can put their minds at ease."
Mingqiu and Zuoyu were very happy. "Aunt, is our business almost done?"
Zhao Changning sighed, "Just waiting for good news from Guangzhou."
She also wrote a letter to Grandma Xu, asking her to take out the porcelain bottles and jars in her room, as well as the boxes of gold and silver in the cellar, and exchange them all for silver notes, at least 30,000 taels, and send someone to deliver them to Jiangxi.
Of course, these things must have been done by Mingxuan.
Yunsheng was reluctant to give it up. "Aunt, we haven't even earned a cent yet, and we have to spend so much?"
Seeing that his stingy look hadn't changed at all, Zhao Changning couldn't help but tease him, "Yeah, you've lost a lot."
In late November, along with the banknotes, there was also a letter from Mingxuan saying that Yujing had already had two snowfalls and if she didn't go back, the road might become difficult to travel.
Zhao Changning looked at the letter and sighed. She also wanted to go back.
As the New Year is approaching, there is still no news from Guangzhou, which makes everyone very anxious.
She watched Song Huan and the others go to worship Buddha, and she felt a little tempted. If she really couldn't, why not go and worship as well? At least it could get rid of the bad luck.
But she quickly dismissed the idea, because more and more people were gathered at the door, and even if the county magistrate and county lieutenant came to persuade them, it would be of no use. If she prayed to Buddha, these people would probably go crazy.
Many people were waiting at the door and refused to leave. Zhao Changning knew that it was the New Year and everyone was waiting for money.
That day, the woman who went out to buy groceries was stuck at the street corner. There was a lot of noise outside, and Zhao Changning knew that she could no longer hide.
She could only go out and accept the people's scolding in person, and still prayed in her heart that the news from Guangzhou would come faster and faster.
The Zheng family jumped the highest because they owed the most, and the same was true for several other big families. On the contrary, the small families had paid off more of their debts.
"Do the government also tell lies?"
"Women are just women, they are useless."
"If you can't, just tell me earlier."
"Are you trying to cheat us out of our porcelain?"
"Girls, if you really can't do anything, use your bodies to block it, otherwise you won't be able to leave here..."
There were many more unpleasant words, most of which were directed at her because she was a woman. Zhao Changning was filled with rage when she heard them. She had never been scolded like this in the palace.
Everyone felt guilty, and seeing that Auntie was being scolded with her back straight, no one dared to speak.
At this moment a sharp voice sounded.
"Go to hell, get out of here! If it weren't for my aunt, who do you think you are? The tributes from the palace have all stopped, so why are you jumping around?"
Zheng Chan rushed out, poured a bucket of water over him, then put her hands on her hips and started cursing.
"You shameless bunch, all this time, who among those chopping wood, carrying dirt, and digging mud hasn't earned enough? Huh? Who hasn't taken any pay?"
"What are you pretending for? You, you, and you, don't you know how much you took?"
"Come here, who are you trying to embarrass by wearing such tattered clothes? Are you doing this on purpose?"
"You are a bunch of shameless bastards, with sores on your buttocks. If it weren't for your aunt, would you still expect to make money from the royal family by making porcelain? Who would be willing to buy the things you make?"
Zheng Chan spat out a mouthful of saliva. After living in Wazi Street for a few days, he became a lot fatter and his speech became more powerful.
"Bah, Zheng, my dear uncle, with all that crap you burned, the Zheng family's reputation will be ruined by you sooner or later..."
"You used to pick up rotten vegetable leaves at the street corner. How much did you earn carrying dirt? I saw you chewing pork elbow yesterday. You've forgotten it now, right?"
"You ungrateful bastards, get out, get out..."
What a farce, was broken up by Zheng Chan's scolding.
She looked at Zhao Changning, her face full of trepidation. "Aunt, I really can't stand it anymore. Why are you so good-tempered? Are you just going to stand there and get scolded? Even if you scold me today, I can't stand it."
Zhao Changning patted her shoulder and said, "You scolded me well."
She is not a good-tempered person and she holds grudges.
"Do you remember those who were shouting the loudest just now?"
Mingqiu and Zuoyu said loudly, "Remember this, Auntie."
Zhao Changning nodded, "Don't ask for their porcelain next year."
Her eyes were slightly cold. Her heart, which had been in a rush and scorching heat for the past few days, was finally cooled down by the scolding. She vaguely remembered that she was not here to benefit the people, but to do errands for the emperor.
Three days later, snow also fell in Jiangxi.
Zhao Changning was reading by the window when Yunsheng suddenly called out, "Aunt, the prefect is here."
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The author has something to say: Changning: [angry][angry][angry][clown]
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