Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 270: Selling official positions and titles, making huge profits

Price negotiated!

Sun You agreed very readily and said that he would go to Zhang's house as soon as possible to sign the final agreement with Zhang Luan.

Then the Zhang brothers left with the excuse that they had something to do, leaving Sun You here to continue checking the site and contacting old employees such as Manager Song...

Shopkeeper Song changed from being a clerk of the Zhang family to that of the Sun family, which of course gave him room to choose. Zhang Yanling said that Shopkeeper Song was welcome to change jobs at any time, but he had to wait three months first.

Shopkeeper Song certainly didn't want to be too involved with the Sun family. He accepted the high salary poaching mainly because of the Zhang family's influence. However, he had almost no future if he followed the Sun family.

"Father, I really don't understand why you spent two hundred taels of silver to take over such a shop. It's just a storefront with some worthless medicinal herbs and a few workers. Is it worth so much? You have to pay their wages... This shop doesn't belong to the Zhang family, they just rented it back..."

Sun Chengying felt that her outlook on life was almost overturned by her father.

My father was cheated and is still counting money.

The Zhang family casually rented a shop and started a medicine business, but they lost money in a blink of an eye, so they sold the shop to the Sun family. The Sun family not only had to clean up the mess for the Zhang family and spend a lot of money, but also had to bear the risk of further retaliation and disruption in the future.

Sun You looked at the huge shop with a gratified smile on his face.

"Father has long wanted to gain a foothold in the capital. What's wrong with doing some business? Do you think it's so easy for outsiders to gain a foothold in the capital?"

Sun Chengying pouted: "Father spent two hundred taels of silver just to gain a foothold in the capital? Is it that expensive?"

"My daughter, I don't have to say anything to you, but you just don't see the huge value hidden in this."

As the Zhang brothers left, Sun You finally had the leisure to explain to his daughter. The more he looked at the shop, the more satisfied he felt, and he couldn't hide the smile on his face.

"Of these two hundred taels of silver, seventy taels are the rent for the Zhang family to rent this shop for one year. If you sell it to me now, we will have nearly a year to use it."

Sun You analyzed it seriously.

Sun Chengying frowned: "Did you throw the remaining 130 taels of silver into the ditch?"

Sun You rolled his eyes at his daughter and said, "How can you talk like that, kid? Don't you think about how much the Zhang family's brand is worth? Do you think I'm really that stupid that I have to run a medicinal materials business here?

"Wrong, wrong, wrong. I plan to renovate this place. I will do some business in the front and turn the back into a hotel to receive merchants from Xingji who come to the capital. It can even be a place for merchants from Hejian Prefecture to stay."

"Dad, do you know what you are talking about?"

Sun Chengying frowned. She began to feel a little confused.

Sun You smiled and said, "The merchants from Shanxi have their own trading houses in the capital, and the merchants from Huizhou also have their own Huizhou Guild Halls in the capital. Why do the merchants from Hejian Prefecture become rootless duckweed when they arrive in the capital, and are bullied everywhere? Don't they want to unite and help and take care of each other?"

Only then did Sun Chengying understand that her father had a big vision.

She asked in confusion: "Father, can you help them?"

“Humph, in the past, the highest-ranking official in the court of Hejian Prefecture was Zhang Qi, Lai Zhan’s cousin, and later, Chen Shangshu of Hejian Prefecture. However, they were all short-lived, and as civil servants, they never bothered to deal with private merchants.

"But Lai Zhan is different. He is not an official on the fringe, but the father of the future queen. As a relative by marriage, he must be a nobleman for generations. This means that the wealth and prosperity of the Zhang family will continue for who knows how many generations... Just look at the power of the Wan family now and you will know what the Zhang family will be like in the future."

Sun You showed his big picture.

What I want to do is not some drug store business. I want to be the president of the Hejian Prefecture Chamber of Commerce. In the future, any of my fellow townsmen who come to the capital to do business will have to look at my face and go through my connections.

Sun Chengying said: "Father, let's not talk about your idea being too far-fetched. If that time really comes and the Zhang family is at its peak, will they help us?"

"My child, when dealing with people and doing things, it is important to seek mutual benefit and reciprocity."

Sun You said seriously, "Think about it, why is your uncle Zhang so anxious? He started planning his business not long after becoming the Minister of Honglu Temple? Why can't he wait even one more day?
"It's very simple. If the prince wants to ascend to the throne in the future, he will definitely need a lot of money. He also needs the power of the Eastern Palace inside and outside the court to speak for the prince at critical moments. He is far-sighted and has started to prepare for a rainy day. It's really admirable."

"..."

Sun Chengying was speechless for a moment.

She felt that her old father was possessed by a demon. His thoughts were not extreme, but rather stubborn. It was speechless.

Sun You continued, "No matter how hard the Zhang family tries, they are not as good at business as our Sun family. Look at his two sons who came out to run the medicine shop, and it went bankrupt in just a few days. This is enough to prove that they are not cut out for business at all."

Sun Chengying frowned: "So... Dad plans to be an official businessman attached to the Zhang family in the future?"

"Hey, you are right. This is what I planned."

Sun You smiled and said, "As long as there is money to be made and the Sun family can gain a foothold in the capital, even if your father is just a shadow, what's wrong with being an official businessman?"

"you……"

Sun Chengying was completely defeated by her father's logic.

"Don't look down on officials and businessmen. Look at the powerful businessmen nowadays. Who doesn't have a background? It's difficult for officials to run a store themselves. They need others to not only provide money and effort in front, but also plan for them behind the scenes and turn their power into money.

"During this period, officials and businessmen will also receive corresponding rewards, in addition to money, they will also receive a certain social status. Just like your elder brother and your younger brother, they may be named local celebrities because of this, and even have the opportunity to study in the Imperial Academy, and even become officials in the future."

Sun You has his plans.

Making money by being an official or a businessman was not his ultimate goal. He wanted his entire family to be protected by the Zhang family, and even to get an official position for his children and grandchildren.

In this era, one does not necessarily have to take the imperial examination to become an official. Think about Sun You, who passed the examination and became a scholar at the age of 18, but ended up wasting half his life. Now he is in his forties and still has made no progress in the imperial examination. This shows how difficult it is to pass the examination and become an official.

"As long as we can bring tangible benefits to the Zhang family, they will give us convenience, the merchants in Hejian Prefecture will follow our lead, and the children and nephews of our Zhang family will also have the opportunity to get the chance to serve as officials in the court. I am telling you this, but you, a girl in the boudoir, don't understand. Only men in the world of fame and fortune know how difficult it is to climb up in this world."

When Sun You said this, there was emotion on his face.

He devoted himself to the imperial examinations in the first thirty years of his life. After his parents passed away one after another, he had to take over the family business and focus on business. After half a lifetime of hard work, he keenly realized that only by relying on the powerful could he have the opportunity to gain a firm foothold or even climb up and become a pillar of society.

"I'll have someone clean this place up later. If it's convenient, we can also buy the surrounding shops and expand the scale... Your father will leave this matter to you. Remember to make the backyard as grand and luxurious as possible to show the style of our Sun family.

"Recently, fellow townspeople from Hejian Prefecture have frequently visited my Sun family, hoping to curry favor with Lai Zhan through my connections. When this place is completed, we can invite them all together, and then I will invite Lai Zhan to attend. This way, our goal will be successfully achieved. From now on, anyone from Hejian Prefecture who wants to establish a relationship with Lai Zhan will have to come here to discuss matters..."

Sun You said this with a look of relief on his face, "Daughter, do you still think that the two hundred taels were not worth it?"

Sun Chengying had no choice but to remain silent.

……

……

Forbidden City.

Qianqing Palace, inner hall.

Zhu Jianshen was summoning Li Zisheng alone here. Even Tan Chang and the servants were sent to the outer hall and no one else was allowed to listen.

Li Zisheng moved a stool and sat in front of the emperor's couch. He lowered his head to help Zhu Jianshen fill the teacup in front of him.

"Li Qing, do you know why I called you here?"

Zhu Jianshen spoke in the tone of speaking to his own family.

Li Zisheng shook his head: "I don't know. The person who delivered the message didn't tell me the reason behind it."

Zhu Jianshen laughed and said, "You can tell the difference, but can't you figure it out yourself?"

"I will not speculate on the secrets of the heavens, nor will I presume to guess your Majesty's intentions... Without prior preparation, I cannot be sure."

Li Zisheng quickly expressed his attitude.

Don't think that I'm really Li Daxian who can see through everything. In fact, apart from showing a certain degree of supernatural power when predicting the secrets of the sky, I'm very incompetent at other times. Please don't be wary of me.

Zhu Jianshen narrowed his eyes and smiled, "It doesn't matter even if you predict it correctly... Sometimes I still need your ability to predict the mysteries of the universe. I really want to know how the Ming Dynasty will fare in the future. But I can't tell you directly, for fear of hearing something bad."

This statement carries an obvious implication.

If there is something bad, don't tell anyone and make me worry.

It would be best if you said something nice to please me and make me happy. Li Zisheng could only bow and say, "I will make a calculation after I return, which may take some time."

"You are very honest."

Zhu Jianshen smiled and said, "If it were someone else, they would probably give me the so-called answer very quickly, but I know that those people are trying to guess my intentions and say some deceitful words, with very little truth in them."

Li Zisheng thought, is there so little truth?

It's just nonsense, okay?

It is because you believe it that you give others the opportunity to fabricate it.

Zhu Jianshen looked at Li Zisheng with a smile: "Today, just this matter..."

Li Zisheng nodded in relief: "Oh, I understand. I will take my leave now."

"Hey, don't worry."

Zhu Jianshen quickly called out to Li Zisheng who was about to stand up.

Li Zisheng's butt, which had just been raised, fell back on the stool. He continued to lower his head and listen attentively to the emperor's teachings.

"You should know about Zhang Luan's impeachment against you... What do you think?"

Zhu Jianshen asked, then realized that his question was too general, so he summarized it, "I am asking you, is it true that he impeached me?"

Li Zisheng nodded: "I have read it roughly, and it is basically true..."

"Cough cough!"

Zhu Jianshen coughed violently a few times, then frowned and asked, "How could you be so careless? How could it be known by outsiders? Do you know why I let Tan Chang and the others go out?"

"I know, Your Majesty, you are giving me face... I know my crime!"

Li Zisheng was very calm when he said this, because he knew that there was nothing to pursue, and the person who was truly guilty was sitting opposite him.

Zhu Jianshen consoled him, "You work for me, how can I blame you? Over the years, you have sent a lot of money to the palace through some unknown means, but unfortunately I didn't save anything. I spent most of it, and sometimes I even spent more than I earned."

Li Zisheng said quickly: "I will do my best to find money for Your Majesty..."

"Do you still remember what I told you?"

Zhu Jianshen asked.

"I don't know which one it is..."

Li Zisheng thought about it and replied respectfully.

Zhu Jianshen laughed and said, "I told you at that time that as long as there are people willing to be officials, you should recommend them. No matter how much money you receive, you just need to hand over most of it... You secretly gave the money to Liang Fang, and he presented it to me, so others never knew that you were the number one contributor to making money for me."

"Yes."

Li Zisheng bowed and said, "Your Majesty, with this reminder, I immediately remembered. Thank you for your respect and for entrusting me with this important task!"

"I also said that if someone impeaches you, you can list some of the names and I will help you remove them, and then find people to fill the vacant positions..."

Zhu Jianshen was essentially repeating the original plan and goals.

Generally speaking, when we sell official positions and let people spend money to buy official positions, we must ensure that there is both income and expenditure.

Only in this way can you make huge profits and continue to earn money.

If those people just stay there after entering the officialdom, how can I rely on these official positions to exchange for money?
"I understand."

Li Zisheng said solemnly, "I am willing to take responsibility for this matter. At the same time... I will also find a way to remove the impeached people and replace them with a new group of people."

At this time, Li Zisheng seemed very "considerate". He knew how to use Zhang Luan's force against himself and help the emperor earn the money.

Zhu Jianshen said with relief: "In this case, you will have to work hard again."

"Thank you for your hard work."

Li Zisheng expressed his opinion while making excuses for others, "Zhang Luan's reasons for impeaching me are also correct."

"Alas! You have borne too much infamy for me. I really don't know how to reward you... I have handed over the power of court personnel to you in the past few years. I found that you have not engaged in private interests and have recommended many capable officials to the court... Don't take other people's misunderstandings of you to heart."

Zhu Jianshen actually tried to comfort his subjects, which was a rare event.

Li Zisheng smiled with satisfaction: "It is my great honor to be understood by Your Majesty."

"Good good."

Zhu Jianshen nodded repeatedly and looked at Li Zisheng with admiration. "I will have someone issue an edict to first deprive you of your title of Left Vice Minister and demote you to Left Vice Minister. You will still be in charge of the Yintaisi and the Ministry of Personnel will still follow your lead in hiring people. In this way, you are punished in name only, but the current situation will not change much."

"Yes."

Although Li Zisheng also cared about his reputation, he felt satisfied when he saw that the emperor had considered him carefully and even trusted him more.

"Remember to carefully calculate the fate of the country and the affairs of the court. I am waiting for your news."

Only at this point did Zhu Jianshen finally finish his story.

……

……

After Li Zisheng left, Qin Chang came in and waited for orders.

Zhu Jianshen stood up from the couch, stretched his waist, and said casually: "I have asked Li Qing, and he admitted his mistake to me. The content of Zhang Luan's report is true and credible. It is not an exaggeration to describe it as ironclad evidence. So this round, Li Qing lost..."

Hearing the emperor say this nonchalantly, Qin Chang suddenly felt that his brain was not enough.

Why did Li Zisheng admit his mistake?
Wait... admit your mistake?
Shouldn't it be a confession?

Selling official positions and titles is such a serious crime, can it be solved by simply admitting the mistake?

Who would believe it if I told them?
"I think what Li Qing did was a bit absurd, but he has a good heart after all, so maybe he can be given a lighter sentence."

Zhu Jianshen then told the decision he had made before, "The post of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites will be given to Li Qing first, and he will continue to be in charge of the Ministry of Public Administration as Left Minister of Public Administration for the time being, and his salary will not be reduced. Just let him work harder for me."

Tan Chang hurriedly asked: "Your Majesty said that Master Li was wrong, what about Zhang Luan..."

Zhu Jianshen shook his head and said, "My relative is such an ignorant fellow that he had to make such a big mess and let everyone in the court know about it. Such a scandal has greatly undermined the court's discipline and laws and made the world laugh at him. However, considering that he has a loyal heart, I will not reward or punish him for this matter."

Now Qin Chang is completely helpless.

I couldn't help but wonder, I didn't believe that Zhang Luan and Li Zisheng were in cahoots with each other before, but why do I now feel that the two are just playing a double game and cooperating with each other?

The key point is that His Majesty also helped to clean up the mess. Could it be that the instigator of this incident is His Majesty?

Who is the Joker?

Zhu Jianshen ordered: "If Li Qing wants to come to the palace in the next two days, bring him here at any time... I will be a little busy in the future, but I am in a much better mood than before, so you don't have to worry about it. You can discuss court affairs with Li Qing. Unless it is absolutely necessary, you don't have to report to me."

Tan Chang said in embarrassment: "Your Majesty, the palace examination will be held tomorrow. The Hanlin Academy has submitted the candidate topics, but you haven't reviewed them yet."

The palace examination was nominally set by the emperor, but in reality it was written by the ministers, and the specific execution unit was the Hanlin Academy. Of course, they could not just write one question, there needed to be several questions for the emperor to choose from, and the specific content of the palace examination was a policy question similar to the current affairs policy.

Generally speaking, the emperor had some insights into the deeds of sages, and he used the past to illustrate present times, and used this to raise questions and test the candidates who had passed the imperial examination.

Zhu Jianshen waved his hands and said disapprovingly: "It's just a palace examination, what's the big deal? Just pick a question and take the test tomorrow. I won't be at the examination room in person tomorrow, let Wan'an and others preside over it for me. As for the examiners, let Li Qing help me select a few and accompany me there."

When Qin Chang heard this, he was surprised. Li Zisheng was not only the de facto Minister of Personnel of the Ming Dynasty, but now he also had to select the examiners for the imperial examinations?
Does that mean that Li Zisheng will monopolize the government in the next step?
Will we be able to hold our heads up high when we meet Li Zisheng in the future?

(End of this chapter)