NFBE Chapter 124 Remediation
Chapter 124 Remediation
"Why bother with those stingy old men from Shanxi? Does the death of Butcher Zhang mean we have to eat hairy pork? The commander is giving them too much credit! Humph!"
Just as Qiao Zhiyong and his group sat down in the private room, a jarring voice came from the next room. They frowned and signaled to the waiter to find out who was in the next room!
"That's right, Shandong is full of talented people. Don't we have anyone who knows how to run a money exchange? If the commander needs money, we'll just give him our entire fortune. Why bother with these stingy old men?" another person said loudly.
"You call him stingy, Lao Qian, aren't you the same? You can eat a salted fish for three days straight, and you have the nerve to call him stingy! You only came because you saw another chance to make a fortune! Hehe!"
“Sun San, you’re no different! Humph, you say I’m stingy, but how much better are you! This past year, everyone has made a lot of money thanks to Commander Shen, right? Now that the Commander needs us, of course we should support him.”
"Haha, that's right! Our Taidong Chamber of Commerce has grown up thanks to Commander-in-Chief, so we must support him. To be honest, I'm going to bet everything I have this time." The first, bold voice spoke up again.
"We dare not compare ourselves to Chairman Zhou! How much money are you planning to invest this time, Chairman Zhou?"
"I only have a few million! We're still lacking in resources. The salt merchants and maritime merchants from Jiangnan are the real wealthy ones. I know some people are already rushing to the capital. Everyone should hurry up and prepare their money! By the time those people arrive, I'm afraid there won't even be any left to drink!" Zhou Shunda shook his head and said.
"Gentlemen, I've made my decision! I will merge my Da Detong into Lord Shen's newly opened bank and invest all of my wealth," Qiao Zhiyong said firmly, putting down his cup.
"Master Qiao, won't you reconsider?" The several bank owners nearby exchanged glances, surprised that Qiao Zhiyong had made his decision so quickly.
Qiao Zhiyong shook his head. Actually, he had already made up his mind before coming to the capital. The reason he only brought it up now was simply because he wanted to meet Shen Lian and see what kind of person he really was!
However, Shen Lian clearly made a very good impression on him. Young, capable, neither greedy nor arrogant, he was very gentle with them, the businessmen, treating them almost as equals.
Most importantly, Shen Lian has an excellent reputation and now holds a high position of power. Where else can you find such a powerful backer?
The provincial tax revenues from the imperial court were handed over to him, all arranged by Shen Lian. If he didn't cooperate with Shen Lian, the latter could take it all back with a single word.
With this business, banks will be invincible. And they will expand at an incredible pace.
"Do you really think Lord Shen is short of money?" Qiao Zhiyong asked with a mysterious smile.
“Tianjin and Beijing are both hubs of wealth! The foreigners didn’t even have time to take much away. Who do you think it will end up in? Hehe!” Qiao Zhiyong said in a low voice.
The owners' eyes lit up, and they all nodded in understanding.
"Gentlemen, to put it bluntly, Lord Shen is only interested in our manpower and branch offices. While these things are still worth something, let's make a decision quickly!"
"If we wait until this bank really takes off, they might not even want these things we've given them!"
Seeing that his fellow villagers were still deep in thought, Qiao Zhiyong said no more.
. . . . . .
Three more days passed, and Prince Qingyikuang finally arrived. Shen Lian led officials from the capital out of the city to greet him.
"Hahaha, Zhiyuan, I knew I hadn't misjudged you! Well done, absolutely well done!" Yi Kuang strode forward and helped Shen Lian, who was about to kneel, to his feet. Shen Lian then stood up as well.
"It was the soldiers who risked their lives to fight; I was just doing some logistical work in the back," Shen Lian said modestly, waving his hand.
"Good, not arrogant or impatient, truly the demeanor of a great general! Get in the carriage, let's go into the city together!" Yi Kuang pulled Shen Lian towards the carriage, displaying a very respectful and courteous manner.
"Zhiyuan, thank you for your thoughtfulness!" As the carriage slowly made its way into the city, Yikuang nodded as he looked at the streets outside.
After the war subsided, Shen Lian ordered the restoration of the capital's environment. As the capital of a country, he had long been unable to bear its dilapidated state.
Although Deshengmen was spared from war damage, it has not been maintained for over a century. The crenellations on the city wall and the gate tower are dilapidated and worn, and many people can be seen repairing them now.
After entering the city gate, the streets became much wider than before. All the buildings that had been obstructing the road had been demolished, and the previously potholed streets had been completely filled in and compacted.
The street was divided in two; one side was still a dirt road for people and horses to pass through. The other side was cordoned off with ropes and paved with bricks.
Shen Lian hired over ten thousand people in the capital to work at a rate of seventy or eighty coins a day. Of course, the more than ten thousand prisoners of war from the foreign powers were also forced out to work alongside them.
With over 20,000 people working simultaneously, the pace was incredibly fast. In just over half a month, the capital city had undergone a dramatic transformation.
All the dirty and messy garbage was cleaned up, and the chaotic streets and alleys were tidied up. Blue bricks were laid on the ground.
Shen Lian also preemptively deployed the "magic weapon" of urban management, establishing the Capital City Management Bureau. He appointed Chang Le, the city patrol censor, as the bureau chief and recruited over a thousand people, mainly former neighborhood guards.
These people's job is to patrol the streets every day, cracking down on illegal activities such as littering, street vending, and horses defecating and urinating indiscriminately.
Thanks to the combined efforts of these urban management officers, who wear red armbands and receive two taels of silver per month, the entire city of Beijing has been transformed, receiving a warm welcome from the people.
There were troublemakers, but none of them escaped punishment. Now, Shen Lian is the boss in the capital, and he doesn't give face to anyone.
"Your Highness must be tired from your journey. Please rest for a while. I will host a banquet tonight to welcome you back." Shen Lian said with a nod after seeing Yi Kuang back to the palace. This guy is still useful; it's best to be polite to him for now.
"Alright, alright! Zhiyuan, you go ahead and get busy. We'll talk again tonight!" Yikuang nodded and walked impatiently into the palace.
He left in a hurry and didn't take much with him. He just wanted to hurry and see if his precious treasure was still there.
"Your Highness, you're finally back!" The steward, along with a group of servants, knelt at the door to greet Yikuang upon his return.
"Defu, is it alright if we cut it together in the manor?" Yikuang asked anxiously.
"Your Highness, our manor has been ravaged by war! Several waves of foreign devils have looted it, taking all the valuables. They also killed five servants and raped three maids!" the steward cried, kneeling on the ground.
"Where is my treasury?" Yikuang asked in a low voice.
"Your Highness, they robbed it all too!"
"Ah!" Yi Kuang clutched his chest, his heart aching as if it were being torn apart!