One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty One Don’t be reckless
Just a rumor made all the merchants in the capital nervous.
All of a sudden, the restaurant's business surged again, and there were merchants everywhere who wanted to get inside information from the imperial court.
Merchants have no choice but to be anxious. This is a life-threatening matter!
In just a few days, before the merchants could find out the news, the General Affairs Department issued an official document officially announcing that the imperial court would borrow money from the merchants to build the railway track to Xuzhou.
As soon as this news came out, merchants in the capital were immediately frightened to the extreme. Many of them abandoned their family business and fled with their families that day.
They don't know where they can escape, but now they only have one idea in their minds.
Go quickly! Leave the capital, as long as you leave the capital, no matter where you go!
Wang Yuanji was waiting for news in the political room. Although he had heard in the past few days that merchants seemed to be a little reluctant to lend money to the court, he felt that the court did not lend their money in vain and had to pay interest. Those merchants should
Will come.
But he waited and waited, and the longer he waited, the less smile appeared on his face, and the longer he waited, the more he began to murmur in his heart.
"What's going on? Why aren't there any merchants willing to lend money? Can't they even be impressed by the interest?"
Although the annual profit of 15% is indeed not high, it doesn't mean that there are not even a single merchant, right?
Wang Yuanji's face turned completely serious at some point. He couldn't wait any longer and shouted out the door, "Here comes someone!"
"Sir!" An official walked in quickly and saluted with his hands in hand.
Wang Yuanji asked in a serious tone, "Is there no news yet?"
"Hui" the official looked a little embarrassed, lowered his head and gritted his teeth and replied "Hui sir, not yet"
As if afraid of Wang Yuanji's censure, the official quickly added, "As soon as there is news, I will come immediately to report to you."
Wang Yuanji sighed slightly in his heart, waved his hands and said, "Go down."
"yes."
If the official is granted amnesty, he will turn around and walk out of the room.
But before he could finally take a step out, an official suddenly ran in and said angrily, "Sir!"
Wang Yuanji's face darkened, and he could guess that there would be unexpected bad results without asking.
"What's wrong?" he said in a deep voice.
The official did not speak, but first glanced at the person who was about to go out just now.
The man suddenly came back to his senses and quickly bowed to Wang Yuanji, "I'll excuse you."
Wang Yuanji nodded slightly.
After this person left, the official who came in later said anxiously, "Sir, I just got the news that all the merchants of all sizes in the capital are raising their families."
Leave. My lord, if we don’t think of a way to keep them here, I’m afraid they will all run away.”
Wang Yuanji's expression paused, and he tightened his fingers tightly in his sleeves. He raised his eyes to look at the official and said, "Keep it? How to keep it?"
"Sir, I thought I could ask the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division to intercept them immediately. It's not too late to give the order now!" The official directly suggested without thinking. In his opinion, as long as the city gates are sealed in time, those merchants will be able to stop them immediately.
You can't escape even if you have wings!
But Wang Yuanji knows better that city gates can lock people in, but they cannot lock people's hearts!
Why are these merchants fleeing the capital desperately now? Isn't it because they are afraid of the imperial court? If people are sent to lock them in the city again, it will make the merchants even more panic-stricken.
Wang Yuanji glanced at the official coldly and said angrily, "Don't you still think the capital is not lively enough?"
"Sir! I'm going to go down, go down." Under Wang Yuanji's gaze, the official's voice became softer and softer, and his head lowered lower and lower.
After a few breaths, I don't know where the official got the courage. He suddenly raised his head and said, "Sir, there are not many merchants fleeing the capital now. We can still borrow enough money from the merchants after closing the city gate. If we continue to hesitate and wait for those officials
How can we raise the money to build the railway tracks if we run away with nothing?"
While Wang Yuanji was deep in thought, he let the official talk nonsense. When he came to his senses, he immediately shouted "Enough!"
When the official was stopped, he felt relieved. Anyway, he had put forward his opinion and showed his talent. As for the chief minister not to adopt it, that is his business.
Officials at the highest level crush people to death, so in this case, there will be no fault of the officials.
This is called, the following overcomes the superior!
Sure enough, Wang Yuanji did not punish the official in any way. After all, such a small mistake was not enough to punish him.
"I know, please go down. Remember, you can't say anything about closing the city gate again."
"Yes, I understand." After the official bowed and saluted, he said goodbye and left. Looking at his back, he seemed to be slapping his butt and leaving.
A large number of merchants left the capital. Others could ignore it, but Wang Yuanji had to take care of it.
After pondering, Wang Yuanji was still prepared to use gentle means.
"Here comes someone."
"My lord, please give me your instructions."
Wang Yuanji raised his head and said in a soft tone, "Send people to find those storytellers and reveal to them the information about how the imperial court plans to borrow money from merchants."
Let them publicize it in the shortest possible time, especially to those merchants."
The official did not agree immediately, but slowly straightened up, looking hesitant.
"What? Do you have something to say?" Wang Yuanji's mood gradually improved and he asked softly.
The official nodded slowly and asked in confusion, "Sir, I don't understand. Now those merchants are desperately trying to escape from the capital. I'm afraid they will all be gone within a day or two at most. Even if we let people reveal the news,
It's too late! The merchants have all fled, and they can't hear the news, so what's the use?"
Wang Yuanji burst into laughter and said without any haste, "Because merchants don't understand the court's plans, they will think about the worst-case scenario. As long as the court can explain it clearly to them in time, I think some people will understand."
"As for the merchants you mentioned, all the merchants have fled and no one will listen. You don't have to worry about that."
The official agreed with Wang Yuanji's view, but he still didn't understand why the adults weren't worried about all the merchants in the capital running away.
Seeing the doubts on his subordinates' faces, Wang Yuanji smiled and joked, "These merchants are running in such a hurry, do you think they can take away all the industry in the capital?"
"This is impossible!" The official shook his head immediately.
"Isn't this it?" Wang Yuanji said with a smile very fast, "These industries account for at least half of their net worth. How can they just give up? The reason why they fled the capital in such a hurry was just on impulse.
It's just an act. When they calm down, as long as they see that everything is normal in the court and there is no intention to arrest them, I am afraid some people will be unable to help but return to the capital. Even if they still have concerns and refuse to come back, at least
They will also stay around the capital."
"When they stay near the capital, what they want to know most is what is happening inside the capital. They will definitely send people to inquire about the news in the capital. Do you think it is useful for us to reveal the news at this time?"
The officials were dumbfounded. Yes, although those merchants were all said to be worth millions, most of their wealth was in their houses and shops, and there were not many real gold, silver, jewelry and banknotes.
They fled in such a hurry that all they could take with them was gold and silver.
"I understand, I will do it now."
The situation was indeed as Wang Yuanji expected. After the merchants fled the capital, they only ran around for a few days before some of them began to feel overwhelmed.
These businessmen may have been able to endure this hardship before they became successful, but after they become successful and pampered, how can they still travel around day after day? These people are almost all far away from the capital.
Stop where you are on your journey.
"Master, take a rest quickly, we have to go on our way." A steward said to the merchant.
The merchant was so tired that he was out of breath. He was panting heavily and said angrily, "That's enough. If you continue on your way, sir, I will be exhausted if you don't get caught by the court. Let's take a rest here today."
Let’s talk tomorrow.”
The housekeeper stared at his master dumbfounded. He didn't know what was going on with him. He was the one who clearly wanted everyone to run away, but now it's the master who doesn't want to run anymore. What is he trying to do?
Seeing the master's angrily turned back, the butler shook his head helplessly and had no choice but to follow. Anyway, the master had the final say, and whatever he said would be done.
The next day, the merchant woke up after a peaceful sleep, frowning, but even more unwilling to continue running.
He stretched out his hand to call the butler over.
The butler thought that the master was about to set off, so he quickly said in advance, "Sir, the carriage is ready. We can set off at any time."
"Start? What journey?" The merchant lowered his head and frowned, saying with dissatisfaction.
The housekeeper felt numb all of a sudden. He shook his hands anxiously and said, "Master, don't we still have to hurry?"
"Why are we on our way? Master, I won't leave." The merchant waved his hand resolutely.
"Ah?" the housekeeper exclaimed, and for a moment he didn't understand what his master had planned.
The merchant didn't care so much and didn't bother to explain to the housekeeper. He directly ordered, "You! Send someone to the capital immediately to find out what the court's preparations are. If you find out, come and report immediately."
The merchant felt that he had been wronged so much that he was so frightened that he ran away just because of a piece of unfounded news. It was very embarrassing!
"Yes." The housekeeper saw that the master looked unkind and did not dare to argue, so he quickly agreed.
A few days later, the housekeeper came to report the news as soon as possible.
"Sir, great news!"
"What's the news? Whether it's good or bad, tell me quickly!" The merchant had a fat face and his eyes looked small. But at this moment, he tried his best to widen his eyes.
The steward quickly replied, "Sir, many people in the capital are saying that the imperial court sincerely wants to borrow money from you this time, and the interest offered is also genuine."
"Oh? Is your news accurate? Could it be that the imperial court deliberately released the news to lure us into a trap?" The merchant was very cautious.
However, after hearing the news about the housekeeper that day, I was secretly relieved for no reason.