Chapter 3868
Chapter 3868
Chapter 3868
Lu Congshan's idea was that as long as the influence of Lufaxing and the commercial resources it controlled were fully utilized, the government could use it as a model to restart Jiujiang's commercial activities in a short period of time.
Of course, this was not something that Ning Zijing could accomplish simply by issuing a decree. The government also needed to provide Lufaxing with some special resources, such as grain and daily necessities to stabilize market prices, as well as exclusive channels for Lufaxing to engage in foreign trade activities, in order to ensure Lufaxing's influence in the Jiujiang trade sector.
Undoubtedly, Lu Congshan's idea was driven by strong personal motives, a fact that Ning Zijing was naturally aware of. However, he could not deny that Lu Faxing's influence in Jiujiang was something that the outsider Haihan Trading Company could not replace in a short period of time.
The distribution and acquisition channels for various goods in the Jiujiang area, the business dealings with other prefectures and counties in the surrounding area, and the understanding of the local market are all unique advantages that Lu Congshan relies on.
Ning Zijing could, of course, ignore Lu Congshan's conditions and rely solely on Haihan's own commercial institutions to advance his development plan, achieving the same goal. However, the consequences of doing so would be obvious: the progress would certainly be much slower than using Lufax to pave the way.
After considering for a moment, Ning Zijing replied, "Lord Lu, Lufaxing's business operations can continue as usual, but I'm afraid I can't help you with the special treatment you want. Many Haihan Trading Companies will be entering Jiujiang soon, and I think Lufaxing should carefully consider how to deal with the upcoming competition, rather than trying to take shortcuts through back channels."
Lu Congshan was slightly disappointed, but considering that Lu Faxing was also a beneficiary of Ning Zijing's tax reduction policy, he dared not say anything more, lest he incur the displeasure of his superiors and suffer the consequences.
Lu Congshan actually had another unspoken suspicion: whether Ning Zijing also owned commercial entities similar to Lufaxing, which would seem to explain Ning Zijing's actions. But if that were the case, Lufaxing's future prospects would likely be bleak.
His worries were actually somewhat unfounded, or rather, the level of this matter was simply beyond the reach of a small local official like himself.
Currently, all the trading companies in Haihan capable of engaging in cross-regional and even cross-border trade possess profound backgrounds and strength. Indeed, many of them are industries under the names of transmigrators, and the resources they possess are far beyond those of traditional commercial institutions.
For example, the Donghai branch under Shi Diwen's name covers almost all of Haihan's territories at home and abroad. The scale of operation of any one of its branches is almost equivalent to that of Lufaxing.
Without Ning Zijing needing to organize any investment promotion activities, these astute and well-informed business organizations will soon automatically arrive in Jiujiang and begin to seize the local market.
Ning Zijing's words to Lu Congshan were less of an admonition and more of a well-intentioned reminder. Local businesses like Lufaxing, if they didn't prepare in advance, could very well be swallowed up completely by these commercial giants flooding into Jiujiang.
However, he did not want Lu Congshan to focus too much on private affairs. Now that he had just taken over Jiujiang, he needed Lu Congshan's assistance in many government affairs. How could he put private business above official business?
Ning Zijing didn't want to be too harsh. If Lu Congshan still wouldn't listen or didn't grasp the spirit of the matter, then they would have to consider replacing Lu Congshan with someone else.
On the fifth day after Haihan took over Jiujiang City, the newly appointed government finally announced Ning Zijing's policy plan, which was publicly posted in Jiujiang City and several subordinate counties in the form of proclamations to inform the public. In addition to the measures mentioned above, there was also a provision regarding public security. Based on the time Haihan took over Jiujiang City, cases that had been concluded by various government offices before that time would be judged according to the Ming Dynasty Code. However, cases investigated and prosecuted after Haihan's takeover would be judged according to Haihan's Code. Furthermore, a special court would be established within the year to handle and judge public security cases, separating related matters from the government offices.
Compared to the Ming Dynasty Code, which consisted of 30 volumes and 460 articles, the Haihan Code, formulated by professionals such as Gu Kai, was more comprehensive and forward-looking, covering all aspects of society and providing more detailed and specific punitive measures for various illegal acts.
Judging from the past law enforcement practices within Haihan, the new legal system would clearly be more effective in maintaining order in this era. Its status is similar to that of the education system; it is one of the governing tools that Haihan must implement in newly conquered territories, and also an indispensable condition for establishing an industrial society.
Although Haihan peacefully took over Jiujiang Prefecture without large-scale armed conflict or civilian exodus, some of the chaos that occurred during the dynastic change still inevitably appeared here. Soon after the government offices reopened, many people arrived demanding justice from the authorities.
Among them were victims who were robbed along the way by the rebel army during their retreat from Jiujiang, people who were swindled out of money by people impersonating government officials, and others who claimed to have been wronged and wanted the newly arrived Prefect of Haihan to overturn their wrongful convictions.
Since the court was still in the process of being established, and Ning Zijing could not turn away all these people, he could only set aside some time to handle these cases.
However, due to his lack of experience, this was not his forte. He had read the Hai Han Law, but he was far from being familiar enough to use it fluently, let alone apply it to adjudicating cases.
Fortunately, he held a high position of power, so even if the trial process was a bit slow, no one complained. On the contrary, the public felt that although this new official looked young, he handled cases with maturity and composure, and was not rash.
Ning Zijing knew perfectly well that with his current efficiency, he couldn't finish even a few cases in a day. He wanted Lu Congshan to preside over the cases, but Lu Congshan knew absolutely nothing about Haihan Law and was certainly not up to the task.
Having just announced that all cases would be handled according to the Haihan Code, they couldn't very well contradict themselves by having Lu Congshan use the Ming Code to adjudicate cases again.
Left with no other option, he could only seek help from Nanjing by sending a telegram to Tao Hongfang, asking him to transfer several judges with strong professional skills from nearby Nanjing to provide assistance.
Tao Hongfang responded quickly, promising to mobilize the necessary team of judges from Jiujiang to provide reinforcements in the near future, which put Ning Zijing at ease.
Tao Hongfang's reply also included another piece of information, which was somewhat related to Jiujiang.
Just three days after their group took over Jiujiang Prefecture in the northern part of Jiangxi, Ganzhou Prefecture in the southern part of Jiangxi also announced its change of allegiance to Haihan.