Chapter 200 Jiangnan Shenjia

Shen Fu, courtesy name Zhong Rong, is known as Wan San. He is a native of Pingjiang. When it comes to Shen Wansan, everyone knows and everyone knows it. It is said that he has a treasure basin, so his wealth is rolling in and he has become an unparalleled rich man.

However, the so-called treasure basin is simply bullshit. Zhang Yang knew that Shen Wansan's ancestor was just an ordinary farmer who moved from Huzhou Road to Pingjiang Road, which was very close to Suzhou City. His family first became rich by hard farming, and then devoted himself to business. Zhouzhuang, which is famous all over the world, is his main place to start his business. He bought land and made money while doing business. Soon, he became the richest man in the south of the Yangtze River.

The Shen family's property is everywhere in the south of the Yangtze River, and Xinghua is no exception. Two hundred miles west of Dingxi is the Shen family's house. Of course, there is usually only a housekeeper who manages the nearby land property. Shen Wansan has never appeared at all. If anything happens, the housekeeper will naturally go to Suzhou to report.

As a big landlord, the difference from Liu Ziren's landlords is that the Shen family's property is not occupied by force and deception. The Shen family is not a hereditary rich man, but makes a fortune through their own efforts. After his farmland was rented by tenant farmers, he encountered a famine year, and took the initiative to reduce the rent, and sometimes gave alms to help the poor.

Therefore, the rich and unkind families in the east of Xinghua were all borrowed food by Zhang Yang, while the Shen family, Zhang Yang had never been disturbed, and the Shen family did not run to Xinghua City like other big families. His housekeeper was still in the house as usual, ready to pay the accounts for the master.

The Shen family made Zhang Yang realize that although the slogan he put forward was to fight the local tyrants and divide the fields, the local tyrants and the local tycoons are different. Most of the large local tycoons are rich and unkind. The landlord class that cruelly exploits the tenant farmers is the target of their own attack. Only by defeating them can they liberate the productive forces. Only when farmers get land can they sincerely support themselves.

However, fighting local tycoons cannot be generalized. Rich families like the Shen family did not harm the interests of farmers and did not pose a threat to themselves. If even they were uprooted, Zhang Yang would fall into a terrible situation: the establishment of a regime requires more than martial arts, but also a world immediately. But you can't rule the world right away. If you want the country to be rich and the people, literati also play a big role.

After all, there are few poor people like Li Mi who hang books. The place where people are rich in reading are still those large households. If they are one-size-fits-all, these people are forced to their opposite side. I'm afraid that the opening of schools and popularizing national education in the future will be ruined.

It is the most correct choice to crack down on the vast majority of the rich and attract a small number of talents who are beneficial to him. Therefore, Zhang Yang does not intend to force the Shen family to his opposite side. If the Shen family can support himself, then it will be easier for him to compete for hegemony. Based on this idea, Zhang Yang did not eliminate the Shen family with him.

However, this policy must be implemented. Land, as the basic means of production, must not be over-concentrated. If a person concentrates most of the land, it will inevitably cause many disadvantages. Therefore, the Shen family's land products must be distributed to farmers.

Zhang Yang thought for a long time and said to Li Shanchang, "Shanchang, the Shen family is in Xinghua. How many fields are there?"

"Brother, this has not been counted yet. It is estimated that there should be hundreds of mu, right?" Li Shanchang said.

Hundreds of acres? Zhang Yang calculated: "If we buy his land, how much silver will we get for an acre of land?"

"This..." Li Shanchang grew up and said: The eldest brother has always said that he wants to divide the fields. Now there are thousands of people in a team, just a Shen family. What are you afraid of him doing? The power of the Shen family is mainly in Pingjiang. There are only some property here. There are only two family members in the family. It doesn't need to be like this at all, right?

Li Shanchang still closed his mouth: "Brother, this Shen Wansan is a business genius. His family's farmland is close to the river, which is easy to water the field. The yield is very high. If I buy it, I'm afraid it will cost five taels of silver per mu."

"Well, when you divide the land there, you will visit the Shen family, ten taels of silver and one mu, and buy all his land."

"Brother, do you really want to buy it?" Li Shanchang asked.

"Didn't you say that? Shen Wansan is a business genius. I pay ten taels of silver and an acre. Why won't he sell it to me?

"No, big brother, I mean..." Li Shanchang felt that the eldest brother went to Desheng Lake. Is he crazy? This is thousands of taels of silver. Is it worth doing this? Send a team of 100 people to the Shen family to borrow food once, won't everything be solved? The big families nearby have been solved like this. Why can't the Shen family treat it like this?

"Don't worry, Shanchang, since Shen Wansan is a businessman, he must know what to do." Zhang Yang said.

Shen Wansan can change from a commoner to a rich family. Naturally, his ability to make money is not small, and the world can naturally be seen more thoroughly. His business is everywhere, and he can naturally feel it. I'm afraid that the Yuan Dynasty will change. Naturally, he knows more that he wants to do big business, which is absolutely inseparable from the support of those in power. He gave him face for hundreds of acres of land. He did not take it, but spent money to buy it, and the price was twice as high. He will definitely give it directly to himself without collecting any money. In this way, he will have both inside and face. In the future, he wants to come to his own. It is naturally more convenient to do business on the site.

If the Shen family's property is successfully received this time, it will be a very good start. They need the support of those ed gentry. They can be rich, but they can't control the property. In fact, doing business is much more profitable than rent collection.

From this perspective, it is more appropriate to take the Shen family to do this experiment for the first time. The main source of income of the Shen family is to do business, and the land is a secondary position. These gentry in the south of the Yangtze River accounted for a large part of the business and conquered the fortress of the Shen family, and other families were easy to break through.

If Shen Wansan has a very commercial vision, he should be able to see that it is in his interests to be friends with himself.

Exemption of three years of tax, Zhang Yang naturally has to make up for it from other places, vigorously develop commerce, and can also develop overseas trade and collect commercial taxes. Moreover, important industries, such as salt and ironmaking, are exclusively operated, and grain is also an exclusive acquisition, which is enough to support their own military construction.

Li Shanchang thought for a little and roughly understood the meaning of the eldest brother. He couldn't help but admire the eldest brother's means: not only to kill decisively, to get rid of those big families in the hometown, but also to give kindness: to the big families who have not yet destroyed people's surnames, which is the right way to do great things. , rigidity and softness go hand in hand, and the water comes naturally.

"Brother, I know how to do it." Once Li Shanchang understands the purpose, the process will naturally be handled very carefully.

"Well, good, I feel very relieved to have you working around me." Zhang Yang's words were really out of his heart. He accidentally got Li Shanchang as a talent. He really felt that Li Shanchang was definitely a good hand in handling government affairs.

Hearing Zhang Yang's words, Li Shanchang felt a fever in his heart: "The eldest brother values the good man so much. The good man really can't repay him. He can only do his best to help the eldest brother achieve hegemony!" After saying that, he held his fists in his hands, bent forward, and made a big salute.

Zhang Yang hurried forward and held Li Shanchang's arm: "Shanchang, please don't be so polite. You and I are the same at first sight, and now we are standing on the same front. Let's go hand in hand and drive the tar back!"

"Yes, big brother." Li Shanchang's eyes are already a little wet. Meng Chang is noble and clean, and he has spare time to serve the country. Ruan Ji is rampant and crazy. How can he cry at the end of the road? How lucky it is to have a master who knows himself and let himself serve the country!

At this moment, suddenly, a woman's voice came from outside: "Is Zhang Shicheng there? I want to see him, I want to see him, this untrustful hypocrite!"

"If you talk wildly again and be rude to our eldest brother, don't blame us for being rude. Go away quickly!" The sentry began to curse.

"I'm not leaving. I'd like to see what Zhang Shicheng dares to do to me!"

Zhang Yang's face changed, and he heard that the familiar female voice outside was He Zhaoyi!

I'm messy enough. There are so many things to deal with. This Miss He family, why do you come here? Doesn't she know that it no longer belongs to the government? Doesn't she know that there has been a war here?

"Zhang Shicheng, you still owe me two ships of salt!" The voice came again.

Zhang Yang suddenly remembered that he had been busy fighting these days, but he forgot that her salt was handed over to himself, and two ships of salt were not shipped to her!

However, she bought a salt guide. The silver that bought salt has been given to the Lianghuai Salt Transportation Division, and all the salt here has become her own. She can't ask for silver from the Lianghuai Salt Transportation Division. She can't give her this salt for nothing and ask her for money again? It's a little too much.

Zhang Yang strode out. If he goes out slowly, it is difficult to guarantee whether the loyal sentry will use violence against He Zhaoyi, and he will be hated by He Zhaoyi for the rest of his life.

" Stop!" Zhang Yang shouted quickly. Sure enough, the sentries couldn't help but prepare to drive He Zhaoyi away.

He Zhaoyi is dressed in an ordinary servant's clothes, with two buns on both sides, but her graceful temperament can't be concealed. Behind him was a woman in the same costume, the familiar little love. From a distance, it seems to be two maids in a large family.

"Big Brother!" Seeing Zhang Yang come out, the sentry quickly let go and shouted respectfully.

"Well, it's up to you. Go back." Zhang Yang and the sentry said.

After sending the sentinel away, Zhang Yang looked at the fearless young lady and said, "Zhaoyi, why are you here?"

"The second brother said that you were a rebel. I didn't believe it. I didn't expect that you really..." In the middle of He Zhaoyi's words, suddenly burst into tears.

This young lady has become really fast. It turned out to be fierce. Zhang Yang can't see girls crying the most. Now when he sees that He Zhaoyi's emotions are out of control, he doesn't know what to do.

He Zhaoyi was scolded by his father because of Zhang Yang's relationship. He was still locked at home and was not allowed to come out. Even the eldest brother was implicated. Now all the businesses in the family are taken care of by the second brother. The reason is still Zhang Yang's relationship.

She stayed at home for a few days and always couldn't believe that Zhang Shicheng had secretly done something wrong. She believed that Zhang Shicheng had been transporting private salt. However, this crime seems to be very big, but for me, it is not a big deal at all. The family has been engaged in the salt business, and there are also people who can speak in the court. It is for this reason that they can become one of the three major salt merchants in Yangzhou.

She also knows that Zhang Shicheng has his own small power, which is also normal. Trafficking in private salt will inevitably encounter any accidents. His power ensures the safety of salt transportation, which is also where he trusts him. He has the ability to transport salt for himself.

However, I didn't expect that Zhang Shicheng's trafficking in private salt is just a sideline, and his main business is to make a living in rebellion! She didn't believe it. She didn't believe it anyway. Was it the one who saved last time that Li Shanchang encouraged her? That Li Shanchang is a person who is dissatisfied with the court.

She really wanted to see for herself to see what the brother Shicheng, whom she was very familiar with, had become now. As for the remaining two boats of salt, she didn't pay attention to it. In the past few transactions, I have already made a lot of money and lost two ships. It's nothing.

Although she was not allowed to go out by her father's order, no one specially supervised her. She was still the eldest daughter of the He family. Therefore, she quietly changed into the maid's clothes and smoothly walked out of the He family's house. With Xiao Ai and the two masters and servants, they set out from Yangzhou and came to the Baiju Salt Farm to find him and ask for a clear question.

After Xinghua City, she saw that some large families' houses had been turned into ruins. Suddenly, there was an inexplicable panic in her heart: Zhang Shicheng, is it still the Shicheng brother she is familiar with? The big families of Xinghua have been driven away by him. Does he want to rebel with these mud legs? Once he embarks on the road of rebellion, he will get farther and farther away from himself. In his own home, he will never be allowed to have contact with rebels.

When I came to the white pupe field, the familiar white pupe field had changed. I couldn't see a guard or a working salt man. I only saw a group of soldiers holding spears and training.

Do you still want to go in? Or go back like this? She had understood that Brother Shicheng was indeed a rebel. She had a sense of powerlessness. She wanted to turn back, return to the He family, and tell her father that she had done something wrong. She naively believed in an anti-thief and almost caused great trouble to her family.

However, she didn't give up. She didn't see Zhang Shicheng or hear him with her own ears. She still had a glimmer of hope that all this in front of her was just a dream.

Are those shiny spears dreaming? Are the ruins of those big families dreaming? Brother Shicheng, why did you do this?

He Zhaoyi doesn't understand, and she can't understand that a young lady who has lived in a large family since she was a child and has food and drink. The biggest worry is that she has a few pimples on her face. How can she understand the pain of these ordinary people who have no food and clothes?

"Zhang Shicheng, you are an executioner! You ruined so many people and were forced to flee to other places. Our young lady was blind and actually liked you!" Xiao Ai said angrily in the back.

This sentence offended two people at the same time. Although Xiao Ai was eager to protect the master, he immediately felt that it was wrong to say this, but it was difficult to accept the water.

Does she like me? Zhang Yang felt dizzy in his mind. Does this Miss He like herself? He couldn't believe his ears.

"Zhaoyi," Zhang Yang ignored Xiaoai. He looked at He Zhaoyi and said, "When I do all this, I naturally have my own difficulties. Now, the world is in chaos, and the tars have occupied the flower world of my Han people. As a southerner, I have made up my mind to drive the tars back."

These major events have always been hidden from He Zhaoyi. Now, I have raised an army, and I am not afraid to expose my goals anymore. I will drive away the Tatars, expel the Tatars, and return my rivers and mountains. Any Han man with a conscience should understand the truth.

"However, these big families have not offended you. What does it have to do with them if you want to beat the court?" He Zhaoyi asked, this guy is obviously giving himself a high-sounding excuse. Since he resisted the court, he is a rebel!

"Now the world is in chaos, and the people are living in poverty. Why? Because the court doesn't treat us as people at all and commits tyranny. And these landlord bullies cruelly exploited the hard-working masses. They forcibly occupied the land of farmers and levied high land rents. How many people died of the drought in the past few years? These big families are the lackeys of the imperial court, and they deserve it. Zhang Yang said.

"You! Then does our He family also deserve the lackey of the imperial court? If you hit Yangzhou, do you have to turn my He family into ashes? He Zhaoyi suppressed his anger and asked.

An obvious gully has crossed between the two people, with different paths and no conspire with each other. The positions of the two are fundamentally different. One is to rebel, the other is to obey the court, and in the end, they can only go their separate ways.

"What I defeated were those landlords and gentry who relied on the imperial court, across the countryside, and bullied the people. I, Zhang Shicheng, welcomed those big families who made a fortune by their own ability and were rich and righteous. I, Zhang Shicheng, welcomed them." Zhang Yang said.

"I don't believe it!"

"The big families who were beaten away in Xinghua are all fish and meat people. The Shen family has been staying here all the time. I have never touched his family, and I have never thought of forcibly divided his land. I plan to pay ten taels of silver and one mu to buy his family's land in Xinghua." Zhang Yang said.

"Which Shen family?"

"The richest man in the south of the Yangtze River, Shen Wansan." Zhang Yang said.

He Zhaoyi took a cold breath: Is what he said true? The Shen family is very rich. If the Shen family is copied, although this is just an ordinary house of the Shen family, it can also grab a lot of silver, but he is not moved? It seems that the rumors on the street say that Zhang Shicheng is a vicious person, which is a little biased.

"In two days, I will let Shanchang visit the Shen family. If you don't believe it, you can follow me to have a look." Zhang Yang said.

"Well, then I'll wait." He Zhaoyi made up his mind and must see how Li Shanchang went to the Shen family and treated him.

"Then please stay here for a few days. At that time, everything will be known naturally. Zhang Yang said.

"Okay." He Zhaoyi agreed.

Zhang Yang sent someone to send He Zhaoyi and Xiaoai back to the village. Last time, she stayed at Ruohan's house temporarily, and let her live there for the time being. With Xiaoai, a maid, she would not wrong this young lady.

Alas, women, it's really a headache. The matter of the Shen family must be dealt with well. If all the people pass on themselves into indiscriminately, kill innocent people indiscriminately, and rob the rich family, won't you become a bandit?

(to be continued)