Bai Shinian said, "Sir, why don't you ask carefully?" He was really worried about his master. If he let someone with ulterior motives in, his official career would be over. And his own wealth would be gone along with it.
"Okay, I have my own plans. Go and arrange for him to start working. Come find me in the study later. I have something to ask you."
At this point, Bai Shinian could only bow his head and do as he was told.
After making arrangements for Qin Chong, Bai Shinian rushed to the yamen without stopping.
As Jianzhou became more prosperous, the government offices also saw upgrades. The offices were unified and reorganized. They now looked clean and tidy, much better than before.
"Master Bai." After exchanging a few pleasantries with the officials coming and going, Bai Shinian went to Master Jiang's office - the study.
"Shi Nian, you've arrived just in time. Tell me how the investigation in Baiji County went."
Xu Jing had hoped that the rich would help those who followed him, but plans couldn't keep up with the pace of change. The imperial court had even sent spies to investigate his actions, so he had to move faster. He needed to ensure that Baiji and Chishui counties also benefited from Jianzhou's prosperity within six months, so that his painstaking efforts would be justified.
Bai Shinian took a small stool and sat down, saying, "Master, your guess is correct. Magistrate Song of Baiji County is the same as the one in Chishui County. On weekdays, he is sloppy in his work and can't make any mistakes, but inside, he is in chaos. Lord Song is about to be dismissed, and with no hope of promotion, he is looking for any money he can get. He has already made a lot of money from the case."
It turned out that the magistrate of Baiji County, Song, was in cahoots with local ruffians. The money he received from the imperial court wasn't enough to support his family, so to make more money, he resorted to collusion between the underworld and the criminal world. He not only accepted bribes from the ruffians, but also from prisoners. In the end, he sentenced each of them to fifty lashes of the cane, a fine imposed on both sides, and he considered himself a good person.
But as time went on, not only did the common people complain about him, but even the ruffians disliked Mr. Song and often picked on him.
Lord Song also has a protective umbrella. He relies on the fact that his daughter married a certain prefect as his second wife and doesn't take those ruffians seriously.
It's the kind of situation where one meal has no idea where the next one will come from, and one day at a time is all it takes.
Mr. Zhang from Chishui County was even more outrageous. Not only did he bully the villagers and do evil things, but he was also tempted by women. Not only did he take in several concubines, he also kept three or five other women outside.
There is no harm without comparison. Bai Shinian originally thought that his master was hopelessly greedy for money, but when compared with Lord Song and Lord Zhang, his master was simply an honest official. They were really good people.
After a moment's contemplation, Xu Jing said, "What industry generates the highest revenue in Baiji County?"
"In reply to Master, it's the pharmaceutical industry. Pharmacy business is booming. Mr. Song's eldest wife owns several pharmacies. It's no exaggeration to say that they make a fortune every day."
"Oh, so many people are sick?"
Bai Shinian shook his head and said, "It's not that there are too many sick people, it's because they're selling medicinal herbs. They make medicinal herbs from local ginseng and deer antlers and sell them to the gentlemen in Kanto."
With exploitation at every level from its place of origin to Kanto, it is indeed a good deal that ginseng worth one tael of silver can be sold for hundreds of taels.
Xu Jing thought for a moment and said, "How about we cut off their business?"
"Master, you can't do that." Bai Shinian looked at him worriedly and said, "You know, Lord Song hasn't been promoted in nine years. He's become a local tyrant. If you cut off his escape route, he'll definitely come after you."
Bai Shinian was open-minded. His master was destined for a high position. But he couldn't let himself be tarnished by cutting off someone else's escape route, thereby ruining his own future. That would be like picking up sesame seeds and losing watermelons.
"No, let's go to Baiji County and buy the herbs at a low price, and then resell them."
"That won't work either." Bai Shinian had been around him for a long time and knew he wanted to be a middleman and make a profit. But selling medicinal herbs required a fixed customer base, so it wasn't that easy.
Besides, Jianzhou's bathhouse business hasn't reached its peak yet. Switching to making medicinal herbs now is really inappropriate.
Xu Jing also knew Bai Shinian's concerns. After taking such a strong dose of medicine, not only his subordinates but also he himself were very panicked.
Xu Jing thought that he should calm Bai Shinian down.
"Think carefully, would you like to see Magistrate Song become the sole ruler?"
Bai Shinian shook his head.
Xu Jing continued, "Don't you want him to completely submit to me?"
"That being said, sir, what do you have in mind?" Bai Shinian directly asked him the question.
"Of course, I'll give him the benefits he wants. It just so happens that Li He and I are about to open our bathhouse, so we can add a new item."
"I'd like to hear more about it."
Xu Jing smiled and said, "We can open a beauty specialty. Everyone loves beauty. Women are especially easy to earn. We can ask Magistrate Song to first introduce a batch of medicinal herbs to test the effect. He is willing to curry favor with me, so he will definitely not bargain with me for the first batch of herbs. He may even give it to me as a favor. I can take this opportunity to try it out with those young ladies."
Is it really possible?
Bai Shinian was skeptical.
"Let's do this. Go home and rest for a day, then go to Baiji County to ask Magistrate Song for some medicinal herbs. I'll write you a prescription then."
Bai Shinian responded, suddenly remembering the notice he had seen at the city gate. "Master, you're going to select the top ten shops. When I came back, I saw quite a few shopkeepers lining up in front of the yamen runners, saying they were paying to register."
Xu Jing laughed and said, "Why, you only know it now?"
He was so busy that he had no idea what his master was thinking. He was so full of ideas that his mind was about to explode.
Bai Shinian didn't dare to complain to his master, so he had to swallow the bitterness and digest it himself.
"Shi Nian, I still have too few close friends around me. Do you think Qin Chong can be a close friend of mine?"
Bai Shinian firmly opposed it. What a joke! A newcomer could squeeze out his position. That would be outrageous. "Master, please think twice. He has an unknown background and cannot be reused."
"Thank you for your hard work." Xu Jing remembered something and tossed him a purse. "Travel allowance."
"Hey, thank you, sir." After receiving the money, Bai Shinian was overjoyed. "Master, who do you plan to entrust to take charge of the Top Ten Stores?"
After much deliberation, Xu Jing decided to let his own housekeeper, Li Guo, take over. Li Guo had been with him for over half a year and was a capable housekeeper, and could also handle the overall situation.
Bai Shinian had no reason to object, as Li Guo was still trustworthy.
"When will the selection be completed?"
"Three days later."
Are they in such a hurry? Could it be that they want to coincide with the opening of the hot spring pool in Paradise on Earth? After much thought, Bai Shinian could only come up with this answer.
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