"Long live Shen Yishuang.”
"Bring him in."
Two Embroidered Uniform Guards escorted Shen Yishuang to the Profound Language Pavilion.
Compared to Shen Degang, this Shen Yishuang was obviously very nervous. Her legs were trembling.
"Are you Shen Yishuang?" Zhu Youjian said calmly.
"I am Shen Yishuang, may I know why the Embroidered Uniform Guards are looking for me?
I've always been law-abiding, never stealing or cheating. I've listened to the shopkeeper's words honestly and worked for the boss. I've never rebelled or colluded with the party!”
After saying that, Shen Yishuang knelt down.
"Since you said that you're an honest person and didn't commit any crimes, what are you afraid of?”
"I live in the market for money. I'm not afraid of the wind and rain, but I'm afraid of the government's investigation.
"When the officials look for us, they either donate money or punish us. Of course, these lowly people are not afraid. As long as the old master is magnanimous, the money I earn will be handed over to the government.
I'm just afraid that Old Master wants my life. I really can't bear to give it to him!”
It sounded like nonsense, but Shen Yishuang had revealed most of what she was thinking.
"Shen Yishuang, if you behave yourself, the Embroidered Uniform Guards will naturally not make things difficult for you. On the contrary, there is still wealth here.”
"Yes! Yes! As long as Daren gives me life, I can earn money for Daren. This lowly one doesn't even want the money. I'll hand it all over to the adults. How about that?”
Zhu Youjian did not get tired of these merchants in his previous life. After all, business brought too many conveniences to people.
However, he was indeed disgusted by the collusion between officials and businessmen.
But today, as an emperor, he wanted merchants to earn money for him and work for him. He could not help but change his previous thoughts.
"Shen Yishuang, tell me about your situation first.”
"Milord, I am from Hu Province and have been a scholar for generations.
However, when it came to my father's generation, the family was in decline and there was no other way. At the age of 13, my father sent me to Datong Rice Store in Zhejiang.
The shopkeeper saw that I was not only good at writing and calculating, but also reliable in doing things. At the beginning of this year, he let me do a big shift.”
"So, this time, you will be the escort from Hangzhou to Tongzhou, right?”
"That's right. Now that the war has just ended and Da Tong is using troops again, I advised the shopkeeper to transport the rations to the capital.
I've calculated that these twenty ships, excluding the transportation fees, as long as there are no unexpected losses on the waterway, there won't be any supply between spring and summer.
Selling the grain to the capital was ten times more profitable than selling it elsewhere.”
"Is there such a huge benefit?"
"Milord, you might not know this, but the food in the south is still relatively abundant. However, in the north, especially in Southern Zhili, people can only rely on wild vegetables and even Guanyin soil to survive.
These grains could not only make money for the rice trade, but also help the imperial court and the people. Why not?”
"So, you still care about the country and the people.”
"Yes, sir. Of course I care about the people of this country. I also care about the country's prosperity and the people's peace. Only in this way can I earn money.
This little one is in the rice business, not the weapons and coffin business. If there were fewer people, who would they sell the grain to?”
"Hahaha, you unruly person, you are quite honest and clever.
Once you sell these 20 ships of grain, you'll make a huge profit on this trip, right?”
"Milord, it's actually not one stroke, but two strokes.”
"Two strokes?" Zhu Youjian was stunned.
"It's like this, Milord. After this lowly one has unloaded the rations, isn't this ship going back?
I'll load some specialties from the north on the ship and bring them back. Won't I earn another sum of money?”
"Good brain! However, Shen Yishuang, answer me honestly. Beijing is already at the front line. There's nothing here, so what can you transport?”
"This…"
"What, the Embroidered Uniform Guards found you, and you're still not honest!”Seeing that Shen Yishuang was holding back, Zhu Youjian's tone became more ruthless.
"Sigh, actually, it's not a big deal to tell you. It's not like there's nothing near the capital now. There's still one thing, and that's people.”
"People?"
"That's right, people. To be precise, refugees. These refugees can't even protect themselves, but they have children. As long as…"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian said angrily,""Shen Yishuang! You bastard! Kidnapping children!
You dare to do such a heinous thing as a human trafficker. Your crime is unforgivable. It won't be much even if I cut you alive, Shen Yishuang!”
As he spoke, a trace of viciousness appeared in Zhu Youjian's heart.
"Don't, don't. Don't be angry, sir. I don't dare to kidnap people!
I only dared to buy these children because I have a household register and a contract to sell myself.
"Moreover, these children are suffering from hunger and cold here. Why don't I bring them to the south and sell them for free? I can find some rich families to be slaves or join an opera troupe. That would be a solution.
"Even if it doesn't work out, I'll throw these children on the streets of Jiangnan. It's better than staying in the north. What do you think?”
Only then did Zhu Youjian realize that he was now in the Ming Dynasty, a vile feudal society. Human trafficking was allowed.
Thinking back to 'Dream of the Red Chamber', the head butler of the Cao family, Lin Zhixiao, often went to the human market that specialized in buying and selling people.
"Since you checked your household registration and signed a contract, then I won't pursue the matter.
Hmph, you really made a good deal. I'll give you one now.”
"Sir, please speak."
"Since you're in the rice business, you can take this corn and sweet potato.
"This…" Shen Yishuang said hesitantly," I've heard of it. Last year, I happened to talk to a Fujian rice merchant. He said that the yield of corn, especially sweet potatoes, is very high.
But now, rice could still be sold at a high price in Jiangnan. As for the rest, they could only earn money in the north.
Moreover, many people felt that this corn and sweet potato was not good for the body.”
"Haha, even His Majesty has written a royal poem praising corn and sweet potatoes. He often eats them. What are you afraid of?”
As he spoke, Zhu Youjian began to recite his own work again." Red hearts and green vines spread all over the hills, sweet corn seedlings with laurel firewood, proud of the spring and summer song in the wind, diligent farming is richer than merchants.
Shen Yishuang, do you know the meaning of this sentence?”
Shen Yishuang didn't say anything and just shook her head gently.
"How about this? After you return to Hangzhou, find a piece of land and plant corn and sweet potatoes. After the harvest, transport them to the capital.”
"Sir, I don't have land. Moreover, renting the land required money and manpower.”
"Don't worry. After you go back, look for the governor of Zhejiang. If you need anything, he will help you.
After the autumn harvest this year, the governor of Zhejiang Province will definitely give you more land for you to plant.”
"Haha, Milord, if there's a good harvest this year, I won't need to rent more land next year.”
"Oh? Why?"
"My lord, think about it. If we have a bumper harvest of sweet potatoes and corn, what will the other landowners think?
At that time, I will sell seeds and seedlings. Wouldn't I be able to sell more?”
Zhu Youjian laughed out loud when he heard that.
"Profiteer! Haha, you're really a profiteer!"
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。