Chapter 490 I am willing to support
The reason why Meng Huaining was so excited was because he heard an astronomical figure to him.
The yield of corn after drying can reach more than 1,000 kilograms per mu. You should know that the wheat that people grow all year round, including the coarse flour made from wheat husks, can only yield 300 kilograms per mu, and this is in a good year.
If the year is bad, a reduction in production is a minor matter, but in serious cases, it can be said that there is no harvest at all.
Grain production was low and the amount of tax collected by the government was very limited. Even opening the granaries to release grain during famines could not solve much of the problem, and countless people starved to death.
If the grain output is high, the situation will be different. The government will collect 30% of the grain rent, which is equivalent to more than the original grain output.
If this is the case, there will no longer be any need to worry about people being unable to survive in years of disaster.
At the moment, Jiu Sao couldn't tell him the specific price of the corn seeds. Even if the price exceeded his budget, he had to find a way to get all the seeds.
"Sister-in-law Jiu, I will go back to the government office to prepare the money for the grain and seeds."
Having said that, Meng Huaining was about to turn around and leave.
He only had three days to raise the money, as this matter was urgent.
If Meng Huaining wanted to find a place to raise money, he could only bite the bullet and go to the prefect to ask for help.
The prefect was new, and they didn't have much interaction, but from the last time the prefect dealt with the more than 200 assassins, it could be seen that he was not a capable person.
Meng Huaining didn't dare to hold too much hope for him, but if he didn't ask the prefect for help, he couldn't think of any other solution for the time being, so he could only bite the bullet and give it a try.
Some time ago, when Mo Chuhan returned home, he mentioned that the government's tax silver had been almost used up, and Meng Huaining was worried about the silver to purchase corn seeds.
Seeing him preparing to leave in a hurry, Mo Jiuye called him.
"Is my brother-in-law worried about money?"
He had already discussed this matter with his wife. If the government could not come up with so much silver to purchase the corn seeds, they could temporarily sell it to him on credit. They couldn't let Meng Huaining get into trouble over such a small matter.
As long as there is a good corn harvest next year, Meng Huaining will not have to worry about returning the money to them.
When asked this question, Meng Huaining was obviously a little embarrassed.
"To be honest, Brother Jiu, the government doesn't have much treasury money. I plan to go to the provincial capital to think of a solution."
Although Mo Jiuye was not active in official circles, he had heard Mo Chuhan talk about what kind of person the prefect was.
If Meng Huaining goes to him for help, he will most likely run into a resistance.
In fact, Meng Huaining was well aware of this. He went to the prefect to seek a solution, even if it was just a routine matter.
Even if I could get a small amount of silver from the prefect, it would be of some help to me.
On the contrary, although he gained nothing from this trip, it also allowed him to see the true face of the prefect.
Mo Jiuye walked forward and pulled him back to his original seat.
"Your sister-in-law and I know that the government office is poor, and you are a good official who is honest and cares about the people. The treasury must not have much silver. The last time we bought sweet potatoes, we spent two thousand taels, which must have emptied the government office's coffers."
Listening to what Ninth Brother said, Meng Huaining's face turned red.
"It's all my incompetence that prevents Yuncheng from becoming prosperous."
"Sir Meng, it's not that you are incompetent. You have done well enough. This is witnessed by all the people in Yuncheng." Although Tang Mingrui once regarded Meng Huaining as his rival in love, he was also clear about one fact, that is, the two of them were in love with each other, and he couldn't just interfere whenever he wanted.
Especially when he was framed for hiring a killer last time, Meng Huaining helped him clear his name so quickly.
For Tang Mingrui, he owed Meng Huaining a favor.
"I am a humble man, but after coming to the Northwest, thanks to my Ninth Brother and Sister-in-law, I have made some money. I am willing to help you buy corn seeds."
In fact, Tang Mingrui didn’t know that this was also the second solution Meng Huaining thought of.
Although Yuncheng is not rich, it is not completely without rich people.
If he went to the prefect to raise money but returned empty-handed, he would find a way to call on the rich to lend a helping hand.
Since Tang Mingrui took the initiative to speak, there was no reason for him to refuse.
"Purchasing grain is something the government should be responsible for, but unfortunately I took over a poor government office, and the treasury doesn't have that much silver.
In this case, I would like to thank Mr. Tang for his generous help on behalf of the people of Yuncheng."
After saying this, Meng Huaining bowed to Tang Mingrui without hesitation.
Although Tang Mingrui was doing well in the business world, he had not yet reached the level of becoming a powerful imperial merchant in the Dashun Dynasty as recorded in history.
Now, apart from having some money in his hands, he is just an ordinary citizen.
How could he dare to accept such a generous gift from the county magistrate?
Tang Mingrui quickly returned the greeting.
"Master Meng, you are too polite. It is my duty to do things that benefit the people. I cannot accept your gift."
Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran had originally planned to sell the corn seeds on credit to the government, but Tang Mingrui intercepted them.
In this case, there is no need for them to steal the limelight. Perhaps this is the first stepping stone for Tang Mingrui to become an imperial businessman in the future.
Tang Mingrui thought Meng Huaining would be polite before accepting it, but he didn't expect the other party to be so straightforward.
Anyway, he didn't say this to be pretentious, and he wouldn't be shy if the other party was straightforward.
"Okay, Tang will send someone to deliver 10,000 taels of silver to the yamen tomorrow. If it's not enough, Lord Meng, please let us know."
Although Meng Huaining didn't know how much silver the corn seeds would cost, ten thousand taels was not a small amount for him.
Even if he called on all the merchants in Yuncheng to raise funds, they probably wouldn't be able to collect that much together.
The more he looked at Tang Mingrui, the more he felt that he had a bad temper.
"I've taken note of Boss Tang's generosity. If there's anything you need my help with, as long as it doesn't violate my principles, I'll do my best to help."
Although the money for purchasing corn seeds had been solved, Meng Huaining still planned to go to the provincial capital.
He had been the magistrate of Yuncheng for a year and had never troubled the prefect with anything.
This time, as it concerns the livelihood of the people, he decided to go.
Especially now, it was already afternoon, and it might be dark by the time he arrived at the provincial government office.
This is better, as it lets the prefect know that he came so late to ask for help, it must be an urgent matter.
"It's getting late. I have to go to the provincial capital first. Brother Jiu, Sister Jiu, you guys chat with Boss Tang first."
After Meng Huaining left, the few of them started talking about corn again.
"Brother Jiu, Sister Jiu, as you know, I'm now in the restaurant business. The dishes I made today with fresh corn are also very delicious. Can you sell me some fresh corn as well?"
"Of course you can sell fresh corn to Brother Tang, but fresh corn has a short shelf life and its maturity period is very concentrated. If you want to make dishes with fresh corn, you can only do so within a short period of time." He Zhiran explained.
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