My father is Jiajing

Chapter 450 I drive this road
When Qiao Wanjin heard Zhu Zaigui's call, he immediately put down the work in his hands and followed the person who summoned him to Prince Yu's Mansion without stopping.

At this moment, Zhu Zaigui was also checking Qiao Wanjin's work records in the Northern Construction Bank in recent years.

By the time Qiao Wanjin arrived, Zhu Zaigui had almost finished reading.

Qiao Wanjin entered Zhu Zaigui's study courtyard carefully. After getting Zhu Zaigui's permission, he bowed and walked into the study with a respectful attitude.

"Your Highness, I, Qiao Wanjin, the president of Northern Construction Bank, pay my respects to His Majesty."

Qiao Wanjin bowed respectfully. Zhu Zaigui looked up at Qiao Wanjin who was kneeling on the ground, and said in a very light voice, "Stand up, President Qiao."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Qiao Wanjin stood up respectfully and stood in the open space opposite Zhu Zaigui.

Zhu Zaiqi said: "I just took a look at your work record over the past few years. You have done a good job. I am very pleased."

Qiao Wanjin immediately replied: "It is all thanks to the prince's trust that I have the opportunity to show my skills today."

Zhu Zaigui smiled and said, "Not bad, not bad. I like your honesty. You are not like some people who always like to say humble words, thinking that I think they are very sensible. But in fact, my time is very precious. I don't have so much free time to talk about these things."

"How has the performance of Northern Construction Bank been in recent years? How is it? In addition to you knowing the situation, I can also learn more about it through other channels. Therefore, I am very happy that you can express yourself so honestly."

After hearing Zhu Zaigui's words, Qiao Wanjin was immediately excited. He immediately said, "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. I will continue to work hard to live up to your expectations."

What Qiao Wanjin said was also sincere. You have to know that a few years ago he was just an ordinary unofficial shopkeeper. Although he was the largest shopkeeper of the Shanxi Merchants' Silver Bank, to put it bluntly, he was just a farmhand working for his boss.

But after the establishment of the Ming Federal Reserve, all this changed dramatically.

Although he is still a representative nominated by the Shanxi merchants, the important position he currently holds has enabled him to be treated equally with his bosses.

Now Qiao Wanjin not only serves as the president of the Northern Construction Bank, but also holds a position as a director representative in the Ming Federal Reserve. He is in a very prestigious position.

Zhu Zaigui looked at the excited Qiao Wanjin and continued, "I have seen that your main work in the Northern Construction Bank in the past few years has been very effective, and I am very satisfied with this. So I summoned you here this time for another important matter."

"Cement plant construction in the north is now approaching saturation. The city walls and houses that were destroyed by earthquakes in the early years now have enough building materials. I believe that cement plant construction and business in the north will definitely encounter a market reality of oversupply."

"The money that the Northern Construction Bank lends to cement plants will certainly be affected by their business downturn. Although the Northern Construction Bank still has other loan customers besides these customers to continue serving, if the cement produced by the cement plants cannot be consumed in time, resulting in some difficult-to-digest economic problems, this will still have a significant impact on the economic development of the entire northern region."

"Therefore, I have also come up with a new idea for you, which can help you solve the future operational crisis of Northern Construction Bank."

When Qiao Wanjin heard Zhu Zaigui's words, his heart trembled violently. He had never thought about the problem of overproduction in the cement plant.

Now that Zhu Zaigui had pointed it out, Qiao Wanjin was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat.

You have to know that the largest loan clients of their Northern Construction Bank are the cement yards run by powerful landlords from all over the country. If there is really a problem in the operation of their cement yards, then the Northern Construction Bank will be in danger. Not only will he have no credit, but the shareholders behind the Northern Construction Bank will definitely hold him responsible for all the crimes.

So now that he heard Zhu Zaigui say that he had a way to help him solve these problems, Qiao Wanjin must have been very excited, as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw. He immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, please give me some advice!"

Zhu Zaigui raised his hand to Qiao Wanjin, "President Qiao, there is no need to be so excited. The problem I mentioned will not occur until a few years later. There is no need to rush now."

But now that Qiao Wanjin has been awakened by Zhu Zaigui to the new problems caused by overcapacity in the industry, he must be extremely anxious. Naturally, he does not want to see the largest bank in the north, which he has spent all his efforts to run, being torn apart by backlash one day in the future.

If that is the case, then he is the biggest sinner.

Therefore, Qiao Wanjin knelt on the ground excitedly, "Please tell me clearly, Your Majesty!"

Zhu Zaigui looked at Qiao Wanjin who was still so nervous, and he was very satisfied with Qiao Wanjin's sense of responsibility of being prepared for danger in times of peace.

Zhu Zaigui said: "For now, if we want to solve the loan problem caused by overcapacity in cement plants in the future, what we need to do now is to continue to expand the use and consumption of cement, while also consciously stopping new cement plant loan applications and looking for new business growth points for North China Construction Bank."

"If you can do these three things, you can not only solve the future crisis of Northern Construction Bank, but also become a new role model. This way, when I recommend the new chairman of the Ming Federal Reserve in a year, I will pay more attention to you."

When Zhu Zaigui said this, Qiao Wanjin, who was still in fear, seemed to see a bright light again!
Although the rules set by the Ming Federal Reserve at the beginning were to have fifteen directors elect and rotate as the banker, as the influence of the Ming Federal Reserve grows and the court is keeping a close eye on it, these directors are actually now secretly wondering whether the court will tear up the agreement made by Prince Yu and directly appoint a new chairman.

But now Zhu Zaigui's words not only made Qiao Wanjin feel unprecedented excitement, but also made him more certain in his heart that Prince Yu was a person who would not easily tear up the contract.

Qiao Wanjin said excitedly: "How can I be so capable that Your Majesty values ​​me so highly?"

Zhu Zaigui chuckled, "Whether this king can continue to value you depends on your performance in the next year. Otherwise, even if this king values ​​you, but your ability cannot convince other directors, it will be embarrassing if you are not elected in the vote."

Qiao Wanjin immediately followed suit and said, "With Your Majesty helping me resolve the crisis, I will definitely be fine."

Zhu Zaigui laughed again when he heard this. These talents who came from a professional management background were different from the officials in the court.

The officials in the court either talk about benevolence, righteousness and morality all the time, or talk about morality and benevolence all the time. They like to talk about repetitive words and play Tai Chi every day. Few of them dare to take on responsibilities.

But people like Qiao Wanjin are different. When they feel they are capable, they will be straightforward. When they feel they need help, they will never hide it or beat around the bush to get others to offer to help them.

Therefore, when dealing with professional managers like Qiao Wanjin, Zhu Zaigui didn't have to use much brain cells. He just had to assign tasks and promise benefits.

If you do a good job, you will be rewarded; if you do a bad job, you will be punished. It is not like those serious officials. Sometimes, even if those serious officials mess up and are punished in the end, as long as their connections and reputation are still there, they will come back to serve as officials in a different way soon.

Although Zhu Zaigui also wanted to change this problem, it was not something that could be changed overnight.

After all, in order to become an official, these people are all lucky smart people who have endured ten years of hard study. These people are born to stick together for common interests.

If Zhu Zaigui destroyed their hope of returning after retreating, the world would be in chaos in a moment.

Just like when Wang Anshi wanted to cut down on redundant officials and soldiers, everyone knew that this was for the good of the Song Dynasty and to reduce the burden on the people of the Song Dynasty. It should be a good thing.

But when it comes to actual implementation, no one wants to be the redundant official or soldier who is eliminated.

So when these people realized the danger and realized that their iron rice bowls were about to be smashed, the power they unleashed as a group was so great that even the emperor could not stop it.

In the end, not only did Wang Anshi fail to complete the economic reforms that he should have done first, but he also made the already serious problem of redundant officials and soldiers in the Song Dynasty even more difficult, making it impossible for later emperors to reduce the number of troops even if they wanted to.

After all, the interests involved are so huge that it is not an exaggeration to say that they have shaken the foundation.

Therefore, as dynasties developed, in addition to the obvious problem of land annexation, the problem of redundant officials and soldiers was also quite serious and could not be solved at all. Once any stubborn emperor dared to destroy someone's rice bowl, the consequences would be earth-shattering.

If things go wrong, the crooked tree on the hill behind the Forbidden City will take root and sprout prematurely, causing Zhu Zaigui to hang himself on the southeast branch.

Therefore, compared to those serious officials who may not be able to do their job even if they are promised benefits, Zhu Zaigui still prefers professional managers like Qiao Wanjin who only receive administrative treatment and can be fired at any time.

Because these people are self-aware, unlike those officials who have passed the imperial examinations, who think that they have a lifelong iron rice bowl just because they have achieved fame and become an official.

Zhu Zaigui looked at Qiao Wanjin, who was very excited at the moment, and said, "In fact, if we want to solve the current overcapacity problem of cement plants in the north, it is actually very simple. Just like what I just said, continue to expand the use and consumption of cement."

"President Qiao has been in the capital for many years, right? You must have seen the changes in the Beijing Special District. What do you think of the Beijing Special District?"

Qiao Wanjin immediately replied: "This special zone in the capital has never existed before. It is the first of its kind in the world. Naturally, I am amazed."

Zhu Zaigui laughed and said, "You are right about this. I think so too."

Then Zhu Zaigui asked, "What do you think of the roads in the Beijing Special District and the new moat embankment?"

Qiao Wanjin immediately replied: "The roads in the Beijing Special District are solid and smooth. We have created a new law to control the chaos. Now they are in good order and the left and right are clearly divided. This has greatly facilitated the daily travel of the people in the Beijing Special District and the trade of the convoys between the capital."

"The moat has also been built into a scenic riverside park. Not only do ordinary people like to stroll along the river bank, but even scholars and literati traveling to and from the capital can't help but immerse themselves in it and write poems to praise it."

Zhu Zaigui smiled and said, "Yes, the roads in the Beijing Special District have been hardened and leveled, and the new regulations of left and right branches have been implemented. They are indeed much better than the original roads with disorderly traffic. The moat can be built into a scenic riverside park, which is also a great innovation. But President Qiao, do you know how all this is done?"

Qiao Wanjin said: "This is naturally the prince's wisdom, pointing out a new direction for the Beijing Special District."

Zhu Zaigui laughed and said, "It is true that this is the new direction pointed out by the king, but in order to achieve this, a lot of other assistance is still needed. The biggest assistance among them is the use of building materials such as cement and gravel."

"If there weren't so much cement and gravel used in the Capital Special District, I would have estimated, judging from past experience, that as soon as it rains, the roads in the Capital would be muddy everywhere."

"But after the ground was hardened with cement, this situation was greatly alleviated and eliminated. Even if people had to go out on rainy days for urgent matters, they didn't have to worry about other accidents caused by the muddy ground."

"So since hardened roads have so many benefits, and there are so many cement plants built in the north in recent years, after their production capacity meets the needs and demands of local construction, can their excess production capacity be used to harden the roads between different places?"

"If the roads in various places can be hardened with cement, then the problem of overproduction of cement in the north in the future can be solved, right?"

After Zhu Zaigui's words, Qiao Wanjin suddenly realized. If this was really possible, then there would be no need to worry about other serious problems caused by excess cement.

But after being excited, Qiao Wanjin immediately thought of a very serious question.

Qiao Wanjin said carefully: "Your Highness, cement can be used to harden official roads in various places, but what about the money used to harden the official roads and other expenses?"

Zhu Zaigui smiled and said, "Of course we have to charge for it. Hardening the official road is just a new idea. We don't really want to harden the original official road. We can use the cement to build a new road connecting to other places."

"As a new travel demand, the new road cannot be free if you want to take this more convenient and faster road. So, doesn't the money for road construction have a source?"

When Qiao Wanjin heard Zhu Zaigui's words, he was also shocked and asked carefully, "Your Highness, do you mean to charge a toll on the new road?"

Zhu Zaigui nodded without hesitation and said, "Yes!"

Hearing Zhu Zaigui's frank admission, Qiao Wanjin was even more shocked. Isn't this just stopping a robbery bandit? Can the court do such a thing?

This was really a huge overturn to Qiao Wanjin's perception. In Qiao Wanjin's simple perception, building roads and bridges were all good deeds done by good people with their own money, so how could he talk about money?

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Asking for monthly ticket

(End of this chapter)