Chapter 52: Lust and Greed

  On the twentieth day of the first month, various government offices in different places started to "open their seals" and handle official business. The servants and artisans under the command of imperial clansmen and nobles who held official positions outside Shanghai also began to organize the transportation of various materials, laborers, and craftsmen to Shanghai.

  Zhu Yan Zhi, Xu Shi Zhen, Hai Feng, Hu Cheng Kun, Wu Tian Ming, Wan Jian Tu and others were busy with their work when suddenly, on the 24th of the first month, Yi Zhen quietly married Zhang Meng Jiao and brought her back to Liu Chun Yuan.

  This shocked the Shanghai gentry, as the 14th Master had actually married such a rebellious woman. The reason why Zhang Yuanlong could swallow all the cotton shares at once was self-evident, and naturally, Yin Zhen's reputation for being lecherous also spread quickly, and various ship owners began to consider whether they should find several beauties to exchange for cotton shares.

  Close on the heels of Zhang Yuanlong's announcement that all cotton cloth prices would be increased by 10%, Yin Zhen suddenly became the target of public criticism, and his reputation for being greedy and lustful overshadowed his reputation for being honest and loving the people. However, the reaction from the weaving households was not great, and various prefectures, counties, and towns posted announcements to purchase cotton cloth, with no reduction in the purchasing price, and they didn't worry about where to sell it, as for what price the cotton cloth could be sold to merchants, that wasn't their concern.

  Inside the Liuchun Garden, Yizhen smiled and said to Zhang Mengjiao, "In order to let you pass through the door with flying colors, the reputation of being clean and loved by the people that I had worked hard to get was immediately turned into a greedy and lustful one. Don't you think you should make it up to me?"

  Zhang Mengjiao's nose wrinkled, "Fourteenth Master really got a good deal and still sold his cleverness. My father was just your scapegoat, you should compensate me well."

  Xin Si's thoughts were seen through, and Yin Zhen didn't think much of it. He walked up with a smile and said, "Alright, I'll make it up to you properly."

  Zhang Mengjiao smiled and dodged, "But first, let's consider whether someone will make a fuss about this."

  "It doesn't matter if you want to or not." Yizheng said indifferently, "The master's hands are all clean and tidy, let them go and bother themselves."

  The Forbidden City, the Palace of Mental Cultivation. The Kangxi Emperor let out a soft sigh after reading the secret letter from Jiangnan. This old fourteen, he has many ways to win people's hearts, does he need to make such a big show of taking a new concubine? Is it because of that woman? Hmph, I'll see how you wash away this reputation for being lustful and greedy!

  Yongqing Palace, Crown Prince Yinxiang learned of this news and simply recorded it. These trivial matters are not enough to bring down Yinzheng, and it's better to accumulate them for now and impeach him together when the time is right.

  The eighth prince's words were just a murmur, he didn't take this matter to heart at all, and the outcome was clean, as it was handled by him alone, so naturally he was clear about it.

  Fourth Brother Yin Zhen was concerned about this matter, with Yin Zhen's cleverness, how could he make such a low-level mistake. He pondered for half a day but couldn't figure out what the problem was. Then he came to Wu Si Dao's place. After Wu Si Dao read the message, he looked at Yin Zhen with approval and thought for a while before speaking. "Fourth Brother's suspicion is reasonable, but this news is too simple. I think it should have nothing to do with Zhang Yuanlong. You let people investigate that woman's background and then analyze again."

  In February, Shanghai was bustling with activity. Taiwanese and Cantonese merchants began shipping sugar to Shanghai, and large numbers of businessmen, missionaries, and foreigners also arrived in Shanghai by boat. The inland waterways and land routes also saw a massive influx of raw materials and personnel into Shanghai every day.

  The Shanghai Hongkou area has become a huge construction site, with the shipyard and naval academy taking the lead in breaking ground. As large numbers of people poured in, foundries, ironworks, ordnance factories, uniform factories, and gunpowder workshops followed suit, leaving Hai Feng and other subordinates as well as Shanghai officials extremely busy day and night.

  Yin Zhen was busy all day meeting people, writing letters and responding to them. The three idle servants, originally bored all day, were suddenly so busy they didn't know what to do.

  "I have no objection to building a church in Shanghai, but if the imperial court is asked to return the original Catholic Church, that would be a difficult matter." Yin Zhen said with a headache to several missionaries who came forward. In the fourth year of Kangxi's reign, the imperial court implemented a ban on Christianity, and Kangxi ordered that missionaries were only allowed to be active in Guangzhou. The Catholic Church in Shanghai was abandoned and had long been rebuilt. As soon as these missionaries arrived in Shanghai, they came to Yin Zhen to make trouble.

  "Your Highness, the Fourteenth Prince, this Catholic church is our private property. Private property is sacred and inviolable. Due to the reasons of your imperial court, our private property has been lost, and we hope that your imperial court will provide compensation. This is a completely justifiable reason." argued Bairihua.

  This matter is indeed unjust, but Yin Zheng didn't dare to express his opinion, let alone report it to the higher authorities. What a joke! If he were to provoke Kangxi, an imperial edict would come down, forbidding missionaries from staying in Shanghai. Who would he cry to then? Thinking that he still had to rely on these missionaries to help him recruit foreign craftsmen and sailors, he had to be patient with them. "Father Bai, I will submit your request to the imperial court, but as for what the court thinks or wants, I have no way of knowing. As for when a response will come, it's even harder to say. You know that the Qing Empire is vast and populous, and the court has many things to attend to every day. Such trivial matters are unlikely to catch the court's attention. Why don't you go back and wait for news? As soon as I have any news, I will notify you immediately."

  Bairi Hua wasn't stupid either, he knew that this wait might last until the monkey year and horse month. "Your Highness, the 14th Prince, we didn't just bring over thirty priests to Shanghai this time, but also helped Your Highness invite more than fifty sailors and craftsmen. Of course, if Your Highness needs it, we will continue to help persuade and invite."

  More than 50 sailors and craftsmen have arrived? Yin Zhen listened with joy, but pretended to be difficult and looked at Bai Lihua, "For your arrival, I personally express my gratitude on behalf of myself. Shanghai will become more prosperous, and all friends who come to Shanghai will find their own opportunities here. However, as for the return of the old church, this prince is indeed helpless."

  Seeing the tight expression on the face of Zhen, Bai Li Hua also realized that this matter was going to be difficult to handle. In Shanghai, if they couldn't get the support of this Fourteenth Prince, it would be hard for them to stand firm. He had no choice but to retreat and ask for a compromise, "Your Highness, look, can you compensate us with a piece of land? We'll raise our own funds to build another church."

  "With a refreshing smile, he said, 'This is no problem. I, the crown prince, will personally bestow upon you five mu of land and an additional 2,000 taels of silver. However, my Maritime Customs and Naval Academy require the study of French and English, and at present, the customs urgently need translators.'"

  "I, on behalf of all the Jesuit missionaries in Shanghai, would like to express our gratitude for Your Highness's generosity. We are more than happy to serve you." Father Raimundo said with a bow, and at the same time felt a sense of relief in his heart. This was indeed a good omen, with the Fourteenth Prince taking the lead in making a donation, it would be easier to break the ice.

  Yinzhen was busy in Shanghai, but Kangxi took the Crown Prince Yinti, the third son Yinxiang, the eighth son Yinxi, the tenth son Yinjie and the thirteenth son Yinxiang to Wutai Mountain again in early February.

  Yin Zhen was very suspicious when he saw the imperial report. Why did Kangxi always like to run to Wutai Mountain? Was it really true that Shunzhi had become a monk on Wutai Mountain? Unfortunately, he didn't have time to go and investigate this time. He was busy with his feet not touching the ground and didn't have time to think deeply about it. After throwing the imperial report to Zhang Mengjiao, he hurriedly went to meet guests.

  After a busy month, all sorts of things have finally started to fall into place and get on track. Yin Zhen let out a slight sigh of relief. Kangxi had already returned to the capital, and he should too. March 18th was Kangxi's birthday, also known as the Wan Shou Festival. The birthday gift had been prepared long ago, but he didn't want to and didn't dare present it through his own hands. What if someone tampered with it? It would leave a very bad impression on Kangxi, who was a very particular person.