Snow covered Jinling, and Fu Xiaoguan and Su Jue went out.
Qin Bingzhong's house was even more deserted than last year.
His son Qin Dingfang took up the post of magistrate of Ningzhou in the northern Yellow River last year. This year, the Yellow River is flooded, so it is obvious that he will not be able to return for the New Year.
His grandson Qin Chengye went to Xishan. Fu Xiaoguan came back from his wedding and stayed for two days. Then he hurried to Pingling, saying that some craftsmen there had made new materials.
He only has his granddaughter Qin Ruoxue by his side. Even the servants in the mansion were reduced by him a few days ago. It was not because of money, but because he would spend the rest of his life in Xishan Academy. He would rarely come back to live in the mansion in Jinling City except during festivals like this.
When the doorman informed that Young Master Fu was coming to visit, Qin Bingzhong was chatting with Qin Mowen in the study. Qin Mowen was the son of Qin Huizhi, but he had always liked to hang out with this great-grandfather, perhaps because of the scent of ink here, or perhaps because of the bookish air on Qin Bingzhong.
The grandfather and grandson went to the door. Fu Xiaoguan smiled and saluted Qin Bingzhong, said hello to Qin Mowen, and the group went to the study.
Fu Xiaoguan took out the "Neo-Confucian Code" and handed it to Qin Bingzhong. "Brother, this is roughly what it is. The details may differ from what Wen Xingzhou wrote. After all, I have only read it once, but the main idea is not deviated. Please take a look."
Qin Bingzhong's old eyes suddenly flashed with a light. He took it and flipped through it, and then ignored them.
Fu Xiaoguan looked at Qin Mowen and said with a smile, "Are you really going to Guanxi Road at the beginning of the new year?"
"Well, it's almost certain. This was my father's idea. He said that although Guanxi Road is a bit remote, it's more likely to achieve political achievements..." Qin Mowen poured tea for Fu Xiaoguan and Su Jue, his face a little depressed. "I can roughly guess what my father is thinking. I will be sent out for three to five years, make some achievements, and then be transferred back to Nanjing. I can basically join the government office."
Fu Xiaoguan sighed in his heart. Eunuch Jia showed him a piece of intelligence from the ant colony. The intelligence said to pay close attention to Qin Huizhi, the vice-chancellor of the Yu Dynasty's Political Affairs Hall. We intercepted the intelligence sent from Jinling to Xirong Mansion, and this person was most likely bribed by Yu Wenshu.
Qin Huizhi is Qin Mowen's father, and Qin Huizhi's daughter Qin Xianghuai is the wife of Dong Xiujing, the eldest son of Dong Shangshu. In other words, Qin Huizhi and Dong Kangping are relatives.
If the ant colony really found evidence of collusion between Qin Huizhi and the fourth prince Yu Wenshu, and if Yu Wenshu really stubbornly instigated the Western Frontier Army General Xue Dingshan to rebel, the network of relationships involved would be quite extensive.
Perhaps Minister Dong is not a big problem, but as the son of Qin Huizhi, Qin Mowen is in great danger.
Not only his career, but even his life is in danger.
Fu Xiaoguan certainly didn't want his good friend to lose his life innocently, but he couldn't be sure whether Qin Huizhi really had any plans, so he decided to wait until he had accurate information about the ant colony before making any plans.
"So your position as an official is comfortable. The road is already paved, and it's a broad avenue. Just keep going down this path, and you'll be granted a title of nobility, a prime minister, a wife, and children in the near future. You're nothing like me, a small landowner by the river, rootless and like a duckweed, having to fight for everything myself."
"Get lost!" Qin Mowen glared at Fu Xiaoguan. "What else do you want? You're not even eighteen yet, and you're already a third-rank official. Counting the dynasties, how many people of your age have held high positions?"
"Besides, you've actually started a family and established a career. I must have offended my matchmaker in my past life, so I still can't find the woman I like. You're a man who doesn't know the hunger of a hungry man. Don't talk bad about me in front of me anymore!"
"Hahaha..." Fu Xiaoguan laughed and turned the topic back to the main business. "Have you talked to His Majesty?"
"We've discussed it, but His Majesty said next year will be the second batch of pilot projects, with only ten new locations added. Guanxi Dao originally planned to include Fengzhou and Yinzhou, but I put a lot of effort into fitting Xiazhou in. According to His Majesty, the third batch of pilot projects will begin the year after next. If everything goes smoothly in these sixteen pilot counties next year, I'm afraid we'll roll it out on a grand scale the year after..."
Qin Mowen stared at Fu Xiaoguan and asked, "Your Majesty said that the specific matters depend on how the Ministry of Commerce arranges them. You are the Minister of Commerce, so why don't you give me some information in advance so that I can have a better idea of what's going on."
"I haven't considered the specific arrangements yet. For the Ministry of Commerce, the real focus next year will be on popularizing business laws. We must first establish these rules, and then improve these laws as we promote business. Only in this way can we ensure healthy business development."
Qin Mowen thought about it and nodded. This was an unprecedented major change, and Fu Xiaoguan's move was naturally for safety reasons.
"If you really take office in Guanxi Province, I have a few suggestions for you to discuss."
"Speaking!"
"Guanxi Province is geographically remote, with grain production concentrated in Fengxiang, Yaozhou, Tongzhou, and Yanzhou. These four prefectures are considered the wealthiest in Guanxi Province. The remaining prefectures don't have favorable geographical conditions, but they also have their own unique characteristics.
For example, the fruits in Fuzhou, the strange stones in Danzhou, the coal mines in Longzhou, etc. These are all the unique resources of a place. If you can make good use of these resources, it will have a great impact on the economy of Guanxi Road.
Business isn't just about building workshops and producing goods. We can also obtain them from nature. They are also commodities, they are also in demand, and they can also solve employment problems. Why not do it?
Qin Mowen's eyes lit up. He had been studying Guanxi Road these days, but he became more and more frustrated. Compared with Jiangbei Road, the population there was half as small, and the arable land area was 70% less!
His subconscious mind still puts agriculture first, and as for business, he is still at the primary stage of waiting for merchants to set up workshops.
After listening to what Fu Xiaoguan said, he suddenly understood - since merchants can build workshops, the government can also call on villagers to exploit natural resources.
This is a win-win strategy, and it is no longer passive. This kid is really amazing. I have to spend more time with him before leaving Shangjing and gain some rare experience from him.
Just as Qin Mowen was thinking about this, the doorman walked in with someone.
Fu Xiaoguan turned around and saw that it was Qin Huizhi, the Vice Minister of State Affairs!
Qin Huizhi also looked at Fu Xiaoguan, not surprised at all. A smile appeared on his serious face. "I heard that you were here, so I came here specially to see you."
Fu Xiaoguan was startled for a moment, but a smile instantly broke out on his face. He bowed and said, "I'm flattered. I was worried that Master Qin was coming to question me because I hadn't been to the Ministry of Commerce."
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