Mao Jingzu said with a wry smile: "Didn't the Wang and Hu families take over the business of transporting 600,000 shi of military rations to Yunnan last year? Although they lost money in the end, they have developed a relationship with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Water Conservancy and Grain Bank.
Therefore, you can buy grain at a low price from the Water Conservancy and Grain Bank by paying only part of the deposit."
Although the Ministry of Internal Affairs has clearly stated that Huguang's grain can only be purchased and sold by the Water Conservancy and Grain Bank, neither Huguang Grain nor the Nanzhi Grain Merchant took it seriously.
In Ming Dynasty, one cannot become a big businessman without some background.
For example, the Mao family, the Qian family and the Xu family are all deeply rooted families.
These aristocratic families can even pay back the commercial taxes ordered by the emperor, so how can they take a mere ban from the Ministry of Internal Affairs seriously? What a shame to you? They have no intention of doing business with the Water Conservancy and Food Bank, but directly from
Farmers in Huguang buy grain at low prices and can get the goods directly from the source. Why should they make the difference to middlemen?
Therefore, Qian Qianyi despises the Wang and Hu families in his heart. They cannot afford to buy grain directly from farmers. Why do you fight with big grain merchants like us?
"So what?" Qian Qianyi said disdainfully, "They can only buy grain from the Water Conservancy and Grain Bank, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs earns a price difference in the process. How low can the price be? Even if they only pay a part of the deposit
, how many stones of food can be bought with just one million taels of silver? Two million stones is the top, right?"
"It's not bad," Xu Er said. "The food shipped by the two families is almost two million dan."
"Then what are you panicking about?" Qian Qianyi said, "Why don't you just eat two million stones of food directly? Do you need to make a special trip to Banshan Hall?"
"Fourth brother, I'm afraid things are not that simple."
Qian Qianli said: "The Wang and Hu families only transported two million stones, but it does not mean that they only have two million stones in their hands. There are more than ten million stones of grain lying in the warehouse of the Water Conservancy and Grain Bank."
!”
"And there are even more terrifying things." Mao Jingzu whispered.
"The grain dominance of Huguang grain merchants has collapsed. Now the price of grain in Huguang has dropped to three yuan per stone, and it continues to fall."
"That's what they deserve." Qian Qianyi said with a snort.
"Who told them to live alone in the first place? If we, the Nanzhi grain merchants, were allowed to share a share of the pie, how could we be in today's situation? You guys are not allowed to lend them any money, or they will lose all their wealth."
Huguang's grain tyrants, the Qian family, the Mao family, and the Xu family also participated in it from the beginning.
But ever since the Huguang grain merchants clung to Wang Fuzhi, they were kicked away.
Although the three families were very angry, there was nothing they could do about it, because it was Huguang after all, and it was on their territory.
Mao Jingzu sighed and said: "Mr. Ge, we don't care about the life and death of the Huguang grain merchants, but we are worried about the intervention of the Ministry of Internal Affairs behind this matter?"
"What do you mean?" Qian Qianyi asked with a frown.
"Are you saying that it was people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs who broke the grain dominance of Huguang grain merchants?"
"That's probably the case," Xu Er said, "otherwise, who would be so capable?"
"That's not right." Qian Qianyi shook his head and said, "The Wang family is responsible for the food dominance in Huguang, and the Wang family's backer is Wang Fuzhi, a scholar from Hengshan who is a Qin prince. He is a general in the scholar camp."
"It's hard to say," Mao Jingzu said, "There are so many scholars in the scholar camp, so it is inevitable that there are factions."
Qian Qianli said: "If our guess is true and it is really a good thing done by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, then we must be careful, because after the Ministry of Internal Affairs breaks Huguang's grain dominance, it will be able to eat Huguang's surplus grain at a very low price, and then
If we can use Huguang's surplus grain to hit Nanzhi's plate, then I will be the next unlucky one."
"Yes." Xu Ersui clapped his hands and said, "Huguang has a surplus of 70 to 80 million shi. If the Ministry of Internal Affairs borrows the Wang and Hu families to transfer 10 to 20 million shi of grain to Nazhi, we will be in trouble."
Qian Qianyi frowned when he heard this. It was really possible.
At that moment, Qian Qianyi asked: "So you mean to ask me to go and find out something?"
"At this point, I'm afraid I have no choice but to leave it to you, Mr. Ge." Mao Jingzu sighed, "The wealth and lives of our three families and more than a hundred other families are all staked on this business, and we really can't afford to lose anything.
"
Qian Qianyi asked: "What if it turns out that the Ministry of Internal Affairs is indeed involved?"
"Then we can only stop the loss." Xu Er said, "Sell the grain now while there is still profit. Although our large-scale selling of grain will definitely cause the price of grain to plummet, it is better than losing it in your hands."
"Besides selling to stop losses, is there no other way?" Qian Qianyi was still a little unwilling.
"Of course there is a way." Mao Jingzu said with a wry smile, "As long as we have enough money in our hands to eat all the food shipped from Huguang, the price of food in Nanzhi will remain at a high level, and may even increase.
"High, even if we raise the price of grain to ten taels of silver per stone, we still have to buy what we should buy."
"I understand." Qian Qianyi said, "I will return to Nanjing now."
At that moment, Qian Qianyi left Banshan Hall and came to Hongdou Pavilion and said to Liu Rushi: "Madam, my husband has something urgent to go back to Nanjing. Are you going to stay in Changshu for a few more days, or are you going back to Nanjing with me?"
"But for food?" Liu Rushi's expression changed slightly.
"Master, didn't you say you wouldn't get involved? You wouldn't have participated too, right?"
"Madam, I thought this was a sure-fire business." Qian Qianyi smiled bitterly.
Hearing this, Liu Rushi's face became even more embarrassed: "Master, how much money did you invest in it?"
Qian Qianyi was quite fond of Liu Rushi and did not hide it: "A total of one million taels of silver was invested."
"What? One million taels?" Liu Rushi's pretty face suddenly turned pale, "Master, where did you get so much money? Our family doesn't have that much money, right?"
"Borrowed," Qian Qianyi said, "borrowed from various banks."
"Master, you are so confused." Liu Rushi stamped her feet and sighed, "Get out now before the price of food drops, and then pay back all the money you borrowed."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Qian Qianyi could not listen at all.
"Madam, once this business is completed, our family will have an income of one million taels."
"When the time comes, I will build a big garden for you, husband, and move all the precious flowers in the world into this garden. This big garden will be called the 'Wo Wen' garden."
"Master, I don't want a garden."
"Madam, wait for my good news."
…
The seventeenth day of the first lunar month, Yanziji Pier.
Chongzhen was standing on the dock watching the new troops lining up to board the ship.
Taking a boat on inland rivers and lakes is a completely different concept from taking a boat on the sea.
The sea is very windy and rough, and almost everyone will get seasick when they first arrive at sea. Therefore, it takes a certain amount of time to adapt to the seasickness and avoid seasickness.
Otherwise, by the time we get to Liaodong by boat, our legs will feel weak.
How can we still fight after we seize the beach and land? Do we spit on them?
"Long live the Lord." Wang Chengen held an oil-paper umbrella to cover Chongzhen's head, "It's raining."
Chongzhen looked up and saw that it was really drizzling: "Wang Daban, as of today, how many stones of grain have the Wang and Hu families transported to Nanjing?"
"About six million stones." Wang Chengen said.
"What about food prices?" Chongzhen asked with a dark face, "Are they still rising?"
Before New Year's Eve, the price of rice in Nanjing had risen to five taels, and during the Lantern Festival it had risen to six taels. This also strengthened the decision to sacrifice grain merchants in Nanjing. These profiteers really deserved to be killed.
Wang Chengen said: "It has stopped rising and is stable at six taels."
"It seems they are a little scared too." Chongzhen said coldly.
After saying this, he added: "But it's too late to be afraid now."
While he was talking, Gao Qiqian came over and reported, "Long live my Lord, Mr. Qian Ge wants to see you."
"Wang Daban, you see, you are here to test me." Chongzhen said, "In this case, I will give them a reassurance pill for free so that they can die more completely. Gao Banban, please
Come here, Mr. Ge."
In less than a moment, Gao Qiqian led Qian Qianyi to the dock to pay tribute to Chongzhen.
After the ceremony, Qian Qianyi said respectfully: "Your Majesty is truly a famous monarch, and he will not forget state affairs even when he takes a rest."
"Isn't Mr. Qian Ge also running for the country?" Chongzhen smiled and asked, "By the way, why is Mr. Ge anxious to see me?"
Qian Qianyi said: "Your Majesty, that's what happened. Last year, many farmlands in southern Zhili were converted to cotton, mulberry seedlings and wild rice, resulting in a much reduced rice production. As a result, the price of rice became more expensive, and it rose a year ago.
It reached one stone and fifty taels, and after the year it rose to one stone and sixty taels. If the price of rice remained high for a long time, I was worried that the people in the capital would not be able to afford food, so I took the liberty to ask for an audience, and begged the Holy Spirit to make an edict, and to come from Huguang in the name of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Adjust grain to stabilize rice prices."
"Lao Ge is concerned about the country and the people. He is truly a role model for all officials." Chongzhen praised.
"I am ashamed." Qian Qianyi's bones became lighter by four ounces, "This is all my responsibility."
"It's just that the matter of food prices is a bit complicated." Chongzhen said, "Mr. Ge, you also know that the Ministry of Internal Affairs is also strapped for money right now. Even last year's dividends were not paid."
"Yes, yes, the veteran is also aware of this situation." Qian Qianyi said, "During the cabinet discussions a year ago, the veteran also suggested to the Prime Minister that the Ministry of Accounts should lend a sum of money to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Unfortunately, at that time, the Minister of Accounts
The bank account didn’t have much money, so in the end the matter had to be left alone.”
"I understand Mr. Ge's wishes."
Chongzhen said: "So let's leave it like this regarding food prices."
Having said this, Qian Qianyi 'understood' that the Wang and Hu families were selling grain according to the order of the Holy Sage, and the Holy Sage also wanted to sell grain at a high price and did not want the price of food to fall.
Qian Qianyi was completely relieved.
However, a high profile on the surface is still necessary.
"Your Majesty, I am worried that the people in the capital will suffer from famine."
"No, Mr. Ge, you also know that the people in Beijing are not short of money now."
"It's true that so many workshops suddenly popped up last year. Almost every household has someone working in the workshop. They have indeed made a lot of money. There is no problem in sustaining it for a while."
"That being the case, I will retire." Qian Qianyi resigned and left.
"Your Majesty?" Qian Qianyi turned around after hearing the voice and looked at Chongzhen blankly.
Chongzhen said quietly: "I'm not greedy for more. Ten million shi is enough if I can sell it, but don't be too cruel. Just keep the price of rice at six taels. It can't go up any more. Just this price."
Qian Qianyi's heart trembled when he heard this.
It turns out that the Holy One knows everything.
…
When they got home, Qian Qianli, Mao Jingzu and Xu Ersu were already waiting for them.
"I have just met the Holy Master." Qian Qianyi breathed a sigh of relief and said, "The Wang and Hu families did go to Nanjing to sell grain according to the Holy Master's order."
"Ah? It's really the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
"This is going to be a little troublesome."
"Alas, it seems we have to stop the loss this time."
When Mao Jingzu and the other three heard this, they couldn't help but stamp their feet and sigh.
"Don't panic, you three." Qian Qianyi waved his hand and said, "The Wang and Hu families did follow the imperial decree to sell grain directly to the south, but the emperor has no intention of stabilizing the price of grain, because the Ministry of Internal Affairs is also short of money now.
"
"This..." Mao Jingzu and the others were stunned, they really didn't expect this.
After a long while, Qian Qianli asked: "Does that mean we can continue to eat?"
"Eat it all in." Qian Qianyi said, "Eat it all in. This is what the Master Ji is anxious to do."
"What Mr. Ge said is absolutely true." Mao Jingzu said with a smile, "After all, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is short of money."
"But how much money does the Ministry of Internal Affairs want to raise?" Xu Ersui frowned and said, "The surplus grain in Huguang is as much as 70 to 80 million shi. Can we handle it?"
"Not all of the 70 to 80 million stones can be mobilized."
"The Holy One made it clear that only ten million stones will be trafficked."
"However, the Holy Father also said that the price of rice cannot rise any further."
Qian Qianyi said solemnly: "If Xu Xiaoyou is worried, you can withdraw."
"No, no, Wan Jin never meant this." Xu Ersui shook his head repeatedly, "Wan Jin is just worried."
"Worry is inevitable, and I am also worried." Qian Qianyi said, "After all, all my savings during my decades as an official have been staked on this business. If I lose, I will throw myself into the lake."
After a pause, he added: "However, what the Holy Father said is still worthy of trust."
"What Mr. Ge said is absolutely true, and the words of His Majesty are worthy of belief." Mao Jingzu said, "After the Yangzhou Guarded Eunuch Office and the Nanjing Guarded Eunuch Office were confiscated, all the stolen money that had been stolen for more than ten years was returned in full."
Xu Er then wanted to say that there was a difference between the Holy Father's public commitment and his private commitment.
But Xu Ersui never said this, because the Xu family in Huating had no way out.
Not only the Xu family in Huating has no retreat, but also the Mao family in Rugao and the Qian family in Changshu.
The reason is very simple. If they follow suit and sell food, the price of food in Nanzhi will plummet in an instant. Not only will they offend the emperor, but they will also lose more than half of their capital.
Because the faster you sell, the harder the price falls, which is an endless cycle.
So the only thing they can do is to continue to eat four million stones.
When the Holy One and the Ministry of Internal Affairs have eaten enough meat, they will come to gnaw on the bones.
