Chongzhen asked: "Hong'er, Jiong'er, have you concluded that Lu Zhenfei and Kang Wanwan are colluding?"
"Definitely." Zhu Cijiong said without hesitation, "Lu Zhenfei first sold 500,000 shi of grain to Kang Wanwan at a price of 9 liang per shi, which was lower than the market price, and then sold 1.5 liang of grain to Kang Wanwan at a price that was significantly higher than the market price.
If I buy back these 50 shi of grain, I will not believe it if there is no connection between them."
At this time, Zhu Cixi suddenly said: "Father, I understand."
"Brother, what do you understand?" Zhu Cijiong asked, stunned for a moment.
Zhu Cixiang said: "One of the eight prefectures in the south of the Yangtze River has an annual quota of 4 million shi of grain sent to the capital. This year's grain shipment was supposed to be delivered at the beginning of the year, but due to the bandits' capture of Henan, the water transportation was interrupted, and the first batch of 400,000 shi of grain was stranded.
In Yangzhou, the remaining 3.6 million stones of grain have not yet been recovered."
"Later, the news of the fall of the capital reached Jiangnan, so there was no need to send the grain to the capital."
"It just so happened that at this time, the border troops from the three towns of Gao Jie, Liu Zeqing and Liu Liangzuo all fled to the Jiangbei state capitals. In order to stabilize the three towns, the officials in the capital led by Shi Kefa decided to sell off 4 million stone grains and exchange them for discounts to prepare for rewards.
Jun, this matter was told by Gao Hongtu, the Minister of Household Affairs in Nanjing, to my father, there shouldn’t be any lies.”
"The 3.6 million taels of silver were also told by Gao Hongtu himself to his father."
"In other words, the price of 9 yuan per stone was agreed upon by the officials in the capital, not Lu Zhenfei's arbitrary decision."
"So at least at this moment, Kang Shaojing spent 450,000 taels of silver to purchase 500,000 shi of grain, which can be said to have solved the court's urgent need. Not only was it no fault, it actually made a great contribution!"
"Yeah." Chongzhen praised, "The analysis makes sense."
Zhu Cijiong said unconvinced: "That Lu Zhenfei spent 1.5 taels and one stone to buy back the grain, there is always something wrong with that, right? And it is also true that Kang Wanwan earned the court 300,000 taels of silver every time he went in and out, right?"
"Third brother, don't be impatient. Listen to me analyze it slowly." Zhu Cihong smiled and added, "Lu Zhenfei spent 1.5 taels and one stone to buy back Caoliang from Kang Shaojing. It seems like he suffered a loss, but in fact he was not."
"Isn't this a loss?" Zhu Cijiong said, "It's a big loss, okay?"
"In fact, we are not at a loss." Zhu Cixiang said, "Let the grain merchants transport the grain to Shanyang, and then purchase the grain directly from the grain merchants at a price of 1.5 taels per dan. The final cost is only 1.5 taels per dan."
"But if we still follow the imperial court's plan, we will purchase grain from various prefectures in the south of the Yangtze River."
"Even if we buy it at a flat price of 1 tael per shi, after excluding the drift, the final grain sent to Shanyang is only half a shi, which means that the actual price is 2 taels per shi, which is more expensive!"
"I believe that Lubutang must have calculated this account clearly, so he purchased grain directly from the grain merchants."
"But I didn't expect that this move would directly offend the Jiangnan officialdom. Because the officials in the eight prefectures and states in Jiangnan had no chance to earn profits from it, how could they not be upset? That's why so many censors impeached Lubu Tang
.”
"What's more important is that Lu Zhenfei broke the rules." Chongzhen added, "He skipped the cabinet prime minister! That's why he was besieged by the imperial censor, or Huang Jiarui was cunning and threw this hot potato to him
Lu Zhenfei himself stayed out of the matter, and Lu Zhenfei was also upright and only wanted to transport more grain to the front line, so he just did what he wanted to do."
"But, it's true that Kang earned 300,000 taels from a million blood, right?" Zhu Cijiong was still a little unconvinced.
"But they are operating a legitimate business, so what's wrong with making money?" Chongzhen said, "Jiong'er, you can't imitate your great grandfather. Because businessmen make a lot of money, they become jealous and slaughter them as fat pigs."
"If you think businessmen are making too much money and want to restrict them, that's fine."
"But you can't use the power in your hands to plunder other people's property. This is called breaking the rules."
"Have you forgotten what my father just told you yesterday? Those in higher positions must learn to revere, revere the way of heaven, revere the rules, and use the power in their hands with caution." Chongzhen said, "It is easy to accuse Kang Wanwan and confiscate it.
His family assets can at least cover two months of military pay on the Xuzhou front line, but that’s not how things work.”
"If businessmen are operating legally, their property should be protected."
Speaking of this meal, Chongzhen said again: "What's more, my father pointed out that these businessmen contributed taxes."
"What? Let businessmen contribute taxes?" Zhu Cijiong said, "Father, you want to levy business tax? Those civil servants should go crazy again, they will never agree to your levying business tax."
Chongzhen continued, minding his own business: "Hong'er, Jiong'er, do you know how much the annual income was during the Chunxi reign of the Southern Song Dynasty? It was more than 100 million taels! According to comparable prices, it is equivalent to 100 million taels today!"
"And how much will we earn next year? According to comparable prices, it will only be 30 million taels at most!"
"The territory of the Southern Song Dynasty was similar to the current territory of the Ming Dynasty. Why was there such a big difference in taxes?"
"One of the most important reasons is that business flourished in the Southern Song Dynasty, and business taxes contributed more than 80% of the tax revenue. That's why my father said that there would be no stability without farmers, and no wealth without business!"
"That's why we say that the legitimate interests of businessmen must also be protected."
"Just as the imperial court protects the people, farmers, and craftsmen."
"Although scholars, farmers, industrialists, and merchants have high or low status, they are essentially the people of the Ming Dynasty. So as a king and father, he should protect the interests of all his people."
While talking, Li Ruolian returned to the camp again.
Chongzhen waved Li Ruolian over and asked, "Has everything been done?"
"It's all done." Li Ruolian said, "All the 800,000 shi of grain gathered at the Shanyang Canal Wharf have been purchased and will be delivered to Xuzhou soon. There is no need to transport troops. The grain merchants will be responsible for delivering it to Xuzhou themselves."
Chongzhen nodded and said solemnly: "Li Ruolian, this matter has been revealed. Don't let it happen again. Remember, you are not a civil servant, but my retainer and the commander of the Jinyi Guard!"
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! "Yes, I have written it down." Li Ruolian breathed a sigh of relief.
Watching Li Ruolian leave, Zhu Cihong and Zhu Cijiong were a little confused. What's going on?
Why couldn't they understand the conversation between father and Li Ruolian just now?
Chongzhen explained patiently: "The civil service group has been in the officialdom for a long time and is far more vicious than you think. What they set up for Lu Zhenfei this time is a dead end. If they can't kill Lu Zhenfei with my knife,
They are likely to try to create chaos, causing the grain ship to capsize, or even directly setting fire to it. If Lu Zhenfei cannot raise food, he will still be dead."
Zhu Cixiang continued: "But my father only asked Li Ruolian to send a word and he broke this deadlock!"
Chongzhen nodded and said: "In the final analysis, they first thought about breaking the rules. They ignored the life and death of the 28 frontier soldiers and millions of refugees on the Xuzhou front line. They only focused on launching party struggles and excluding dissidents. This is unruly! They
If you don't obey the rules first, don't blame me for not obeying the rules and causing a big prison!"
Zhu Cihong seemed to gain something after hearing this, but Zhu Cijiong looked confused after hearing this.
Behind a simple sentence, there is such a complicated confrontation hidden?
"Wang Daban." Chongzhen waved Wang Chengen over again and said, "Go and notify Hu Guozhu to break camp. We will go south tonight!"
"Old slave, take the order." Wang Chengen turned around and left.
Zhu Cixiang said, "Father, don't you plan to see Lu Butang again?"
"It's gone." Chongzhen said, "Let him go about his business in peace. The most important thing is to transport the grain to Xuzhou."
After a pause, Chongzhen continued: "But what you said, Xuan'er, reminds me that I don't need to see Lu Zhenfei, but that Kang Wanwan is still worth meeting."
"Kang Baiwan?" Zhu Cijiong asked, "What did your father do when he saw him?"
"Of course it's to build a good relationship." Chongzhen sighed and said, "Speaking of this, we have to mention the two pits your great ancestor dug back then. First, he exiled the wealthy businessman Shen Wansan, and then he banned people from entering the sea. So we always
The image and reputation of the Zhu family in the minds of businessmen is really not good."
…
The reputation of Lao Zhu's family among businessmen is really bad.
Therefore, after receiving Chongzhen's oral instructions, Kang Shaojing even handed over his will to his old servant. In the will, Kang Shaojing divided his property.
After the arrangements were made, Kang Shaojing put on an old cloth and came to see Chongzhen.
Kang Shaojing originally thought that Chongzhen came to him to settle the bill for the grain. After all, he made a difference of 6 yuan.
However, what Kang Shaojing never expected was that after the audience, Chongzhen never mentioned the matter of delivering grain, but instead chatted with him about business matters.
While chatting, the topic of knives came up.
Chongzhen asked: "There is a Zhang Da Dog Scissors Shop in Yangzhou City. Has Kang Weng heard of it?"
"I've heard of it," Kang Shaojing said, "This is a shop that specializes in scissors and kitchen knives. The quality of the knives is excellent, and its reputation in Yangzhou Prefecture is also excellent."
Zhu Cijiong asked: "Why such a name?"
Kang Shaojing said: "Because the shopkeeper's name is Zhang Dagou, he thought it was not elegant enough, so he changed it to Zhang Dagou."
"Zhang Da Quan, Zhang Da Quan, what's the difference between these two names?" Zhu Cijiong said with a smile, "They all have the same tone."
Chongzhen said: "But I heard that the quality of the kitchen knives made by Zhang Da Quan Scissors Shop is really good. When Gao Jie invaded Yangzhou, a thief once climbed up the city wall, but was cut off by a cook with Zhang Da Quan Scissors Shop's kitchen knife.
Waist knife, is this true or false?"
"It's true, ordinary people still recognize that cook." Kang Shaojing, "He is a chef from Qing Yu Tang. His knife skills are outstanding in the whole of Yangzhou, and he also has the large kitchen knife he used at that time."
"This is really happening." Chongzhen said, "It seems that I have to go to this scissor shop when I have time."
After chatting with Chongzhen for a long time, Kang Shaojing's vigilance dropped, and he said casually: "Actually, it's nothing. The waist knife of the Bingzhan Bureau is made of ordinary wrought iron, and it has hardly been forged, and Zhang Daquan Scissor Shop
The kitchen knife is made of fine iron and has been repeatedly forged dozens of times. There is no comparison between the two."
