Chapter 646: Dingzi Juan Shanxi merchants are coming

　　Considering the post, Feng Ziying pondered for a long time, and finally decided to meet.

After all, they are old friends, and of course they have shown some kindness to themselves. Even if the other party has other ideas, this is a fact.

It is impossible for the Shanshan and Shaanxi merchants to keep them out. Even Master Qiao came to ask what the plan was.

 Master Qiao is also from Shanxi, and he cannot escape the fetters of this local relationship.

“Fan Yongzhan (Jin Liangcai, Tian Shenggui, Wang Shaoquan), a common man, has met your Excellency.” The four of them bowed deeply as soon as they entered the room.

Feng Ziying glanced at the four people in front of her. Fan Yongzhan was undoubtedly from the Fan family, Jin Liang was from the Jin family in Luzhou, Tian Shenggui was from Pingyao, and Wang Shaoquan was an acquaintance. He was from Lingshi.

"You're welcome, sit down." Feng Ziying raised her hand and signaled.

 These families should be the leaders among Shanxi businessmen.

Unlike salt merchants, most of these Shanxi merchants are mainly engaged in border trade, with the Tumut people, Chahar people, Ordos people, Horqin people, and of course the Jurchen people, just like the Yehe tribe where Buyangu and the others are located. It was these same Shanxi merchants who connected them with the interior of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The information in this regard from the Ministry of War's Staff Department is still too rough. They only know that there are more than ten Shanxi merchants and large-scale trade outside the border wall, including the Fan family, the Wang family, the Jin family, the Tian family, the Huang family, and the Cao family. Family, Zhai family, Liang family, Chang family, Qu family, etc., but the specifics of these families have close contact with the tribes outside the border wall, the specific types of business, and more detailed interactions are not known.

Especially the trade with the Jurchens, Feng Ziying was originally most concerned about, but the Ministry of War's Staff Department was the weakest in this area.

I have to admit that the national destiny of the Great Zhou Dynasty, which was less than a century old, is already showing some signs of decline, which can be felt in many aspects.

The theory should not be like this, but basically the whole pattern followed the previous Ming Dynasty, which made the entire court increasingly depressed. This cannot be reversed by any one person, not even a certain emperor or chief minister.

The supreme emperor before Yonglong Emperor, Emperor Yuanxi, was exactly an emperor who enjoyed great achievements and advocated extravagance. His more than 40 years of governance caused the entire Zhou Dynasty to suddenly turn from prosperity to decline, which made Feng Ziying feel like Li Longji of the Tang Dynasty. , but the Anshi Rebellion turned into the Renchen Japanese Rebellion, which greatly shook the foundation of the Zhou Dynasty.

 When a dynasty is on the rise, even some contradictions and problems can be hidden under the rising water. When it turns from prosperity to decline, many problems will magnify quickly, and even problems that are not problems will become problems.

During the Xiao Daheng era, the Ministry of War was in a step-by-step state of being a monk and hitting the clock every day. Many affairs were not carried out. Even with a diligent character like Geng Ruxi, it was still difficult to change the overall situation.

After Zhang Jingqiu and Chai Ke took over, Feng Ziying hoped that the situation could be improved, but this would not happen overnight.

Among the people in front of me, the Fan family is undoubtedly the leading figure among Shanxi merchants. The border trade involved probably covers the entire nine borders, and the Wang family is not inferior. However, Wang Shaoquan is not yet the head of the Wang family. There are other people in the previous generation. The two elders are in charge. The Jin family should have close contacts with Chahar, while the Tian family has contacts with Horqin, Xibo tribe and Jurchens.

 This is the basic information Feng Ziying can know about these people, but it is not enough.

Sometimes Feng Ziying feels that she seems to be busier than the prime minister at that time, and the affairs she is involved in cover all fields, including finance, trade, industry, military affairs, and intelligence-related matters, all of which are at least equivalent to modern One of the government's Vice Premiers of the State Council, maybe even a standing one, can look at himself, but he is still a sixth-grade Hanlin Academy editor. This is such a sad thing.

"Master Feng is busy with his affairs. It's really difficult for us to see Master Feng." Fan Yongzhan is in his early fifties, skinny, but very energetic. His small eyes are shining, his goatee is gray, and he wears a gray silk shirt. With a black-faced folding fan, he really looks like a Confucian businessman.

Feng Ziying knew that this guy should be the one who approached Qiao Yingjia, otherwise Master Qiao would not have told her anything.

 Shanxi merchants were very capable and penetrated the entire Zhou Dynasty. Even important ministers such as Ye Xianggao and Fang Congzhe, who were backed by Jiangnan gentry and merchants, were not willing to dismiss these Shanxi merchants easily.

"Fan Gong, please understand. This year, I traveled from the capital to Western Xinjiang and back to the capital. Before my **** was hot, I rushed to Jiangnan. After a few days back, I went to Jiangnan again. I just came back and saw you guys. ?" Feng Ziying said half truthfully and half falsely.

He will not be used to this group of Shanxi merchants. The princes in the court are not willing to fall out with these Shanxi merchants. That is more or less involved in interests. He does not have much to do with them. His father and the Duan family in Datong, It's not my turn to think more about it. Acting freely is consistent with my current identity.

"Haha, I don't dare to complain, but I am just sighing. Your Excellency is now a busy man in the court, and everyone knows that. We naturally understand that the great plan of opening up the sea is related to the great affairs of the court, and the emperor and the ministers of the cabinet attach great importance to it. Only young talents like you can shoulder such an important task." Fan Yongzhan is also used to wind and rain, and he is prone to such flattery.

"Fan Gong's words are serious. I am just following the teachings of all the gentlemen, living up to the emperor's favor, and doing small things." Feng Ziying waved her hand.

"Sir, I am not lying. Although I am waiting in the north, I have long heard that merchants from the south of the Yangtze River could not wait for ten days and a half to see me. The story of five hundred taels of silver in the capital city asking for an introduction is not a lie. That's right." Fan Yongzhan smiled and said, "We should be lucky that this is not in Yangzhou."

 Feng Ziying was also amused by Fan Yongzhan's words. Although this person may not be friends in the future, at least what he said at this time was very pleasant.

"Fan Gong was joking. Well, maybe it happened to be that Ziying was dealing with things at this time that made many people think it would be better to predict things quickly. But in fact, there is no need. The court has its own regulations, and rushing for success may not necessarily lead to success. You can get better results." Feng Ziying said lightly.

Fan Yongzhan took a deep look at the other party. He had long known that being able to hold a high position at such a young age and win the respect of many people was definitely not an easy thing to do, but the other party's sophistication still frightened him.

"Sir, maybe everyone is in a different position, so our thoughts are different. Just like us, now we feel that the court has completely ignored us merchants in the north. The merchants in the south of the Yangtze River have taken it to the next level. We You can only watch them enjoy themselves like a fish in water. You may not feel this feeling. Well, let me give an inappropriate analogy. It's like the imperial court suddenly gave many more places to the provinces in the south of the Yangtze River, but we in the north have fewer places. A big part of it, this is what it feels like, how uncomfortable it is..."

Feng Ziying had to admire that Fan Yongzhan was very good at talking and could arouse people's emotions very easily. This metaphor was very vivid.

"Fan Gong's analogy is inappropriate. I am in Yangzhou. The Haitong bonds are shared by Huizhou merchants and Shanxi merchants. Haitong Bank also welcomes Northland businessmen to join, but it seems that we Northland businessmen are not very interested in it. ." Feng Ziying said with impunity: "I know what Mr. Fan wants to say. Maritime trade is not the specialty of northern merchants. Look at Liaodong and Shandong, there is almost nothing. I am also a clever woman who cannot make a meal without rice."

Fan Yongzhan shook his head, "Sir, we are not the same people as the salt merchants. Please don't confuse us with them in the future. In addition, Haitong Yinzhuang has taken shares. The common people are here to express their attitude. We Shanshan merchants are willing to take shares. It is up to you to decide how much." Yes, we have absolutely nothing to say."

"Oh?" Feng Ziying was surprised. What did this guy want to do? He didn't include these Shanxi businessmen. Of course, he didn't exclude them if they wanted to join him. "Fang Gong is so optimistic about Haitong Silver Village?"

“Haitong Yinzhuang is certainly good, but we are more optimistic about Mr. Feng.” Fan Yongzhan said with certainty.

Feng Ziying found it more and more interesting. Is this guy going to imitate Lu Buwei and make a bet to win against another person? Do you think that the son of your own plane cannot fulfill his destiny?

Even if he doesn’t have so much confidence in himself, does this guy dare to place a big bet, or is he just talking nicely?

"Mr. Fan, I feel a little frightened when you say that." Feng Ziying rubbed her chin unconsciously, "Well, let's do this. I have a general understanding of Gong Fan's purpose, but opening up the sea is the imperial court's established plan and will not change it. Fan If you have any ideas, you can bring them to me, and I can report them to the cabinet at my own opportunity."

"Sir, I heard that your Excellency has a lot of ideas about iron smelting in the North. He thinks that the North is incomparable to Jiangnan in terms of silk weaving and cotton spinning, and Jiangnan has an advantage in tea and porcelain. The only advantage is in iron smelting. , is that right?" Fan Yongzhan said every word.

I see!

Feng Ziying remembered that she had only mentioned this point of view to a few people, including Qi Yongtai, but not Qiao Yingjia. She also mentioned it occasionally with Cui Jingrong, Wei Guangwei, Wu Liangsi and other people when she went to Jiangnan. Unexpectedly, it would spread. It fell into the ears of these Shanxi merchants.

When the iron smelting industry in Foshan, Guangdong, was the best in the world, Feng Ziying mentioned that Northland had more potential in the iron smelting industry. If it had been anyone else, he would have been scorned or even sprayed with blood. But he was Feng Ziying. , but really few people dare to do this.

Even this group of Shanxi merchants couldn't help but feel excited after hearing such news. Finally, after planning, they decided to come here to find out what happened at all costs.

But this is a good thing. No matter what these Shanxi merchants have done before or what they are still doing now, the money in their bags is good. If they can guide these Shanxi merchants to take the road of industrial salvation, wouldn't it be a good thing? What?

Of course, if someone insists on being stubborn, you can’t blame them.

 (End of this chapter)