Zhao Ming led everyone to the vicinity of Huai'an City.Located at the confluence of the Huai River and the Grand Canal, this city was originally an important trade node on the Grand Canal, and was a very prosperous city on the Grand Canal, along with Tongzhou in Beijing, Linqing in Shandong, and Yangzhou in Jiangbei.In the past, hundreds of boats were parked on the river near Huai'an for many years, but now, the city is in a state of gloom.On the Grand Canal, there are a few cargo ships parked alone, and there is no one in the white expanse outside the city, and there is actually a sense of desolation in the northwest land.At this time, Zhao Ming and his entourage galloped to the front of the city, only to find that at the city gate, a group of people wearing torn cotton jackets and shivering in the cold wind had gathered.Seeing this scene, Zhao Ming couldn't help but feel a little depressed in his heart, and at this moment, a man's arrogant and sarcastic voice came out of the crowd, "Old man, your two acres of land, at this price, one acre and two taels, no more."
Your son was killed by the Tartars, and you took your grandson with you, and you couldn't do farm work, and you panicked when you let go of the land!
”Zhao Ming frowned, there were only two taels of one acre of land, and his heart was black enough, he couldn't help but turn over and dismount and walk over.In front of the city gate, there was a table, and a middle-aged man dressed in a mink, holding a stove, sat in a makeshift shed, and met a poor old farmer."
Master, this land is usually at least fifteen taels per mu, and you only pay two taels, and the small ones are not sold!"
The old man reached for the title deed on the table and was about to turn around.The middle-aged man pressed the title deed and said viciously: "Old thing, you have entertained me, if you say that if you don't sell it, you won't sell it, do you put me in your eyes." ”After speaking, he grabbed the title deed, threw away four silver dollars casually, and sneered: "Get out!"
”The old man sat on the ground and couldn't help crying, "This is the land handed down by our ancestors!"
Aren't you robbing openly?
Everyone will give me a comment~" Most of the people around it are because they can't open the pot at home, or they are in urgent need of money, so they come to sell their land and want to tide over the difficulties.When everyone saw this, the rabbit died and the fox was sad, but they didn't dare to say anything.After all, they were short of money, and they had only land in exchange for money, and the rich men and squires refused to borrow, so they had to exchange land for it.The middle-aged man was a little unhappy, waved his hand, and said without annoyance: "Throw it out for Lao Tzu, the next one!"
”The two big men were about to set up the old man and drag him out, but at this time, there was a sudden shout, "Who gave you the courage to buy and sell here!"
”The middle-aged man, who only met a burly man, squeezed in, and immediately said angrily: "Where is the reckless man, dare to take care of the affairs of the Zhao Mansion!"
”Zhao Ming was stunned when he heard this, Zhao Mansion, but then he thought that he had no relatives surnamed Zhao, so he sneered: "Which Zhao Mansion?"
Is it rare to have anything to do with today's regency?
”The middle-aged man, seeing Zhao Ming's expression, said angrily: "My grandfather, it is the former Nanjing town guard Zhao Zhilong, you kid acquaintance, hurry up, don't be nosy!"
”"Bold!
How dare you be rude to the regent!
Damn it!
”Wang Shuang, the commander of the pro-army who squeezed in, roared angrily.This sound shook the man's eardrums, and he found a group of men with swords squeezing in."
Regent!"
He was stunned by the roar, and reacted half-loudly, so frightened that he knelt on the ground, and the surrounding people, as well as the guards of the Zhao Mansion, also knelt down.Zhao Ming picked up the old man and asked the old man, "What is the name of the old man, and where is he from?"
”"Back to the king, the little old man's name is Gu Chengshun, a native of Huai'an, and his home is in Gujia Village in the south of the city."
The old man said nervously.Zhao Ming smiled and asked, "Why did you sell the land?"
Didn't you get the government's relief food?
”The old man wiped away his tears, "Back to the king, the relief food of the government is not enough to eat, the grandson of the little old man is hungry and sick again, the son is dead, and the family is so alone, so he can only sell the ancestral property, exchange some silver for his grandson to see a doctor, and buy some rice to eat~" Zhao Ming heard this, his face showed anger, and he said in a low voice: "Mr.
Chen!"
”Chen Mingyu immediately said: "Your Highness rest assured!
The minister immediately asked people to check and give an explanation to His Highness and the people!
”Although the Nanjing Imperial Court had no money, Zhao Ming had already explained that no one could starve to death, and the relief food was distributed according to the population, which must be enough to eat.The old man said that it was not enough, then there was only one possibility, the officials and gentry colluded, and the government issued less first aid, forcing the hungry people to sell their land cheaply.Zhao Ming patted the old man's hand, "It's the lonely king who doesn't investigate, and the people suffer!"
”After speaking, Zhao Ming stretched out his hand, asked for a few silver dollars from Wang Shuang, stuffed them into the old man's hand, and stretched out his hand again, "Bring the title deed!"
”The middle-aged man in the mink was sweating with fright in the winter, trembling and presenting the title deed.Zhao Ming returned it to the old man, and said to everyone, "The lonely king will order the Metropolitan Procuratorate to send the imperial historian to strictly investigate the ineffective relief."
It will order Huai'an Mansion to replenish relief food. ”After Zhao Ming finished speaking, he looked at the middle-aged man, if he bought and sold freely, he would not be able to be punished, but Zhao Ming now had to check how much land this Zhao Mansion had forcibly sold, so he immediately shouted in a deep voice, "Buy and sell by force, take it for Lone, escort it back to Nanjing, and hand it over to the Criminal Department for trial!"
”When the middle-aged man heard the sound, his eyes suddenly went dark and he fainted.Zhao Ming walked out of the crowd, turned over his horse, and walked towards the city, and heard the old man and the people kneeling on the ground and shouting from a distance, "The regent is wise, thank the regent for upholding justice!"
”Zhao Ming turned around and waved his hand, galloped into the city, and even let Wang Shuang lead the troops, surrounded the prefect's yamen, and controlled a group of officials.Zhao Ming led a group of subordinates and gentry to hold a meeting in the yamen hall.Zhao Ming smiled and said: "After checking all the way, I think you already have some understanding of the situation in Jiangbei."
Now by Chen Gebu, let's talk about the specific matters of JAC cotton industry, as well as the company's prospects!
”Chen Ming immediately said: "Jianghuai Cotton Industry is a company led by the imperial court and established mainly for cotton planting.At present, the business direction is mainly cotton planting, adopting a large estate planting model, and may enter the downstream cotton spinning industry in the future.At present, the company has 200,000 acres of land and 500,000 taels of silver, equivalent to 2.5 million silver dollars in assets.A total of 250,000 shares, 10 silver dollars each.The company expects that this year's harvest will be enough, or persuade the people to control the acres of land and expand to more than one million acres by means of land shares.This year's estimated income is 3.5 million taels, net profit is 2 million taels, dividends per share are 8 taels, and actual distribution is 3 taels. ”"Thirty percent of the benefits!"
Many gentry are talking to each other, and if they are profitable, they will be able to return to their capital in less than three years.Zhao Ming took over the conversation, "The company helps the imperial court hire the people of Jiangbei to plant and pick cotton, and the imperial court will give certain policy support."
Exemption from taxation for three years.Therefore, the actual distribution per share will be more than three taels, but considering the company's need to expand, it will only pay three taels of dividends this year.Next year, the company will continue to collect enough land, or persuade the people to lease the land to the company and expand the acres to 2 million mu.At that time, the dividend per share will also rise!
”"Wow!"
Everyone couldn't help but exclaim, and their emotions became excited.()