"The ability of Shanxi merchants to start a business is directly related to three people." Zhang Shize took a bite of food and continued.
"Which three people."
"The first one was Emperor Taizu. At that time, food was scarce on the northern border and there was not enough local military supplies. Food needed to be transported from the interior. There were too many troops stationed in the north at that time, estimated at 500,000 to 600,000 people, and most of these people were from the south.
People are the army that Taizu started."
"Transporting grain is too laborious. When one cart of grain is transported to the northern frontier, it takes three carts of grain to be eaten by the people transporting it on the road. If this continues, the country's finances are ruined. Later, Taizu wanted to farm locally. But by my court
The climate in the north is too cold and dry. The harvest from an acre of dry land is only three to five bushels. In a disaster year, you may not even be able to harvest the seeds."
"The south was a land of plenty, and the officers and soldiers were unwilling to settle down and take root in the north. It was too hard in the north, so they fled one after another. Later, too many people ran away, and there was no other way. I thought of learning from the Song Dynasty and developed a method of opening up the middle."
Yang Fan still knows about opening the Chinese method.
The "Kaizhong Method" is mainly divided into three steps. The first step is for the merchants to transport the grain to the designated location. The second step is for the merchants to go to the salt field to exchange for salt based on the vouchers obtained from transporting the grain. The third step is to transfer the salt
Sold to designated areas.
If you want to run a particularly profitable salt industry, you have to deliver food to the northern military towns, otherwise you won't be allowed to do it.
This time, the military food problem in the northern military town was solved in one fell swoop.
This means that transporting grain itself is not profitable, but bundling this business with a business that makes a lot of money. If you want to buy a TV, you must build a radio.
Yang Fan nodded. There are always more solutions than difficulties. This is equivalent to using the profits from the salt industry to supplement military rations. The profits of the salt merchants were reduced and subsidized into the military rations.
"There are quite a few people willing to do this kind of business, so why did it fall into the hands of Shanxi people?" Yang Fan asked.
"Originally, there are salt ponds in Yuncheng, Shanxi. It is more convenient to have local resources. They have salt in their hands, otherwise they would not be able to take on this good job. Originally, the salt industry was dominated by sea salt from Yangzhou, and Shanxi merchants could not compete with the southern business groups.
.However, they have a geographical advantage."
"Xuanfu Town and Datong Town are in Shanxi." Yang Fan immediately understood how Shanxi merchants got this matter into his own hands.
In the early Ming Dynasty, four towns were first established in the north, among which Xuanfu Town and Datong Town were in Shanxi. The important towns of Jiubian were gradually formed later.
"Yes, they are local and have an advantage over others by having a good relationship with the local garrison. The local garrison must be inseparable from the support of the local government and gentry. They must also have a good relationship with the local powerful. After all, they are on their own territory.
Woolen cloth."
This is also easy to understand. The army is not indifferent to the fireworks of the world, and the same is true for future generations. Military wives have employment, children go to school, get medical treatment, and buy food and vegetables. Many times they have to deal with the local people, otherwise life will be a problem.
Military towns often take the initiative to interact with local officials, gentry, powerful people, and big landowners. The two sides hit it off immediately, and it is normal for Shanxi people to take over this business.
Wouldn't a strong dragon overwhelm a local snake? In the Ming Dynasty, the Shanxi clan was so powerful that other business groups could not defeat the locals in this territory.
Therefore, from the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, as soon as the Chinese law was implemented, they got on the bus, leading step by step.
Shanxi merchants developed from this.
After all, the salt industry is a hugely profitable industry. Their interests are closely intertwined with those of the border troops, and they control the Yuncheng Salt Pond. All they need to do is knock out the grain, and that will be perfect.
"The grain business is very special. This thing is very profitable." Yang Fan took a sip of wine and said. He bought a large amount of grain from modern times and sent it here. He knows the tricks here better than anyone else. He is a big grain merchant.
Grain is different from ordinary commodities. Once it is made, it will be in bulk or extra bulk. You can't afford it without capital. A pound of grain is worth a few cents in profit. If you make a few cents in profit, it will be very considerable.
.Because the quantity is too large.
Whether it's grain or salt, once it's done, it's a hugely profitable industry. What's more, they have added a monopoly, so the profits will be even greater.
Add grain and salt, and if you play it well, it will be a king.
"Eating alone is the most hated thing. The Shanxi merchants were able to control it for two hundred years, I'm afraid they used a lot of extraordinary methods." Yang Fan sneered.
"Hey, those old scoundrels are ruthless. Once they enter Shanxi, the mountain bandits, horse bandits, and even the beggars and ruffians in the city who can stand up all rely on Shanxi merchants to survive. Otherwise, they can survive overnight.
The time will disappear.”
"You want to come to Shanxi to do business. The government is colluding with them, the border troops are colluding with them. These lawless gangsters are raised by them. Who do you think would dare to come looking for death?" Zhang Shize sneered.
"Can't we also enter the business of nobles and relatives of the emperor? Are these people so xenophobic and domineering to this extent?" Yang Fan asked.
"It won't prevent you from coming in. In short, nobles and other civil servants, relatives of the emperor, and princes of the clan will also allow you to come in. It will give you a face, and everyone will have a chance to step in. But you won't make much money.
"Don't even think about the core business." Zhang Shize's tone was obviously sour. It can be seen that Xungui Group still has strong opinions on Shanxi merchants.
"I'm afraid these alone are not enough. This Ming Dynasty is not what they say." Yang Fan said after considering it.
At this time, the cook came in again to serve food.
"Eight bowls of Yu County, please take your time, two adults." The fat cook announced the names of the dishes, "Silk chowder, stir-fried meat, steamed pork, tiger skin meatballs, chunk chowder, fried chicken, steamed meatballs, silver tripe."
A group of girls aged fourteen or fifteen served eight plates of dishes in a steady stream.
The troupe on the ground was also playing and singing, and an iconic little lady was singing Hebei Bangzi.
Zhang Shize's eyes were so lustful that they never left him. He even made a clicking sound in his mouth. His body and waist were so strong.
What she sang should be regarded as Zhangjiakou Sai Opera, a type of Hebei Bangzi.
Commonly known as Saisaiban, also called Wangbaban. It is a local opera type in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province.
This form of opera has died out since the Republic of China. Yang Fan has never seen it in later generations.
The plays performed are similar to the big plays in general local operas, including "Foyin Temple", "The Imperial Statement", etc.
Yang Fan glanced at him speechlessly. This guy had a sperm in his head. He had turned into a thinking animal with his lower body.
"This troupe has quite a few decent young ladies. How about we break up the party and leave a few behind?"
"Forget it, you can do it yourself, I'll go back and have a good sleep."
"You just can't let go, and your wife is not around. What are you afraid of? You are not short of money."
"I'm so scared. The girls at home are going crazy thinking about children. They torture me in different ways all day long, and I can feel relieved when I come out. If I have that time, I might as well go back to sleep." Yang Fan was bored.
said.
"Let's talk about business, who are the two remaining decisive figures?" Yang Fan said. This bastard didn't talk about women for three days, and he did it early on the fourth day. Yang Fan knew him very well, and his behavior was clear.
"One is Wang Chonggu, the other is Zhang Siwei"
Yang Fan took a breath, it turned out to be the two of them.
