Volume 1: Mission in Danger Chapter 41: Fighting for the Benefit of the World with Tea
"We have already reported this to the higher-ups. But the response was just that." Wu Chengjian said, "In the long run, this secret is always difficult to keep, because it's not just us, Japan and Korea also have silkworms and tea. If they can't get them from the Qing, why don't they go to Japan and Korea to ask for them? We can keep the secret for eight to ten years, but what about a hundred or eighty years? As long as the other party is determined, there will always be a day when we can't keep it."
Cai Qinghua said: "But you just said that although Japan and Korea can weave and grow silk and tea, their varieties are far inferior to those of China."
"It's not just weaving and planting. There are more complicated processes behind it." Wu Chengjian said, "I don't understand silk, but the reason why tea becomes tea is not just to pick tea leaves from the valley. First, the seeds are selected, then cultivated, generation after generation, the soil is selected for planting, the weather is observed and the weather is observed for picking, and then screening, cutting, selecting, picking, and frying are all very complicated processes. The same is true for the weaving of silk and the making of porcelain.
"The scholars and officials are thirsty and sit to drink, but they don't know how much blood and sweat of craftsmen are behind a cup of water. Why do foreigners come from thousands of miles away and exchange mountains of gold and silver for these black tea leaves? Because what we sell is not the leaves, but the technology to turn these leaves into good drinks. And this technology is the tea-making skills that have been ahead of the world for 2,000 years by the smart and intelligent people among countless tea farmers and tea craftsmen since the Qin and Han Dynasties. Shennong distributed the five grains, and the people of the world relied on them to be full, and silk, tea, and porcelain were the ones that made China rich. The inventors and improvers of silk, tea, and porcelain are no less meritorious than Shennong."
At this time, Cai Qinghua had been somewhat persuaded by Wu Chengjian, but after all, he grew up reading Confucian classics, and emphasizing agriculture and despising commerce was ingrained in his bones, so he was unwilling to admit this point of view for the time being.
But he was very smart and soon thought of another question: "Since you said that these three skills are the accumulation of thousands of years of Chinese culture, then even if the foreigners stole the tea seeds and silkworm seeds, they would probably be useless."
"It may be useless within a few decades, but what about a hundred years later?" Wu Chengjian said, "Foreigners can make glass with sand, which shows that there are smart and talented people among them. The world is bustling, all for profit. Silk and tea involve tens of millions of taels of silver. With such huge profits as an attraction, there is no worry that no one will invest in research. In addition, we have seen our finished silk and tea products. If we stick to our old ways and let foreigners catch up, in a few decades or more than a hundred years, I am afraid that foreigners will no longer need to buy tea from us. One day, our silk and tea products will not be as good as theirs. If this is the case, what should we do?
"My elder brother Wu Chengjun often pondered over this issue all night, and finally got something. He said to me: If foreigners can make progress, we should also make progress. As long as our progress is higher than theirs, we can stay ahead and make China's silk, tea, and porcelain products superior to the rest of the world. Then foreigners will have to spend a lot of money to come to China to buy silk, tea, and porcelain.
"That's why my elder brother worked day and night, investing the money he earned from the Thirteen Hongs into the tea industry, maintaining the continuous improvement of tea-making technology. His goal is to make China's tea-making technology always the best in the world. Master Cai, do you understand? My elder brother is not just a businessman. He wants to use tea as a weapon to fight for the benefit of the world for China.
"If a man with such a broad mind and vision and who can put it into practice is not a national hero, then what is? Such national heroes are truly the treasures of the country. The Grand Duke wants to use such national treasures as chess pieces. Master Cai, do you think this is fair to my elder brother? Is it fair to my Wu family?"
Wu Chengjian stopped talking here in one breath, with excitement still on his face.
Cai Qinghua pondered and said, "Even if your elder brother is really so great, your Yihe Bank is only involved in the livelihoods of 100,000 people at most, and the art of tea is only a small part of the country. However, Heshen's harm is a disaster for the whole country, and corruption has ruined the foundation of the country. In terms of interests and weight, the former should be less important and the latter should be more important."
Wu Chengjian said, "Master Cai, ask yourself, if we kill Heshen, will corrupt officials be eradicated? Will the world be better?"
Cai Qinghua was silent for a moment, and finally said: "At least it won't get worse. Let the world have hope for the better."
Wu Chengjian said, "Let's take a step back and say that if we use our Wu family as a pawn to cross the river, will it definitely bring down Heshen?"
Cai Qinghua said: "Even if it's not 100% certain, it's still 70% to 80% certain."
Wu Chengjian asked again: "Then, does it have to be our Wu family?"
Cai Qinghua did not answer.
Wu Chengjian said: "Big men have big men's strategies and ideas, but small men have small men's difficulties. The struggle that the Grand Lord wants to carry out may succeed or fail. For the Grand Lord, if he loses, he will only take a step back. But in our Wu family, if there is a mistake, there will be no recovery. And even if we win for a while, what does it matter? Once we become a pawn in this game, Yihehang will be trapped in the whirlpool forever. How can we calm down and study and improve our tea art?
"Master Cai, you should understand now, right? I not only want to protect the Wu family, but also the business my eldest brother founded and the moral integrity that led to this business. No matter what, I cannot let the cause my eldest brother founded, which benefits the country and the people, be destroyed by the endless political struggles that keep happening one after another."
Cai Qinghua left. He did not get the promise he hoped for, but there was no anger on his face. Instead, there was a hint of guilt.
After he left, Wu Chengjian did not go home. He directly asked Tietou Junba to row the boat to the Huacha. The two of them sat down in the cabin. Zhou Yijin suddenly asked, "Is Brother Chengjun really that amazing?"
Wu Chengjian smiled and said, "Of course, my eldest brother is very great."
Zhou Yijin chuckled twice, "I have been in Guangzhou for quite some time and have met many different kinds of people. However, I have never met your father and brother. But I feel that the lofty ambitions you mentioned about brother Chengjun are more like your own words."
Wu Chengjian snorted and didn't answer.
Zhou Yijin said, "I expected you to reject Master's proposal, but the long speech you gave afterwards was beyond my expectation. What is the deep meaning of your words?"
Wu Chengjian asked back: "Why did you expect that I wouldn't agree?"
"Isn't this simple? The Qingliu can't be trusted, let alone relied on!" Zhou Yijin said, "The Qingliu have lofty ambitions, but they don't have many means. If your Wu family really takes the lead and causes Heshen to fall, with He Zhongtang's personality and means, he will definitely start with your Wu family. At that time, the Grand Duke may not be able to protect you."
"A big fall?" Wu Chengjian said, "Yi Jin also thinks that even if this matter is accomplished, it will not bring down He?"
"I don't think it will fail." Zhou Yijin said, "Whether it's the national treasury or the Ministry of Internal Affairs, how did they lose all that money? Although we can't see the account books, think about the character of the current emperor. With such a tough personality, who would dare to make such a big money hole under his nose? According to my guess, if you look into it, I'm afraid that these money holes were spent by the emperor. Two expeditions to Junggar, two expeditions to Gurkhas, and two conquests of Jinchuan, the silver spent must be more than 100 million, plus the emperor's own expenses are also high. Add it all together, the income from the national treasury alone is definitely not enough."
"Of course it's not enough." Wu Chengjian said, "The pockets of Jiangnan salt merchants are all empty. So now it's Guangdong's turn."
Zhou Yijin said, "Although the money was spent by the emperor, the Qingliu people, for the sake of respecting the emperor, naturally put all the responsibility on He Zhongtang. But since the money was spent by the emperor, how could the emperor not know? Heshen is a wall that protects your majesty from wind, rain and filth. No matter how dirty or black this wall is, the emperor must protect it. How could he really let him fall down?"
Zhou Yijin sneered, "So, if you really agreed to the Grand Duke, the Wu family would be doomed. Fortunately, you didn't agree. But what you said just now...ah! I am really confused!"
Wu Chengjian spread his hands.
Zhou Yijin smiled and said, "Of course you have to say that. Otherwise, although you have avoided the open and secret attacks from the Hezhongtang, you will arouse the jealousy of the Grand Lord, and you will not be able to pass this hurdle."
Wu Chengjian smiled and said, "A gentleman can be deceived by his own methods. The Grand Duke is a gentleman, so I will naturally talk to him about the principles. Besides, I didn't deceive him, right?"
Inside the Guangdong and Guangxi Governor's Office.
After listening to Cai Qinghua's statement, Zhu Gui asked, " Did he really say that?"
Before Master Cai could say anything, Zhu Gui sighed. He knew Cai Qinghua's knowledge and character better than anyone else. It seemed that even Master Cai could not have fabricated such unexpected words. He could not help but sigh and said, "I didn't expect that such a person could emerge from the barbarian south, at the junction of mountains and seas. His father is certainly worthy of respect, and this pair of brothers is also extraordinary. Wu Chengjian is a man of great talent, and his enlightenment is also a truth. It's a pity that he didn't read the books of sages and didn't walk the path of Confucianism. What a pity."
Then he asked Cai Qinghua: "How do you think he will solve this matter?"
Cai Qinghua pondered and said, "I am also surprised by this. I see that his eyes are calm and he seems to have it all planned out. However, given the current situation, there is really no other way to resist. Without our support, using business to resist the government is like hitting a rock with an egg. His Wu family is still doomed. The Grand Marquis will pity the tea farmers and cherish the patriots, but Jishan will not have such concerns."
Zhu Gui said: "Do we have any other ways to intervene in this matter?"
Cai Qinghua said: "Heshen is powerful in the court, and Jishan has deep roots in Guangzhou. We can only go with the flow. If we act out of the rules, once the Grand Marquis is too deeply involved, Heshen will have a reason to intervene, and then we will lose more than we gain. What if... someone with ulterior motives gets involved through the Grand Marquis..."
He stopped talking.
Zhu Gui said, "Then let's put this matter aside. Guangdong is so big, with so many things to deal with, and we can't focus all our attention on the Thirteen Hongs. You should pay close attention to see how it goes next."
Cai Qinghua said: "What about the Wu family..."
"Let him go." Zhu Gui said, "Since he doesn't want to rely on me, there is no reason for me to stand up for him. I also want to see how this kid can turn the tables in this dead end."
