Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 179 Returning favors!

Seeing that Li Sheng agreed, Wei Heng looked at Qi Quan and others, with a smile in their eyes.

Wei Heng picked up the wine glass and drank it happily.

Wei Heng said: "Li Sheng, you made an extremely correct choice."

"Xia Zhibai is jealous of talented people and is unwilling to use you or recommend you to the court. If you continue to work under him, you will be targeted and suppressed sooner or later, and you may never have a chance to make a name for yourself. But I am different. I value talents very much."

"I admire you, too."

"But in addition to the detailed drawings of the steam engine, I also need the accounts of the Kyoto Salt Industry."

Wei Heng closed his eyes slightly and made another request.

Li Sheng's expression changed slightly.

He had access to the drawings of the steam engine, and given his relationship with Zhou Ning, Zhou Ning was not on guard against him. However, he could not touch the accounts of the Kyoto Salt Industry, as these account books were managed by clerks arranged by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Li Sheng said with difficulty: "I'm afraid this won't work for the salt transport envoy."

"It's not that I don't want to take it out."

"It's just that I've never seen these ledgers before."

"Even Governor Zhou Ning is unaware of the situation in the account books."

"Xia Zhibai is very wary of us and has divided many things. Everyone is only responsible for their own tasks and cannot interfere in other matters. In addition, these account books were previously handled by Xia Zhibai himself, but now they are handed over to several clerks arranged by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

“I can’t even touch it.”

Li Sheng smiled bitterly.

Xia Zhibai’s management of Kyoto’s salt industry was very strict.

Bookkeeping is bookkeeping, management is management, engineers are engineers, and salt workers are salt workers. Everyone has a clear division of responsibilities and they are not allowed to inquire or leak information.

Even the drawings of the steam engine were divided into many parts, each of which was managed by different people. Even if a problem was discovered and improvements were made, the engineer in charge of that part would make the adjustments and would not tell anyone else.

Industry specializing in surgery.

Xia Zhibai went a step further.

Each part has been specially divided into different parts.

Now, only Xia Zhibai and Zhou Ning know the complete drawings of the steam engine.

Hear the words.

Wei Heng frowned.

Just a blueprint of a steam engine is totally insufficient.

Without specific account books, they had no idea about the specific operating conditions of Kyoto Salt Industry in the past few months, nor did they know how much Xia Zhibai had invested in the early stages, let alone the final output and profitability. They only had the steam engine drawings but didn't know the investment. How could he convince other officials?
Wei Heng pondered for a while, then said earnestly: "I underestimated Xia Zhibai."

"He is always wary of you."

"Yes."

"How could he possibly show these things to you?"

"But the accounts are very important to the court. Otherwise, even if we have the blueprints of the steam engine, we will still be like a blind man touching an elephant if we want to copy it. Only by having a clear understanding of the account books and the experience of the establishment of Kyoto Salt Industry can the court have a general understanding of the specific operation of Kyoto Salt Industry."

“The account books are not important, but the accumulated experience is very important.”

"Li Sheng, you might have to think of a solution."

Qi Quan said with a smile: "There is no need to rush."

"I heard that Xia Zhibai often did perverse things, forcing those clerks to do business and using them as servants. He did not regard them as scholars at all, and even did not feel ashamed of it, but was proud of it."

“Many scholars hate this.”

"I'm sure the clerks are no exception. Can you try to convince one or two of them?"

"The salt industry in the south is more developed than in the north, and it is also related to many people's official positions. If you can help, many officials will be grateful. With the help of these officials in the future, Li Sheng, are you still worried that your future career will not be smooth?"

“Sometimes people need to think more about themselves.”

Li Sheng's expression froze.

There was a flash of struggle in his eyes.

In his opinion, touching the steam engine drawings was already a very bold move, but Wei Heng and the others also wanted him to steal the account books, which made him completely hesitant.

He was very tempted to become an official, but he also knew that there were some things he could not do.

The price is high.

On one side is disgrace and on the other side is rapid success.

The two difficult choices kept echoing in Li Sheng's mind. In the end, his desire for an official position and his ambition to stand out outweighed his fear and uneasiness. He didn't think he should be in his current situation. He should have a bright future.

He wants to become the best engineer in the Ming Dynasty!

After a long while, Li Sheng bowed and said, "Thank you for your reminder, I know what to do now. You are right, not all scholars can accept Xia Zhibai's way. Scholars should be the best. If they still hang out with those peasants, then wouldn't it be a waste of time to read this book?"

"I'll try to convince the others after I go down."

Wei Heng's eyes lit up.

He said happily, "I have heard that you are extraordinary. Seeing you today, I can see that you are indeed worthy of your reputation. I am relieved to hear your words. When you send me the steam engine drawings and the account books of Kyoto Salt Industry, I will personally recommend you to the officials of the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Personnel."

"Thank you for your cultivation, sir." Li Sheng said gratefully.

After drinking, Li Sheng left drunkenly. His legs were so weak that he could hardly stand.

Wei Heng did not go out to see him off. He just watched Li Sheng leave with cold eyes. When Li Sheng was completely far away, the smile on his face disappeared instantly, replaced by disgust and indifference. He looked at Qi Quan who was still drinking by himself and asked, "Can we really do this?"

Qi Quan put down his glass, closed his eyes slightly, and said coldly: "What's wrong with that?"

"This Li Sheng is obsessed with profit. He has long been dissatisfied with Xia Zhibai. We just followed his wishes. Otherwise, how could we persuade him with just a few drinks? Besides, people like Li Sheng who have few opinions and no self-awareness are more convenient to use."

Wei Heng laughed.

He fully agreed with Qi Quan's words.

They didn't take Li Sheng seriously at all, and didn't even take him seriously. They just tentatively mentioned the "big things and small things" and gave him a promise that was not really a promise. Li Sheng actually took these perfunctory words seriously and was grateful to them.

They found it funny just thinking about it.

But this is normal. People like Li Sheng who have always been an engineer have little contact with the outside world. If he is flattered, praised, and promised one or two sweet things, he will naturally be dizzy and confused. Such people still want to save face.

Once you agree, you won't dare to regret it.

But they don't take these words to heart.

The things were taken by Li Sheng, what does it have to do with them?
Li Sheng wants to give it.

Could they not accept it?

If anyone is to blame, it can only be blamed on Xia Zhibai for not managing his subordinates well, causing them to develop disloyalty and thoughts of rebellion. They were just doing what was convenient for them. Even if Xia Zhibai figures it out by then, what can he do to them?

They are not Li Sheng, who can be manipulated at will.

And
They and Xia Zhibai never got along.

As officials of the former Salt Transport Bureau of Zhili Province, they were unable to manage the local salt industry. This would make people laugh if they told others about it, but this was happening to them, and not only them. People in Lianghuai, Liangzhe, Fujian and other regions were all panicked about Xia Zhibai's practices.

The salt produced by Kyoto Salt Industry is too much and too good.

And the price is too low.

Since they left it alone and allowed Xia Zhibai to do whatever he wanted, sooner or later, the salt market in the world would fall into Xia Zhibai's hands. Then, would the salt transporters still have to obey Xia Zhibai's orders? The salt industry is not an ordinary business, it is a real millionaire.

to this location.

I am destined to fight with Xia Zhibai.

No choice!
Qi Quan nodded and said, "Our position is not easy to hold. Originally, the court just wanted to improve the salt administration. After Xia Zhibai's encouragement, many places in the south have started to think about it, and even many officials have been tempted. If we can get the steam engine blueprints, we can be the first to build it in the south."

"When."

"Not only can it greatly increase the salt production in the south and completely control the income of the southern salt market, it can also suppress the local private salt sales and squeeze out the original hundreds of thousands of salt-making households, forcing them to farm. Either way, it is a great achievement."

Wei Heng also smiled and nodded.

When Xia Zhibai's approach became operational, many officials at the Salt Transport Bureau realized that it was something special. They couldn't do it as well as Xia Zhibai, but they didn't need to do it that well either. The salt industry in the south was well developed and local forces were entrenched, but as long as the salt permit system was implemented, they would have a great deal of control. Now they were just taking the opportunity to take back the power to make salt.

The steam engine was too efficient in producing salt.

With the help of the steam engine, they could promote it in the south before Xia Zhibai, and then firmly grasp the salt industry in their own hands. The rampant private salt in the Huaibei region was ultimately due to the high salt prices in the Huaibei region. However, judging from the operation of Xia Zhibai's Kyoto Salt Industry, the use of the steam engine could greatly reduce costs.

Moreover, it does not require so many stoves to produce so much salt.

In the past, the imperial court had to invest a lot of money and grain every year to support these hundreds of thousands of salt farmers. In the future, perhaps only tens of thousands of people will be needed to produce the same amount of salt as in the past. The court's expenditure on salt farmers will be greatly reduced. Because of the reduced costs, the price can be appropriately reduced, and the private salt trafficking can be greatly cracked down.

These are all excellent political achievements.

Many people are watching their position right now.

There are wolves in front and tigers behind. We must find a way to break the situation.

The solution to the problem lies in the steam engine!

This is only for the imperial court. What is more important is the huge profits and local information. Many officials from the south are worried that if they continue to let Xia Zhibai do what he wants, sooner or later he will control the salt market in the south. They are also worried that, as Xia Zhibai said to His Majesty, he will use this opportunity to spy on the real situation in the local area.

This caused many people in the court to panic.

Various forces have been secretly putting pressure on them.

In order to get the steam engine drawings as soon as possible, they must also take control of the Southern Salt Market before Xia Zhibai, or at least prevent the Southern Salt Market from falling into Xia Zhibai's hands.

The reason they were pushed up was because someone pushed them up with a purpose.

Naturally, they have to reciprocate.

(End of this chapter)