Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 208 The South is not suitable right now!
The next day.

Xinglinju in Dongcheng.

Tian Jing arrived here very early.

He was really restless, and after sitting for a while, he simply went to the door.

As the deputy transport officer of the Kyoto Salt Transport Bureau, his position was not high, but his power was considerable. However, in the territory of Kyoto, his status and position were slightly insufficient. This invitation to Xia Zhibai was also a helpless move.

normal circumstances.

The Salt Transport Bureau would not pay any attention to Xia Zhibai at all.

A mere fifth-rank official is not qualified to meet them at all.

But things are different now. This year, there have been great movements in the court. Many Jinshi have taken advantage of this opportunity to rise to high positions. And Xia Zhibai seems to be favored by His Majesty. They can't guess whether Xia Zhibai will suddenly climb over their heads.

So some misunderstandings must be explained in advance.

In order to avoid trouble in the future.

Tian Jing paced back and forth outside the store. Every few steps he took, he would look outside, wanting to see the person he wanted to see.

Tian Jing didn't wait too long.

In just a quarter of an hour, a figure appeared.

Although Tian Jing had never met Xia Zhibai, he recognized Xia Zhibai at first sight.

Because Xia Zhibai is so easy to recognize.

He always wore a gray shirt and was only in his early twenties.

Tian Jing walked over quickly, bowed and asked, "Are you the Grand Secretary Xia Zhibai? I am Tian Jing, the Deputy Director of the Salt Transport Bureau."

Xia Zhibai bowed and said, "Meet Deputy Tian Yun."

Tian Jing's face lit up, and he took the initiative to say, "It is true that heroes emerge young. I have heard of the reputation of Xia Daxueshi for a long time, but I was busy with government affairs in the past and did not have the opportunity to meet him. Now that I have seen him, I find that he is indeed worthy of his reputation."

"Grandmaster, please come in."

Xia Zhibai smiled and nodded, then followed Tian Jing into the store.

In the wing room on the third floor.

It seems very empty at the moment.

There was nothing else except a pot of tea.

However, as soon as the two of them sat down, a waiter immediately brought them wine and meat.

Tian Jing quickly explained: "Grand Secretary, please don't misunderstand me. These wine and meat expenses are very clean. I asked for them myself. Meeting with a person like the Grand Secretary, I, Tian Jing, really dare not neglect them. These wine and meat expenses cost me more than half a month's salary. I'm sorry to make you laugh."

Xia Zhibai said: "The salary set by the court is indeed too low."

"For a fifth-rank official like me, I only make 16 shi per month, and lower-ranking officials receive even less."

Hear the words.

Tian Jing's face lit up with joy.

He was not afraid of Xia Zhibai speaking, but was afraid that Xia Zhibai would not speak.

As for the salary, he dared not say much. He laughed and said, "Your Majesty, this is also for the sake of the world. In the past dynasties, there is almost always a problem that many people eat and few people live. It is only natural that we should suffer a little."

"We are appreciated by His Majesty and have been awarded a position or a title. This is already a great favor from the Emperor. How can we covet more?"

"The Grand Secretary is only in his early twenties, but he has already reached the fifth rank. If he hadn't wasted most of the last year, I'm afraid his future would be even brighter. But the Grand Secretary is still young after all, and he has a long way to go in the future. This really makes older officials like me envious."

Tian Jing teased.

Xia Zhibai smiled and also found it interesting.

The officials of the Ming Dynasty were good at manipulating others as if it was an instinct, and they spoke without hesitation.

Not long after.

The wine and meat are all served.

Tian Jing picked up the chopsticks and took the initiative to say, "Grandmaster, you can try it. These dishes are all made with salt from the Kyoto Salt Shop. The Kyoto Salt Industry founded by the Grandmaster is truly beneficial to the country and the people. It has not only greatly improved the efficiency of salt production, but also greatly improved the quality of salt. Now even poor families can buy it."

"Who would have dared to think of such a beautiful thing before?"

"To be honest, I dare not buy this refined salt myself before."

As he spoke, Tian Jing put a piece of chicken into his mouth and ate it with a look of enjoyment.

Xia Zhibai was not polite.

He picked up the chopsticks and started eating.

Seeing this, Tian Jing's originally somewhat uneasy heart was completely put down, and the two of them started eating like this. After eating for a while, Tian Jing finally put down his chopsticks, poured a glass of wine for Xia Zhibai, and said in a deep voice: "Master Xia, during your absence, our Salt Transport Bureau did some things."

Xia Zhibai's eyes were fixed, and he continued to eat slowly.

Tian Jing continued, "I think the Grand Secretary already knows what the matter is."

"But the original intention of my Salt Transport Bureau was not bad. As an official in charge of the salt industry, and newly promoted, I naturally need to have some achievements to stabilize my position. At this time, Li Sheng took the initiative to come forward and presented the blueprint of the steam engine. I was so confused that I accepted the blueprint."

"The Grand Secretary will know what happened next."

"With the help of steam engine blueprints, salt companies such as Kyoto Salt Industry were established all over the country."

"The local salt price has dropped a lot, which really benefits the people."

"Indeed."

"That's not very kind."

"But as officials, we should put the people first."

"And the Grand Secretary also knows that the court of our Ming Dynasty has never been so easy." "We, the officials of the Salt Transport Bureau, seem to have considerable power, but in fact we are constrained by various parties. We did not intend to publicize the steam engine drawings at first. We just wanted to follow the example of the Kyoto Salt Industry and open a large one in each provincial government in the south. Unfortunately, our influence was not strong enough, and some officials were interested in steam engines, so it became what it is now."

Tian Jing sighed, seeming to be full of helplessness.

Xia Zhibai put down his chopsticks and said with a calm smile, "Deputy Tian Yun is worrying too much."

"I don't really care about the steam engine blueprints being leaked."

"and"

"Before I left Yingtian Prefecture, I told people privately that I would publish the steam engine blueprints after I came back. But I didn't expect Li Sheng to go against my idea and publish them ahead of time. However, the steam engine blueprints he published were not perfect."

"After a while, I will go south and announce the new drawings."

Hear the words.

Tian Jing was stunned for a moment.

He suddenly looked at Xia Zhibai and was a little unresponsive for a moment.

"Master Xia, what do you mean by this?"

"You were going to publish the steam engine drawings? Li Sheng knew about this a long time ago? He..." Tian Jing's face drooped and his eyes became gloomy. According to what Xia Zhibai said, doesn't it mean that Li Sheng lied to them?

In exchange for their trust and benefits, they obtained a drawing that would definitely be published?

How dare Li Sheng lie to them?
immediately.

Tian Jing calmed down and his complexion returned to normal.

He had already realized that Li Sheng would not dare to lie to them. Even if he had the guts, Li Sheng would not dare to fool them. But what did Xia Zhibai mean by saying this? Did he not want to make a big deal out of this? Or was he giving them a way out? So that he could use this opportunity to ask for a huge sum of money?
Tian Jing's eyes were uncertain.

He poured himself a glass of wine and said in a feigned anger: "Li Sheng is such a despicable fellow. He not only ignored the Grand Secretary's words, but also deceived us. He really deserves death. We have been worried about this for a long time. But we also thank the Grand Secretary for his integrity."

"I offer a toast to the Grand Maester."

Done.

Tian Jing drank the wine without waiting for Xia Zhibai to speak.

Xia Zhibai smiled faintly and said, "I can't say I'm a man of high moral character. After all, I was in charge of a lot of salt administration. Now the steam engine blueprints can help you keep your positions and gain the trust of the court, which can be considered as making up for it."

Tian Jing's eyelids twitched.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, looking up and down at the young man in front of him, but he was secretly alert in his heart.

Xia Zhibai is not easy to deal with.

Very thoughtful.

These few short sentences turned things around.

This suddenly turned Xia Zhibai from being in the wrong to being in no way at all.

Tian Jing said: "Grandmaster, the steam engine blueprint is the steam engine blueprint, and the salt administration is the salt administration. How can the two be confused so easily?"

"But it was indeed inappropriate for the Grand Secretary to interfere in the salt administration. Now, the salt transport offices all over the country have complaints against the Grand Secretary. In the past six months, many salt officials have impeached you because of the Grand Secretary's previous interference. The local people are indignant. If it weren't for this, why would we resort to such a desperate measure?"

Tian Jing's attitude became a little tougher.

Xia Zhibai smiled and said, "As long as the result is good, that's fine."

"But you really shouldn't use steam engines in the South."

“The South is not suitable right now.”

Hear the words.

Tian Jing sneered and asked, "Why is that?"

"Are you the only one who can do this, and officials like me are not allowed to do anything?"

"If it weren't for your intervention, how could the salt market be so chaotic? How could the local people have so many grievances? What we do is to obey the will of the emperor and the people."

Xia Zhibai did not comment, and said slowly: "The situation in the north and south is different."

“There are more people in the south and fewer people in the north.”

"Salt production in the south is more developed, while in the north it is more backward."

"The steam engine can indeed greatly improve the efficiency and quality of salt production, but it will also make many salt-makers unemployed."

"Have you salt officials ever considered this?"

"Now, all the provincial governments in the south, from the princes and ministers to the gentry and merchants, are actively working to build salt companies in their local areas, trying to get a share of the huge salt market, but the local demand is limited. Is it really suitable to set up so many salt companies?"

"Besides."

"Does the local government have any way to resettle the eliminated cooks?"

"You guys are too impatient."

Xia Zhibai looked at Tian Jing with a smile, with a hint of mockery in his eyes.

Tian Jing's expression changed slightly.

He looked at Xia Zhibai and said gloomily, "You knew about this a long time ago?"

Xia Zhibai nodded, then shook his head and said, "It's not too early. It's just that after you poached a lot of employees from Jingdu Salt Industry, Jingdu Salt Industry can still operate normally. This means that it doesn't take so many people to run a salt company."

"There are so many salt companies in the world nowadays, and they do need so many people in the short term, but over time, many salt companies will not be able to continue operating, and these salt farmers will become unemployed."

“This is a huge social problem.”

“That’s why I didn’t think of introducing it to the south.”

“Conditions in the south don’t allow it.”

(End of this chapter)