Traveling through the late Ming Dynasty to promote Chinese civilization

Chapter 265 Suzhou Prefect

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Back at the inn, Li Fu was waiting for Liu Ye. While the master was visiting the brothel, he had inquired about the general situation of the raw silk industry in Suzhou.

“Sir, I’ve been to places in Suzhou that deal with raw silk these past two days and have a general understanding of the situation here. It’s not easy for outsiders to get involved in the raw silk trade.”

As Li Feicheng explained, the most developed region for the raw silk industry in the Ming Dynasty was the Jiangnan region, especially Suzhou and Hangzhou. The mainstream model of the raw silk industry was as follows: silkworm farmers raised silkworms, reeled silk, and then sold it to silk merchants. The silk merchants then sold the raw silk to cloth merchants for use as raw materials or directly to overseas markets. The problem faced by the Qiongzhou Merchants was that this industrial chain was closed. Silkworm farmers could only sell their cocoons and raw silk to silk merchants. Others could not buy directly but could only purchase through silk merchants unless they could obtain a "departmental permit".

"Ministry Certificates" were issued directly by the Ministry of Revenue. Ordinary merchants without a background or connections simply could not obtain them. To some extent, obtaining "Ministry Certificates" was even more difficult than obtaining "Salt Certificates," and trading raw silk was also more difficult than being a salt merchant.

"Isn't this silk trade just a monopoly? Don't they get to decide the purchase and selling prices?" Liu Ye saw through the true nature of the silk trade at a glance.

Li Fu nodded: "That's really true. It's said that people say the silk merchants buy and sell dead people, and they always take a huge cut from every transaction. The silk farmers sell their raw silk to the silk merchants for only twenty taels of silver per hundred catties, and even the best Huzhou silk is only thirty taels. But the silk merchants sell it for eighty taels, and Huzhou silk for one hundred taels."

This is the exorbitant profit brought about by monopoly. You don't have to do anything; just buying and selling yields more than three times the net profit.

"This money is too easy to earn!" Liu Ye was quite envious; his cotton cloth and liquor business didn't even have such high profits.

Li Fu nodded: "It's really like making money while lying down. It's a pity that we can't get involved in such a lucrative business."

Liu Ye thought for a moment and said to Li Fu, "Not necessarily. Even a fierce dragon can cross the river. It's not necessarily afraid of these local snakes. Let's visit the prefect of Suzhou first, and then go to the largest silk shop in Suzhou. Let's find out what's going on first."

Accompanied by Yan Guang and Li Fu, and with Mu Tianyan's "letter of introduction," Liu Ye successfully met Chen Zhongsheng, the prefect of Suzhou.

Although both were prefects, Chen Zhongsheng was far superior to Qin Bingyan, the prefect of Qiongzhou. Jiangnan was renowned for its wealth, and Suzhou was one of its core regions. Unlike neighboring Hangzhou, which was located in the provincial capital, Suzhou was far more prosperous. There was a saying in the Ming and Qing dynasties: "Three lifetimes of misfortune, a county magistrate attached to the capital; three lifetimes of evil, attached to the provincial capital; three lifetimes of heinous crimes, attached to the capital." This meant that a county magistrate had to commit too many evil deeds in their previous life to be attached to a prefect in the same city as a county magistrate, and a prefect to be attached to a provincial governor or governor in the same city as a prefectural governor. As for the county magistrates and governors of the capital, they were said to have committed countless evil deeds in their past lives, resulting in such a tragic fate. Because these magistrates and prefects shared the same city with their superiors, their every move was constrained. Their duties of welcoming and entertaining visiting officials were also heavier than in other prefectures and counties. They were described as "rushing about, busy with countless affairs, and exhausted," lacking any of the prestige of local officials.

In the Ming Dynasty, the position of Suzhou Prefect, a fourth-rank official, was a coveted post coveted by all officials of the same rank, perhaps only comparable to the third-rank Salt Transport Commissioner. However, in terms of political advantages for promotion, the Salt Transport Commissioner was a step behind. Serving in such a place was something one wouldn't trade for even a governorship in a remote region.

Chen Zhongsheng, a well-off middle-aged official, was carefully reading Mu Tianyan's letter, while Liu Ye, Yan Guang, and Li Fu sat below him waiting.

Liu Ye had not opened the letter and was unaware that Mu Tianyan had asked Chen Zhongsheng to treat him as a nephew and implied that he might become her nephew-in-law. Her brother-in-law was Lin Tianming, who was about to take office as the Shandong Provincial Inspector.

Mu Tianyan's actions weren't impulsive. His successful collaboration with Liu Ye in eliminating the Guangdong Censor Gao Shunqin and annexing the Hongtu Money Shop had shown him Liu Ye's financial prowess and political acumen. Coupled with Liu Ye's strong and well-equipped army, his future prospects were limitless, making it necessary to further their relationship. Meanwhile, his proud niece Lin Shiyue suddenly asked for a letter for Liu Ye. As someone with experience, how could he not understand Lin Shiyue's ulterior motives? Clearly, marriage was the most basic and effective way to strengthen their relationship. Of course, this plan had to be gradual and couldn't be rushed, so neither of the parties involved knew about it.

Therefore, based on the letter, Chen Zhongsheng concluded that the young man before him was not only a military officer but also a shrewd businessman—few outsiders dared to dabble in the raw silk industry in Suzhou—and his future brother-in-law and father-in-law were, respectively, the current Governor of Guangdong and a highly respected censor, both of whom would be significant allies to officials at any level. Helping this young man would incur favors from both Mu Tianyan and Lin Tianming. Chen Zhongsheng naturally knew what he had to do.

He closed the letter, already having a plan in mind on how to contact Liu Ye. He asked with a smile, "Nephew, you're coming to Suzhou to do raw silk business? Lord Mu is my classmate, and we have a very close personal relationship. His nephews are my nephews too. If you need any help, just ask."

The fact that the magistrate of Jiangnan, the most virtuous region in the country, was so agreeable greatly surprised Liu Ye. He was well aware of his own limitations; given the Ming Dynasty's hierarchy of valuing civil officials over military ones, this attitude couldn't possibly be due to his rank as a third-grade military officer, but rather because of Mu Tianyan's letter. It was a pity he hadn't opened it beforehand and didn't know what it contained. But whatever the content, it was beneficial to him, and that was enough.

Liu Ye bowed respectfully: "It would be best if Your Excellency would be so kind as to lend a hand. I have heard that purchasing raw silk requires a 'departmental certificate,' and I cannot break the court's rules and put Your Excellency in a difficult position. I only ask that you grant me a letter so that I can sit down and discuss the matter with the local silk merchants. If I can acquire the raw silk, I do not mind paying more money."

Chen Zhongsheng stroked his beard and nodded with satisfaction. This Liu Ye knew when to advance and retreat, and didn't create any problems for himself.

The raw silk trade in Suzhou and Hangzhou was a closed, monopolistic industry, extremely profitable, and backed by powerful figures. Even as the prefect of Suzhou, he dared not easily interfere with the silk merchants. If Liu Ye were to propose using the prefectural government's influence to directly purchase raw silk in Suzhou, he would have no choice but to regretfully offer him tea and send him off, then write a letter informing Mu Tianyan that he had misjudged him. However, Liu Ye's suggestion to negotiate directly with the silk merchants and offer a higher price would not break the silk merchants' rules; all he would need to do was make an introduction, a simple favor.

He smiled and agreed, "Sure, sure."