Red Mansion: I am Jia Lian

Chapter 602 Home
Although immigration was encouraged by the imperial court, there was too much resistance from the people. In addition to officials, there were also clans, gentry, tyrants, and all kinds of messy forces at the grassroots level.

Neither officials nor gentry have much motivation to do anything that is not profitable.

If you want to immigrate, you still have to spend money to solve the problem. Immigration is not just about buying people back, you have to send them to the place where they live, and provide them with means of production and food.

The initial investment was too huge, and even the Xue family business could not hold on.

The reason why Xue Pan came here specifically to ask for advice is if there is any new way to make money.

Now the Xue Family Trading Company has become a behemoth, covering multiple fields from production to transportation to sales.

Xue Pan was afraid of Jia Lian in his heart, so he dared to make a request in a low voice in front of Baochai: "Can we postpone the immigration for two years? Wait until all parties have recovered their strength before continuing?"

Jia Lian said nothing after hearing this. Baochai was secretly anxious and quietly winked at Xue Pan, asking him not to continue.

Xue Pan had no intention of stopping, but continued: "Brother Lian, I'm not complaining, it's just that the large number of immigrants has caused too much expense."

Jia Lian noticed Baochai's behavior, coughed, and said calmly, "How is the arms trade this year?"

Xue Pan was stunned for a moment. This topic was a bit far-fetched. He instinctively answered quickly: "The transaction between the company and the Ottoman Empire is still going on. The transaction point is Lijiaopo. The number of artillery is half of the last transaction. The other party of the rifle transaction proposed to focus on rifles, but I refused on the grounds of insufficient production capacity. As for India, more than 10,000 flintlock rifles were sent there last year. The business can only be said to be so-so. The key is that the factories around Guangzhou cannot stop production, otherwise the workers will not be retained."

Jia Lian hummed and continued to ask him, "Has there been any news from America?"

Although Xue Pan didn't know why Jia Lian asked these questions, he answered honestly: "There is no news from the fleet that went to the North Pacific via Nagasaki, but those who went to South America with the Spanish returned safely. The local merchants do not have a great demand for porcelain, silk and tea. At the request of the Spanish, the people of the merchant company promised not to do business on this route in the future to avoid intensifying the conflict. The Spanish today cannot compete with the British. By the way, their demand for iron products is quite high, but the profit is too meager to ship them so far."

"How is the trade of Nanyang goods now?" Jia Lian asked again, and Xue Pan answered honestly: "The Nanyang goods with high profits are still spices, sandalwood, etc. We don't touch the bulk grain trade. After the Nanyang goods are shipped back to the mainland, the goods they carry on the return voyage are still mainly weapons and farm tools. They are all our own people, so the profit is meager, and the original intention is not to make money. Nowadays, the competition among Nanyang merchants is fierce, and the profit is not as good as before."

Jia Lian nodded when he heard this: "The whole country has seen that maritime trade is profitable and has joined in. This is a good thing. The Nanyang Minister's Office must strengthen its crackdown on smuggling. Send someone to pass on a message and say it was me who said it. All Western goods such as tea, silk, and porcelain that are in short supply and cannot produce an export order from the Maritime Customs will be considered smuggled. The Nanyang Navy should increase its anti-smuggling efforts and make it a regular practice."

Xue Pan sighed secretly in his heart, knowing that Jia Lian would not agree to reduce the intensity of immigration, he could only go back and think of other ways. This work certainly could not be stopped, but he could do less quietly.

"Well, when you go back, start an insurance business." Jia Lian said this and Xue Pan's eyes lit up instantly.

Jia Lian stood up and felt quite regretful. Why didn’t he think of it before?

"Brother Lian, please tell me in detail." As he spoke, Xue Pan prepared to take notes in a small notebook.

"As for insurance, going out to sea is risky. You can pay a sum of insurance money based on the value of the cargo on board. You can go back and discuss with your subordinates to decide the exact amount. If the ship does not return, the insurance company will pay the cost. If it returns successfully, the money will be the insurance company's profit. This is a general concept. You can go back and find someone to perfect the specific details. The immigration work cannot be stopped, especially in Australia. The land there looks barren and full of monsters, but there are ways to solve it. The soil is not fertile enough, so you can find some small islands to dig guano and rocks for fertilizer, and self-sufficiency in food will not be a problem. The peninsula is second, but we can't slack off. I tell you, a new emperor chooses new ministers..."

Jia Lian paused and turned to look around. Baochai understood and stood up, signaling the servants to retreat, and Ying'er to guard the door.

Jia Lian then whispered, "Your Majesty's health is getting worse day by day, and it's hard to last long. I estimate it will take three to five years. Who knows what the next emperor will think of the Jia family. Australia and the Peninsula are the real retreats for our families. Of course, we may not retreat directly to these two places. I estimate that it will not be a problem to hold on to Nanyang by then. Of course, this is the worst outcome."

Xue Pan was terrified when he heard this. He knew too well the impact of changes in the court on a family. The Xue family almost couldn't withstand it at the beginning.

"Brother Lian, why don't you support a certain prince? You can even place more bets." Xue Pan's voice became much lower.

Jia Lian smiled and said, "Don't let your imagination run wild. This is the worst possible outcome. My identity is too sensitive to place bets. Don't worry, no matter who ascends to the throne, they can't do without my support. I am still confident of this. But we must always prepare for the worst."

Xue Pan understood and nodded: "In that case, I know what to do."

Jia Lian shook his head: "No, you haven't understood yet. Australia must be firmly controlled in our hands. We must also exert our strength in Nanyang, but we must use it in secret. When Baochai's son is about to be born, one of them must be placed in Australia. You should find a place like Manila or Jakarta in Nanyang as the retreat of the Xue family to Beijing. In short, our two families are one, and Nanyang and Australia are the retreat of our two families."

At this moment, Xue Pan suddenly came to his senses. This was not just a matter of working for the Jia family, he also had to work for the Xue family.

There is one thing Xue Pan has never dared to mention, that is, although he can come and go freely in Nanyang, in fact, all parties look to Jia Lian, not the Xue family. Xue Pan has always been cautious in doing things, not daring to show the signs of the Xue family's independence. Jia Lian told him that the Xue family can be independent in Nanyang and leave a place as a retreat.

Jia Lian continued: "There is another business that can be done, that is to grow sugarcane in various places in Southeast Asia, produce white sugar and ship it back to the mainland for sale. The production cost in Southeast Asia is much lower, and we have our own channels for shipping it back. We should maintain low prices to compete, and don't think about too high profits. Over time, this white sugar from Southeast Asia will completely occupy the market."

Xue Pan hurriedly wrote it down, and Jia Lian reminded him again: "You should also keep a close eye on the shopkeepers at all levels under the Xue family. Don't wait until they make mistakes before punishing them. Check the accounts regularly to reduce the probability of shopkeepers making mistakes. The system should try its best to plug the loopholes for shopkeepers at all levels to make mistakes. This is not to restrict them, but for their own good. Of course, rewards and punishments must be clear, otherwise something bad will happen sooner or later."

Xue Pan stopped recording after hearing this. After thinking carefully, he sighed and said, "Yes, we have been together for many years. If something goes wrong, I can't do it."

Xue Pan was very clear about one thing. In the teams at all levels of the Xue Family Business, there were people arranged by Jia Lian. These people were retired from the army, or they were distant relatives of Jia Lian's aides and the staff department, and they were arranged to be eyes in the business. Xue Pan welcomed this arrangement. Without these people, Xue Pan would really be afraid.

That's why Jia Lian repeatedly emphasized that the two families were one. As for the Wang and Shi families, Jia Lian really didn't treat them as his own.

After Xue Pan left, Baochai whispered something else: "Brother Lian, the old lady wants to arrange a marriage for Shijian and Zhier."

Jia Zhi, the son of Baochai, is the second child of Jia Lian. Although he is born out of wedlock, because of Baochai's special situation, Jia Lian only has two sons and his status is not low.

It’s really strange to say that even though Jia Lian worked so hard, he still had more daughters than sons.

Jia Lian would naturally not agree to Jia's mother's plan to take advantage of Jia Zhi, and shook his head and said, "When the old lady asks, you say that I have my own arrangements and you can't make the decision."

Baochai smiled knowingly and said, "The old lady still wants to help the Shi family." Jia Lian shook his head and said, "The Shi brothers are not ambitious and have been impeached many times while in office. If it weren't for my consideration for my face, they would have been dismissed long ago. The Shi family is in such a state now, but they still act like a wealthy family. God helps those who help themselves. I can't help the Shi family. Besides, a third-rank official is not small. He is an official in another place and wants to be transferred back to the capital. Don't you know how difficult it is to get a position as an official in the capital?"

Baochai whispered, "Tomorrow the lady will also talk about this matter. Brother Lian should be prepared in advance."

Since moving into the Jia Mansion, Baochai has quietly changed the way she addresses her daughter, learning from Daiyu.

The next day, Jia Lian came to Daiyu's house.

When Daiyu saw Jia Lian, she waved her hands and said, "Brother, don't look at me. It doesn't look good with a bulging belly. Go away."

Zijuan stood aside, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Jia Lian came forward and sat down. Daiyu covered her face with a veil before speaking: "Brother, you have so many maids in your room, why do you come to see my yellow-faced woman?"

Jia Lian took her hand, removed the veil, and looked at Daiyu's face carefully. She blushed when she saw it, and then he said softly: "The soul fusion between you and me is incomparable to that of ordinary couples. In this world, the only woman who understands me is my sister."

Zijuan was so jealous of these words that she almost lost her balance. She was so annoyed that she quickly turned her head and found an excuse to serve tea and leave.

Daiyu then leaned on Jia Lian's legs and sighed, "After getting pregnant, I don't look good anymore. I'm afraid my brother won't like me when he sees me."

Jia Lian could sense her mood change, he reached out and gently stroked her belly, thousands of words turned into one sentence: "Thank you for your hard work, sister!"

Daiyu rubbed her face against her hands: "Hmm!" After a while she fell asleep.

Zijuan brought the tea over, put it down quietly when she saw this, and stood aside waiting.

When Daiyu fell asleep, Jia Lian quietly lifted her head. After Zijuan handed her a pillow, Jia Lian stood up and walked a few steps away, whispering to Zijuan: "Has Yu'er been having trouble sleeping recently? Have you seen a doctor?"

Zijuan whispered, "Miss, you haven't been sleeping well these days. It's been a while."

Jia Lian said: "You should have told me earlier!"

Zijuan said, "Young lady won't let me, saying that the master has too many things to do and she can't help, and she can't let the master be distracted by family affairs."

Jia Lian didn't ask any more questions. He sat back and watched Daiyu sleeping quietly.

Compared with Wang Xifeng, Daiyu is much smarter. She knows that the emperor is in poor health, the struggle within the court is complicated and turbulent, and Jia Lian is under a lot of pressure.

Daiyu analyzed the information from the fragments of conversation she had with Jia Lian in her daily chats, unlike Wang Xifeng, whose mind was completely focused on the housekeeper.

Daiyu slept soundly that day. When she woke up, she saw Jia Lian still sitting beside her, reading "Records of the Grand Historian".

A touch of emotion flashed in her eyes, and Daiyu said, "Brother, you are not on duty today, and I am sorry for delaying your work."

Jia Lian lowered his head and smiled: "Wake up, I'll help you up!"

Daiyu refused and twisted her body a few times: "Brother didn't answer me."

"If a woman who is the most beautiful and talented person in the world can be my wife, what does the affairs of the court matter to me?" Jia Lian increased the dosage.

Daiyu quickly got up and stared at Jia Lian, saying, "No matter who you are, get out of my brother's body."

Seeing her mischievous expression, Jia Lian burst into laughter, and after a while he managed to hold back his laughter, saying, "This weather is so hot that it's unbearable in the government office. Your Majesty is in Rehe, and no one in the capital is watching over me. Can't I be lazy and slack off? I can't be lazy and slack off when I work for the court. I'd rather not be an official."

Daiyu then smiled and said seriously: "Brother, you are unhappy recently. Is there something wrong?"

Jia Lian helped her up, walked back and forth, and chatted as he walked: "It was all because of the Third Prince's incident. I never thought that one wave had not settled before another wave arose. A platform for private stock trading appeared among the people, and it was found that someone used fake stocks to cheat. This investigation also found fake salt permits. The scale of fake stocks is not large, and the impact is not great, but the matter of salt permits is very troublesome. It has been secretly printed for ten years, which shows the large number. I went to check it out and found that this matter is not new. In the Ming Dynasty, the Jiangnan region was flooded with salt permits and it was difficult to cash them. They could be used as banknotes. After some people in the private sector found out, they simply printed salt permits privately, making the fakes indistinguishable from the real ones. This has also happened in this dynasty. It was a case investigated by the former prince himself. The news was given by the Dragon Guard. After the prince investigated it clearly, he kept the craftsmen and printed the salt permits himself."

Daiyu opened her mouth in shock, and after a while she whispered, "If this man never gets enough, his fakery will be exposed sooner or later. What should we do? No wonder there was a case of rebellion by the former crown prince."

Jia Lian shook his head and said, "It's not that simple. If the higher-ups print one, the people in charge dare to print ten. Things that should have taken ten years to be exposed were exposed in two or three years. People, who are extravagant and like to take shortcuts, will eventually hurt themselves. Everything is the same. The higher-ups decide one, and if it reaches the lower-ups, a little less is five, and if one can't be contained, it becomes ten. I remember when I went to Yunyang, I encountered such a thing. The court exempted local taxes, but the prefects and county magistrates still collected taxes. The money went into their own pockets, and the people couldn't survive, so they rose up in rebellion."

Daiyu couldn't help but shake her head after hearing this. Jia Lian continued, "The Third Prince's case is similar. His original intention was to make some money by lending money. The interest rate was set at 3.5% per year. The people below couldn't work for nothing, so they simply gave 90% out and 13% back, or 3.5% per month. He was able to get low-interest loans from the central bank and the four major private banks. This business is getting bigger and bigger. He has opened branches in Beijing, Tianjin, Jinan, Jinling, Guangzhou and other places. The Dragon Guard has found out that only the Dianjin Bank in Beijing can make money for the Third Prince. The other branches are all businesses run by the people below."

Daiyu had also read history books, so she understood what he said. She shook her head and said, "There are many similar things in history books. During the reign of Emperor Tianqi of the Ming Dynasty, a tax collector was set up. The eunuchs who collected taxes took the opportunity to make money, forcing the people to endure it."

Jia Lian shook his head and said, "The Tianqi incident is more complicated. What is recorded in the book is not entirely true. How could individual people have the ability to cause such a big commotion? The gentry of Jiangnan must be behind it. They don't want to pay taxes, and they have the right to speak in public opinion. If they want to make a big fuss, wouldn't that be easy? The key is to see who is the beneficiary of this incident."

Daiyu understood and whispered, "So, Jiangnan isn't much better now."

Jia Lian sighed and said, "Yes, a dynasty that has lasted for a hundred years is bound to form a huge rentier class. If this problem is not solved well, the country is doomed to go downhill."

(End of this chapter)