I studied in modern times

Chapter 993 Song Yongchen returns to Beijing

As March arrived, the atmosphere surrounding the imperial examinations in Bianjing (Kaifeng) grew increasingly intense.

The most obvious sign is that the prices of houses near Bianjing Academy have risen again!
Especially for the first phase that has already been handed over, the average price per square foot has increased by five cents in just two or three days!
The increase looks small?

The key point is that even the smallest apartment in Bianjing Academy is 1,000 square feet!

That's equivalent to an instant increase of five thousand strings of cash!
The reason for the price increase is very simple.

A son-in-law is chosen from among those who pass the imperial examination!

Or rather, some people are using this concept to speculate on real estate!

Don't underestimate the business acumen of the medieval people.

The peony speculation market in Luoyang has been going on for over a decade, driving up the prices of several niche peony varieties to several thousand coins per plant!
If it weren't for Zhao Xu's ascension to the throne, all the elders from Luoyang would have rushed to Bianjing.

The peony market in Luoyang probably won't collapse even now.

The reason is simple—the business logic of the Luoyang peony market has never been about peonies, but rather that those who buy these rare and exotic flowers can visit the elders and ask for their guidance and advice.

It's exactly the same as the so-called 'commentary' from the late Eastern Han Dynasty.

The difference is that the famous commentators back then were evaluating people, while those in Luoyang were evaluating flowers.

But they are essentially the same.

As a result, the elders in Luoyang made a fortune over the past ten years.

The elders all built gardens and resorts.

Several of these gardens are comparable in scale and refinement to the imperial gardens of the Zhao family!

If even peonies can be speculated on, what about financial products like houses in Bianjing Academy, which are inherently scarce and unique?

In any case, all sorts of legends were spreading like wildfire throughout Bianjing (Kaifeng).

Some say that Sun Ci, the owner of Sun Family Shop, plans to choose a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) as a husband for each of his three daughters.

However, because he was a scholar specializing in wine, he was afraid that the newly appointed scholars would look down on him.

Therefore, he planned to buy a house in Bianjing Academy for each of his three daughters as a dowry.

In this way, there's no need to worry about the scholar's son-in-law not taking the bait.

There are also rumors that Wang Shiyue, the Imperial Son-in-Law and Governor of Jinzhou, and the beloved daughter of the late Princess Huihe, want to choose a husband who is a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) or even the Zhuangyuan (top scholar in the imperial examination).

However, Prince Consort Wang was afraid of making another fool of himself by mistaking Feng Jing for Ma Liang.

Therefore, he directly used his financial power—the prince consort planned to buy ten houses in Bianjing Academy as part of his daughter's dowry.

In this way, there's no need to worry about the future son-in-law refusing to marry into the family.

Such stories spread like wildfire throughout Bianjing (Kaifeng).

Even the Bianjing Xinbao newspaper joined the fray, adding fuel to the fire with its embellished reports. Of course, the Bianjing Xinbao prepared its reports in advance, using words like "it is said," "legend," and "I heard" to describe the events, and placing the reports in the "Street Stories" section, which had always been used to spread rumors.

With such hype, it's perfectly reasonable that the price of a house in Bianjing Academy could rise by 5,000 guan in just a few days.

Once this round of speculation ends, it would be quite common for each house to increase in price by 20,000 to 30,000 yuan.

Who can blame them when the children of the owners of this Bianjing Academy are actually able to attend the elementary and primary schools built by Kaifeng Prefecture?

Meanwhile, the elementary and primary schools of the Bianjing Academy have now opened.

The teachers hired by these two schools were either famous private tutors in Kaifeng Prefecture or old scholars with special merits!
The principal of the primary school was an official from the capital dispatched by the Kaifeng Prefecture.

This directly hits the sore spot of the wealthy and powerful.

Of course, it's expensive, which is to be expected.

Zhao Xu also took the opportunity to make a lot of money – the Song Dynasty had a real estate transaction tax called the deed tax.

Although the tax rate is not high, it is only four percent of the total price.

However, once the real estate speculation boomed, a house could be sold almost as if it had been sold a few times.

"No wonder everyone was laughing when the modern real estate market was booming..." Zhao Xu couldn't help but mutter to himself after reading the report from the Investigation Division, "This stuff really makes money!"

"Especially after it's linked to attributes like education, future prospects, employment, official position, and social class..."

Even in modern times, real estate with these attributes is not something ordinary people can afford!

What about now?

Therefore, Zhao Xu felt at ease and had no burden whatsoever.

He even started to wonder, "Should we start a new project?"

After thinking about it, he rejected the idea.

"Wait a minute!"

"We'll have to wait until at least this year to talk about it!"

It wasn't that he had a change of heart.

In reality, if we were to start harvesting now, it would easily burst the bubble, causing a collapse in the housing prices of Bianjing Academy.

If that happens, the property prices at Bianjing's academies might skyrocket.

But after this year, once everyone in the world gets used to and accepts that Zhao Guan's houses are indeed good and worth investing in, and everyone knows that investing in Zhao Guan's houses can make money.

By then, when Zhao Xu starts a new project, it won't affect the property prices of Bianjing Academy.

In this way, once the new project goes on sale, its price can be compared with that of the houses in Bianjing Academy.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu began to justify himself: "I'm not greedy for money!"

"I did it for the financial security of the Song Dynasty!"

"Starting from the first year of the Yuan You era, the annual inflow of three million strings of paper money into the market could certainly lubricate the financial system and alleviate the impact of the money shortage in the Song Dynasty..."

"But the number of paper money is increasing..."

"Without a reservoir, there will be financial risks sooner or later!"

What else, under the current circumstances, could be a better reservoir of funds than school district housing in Bianjing?
"Besides, once I took the money, I spent it immediately. I didn't keep any for myself or use it for my own enjoyment!"

Dredging in Hebei, naval construction and salaries of naval officers and soldiers in Jingdong, Liangzhe, and Fujian. Also included were disaster relief efforts in various regions and the maintenance, expansion, and construction of the Luo River diversion project.

Road expansion and dam construction within the Kaifeng Prefecture boundary.

The expansion and increased enrollment of the Imperial Academy, the School of Mathematics, the School of Law, and the School of Martial Arts, as well as the salaries and benefits of the teachers.

There was also the research and development investment from the dedicated ordnance bureau and the rewards from various regions along the border.

Where did this money come from?

Do they rely on the Ministry of Revenue's annual revenue of 70 million strings of cash?

I'm sorry, but the Ministry of Revenue's treasury has been in deficit for the past two years due to war and natural disasters.

The annual revenue was simply not enough to cover the expenses of the imperial court.

Isn't it Zhao Xu who's using the money he saved for buying a house to tide him over?
This is also why Zhao Xu will have to launch a new project to raise money next year.

If they don't target the rich, are they going to target the poor and struggling peasants?

As he said this, Zhao Xu felt that he was truly amazing!

"How many wise and virtuous rulers like myself have there been throughout history?!"

"If the people of the world knew my predicament, they would probably be grateful to me, wouldn't they?"

Just as Zhao Xu was lost in his own reverie, Tong Guan's voice came from not far away: "Everyone... Chief Song is here..."

"Oh!" Zhao Xu put down the report in his hand and ordered, "Quickly invite the Chief Inspector in to speak!"

"only!"

A moment later, Tong Guan led Song Yongchen, who had just returned from the Liguo Supervisory Office in Xuzhou to report to the court, to Zhao Xu.

Song Yongchen had been Zhao Xu's troubleshooter since the eighth year of the Yuanfeng era.

no way!
He knows too much.

He knows everything, whether it's civil engineering, water conservancy construction, iron smelting, or exploration!

Not only do they understand, they're also very professional!
In some ways, he was even more capable than Shen Kuo!
The crucial point is that he was also a court official!

Under the Song Dynasty's system, there was absolutely no need to worry that he would become too powerful to control.

So, wherever there was trouble, Zhao Xu would send him there.

And Song Yongchen never disappointed Zhao Xu, always handling his tasks exceptionally well.

Although evidence of Song Yongchen's crimes, such as embezzlement, bribery, nepotism, and arrogance, has also surfaced.

But what does it matter?
A court official only needs to do his job well.

As for the rest?
Isn't that normal?

Otherwise, do you really expect a mere court official to be comparable to top scholar-officials like Wang Anshi and Sima Guang?

This is unrealistic!

Even among the scholar-officials, there are very few who can achieve the same level as Wang Anshi and Sima Guang.

Therefore, Zhao Xu was very lenient with his trusted inner court officials, allowing them to take small bribes.

As long as you can get things done, and don't be too greedy, that's fine.

"Chen Yongchen, Vice Director of the Inner Palace Attendants Bureau, Commissioner of Jingling Palace, Supervisor of Xuzhou Liguo, and Grand Commissioner for Dredging in Jingdong and Hebei Circuits, respectfully wishes His Majesty a long and healthy life!"

When Song Yongchen arrived in front of Zhao Xu, he prostrated himself and bowed.

"Everyone, please rise!" Zhao Xu stood up and said with a smile, "This is a private occasion, so there's no need for such formalities between us!"

"I dare not!"

"Sigh!" Zhao Xu laughed and said to Tong Guan, "Tong Guan, quickly help Chief Song up!"

"Your kindness is beyond measure... Your subject... Your subject... I have no way to repay you!" Song Yongchen couldn't help but weep in front of Zhao Xu.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Xu knew that Song Yongchen had gone astray during his years in Xuzhou!

Where did the Song Yongchen of the past have such rich emotions?
All I can say is that Xuzhou is a rather complicated place.

Of course, it may also be related to the people Song Yongchen came into contact with—the Liguo Supervisory Office was a mixed bag, with all sorts of people there.

After the blast furnace iron smelting was completed, it involved many different interests and relationships.

Therefore, even if Song Yongchen was stupid, he should have learned to act.

"Please sit down and have some tea, Your Excellency!" Zhao Xu said gently, after having Tong Guan help Song Yongchen to sit down. "Since the late Emperor's passing, Your Excellency has been responsible for all matters of state."

This is the truth!

For the past three years, Song Yongchen has been traveling around.

We need to go to Hebei to dredge the silt and repair the dikes later.

I have to go to Huainan soon for disaster relief and drought relief.

I'll have to go back to Beijing soon to oversee the Luoyang-Bianjing waterway project.

After finishing these tasks, I need to hurry to Xuzhou to oversee the blast furnace iron smelting at Liguo Supervision Station.

We also need to find time to go to the Liguo Prison and screen out the best ironworkers and blast furnace builders.

Last year alone, Song Yongchen submitted a list of three hundred meritorious craftsmen.

About seventy of them were his associates or relatives.

The rest are people who truly have the skills and have made contributions.

Even among those with connections, Zhao Xu knew that Song Yongchen had tried his best to select capable individuals.

Thus, although Song Yongchen is only in his fifties, his temples are already gray and his appearance is aged, making him look like a man in his sixties.

Zhao Xu, unusually reluctant to let go, said, "You all know that upon returning to the capital, you should rest well for a few months, recuperate properly, and get your health back before discussing anything else!"

"As for the assignment in Xuzhou, let's relinquish it for now!"

(End of this chapter)