At dusk, the pleasure boat slowly approached the shore, and Yin Zhengmao and his wife saw Zhao Liben... uh, and his girlfriend off the boat.
The Governor-General is very busy with military affairs, and it is a great honor for him to spare a day to accompany Zhao Liben and Ye.
After the old couple got into the car and drove away, Yin Zhengmao glanced at his wife and saw that Zhuang's smiling face rounded her lips, slightly pouting, and then she pursed her lips, squeezing out a silent stream of air from between her teeth.
A glimmer of joy flashed across Yin Zhengmao's eyes. The couple then got on their sedan chairs with dignity, and, accompanied by their personal guards, they returned to the Governor's Mansion, one after the other.
Sitting in the eight-man silver-topped sedan chair, Yin Zhengmao couldn't help but grin...
The money-making target he set for himself during his three-year term was two million taels.
It was quite difficult to achieve the goal. Although the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi was a high position, Guangxi was too poor and could only make money from Guangdong. Unfortunately, the Governor of Guangdong was a very stubborn person, so he could not make money freely.
As a result, in the six months since he took office, he racked his brains but only managed to plunder 200,000 taels, and the progress of making money was far behind plan.
Yin Butang was so anxious that he couldn't sleep at night, but he didn't expect that Uncle Zhao's move would allow him to exceed the three-year plan!
The Zhao family is rich, open-minded, and generous! Unlike Lin Hongzhong, who is stingy.
That guy claimed to give me 20% of the shares and dividends every six months. I only took it once, a mere 100,000 taels. All in all, I could get a total of 600,000 taels from Mr. Lin in three years and six times.
Someone said, isn't there a dividend every year? There will be more in three years. Yin Zhengmao is not childish. He has traveled to many places and knows what it means to be forgotten. When he is no longer in Guangdong, how could the Lin surnamed Lin still chase after him and give him money?
Therefore, Yin Zhengmao never talked about those empty words, he only recognized real cash.
Uncle Zhao is really honest, he spent two million taels at once. Oh, yes, there is also the five hundred thousand taels that Ye gave to the lady.
A full two and a half million taels! But I can only protect them for two and a half years. That's one million taels a year in protection fees, and I don't have to take the initiative to do anything!
He originally thought that two hundred thousand taels a year was a lot, but Uncle Zhao doubled it. It was simply a case of comparing people to death and comparing goods to waste!
Yin Butang, who was always dignified and steady, couldn't help humming a little tune with joy.
"The Great General of Guanxi Cavalry, who defeated the enemy last year and was awarded a new honor. He was awarded two million gold coins by the emperor, and a beautiful woman was welcomed in Luoyang..."
Well, I can find a concubine to reward myself. I heard that the women in Annan are fair-skinned, beautiful, and have good figures, especially their waist strength is good, not inferior to the women in Datong...
~~
After returning to the Governor's Mansion, Yin Zhengmao undressed with the help of his maid and changed into his homely Taoist robe. Then he called Master Jin and asked him what important matters he had to deal with today.
"Oh my god, Old Jin, what did you do today? Why do you look so haggard?" Yin Zhengmao was shocked to see that Master Jin was so tired that he couldn't even lift his eyelids.
"Students... overworked, it's okay, just take a rest." Master Jin said it vaguely with a guilty conscience. He didn't expect the bell to be so effective. Amid the concubine's cheers, Master Jin couldn't help but return to the stage again, and the result was like this.
Because his vanity was satisfied like never before, he returned the favor and reported to the minister that Lin Hongzhong had been waiting for a whole day.
"Oh?" Yin Zhengmao raised his eyebrows when he heard this and cursed inwardly, "How dare you, that stingy Boyi, come here!"
He was going to ask Master Jin to see him off, but then he changed his mind and thought, despite Uncle Zhao's boasting, it was still unclear whether his grandson's fleet could defeat the red-haired devils. In fact, judging from past records, the Portuguese had no chance of losing.
If Mr. Zhao cannot break the myth of the Red-haired Devil being invincible at sea, then he will have to rely on the Portuguese to deal with the pirates in the future. So it is better to leave a way out for them so that they can meet again in the future.
Thinking of this, he slowly nodded and said, "Then let's meet."
He put on his shoes and went to the living room to meet the guests.
Lin Hongzhong drank all the Pu'er tea until it turned into plain water. Finally, the governor arrived and he quickly stood up to greet him.
"No need to be polite. Why can't we wait until tomorrow to discuss something?" Yin Butang sat down in the main seat without looking at the seat.
Director Lin had no choice but to hold his swollen belly and stood in the hall to explain the whole story. At the end, he said anxiously: "The governor's official letter has not been sent out yet. The minister only needs to say a word to stop it. If we wait until it is sent out before stopping it, it will be embarrassing for everyone."
"I understand. You can go back first." Yin Zhengmao listened patiently, then served tea and sent the guest away.
“Minister…” Seeing him so cold, Lin Hongzhong got angry and couldn’t help but asked, “Can you write a note for me to take back…”
"Are you teaching me how to do things?" Yin Zhengmao glanced at him, which made Lin Hongzhong feel uneasy.
"I dare not, I am guilty..." Lin Hongzhong knelt down quickly. This posture squeezed his **, which was swollen.
"So, it is said that if you keep company with someone you know well, you will be corrupted. Master Lin, you have been led astray by the red-haired devil." Yin Bu Tang scolded him with a dark face, "You are so ignorant! Although I am the superior of Lin Zhongcheng, he is also the governor of a province, and we still have to take care of his face in Guangdong! Besides, you know that I am about to suppress the bandits entrenched in Huizhou and Chaozhou. Without the full support of Lin Zhongcheng, how can I fight this war? If the three armies are hungry, can you and the Portuguese send me supplies by boat?"
"..."Faced with the Governor-General's anger, Lin Hongzhong felt like he was going to pee.
"Besides, it's just Tuen Mun, right? Just give it to Lin Daoqian first, and consider it as my reward to him." Yin Butang slapped his hands and rubbed them, saying, "Aren't the Portuguese living well in Macau? Stay a little longer, and after I succeed in suppressing the bandits, I'll find you a better place to put them!"
"Yes, thank you, Minister..." Lin Hongzhong didn't dare to say a word. He realized that in the past two hundred years of the imperial dynasty, officials had long despised merchants to the core.
"As for the matter of Jiangnan Group, you were wrong first, so it's normal for them to come and seek revenge." Yin Zhengmao added, "Don't you brag all day that the Portuguese are invincible on the sea? Then what are you afraid of? Just fight them head-on. Isn't strength better than nonsense?"
"I understand." Lin Hongzhong slowly got up from the ground and left without saying anything else.
He doesn't want to say anything now, he just wants to pee...
I don't know what kind of magic potion the Zhao family has poured into this old Yin, and it's clear that he won't help either side. Forget it, the county magistrate might as well take care of it now, or go and ask the officials in the provincial capital to see if he can do something secretly, put a stumbling block on them or something like that...
~~
On the ship sailing to Guangzhou, Zhao Liben lay on Ye's legs and enjoyed her massaging his temples.
"My goodness, when I heard him shout two million taels, I almost blurted out whether it was gold or silver..." Zhao Liben said with his eyes slightly closed. He didn't feel uncomfortable, he just wanted to feel comfortable...
"If he knew that even if he asked for two million taels of gold, My Lord would give it to him, I wonder if he would regret it to death." Ye smiled with her hands covering her mouth, which actually looked a bit girlish.
"I don't mind spending money, but my nephew Yin obviously doesn't know how much profit there is at sea. If I give him too much, it might not be good." Zhao Liben said calmly, "I guess Lin Hongzhong is not just being stingy. He is afraid that once the governor knows how much money he makes, he will take maritime trade seriously. Then the Wuyang Trade House will have to stand aside..."
"There's a saying in Guangdong that goes 'playing the pig to eat the tiger', and that's probably what Master Lin is thinking." Ye said with admiration, "You are truly worthy of being called an elder, you can see through people's hearts at a glance."
"Hehe." Zhao Liben felt comfortable being photographed, and said with a smug smile: "Besides, two million taels is not a small amount. The Southern Ministry of Revenue can't collect that much silver in a year."
As he said this, he sighed, "If it weren't for my grandson or your granddaughter opening that bank, and printing pieces of paper to use as money, I wouldn't be willing to bleed so much."
"The silver notes still need to be redeemed." Ye smiled and said, "It's no different from real gold and silver."
"It makes no difference!" Zhao Liben sneered and said, "I'm in charge of the transfer department, don't I understand? It's just a way to gain people's trust. After a long time, everyone believes their nonsense, and they can happily print pieces of paper as money!"
"No one really understands money better than you." Ye looked as if she had just been enlightened.
"Hehe, I am also a wise man after the event. The principle is simple indeed, but if that boy hadn't done it, no one would have thought of it." Zhao Liben sighed, "What kind of family can give birth to such a genius? It's really not easy."
"Of course it's your blood..." Ye looked at Zhao Liben in fascination and said, "Only your blood can be so outstanding!"
"Oh, hahahaha..." Zhao Liben laughed happily. How could he not love such a supporting role?
~~
Nothing happened that night, and the next day the boat arrived at Baietan.
Zhao Liben dressed neatly with the help of Ye, stretched himself on the deck, and said in high spirits: "We have arrived in Guangzhou, and there are more difficult tasks waiting for me! Alas, my life is miserable..."
"Your Excellency is really working too hard..." Ye was heartbroken.
When the boat stopped at the official ship dock, they saw the fat Guangdong Provincial Surveillance Commissioner Wu Yangxing, who had been waiting for a long time.
"Okay, you go into the city first. I'll talk to some old friends and do some foreplay." Zhao Liben left Ye on the boat and went down to talk to Wu Yangxing.
"Brother Meng Da, have you invited everyone?"
"How dare we neglect your orders, bro. Everyone is here." Wu Yangxing said solemnly, "Everyone is ready to be frank with you and have a soul-touching exchange. I think you will have a hard time in this stage."
"Well, if you work hard enough, you can grind an iron rod into a needle." Zhao Liben said with a determined look, which made Ye feel intoxicated again. You are such a real man!
The two were talking seriously, but when Ye's boat sailed away, they suddenly looked at each other and smiled in an extremely obscene way.
"We have already bought all the famous prostitutes in Guangdong City. The annual Hai Tian Grand Banquet is just waiting for Big Brother to go and start the feast!" Wu Yangxing put his arm around Zhao Liben's shoulder and said with a lewd smile, "Big Brother, do you want to have some oysters before going?"
"No need. I am gifted and energetic. Meng Da, I will lead the way!" Zhao Liben said impatiently with his eyes shining.
p.s. I will write one more update as soon as possible... It’s better not to wait, otherwise I will feel so guilty.