After dressing as a widow

Chapter 289

Lin Zhen shook his head: "Recently, bandits from Cheluo Kingdom have frequently harassed the border. Master Gu and Deputy Qianhu joined hands to defend against the enemy, and they couldn't get away for a while. Therefore, Master Tongzhi handles all matters in the state capital."

"Guan is ashamed and cannot help Mr. Gu share his worries."

The official friend knew that the frontier was suffering from the looting of the Cheluo Kingdom, so he asked Lin Zhen, "Boss Lin, how is the situation on the frontier?"

Lin Zhen told him not to worry: "Although the thieves from Che Luo Kingdom continued to harass, but under the resistance of Mr. Gu and Deputy Qianhu, there have been no major casualties for the time being."

"To tell you the truth, my lord, the decree written in Mr. Gu's letter to attract people to live in Lizhou is a major dilemma that I have realized when recruiting workers in recent months."

"The population of Lizhou is too small. Whether it is reclaiming wasteland to grow food, or the coal mines that will be mined by hand, or even recruiting people to work in my place, there is a shortage of people. If we can attract a group of people to settle in Lizhou, A large area of ​​wasteland has been reclaimed, and a lot of work has been done, and the output of Lizhou will definitely increase to a higher level."

When the official friend met him for the first time, he talked a lot about the out-of-state bonds, well-founded, humorous, and convincing.

This year, when the new grain was harvested, many people who bought out-of-state bonds received their interest and principal as promised, and tasted the sweetness. Just after the end, someone asked when the Rational Bonds would be issued again, and they wanted to buy them again.

Therefore, Guan Peng is convinced of his words, and Guan Peng does not think that Gu Lin is a person who can be influenced by other people's opinions. If this decree is not beneficial to Lizhou, he will definitely not allow himself to follow it.

The official friend didn't think too much, and said: "I will give orders on this matter as soon as possible, but how to make this decree known to the people in other places is also a problem."

Lin Zhen thought about it a long time ago, and said, "Master Tongzhi, I have some ideas here."

"Nowadays, there are a lot of peddlers in and out of the state capital. We can send some smooth-talking peddlers and let them follow these peddlers to the states to promote this decree."

"Of course, they can't be people from the government. It's better to be people in the city who are satisfied with the status quo of our state capital. They are the actual beneficiaries. Compared with us people, they are more sincere and can mingle with the people below." Only by truly empathizing with others can people be moved. With the new farming policy and the enthusiastic atmosphere of recruiting workers in the state capital almost every once in a while, the lives of the people around the state capital have improved a lot. Not only do they have food at home, but they also have money in their pockets. Live a life they never imagined before.

Pick out some of these people and train them, and they will be good propagandists.

No one understands better than them what the people who don't have enough food or clothing need more.

Upon hearing this, the official friend felt that this was a good way, and it also avoided the confrontation between the state capital and the state capital.

One state goes to another state to publicize its new policy with great fanfare, isn't it slapping the local officials in the face? The method Lin Zhen said is just right, let the people below speak up, avoiding this trouble.

Guan Peng nodded: "I've kept this matter in mind, thank you, Boss Lin, for your advice."

"Your Excellency, you are welcome. I will wait for your good news." There are more and more industries, and the personnel organization is getting more and more complex. Lin Zhen came and went away from the state capital for more than 20 days, and he also piled up some things in his hands. Let's take a rest Started working on it tonight.

The most handed over was the willingness of many small merchants to purchase cement for paving. They not only said a lot of good things, but also quoted the price readily.

These people were deeply afraid that the price they gave was too low, and when Lin Zhen sold it to others, the price of one was higher than that of the other.

Just as Lin Zhen was about to take these categories to the other side, Lu Lu walked in: "Boss, Boss Yan sent a message outside the Yamen, and wants to see you."

Yan Canghai is the first batch of serious big customers of Lin Zhen. Since the first cooperation, the subsequent purchases have become larger and larger, from Yurong powder flower dew lipstick to later soap cream cream , but he bought everything in Lin Zhen's workshop.

Seeing his proud appearance, Lin Zhen knew that he must have made a lot of money, and the relationship between the two has always been good.

He said: "Call Boss Yan to come in, and make a pot of tea by the way."

"Yes."

After a while, Yan Canghai came in, accompanied by two servants, wearing fur clothes and a black cape, full of imposing manner.

But when he saw Lin Zhen who was standing in the room to meet him, a smile appeared on his face: "Boss Lin, my luck is really bad. I heard that you went to Luo Ran when I just came to the state capital. It takes eleven or twelve days to visit the door."

"Brother Yan, sit down." Lin Zhen asked him to sit beside the coal stove, picked up the teapot that had been placed beside the coal stove to keep the temperature, and poured Yan Canghai a cup.

Yan Canghai was attracted by the hot but smokeless coal stove, looked him up and down and asked Lin Zhen, "What is this?"

"I have never seen such a strange-shaped stove. Is it burning charcoal?"

Seeing his expression, Lin Zhen knew that he was interested again. Coal and coal stoves are the business of the government, and they will be put into production after the trial period. He doesn't mind pulling the line.

"This is a new type of stove newly made by the government. It's called a coal stove. It's not only clean, but it's also warm enough to keep people in the house."

As he spoke, he lifted the lid of the coal stove with a hooked iron stick, and a golden-yellow bluish coal fire appeared: "It's not charcoal, but a fresh fuel that I just discovered, coal."

"Just like the coals in the coal stove, they can still burn for more than half an hour, and then add some coal to continue burning."

"At night, before people go to bed, they will add more fine coal to the coal stove, and open the lower cover," Lin Zhen bent down, and pulled out the plug of an extended official road connected to the coal stove. , "After opening, the air will be poured in from below, and the coal will not burn so fast. When you get up and plug it in the next morning, the coal fire will burn faster."

He just demonstrated it, and Yan Canghai could see how convenient this coal stove is. There is no smoke from firewood, no wood ash, and there is no trouble of extinguishing it after each use and re-igniting it next time. Even he wants to get one at home. .

But he understands that the most important thing here is not only the coal stove, but also the fuel called coal.

"Boss Lin, what's the price of this coal?"

"Slightly more expensive than charcoal."

Yan Canghai nodded. This coal stove is an exquisite object. Those who can afford a coal stove are not bad for the little money to buy coal, and the profit in it is not small.

He smiled and said to Lin Zhen: "Boss Lin and I are old acquaintances, can I place an order with you, Boss Lin, for [-] coal stoves and [-] catties of coal."

Lin Zhendao: "As expected of Brother Yan, it is a big deal from the moment I open my mouth, but this business is not led by me, and the government is fully in charge of it. I will send a message to Brother Yan from the person in charge of this business. Whether it is successful or not will have to wait." It took a few days to find out."

"With your words, this matter is likely to be completed." Yan Canghai turned around and asked the purpose of his trip, "Boss Lin, actually I came this time for cement, and that object is really amazing. So far, I still can’t see how cement looks like dust when it dries, but it looks like a stone when it dries with water.”

Lin Zhen knew that he was here for the cement, and took a sip from the teacup: "Brother Yan, we can discuss other things, but I don't plan to sell the cement at the moment."

"The current output will be enough to leave the state. Except for the more than 20 miles around the state capital and the road connecting Dongyang County, other places have not been used yet, and there is no surplus to spare."

Yan Canghai, a big peddler, was also a little anxious. Anyone who has seen the cement road is not surprised by it.

If it can be sold elsewhere, people will buy it if the price is much higher.

But the problem is that Lin really doesn't sell it.

Yan Canghai knew that Lin Zhen was not short of money, and his net worth was rich. He might be richer than himself in a short period of time. It was impossible to impress him with money.

Yan Canghai asked unwillingly: "Boss Lin, is there really no room for change?"

Lin Zhen shook his head: "At least in the past three to five years, it's impossible."

Yan Canghai was helpless, and looked at Lin Zhen: "I think I'm not the only one who has this kind of thought. I want to tie Boss Lin back, find a place to hide, and hold all your thoughts in my hands. Wan Guan Wealth is easy to come by."

Lin Zhen, who was sitting in the yamen, smiled: "Brother Yan, it's a bit dangerous to put this thought away."

Yan Canghai said: "Hahahaha, is Boss Lin afraid that I will be detained by Master Zhizhou?"

Lin Zhen didn't expect him to talk about Gu Lin directly, but thinking of an old fox like him who is used to seeing all kinds of people, it is not surprising to see some signs, and he did not deny it: "He will not imprison you, he will be more Clean up."

"?" Yan Canghai looked at him.

Lin Zhendao: "What kind of goods does Brother Yan want to buy this time?"

Seeing that he changed the subject, Yan Canghai talked to him about business affairs in a humorous manner.

……

Not long after, Yan Canghai, who had returned home from the cement, left, and not long after he left, another person came to the door, and he was also a big peddler who had bought Yurong powder, toilet water, lipstick, etc., and he also came for the cement.

Lin Zhen repeated what he had said to Yan Canghai, and sent him out, but before he sat down, someone came again, and the first thing he said was cement.

Seven or eight people came here a day, all for cement. Lin Zhen felt that he should put up a sign and stand it at the gate of the government office.

Kongzheng lives in a village near the state capital. There are twelve people in his family. At this time of the year, they are almost out of food. The family can only boil hot water to drink, and fill their stomachs with water.

This year is different. With the new policy of farming, the family opened up [-] mu of wasteland, and harvested over [-] grains per mu. The harvest was unprecedentedly bumper, and there was so much grain that the house could barely fit.

Even if the grain tax is paid and the plow money and seed money owed to the state this year are settled, there will still be a lot of grain left.

Not to mention that he and his brothers are still working in Boss Lin's cement factory, and Fu Lang is working in Boss Lin's soap shop. Before he knows it, he has already saved a lot of money, and he is willing to spend ten days. Ban Yue went to Boss Lin's slaughterhouse to buy a few catties of red meat to eat.

That day, Kong Zhengzheng and his family were sitting in front of the firepit to enjoy the fire. The family was talking happily, when they heard the voice of the village chief: "Kong Zheng, is Kong Zheng here?"

It was the village chief's voice.

Kong Zheng hurriedly got up and went to open the door, but after opening the door, he found that there was a gentleman in official robes next to the village chief, so he quickly bent down to ask someone to come in: "Master, come in and sit down."

The village chief said to the man in the official robe: "My lord, this is Kong Zheng. He works in Boss Lin's cement plant on weekdays, and his husband Lang also works in Boss Lin's soap shop. He talks a lot on weekdays. He is a fool." flexible."

Kong Zheng thought he had done something wrong unintentionally, and was a little flustered when facing the official: "Village, village chief, I haven't done anything bad—"

The man in official robes waved: "You didn't do anything bad, it's a great thing, I'll come in and tell you about it."

When Kong Zheng's family saw Master Guan coming in, they hurriedly moved away from the fire pit.

Humanity from the state government office said: "That's how it is. There is a new policy in the yamen to attract people to leave the state to settle down. We need to find some people who can speak eloquently, who really think the previous new policy is good, and who are satisfied with our state. Do publicity elsewhere."

In other words, it is actually going to other places to talk about how good Lizhou is, and to persuade people to come to Lizhou.

Guan Peng told the people below about the method Lin Zhen said, and then the people below would find the right person. No, they found Kong Zheng through the village chief.

Kong Zheng didn't expect such a thing to happen to him, "Master, but I don't know a single word, and I'm still working at Boss Lin's cement factory..."

He didn't want to lose this job. Who wouldn't want to work in Boss Lin's workshop now. He never owed wages and provided a meal. Even with a lantern, he couldn't find such a good job.

The man in official robes said: "Don't worry, we will communicate with Boss Lin and let the cement factory keep your name, and you can continue to work when you come back."

Kong Zheng was still a little confused. Although he felt that he was usually eloquent and could brag with his family and friends quite mellowly, why did this kind of job fall on him? Wouldn't it be better to find someone from the government? ?

Seemingly seeing what Kong Zheng was thinking, the man in the official robe said: "Tomorrow, you will go directly to the government office of the state government. First, the adults above will talk to you, so that you know what you want to do and how to do it."

Kong Zheng's family and Kong Zheng still didn't really want to go, but they thought that the state government had let them go, so they didn't say anything else.

The next day, Kong Zheng went to the state capital early in the morning. Their village was not far from the state government office, only an hour and a half away. people like themselves.

There are husbands from years ago, aunts, and men like him. There are hundreds of people in total.

Suddenly, someone came up ahead, and two people in official robes called out to the husband in the middle: "Boss Lin, these are the people we found from the surrounding villages and the state capital."

Boss Lin!

That's Boss Lin who did the work for them!

Many people who worked in Lin's workshop looked at Lin Zhen, and saw that this husband had a very good appearance, wearing a dress with pure white fur on the collar and cuffs, and a fur cap on his head. hat.

Such bloated and thick clothes, but the waist can still be seen on him, he is a fairy-like figure they have never seen before.

Kong Zheng only had respect in his heart. The only thing he respected in his heart was Mr. Gu who fed them, and Boss Lin who made their wallets bulge. , All of a sudden calm down.

Since Boss Lin is here, it means that this matter is really not a lie.

Lin Zhen walked to Guan Peng, Gao Tong, and Jiang Jing, looked at the hundreds of people standing in rows, and said, "Everyone knows why you are here, right?"

"I know." Some people were workers of Lin's workshop, and they were inevitably a little excited when they saw Lin Zhen, and said loudly.

Lin Zhen smiled: "Since everyone knows, then I will make a long story short. This time, everyone will be given money when they go out to the state government office. Each person will be paid three silver dollars a month, and they will also give some extra food and lodging. Money, your task is to spread the news that we welcome people from Lizhou to settle here as much as possible."

"The big guys are smart people who have been singled out. If they know what to say, people will listen to it more and believe it."

"But don't be regarded as a human trafficker."

"Hahahaha." Someone below laughed, and Guan Peng and the others also laughed.

The way they go to other state capitals to attract people is really a bit similar to human traffickers.

Immediately afterwards, Lin Zhen explained the policy of leaving the state, and let the people below remember it.

One is farming. All the people who come to Lizhou can enjoy the same farming policy as the original residents of Lizhou. They can borrow plowshares and grain seeds on credit, and pay them off in two years. The newly reclaimed wasteland will not pay taxes for five years.

The second is the cooperation between Lin's Commercial Bank and Lizhou. For all the people who come to settle in Lizhou, one person from each family can work in Lin's workshop.

And tell the people below, try to target those poor villages or people, and try to maximize the effect.

And said to the following people who work in Lin's workshop: "During the time you are away, Lin's workshop will not stop your wages, and will pay them on a monthly basis."

Kong Zheng's heartbeat almost stopped when he heard this. The cement factory of Lin's Workshop costs 220 pennies a month, plus the three pennies given by the yamen, he can have more than five pennies a month, and there are extra walks to eat. Live in money, this job is done!

Kong was listening intently to what Boss Lin was saying. Boss Lin taught them how to chat with people, and quietly revealed Lizhou's policies to arouse others' interest...

Lin Zhen had already greeted the merchants he knew well and asked them to take these people to other places and take care of them if they could.

And also divided these people into groups, a group of 30 people, to increase some security.

Two days later, these people who came to the state capital went back to pack some things, and followed the merchants who left the state capital one after another to leave the state capital.

It's cold now, and the estuary in Dongyang County has been frozen. The merchants who come here are all by land, and the speed is much slower, but the risk is not too great.