Chapter 207 Ruined Guangzhou! (Here he comes)

Zhang Heng smiled and said: "Brother Zhang, you came to see me so early today, but what's the matter?"

Zhang Mazi looked at the skylight and saw that it was almost noon. He couldn't help but smile and said: "The boss went to Guangnan East Road to serve as the transfer envoy and the governor of Guangzhou. He has important things to do, right?"

Zhang Heng nodded and said, "There are indeed some things to do."

Zhang Mazi said: "Guangnan East Road is a barbaric land. Sir, if you want to go there to govern, I'm afraid there will be many obstacles, especially the local indigenous clans are very powerful and the imperial power is difficult to reach. Sir, if you go there, if you really want to start something,

I'm afraid there will be quite a few constraints.

We, the Quanzhou maritime merchants, have risen to prominence thanks to your kindness. To know the favor and not repay it is to be a bitch.

Now that your Excellency is going to govern on Guangnan East Road, you will probably encounter obstacles, so we have discussed it and recommended a villain to be the contact person. If your Majesty needs to use the Quanzhou people, the villain will take charge. Quanzhou people will

Everything is obeyed."

Zhang Heng was quite moved when he heard this and said: "There is indeed someone who needs help here. You didn't mention it originally, but I wanted to ask you for help. I didn't expect you to be so caring."

Hearing this, Zhang Mazi said happily: "That's great. We Quanzhou people know how to repay our kindness, but I'm afraid that you won't open your mouth. From now on, I, Zhang Mazi, will follow you to Guangnan East Road. If there is anything that needs to be dealt with, I will leave it to you."

Zhang Mazi will handle it on your behalf."

Zhang Heng smiled and said: "What about your own business?"

Zhang Mazi said with a smile: "Didn't Quanzhou Maritime Business set up a Quanzhou Maritime Trading Company? All our ship personnel were integrated into it and specially hired capable people to manage it. We only need to supervise and manage it, so we

Now that I’m free, I can do other things.”

Zhang Heng felt admiration for the Quanzhou people's idea of ​​daring to be the first in the world. He nodded and said: "Okay, I originally had something to tell you. Since Brother Zhang is here, I asked Brother Zhang to contact you on my behalf."

Zhang Mazi hurriedly said: "Sir, please tell me, you just give the order, we Quanzhou people will all obey it!"

Zhang Heng waved his hands and said: "It doesn't have to be like this, it's just business...Brother Zhang, the main purpose of going to Guangnan East Road is to open up wasteland, plant a wide range of crops, and build Guangnan East Road into another large granary.

"

After hearing this, Zhang Mazi was a little surprised and said: "Go to Guangnan East Road to open up wasteland?"

Zhang Heng saw that Zhang Mazi had a constipated expression and knew there was a reason behind it, so he asked: "Why, is there something inside?"

Zhang Mazi smiled bitterly and said: "I'm afraid this won't work. Guangnan East Road has always been famous for its food shortage. Basically, food is transported from Guangnan West Road.

Moreover, although Guangnan East Road has a large population, its customs are similar to those in Quanzhou. They rely on ports for maritime trade and have never paid much attention to agriculture. This custom may be detrimental to the development of agriculture.

Besides, the reason why Guangnan East Road is prosperous in commerce and lags behind in agriculture is because there are too many mountains and the land is barren, right?"

Zhang Heng laughed when he heard this and said: "Business prospered because agriculture was not good. After agriculture, it was because a series of agricultural production technologies such as irrigation and fertilization, deep plowing and intensive cultivation were not good. If you are engaged in maritime trade, you may not realize that today's agriculture is different from before.

The original residents of Guangnan East Road did not know how to farm, but this time there are disaster victims going south. There are as many as 200,000 people going to Guangnan East Road alone. They will bring advanced farming technology from the north. As long as they are

Organize yourself, give them farm tools and seeds, and let them clear up wasteland. In just two or three years, Guangnan East Road will be self-sufficient in food, and can even be exported."

After hearing this, Zhang Mazi nodded repeatedly: "As expected of you, Sir, what you think and see is beyond our reach. Whatever you say, Sir, we will do it!"

Zhang Heng smiled and said: "Okay, then we will continue going south tomorrow."

Zhang Mazi nodded repeatedly and said: "Okay, Quanzhou Sea Trade Company has prepared ten ships of 200,000 gu of food, various agricultural tools, seeds, etc., and another 200,000 gu of money to accompany you to the south. We will set off with you tomorrow.

!”

Zhang Heng was a little surprised when he heard this, and then couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Does this count as bribery?"

Zhang Mazi said with a smile: "If Mr. Lao was an official in Fujian, we would never dare to do this. You are an official on Guangnan East Road, but we are in Quanzhou. There is probably no benefit in bribing you, right?"

Moreover, these money and grains are provided by us Quanzhou people to support the refugees on Guangdong South Road in resuming production. This is a good deed and is not for the boss’s personal use. Why, don’t we Quanzhou people even want to do some good deeds if we are rich?”

Zhang Heng didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He pointed at Zhang Mazi and said, "You guys, you guys!"

The journey from Quanzhou, Fujian to Guangzhou is not that far. Guangdong South Road and Fujian are originally adjacent to each other, especially Chaozhou, which is basically bordering Fujian. The customs and habits are the same as those in Fujian.

In less than two days, Zhang Heng's ship arrived at Huangpu Port in Guangzhou.

Before the sea-going ship enters the port, you can see clouds of ships on the sea, like sheep returning to the pen, heading towards the port. Of course, many ships set off from the port and set off for the ocean.

Zhang Mazi squinted his eyes and watched all this, then turned around and smiled and said to Zhang Heng: "Sir, if it weren't for you, we would still have to look up to the Cantonese people. Now you look at Guangzhou, and compared to Quanzhou, it is no longer a

level.”

Zhang Heng was also looking at Guangzhou Port and smiled when he heard this: "It is true that Quanzhou's port is very grand."

Zhang Mazi smiled happily: "Before the full opening of the sea, Quanzhou shipping merchants could not go to sea, and they had to come to Guangzhou. After all, Guangzhou was the first shipping company established in the Song Dynasty. We had no choice but to

Let them breathe.

Alas, it’s hard to live a life of relying on others. When we Quanzhou people come here to do business, the supply costs, port entry fees, and warehouse rental fees are much more expensive than those of local merchants in Guangdong. Some are even twice as expensive. If it is not sea trade,

It’s so profitable, we don’t even think about it anymore.

There is a saying in Guangzhou, "Cantonese people eat everything, especially Fujian people". This is not talking about their food culture, but that they especially like to trick us Fujian people, because we Fujian people want to come to Guangzhou.

We’re out to sea, so they’ve got us! Humph!”

Zhang Heng said with a smile: "The foreign trade of past dynasties can be roughly divided into two main routes. The first is naturally the land Silk Road that began to flourish in the Han Dynasty, and the second is the maritime Silk Road that flourished after the Tang Dynasty.

.Foreign trade in these two directions basically covers the foreign trade of all dynasties.

As the control of the Central Plains Dynasty over the Hexi Corridor weakened, the land Silk Road was restricted. Therefore, the Song Dynasty could only develop by sea. This was a historical necessity.

Trading with foreign countries by sea was naturally closer to Guangzhou. The imperial court at that time probably also considered this, so it opened Guangzhou Port first.

However, in terms of innate conditions, Quanzhou has the advantage.

At the beginning, you can rely on Jiangnan. The main commodities produced by the Song Dynasty, such as silk and porcelain, were all produced in the traditional Jiangnan area, which is now Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Hunan and other places. This is something Guangzhou has no advantage over.

But the more critical thing is the supply chain established by Quanzhou. Quanzhou has absorbed various crafts from Jiangnan. Whether it is silk or porcelain, it is no less than that of Jiangnan. It has even become better in the past two years. There are also many special products. This is

It established the current status of Quanzhou.

In the end, you still have to rely on yourself, and relying on others will never work."

Zhang Mazi looked at Zhang Heng. He didn't know if Zhang Heng was just talking about Quanzhou and Guangzhou, or if he had other meanings. But most big shots spoke like this. Zhang Mazi didn't think much about it, but after all, he had a good face, especially after seeing

When coming to greet the Guangzhou maritime merchants.

Guangzhou officials, including state government officials and officials from the Municipal Shipping Department, basically all high-ranking officials came. In addition, Guangzhou's large merchants also came together.

Of course they have to come. Zhang Heng is not only the transfer envoy of Guangnan East Road, but also the magistrate of Guangzhou. The so-called county magistrate is not as good as the current governor. The transfer envoy is of course powerful, but the magistrate is the knife hanging over their heads. Who knows?

Dare you be disrespectful?

After the ship was set, Zhang Heng disembarked, and Zhizhou Renzhongshi led all the officials to greet him.

When he was about fifty years old, he was a Jinshi during the Zhenzong period. It took him many years to become the governor of a state. But when he saw Zhang Heng, he couldn't help but feel sour in his heart - at such a young age, he was already a transit envoy. This

Why is it so embarrassing?

However, precisely because of this, Lieutenant Commander Ren did not dare to show off his qualifications. When Zhang Heng got off the boat, he led his people to greet him.

"Shuai Zhang Cao, he was appointed as a middle division commander. I have met him."

"I've met Zhang Caoshuai!"

Everyone shouted in unison.

Zhang Heng hurried over to support Lieutenant Commander Ren's hand and said, "Senior Ren, you are too polite. You are an elder, so why should you be so polite?"

Lieutenant Commander Ren suddenly felt much more comfortable and said with a smile: "There are different levels of official rank. A lower official meets a higher official. This is how it should be. There is no need to be polite. On the contrary, Commander Zhang Cao is so humble and open-minded, which is admirable."

Zhang Heng quickly became humble and exchanged pleasantries, and then Lieutenant Commander Ren suggested that Zhang Heng set off and stay at the state government office.

Although the weather in August and September already had a hint of autumn, this was Guangdong after all, and it was still very hot on the unobstructed dock. Zhang Heng nodded quickly and the group rushed to the state office.

Zhang Heng watched the construction of roads and bridges in Guangzhou all the way, shaking his head as he watched. No wonder the north regards Guangnan East-West Road as a wilderness. Although Guangzhou was the first to establish a municipal transport department, the city's construction is extremely backward!

Not to mention that the roads are all yellow mud roads, which are the same in most states and counties, but the roads are in disrepair and are full of potholes. It probably rained a few days ago, and the yellow mud roads are almost complete.

Across Huangni Pond, not to mention it was difficult for the carriage to move, even the horses fell down repeatedly.

Zhang Heng shook his head repeatedly. With such traffic conditions, it is almost impossible to develop.

But this was not over yet. When Zhang Heng saw Guangzhou City, Zhang Heng couldn't help but frown.

Zhongshi Ren invited Zhang Heng to enter the city. Zhang Heng couldn't help but said: "Ren Zhizhou, this city wall..."

Lieutenant Commander Ren looked at the collapsed city wall and said with a wry smile: "You said this city wall is what it looks like. This is the version of the earthen city wall from the Tang Dynasty. After one or two hundred years of wars and hurricanes, it has already become

The ruins are in ruins, and when Xiaguan first came to take office, he was also very shocked by this."

Zhang Heng nodded and said: "Why don't you practice it?"

Lieutenant Commander Ren smiled bitterly and said: "I also want to build it, but it is too difficult. To build a city, the money and food required are very small. The land in Guangdong is barren and the people are poor. How can they afford it?"

Zhang Heng frowned and said: "I know that all the income from the Shipping Division is turned over to the Third Division, but the city wall is so dilapidated that it has no defensive function. Why not apply to the imperial court to withhold part of the commercial tax to build the city wall?"

Zhongshi Ren smiled bitterly: "Nowhere. I have been here for three years. Every year I have written to the court to apply for building the city wall, but there has been no response. The gentry in Guangzhou City are also very much looking forward to it, but we are a wilderness after all. The court

How can we spend important taxes here, alas!"

Zhang Heng nodded.

Lieutenant Commander Ren added: "The city wall you see now has actually been repaired once before. At that time, the court did not allow us to recruit local people to repair it, but we could let soldiers come to repair it, so we repaired it a little bit, but because

Due to the lack of money and food, the city wall was just rebuilt after it collapsed, but within two years, when the storm came, it collapsed again."
To be continued...