Chapter 68: Grand Vision

  Since Lin Chunhong returned to Zhijiang, he has been selling shares of warehouses in Jingzhou, Yueyang and Qingjiang, almost sweeping away all the silver coins in Yiling and Jingzhou. Now Lin Chunhong has about 13 million taels of silver on hand, which indeed provides a basis for establishing credit. If he can get Gao Douzhu's support, it will be half the work with double the results.

  Lin Chunhong was very pleased with the silver in his hands and often said to those around him: "Look, now as long as we invest in which direction, the handicraft industry of Jingzhou and Yiling will develop in that direction." Lin Chunhong's words were not wrong. The road to Huoshao Ping had been repaired and could be used for animal-drawn vehicles, with a transport volume that had increased fivefold or more. The amount of iron smelting also soared, and various lime kilns and charcoal kilns sprouted up like bamboo shoots after rain, coming to the Bangtai Business Firm every day to sell their products. Even someone came all the way from Changsha Prefecture to ask Lin Chunhong if he wanted coal, but was flatly rejected by Lin Chunhong, who knew that coal could not be used to smelt high-quality steel.

  As the number of workers increased dramatically, various service industries around several mines and Qingjiang warehouses also developed rapidly, including food, prostitution, tea houses, carriages, and boats... Lin Chunhong collected a 10% tax on these service industries without exception, not even sparing Qin Bangding's businesses. However, it was not called taxation, but rather an "entry fee". Anyone who did not pay the entry fee was not allowed to operate in the vicinity. The merchants of Yiling State clearly felt that Bantai Business House was now overbearing and far from its original warm and gentle image.

  The Bangtai business is gradually showing its fangs, and the people inside feel it most clearly! Don't you see the armor workshop working day and night, with the sound of hammering never-ending? Don't you see the 5,000-strong archer team practicing every day, sweating like rain, under the scorching sun and in the midst of storms? Don't you see the Hundred Miles Island shaking daily like thunder, with the continuous rumble of artillery training?

  Greater changes were taking place internally, as the patent regulations were promulgated and the reputation gradually spread, various skilled craftsmen gathered in Bailu Island like moths to a flame, bringing with them the most advanced production techniques of the Ming Dynasty. Moreover, several Western missionaries were also attracted to come over, occasionally selling some technology to Lin Chunhong for living expenses. Not every missionary was very rich, and in the Ming Dynasty, many missionaries mixed with beggars.

  When Lin Chunhong received the report from Lin Deshao, he was on the Ba Li Zhou lecture martial arts field with the archers, sweating and training combat skills together. Seeing Gao Douzhuang did not object to recruiting soldiers to go north and suppress bandits, Lin Chunhong simply stopped hiding and directly placed the training camp in Ba Li Zhou.

  These archers have been instilled with the idea that Dian Shi is a great hero, wise and resourceful, and can make money flow like water with just a wave of his hand. In their minds, Lin Chunhong is like a god-like existence and has become an idol for young people.

  A drill ground of five thousand people, dust flying everywhere, shrouded in smoke all day. These archers had just received their monthly salary of five taels of silver a few days ago, which Lin Chunhong distributed to them one by one. Just the other day, these archers were still poor laborers who had never seen so much silver before. They were all extremely excited, and Lin Chunyi led the way, shouting: "We eat Governor Zheng's food, we do things for Governor Zheng!"

  Excited bowmen all shouted wildly: "Eat the rice of Dian Shi, do things for Dian Shi!" The roar was like thunder, shaking the sky.

  Lin Chunhong understood Gao Douzhuai's attitude and clapped his hands, laughing: "It's done!" He immediately boarded a boat and headed to Jingzhou.

  Gao Douhui had a lot of guts and was serious about his work, especially when it came to the military preparations in Jingzhou. After he arrived in Jingzhou, he learned about Lin Chunhong's expulsion of Zhang Zhao and Wu Gan, which gave him high hopes for promotion. Later, after hearing rumors from those around him, he found out that Lin Chunhong was worth a fortune, one of the richest men in Jingzhou. On top of that, he personally witnessed the bustling scene of the warehouse shares being sold, and for a moment, he couldn't help but be curious about Lin Chunhong - how could someone so young have such abilities?

  Lin Chun-hung stood respectfully in front of him, and he took a closer look, unable to help but secretly exclaim: What a handsome young man! Perhaps Lin Chun-hung didn't have a dashing appearance, but his rugged muscles showcased his masculine beauty. Gao Dou-zhu did not hide his admiration, narrowing his eyes as he smiled: "How is it? Is the Branch River still calm?"

  "Your Honor, in recent years, there have been hardly any major criminal cases in Zhi Jiang except for the last time when I was almost kidnapped."

  Gao Douhui burst out laughing: "What a great politician who has no time to plan for himself, yet boasts about his own cleverness!"

  Lin Chunhong hehe smiled, and the two of them drew closer in their laughter.

  Gao Douzhuang looked at Lin Chunhong's long gown with a puzzled expression, feeling that his long gown was strange, but couldn't quite put his finger on why. He just felt that it made Lin Chunhong look majestic and extraordinary. After observing for half a day, he finally figured out that this long gown was narrower than usual, no wonder he always felt like Lin's muscles were about to burst out, wearing it indeed made him look spirited and neat.

  "Tell me, how do you plan to prevent counterfeiting?" Gao Dou's ambition was high, not only did he want to rectify the military preparations, but also wanted to solve a difficult problem that many officials in the imperial court could not solve, as his capital for promotion. This kind of ambition is not formed by rising and falling on the imperial court several times.

  Lin Chunhong heard, immediately took out a book from his sleeve and handed it to Gao Douzhuan. Gao Douzhuan flipped through it and was completely stunned, what's inside were some simple poems, songs and fu, with different denominations, different opening months and different money shops corresponding to different poems.

  Lin Chunhong explained: "At present, I just want to do business in Guangzhou, Yangzhou, Jingzhou, Yiling and Yueyang. The printing will be unified from Jingzhou, with the anti-counterfeit watermark 'BANGTAI' on it, and the paper is also made of hemp, which is not easy to tear. At the same time, each place has a record of the handwriting of the accountants who opened the shop, making it convenient for comparison. As for poetry, it will be engraved into seals, held by the store manager, and only the store manager knows what it means."

  Gao Douhui lowered his head and thought for a moment, then said repeatedly: "Wonderful! Wonderful! I didn't think you'd come up with it! Now that you've shown me the book, can't I also forge it?"

  "Haha, Mr. Gao is joking! Besides, this book still needs to be improved, and there are many places that haven't been included yet."

  "Come on, how did you guys think of this?"

  "When hundreds of people gather together to think about how to prevent counterfeiting, there will be many methods. Choose the essential ones and use them."

  Gao Douxu nodded his head repeatedly with his right hand stroking his beard, saying: "Not bad, not bad, young man, listen more to others' opinions, haha, not bad! I'll let you start, I see you're almost ready, even the name Bongtai is already thought of. Hmm, Bongtai Bongtai, with a heart for the imperial court, that's also good intentions on your part. Now the imperial court is in a precarious situation, if we can bring peace to the local areas, it's also a contribution to the imperial court!"

  "The superior has instructed, and the inferior has received the lesson! However, the inferior has a request. Since *'s matter is still in the experimental stage, the inferior does not know what problems will be encountered. It's best not to report this to the imperial court for now, otherwise, once the cabinet disputes get involved, the inferior fears that he cannot bear it."

  Gao Douhui said solemnly, "This official understands, no need for reminders. However, the walls of Jingzhou City are related to the safety of the entire Jingzhou, and if Jingzhou is not secure, the entire Jiangnan will be unstable. The location is extremely important, so handing over the city wall repairs to you, absolutely cannot be careless, I will strictly supervise, you must not have a lucky mentality, otherwise, it will not be lightly forgiven! Also, don't worry about spending money, in business, I will support you, do you understand?"

  "Your Excellency, please forgive me for speaking out of turn. The city wall is just an inanimate object, the soldiers and horses defending it are the foundation. Rather than spending money to repair the city wall, it would be better to train the soldiers and horses!"

  "Hmm, don't worry about training soldiers and horses, as long as everyone is united, nothing will go wrong. You just focus on repairing the city walls!"

  "This humble official understands, but thinking of Lu Jiandou from Yixing, who was originally a famous governor, in the third year of Chongzhen's reign, he recruited soldiers to defend the capital, and now his reputation is rising, being regarded by His Majesty as a pillar minister!"

  Gao Douzhuang's heart was stirred, "To settle the affairs of the king and win a good name for oneself in life and death" is every minister's dream, Gao Douzhuang could not help but be moved.

  Gao Douxiu pondered for a long time before sighing and saying: "How can the Jingzhou Prefecture provide financial and food supplies for over 10,000 recruited soldiers?"

  Lin Chunhong immediately knelt down on one knee and clasped his fists, saying: "I am willing to serve as a humble horse for Lord Gao!"

  Gao Douhui's thoughts were becoming more and more active, but he had long passed the age of impulsiveness. He shook his head and said: "This matter should be carefully considered in the long term, war is cruel and dangerous, how can it be done so hastily?"

  Lin Chunhong's reaction to Gao Douzhuang was quite satisfactory, as long as he didn't object, so he immediately bid farewell to Gao Douzhuang and left, starting to prepare the letter of credit.