Chapter 27 Chapter 26 Returning to Beijing to mend the sky

one Mr. Xu, the magistrate of Taigu County, sent away Wen Ade of the Congregational Church, and then received an urgent document from Mr. Cen, Futai, the provincial governor: Received a letter from the Ministry of Accounts stating: The peace situation has been decided, the great powers withdrew their troops, the holy car will return to Luan soon, and the market in the capital is extremely depressed.Circulation in the market depends entirely on the ticket number and furnace room for turnover.Twenty-six furnace houses in the jewelry market were burned last May and will now be completely repaired.In the west of Beijing, all the merchants have dropped out of business and returned to their hometowns since last summer, and no one has returned to Beijing so far.Shanxi Fuchen should quickly order the merchant to resume business in Beijing as soon as possible, so as to facilitate the government and the people.Today, Qi Taiping and other magistrates are specially ordered to quickly consult with all the merchants in the congregation, so that they can resume business in Beijing as soon as possible, revive the market, and welcome the saint to return to Luan.

After reading the urgent post, Mr. Xu felt like his head was getting bigger. He had just offended wealthy businessmen all over the city in order to conclude a teaching case. Mobilizing ticket dealers to return to Beijing to resume business is different from sending money. People feel that it is not profitable to return to Beijing now, and they can find endless excuses to shirk, let alone just suffered such a heavy humiliation! But Shangfeng's decree cannot be disobeyed, and this is related to the return of the imperial court, and if it is not done well, it will be a matter of losing one's head.

Although Mr. Xu was apprehensive, he didn't dare to be negligent, so he had no choice but to put his face aside and meet with the big business leaders.In front of that old man Wen Ade, he has already lost all face.The imperial court has no face, where can this little county magistrate find face! Remembering that the three shopkeepers had come to see him not long ago, he hurriedly wrote a courtesy note to the three and invited them to the yamen for a chat.There is a sentence in the post: Before the teaching case, if you know that you have been wronged by the business community, please apologize in person.

Unexpectedly, the yamen servant sent back a post to report: the shopkeeper Kong Da, who is honest and honest, has gone to Xi'an to do business; It's day. When Master Xu heard it, his head became even bigger: It seems that he really offended the business world to the end.Hiding and hiding, sick and sick, this drama sung by the business world is clearly coming from the county government.Could it be that these big shopkeepers have already figured out that sooner or later the government will come to invite them back to Beijing? No matter what, Master Xu knew that he had no way out.Going forward, the first step is to surrender to the business community.He changed into casual clothes, asked the yamen servants to hire a small sedan chair for the people, and quietly went to Tiancheng Yuanpiaozhuang.

At this time, Sun Beiming had left the kang bed early and was discussing matters in the counting room.Suddenly, a friend ran in in a panic and said, "Master Xu, the magistrate of the county, is here in Weifu!" Sun Beiming was taken aback: Although the magistrate of the county is not a big official, he never enters a business, for fear of losing the court's dignity; why did Mr. Xu come here in disguise?He was so surprised that he forgot to pretend to be sick. The buddy at the bottom hurriedly said: Big shopkeeper, hurry up and lie down on the kang! Lying on the kang? Who doesn't know outside, the shopkeeper is sick in bed!

Only then did Sun Beiming regain his composure, and hastily took off his shoes, got on the kang and lay down. Just pretending to be safe in this room, Master Xu over there has already opened the curtain and entered.Sun Beiming pretended to be panicked, and wanted to get up and kneel down on the kang to greet him.Master Xu hurriedly said: Lie down, it's okay to lie down!Master Ben heard that shopkeeper Sun was ill, so he came over to say hello. Sun Beiming yelled at the friends below: Hurry up and show Mr. Xu a seat!In fact, a friend had already moved the seat and waited. Mr. Xu sat down and said: Shopkeeper Sun, are you all right?

Sun Beiming said: After all, I am old.Recently, hemorrhoids have occurred again, and it is difficult to sit or stand.A few days ago, when I went out in a sedan chair, due to the unbearable pain, I lost my body and fell from the sedan chair during the struggle, almost breaking this old bone. Master Xu asked in amazement: "Is there such a surprise?" Sun Beiming said: That day, people all over the street saw the old man make a fool of himself. Shopkeeper Sun is a lucky person, so there is no serious problem, right? After all, I am old.For the sake of the matter, it was so traumatic that I really wanted to sue my old age and return to my hometown.

Only then did Master Xu take the opportunity to ask a question, and said: I think shopkeeper Sun looks very good, and I hope he will get better soon.Right now, the expensive brand is facing a good time, and it cannot do without shopkeeper Sun. Sun Beiming said plainly: My name is not yet over, and the misfortune and humiliation are endless, so where is the good time? Shopkeeper Sun, my master has just received an official document from Mr. Futai Cen: saying that the foreign army is about to withdraw from the capital, and the furnace room in the jewelry market, which was burned last year, is about to be repaired.The business community in the capital is eagerly waiting for such a big ticket dealer like your name to return to Beijing to resume business so that money can circulate.The Ministry of Accounting has sent an urgent post to Master Futai Cen, urging the ticket dealers in the West to return to Beijing as soon as possible, to revive the market, and to welcome the saint back to Luan

Only then did Sun Beiming understand the purpose of Master Xu's visit.No wonder, the magistrate is willing to condescend so much, it turns out he has received such a new life.Thinking of the helpless situation of the business community begging the county government a few days ago, Sun Beiming sneered in his heart: Mr. Xu, why didn't you look back a few days ago? Do you think you can't ask the business community anymore?I told you that I offended the business world in Taigu, and there was no good fruit to eat, hum, you just don't believe it!It's only been a few days, and I'm reporting it vividly.But there was no trace on his face, he pretended to be excited and asked:

Master Xu, do you really have such an official document? How dare my master pass on the decree of Shangfeng falsely! That's good news!Since the fall of the capital last year, I have been looking forward to this day all the time.Especially for our ticket shops, if we lose our Beijing name, we lose our eyes and ears. Master Xu did not expect that shopkeeper Sun would be so eager to return to Beijing, and he felt much more at ease.Then he said: The officials and the people of the capital are all eager for the return of Western merchants, they can't do without us! Sun Beiming remained calm, turned the subject slightly, and said: "It's just that this time we suffered a catastrophe in Beijing and Tianjin, the store was destroyed, there was no money, and there was no piece of paper left."Zhuangkou in various parts of the north also suffered huge losses.In addition, last year's filial piety to the imperial court who crossed the border, and this year's repeated indemnities from the government, the damage to the financial resources of our Western Clan is unprecedented in the hundreds of years since our establishment!The others don't know what to do, I, Tian Chengyuan, have been devastated.In the past, Tian Chengyuan was barely able to rank among the queens of the Western Gang, but today he is afraid that he is not even as good as Zhongchang.Whether to still set up a Beijing account has to be carefully discussed with the owner.

Only then did Master Xu hear some sharp edges, and hurriedly said: "Shopkeeper Sun, how could the Ministry of Household Affairs and Mr. Futai Cen not know the losses suffered by the West Gang?"However, the financial resources of the West Gang are more well known in the world!Although this catastrophe is great, it is no problem for Xibang to overcome this difficulty. Maybe so elsewhere.In particular, the Qi Gang and Ping Gang suffered from hardships outside Beijing and Tianjin, but they were not burdened by the lesson plans in their hometown.We paid extra money than others, donated a garden, and even wore sackcloth and filial piety to suffer heavy humiliation!Even if we return to the capital, who will think highly of us? Shopkeeper Sun, you all know the helplessness of Master Ben in handling the lesson plans.The foreign religion is tyrannical, and Shangfeng doesn't have much support, and the officials are both angry, and it's hard to tell the bitterness of it to outsiders!Fortunately, the Taigu business community endured the humiliation and achieved the overall situation, so they settled the lesson plan and got over this difficulty Mr. Xu, if you want to get through this difficult time again, you have to ask someone else.I, Tian Chengyuan, have really been reduced to a trumpet, not enough to return to Beijing to mend the sky. Shopkeeper Sun, my master also persuaded you to return to Beijing for business with the order of your superiors.I will report your difficulties truthfully to the higher authorities. When my ticket dealer returns to Beijing, the biggest difficulty is of course the lack of financial resources.Another major difficulty is that the account books of the Beijing account have been destroyed.Once the Beijing account opens, people should take your account, and don't expect to get it back; but what we deserve, we will definitely swarm to ask for it.With the situation like this, how can we open the door?Therefore, there was a discussion in the business circles, hoping that the Ministry of Household Affairs would issue an order first: After our ticket dealers return to Beijing to resume business, there will be a grace period to allow the industry to recover a little before settling old accounts. This discussion is very reasonable, I must report it truthfully! For the details of this discussion, I hope that Mr. Xu can listen to Zhi Chengxin and other large reports.There is really no agreement on whether our Tianchengyuan will set up a Beijing account in the future. Looking for Zhixin?I still don't know where the big shopkeeper of Zhicheng Cheng is!Master Xu knew that shopkeeper Sun's words were hidden, but he didn't dare to get too angry, so he pretended to be confused and tried his best to comfort him with soft words. Sun Beiming, who pretended to be sick, didn't give Mr. Xu any face at all. After sending Master Xu away, Sun Beiming didn't dare to lie down anymore, so he quickly called a sedan chair and went quietly to Kangzhuang. The news that Master Xu sent is really extraordinary!Since the fall of Beijing and Tianjin last year, it is true that I have been looking forward to this day every day.After the peace agreement was negotiated, the industry talked even more about returning to Beijing.However, they all thought that Western merchants would be allowed to return to Beijing to resume business only after the imperial court decided on the date of their trip back to Luan.Who would have thought that the Ministry of Finance would be in such a hurry? After Sun Beiming arrived at Kang's house, he naturally met the old man first. When Kang Hunan saw Sun Beiming, he pretended to be surprised, and asked: Didn't the shopkeeper fall hard?Instead of lying down and resting, what are you doing here? Sun Beiming smiled and said: When I was young, I also practiced Xingyiquan, and I could still withstand beatings. Kang Hunan said: After being beaten, it is not worth such a beating!It's nothing more than a funeral for the foreign ghost, and you still have to spend so much time hiding it? Sun Beiming said: Everyone hides, why should we show that kind of limelight and not hide? Others can't think about it, and you can't think about it either? Why can't you think about it? Since abandoning Beijing and fleeing last year, the imperial court has completely disgraced the world!Therefore, we have already lost face, and you still have to waste your time.Hiding, pretending to be sick, and finding a substitute, how much face can this protect? You can protect as much as you can! In vain. Are you willing to be humiliated? To be humiliated is to suffer for the court, and to be ashamed is also to be a person who loses the court! To put it this way, we are a little overwhelmed.However, it's almost over. Get over it soon?The government ordered us to return to Beijing to resume business? Old Dongtai has really become a master, how can he guess so accurately? Isn't that obvious?The draw is settled, the compensation has also increased, and the teaching case has been settled, and it is time for the court to return to Luan.The capital is in a depression, how can it be? Old Dongtai's eyes are too vicious, he tells you to see through everything first.What I came to invite Lao Dongtai to make a decision is precisely the matter of returning to Beijing to resume work.The Department of Accounting has sent an urgent message This is a matter of business, you can make up your mind, big shopkeeper. important matter Then you discuss it with the third child, I don't care about outside business affairs, and I don't care about housekeeping.How long can I manage for them?Never mind, never mind. How can I ignore it!This time, the big hole in Beijing-Tianjin No. 2 has to be filled with a large sum of money. If your old man doesn't care, who can control it?But Kang Hunan didn't answer what Sun Beiming said.Sun Beiming had no choice but to give up, and was about to retreat to see the third master, but the old master dragged him to talk about the past and the present, and gossip.While anxious, Sun Beiming suddenly realized: At this critical juncture, Mrs. Kang wants to see the skills of the third master, right? two When Sun Beiming finally came out of the old courtyard, the third master had just rushed back from outside, sweating profusely. Sun Beiming said: The third master came back just in time, if he is a little late, I have to make another trip. The third master said: I just heard that the shopkeeper has arrived, so I rushed back with my life! How did the third master know that he came to Kangzhuang?Sun Beiming asked, "Did the third master go to the cabinet?"Why didn't I bump into the third master's carriage when I came? I didn't go into the city, but just went to Longquan Temple to cool off the heat. It seems that the old man secretly sent someone to call the third master back.He guessed right: this time, the old man wants to see the third master's ability.Sun Beiming hurriedly said: Third Master, take a bath and change clothes first, and then we can talk after taking a breath.Now that you're back, I'm not in a hurry anymore. How could the third master be so calm, he washed his face in a hurry and ran out. Sun Beiming first explained the history of the county magistrate's visit, and then said to the third master: This is not a trivial matter, so we have to discuss it carefully with the host.Especially after Beijing-Tianjin No. 2 was robbed, the hole left was too big. The third master said: such a big idea, of course the old man has to take it.The treasurer has seen our old man, right? Sun Beiming said: I have seen it before, but the old man said that he has already ignored the business matters, and let the third master make up his mind. The third master hurriedly said: "You don't know, big shopkeeper, how can I get such a big idea?"Also invite the shopkeeper to go in and persuade the old man. Sun Beiming said: I didn't scratch my lips!But your old masters didn't pay any attention, just said: I am so old, how long can I take care of them?Never mind, never mind.Third master, if you want to persuade, go in and persuade me, I am powerless. The third master said: The big shopkeeper can't say anything, let alone me.The big shopkeeper makes an idea first, and I will report it to the old man. Hearing this, Sun Beiming felt that the third master was more sophisticated, so he said: Third master, I didn't excuse it.I will take the idea that the brand name should take; I can't talk too much about the idea that the owner should take. The third master said: The boss's big idea is to fill the hole, right?That's easy.The old man has long let go of the words: the business losses of Beijing, Tianjin and other places affected by Zhuangkou are related to the current situation and have nothing to do with the operation of the shop. Therefore, no matter how big the hole is, all the holes will be filled by the owner.The big treasurer also knows that in the way of doing business in the West Gang, there is only one who can afford to lose. Sun Beiming didn't expect the third master to speak so happily, so he said: Since the master has taken such a big idea, Beijing, Tianjin and Zhuangkou will resume business, so there will be no major difficulties. The third master said: "Recently, the discussion among colleagues is to ask the Ministry of Households to give a grace period to temporarily close the old accounts, and to pay off the old debts after the Beijing-Tianjin brand has recovered."Otherwise, at the beginning of resuming business, we will be besieged by creditors, and we will not even be able to open the door!Having encountered such a catastrophe, who is not in a hurry to spend money among the officials and people in Beijing? Sun Beiming said: This discussion is easy to handle.Just write a post and submit it to Futai Yamen. The third master said: Who will write this post?Who's going to gather the big sisters of the West Gang to second this post with a wow sound?Someone has to take the lead! Sun Beiming said: "Taigu Na Dezhi is honest and honest, and he is the boss." The third master said: What about Qi County and Pingyao? Sun Beiming said: They will not be idle either.Contact them, I can see the third master coming forward. The third master hurriedly said: I can't do it! Sun Beiming said: How can there be a money owner with integrity who is worthy of this job?The Cao family, the first household in Taigu, does not issue tickets.If you don't come forward, who else can you call to come forward? The third master said: Shopkeeper Sun, you have to come forward! Sun Beiming said: I can't be idle.The affairs of Taigu's business community are handled by the honest shopkeeper Kong Da, and I have to help.Returning to Beijing is imminent, and there is a lot of trouble in my own name. Sun Beiming tried his best to encourage the third master to show up, and he also wanted him to show some skills to please Mrs. Kang.After all his life, Sun Beiming still can't figure out Kang Hunan's mind? The third master saw that shopkeeper Sun praised him like this, so he agreed, saying: Then I will run a few more times. Sun Beiming said: There is one more thing, the third master has to make up his mind. The third master asked: What's the matter? Sun Beiming said: "The Beijing name has resumed business, of course Dai Ying's old gang has to be the leader of the village."Other than him, no one else can afford it.But when Jinhao resumed its business, it made people hesitate to send someone to lead Zhuang's old gang. The third master immediately said: "The personnel arrangement of the old gang stationed abroad is the responsibility of the shopkeeper, I will never dare to talk too much!" Sun Beiming said: Third Master, don't say such unreasonable things.After all, the business belongs to your Kang family. If you encounter difficulties, can you just let it go? The third master said: I am not seeing outsiders.In the case of the current major joint of revival after a catastrophe, it is even more dependent on the big shopkeeper.I'm young and shallow, I can do errands, I don't dare to talk about anything else! Sun Beiming felt very comfortable listening to these few words.He didn't intend to test the third master, he didn't understand the rules, and the position of the old gang of Jinhao really made him difficult.Especially after Wuniang was murdered the year before last, the Tianjin number had already frightened him.then said: Since the third master is out of sight, first let me tell you about the difficulties of Jin Hao.Last year, Tianjin was the most ransacked, needless to say.The year before last, due to the improper employment of old people, the fifth master and five mothers were harmed, so I won't say much.However, since the incident with Mr. Liu, Mr. Zhuang, the leader of Jinhao, has not made proper arrangements.It was originally planned to transfer Wang Zuomei from Dongkou to Tianjin, but before the shopkeeper Wang had time to move, the boxing chaos broke out.The east entrance is also a big wharf, and it suffered a lot last year.The resumption of business of Dongkou's name is afraid that no one but Wang Zuomei can take on it.Jin Hao's resumption of business is no less difficult than Jing Hao, and it cannot be carried by experts such as Dai Ying and Chen Yiqing.But how can Beijing and Han be separated from them? A person has jumped out of the third master's heart: Qiu Taiji from Xi'an.But he couldn't tell.I have to say: For such a big matter as finding the boss of Jinhao, the big shopkeeper has to make up his mind!Don't worry about the accident in Tianjin the year before last. Sun Beiming showed a look of embarrassment, and said: Now that Jin Hao is making this move, really don't hold back! The third master said in a low voice: If you have any difficulties, you have to ask the old man. The third master is also seasoned. The next day, the third master prepared a gift and went to Qi County to visit Qiao Zhiyong, the head of the Qiao family.The Qiao family is well-known for their generous donations to help the fleeing imperial court.If the West Gang really has any post to submit, it should be the most appropriate for the Qiao family to deliver it. Seeing Mr. Kang, Mrs. Qiao asked: "Why doesn't your old man come?" The third master hurriedly said: My father has always been in a bad spirit. Why, haven't you gotten out of the white matter yet? Unfortunately, the old lady passed away early, after all, it caused my father a lot of pain.When people are old, they are more afraid of being alone. It was so lonely, he was out and about early.Let me see, your old man is stuck at home, what clever trick is he trying to come up with! My father is really not in good spirits. You go back and sue him, I don't care if he is in good spirits, anyway, I have to come to Qiao's Fort!You can't keep telling me to run to your Kangzhuang! Be sure to convey Mrs. Qiao's kindness! You sue him, I don't want to find out about his clever tricks, I just want to gossip with him.People like us hate it.Both of them are old and immortal, and they don't dislike each other, and they only talk to each other in their minds. Seeing Mrs. Qiao chatting blindly, the third master couldn't help but said: Seeing that the army is overwhelming outside, Mrs. Qiao is still chatting and laughing here. Needless to say, your Dade Tong and Dade Heng have already had a good strategy to defeat the enemy. Qiao Zhiyong asked with a smile: Where did the army come from?Foreign army, or official army? O army of debt collectors! You mean the resumption of business of Beijing, right? No!Mrs. Qiao is good at planning far and near and planning surprise soldiers, so he must have a countermeasure. Haha, Mr. Kang, what are you trying to curry favor with me, an old man!What brilliant trick did your old man come up with? Can you tell me a few words? We have a clever trick, and we used such a long way to carry the gift box, to beg you, old man? Then take the gift box away as soon as possible! The old man thinks my seniority is low, so he doesn't want to talk to me? That's not it, go and call your old man!Here he is, and I can call him by his nickname.Mr. Kang, I dare not call you by your nickname. I'm afraid you can't remember my official name, let alone my nickname. The third master could see that Mrs. Qiao was in a good mood today, and he just wanted to have a joke, so he stopped trying to get to the point, and just kept chatting and amusing with him. After joking and joking for a while, Qiao Zhiyongcai finally asked: Is there any official document from the Taigu County Government Promulgating the Household Department, what are the plans of the Taigu colleagues, and what are the plans of your Kang family.The third master said that Taigu's colleagues wanted to submit a petition to the Ministry of Accounts, requesting that when Xibang returns to Beijing for business, the government can come forward to protect the market. After Qiao Zhiyong heard this, he laughed again, and said: He can be considered a hero who sees the same thing.Qi County colleagues also have this kind of discussion.The day before yesterday, the county government announced the urgent post sent by the Ministry of Household Affairs and Mr. Futai Cen, and my colleagues from the Qi Gang came to surround me, an old man!It is said that our Qiao family won the first prize last year when it helped the imperial court across the border. Now that the West Gang has reached a critical point, it is time for the Qiao family to negotiate with the government.I said, you can't eat Qiao's family even if you eat big families. The first family in Qi County is the Qu family in the city! The third master said: Who told your Qiao family to win the first prize!should.The Ministry of Households lent you three hundred thousand taels of silver, can you not give you face, Mrs. Qiao? Qiao Zhiyong said: It's really a wall that everyone pushes, even Mr. Kang, you want to bully this old man! The third master said: This is to flatter your Qiao family! Qiao Zhiyong said: It doesn't matter whether it's flattery or bullying, anyway, I can't evade it, so I have to accept orders.Besides, after all, it is also pleading for the West Gang.If the leaders of the Xibang ticket industry are in Pingbang, Rishengchang or Weizihao, if they are willing to come forward to ask for orders, wouldn't this old man just shirk?Yesterday, I hurried to Pingyao. The third master said: Look at the old man Qiao's expression today, Ri Shengchang and Wei Zihao also recommended your Qiao family to come forward to plead for Xibang? Qiao Zhiyong said: Haha, Mr. Kang, is it so rewarding to be the leader of the Western Gang? The third master hurriedly said: Is that Rishengchang and Weizihao are willing to come forward? Qiao Zhiyong said: You guessed neither of these. What was the result? Nobody has to show up. Who doesn't show up? There is no need for the government to protect the market, so who can be recommended? There is no need for the government to protect the market? Yes, there is no need to ask the government. Originally, he asked the government to protect the market, why did he suddenly not ask the government? Qiao Zhiyong sighed, and said: After all, he is the leader of the West Gang!At this major joint, Rishengchang and Weizihao are better than us! It turned out that after Qiao Zhiyong arrived in Pingyao yesterday, he first met Guo Dounan, the big shopkeeper of Rishengchang.As soon as he asked the government to come forward to protect the market, shopkeeper Guo asked back: Your Qiao family borrowed a royal debt, so it won't be empty, right?How big is the hole of Dadetong and Dadeheng in Beijing and Tianjin, so it is worth asking the government to protect the market and avoid debts? Qiao Zhiyong hurriedly said: This is not our Qiao family's own business, all colleagues in Qi County have this intention. Guo Dounan caught it and asked rhetorically: Your Qi Gang is unable to mend the hole?Who would believe it!Let's just talk about Qu's family, which is no worse than our rich man's Li's family.Especially your Qiao family, who showed off their wealth last year, why are you pretending to be poor this year? Qiao Zhiyong didn't care too much about Guo Dounan's bad words, Ri Shengchang has always been like this; he smiled and said: The Qi Gang can't be compared with your gang, but it is still within our capabilities to fill the gaps in Beijing and Tianjin. .Our concern is that at the beginning of the resumption of business, the Beijing-Tianjin brand was besieged by creditors every day, how could it be able to do business?Besides, the catastrophe of the West Gang was all dragged down by the current situation. If you don't gnaw at the government and complain a few times, the West Gang will still have to be dragged down by paying compensation in the future.We have to make the government understand that our Xibang is not a cash cow for the imperial court! Guo Dounan said: What you think is not bad.We have already had this discussion in our Ping Gang.But after experiencing this catastrophe, what do we dare to expect from the imperial court, the household department, and the lower officials?The root of all disasters is not the incompetence of the court?What can I do if I scream at it a few times?It wrote such a monstrous indemnity to the great powers, if it is not taught to the people, who can it be taught to?It's no use asking the government, so why bother?Tell me, even if the Ministry of Household Affairs can come forward to protect the market, we can't ask for it! Why can't I ask for it? The catastrophe of the collapse of the sky this time is a catastrophe that has shocked the world, and the revival after the catastrophe must also attract the attention of the world.My West Gang does not rely on official protection or borrowing, but it can calmly fill the hole in the sky and keep its promise in today's troubled times.The reputation that the West Gang can afford has not been spread all over the world!As a result, the reputation of the Western Gang will be unprecedentedly prosperous.With a great reputation, how difficult is it to revive? What shopkeeper Guo said was the true nature of the West Gang.It's just that Beijing and Tianjin have been in depression for two years, and the government and the people have nothing to lose. Once we resume business, will we not be besieged to death by creditors holding tickets? Surround yourself if you want.With such a siege, the West Gang will attract more attention in the capital. Being under siege, can you still shine? No!It's not that we didn't recognize the votes or repay the debts, it's just that the money couldn't be shipped.The whole capital gathered around to watch the West Gang continue to transport money to the brand name all day long, isn't that what it is? These few words of Guo Dounan really moved Qiao Zhiyong: Ri Shengchang's eyes are vicious after all, he can see the color in a crisis!However, Mrs. Qiao didn't show any signs of it, and only said: You are rich and powerful, and you have a lot of money to transport to Beijing.Let's just sell the iron, how many days can we last? Unexpectedly, Guo Dounan actually clapped his hands and shouted: Qiao Lao Dongtai, you are so good at selling iron!Let me add four more words: Bankruptcy. Throwing pots and selling iron, going bankrupt? At that time, while taking a little effort to transfer money to Beijing and Tianjin, he made a public statement: Our Xibang is selling iron and ruining everything, and we have gone bankrupt to make up for the hole.The world has heard it, especially the officials and people of the capital, who can not trust me, the West Gang? Qiao Zhiyong came to his senses, and no longer mentioned the matter of begging the government, but instead talked about the measures of revival.Later, he went to pay a visit to Mao Honghan, the big shopkeeper of Wei Taihou.What the shopkeeper Mao said was almost the same as Guo Dounan, but his tone was more arrogant. When Qiao Zhiyong came back and told the big family members of the Qi Gang, everyone felt a sense of enlightenment. After hearing Mrs. Qiao's trip to Pingyao, the third master suddenly became enlightened.He didn't stay any longer, and hurried back to Taigu. three On June 28, Dai Ying received a telegram from his old account in Shanghai, ordering him to go to Beijing to discuss the resumption of work.Old Gang Dai was not too surprised, he reckoned that it was time to return to Beijing.On June 29 last year, he led his friends from Beijing to withdraw from the capital, and it has been a whole year now. In May, the imperial court issued an edict to the world, and decided to return to Beijing from Xi'an on July 19.There was a lot of discussion in Shanghai, saying that the imperial court's edict was only for foreigners to see, and the two palaces might not be in a hurry to return to Luan.But Dai Ying concluded that the return of the imperial court to Beijing is not far away. In the past seven or eight months since Dai Ying came to Shanghai, although Tiancheng Yuanhu's performance has also improved greatly, but there are not many good deals.The advantage of the Xibang ticket office business is the financial dispatch between the North and South Wharfs.There is chaos in the north, and only the south is left. No matter how capable you are, you can't find a place to use it.Therefore, when Dai Ying was assisting Shanghai No. Meng's old gang to do business, most of his thoughts were spent on investigating Western Bank. After this catastrophe, he had already foreseen that Dongxiyang Bank's power in China would flourish in the future.Xibang has no plan to restructure the bank. Even if it gets through this difficulty, there will be no more good dramas to sing in the future.After personal investigation, Dai Ying realized that the reason why he couldn't talk about reforming old banks and financial owners in the past was because he didn't even understand what a foreign-style bank was.Ticket numbers and banks originally have similarities and differences, and they are not the same.Saying the difference is also saying the same, maybe it's easier to impress the old account and the owner. When Dai Ying left Shanghai and returned to Beijing, he was only thinking about the restructuring of the bank, and he really didn't think about the difficulty of resuming the business of the Beijing bank.After all, he has been in the leadership of Jinghao for many years, and he has turned the tide with his wisdom in the face of danger, and he does not know how many times.It was stated in the old telegram that the friend on the Jinjing is about to go on the road, so just ask him to go directly to Beijing.He didn't have many worries in Shanghai, and he could leave as he said. The only thing to consider is whether to go north and return to Beijing by land or by sea.The land route is actually a water route, renting a passenger boat, lightly paddling the fine waves, and pretending to go north by the canal is not a big crime, but it is too slow.By sea, you can go directly to Tianjin after leaving Shanghai, and the seagoing ships go faster.But when sailing on the sea, the wind and waves are unpredictable, and you have to suffer from many turbulences.He is not young anymore. After thinking about it again and again, Dai Ying still chose the sea route: after all, it was a critical moment, and it would be better to arrive in Beijing one day earlier. Fortunately, he chose the sea route!Because as soon as I got on the boat, I met Li Hongling, the old gangster of Wei Fenghou. Dai Ying and Li Hongling are both old gangsters who have been stationed in Beijing for many years, and they have always been congenial.Since coming to Shanghai last year, I heard that Li Hongling has arrived in Xi'an, how could I expect to meet again suddenly on this sea ship!The surprise of the two of them can be imagined.So he hurried to find the boatman, and the two shared a cabin. After settling down, Dai Ying asked Li Hongling: Brother Zishou, have you been in Shanghai all this time? Li Hongling said: I just arrived in Shanghai from Chuzhou, Zhejiang Province, and I boarded the ship after only two days of rest.The old account urged me to return to Beijing as soon as possible.Brother Jing has been in Shanghai? I came to Shanghai last winter.Remember, you sent a son to study at Zhao Hanlin's family library in Chuzhou, Zhejiang.This state is to visit the young master? Brother Jing still remember such trivial matters? Can this be considered a trivial matter?It is the big family in the West Gang, how many of them send their young masters to the Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces where the prosperity of the culture is prosperous? You haven't seen my kid, I'm too weak, not a material for doing business, so I have to ask him to study. Since I came to visit the young master, why did I choose such an urgent time? After the boxing chaos subsided last year, I went to Xi'an to help Zhang Luo's business.At the beginning of spring this year, the old account asked me to come to Jiangnan to inspect the wharf.I wanted to go to Chuzhou a long time ago, but I couldn't make it.A few days ago, I heard that the peace was settled, and the foreign army was about to withdraw from Beijing, Tianjin and Zhili, so I knew that my western ticket dealers would soon return to Beijing.Then I hurried to Chuzhou.Within a few days of going around the state, the urgent call from the old account to Hangzhou was rushed over. Our old account is also in a hurry!It seems that the Ministry of Household Affairs must have issued an official document ordering Xibang to return to Beijing to open for business. But the auspicious day for the imperial court's return to Luan hasn't been decided yet, has it?If the imperial court does not return to Luan, the capital will not be able to gather in the capital.Can the capital be revived just by relying on my Xibang to return to Beijing with funds? Brother Zishou, you and I have served the Ministry of Accounts for many years, how many of them know how to manage money!Ordering the Xibang to return to Beijing is nothing more than trying to cover up the depression in the city so as to welcome the holy driver. But how can the business resources brought back by our Xibang cover up the depression of the capital?The current capital is penniless. Or I said that no one in the Ministry of Finance knows how to manage money! Officials still need to manage money?Since you can use your power to amass money, take advantage of your power to plunder, and make no profit at all, then what's the point of making money!When the imperial court was short of money, it asked the provinces; when officials were short of money, they asked the people for it. Dai Ying lowered his voice and said, "Brother Zishou, you hit the imperial acupuncture point right on time." Li Hongling hurriedly asked: The royal acupuncture point? No!This time, the catastrophe caused by the chaos of boxing and foreign disasters, where did the court suffer?Just eat on this acupuncture point: only know how to collect money and spend it, but don't know how to gather money and manage money. It's not bad.But the court suffered a disadvantage, and still did not have strong ships and guns, and could not beat others. If you don't know how to gather wealth and manage money, where can you find a strong ship and a sharp gun?During this period, I visited Western Bank in Shanghai and met several foreigners.Once we get acquainted with each other, there will be less barriers to talking to each other.Speaking of the disaster of war, they also felt unexpected. unexpected?Is it cheap to sell well, right? I'm a businessman, they deserve to be nice to me?They were greatly surprised that the Qing court was so relentless, and it was completely defeated before anything happened.The speed at which Tianjin and Beijing fell was especially unexpected!The capital of a country is like an empty city! That's true.The imperial court raised so many officers and soldiers, but they did not send heavy troops to guard the city, so they lost the capital in a daze. The foreigners said that they did not mobilize a large number of troops, only a total of 10,000 to 20,000 horses, and they did not formally form a coalition army.When the capital is captured, the Eight Kingdoms will still be an eight-part army, each doing its own thing.It wasn't until winter was approaching that German Marshal Vadsi came to China to take up the post of commander of the coalition forces. Although there are few foreigners, they have foreign guns and cannons. Brother Zishou, I thought so too.But the foreigners at the bank said: Strong ships and guns, foreign guns and cannons are powerful, but the military expenditure is also huge! Are they laughing at the poverty of the Qing Dynasty? My own family is poor and weak, so it is difficult not to be ridiculed by others.But these few are people in the bank, and when looking at the world and discussing things, they must first focus on money and finance.From his point of view, the great powers used strong ships and sharp guns to attack China across the oceans, all relying on the governments of various countries to have strong financial resources. The country is rich, so it is easy to spend money. But from the eyes of these foreigners, even if the Qing Dynasty was very rich, the imperial court would not have enough money. How could this be so? I didn't believe it at first, but after someone pointed it out, I suddenly realized it.What a bystander! How do foreigners give pointers? Brother Zishou, Kangxi was handed down as a Ming emperor, and left an iron edict that will never be added, you are not unfamiliar with it, right? never pay, of course know This iron edict was established in the fifty-first year of Kangxi, and it has been nearly two hundred years now. Everything has changed in the vicissitudes of life, except for the land tax, money and food. How can the imperial court be rich? The eyes of foreigners are vicious!However, the imperial court did not add taxes, nor did it hide wealth from the people, and the people were still in distress. This is exactly where foreigners regard the Qing Dynasty as financially incompetent.The imperial court sticks to the iron edict that no tax will be added, but it can't control the provinces, states and counties to raise taxes overtly and covertly, let alone officials big and small filling their pockets.No matter how much wealth there is in the world, it is only gathered in the private houses of officials at all levels. The poverty of the country remains the same, and the poverty of the people remains the same.Sudden national calamity, the court is not trying to catch the blind! It's not bad at all!After more than a hundred years of prosperity in the Qianjia Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty was considered strong and prosperous.But when the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom came together in the last years of Daoguang, the imperial court could not raise military expenses.In a hurry, he forced the West Gang to donate money to buy officials! In which year is enough to spend the Beijing salary collected by the Ministry of Households over the years?Even if you are in short supply in normal years, don't be caught blind in case of war.Foreigners who dare to ridicule the finances of the Qing Dynasty as incompetent finances just see through the household department for the imperial court's financial management, and only care about collecting and spending money instead of accumulating wealth to generate wealth.The Ministry of Households collected money and food from the world's land and land, only to support the imperial court, and did not care about the livelihood of the people in the world.In particular, industry and commerce, which are the easiest to make money, are regarded as humble occupations, which is really unimaginable!What makes foreigners even more ridiculous is that the emperor always thinks that the wealth of the world, that is, the wealth of the imperial court, does not leave savings all year round, and the national treasury does not have a solid foundation.How could there be time to collect the wealth of the world temporarily in the event of a national crisis? Could it be that the eastern and western powers saw through the incompetent finances of the Qing Dynasty that they repeatedly committed crimes? Those foreigners have this theory.They joked: The Qing Dynasty claimed to be a great country, but it didn't take it seriously at first; after living in China for many years, it was only when it was honest.Where is the big one?The huge number of officials in your country is truly unparalleled in the world; and the prevalence of hypocrisy, greed, and peace of mind of officials are even rarer in the world!If the imperial court of your country can transfer the huge income of the officials of the country to the national treasury in the form of legitimate taxes, then the Qing Dynasty will really become a great power today.With such a solid treasury as support, why worry about resisting foreign enemies?With such a solid treasury to support agriculture, industry and commerce, why worry about the people's livelihood and all industries?When people's livelihoods are prosperous, taxes are easier to collect and the national treasury is more prosperous. People's ridicule is true. The finances of the Eastern and Western powers all operate in this way.People's treasury always maintains considerable financial resources, and the expenditure for supporting the government and its officials is only a small part; the big part is used to support people's livelihood.After such a long-term operation, how can the country not be strong! Although foreign-style finance can strengthen the country, it will cut off the source of income for the officials of the whole country. Who wants to follow suit!The Reform Movement of 1898 is not far away. However, the Qing's finances remained unchanged, and it always left a fatal acupuncture point for the Eastern and Western powers.Whenever you want to bully you, just come to this acupuncture point.Tap this acupuncture point to bully you, the result must be compensation and cession of land!The more you pay, the poorer you are; the poorer you are, the more terrible your acupuncture points will be.At this point, Dai Ying lowered his voice and said that if there was another Geng Rebellion, the Qing court might have no money to pay, so the whole country had to be ceded. 李宏齡忙說：你我生意人，免談國事吧。 戴膺說：我也不是愛管閒事。在上海，我本是想瞭解洋式銀行的定制、規矩，人家卻說你瞭解了也無用。我就問：怎麼，我們華商就比洋商笨，學不來你們的銀行？他們說：洋式銀行須在洋式財政中才能立足。由此引出議論，評說國朝財政。 洋人當然不想讓我們仿辦銀行。 That's true.這幾位洋人一面數落大清財政無能，一面又說：這種無能財政於貴國無利，但於你們西幫卻是最有利！ 怎麼能這樣說？ 他們說：朝廷戶部不會理財，才使精於理財的西幫有了生財的海闊天空！本該聚到國庫的銀錢，卻聚到你們西幫的銀窖裡了。 洋人眼睛是毒辣，可我們受的欺負，他們哪裡知道？ 我可是對他們說：朝廷這種無能的財政，於你們東西洋列強才最有利！這一次事變，你們只派了一兩萬人，用了一年多工夫，就掙走我們九萬萬兩銀子，這種好生意更是曠世罕見！ 靜之兄，你也不怕惹惱洋人老毛子？ 我也是戲而言之。 還是不談國事吧。 Four 那時代由滬赴京，海路雖比陸路快，但也依然得熬過漫漫旅途。這一路，大體上還算風平浪靜，但也因此顯出枯索單調來。 戴膺與李宏齡真也再沒多談國事大局：不是不敢多談，實在是再無那種談興了。京號復業倒是議論得多，只是對這兩位京號高手來說，也不存太多畏難憂慮。只要東家肯補窟窿，別的都好張羅。 到天津上岸後，戴膺想在津號停留一二日，便與李宏齡分手了。 津號前年出事，去年又遇如此浩劫，復業擔子只怕比京號還重。也不知老號選了誰，調來津號領莊。 自塘沽登陸，沿途所見滿目是劫後敗象。進入天津城區，殘狀更甚。凡店舖被砸被燒的，狼藉依舊，幾乎不見修復開業者。街面上連行人也稀少，許多邊邊角角，竟蓬勃生出蒿草來。明知遭了浩劫，但親眼見了這一片瘡痍，戴膺還是吃驚不已。 自家津號，劫狀更慘。店舖除了房屋框架尚存，再無一處可見原貌，用一句體無完膚形容，實在不過分。作為票號老幫，戴膺很快看出了這體無完膚的含義：在津號被棄的這一年多時間裡，真不知有多少人、多少次來此鑿砸、翻找、挖掘，他們都想在這昔日的銀號遺址尋寶淘金。他們一定也想看看，西幫票號內那神秘的銀窖。大概也因此，被棄的津號雖已體無完膚，卻未被放一把火燒燬。 這也算不幸中的萬幸了。但將津號修復如初，不是一件小工程。 津號副幫楊秀山及其他伙友，都已經到達，暫住在附近一個客棧。 楊秀山見著戴膺，張口說的頭一件事，就是他們這一班津號舊人剛到，就被聞訊跑來的許多人圍住，幾乎動彈不得。 戴膺就問：那是些什麼人，圍你們做甚？ 楊秀山忙說：我們的舊客戶，老債主，都手持天成元的匯票、銀折、小票，逼著要我們兌銀子！ 對此，戴膺顯然有些意外，幾乎是自語，說：這麼快就來擠兌？ 楊秀山說：他們一貧如洗，當然急著想兌出銀子來。 戴膺就問：這些來要求兌銀子的，是商家多，還是官吏多？ 楊秀山說：只是一些零星的散戶吧，大些的商號及官吏，還沒動靜。他們大概還不知道我們返津。 戴膺便正色說：楊掌櫃，我看這些來打頭陣的，說不定受了什麼人的派遣，來試探我們，千萬不敢大意！ 楊秀山一時不解其意，問：受人派遣？受誰派遣？ 戴膺放低聲音說：叫我看，很可能是那些在我們字號存了私錢的官吏。他們的私錢，大都不便公開。所以，他們最心焦。 楊秀山就說：還是戴老幫眼力厲害。我們只顧應付，也未作細想。 戴膺說：楊掌櫃，你們千萬不要慌張！不拘任何人，凡是持票兌現的，一律熱接熱待！更要口氣堅定，許諾人家一旦店舖修竣，復業開張，本號的舊票舊賬一概兌現！ 楊秀山說：我們也是這樣說的，但許多人只是不信。 戴膺斷然說：人家不信，我們更得這樣做。我們敢回京津，就表明我們不怕算老賬。想賴賬，我們還會回來？一面不斷給人家說這道理，一面加緊修復鋪面，局面總會好轉。 楊秀山說：但願如此。過幾天，新老幫到津後，也許更能穩住人心。老幫空位，也易讓客戶生疑的。 戴膺就問：新老幫？還是東口的王作梅要來津號嗎？ 楊秀山說：是調西安的邱泰基來津號任老幫。王作梅仍留東口。戴老幫還不知道？ 戴膺真有幾分意外，說：西安的邱泰基？我真是不知。我到上海，已經七八個月了。 楊秀山說：邱泰基倒是有本事的掌櫃，只是 戴膺打斷說：東家、老號對邱泰基這樣有本事的駐外掌櫃，有過嚴責，貶罰不留情；有功也不抹殺，該重用還重用，甚好！由邱泰基來領莊津號，復業振興，也是恰當人選。 楊秀山放低聲音說：聽說是康老東台點的將。 戴膺說：老東台一向不糊塗。天津碼頭不一般，你們還得多幫襯邱掌櫃。 楊秀山說：我們也盼在新老幫料理下，一掃津號近年來的晦氣！ 戴膺就問：邱老幫幾時能到？ 楊秀山說：他從西安動身，比我們還早。不出幾日，也該到了。 戴膺說：那我就多等一兩天，看能不能見他一面。 正說時，有伙友跑進來說：客棧外，又圍了不少客戶。 戴膺便站起來，說：我出去見他們！ 邱泰基接到老號調令時，何老爺依然在西安。想起何老爺先前的預言，他是既驚喜，又驚異。 津號雖遠不及京號顯赫，但那是真正的大碼頭，也歷來是西幫的重鎮。所以津號老幫的人位，也一向為多數駐外老幫所嚮往。邱泰基自然也早想到天津衛碼頭露一手，可惜孫大掌櫃總不肯將這個要位給他。前年受貶後，他本來已經斷了一切高昇的念想，只想埋頭贖罪了，卻忽然峰迴路轉。只一年，就從口外回到西安；在西安又只一年，竟要高就津號老幫，他怎麼能不驚喜！ 叫邱泰基感到驚異的，是何老爺的預言為何這樣準確？來西安前，只怕何老爺真得了康老太爺的暗示。前年，他剛遭了老東台那樣的嚴責，今年竟又受如此重用，實在叫人不敢相信。 這次老號的調令用電報發來，明令：邱速赴津領莊，萬勿延誤，西號交程、何二位。可見事情緊急。 程老幫要擺酒席歡送，邱泰基堅決阻止了：如此張揚，叫人知道了還以為他舊病復發。可不敢如此張揚！ 程老幫也只好作罷。但何老爺卻不肯答應：邱掌櫃，你可不能悄沒聲就走了！沒忘吧，還該我五兩大煙土？ 五兩大煙土？ 看看，還沒怎麼呢，就翻臉不認人了？ 邱泰基這才想起來：何老爺預言他將做津號老幫時，曾以五兩大煙土作賭。他就說：何老爺，咱們的號規你也清楚。我邱某私人手裡，哪來買五兩大煙土的銀錢？ 你借債，還是典當，我不管，反正得給我五兩大煙土！ 我身無長物，拿什麼去典當，誰又肯借債給我？這五兩大煙土，等回了太谷再兌現吧。 我出來自帶的煙土，已燒得差不多，眼看要斷灶了。 你貴為老爺，是可以在字號舉債的。 兩人正說笑，程老幫已令廚房炒了幾個菜，灌了壺燒酒，擺到賬房來。其時已入夜，程老幫說不是酒席，只算夜宵。邱泰基也只好就範。 程老幫與邱泰基相處這一年，深感這位出名的老幫並不難處。有本事，又不張揚，這就難得。實在說，號內一切大事難事，全憑人家扛著，但時時處處又總把他這個虛名老幫推在前頭。這樣有才有德的人，另得高位那是應該的。只是，他真有些捨不得邱泰基離開。 交情上的感傷不說，邱泰基一走，西號就失了頂樑柱！尤其當此朝廷欲走未走的關口，誰知還會出現什麼樣的難局？ 所以，喝了幾盅酒，程老幫就一味訴說這份擔憂。 邱泰基心裡明白，老號敢急調他走，是因為有何老爺在西安。電報上也點明了這層意思：西號交程、何二位。收到電報，邱泰基曾當何老爺的面，對程老幫說：你看，老號也言明了，叫何老爺幫襯著張羅西號的生意。他再不能白吃白住，悠閒做客了。當時何老爺喜形於色，只是嘴上說了句：孫大掌櫃豈能給本老爺派工？這不過是虛飾吧。他來西安後，張羅生意都張羅得入迷了。程老幫竟看不出來？ 邱泰基喝了幾盅酒，也就當著二位的面，儘量把事情挑明： 眼下的西號，依然比京號、津號要緊。在這吃勁時候，老號調我走，是因為有你們二位在。想必程老幫也早看出來了吧？何老爺屈尊來西安幫襯我們，是看了誰的面子？我看是天成元兩位巨頭！孫大掌櫃先求了康老東台，康老東台才出面請何老爺出山的。何老爺，我推測得不差吧？ 何老爺先哈哈一笑，說：邱掌櫃，你想賴賬，不賠那五兩大煙土，才編了這種奉承話吧？程老幫，你不用聽他的！ 程老幫說：何老爺當年的本事，我當然知道。 邱泰基見程老幫似乎還不十分開竅，便換了種手段：不再多說西號事務，而是就京津官場商界事，向何老爺誠心請教。他邱某還如此崇拜何老爺，你程老幫還不趕緊依靠人家？ 真心說，忽然給壓上重振津號的重擔，邱泰基也很想向何老爺討教的。 一說到張羅京津生意，何老爺就像新吸了大煙，談興陡漲，妙論不絕。所以，這次三人夜話，到很晚才散。 第二天，邱泰基即輕裝簡行，踏上了赴津的旅程。 five 戴膺在天津並未多住，便匆匆離津赴京了。津門的擠兌局面，令他想到京師也會很緊急。於是不敢多耽擱，打消了等待邱泰基的想法。 那天，戴膺出面會見圍在客棧外的津門客戶，真也叫他出了一身冷汗。無論他如何虔誠，如何對天許諾，如何從容鎮靜，那些客戶只是冷冷看他表演，絲毫不為所動。他竭力表白了半天，人家始終不改口，就那一句話：嘛時候能兌出銀子？ 戴膺還提及前年津號也曾受擠兌，我們不是源源從京號調來銀子，救了急嗎？這次雖受了浩劫，但本號有財力補起窟窿，不會叫你們虧損毫釐的。西幫立身商界數百年，什麼時候失信過？若不想守信，我們還回天津衛來做甚？ 但任你怎麼說，人家終是一臉冰冷，一股腔調：說嘛也沒用，還是快兌銀子吧！ 戴膺不敢再逞能，重申許諾後，退了回來。 回京的一路，他還不時想到那個可怕的場面。京師客戶想來更厲害！ 到京後，叫戴膺感到有幾分意外的，是京城市面似比天津稍好些。首先，街面上的行人車馬，就多了許多。被砸被燒的店舖，有些已在修繕中。但開門復業的，卻也沒有幾家。 拐進前門外打磨廠，那裡的慘狀已與津門無異了。凡票莊，無不是千瘡百孔，體無完膚！不用說，自家的京號也是被洗劫了一水又一水。戴膺見此慘狀，忽然回首遙望前門樓子：它被火燒後的殘敗相，也是依舊的。 回想前門起火當時，硬了頭皮挺著，沒棄莊逃走，以為躲過了一劫。誰能料到沒挺幾天呢，朝廷竟棄京逃走了。What a nightmare. 京號的副幫梁子威，帶領其他伙友，已到京多日。在梁子威的領料下，已雇了一班工匠，趕趁著修復京號。見戴老幫也到了，大家自然很高興。