Chapter 710 712. Jealousy
Each state and county was poorer than the other, and the money was spent without even a sound.
It’s no wonder that the adults here feel a little heartbroken.
In previous years, when they wanted to collect taxes from all over the country, they were so exhausted that their feet were covered with blisters.
Now this Lord Gu just handed over all the silver so easily.
It’s not that someone hasn’t suggested before that this money be offset by taxes from previous years.
Gu Wenheng, however, argued with them, knowing clearly the situation in various places, yet still asking them to advance the money, wasn't this making things difficult for the officials under him?
Nothing can be done without money, and this is not what Gu Wenheng wants to see.
"Do you know what you are worried about? This is also the reason why I asked you to come here today." Gu Wenheng sat in the main seat and said to the deputy envoys, assistants, clerks, and clerks present.
Everyone present looked eager to hear more details, and no one asked.
Gu Wenheng, "The silver from various places has been taken back by the prefects of each county. The next step is just a matter of time.
Of course, we can't just ignore the things we have on hand.
This is what I think. You gentlemen can divide your troops into several groups and take people to various counties to check. If there are people below who secretly disobey, you gentlemen can deal with it impartially. "
"This..." Cen Gaosong immediately sat up straight, "I have traveled around various counties and states before, and it took me a month to travel along the official roads. If I go to the counties and towns below, it will take a long time."
There was one thing that Cen Gaosong didn't even say clearly. If this back and forth was delayed any longer, maybe everyone wouldn't be able to live well for years.
Gu Wenheng, "I have thought about all this. At this point, we should not be bound by the old rules. We can designate a place by ourselves, instead of relying on a few people to visit..."
Gu Wenheng explained his ideas to everyone. At first, everyone was a little bit unable to accept it. After all, even the minor officials could exercise the same rights, which made them feel offended.
Seeing that they were still in a stalemate, Gu Wenheng spread his hands and said, "If you gentlemen are not afraid of hard work or fatigue, then I can completely follow your ideas and let a few of you be responsible for walking through this Yi Province."
“……”Do I even need to choose?
&
I thought such a life was miserable enough, but at night, Governor Liang held a banquet, and after eating and drinking, we got down to business.
"I think you all know that these days, Master Gu has made a lot of efforts to change the current situation of our province.
Everything he does now is beneficial to the country and the people.
As a colleague, I, the Governor, feel really ashamed.
I can't help from other places, so I can only donate three thousand taels of silver, which is also my humble contribution. I hope that we can open up a few more wastelands in Yi Province, so that the people can live a stable life as soon as possible."
Gu Wenheng quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Governor, you are so righteous. I am happy for the people of Yi Province. It is a blessing for the people here to have a fatherly official like you."
The officials who had been sitting there quietly digesting their food could no longer sit there idly, and they all stood up and praised.
Gu Wenheng waited until they finished flattering him before continuing, "The Governor has generously donated money to support my policy. I am very grateful and have decided to follow his example and donate three thousand taels of silver to build our Yi Province."
All the officials present at the banquet said, “…” Such a banquet would be frustrating no matter how delicious the food was. It seemed that the two had already made plans.
But what can they do? They can only accept the requests one by one.
Cen Gaosong: "…I am also willing to do my best to donate two thousand taels of silver."
Li Mingyun, "...I am also willing to donate silver..."
…
By the time the banquet was over, more than 30,000 taels of silver had been recorded in the registration book.
Governor Liang took a long breath, turned around and looked at Gu Wenheng who had just seen off the guests, and gave him a piece of advice, "Master Gu, this kind of thing can only happen once, not twice."
Gu Wenheng naturally understood this logic. He could persuade Jin Qianqian to pay more silver, but the officials under him would also benefit together at that time. It was reasonable for them to pay a little now.
He smiled and bowed to Governor Liang, "Thank you for what we did today. The people here will definitely remember your kindness."
Governor Liang stroked his beard and smiled, "I am still very optimistic about you. I hope you will not let me down."
If he didn't think highly of Gu Wenheng, he wouldn't have helped. What's more, it would cost him several thousand taels of silver, which was enough to make him feel distressed for several days.
The head of the family donated money, and the backyard and local officials and gentry also expressed their views.
Jin Qianqian did not keep a low profile this time. Under the banner of supporting her master, she directly donated 100,000 taels of silver, shocking the entire Yi provincial government.
Knowing the history of these two people's rise to wealth, people like Governor Liang were not surprised at all.
In their eyes, this amount of silver may not be worth their entire fortune, but to Gu Jin, it may just be a small fraction.
But many people didn't know about it, and they thought they smelled something, so they asked around to find out the origin of the silver.
By the time they found out the source, everyone in the government was jealous.
Zhang Guihong, the daughter of Cen Zhang, talked about this with her daughter in the mansion, her tone full of bitterness, "I really can't believe that Gu Jin is an imperial merchant. With Master Gu as her support, she must be able to make a lot of money."
Seeing that only the mother and daughter were in the inner hall, Cen Yueqin smiled bitterly and said, "Mom, we can just talk about it in private. You have to be careful outside."
"What did I say wrong? She is a woman who has built such a big business. I don't believe that she doesn't have the support of Master Gu behind her.
How much wealth do you think she has that she could donate 100,000 taels of silver just by throwing away her hands?
I remember that day on the road, she looked so stingy that she couldn't even come up with a decent gift. Was she trying to be nice?"
Cen Yueqin, "...Mother, didn't Madam Gu already give me a meeting gift at the party later? Don't mention this anymore.
Besides, we were on the road before, and it was normal for us to not be prepared when we suddenly went to visit them. I remember that you didn't seem to give the two young masters of the Gu family a gift at that time, right?"
Cen Zhangshi, "...How can this be the same? She has so much money, and she has people serving her. It is impossible that she can't take it out. I think she doesn't take us seriously at all."
Seeing that she was being stubborn again, Cen Yueqin knew that if she didn't explain today's incident to her clearly, she would definitely offend people in the future.
"We have already found out that, apart from the soap and perfumed soap that were offered as tribute, the entire maritime trade in Lucheng was created by Madam Gu with the lion's share.
Not to mention the Tianfu restaurants in various places, which are a den of money. Didn’t you miss the dishes in Tianfu restaurants before? These are all Madam Gu’s properties. "
The more Cen Zhang listened, the more jealous she became. "You said you could just do one business, but you took on everything. How can people survive?"
(End of this chapter)
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