The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

The bus carriage is a new thing, and the common people didn't buy it at first. Although a penny is not much, but since God gave me two legs, why don't I have to walk on them, but spend this penny?But after a while, they realized that they could not do without the convenience of the stagecoach. This thing was very punctual, no matter if the car was full or not, it would start after staying in the designated area for a while, without any delay in time.

What's more, this is a horse-drawn cart. Many people have never ridden in a horse-drawn cart in their life. Now that they can ride it for a penny, they naturally want to try it. Many people spend a penny to go around the city for a week from the starting point to the end point. , just to enjoy this feeling, and it is quite pleasant to travel around the whole city with a penny.

Su Jin paid attention to people's reactions. Although he knew that such a convenience measure would be quickly accepted by the people, it was a new thing after all, and he always wanted to be a hit, not to cause extra problems.

Seeing that public transport and horse-drawn carriages are becoming more and more accepted by the common people, Su Jin knows that this is the first step to success. The establishment of the public transport system will not only add more than a hundred dollars to Su Jin's pocket every day, but more importantly, it will make Su Jin The rhythm of the entire city has become faster, more in line with the characteristics of a commercial city.

Immediately afterwards, Su Jin made another new move. He gathered merchants from the twelve commercial streets to form chambers of commerce in various industries, and asked them to regulate their business behavior. The prosperity of business is not only the gathering of shops, but more importantly, the benign Su Jin set several red lines for them, such as bullying the market, driving up prices, shoddy goods and other commercial taboos, and anyone who dared to cross the line would be expelled from the Pearl City. [

The branch associations of various industries formed a business association, and Li Zhong came forward to serve as the honorary chairman of the chamber of commerce, and selected more than a dozen leaders from various industries to serve as vice presidents of the chamber of commerce, forming a self-management mechanism under the supervision of the government. The transfer of business management responsibilities to the merchants themselves.

In terms of municipal construction, with the establishment of the public transportation system, various urban systems modeled on later generations have also been established one by one, and sanitation, medical care, public entertainment, public security, water supply, etc. have sprung up like mushrooms.

Of course, not all of them are applicable. For example, Su Jin asked a street to build a water tower and install pipes to supply water. Only bamboo pipes can be used for the laying of pipes. The water pressure increases and the bamboo pipes burst and make a mess. Su Jin also hastily stopped the project and returned to the original state of digging wells to draw water.

Through this incident, Su Jin also understood that under the technological level of this era, it is still inappropriate to copy some things from later generations. He needs to make a choice and not take it for granted.

Of course, some other things have brought greater changes to this new city, such as the establishment of public medical clinics in the commercial streets where the land is expensive, which is convenient for the common people to see a doctor and get medicine, open up green spaces in the workshop, green the whole city, and set up large entertainment houses. For the common people's leisure; the establishment of six public government schools, the sons of common people and the sons of business officials are treated equally in school, etc. These measures have been applauded by the majority of the common people.

Within a few months, Mingzhu City gradually became full of vitality. With the radiation of fame, merchants from all over the Song Dynasty flocked to set up a branch to do business in Mingzhu City. Scholars and celebrities also came to the confluence of the four rivers. This newly rising and famous new city; with the increase in the flow of people and the rapid development of various industries, the small Pearl City is overcrowded, forcing Su Jin to consider opening up the fourth ring plan to expand the scale of the city.

In the twelfth lunar month, a heavy snow fell. Su Jin got up early in the morning and quickly ordered people to prepare his car. He was going to see if the heavy snow had any effect on the city, and he also ordered people to clear the snow on the roads in the city quickly, so as not to affect the city. operation of the city.

Su Jin had just finished dressing and was putting on his cloak. Yan Biyun came in from outside with a letter. Su Jin smiled and said, "Did you wake up so early to see the snow scene? Are the plum blossoms in bloom? Didn't you talk about flower bones a few days ago?" ?”

Yan Biyun looked a little uneasy, and stepped forward to help Su Jin fasten the cloth strap of the cloak, saying: "My family has something to tell my husband, and my husband promised me not to worry after hearing this."

Su Jinqi asked, "What's wrong?"

Yan Biyun handed over the letter, and said softly: "A letter from the treasurer Qian of the capital, our Yinzhuang..."

Su Jin asked in shock: "What's wrong with Yinzhuang? What's wrong?"

Yan Biyun sighed softly, "Look for yourself."

Su Jin hurriedly opened the letter and opened it for a closer look, and was immediately stunned.

This is a letter from Huitong Yinzhuang Qian Henian. The letter said that the end of the year is approaching, and Yinzhuang depositors come to withdraw their deposits to buy new year products. Nearly 30 guan were withdrawn. Judging from the past situation, 600% of the deposit at the end of each year will be withdrawn at the end of the year, and it will slowly recover after the year. The two banks need to reserve at least 700 million to [-] million guan. It can only be handled by using the money, but this year because Su Jin withdraws too much money, and the withdrawal is too slow at the end of the year, this matter is extremely urgent, please Su Jin find a solution immediately.

Su Jin sat down dejectedly, patted his forehead with his hand and said: "I'm confused, I forgot such an important thing, once the money can be exchanged in the bank, it will lead to a run, and the reputation of the bank will also be ruined. It's urgent."

Su Jin was indeed confused. From the establishment of the new city to the gradual return to the right track, he could not count the money that Su Jin paid in. It was roughly estimated that it was more than ten million. For a while, Su Jin even forgot that the money was all It is someone else's deposit in the bank, and he always asks Yingtian and the two banks in the capital to withdraw and send it, and various supporting measures are established for this new city; but he completely forgets that these are all The money of depositors will be withdrawn once at the end of the year.

When I invested in Baoshan before, the cost was not high. The total investment of the two mines in Baoshan did not exceed 200 million guan, which would not affect the year-end settlement of Yinzhuang at all, and the briquettes quickly opened up and began to withdraw funds, even if it was a waste of money. A little more can make up for it quickly.

But building the Pearl City is different from opening a mine. The city’s taxes are collected once a year. It has only been seven or eight months since the establishment of the new city, and it has only been more than three months for merchants to settle in and operate. The merchants were not happy, and stipulated that the taxes of the previous year would not be collected until the next year's anniversary; and during this period, Su Jin continued to invest in improving the city's facilities, plus other expenses on the Northwest Fourth Road, it turned out to be Nearly 1000 to [-] million deposits in Yinzhuang have been emptied, why is Qian Henian in no hurry? [

"What should we do now? How much money do we have in our account?" Su Jin asked anxiously.

Yan Biyun shook his head and said, "There are only 200 million coins from the Baoshan Mine in the account, plus more than [-] yuan in profit from the clothing store and grain store this year."

Su Jin said: "Why? There is no income here? Didn't you sell a lot of houses in the city? After all, there are two or three million yuan."

Yan Biyun sighed: "Have you forgotten? Mr. Liang found iron mines in Chengzhou. Didn't you allocate the 200 million to him to build a mine a few days ago?"

Su Jin stamped his feet and scolded, and said in a hurry: "No matter how you want to raise a sum of money, send it to Yinzhuang as soon as possible. Once there is a run on Yinzhuang, it will be a big deal. This matter is imminent. I will immediately order someone to take Liang The appropriate 200 million yuan will be returned, and the 200 million in the account will be sent to the capital and Yingtian together to meet the urgent need."

Yan Biyun said: "Master Liang probably already spent a lot of money. He recruited migrant workers to purchase a lot of materials in November. It's been almost a month. I'm afraid the furnace has been built. How can we pay for it now?" want?"

Su Jin said: "That will be difficult."

Yan Biyun sighed and said: "Even if you ask for the 200 million, it's not enough. According to the estimate of the shopkeeper, there are at least 600 million spares. Husband, don't worry, I will figure out a way for this matter."

Su Jin said: "What can you do? Go back to Beijing and borrow money from Prime Minister Yan?"

Yan Biyun said: "Don't worry about it. I told you this is not to disturb your mood, but to remind you that we have more out than in. If this continues, there will be hidden worries, so you can know."

Su Jin stomped her feet and said, "It's all my fault. I don't care about money, and I'm used to being extravagant. I'm afraid you've already wanted to talk about it."

Yan Biyun touched Su Jin's face and said: "My husband works hard every day, how can I have the heart to hold you back, you go, Mr. Li and the others are waiting in front, don't help but have a bitter face, this matter is coming to my family manage."

Although Su Jin was anxious, he had no choice but to go to the city with Li Chong and the others to inspect the situation after the snow. He didn't know if Yan Biyun really had a way or to comfort himself. This was a huge sum of money. go?