Chapter 700 Secret Talk
Chen Tianhua and Nazan apologized to each other for who would take the main seat.
The status of the two of them was basically the same, but on Chongming Island, Nazan was considered a landlord and the elder in terms of seniority, and he was also a Manchu nobleman. Chen Tianhua recommended him to take the top position.
After a few polite remarks, Nazan sat down. Chen Tianhua was accompanied by the Prime Minister, and Xu Yunyuan sat aside to accompany him.
Seeing the stunning beauty Xu Yunyuan sitting under Chen Tianhua, Nazan concluded that this woman was definitely not Chen's wife or concubine, because under the etiquette of the world, family members were not allowed to sit at the same table as the male protagonists, and she must be some important person.
"This woman is..." Nazan pointed at Xu Yunyuan and asked Chen Tianhua.
"Oh, I forgot to introduce you, Xu Yunyuan, the governor's assistant." Chen Tianhua introduced lightly.
When Nazan, Master Ge and others heard the words Xu Yunyuan, their hearts moved. Xuehu was famous even on Chongming Island. She was in charge of the intelligence and espionage organization in the Meiguang Autonomous Region, but few people had seen her true face.
Unexpectedly, she has such a delicate appearance. Looking at her frayed skin and eyes that look like autumn water, it is hard to imagine that she has become so famous in such a dark profession.
She must be having an affair with her master. This Chen Tianhua is very lucky.
Nazan felt lustful in his heart.
Hongyue on the side was also very surprised when she heard this, and a pair of wonderful eyes turned around Xu Yunyuan.
Cui Mingyi, who paid the money today, turned into an errand boy in the elegant cabin. He gave a gentle signal, and Hongyue immediately directed his men to start playing music. She also opened her red lips lightly, her colorful clothes flew up, and she began to sing and dance.
Most of the people present were absent-minded and had their own thoughts.
Although Hongyue felt frustrated when she realized that no one here was paying attention to her, she did not want to lose her status. Instead, she worked harder than usual and could not let the distinguished guests underestimate her.
Amidst the sound of music, the specialty dishes of Yipinxian Restaurant were served like water.
Of course, it is not appropriate to talk about business at the banquet. Chen Tianhua and Nazan were chatting and chatting with each other, and they were having a good time. Cui Mingyi was holding the wine pot and was waiting on the two of them diligently.
Boss.
Chen Tianhua finally understood why Nazan was so fat. His appetite was surprisingly good. Whether it was meat, vegetarian or fatty, he ate up all the food. While chewing the food, he did not forget to go there.
Drinking wine in mouth.
Generally speaking, what an official of their level needs is a person who never tires of food and food. This one is good. If Chen Tianhua hadn't known that he was from a Manchu noble family, he would have thought that this military man was poor in the past.
People have been hungry, and this is how they developed the virtue of eating.
After drinking and eating, Nazan finally patted his belly with satisfaction, took the towel handed over by Cui Mingyi, wiped the sweat on his face, wiped the oil stains on his hands, clapped his hands and said:
"Okay, now that our army is full, you can all go down. Mr. Chen and I will talk about some serious matters!"
Hong Yue, Admiral Fu and others in the room immediately exited obediently, but of course the people on Chen Tianhua's side were unmoved.
Chen Tianhua was stunned at first, thinking to himself that this was not planned in advance. After thinking about it, maybe the other party had a desire to find out.
"All of you, get out of here!"
Chen Tianhua waved Xu Yunyuan, Fei Ge, and Yu Yang to exit.
"yes!"
Fei Ge saw that all the people who liked Zan had retreated first, so he boldly protected Xu Yunyuan from leaving and went to the next room.
With the major general's martial arts alone, how could Nazan be his opponent?
Just like that, Chen Tianhua and Nazan were the only two people left in the huge wing room.
Nazan Da Ma Jin Dao was sitting, picking his teeth, looking at Chen Tianhua and saying: "Mr. Chen, let's open the skylight and tell the truth. Why did you come to Chongming Island? Tell me!"
Chen Tianhua said with a smile: "I am going to Chongming Island to inspect the people's sentiments on behalf of the current emperor!"
"Inspecting the public sentiment? Logically speaking, this should be an official from Taicang Prefecture. Is it necessary to send a second-grade imperial envoy from the Minister of Industry?" Nazan put down the hand that was picking his teeth and said in a deep voice:
"Why did we hear that the imperial court is planning to separate Chongming Shazhou into an autonomous region, with you as the governor to fully develop Chongming?"
After hearing this, Chen Tianhua smiled slightly and said, "The imperial court does have this intention. They have seen the development of the Meiguang Autonomous Region and paid generous taxes and have tasted the benefits. They are ready to let me follow suit, but I have to first see what advantages Chongming has.
, we can make a decision only if resources are available.”
After hearing this, Nazan breathed a sigh of relief and grinned: "This place in Chongming belongs to a sandbank, with poor mountains and rivers. Apart from fishery and salt industry, there is not much!"
"But why did I hear that illegal salt is rampant in Chongming and that the Admiral has made a lot of money by selling illegal salt at home and abroad?"
Chen Tianhua suddenly hit the most taboo issue in Nazan.
After hearing this, Nazan's face changed drastically. The hand he used to pick his teeth shook, and the bamboo stick immediately poked his gums to bleed. He let out an ouch, held his cheeks and groaned:
"My nephew, if someone else had said this, I would have immediately cut him into pieces and thrown him into the Yangtze River to feed the fish. What does this... mean?"
"I don't mean anything else, I just want to ask how profitable the salt industry is?" Chen Tianhua also pretended to be dumbfounded.
"Do you also want to get involved?" Nazan was not stupid, he came straight to the point.
"Chen is not interested in just selling some private salt." Chen Tianhua said lightly.
Nazan stared at Chen Tianhua for a long time. He couldn't figure out what the other person wanted to express. He swallowed before saying:
"You don't tell secrets in front of people. This matter is hidden from the top but not from the bottom. That person sells salt along the rivers and coasts. The profit from each trip is about 10,000 to 20,000 taels of silver, which is only 50,000 taels a month."
After Chen Tianhua heard about it, he felt very funny in his heart. How could this guy just hide it from the top? At present, Chongming Navy is selling illegal salt. It can be said that everyone in the country knows about it. It is only Prince Chun Zaifeng who is responsible.
Yes, no one dares to expose it.
"As for the military sect, I am not Chen Tuo's arrogance. My current mining business earns tens of millions of taels of silver every year. This mere few hundred thousand taels of silver is beyond my eyes!" Chen Tianhua shook his head and curled his lips.
.
Of course, Nazan had heard some rumors about this largest official and businessman in the Qing Dynasty. Fengzhong Enterprise Group, whose main businesses were mining, steel, and railways, really looked down upon this current business.
"Then according to your idea, what should Chongming Island do, so that you are interested?" Nazan's little eyes lit up immediately.
"If I were to govern the people's livelihood on Chongming Island, the first step would be to expand the salt processing industry, purchase all the salt fields in the East China Sea, unify pricing, reduce costs, and do both official and private salt production. In this way, many people would be blocked.
mouth."
"Second, strengthen overseas export trade, build a deep-water trade free port, and form a fleet for ocean-going voyages."
Chapter completed!