Jiangnan coast.
The moment the land came into sight, everyone on the ship cheered.
Some people even burst into tears.
"I'm back! I'm finally back!"
Chen Dachang stood on the deck. Even though he was experienced, his eyes became moist.
"After so many years, I never thought that I would come back one day."
"Eunuch Chen thinks he will die outside?" Rong Xin stood side by side with him.
Chen Dachang sneered, "I'm afraid you'll kill me."
"You are the one my lady values most. I will protect your life no matter what."
Rong Xin, who said this, had his left hand hanging and a scar on his cheek.
On the way back, we had a fight with pirates. Neither side gained an advantage, and both suffered losses.
The pirates suffered heavy casualties, and they lost a ship's worth of cargo. Fortunately, they still brought back thirty cargo ships.
When Rong Xin was sent to Jiangnan, he was just a fair-skinned and tender young eunuch.
Now, with his fierce temperament, he can make people feel scared wherever he stands.
In the past few years, he and Chen Dachang have killed countless people in overseas shipyards.
The indigenous people on the entire land were killed, leaving mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
Several Jingguans were built.
Even so, it still cannot completely intimidate the natives who only know how to kill and refuse to listen to education.
The natives rushed into the shipyard and the fields again and again, using primitive weapons to kill people.
What can I do?
If the natives offer their heads voluntarily, then just keep killing them!
The shipyard had a workforce of 3,000 to 4,000 initially, and later grew to over 10,000. Everyone was driven to fight, regardless of gender.
Everyone's hands were covered in blood.
Except for the technicians, most of the people sent to the shipyard were burdened with lawsuits and had to leave their hometown for various reasons.
To sum it up in one sentence, there is not a single good citizen.
They are all troublemakers.
"Colonization means killing and punishment. Madam is right."
Rong Xin corrected him quietly, "It's killing and fucking. Press those natives to the ground and rub them hard. Do it a few times, and then they'll learn to be afraid."
Chen Dachang snorted, "I don't know what the situation is like in Jiangnan right now."
Rong Xin said hopefully, "It's definitely better than before we left."
Chen Dachang chuckled, "That's not necessarily true. Famine is everywhere, and Jiangnan is no exception. With less rain, the mulberry leaves are definitely affected. With fewer leaves, and less delicious and tender, the number of silk cocoons will also decrease, and the quality of the silk will be worrying.
This year's silk production will undoubtedly be inferior in both quality and quantity to previous years. Prices will, in fact, be higher. Tea and porcelain will also be affected by the lack of rain. Silk, tea, and porcelain, the three major commodities of maritime trade, are all in dire straits this year. Business is sure to be tough this year.
I'm afraid many will go bankrupt this year. If the locals become chaotic and the imperial court doesn't come up with a solution in time, things will only get harder. More people will join the pirate movement. Those pirates who have been devastated by this blow will most likely use this year to regroup."
Rong Xin stared at Chen Dachang, "What do you want to do, Eunuch Chen? You can write directly to the lady."
Chen Dachang narrowed his eyes and stared at the coastline. "So many people have gone bankrupt, so many farmers have lost their land. If Madam can manage the capital, she can manage Jiangnan as well."
Rong Xin said directly: "The court will not allow Madam to govern Jiangnan."
"Then let's try a different approach and use business means to conquer Jiangnan. This is an opportunity, Madam, you shouldn't miss it."
"You should write to your wife and tell her that I will not interfere in this matter, nor will I take away your credit."
Chen Dachang sneered, "Pirates will always be a scourge if they are not dealt with."
"Then find a way to kill Zhou Jin." Rong Xin said decisively.
"If he doesn't go ashore, there's almost no chance of killing him at sea."
"Then find a way to force him ashore."
Chen Dachang suddenly laughed, "There is someone I can use. If she is still in Jiangnan."
Rong Xin raised his eyebrows and said nothing.
Landed safely,
As soon as he got ashore, Rong Xin received several letters sent from the capital.
Chen Dachang also received a letter from Gu Jiu.
The two of them were busy with their own things and did not interfere with each other.
…
What Chen Dachang was worried about has begun to show signs of happening.
This year, the amount of rainfall in the Jiangnan region has decreased significantly.
In rural areas across Jiangnan, large-scale armed conflicts have broken out between families and villages in order to compete for water resources, and many people have died.
In order to mediate these conflicts, local officials have worked hard and run themselves ragged, but they have been unable to fundamentally solve the problems.
With spring plowing approaching, water is everything.
With less rain and insufficient water resources, it is almost impossible to persuade anyone to make concessions.
Conflicts are intensifying across the country.
They are afraid of causing large-scale civil unrest.
After all, somewhere in the disaster area, some rebels have already raised their flags in rebellion.
The major towns seemed to be as bustling as usual and were not affected by the disaster.
But if you go to the shanty towns, you will find that the situation has spread to ordinary people in towns and cities.
Food prices have risen and the cost of living has increased significantly.
Finding a job is obviously more difficult than in previous years.
Not only that, prices have risen, but wages have not, and are even more stringent than before.
In the past, embroiderers were allowed to take scraps of cloth home after finishing their work.
This year, all major embroidery studios strictly forbid embroiderers from taking scraps of fabric home. If caught doing so, they will be fired.
After all, scraps of cloth can be sold for some money.
Scraps of cloth can be used to make patchwork clothes for children, handkerchiefs, diapers, and can even be sold to papermaking workshops to make paper.
Ordinary people cherish their jobs; no one wants to be fired these days. Everyone works incredibly hard, putting in more effort than before, yet they don't get paid any more.
“Life is hard!”
Chen Dachang was walking on the street and sighed casually.
However, amidst the difficulties, there are also slight changes.
A new carpentry workshop was built outside the city, recruiting a large number of carpenters and apprentices, offering preferential wages and two meals provided.
The workshop’s first batch of products were water wheels of various models.
There are small water wheels suitable for family use that can be operated by one person.
There are also medium and large water wheels used for ditch irrigation.
There are also improved water wheels used in various workshops.
Once the waterwheel was retired, it was favored by the government.
The government took the initiative to help promote the product and bring water trucks to the countryside.
Because the government finally found a fundamental solution to the conflict over water resources.
A waterwheel is enough to solve these problems.
After the water truck went to the countryside and demonstrated its powerful water delivery function, it was warmly welcomed by the villagers.
Waterwheels are very expensive. One waterwheel costs at least twenty taels and at most over a hundred taels.
Wood, labor, technology, transportation, rent, these are all costs.
As costs accumulate, it naturally won’t be cheap.
If every household in a village contributes a little money, and everyone pools their money together, they can ensure that each village has a waterwheel.
Spring plowing is important, and water is the source of heaven.
Even the most frugal people in normal times will not feel sorry for spending money at this time.
With the waterwheel, this year's farming will not be delayed.
In this way, with promotion in one village after another, the sales of water trucks skyrocketed.
The carpentry workshop had to recruit more carpenter apprentices to rush to make the waterwheel.
Chen Dachang looked at the inconspicuous emblem on the waterwheel and knew that it was the property of Sihai Trading Company.
It’s just that the signboard of Sihai Trading Company is not used.
Sihai Trading Company is not very popular in the Jiangnan area.
The Jiangnan region has developed commerce, and from the beginning to the end, they did not welcome the Sihai Trading Company, which had a strong background and came from the north.
In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, Sihai Trading Company used new signs and logos in many of its industries in Jiangnan.
It's like a native Jiangnan trading company.
Relying on this method, Sihai Trading Company's businesses flourished throughout Jiangnan.
Chen Dachang left the city and went to the temple.
A woman knelt in front of the Buddha and prayed devoutly.
He was muttering to himself.
Chen Dachang glanced at it and smiled knowingly.
Jiang Yan paused, then continued to pray.
Chen Dachang went to the back mountain and made a pot of tea.
A beautiful woman walked over to where the flowers were blooming.
"Eunuch Chen, nice to meet you! It's been years since we last met, and you're even more charming than before."
Chen Dachang gestured for Jiang Yan to sit down and talk. "What should I call you?"
"You can call me whatever you want, Eunuch Chen. I don't mind."
Chen Dachang poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of Jiang Yan. "You're even more beautiful now that you've given birth to a child! I wonder if it's a boy or a girl?"
"It's a girl."
"Congratulations on the birth of your daughter."
Jiang Yan lowered her head and sneered, "Mr. Chen asked me to come out. If it's just to ridicule me, I don't think there's any need for me to stay here any longer."
"I'm not mocking you, but I sincerely congratulate you."
"How can I not tell the difference between sincerity and falsehood? Do you think I'm a fool?" Jiang Yan scolded Chen Dachang angrily.
Chen Dachang raised his hand to stop Jiang Yan, "Stop talking nonsense. I asked you out today because I wanted to ask you when Zhou Jin will come ashore."
Jiang Yan sneered, "Don't tell me I don't know when he'll come ashore. Even if I knew, I wouldn't be able to tell you."
"Are you sure you want to refuse cooperation?" Chen Dachang looked at her with a half-smile. "Zhou Jin's situation hasn't been good in recent years! How many more years do you think he can remain so arrogant? And guess when he'll die?"
"Don't try to scare me. After all these years, he's still alive and well. You want to kill him? Dream on."
"Over the past few years, our family has been away from Jiangnan and has been unable to take care of him. Now that we're back in Jiangnan, we'll be able to take care of him once and for all. You only have two choices: cooperate or die!"
Jiangnan sneered, "I wasn't brought up to be scared."
Chen Dachang smiled and said, "Then there's nothing to discuss. Goodbye!"
Chen Dachang stood up and left decisively.
"etc!"
Jiang Yan suddenly called out to Chen Dachang who was walking away.
Chen Dachang turned around and looked at her, "Anything else you want to say?"
"I want to go back to the capital." Jiang Yan stood on the steps, staring down at Chen Dachang. "Make sure you send me back to the capital afterwards. This is the only condition for my cooperation."
Chen Dachang frowned, "Why are you going back to the capital? There is no place for you in the capital anymore."
Jiang Yan laughed. "I like Beijing. I just want to go back to Beijing. If you don't agree to my conditions, I won't cooperate. The worst that can happen is that I die in Jiangnan. At least I can live happily for a few days before I die."
Chen Dachang looked at Jiang Yan as if he was looking at a lunatic.
"First, tell our family what you are doing back in the capital."
"Settling down and retiring!" Jiang Yan giggled.
"Ridiculous! Change the terms."
"Except sending me back to the capital, I will not accept any conditions."
"Then go to hell."
Chen Dachang was very decisive and did not accept Jiang Yan's threats at all.
Jiang Yan was furious and threw a teacup at Chen Dachang, "You old bastard, stop right there."
Chen Dachang was furious. He rushed to Jiang Yan in two steps and grabbed her neck. "Do you think you are still Jiang Shuyi? You are shameless. Believe it or not, we will kill you right now."
"You, you, you let go. You can't kill me."
Jiang Yan's face turned purple, she had difficulty breathing, and she was terrified. Her heart was pounding wildly.
She didn't expect Chen Dachang to suddenly explode.
"So what if we kill you? Do you think your life is worth anything? According to official documents, you are already dead. We killed you to fulfill the late emperor's decree. We killed people according to his orders. Who dares to question me?"
Jiang Yan was scared and burst into tears, "Let me go, let me go! I don't want to die."
"If you're so afraid of death, why do you choose to die? We have a hundred ways to deal with you. What qualifications do you have to challenge us? We're asking you to cooperate to give you face, but you don't know what's good for you. We've seen many women like you, and they all end up dead."
"I don't want to die, please let me go. I promise you, I will cooperate with you and I won't go to the capital. Please let me go!"
Jiang Yan burst into tears.
Chen Dachang pushed her away.
Jiang Yang fell directly to the ground, leaving a circle of shocking purple marks on his neck.
It was obvious that at some point, Chen Dachang really had the intention to kill.
After several years of overseas colonial career, Chen Dachang has become accustomed to killing.
If you don't obey, then die.
Chen Dachang said coldly, "Behave yourself and don't try to be clever. Someone will contact you. As soon as Zhou Jin comes ashore, send the news as soon as possible. Our patience is limited, so don't try to challenge our bottom line."
After saying that, Chen Dachang flicked his sleeves and left.
Jiang Yan fell to the ground, crying loudly.
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