Chapter 12: Unifying All Under Heaven

  Yuan Zhen saw Zheng Shichang's foolishness and ignored him, saying to himself: "Don't be afraid of spending money, we must establish our own 'Four Great Constants' printing workshop and papermaking workshop. We will go all over the country to find talented people in printing and papermaking. Only by constantly improving can we make it impossible for others to imitate or counterfeit us, so that we can last long."

  Zheng Shichang has become completely numb, this Fourteenth Master's heart is as big as the sky, opening a silver shop, and also wants to establish his own printing workshop, papermaking workshop, and go all over the country to dig corners, this silver can't be scattered like water, how much silver does it take? The son sells the master's land without feeling any pain.

  Yuan Zhen ignored him, stamped two seals on the sample ballot, and threw it over, saying: "Take a look, now it's completely insured, isn't it?"

  Zheng Shichang picked it up and took a look, one of them was a fingerprint, the other was a long string of small prints that he didn't know what they were. Just as he was puzzled, Yunzhen handed over another piece of paper. Zheng Shichang quickly took it and looked at it, a long list of names of provinces and prefectures from all over the country. Each province had a corresponding string of small prints, but they were all different. At the bottom, however, there were the familiar numbers zero to ten and the strange numbers on the prints that corresponded to them.

  Arabic numerals were unfamiliar to Zheng Shichang, but he had heard of them. As soon as he understood what they were about, he realized that this was a numbering system, not only could it prevent counterfeiting, but also greatly simplify the difficulty of management.

  Yong Zheng's voice rang out again, "This fingerprint is my fingerprint, I guarantee that this fingerprint is absolutely unique. From now on, whether it's a ticket or a silver ticket, the first thing to verify is the fingerprint." He handed over a small booklet, "This is the method for identifying fingerprints, my fingerprint has a hidden note, and there are explanations on this page."

  Looking at the perfected sample ticket in his hand, Zheng Shichang was filled with mixed emotions. This ticket was absolutely the most perfect and secure in the entire Qing dynasty. However, he had spent a full 1 million silver coins on it. Thinking of how he only owned 20% shares of the "Four Great Constants", he couldn't help but ask hopefully: "Fourteenth Master, can we really monopolize the ticket market and issue circulating silver tickets nationwide?"

  "Of course, you think I've spent a lot of effort just to earn those few pieces of money?" Yongzheng said with a self-satisfied tone: "There are two things you need to do now. First, arrange for the accountants at each branch to familiarize themselves with the secret codes, passwords, numbers, and fingerprints on the tickets. Second, establish branches. Initially, set up more than five branches in the prosperous areas inside and outside the capital city. Outside the capital, first establish branches in the provincial capitals of various provinces. Also, establish branches in the prosperous prefectures, ports, and counties of Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Guangdong, and Tianjin. These branches must open on the same day, not only to create a reputation for being connected to the whole country but also to publicly announce the distribution of each branch."

  Zheng Shichang's eyes were wide with shock, "Sir, there are at least 40 branch numbers! Even if we calculate one branch number as 30,000 taels of silver, this item alone would cost 12 million taels. Moreover, without silver, these branch numbers are all empty!"

  "What's the empty number afraid of? The main task of these branch managers is to absorb deposits, and deposits don't earn interest. For large amounts and long periods, you can be exempt from handling fees and issue a draft or silver bill. Besides, if you want to open a draft, you need to deposit money, are you still worried about not having enough money? The two rivers and two Guangs are the foundation, first allocate 12 million yuan as capital, which should be enough."

  "That's all that's left of the capital, only five hundred thousand." Zheng Shichang muttered to himself, "The capital is the headquarters after all."

  "On the day when all branches of the capital city opened, three million silver notes were issued."

  "Three million?" Zheng Shichang's mouth was agape in shock, and after a long while, he stuttered: "But someone has to be willing to buy it."

  "Hehe, Benzi has his own plan, just go and do it." Xuanzhen said with confidence, but in his heart, he was secretly laughing. Once the silver ticket is pushed out, not to mention 3 million, even 5 million would not be enough to sell it. This thing is a big killer in the officialdom, and it's an essential item for bribery, corruption, and travel."

  Considering that Kangxi usually returns to Beijing in September, these things must be done before leaving Beijing. Yongzheng continued: "At the beginning of September, you choose a good day, all branches must open at the beginning of September."

  Time is so tight, how can we make it, what does the 14th master think in his heart? Zheng Shichang couldn't help but raise an objection, "14th master, three months' time is simply not enough, some places may not even be reached within three months."

  "These are things you should consider. In short, before the holy car returns to Beijing, it must be opened, and now people have to be sent to rent a house and hang a sign, wanting to take over the entire market at once." Yongzheng said without hesitation: "In addition, silver tickets and meeting tickets must have a big difference, and the amount should be marked, best of all, they should have watermarks."

  Out of the 14th Beizi Mansion, Zheng Shichang couldn't help but sigh to the sky, "Indeed a true dragon's son and phoenix's grandson! At just twenty years old, this little brat is truly astonishing in his methods. I, at sixty-five years old, have spent my life struggling in the business world, yet I knowingly let him swindle me and still have to help him count his money."

  Entering June, the weather gradually warmed up.

  Hai Feng was getting busier and busier, the renovation of the private school in Da Er Hutong was nearing its end. Although he didn't have to worry about the foreign teacher who taught Western studies, he still had to find a teacher for Chinese studies. What troubled him most was the source of students. Even though they weren't charging tuition, as soon as people heard that it was a school run by missionaries teaching their strange and weird stuff, even poor families didn't want to send their children there.

  Yuan Zhen was not idle either. He had to go to Jiangning to supervise the construction of the Agricultural Academy, and no matter what, he had to do this task beautifully. The planning of the agricultural academy relied on the officials of the Ministry of Works, but Yuan Zhen thought it would be better to take matters into his own hands. Although he had never done any planning before, he had seen many higher educational institutions, so he spent the next few days copying and studying in his study.

  Early this morning, Hai Feng hastily arrived at Yong Zheng's study. After exchanging greetings, he directly said: "Fourteenth brother, the renovation of the private school in Da Er Hutong is almost complete, but it's hard to find a teacher and students. As soon as they hear that there are missionaries involved, no one dares to come."

  Yin Zhen nodded, somewhat depressed, and said: "I had expected this situation, and have already sent people to my Bao Yi Suo Ling to select children of the right age. In addition, I have also sent people to Xuanhua, Baoding, Yongping and other places to buy children of the right age with silver. Students are not a worry, but we can't just focus on Western studies, this national study cannot be neglected."

  It's said that students don't worry, Hai Feng let out a sigh of relief and tentatively asked: "There are several fallen scholars at the Gao Sheng Inn on Xi Jie Road, do you think it's possible to invite them over...?"

  "They have already finished their exams, why are they still lingering in the capital?"

  "He didn't pay attention at first, but later when he couldn't find the master, he became anxious and asked someone to carefully inquire. Hai Feng saw that Yi Zhen didn't object, so he knew there was a chance and quickly explained in detail: 'There are six of them in total, from Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces. Because the journey is long, they don't want to waste their time on the road, so the six of them will wait in Beijing for the next imperial examination.'"

  Yuan Zhen thought for a moment and said: "You go try it out, also give them three or four silver coins per month, including room and board."

  On June 19th, He Shuo Kang Qinwang Chen Tai died. The relatives in the capital naturally had to go and pay their respects.

  The next morning, Yin Zhen received a funeral report from the Kang Wang Fu and went to pay his respects after tidying up. As soon as he entered the Kang Wang Fu, he bumped into Old Nine and Old Ten, and Yin Zhen hurriedly greeted them warmly, "Ninth brother, tenth brother."

  Lao Shi smiled and said: "Fourteen, it's been some days since we last met. You've arrived just in time today."

  Lao Jiu said with a smile that was not quite a smile, "We used to be so bold and daring, but now we're as timid as a young lady from a good family who never ventures out of the house."

  Listening to Lao Jiu's sarcastic remarks, Yin Zhen didn't take it seriously and smiled: "It's rare for us to run into each other today, let's go pay our respects first, then find a place to have a good gathering later."