People in the Ming Dynasty are lawless

Chapter 753: Promotion to the Whole World

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the stone pavement in Hangzhou was still damp. Several silk shop owners gathered in a teahouse, and the Longjing tea in front of them had already cooled down.

"Manager Lin is in big trouble this time." Zhou Ji's young master lowered his voice, tapping his fingers unconsciously on the table, "I heard that he was taken to jail last night, and all his property was confiscated."

Shopkeeper Li picked up the teacup and put it down again, the tea splashing on his sleeves. "Who would have thought that the court would investigate so strictly? In the past, people who falsified accounts and resold official salt were not so ruthless."

The sound of a gong came from outside the window, and a group of yamen runners paraded the Lin family, old and young, through the streets. People crowded on the roadside, pointing and talking, some spitting, and some shaking their heads and sighing.

"Look, that's the Lin family's accountant." Manager Zheng pointed at a tall, thin man in shackles in the team, "I heard he confessed that he forged more than 70 orders."

The teahouse suddenly became quiet. Everyone touched the orders in their sleeves at the same time, as if they were some hot potato.

"Those in our hands..." Just as Young Master Zhou opened his mouth, Shopkeeper Li suddenly stood up.

"You're still talking about this? Burn it!" Shopkeeper Li took out a stack of papers from his arms and tore them into pieces in a hurry. "Now the tax bill and the order are checked against each other, so there can be no falsehood."

Others followed suit, and the scraps of paper fell on the brick floor like snowflakes, then were hurriedly stepped into the mud.

Along the canal, a long queue formed in front of the Jinwo Workshop. Foreign merchants held their precious banknotes and waited obediently for their orders to be verified. Alberto the Redbeard stood at the front, his blue eyes full of awe.

"This is a genuine order." He carefully handed over the paper with three stamps on it. "It has been checked against the tax bill."

Xiao Tao took the order and examined it carefully. The sunlight shone through the back of the paper, revealing the clear seam marks. "No problem, I'll pick it up on the eighth of next month."

Alberto let out a long sigh, turned around and gave his companions a thumbs up. "The laws of the Ming Dynasty are strict and fair to everyone!"

This commotion caused Mr. Zhao, who was passing by, to stop and watch. He narrowed his eyes and said to his followers, "Go to the accounting office and take out all our orders and check them again."

"Master, our orders are all real."

"We really need to investigate!" Mr. Zhao wiped his sweat. "People from the tax bureau are roaming the streets every day. It's better to spend more time than to get into trouble."

At this time, in the backyard of the workshop, Zhu Youwei was listening to the report of the Jinyiwei captain.

"We arrested seventeen people last night. All of them had dealings with the Lin family." The captain handed over the list. "According to your instructions, we focused on those who suddenly transferred a large number of orders."

Zhu Youwei glanced at the list and paused on the word "Xu Ji". "Is Manager Xu also involved?"

"He is smart. He distanced himself early when he saw the situation was not good." The captain lowered his voice, "But my subordinates found out that he privately exchanged 3,000 taels of silver last month. I'm afraid he is preparing to run away."

"You can't run away." Zhu Youwei closed the list and said, "Go tell Lord Jiang to keep a close eye on the docks."

As he was talking, Xiao Tao came running over. "Princess, someone from Ningbo Maritime Customs came and said they have something important to discuss."

In the front hall, Wang Yan, the director of the Maritime Customs, was pacing anxiously. Seeing Zhu Youwei coming in, he bowed quickly. "Princess, I'm here to ask for help. This morning, we seized two foreign ships, all of which were filled with forged orders from the Women's Workshop!"

Zhu Youwei frowned slightly. "Do foreign merchants dare to forge things?"

"It's not made by foreign merchants." Wang Yan took out an order from his sleeve. "Look at this paper, it's clearly made in Hangzhou. They want to use foreign ships to ship it out and commit fraud overseas."

Zhu Youwei took the order and looked at it carefully in the sunlight. The paper texture was delicate and the seal was almost real, but the number did not match the workshop records.

"This is the stock that the Lin family has leaked out." She sneered, "Go ask Prefect Zhao to issue a warrant for arrest. Anyone holding this warrant will be punished as forgery of official documents."

When Wang Yan took the order and left, Jiang Hai brought the tax collector into the yard. He held a thick stack of account books in his hands, and his face was solemn.

"Princess, I've checked it out. The Lin family has made at least 50,000 taels of silver through fake orders in the past six months." Jiang Hai flipped through the account book. "What's more troublesome is that they used the money to open branches in Songjiang and Suzhou, specializing in counterfeiting the workshop's fabrics."

Zhu Youwei's eyes turned cold. "You dare to imitate the fabric?"

"We have already sealed off three workshops." Jiang Hai pointed to the map in the account book, "But according to the craftsmen, another batch of goods has flowed into the black market."

Suddenly there was a commotion outside the courtyard. Xiao Tao ran in with a happy look on her face. "Princess, the guy from Xu's Cloth Shop has come to turn himself in! He said he has important clues."

Xu's clerk knelt at the foot of the stairs, trembling all over. "I hope to atone for my crime with my merits. Shopkeeper Xu packed up his belongings last night and said he was going to Beiping Prefecture by canal transport. He also took away ten rolls of imitation 'mathematical cloth'."

Zhu Youwei and Jiang Hai looked at each other. "When does the boat leave?"

"Three quarters past midnight, it contains tea leaves and porcelain."

Jiang Hai immediately called the tax collectors. "Instruct all the gates to strictly check all cargo ships heading north. Especially check the tea boxes."

As the sun was setting, news arrived that Shopkeeper Xu had been stopped at Jiaxing Gate, and the counterfeit cloth had been found hidden in the interlayer of a tea box.

In the twilight, Zhu Youwei stood on the roof of the workshop, looking at the boats passing by on the canal. Xiaotao brought hot tea and followed her gaze.

"My Lord, it should be quiet now, right?"

"It's still early." Zhu Youwei took a sip of tea. "The Lin family has collapsed, and Xu's family has failed, but there are still more people eyeing this piece of fat meat."

She turned and looked towards the city. Amid the lights of thousands of houses, countless pairs of eyes were looking towards the direction of the workshop.

"Tomorrow we will post a notice that all orders must be processed in person with household registration certificates. We will also ask Magistrate Zhao to send a clerk to verify identities."

Xiao Tao nodded and took note, then asked, "What about those foreign merchants? They don't have Ming household registration."

"Let the Maritime Customs issue a guarantee document." Zhu Youwei put down the teacup, "Since we want to do business, we have to follow our rules."

As the night deepened, the hustle and bustle of Hangzhou gradually subsided. But beneath this silence, a new undercurrent was surging.

In the backyard of the teahouse, several dark shadows gathered together.

"Did you see clearly? Now I need the household registration certificate."

"What are you afraid of? The old man in the south city can even carve official seals, so why can't he get a few household registration papers?"

"Are you crazy? Didn't you see what happened to the Lin family?"

The arguing gradually died down, and finally, the shadows dispersed and disappeared into the night.

The next morning, there was a long line in front of the Jinguo Workshop as usual. But unlike in the past, everyone who came to place an order was holding their household registration book.

The prefect Zhao was in charge personally, and the clerks lined up to check every name carefully. When foreign merchants handed in documents from the Maritime Customs, they were also checked repeatedly.

A man wearing a bamboo hat quietly retreated from the crowd. He turned into the alley and shook his head at his accomplices who were waiting there.

"The inspection is too strict, and it's impossible to get in."

The accomplice spat. "Let's go to Ningbo. I heard the inspection there is less strict."

They didn't know that the old man selling pancakes at the corner of the alley was listening attentively. When the two walked away, the old man packed up his stall and followed them slowly.

When the sun was high in the sky, ten long tables were set up in the backyard of the workshop. New female workers were learning to identify fake orders. Zhu Youwei picked up a sample and pointed at the dark pattern on the corner.

"Real orders have a special watermark at this location, and you can see the word 'Jinguo' when you hold it up to the light."

The female workers passed the sample around and some of them exclaimed in amazement. "It's so fine, no wonder those people can't copy it."

Xiao Tao smiled and interjected, "This is just the first anti-counterfeiting measure. Each order has a unique number, which corresponds to the tax bill and household registration."

As he was talking, the bailiff brought in a man with a pointed chin and monkey cheeks. "My lord, we caught someone who forged the household registration. He was trying to pretend to be a clerk at Zhou Ji to place an order."

Zhu Youwei glanced at the man's shaking hands. "Take him away and punish him according to the law." This scene was seen by many onlookers. Some shook their heads and sighed: "The court is serious this time."

"That's right." The old man selling candy figurines next to him said, "My son-in-law works for the government office and said that he arrested three more last night. Now the orders are all linked to the tax bills and household registration, so they can't be faked."

The news spread like wildfire throughout the city within half a day. Those who were originally ready to take action quietly gave up their thoughts.

She put away the letter and looked out the window at the canal. Under the setting sun, the water surface was shimmering with golden waves. Cargo ships loaded with cloth were sailing into the distance.

Xiao Tao came in with a candlestick. "Princess, it's time for dinner."

Zhu Youwei nodded and took one last look at the canal. She knew that the storm had calmed down temporarily. But as long as the interests were still there, there would always be new challenges.

but it does not matter.

She touched the silver scissors at her waist, and the corners of her mouth slightly raised.

……

The morning mist in Jinling City had not yet dissipated, but Crown Prince Zhu Biao was already sitting in the Wenhua Hall reviewing memorials.

Chen Han stood aside, holding an urgent report just sent from Hangzhou in his hand, and the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously.

"Your Highness, please take a look at this." Chen Han handed the urgent report to Zhu Biao.

Zhu Biao took the urgent report, his eyes wandered over the paper, and his brows gradually relaxed. "The orders for Jinguo Workshop have been scheduled until March next year? Youwei is beyond my expectation."

Chen Han smiled and said, "It's more than unexpected. Not only did she run the workshop successfully, she also caught the profiteer who forged the orders. Now all the merchants in Hangzhou are honest, and no one dares to tamper with the orders."

Zhu Biao put down the urgent report and tapped the table with his fingers. "I have heard about the forged order a long time ago. I just didn't expect Youwei to handle it so well."

"I think this is worth promoting," Chen Han said seriously, "If all workshops in the world can do this, it will not only increase tax revenue, but also prevent unscrupulous merchants from causing trouble."

Zhu Biao nodded: "You have a point. But before we promote it, we need to have a set of rules. We can't just rely on the workshop itself to prevent forged orders."

Chen Han took out a memorial from his sleeve: "I have drafted a proposal. First, all orders must be linked to household registration, second, a special order verification department should be established, and third, counterfeiters should be severely punished."

Zhu Biao took the memorial and read it carefully. There were footsteps outside the palace, and Fang Keqin, the Minister of Revenue, hurried in.

"Your Highness, Hangzhou has sent another tax bill." Fang Keqin held the account book with a happy look on his face, "The tax revenue of the Women's Workshop this quarter is equivalent to the commercial tax revenue of Songjiang Prefecture in half a year."

Zhu Biao took the account book, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. "So many?"

Fang Keqin smiled and said, "This is the net income after deducting the losses from fake orders. Princess Zhu said that there will be more next quarter."

Chen Han took the opportunity to say, "Your Highness, this is a good time to promote it. If all workshops in the world can do this, why would the national treasury not be filled?"

Zhu Biao closed the account book, his eyes firm. "Okay, let's do as you say. First try it out in the prefectures of Jiangnan, and if the effect is good, then promote it nationwide."

Fang Keqin hesitated for a moment: "Your Highness, I'm afraid this matter will cause dissatisfaction among some merchants."

"Dissatisfied?" Zhu Biao sneered, "When they forged the order, did they ever think about the court's dissatisfaction? There is no need to discuss this matter further, it is settled."

Chen Han cupped his hands and said, "I'll arrange it right away."

After leaving Wenhua Hall, Chen Han went straight to the Ministry of Works. Zheng Yi, the Minister of Works, was checking reports from workshops in various places. When he saw Chen Han coming in, he quickly stood up to greet him.

"My Lord, is this about Hangzhou?"

Chen Han nodded: "Your Highness has agreed to promote the model of the Women's Workshop. The Ministry of Industry must formulate detailed rules as soon as possible to prevent the forged orders from happening again."

Zheng Yi stroked his beard and said, "This is not difficult. I think we can add a special mark on the order, just like the treasure banknotes."

"Not enough." Chen Han shook his head. "In addition to the seal, there must be a number that corresponds to the household registration and tax form. Most importantly, a special verification agency must be established."

Zheng Yi seemed to be thinking: "Do you mean a government office like the Baochao Tizhusi?"

"Exactly." Chen Han walked to the map and pointed at the various prefectures in Jiangnan. "First, we will pilot in Suzhou, Songjiang, and Hangzhou and set up a workshop order verification department. Every order must go through triple verification before it can take effect."

Zheng Yi frowned: "This will probably increase expenses a lot."

Chen Han smiled and said, "Compared to the losses caused by forged orders, this expense is nothing? Besides, taxes have increased, so are you still worried about not having money?"

Zheng Yi said no more and immediately called together officials from the Ministry of Industry to discuss the details. Chen Han stood aside, listening to the discussion and offering suggestions from time to time.

At the same time, in the Hangzhou Women's Workshop, Zhu Youwei was checking the newly arrived loom. Xiao Tao came running over with a letter in her hand.

"Princess, there's a letter from the Duke."

Zhu Youwei took the letter, opened it, and smiled. "The court wants to promote our model in Jiangnan, and also set up a special verification department."

Xiao Tao was pleasantly surprised and said, "That's great! No one will dare to forge orders in the future."

Zhu Youwei put the letter away, her eyes determined. "Pass my words on. From today on, all female workers must learn to identify fake orders. We must set an example for workshops all over the world."

When the women workers in the workshop heard the news, they were all very motivated. Aunt Liu smiled as she wove cloth: "Our women's workshop is now famous. Even the imperial court wants to learn from us."

Chun Xing carefully sewed the threads together, fearing that the fabric would be damaged. "Princess, can we sell our fabric to more places in the future?"

Zhu Youwei nodded: "Not only should we sell it to more places, but we should also sell it at a better price. Your craftsmanship deserves the best reward."

The female workers smiled at each other, and the sounds of the looms became more frequent.

A few days later, the imperial edict arrived in Hangzhou, and Prefect Zhao went to the workshop to read it out in person, followed by a team of yamen runners.

"By order of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, we will set up a workshop order verification office in the three prefectures of Jiangnan from now on. All orders must be verified before they can take effect."

Zhu Youwei took the imperial order and turned to the female workers and said, "Did everyone hear that? From now on, our orders will be more secure."

The female workers cheered. Xiao Tao stood aside, tears in her eyes. She recalled the difficulties when the workshop was first established, and now it has finally paid off.

Prefect Zhao approached Zhu Youwei and whispered, "Princess, the Duke specifically asked you to take care of yourself."

Zhu Youwei smiled slightly: "Tell him that I'm fine. I will take care of the workshop matters."

Prefect Zhao nodded and left with the yamen runners. The workshop returned to its busy state, but everyone's face was more proud.

As night fell, Zhu Youwei stood on the roof of the workshop, looking at the canal in the distance. Cargo ships loaded with cloth were sailing to the distance. She knew that these cloths would bring the reputation of the women's workshop to the world.

Xiao Tao brought hot tea and said softly, "Princess, it's late, it's time to rest."

Zhu Youwei took the tea and took a sip. "Xiao Tao, do you think our workshop can change people's views on women?"

Xiao Tao thought about it and said seriously, "Of course. Who in Hangzhou dares to say that women are inferior to men?"

Zhu Youwei smiled. She looked up at the starry sky, her heart full of hope. She knew that this road was still long, but as long as she persisted, one day, all women in the world would be able to win respect with their own hands.

The lights on the canal gradually faded away, but the sound of looms in the workshop continued. This sound seemed to be telling the arrival of a new era...

(End of this chapter)