Chapter 114: Collecting Debts (Part 3)
In the early summer of the 61st year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, the heavy agricultural labor was over and the people were resting at home. Zibo County immediately became lively. A large number of young landless farmers went here to work, and the recruiters of Huo Chong's Zhongfu platform provided job introductions to these landless people. Those who had worked here for a while continued to ask about their previous jobs, while those who came here for the first time were curious to listen to what these people were saying.
The employees of the Zhongfu platform were so busy that they had no time to rest. Feng Yukuan, who came with Huo Chong to meet Captain Bai Siwen, was really shocked when he saw this situation.
Seeing Feng Yukuan's hesitant expression, Huo Chong felt that he could understand, so he smiled and said, "Brother Feng, if you have anything to say, why don't you say it out loud?"
Feng Yukuan looked left and right, and finally sighed, "Brother Huo, you are too eye-catching."
"Brother Feng is right!" Huo Chong felt that Feng Yukuan was a good man who dared to give such a serious reminder. After praising him, Huo Chong asked again: "Brother Feng, I am not angry. I want to ask Brother Feng if he has thought about the future. No one is good forever, and no flower is red forever. Brother Feng, have you ever thought about quitting after making a lot of money?"
Perhaps because he had been working with Huo Chong for some time, Feng Yukuan no longer seemed to misunderstand Huo Chong's intentions easily. Feng Yukuan thought about such a sharp topic for a moment and then smiled and said, " Brother , when you and Yang Youfang came to find me, I had already quit."
"Ah?" Huo Chong really didn't expect it.
"But that was the third time I quit. After so many years, I have figured it out. If it weren't for the imperial court's mess, I would have eaten the sea route until I died."
"Haha." Huo Chong laughed sincerely. Feng Yukuan, a Shandong native, could actually establish a solid relationship with a Spanish captain in Luzon, which was enough to prove Feng Yukuan's business ability. A person with such ability would never give up his strengths so easily.
Feng Yukuan saw Huo Chong laughing happily, and he just smiled bitterly. But when he saw Huo Chong laughing like a convulsion, he became unhappy, "Brother Huo, are you laughing like this because you are thinking about yourself?"
Huo Chong nodded vigorously, "Brother Feng is right. I just thought about myself. It's gotten so bad that I can't stop. The people in the government must have wanted to take action against me a long time ago."
Feng Yukuan was a little surprised, but not shocked. It was obvious that he had also considered this aspect. The two were silent for a moment, and Feng Yukuan asked tentatively: "Brother Huo Chong asked me before, are you asking if I have any backup plans?"
"Thank you, Brother Feng. You really dare to tell me the truth." Huo Chong praised again.
Feng Yukuan shook his head. "Brother Huo, there hasn't been much rain in Shandong this year, and many springs in Jinan City have dried up. If I'm not mistaken, there will be a drought this year. Brother Huo, are you prepared?"
"Someone will definitely attack me." Huo Chong sighed. The intelligence analysis department even set up a meteorological observation department. This meteorological department was not yet able to make weather forecasts, but it also began to collect meteorological data. From precipitation to temperature. This year's weather is relatively dry. If the drought continues this summer, the autumn harvest is bound to be affected. Shandong Governor Li Shude's construction of Xiaoqing River was indeed somewhat useful, but it was far from the effect that Huo Chong had seen.
The two sighed for a while and put the matter back to this transaction. Feng Yukuan was a little worried, "Brother Huo, Bai Siwen has bought so many goods from you, does he really have so much money?"
Huo Chong chuckled, "He just has so much money!"
Feng Yukuan was still uneasy. In the past few years, Huo Chong had done business with Bai Siwen twice a year, and each transaction was at least twice as large as the previous one. From the initial twenty muskets to the current five hundred muskets. Bai Siwen was always trustworthy, and he would give him as much copper, cowhide, rubber, and coconut shells as he wanted.
Although they were uneasy, Feng Yukuan and Huo Chong went there again. This time, with the cooperation of Master Chang Dao, Huo Chong and his team went directly to the tip of Shandong Peninsula. Feng Yukuan had been to this place before, and the biggest feeling he had about the mountainous area was the word "poor". It was really poor.
There are Spanish merchants in front and poor people around. No matter which side, there is a sense of poverty and bad water with many unruly people. However, the whole transaction was simple and clear, and very successful. Huo Chong received an unprecedented amount of goods. He probably has unloaded all the goods on Bai Siwen's ship.
A lot of workers gathered in the factory built with the help of Master Changxin. The coconut shells were quickly processed. When Huo Chong and others left, they had already taken hundreds or even thousands of buttons.
Feng Yukuan felt that something was wrong. Huo Chong was stronger than the simple wealthy man that Feng Yukuan had thought. If someone in the government really wanted to get rid of Huo Chong, could they do it?
As he was thinking, Feng Yukuan asked, "Brother Huo, I want to ask you the truth. What do you want to achieve?"
"Brother Feng, if I say that my dream is that all the brothers who make a living on the sea can build ships and run trade routes by themselves, do you think I am still asleep?"
"Haha!" This time it was Feng Yukuan's turn to laugh. Perhaps it was too exciting, Feng Yukuan laughed uncontrollably, and tried to stop several times, but he continued to laugh and couldn't stop at all. In the end, Feng Yukuan almost collapsed on the donkey cart with laughter, and he wiped his tears when he ran out of strength.
Huo Chong just laughed a few times and thought about his own thoughts. In this era of great navigation, when European countries have gained huge space, the Qing Dynasty's control over maritime trade is really a bastard. This is also a reason Huo Chong found for himself to overthrow the Qing Dynasty. I just don't know if a guy like Feng Yukuan will join this war for personal gain.
When Feng Yukuan finally stopped, Huo Chong asked, "Brother Feng, if I am forced to become a bandit by the government, I wonder if Brother Feng will disown me in the future."
Feng Yukuan waved his hands quickly, "Brother Huo, you think too much. I think the government just wants to cheat you out of money, and they won't do anything so ruthless."
Huo Chong laughed dryly a few times, not thinking that Feng Yukuan had figured out what Huo Chong really wanted.
This summer was very dry. By June, the people in the counties of the Society had informed the headquarters of the drought situation. At the same time, the news was also sent that the county government had begun to collect the "arrears" in June.
The Qing Dynasty collected taxes mainly in February and August, and . Although the whole analogy is not particularly accurate, it can be basically considered that national taxes are collected in February and August, and local taxes are collected in other months. National taxes are paid to the court, and local taxes are paid by local officials themselves.
Preparations for collecting national taxes began in June this year, and the intelligence agencies naturally came to the conclusion that there was a drought this year and that local authorities had to make preparations as soon as possible.
This is indeed the case. Since July, the number of new families applying to join the Zhongfu Association has more than doubled. Faced with such a surge, the grassroots staff of the Zhongfu platform are exhausted. Representatives of the management team all raised objections at the meeting, "Sir, these people are trying to take advantage! Should we stop?"
"I understand why you object. I just want to ask, have you ever considered whether you can organize these newcomers after the disaster is over?"
"Big Brother, I'm afraid we don't have enough money." The person in charge of the Finance Department is the sixth junior brother Liu Shiwang.
"You said it's not enough, where is the data?" Huo Chong asked.
"We just feel it's not enough." Liu Shiwang replied helplessly.
"Don't think so. You need data. Making judgments without data is just hooliganism." Huo Chong said with a smile.
Qian Qing was obviously unwilling to help these speculators in the face of disaster. She said, "Sir, last year we had 7,000 households in the Society. At the beginning of this year, there were more than 12,000 households, almost 13,000 households. Up to now, there are 30,000 households in various places who have said they want to join. Let's assume that each of these people pays one tael of tax silver. 30,000 households means 30,000 taels. Let's say at least 20,000 taels. We don't have that much money! This data is easy to make. If you want it, I will send someone to do it now."
Although Wan Qian from the intelligence department complained about being bullied by Qian Qing during the New Year snowball fight, she now stood on Qian Qing's side. "Sir, the imperial court only collects 30 million taels of tax revenue a year, and Shandong actually receives 3 million taels a year. We only paid 30,000 taels. Why do I feel something is wrong?"
Huo Chong was somewhat pleased to hear his students speak with data. These kids were looking for excuses, so let's start with the big picture. Can they really maintain this perspective?
Or maybe, did these people see that Huo Chong was now in a strange angle. The fat pig could no longer hide himself. What would people who saw Huo Chong, the fat pig, think? Huo Chong was not optimistic.
