However, within just a few months, under the rule of Quanzhou, the people of the county all knew that now there was a unique general judge in Quanzhou, who asked the people to help build the salt field and even paid them ten coppers a day and two meals.

, such good treatment cannot be found anywhere in Quanzhou, let alone the government.

However, because of the construction of a salt drying field, the young Wang Zhong was named Wang Qingtian by the people in the county when he first arrived. Chen Jun, the magistrate of the state, was a little dumbfounded when he heard the news.

I think that Chen Jun has served as the magistrate of Quanzhou for nearly three years. Not only did he work hard, but he also worked conscientiously and encouraged farming and mulberry farming. He was neither greedy nor exploitative. He can be regarded as a good and upright official, but he was actually

A junior who had just arrived stole the spotlight.

This makes Chen Jun feel so comfortable.

But this was done voluntarily by the people, and Wang Zhong couldn't be blamed. How could Chen Jun be dissatisfied?

Fortunately, Chen Jun is not a small-minded person. He sighed a few times and let it go. Instead, he started to think about the secret.

After thinking about it, Chen Jun discovered that it was simply because Wang Zhong offered the people a salary of ten cents a day and two meals.

On this day, Wang Zhong was teaching ten students to study in the front yard of Wang Zhong's house. Suddenly, on the second day of Chu, Yu Chu came to report that Chen Jun was here. Wang Zhong hurriedly asked the students to study on their own and went to greet him personally.

"Ming Gong is here, but I am disappointed to welcome him from afar. I hope Ming Gong will forgive me!"

"I came suddenly, what does it have to do with Zihou!" Chen Jun seemed to have another purpose.

Wang Zhong immediately led Chen Jun into the front hall, and the envoy served him freshly brewed hot tea.

"I wonder what's important, Mr. Ming?" After exchanging a few words with Chen Jun, Wang Zhong asked directly.

Chen Jun took a sip of tea, put down the tea bowl, looked at Wang Zhong and asked, "Zi Hou! Now that the salt field has been built, when will the salt production start?"

It's no wonder that Chen Jun was so anxious. All the expenses for building the salt field were funded by the state government treasury. Although Wang Zhong had the imperial edict from Emperor Jiayou, if he could only get out but not get in, the people below would inevitably gossip.

Wang Chong said with a smile: "Ming Gong Ming Jian, the salt field we built is different from the salt field in the traditional sense. It is made from seawater that has been sedimented and filtered many times before being dried. This method has never been used before, so

The officials specially ordered me to test it in Quanzhou, but it is still unknown whether it will succeed or not!"

Chen Jun frowned slightly and asked, "How sure is Zihou?"

"About 70% to 80%!" Wang Zhong said: "But when it comes to drying salt, in addition to technology, it also depends on God's face."

Chen Jun also learned about the detailed process of drying salt with Wang Zhong in advance, so he naturally knew what Wang Zhong meant.

"I wonder what Zi Hou said about the inspection years ago?" This was the real purpose of Chen Jun's trip. When the salt field was being built two years ago, Wang Zhong made a drunken blunder and said that in addition to the salt field, before leaving, the official

The family also specifically asked Wang Zhong to come to Quanzhou for a careful inspection to see if Quanzhou was suitable for establishing a shipping department.

That is the Shipping Department. Quanzhou is close to the sea and has a very advantageous geographical location. If a Shipping Department can be established and a port can be established to attract passing merchant ships to stay, over time, Quanzhou will be able to completely get rid of its remote and impoverished status quo and become the next Hangzhou.

Wang Zhong looked at the big fish that took the bait with a half-smile but said, "It depends on the courage of Duke Ming!"

"My courage?" Chen Jun pointed at himself and said, "What does Zi Hou mean by this?"

Wang Zhongdao: "Quanzhou is close to the sea and is located in the middle of Hangzhou, Mingzhou and Guangzhou Shipping Departments. The geographical location is superior, and there are natural ports such as Quanzhou Bay. It is indeed suitable for building a shipping company, but whether it is suitable or not is not something I can say.

Decision, and Quanzhou is not the only choice. Let’s not talk about distant places, just Fuzhou. The geographical location is exactly the same as Quanzhou, and the wealth and population are even greater. I dare to ask Ming Gong, if you were asked to choose, Ming Ming

Will you choose Fuzhou or Quanzhou?"

"This..." Wang Zhong's words left Chen Jun speechless. Fortunately, Chen Jun's mind was quick enough. He immediately leaned forward, grabbed Wang Zhong's hand, and couldn't wait to ask.

Said: "Why should Zihou teach me?"

Then he realized what he was doing and hurriedly let go of Wang Zhong's hand, cupping it with some embarrassment: "I was so excited that I couldn't help myself, which made Zihou laugh."

However, Wang Zhong had a stern look on his face, and he cupped his hands towards Chen Jun and said: "Ming Gong is devoted to Quanzhou and the people. This heart can be seen from the sun and the moon. Zhong only has admiration in his heart!"

Chen Jun breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time he became more and more satisfied with Wang Zhong. Different people said completely different things. In just a few words, Wang Zhong praised Chen Jun to the level of caring about the country and the people, serving the public wholeheartedly, studying and becoming an official.

, what he seeks is nothing more than power, fame, and wealth. Chen Jun is not short of money, but what he lacks is a reputation that will last forever!

Wang Zhong said this, how could he not make Chen Jun happy: "If Zihou has any good ideas, tell me quickly!"

Wang Zhongdao: "If Ming Gong is interested, he can expand the port and build a wharf in Quanzhou Bay to attract passing maritime merchants and encourage merchants to go to sea for trade. As long as we make achievements, those merchants will spread the name of Quanzhou throughout the world for us.

At that time, Ming Gong said how the officials would choose?"

"Expanding the port and building a wharf is not that easy!" Chen Jun sighed.

After all, it is nothing more than the word money.

Time passes day by day.

In late February of the seventh year of Jiayou's reign, the city of Tokyo was bustling with excitement. Scholars from various states and prefectures gathered in Tokyo to participate in the triennial spring festival, all seeking to be named on the gold medal list and pass the exam.

Quanzhou City, thousands of miles southeast of Tokyo, is also very lively.

Quanzhou Bay, on the pier, Wang Zhong had been waiting here for a long time after receiving the news. Several large ships with a length of more than ten feet and a width of several feet were parked in Quanzhou Bay. Sheng Wei took Chang Song and several Wang Zhongbu

The person he knew quickly walked towards Wang Zhong after getting off the boat.

After some pleasantries, Wang Zhong led the people to Danbi Tower where a banquet had been arranged.

Amidst the singing and dancing, with the background of silk and bamboo orchestra, and at the banquet, Sheng Wei introduced the people he brought to Wang Zhong. They were all big businessmen who had a good relationship with Sheng Wei. One of them was Chang Song's uncle, and all of them were Ying Sheng.

Wei Zhi invited me to fulfill the agreement we made with Wang Zhong last year in Youyang.

Although Wang Zhong is young, none of these wealthy businessmen dare to look down upon him in the slightest.

At the age of twenty, he became a general judge of a state, and he was an official of the sixth rank. His future was limitless.

Businessmen are all driven by profit. How could a stock with such great potential like Wang Zhong not be worthy of their investment?

What's more, others don't know it, but Changsong's uncle Li Yong knows very well that his brother-in-law's business is now so prosperous and he is making money every day. He is inseparable from Wang Zhongke's relationship.

None of the prosperous businesses is related to Wang Zhong.

"Everyone sitting here today is older than me and has far more experience than me. As for experience in business, that's not to mention. You are all good hands. You are favored by officials and awarded the title of Quanzhou Tongpan.

One position!”

"You are all leading businessmen. I don't need to tell you what Quanzhou's geographical location is. You all know it in your mind. And with a natural port like Quanzhou Bay, it is a very advantageous location.

In the decades since the Taizong Dynasty, the imperial court has encouraged merchants to go to sea for trade, and in order to establish a maritime Silk Road, it has successively established municipal shipping departments in Hangzhou, Mingzhou, and Guangzhou to take charge of all matters related to maritime trade and provide various conveniences.

The right time!"

"Now that you are all gathered here, we are harmonious and harmonious. With the right time, right place, and right people, how can we worry about not being able to achieve great things?"

"What the judge said is absolutely true!" Sheng Wei was not the first to speak up, but Li Yong, Sheng Wei's uncle, was the first to speak out: "How can we miss such a good opportunity? My Li's business name has been decided.

Establish a branch in Quanzhou, purchase three sea-going ships, and go out to sea for trade!"

The remaining people did not express their opinions in a hurry, but after looking at each other, one of them, a very rich middle-aged fat man, cupped his hands at Wang Zhong and said: "We also agree with what the general judge said, but although the profits from overseas trade

It’s high, but the risk is also great. Let’s not talk about pirates. Even storms on the sea are beyond the control of human beings. Whenever we encounter one, it’s just a loss of cargo and cargo, but we’re afraid of losing our lives!”

"There is no such thing as a pie in the sky in this world! Although the sea is dangerous, the profits from a trip are also extremely high!" Wang Chong said with a smile: "Nowadays, there are two shipping companies in Hangzhou and Mingzhou, and there are many ships traveling back and forth every year.

There are thousands of ships, and a large amount of musk, wood, gold and silver and other items have flowed into our country from overseas trading companies. You all know how profitable these things are. I don’t need to tell you.

Know."

Another businessman raised his hand and asked: "The common people have doubts in their hearts. I wonder if Tong San can help the common people clear up their doubts?"

"But there's no harm in asking!" Wang Zhong said with a relieved smile.

The man said: "Although we are also businessmen, we only do business within the territory of our country, nothing more than the north, south, east and west. We have never experienced going to sea. Tongpan also said that there are so many people going to sea every year, why does Tongpan choose to go to sea?

Why don't you wait for me?"

Wang Zhongdao: "I was ordered by the officials to pass judgment on Quanzhou, so I naturally had to make some achievements in order to live up to the officials' entrustment. However, Quanzhou has many mountains and few fields, and the mulberry farming is not prosperous. If I want to make some achievements, I must

So we can only find another way.

Quanzhou is close to the sea and has natural ports such as Quanzhou Bay. The geographical location is extremely advantageous. Nowadays, overseas trade is increasingly prosperous. As you know, now only three shipping companies in Hangzhou, Mingzhou and Guangzhou bring taxes to the court every year.

how many?"

Everyone looked at each other and shook their heads.

Wang Zhongdao: "The detailed amount is a secret of the imperial court, and it is not convenient for me to tell you, but what I can tell you is that the tax levied by the imperial court on maritime trade every year is not much higher than the salt tax, and this number increases year by year.

It’s all growing.”

"Tongjian, are you serious about this statement?" Several businessmen were stunned.

Wang Zhongdao: "I can't convince everyone just by my own words. There are also many merchants in Quanzhou who go to sea for trade. You may as well go and find out for yourself."

Wang Zhong didn't have to be so polite to these businessmen, but these people came with Sheng Wei, and they all cooperated very closely with Sheng Wei and had a good relationship, and their character was not bad, otherwise Sheng Wei would not

I won't bring them here.

Of course Wang Zhong wanted to give Sheng Wei some face.

After the banquet, all the businessmen were looking for a place to live. Wang Zhong led Sheng Wei and Chang Song back to his house in Quanzhou.

Wang Zhong's residence is just a small house with two entrances. The only bright spot may be that it has two quite spacious yards. Moreover, the house is rented, not bought.

It's a little far from the busy city, but it's quieter.

In the study room in the front yard, Wang Chong drank two cups of fragrant tea and knelt down on both sides of the long desk with Sheng Wei.

"Among the people I brought this time, there were thirty-three shipbuilders, twelve skilled blacksmiths, more than forty apprentices, fifty spinning machines and fifty looms each, and skilled female workers.

Twenty people, and..."
To be continued...