Of course, no matter how it changes or expands, Corning will not lose the business that made it famous. Cooperation with the government and management of relationships with powerful people require a lot of money to maintain every year.
In the past twenty years, Kang Ning's retinue team has always maintained its organization. Instead of disbanding, it has grown stronger. Caravans with flags with the word "Kang" can be seen almost everywhere, covering the east, west, north and south of the Han Dynasty.
It is no secret that there are tens of thousands of people who rely on Kang Daguan for food and clothing. Of course, this kind of personal dependence, which mainly relies on business, is not that reliable. It is not easy to support so many people. Unless you have money,
We still need food and meat.
Many merchants in the Han Dynasty, once they were successful in their business and earned a certain amount of profits, they couldn't help but buy fields and land, which fully demonstrated their greed for land. Kangning was not exempt from this custom. His hometown of Yuzhou was bound to have industry and land.
There are thousands of acres of pasture in Shanyang Circle, and many servants are employed in it, but this only accounts for a small part.
The group of people who followed Corning came from many sources and had complex compositions, but under Corning's leadership, most of them had one characteristic, that is, they were wolfish and were accustomed to "eating meat."
When the country became more stable and the Han Dynasty gradually stopped expanding, the Kang family did not stop. On the contrary, they spontaneously developed outward, especially in overseas trade.
Among the first people and forces to engage in "armed colonization" in Nanyang, there was the Kang family. Of course, in hindsight, the Kang family's overseas journey was somewhat coincidental.
Initially it was for the spice trade, and later for precious metals such as gold and silver. At that time, Kang Ning secretly opened several silver mines in Hunan and made a lot of profits. This was naturally illegal, especially after the imperial court carried out currency reforms.
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However, due to the corruption in Huazhou headed by Honorable Zhang Jin, it also led to Zhao Kuangmei's private opening of silver mines, which caused an uproar. The imperial court also used this to crack down on private gold and silver mines in various places.
Even Rong Guogong's younger brother couldn't save him, and he even surrendered himself. Although Kangning's business was huge, he couldn't handle it. He took the initiative to cut off his arm to survive, handed over his private mines to the court, and spent a lot of money to give money to the Central Plains.
The flood victims donated a large sum of money to survive the flood, which was also the most dangerous time in Corning's business career.
But as a businessman, the most outstanding characteristic is the pursuit of profits, the crazy pursuit of profits, especially after tasting the benefits. Although mining is hard, it is definitely a huge profit. Domestic policies are strict and there are many restrictions, but abroad, there is a vast sea and sky, and you can do whatever you want.
Its travels.
As a result, Kang Ning organized several groups of people to go to sea, and the footprints of the Kang family's caravan also moved to a wider world. When Guo Liangping attacked Srivijaya and captured Puluo Zhongdao, all the retinues and sailors of the Kang family's fleet were
They actively support and help us. In addition to logistical assistance, they even bring their own weapons and go ashore to fight and kill the enemy.
Of course, there is no loss in this process, and a few casualties are nothing. The benefits of the captured land and occupied mines are several times or even dozens of times. As many people feel, for the big Han's profit,
In terms of class, overseas is really too free, and you can use any means without fear of being criticized and liquidated...
In the past ten years or so, in addition to some gold and silver excavated and smelted locally, a large amount of gold and silver from overseas has poured into the Han Dynasty, which has also caused the price of silver to continue to fall. However, no matter how much it depreciates, one tael of silver can still be exchanged for 1,058 copper coins.
Although no matter whether it is gold, silver, or copper, when imported into the country, they were "exploited" by the imperial court and brutally slaughtered, but it was still a huge profit. And the cost was just to use some indigenous people to open mountains and mine, which was very cheap.
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Up to now, Corning has more than ten gold and silver mines, large and small, overseas. The silver output alone is nearly 20,000 kilograms per year, which is almost more than the income of the banking supervisor set up by the imperial court in Hunan.
Kang Ning kept secret about many gold and silver mine harvests. Most of the mining proceeds were hidden by him and he did not dare to expose them. There were too many and it was scary. Even Kang Daguan had a childish attitude.
The feeling of holding gold to get through the bustling city.
However, this can no longer be concealed. There are many people engaged in mining business overseas. Even if colleagues in the industry cannot figure it out for a while, they can still estimate that the mine can be mined for at least several years or even ten years, and its value is absolutely
Not small.
At the same time, Kang Ning is also involved in gold and silver-rich places like Goryeo and Japan. Of course, this requires cooperation with the powerful elites of the two countries to serve as a passerby and earn a "handling fee." The Kang family has caravans all over the world.
The advantage in trade circulation is really not small.
Whether it is due to great vision or luck, Corning has always been walking on the right path over the past few decades. Even if there are ups and downs, it can always be overcome in the end.
Nowadays, Kang Ning can be regarded as successful. In terms of fame, he is famous all over the world. His decades of "legendary career" have made him a role model for businessmen all over the world. In terms of wealth, not to mention being as rich as the country, with millions in his pocket.
Definitely; in terms of influence, if you include the overseas indigenous slaves, 100,000 people would eat at Kang Da officials; in terms of status, most of the powerful families of the Han Dynasty can visit them as guests, and even His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will visit them in person.
I met him and listened to him talk about his experiences and gains in overseas colonization...
Life has been so glorious, but Kang Ning is still not satisfied. He has a lot of money and fame, but it is precisely because the smell of copper is so strong that he has been criticized and despised, although he himself is also aware of the source of many of the targets.
Just out of jealousy.
However, the more something is lacking, the more something is wanted. In the Han Dynasty, it is obvious that you do not have money to do whatever you want. This is a hierarchical and almost harsh society. Although it is called "Kang Daguanren", there is no fame in it.
, are still essentially commoners. The social status of merchants has improved in recent years, but it is still limited. In the eyes of many scholars, they are still inferior to those handicraftsmen and farmers.
Even if you have millions of dollars, many behaviors are restricted. Some clothes cannot be worn, some cars cannot be ridden, and some etiquette cannot be performed. If you do it, you will exceed the rules. The greater your fame, the more tightly you will be targeted.
Therefore, behind the scenery, Kang Ning is actually very depressed, especially in his heart, he is full of unwillingness. Therefore, in the past twenty years, what he has been pursuing is no longer wealth, but how to go further and how to become rich and noble.
The more wealth is accumulated, the clearer it becomes that in the Han Dynasty, wealth without the support of power is so fragile, just like a building on the beach, it will be blown away by the wind. In the past few decades, we have also seen too many wealthy businessmen.
The big businessman was slaughtered like a pig by the imperial court...
Kang Ning once had a chance. He was introduced to the side of the curtain by Zhong Mo, who was the chief envoy of Jiangxi Province at the time. Later, he was recommended to participate in politics. Due to the strength of the Kang family and his past contributions to the court, the Ministry of Civil Affairs also gave him permission.
Up and down, everyone was in harmony, sharing the grand occasion.
It was a pity that Emperor Liu later found out about this matter. It was impossible that Emperor Liu had not heard about the reputation of Kang Daguan. In his early years, he had even praised him for such a "righteous businessman".
However, when he learned about this, he smiled and said something disturbing: "Although the political advisor is not big, he is also an important member of the Taoist priests. I have heard that Kang Ning is very good at business.
The business is doing well, and becoming an official will make it easier for him to make money..."
Soon afterwards, Kang Ning lost his official position. Interestingly, it was Hechuan Bokang Yanze who secretly revealed Kang Ning's official position.