Chapter 271 – Stone Breaking

“Discretion?”

Zhang Anshi looked at Chen Li with a suspicious expression.

“What does discretion mean?”

Chen Li carefully said, “This matter …… actually …… has always been there, even during the Hongwu years, although it is said that the Ming religion is banned, but the world believes in the Ming religion, is still like a river of carp.”

He paused, then said: “Since then, His Majesty’s war, the world into a pot of porridge, everywhere is a military disaster and natural disasters, this White Lotus Sect is also more and more intense, so that the people will be more and more believe in this White Lotus Sect …… Not to mention that those who believe in it, not only the ordinary people, even if the eunuchs in the palace, local The people who believe in it are not only the ordinary people, even the eunuchs in the palace, the local gentry, there are also many believers in …… this matter …… reported up, His Majesty will be angry …….”

Zhang Anshi nodded, he vaguely remembered, Yongle years, did appear White Lotus case, and also launched a sizeable rebellion, and even in the province of Shandong, it is easy to congregate more than 100,000 people, but also repelled the imperial court several times to suppress.

By the middle and late Ming Dynasty, the White Lotus rebellion had intensified.

Zhang Anshi said, “Even if we are informed and don’t report it, do you think that these people will be peaceful? Once they organize themselves, sooner or later there is going to be a change.”

Chen Li said, “Just …… this matter simply can not be eradicated, on the one hand, too many believers, the court even into the annihilation, but the vast majority of the congregation, mostly ordinary people, is it the people will also kill clean? As for this first evil …… but also difficult to remove ……”

“Why is it hard to get rid of?” Zhang Anshi raised his eyebrows.

Chen Li said: “It is rumored that the current leader of this sect calls himself the Father of Buddha, and there is a woman who calls herself the Mother of Buddha, and only their closest cadres know their whereabouts. In fact, I have also had people privately probed. But these people, very secretive, not only acting slyly, but also very vigilant …… humble …… humble ……”

Chen Li laughed bitterly: “My humble words, our jinyiwei …… news, may not have them informed. Not to mention that we are in the open, they are in the dark, and they have a lot of eyes and ears, everywhere in this world are their ears and eyes, and even possible …… among the Brocade Guards, there may not be no one …… who secretly believes in this religion, and I’m afraid that your lordship has just ordered this side, and the other side has already learned the The news.”

Zhang Anshi understood what Chen Li meant.

Speaking of which, this is not necessarily the fault of those congregations. In this era, people live in the world, it is too bitter, too bitter, which is a completely different concept from the so-called bitter in later life, heavy labor, two meals a day may not even be able to drink rice gruel, give birth to a child, at any time, may die young, a disease that is only considered a cold may be the death of a man.

In this world, at least the vast majority of people, when they close their eyes and go to sleep, they just might not see the sun of tomorrow at any time.

In such a situation, it is only natural to look for a spiritual support.

And it was precisely this kind of White Lotus teaching, which was easy to understand and had virtually no precepts, that immediately gained popularity.

Zhang Anshi said, “The backbone of the White Lotus Sect, called something like White Lotus Taoist, do they have them in every township?”

“Yes.” Chen Li said, “In the countryside, it is almost as if the White Lotus Taoists are in sole control, with fathers dying and sons succeeding; and there is a strong hierarchy, with certain ceremonies held for initiation, payment of money, and regular gatherings where incense is burned and worships are performed, scriptures are preached, and fists and rods are taught.”

Zhang Anshi murmured, “This matter …… is still good to play the report, if it is pressed and hidden, sooner or later, it will be a change.”

Since Zhang Anshi so intended, Chen Li said: “If the master of the play, I will carry out some preparations, lest by the time His Majesty decree purges, our guards were caught off guard. Just …… humble thinking, these preparations, can only secretly to do, also can only account for some of the old and respected heart of the people, once the fake hand, things can not be said, once the matter leaked, but not good.”

Zhang Anshi nodded.

“Record the matter, in the sonata.”

On the following day, a eunuch came to summon Zhang Anshi to the palace for an audience.

Zhang Anshi then knew that it should be that His Majesty had already read that report.

So he hurriedly went to the palace, but Zhu Di seemed to be in a good mood, and after meeting Zhang Anshi and asking some questions about the White Lotus Sect, he said, “Is it an overstatement to say that there are so many believers? I have not heard anything about this White Lotus Sect in the past few years.”

Zhang Anshi said, “After I learned of the current situation, I was also extremely shocked, but I just felt that the matter was not trivial, so I reported it.”

Zhu Di nodded: “Tai Zu Gao Emperor in the time, to ban this White Lotus religion, I since I should also comply with the law of the ancestors ……”

Zhu Di paused, looked to also lost ha: “the decree of the ministries, especially the Ministry of Criminal Affairs, the following to the various Buzhengji Division and the Tidings Division, ordered them to quickly catch the so-called White Lotus Taoist around, at the same time …… catch that so-called Buddha’s father and mother, to hold, and then immediately handed over to the capital. ”

When Yiluoha heard this, he said, “The slave girl obeys the decree.”

Zhu didn’t seem to take this too much to heart.

This is actually understandable, but is the countryside to fool the people to swindle money, such a will door and Taoist door, is really a lot of hair, Zhu Di understand also a lot.

Then Zhu Di looked at Zhang Anshi with a smile and said, “You already know the matter, don’t you, the Empress is pregnant.”

Zhang Anshi then smiled and said, “Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

Zhu Di pressed his hand and said, “What’s there to congratulate, I’m in my prime and my mother-in-law is pregnant, isn’t that the right thing to do?”

Although he said so, but a look of arrogance, he is considered to play the word pretend to understand, the old came to the son, can not help but fool around.

Zhang Anshi want to say something, Zhu Di waved his hand: “I know what you want to say, you motherfucker, is not that I am old and strong? Well, do not have to say. You reported the White Lotus case, very good, busy you go, you are now both the South Zhenfu Division of the co-conspirators, but also the governor, which ruled the people, but it is vital.”

Zhang Anshi had to say, “I will retire.”

Zhang Anshi is gone.

Yiluoha, however, was still standing in place as he looked at Zhu with a smile on his face.

Zhu Di said, “Didn’t I teach you to deliver the decree?”

Also lost ha then said: “your majesty, east factory this side has been established for two years, these two years, but also recruited a lot of good hands, this time to catch the remaining White Lotus religion, might as well let the east factory to do it. As for the various Bu Zheng Envoy Division, and the various places of the Tidings Division, since it is responsible for the local White Lotus Taoist, slave girl …… this side of the …… teach the East Factory to catch that sect master.”

Zhu Di laughed and saw Yilungha jumping at the chance, but did not hesitate much, then said, “May.”

Yiluoha then cheerfully said, “The slave girl thanks Your Majesty.”

The following day, the Di Di newspaper began to publish the Ministry of Justice’s sea arrest documents.

Immediately thereafter, an express letter was sent to the provinces.

Also at the same time, the East Chamber fighters began to move out.

Naturally, this was just a minor operation for the court.

It’s just that His Majesty has decreed that all the provinces, prefectures and counties in the world, naturally, must begin to clean up.

Zhang Anshi saw that the sound was not small, and at this time, his mind was on the Taiping Mansion.

He needed to draw up a charter to abolish the medical, craftsman, and military households and classify them all as civilian households, in addition to some tax reorganization.

The former is to safeguard the movement of population, while the latter is to ensure financial resources.

Taizu high emperor, for the formulation of taxation, is too rough, of course …… this is not to blame Taizu high emperor, really because the Yuan dynasty than the Ming dynasty is more rough. People play is the system of taxpayers, that is, the tax directly assigned to the local gentry, so that they as taxpayers, Mongolians do not care how you will tax up, anyway, every year on time to my share to me, the other one does not care.

Because of this, so the entire imperial tax system, simply a muddle! Waiting for the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, actually can not find a decent tax experience, and finally Zhu Yuanzhang a pat on the head, directly with the simplest agricultural tax and tax in kind to solve the problem, the court’s silver, mainly by the salt and iron to supplement.

It can be said that in the face of such a crude tax system that can no longer be crude, Zhang Anshi was shocked that Daming could actually persist for more than two hundred years, which is considered a miracle.

It wasn’t long after New Year’s Eve that it was spring, only inevitably with a few chills still lingering.

A specific charter, too, finally came out of the first draft under Zhang Anshi’s formulation.

But out of the first draft can not be immediately implemented, but Zhang Anshi began to convene some people to discuss.

At this very moment, in Qixia’s paper-making workshop, there are three people anxious as ants on the hot pot, facing one by one rushed to the front of the debtors, want to cry.

“My cotton money when to pay, at first willing to give you supply cotton, because look at your Qixia merchant bank goodwill, where know …… you even to now, still dragging do not give.” At this time, a merchant overbearingly questioned the three people in front of them.

A few more craftsmen leading a dozen apprentices also clamored, “When will the wages be paid? It’s been two months since we’ve been paid, three bosses, please be kind, without wages, what are we going to eat and drink?”

“My mother-in-law is sick, and I don’t have any more money to take it back …… oooh ……”

“If you don’t pay your wages today, you won’t be able to walk out.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

The three people surrounded in the center were dumbfounded.

These three people are more than a month ago, was Zhang Anshi arranged to come to the paper workshop of the three cabinets, Zhang Youcheng, Kuang Anzuo, Wang Wenliu three people.

Three people at this time is precisely ashamed to the extreme, originally thought, operating a workshop, is nothing more than a matter of hand to hand.

Not to mention that all of them are all graduates, but they are also officials in the court and have seen a lot of things.

After entering the workshop, they saw that the workshop produced mostly inferior paper, using almost straw, straw and other things to manufacture straw paper, which was so inferior that the three of them did not hesitate to decide to change their ways.

This is actually understandable. What’s the point of having such a shitty paper?

If you’re going to make it, make good paper!

So the three together, they began to look for people to buy cotton, and hired a master, to teach the method of manufacturing good paper, and even think it is not enough, even dismissed a few craftsmen, but recruited some of the more skillful paper craftsmen.

In this way, they felt that as long as this fine paper was made, they would be rich.

But where did I think, only a month or so, this paper-making workshop, began to be difficult to sustain.

The quality of paper is upgraded, but the cost increases more, the price is more than tens of times the original poor paper, just the same price, but can not compete with those top quality rice paper, although it is begging grandpa and grandma around to beg people to buy paper, can be sold to go but limited.

In this way, this supply of cotton merchants, as well as craftsmen, apprentices but can not eat, have begged to sue the door, is two words …… to give money.

But at that point, they looked at the books and realized that there was no more turnover of silver on the books.

Now being blocked here, Kuang鍩� repeatedly said, “Don’t worry, we are trustworthy, no matter what …… will surely dedicate the owed silver.”

“Then bring it now.”

Kuang鍩�’s face was green and red, and he was ashamed, he only felt that he had never been so frustrated in his life.

Now surrounded by a group of merchants and craftsmen who normally despise, favoring him to speak with a dry mouth, but also to no avail.

It’s hard to beat a hero for a penny, and he wants to die again at this point.

There is even an apprentice, directly plopped down on his knees, howling: “three boss, you just open the grace, the family really can not uncover the pot of …… waiting for the money to take back to feed the family, if the three bosses do not open the money, small …. . a family will starve to death.”

If they were just being scolded, it would have been fine, but the fact that this apprentice knelt down and uttered these congenial words made the three of them just want to find a crack in the ground.

Wang Wenliu s eyes reddened and he also cried, he did not expect to be so useless.

Up until now, he had thought it was a handful, but he could never have imagined that it would end up like this.

What is the problem?

Being a shopkeeper here has already made him feel ashamed, and now …… that he has even failed so badly as a shopkeeper in the district, he is even more groundless.

“You guys don’t worry ……” Zhang Youcheng clenched his teeth and said, “This silver, we no matter what, but also to raise out, the big deal …… I teach my family to Sell the field and sell the land, just …… please all of you in any case also grace some days, even if raising money, also need some time.”

But that supply of merchants still, there are craftsmen and apprentices, where dare to go? Afraid that once they go back, these three people will run away. What to sell the land, all may be just an empty talk.

Just when the noise was endless, suddenly a chubby body came in, this person smiled and said, “The paper making workshop is the subordinate industry of Qixia merchant bank, he lost money on his side, naturally there is a merchant bank to deal with this, this matter I’ll be the master of the house, go to the merchant bank to collect the money later.”

The crowd looked over, but it was Zhu Jin who came in with a smile on his face.

He went to the table, took a pen and ink, hastily wrote a handwriting, and then, handed it over to the merchant: “You take my Zhu’s handwriting, go to the merchant bank’s cashier’s room, and you can receive your silver since.”

The merchant looked at the warrant in surprise, then stood in awe, “But Lord Zhu?”

Zhu Jin smiled and said, “Exactly.”

The merchant immediately collected the handwriting and said with some embarrassment, “I am really ashamed …… to have this sentence from Zhu Gong, even if I don t write this handwriting, it is also possible for my humble self to be lenient for a few months.”

“There is no need to be lenient, go get it now, and those who receive their wages, go now as well.” Zhu Jin said.

The merchants and craftsmen and apprentices, then went away with a thousand thanks.

Zhu Jin, on the other hand, glanced at the dumbfounded trio, and instead of typing a word, he hurried out, and with that, invited someone in.

This person is Zhang Anshi, Zhang Anshi this side got the report, then rushed to, looked at the three woeful guys, laughed and said: “paper making workshop, collapsed?”

Zhang Youcheng, Kuang Ant Ant and Wang Wenliu, their eyes only looked at the tip of their shoes, not daring to look directly into the eyes of Zhang Anshi.

Zhang Anshi sighed first, before saying, “Originally thought you guys can always still toss a year and a half, who knows …… it’s only been more than a month ……”

He said, shaking his head.

It’s a sin.

However, Zhang Anshi remained calm and collected, and continued, “Don’t be ashamed of yourselves, this is not the time to be ashamed either.”

Zhang Anshi searched for a chair, crossed his legs and sat down, continuing to survey these three, “Let me ask you, have you found the problem?”

Zhang Youcheng finally sighed and said, “When the student came, most of the paper produced here was inferior …… so he discussed with the two brothers and decided to upgrade the paper ……”

Zhang Anshi suddenly smiled, “Do you know why this workshop produces inferior paper?”

When these words came out, although these three did not dare to raise their heads, they all strained their ears.

Honestly, they don’t even know how they died until now.

Zhang Anshi continued: “I Ming is not a lack of fine paper, from Xuan paper to blooming paper, pink paper paper, porcelain green paper and then to the ribbed paper, none of them is not a fine product in the fine products, these papers, most of the long-standing reputation, and for the people to be praised, and naturally do not worry about sales.”

Zhang Anshi paused, stood up, before he added: “You want to make good paper, look down on these bad paper, this is understandable. But …… if you make good paper, can you compete with them?”

Zhang Youcheng froze, if he said that before, he could not listen to a single word of Zhang Anshi’s words, but now, he was finally willing to listen to Zhang Anshi’s words seriously.

At this point, he said in disbelief, “But bad paper ……”

Zhang Anshi is interrupting him, “Doing business, in fact, there is no difference between good and bad, and then good paper and poor paper, they are all used to sell, you only see the glory of the top quality paper, but do not know …… that in fact, this track, or channel, has long been taken up by people. They have a big reputation, the quality is better, and even the cost is low because of the large number of skilled craftsmen. Who are you to compete with them?”

“But inferior paper is not the same, why this workshop has been red hot before, is because it sees a large number of people who can not afford to buy the best paper, and thanks to the Qixia in the past two years, a lot of school halls rise, many readers, the family is not rich, because of the study of the sake of the paper consumption is very large, so … …this kind of inferior paper has instead become their demand. But you actually rashly changed your course, this paper-making workshop, can it not close down?”

Hearing this, the three seemed to have an epiphany.

What is a smart person? A smart person is a person who is so enlightened that other people understand a little bit.

If the mind is not smart enough, it is impossible to pass the five hurdles and win the gold medal.

Kuang ant ant seriously, but also really said, “Both so …… it seems that we are wrong.”

“Of course you guys are wrong.” Zhang Anshi said, “Doing business, where is it so simple, do you know why you are so confused?”

There is no better lesson in the world to be learned than the loss of blood.

It’s as if, with each wave of leeks, the tendency is to say that it’s just a technical adjustment until you lose your capital, and it’s not until you’re out of blood and money that you actually take the lesson.

Kuang and Wang Wenliu and Zhang Youcheng three people looked at Zhang Anshi, a change of attitude, at this time a look of listening.

Zhang Anshi said, “This is because you have been an official for too long, in the dynasty as an official, can certainly grow insights, anyway, you give an order, since someone to implement! As for the implementation of good or bad, in fact, you do not have to bear the consequences, suffered a loss, the loss is also the court, is the people.”

“That’s why you think highly of yourselves, with eyes only for the so-called holy books, only for the temple. But doing business is not like that. When you were in charge of this paper-making workshop, did you not take a moment to understand your customers? You may not even bother to understand to whom you sell your things and what kind of pricing is acceptable to them. On top of that, you ignored costs, didn’t want to take the time to study them, and thought you could just slap your head and get it done overnight.”

“Do you think that being an official and doing business are two different things? Let me ask you, in all the dynasties, which saints and famous ministers were not able to understand the people’s feelings? Didn’t they first understand the needs of the people and the military, and then adjusted their own orders, and then appointed some people who could carry out their own will, and carried out the good orders?”

“So in my opinion, do anything, whether it is for the official or from the business, is just to do two things, one is to understand the people’s feelings, the other is to select people. But you see …… you in this workshop, headstrong, not fall down only strange! A workshop can not yet operate, you resigned from the official position, is indeed a blessing for the people of the army and the people ah.”

These words made these three people ashamed to the extreme, and even felt groundless. But after careful consideration, it is also true that, from the beginning, the three of them do not put this operation in their eyes, thinking that they must be hand to hand ……

Kwong sighed, “Hey, see the joke …… these accounts …… I will think of a way ……”

Zhang Anshi couldn’t help but laugh, “Planning to smash the pot to pay off the bill?”

Kwong apparently after all the more serious, gritted his teeth and said, “Yes.”

On the contrary, Wang Wenliu said, “It is better for students to fill in the accounts, Brother Kuang’s family is not solid, he and his own father depend on each other …… students have a slight family capital ……”

Zhang Youcheng also said, “On the students’ side, they will also find a way.”

Zhang Anshi said, “The three of you are considered to owe me, but there is no need to come and pay back in a hurry, in addition to this, I will lend you another one thousand taels of silver, and you will restore this papermaking workshop and continue to operate.”

Stay in business?

Zhang Youcheng and the three of them looked at each other.

Zhang Anshi smiled, “How is it? Scared?”

Zhang Youcheng hesitantly said, “It s just that …… many craftsmen and apprentices are only afraid that they will refuse to come here to do labor in the future.”

Zhang Anshi said: “Many small business people, not only do their own proprietors and shopkeepers, and even responsible for their own accounting, and even production, is also their own to do, they can do, you three, are people in the dragon and phoenix, how can not do? What’s more, some craftsmen and apprentices refuse to come because you owe them wages, and now that you have finally paid them back, although they are afraid of you, if you sincerely invite them to your door, there will always be some who are willing to come.”

Zhang Anshi said while making himself happy.

He was too busy tensing his face and teaching himself not to laugh out loud, which, to be honest, was rather like grave bouncing at this point.

Zhang Anshi said, “Look, you guys on weekdays. Avenue reasoning a whole lot, but why when it comes to really want to do something, but these axioms are forgotten, is not there a saying? ”

Zhang Anshi mused, “Perseverance does not break a rotten tree; perseverance does not break a stone.”

Zhang Youcheng took a deep breath as he gritted his teeth and said, “What Duke Wei said is very true, we know what to do.”

Zhang Anshi stood up and said, “This is very good, I do look forward to you continuing to do this, when one lives in the world, one must always accomplish something.”

After saying this, Zhang Anshi said, “Alright, this is goodbye, the three of you, continue to host your heads first, and think hard about how to do a good job.”

Zhang Anshi is gone.

The three people left behind were left in dead silence.

Kuang ant suddenly said: “I think well, this paper workshop, must be done.”

Zhang Youcheng said, “What Kuang Xian Di said is very true, among the three of us, I’m the oldest, let’s think about how to save money, how about this, I’ll be responsible for going out and finding people to sell things.”

Kuang Ano said, “Leave the accountant’s business to me, less accountant, can also save some expenses.”

Wang Wenliu thought for a moment, “I’ll follow the smiths to learn, and see if I can give a hand, later we’ll go to several smiths’ homes to visit them, and see who’s willing to come back, brother Zhang, you’re in charge of going out to sell, please think of a way to inquire about the people who buy the paper, and what their preferences are.”

Zhang Youcheng said, “Not only to inquire about preferences, but also to go to each paper store to take a look …… In any case, this time if you lose again, you will really have no face to see people.”

Kuang suddenly said, “Why …… why that Zhang Anshi Fang wants to help us?”

At these words, the three fell silent again.

They were initially arranged by Zhang Anshi to operate this workshop, originally thought that this is Zhang Anshi deliberately humiliate themselves, after all, the hall scholar, once the court official, even to business, is difficult to speak of things.

Once upon a time, their own classmates, classmates, and classmates, although they did not deal with each other again, they knew …… that if they learned about it, they would definitely laugh at them.

But now when you think about it, you have already suffered all the humiliation and blank stares, and by all rights, Zhang Anshi should have fallen on his sword, but Zhang Anshi appeared at the most critical moment and gave them another chance to turn around.

After pondering for a moment, Zhang Youcheng said, “No matter what, we have to fight for our breath.”

“Well ……”

Zhang Anshi joyfully returned to the South Zhenfu Division, along the way, to Zhu Jin smiled and said: “See. Those three fools, into his mother, more than a month to bring down my paper workshop ……”

Zhu Jin said, “Your Excellency is too kind-hearted to let them operate.”

Zhang Anshi, however, said, “Failure is the mother of success, that is to say, success is failure being entered out by people who are already the most supremely intelligent scholars in the world, and I would like to see if such people could succeed if they used their talents elsewhere.”

Wait until the door of the South Zhenfu Division, but see Chen Li in the doorway anxiously waiting, once he saw Zhang Anshi and Zhu Jin with a team of guards to come, then hurriedly went forward: “Gong master, Gong master …… out of the big event, the East Factory …… out of the big event ……”

Chen Li, with a horrified look on his face, continued, “The East Chamber was attacked, and dozens of people died, not only that, but the Hunan Prefectural Government Department came to report that the Hunan Tidings Division was also attacked, and more than ninety officials died ……”