In the Forbidden City, in the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youzheng was discussing with a group of ministers about raising military expenditures. The cabinet finally made the decision to go to war. If they wanted to fight, they would need a large amount of military expenditures to buy weapons, recruit soldiers, build fortresses and raise food and grass. This money I'm afraid I won't be able to get it if I don't have ten million taels of silver.
The conditions for fighting on the Western Front are no better than those on the Northern Front. When Liu Ziguang hits Beijing, there are sea ships from Shanghai to Tianjin to transport supplies. From Jiangnan to Shandong and then to North China, there are plains, railways and canals, which are suitable for Liu Ziguang's highly mobile and strong firepower army. Taking advantage of their advantages, they drove the Manchu Qing regime into the Taihang Mountains in just three months, and the military expenditure was only two million taels. On the other hand, the Western Route Army did not have such good conditions. Shaanxi has no waterways, and only the Weizhong Plain It is a small piece of flat land, but other places are covered with towering mountains. It is inconvenient to transport materials and mobilize troops, so it is justifiable to spend more money.
"Your Majesty, please rest assured that the 30 million Western Region Fund will soon be put on the market. The Ming Dynasty is strong and the people's patriotism is high. It will be sold out in less than a month. Not only is the Western Army's military expenditure sufficient, but also the national treasury will be full." Minister Huang Xiaotian said confidently.
"Huang Aiqing, thank you for your hard work. With your words, I feel relieved. With sufficient military pay, there is no need to worry about the immortality of Xixia. I want to see how a mere Xixia can compete with our higher country in terms of national strength."
Seeing what the emperor said, the ministers also agreed, saying that the remote barbarian country of Xixia was just lucky to win. This time, after the Manchus were eliminated, the Celestial Empire would be free to deal with Xixia. It would be a matter of time to regain Shaanxi again and march directly to Huanglong.
Zhu Youxiao asked Zhang Fulin, the minister of the Ministry of Revenue and the director of the Securities Regulatory Commission, who was present at the meeting, about the recent situation of stamp duty and fund sales. Zhang Fulin naturally reported good news but not bad news, saying that stamp tax revenue is increasing day by day, stock investors are rejoicing, and transactions are booming. He was right about having to queue up to trade, but he didn't mention that all the people who were crowded in the stock exchange were selling.
After listening to Zhang Fulin's report, Zhu Youxiao became even more confident. He recalled that when the imperial court had internal and external troubles, in order to deal with the Tatars in Liaodong, they levied Liao pay in Shanxi and Shaanxi, and even collected a few million taels of silver for two years without confiscating it. In the end, it also caused After the uprising, the situation is now completely reversed. Thirty million taels can be collected in just one month. With such strong financial support, Yuan Chonghuan will not be afraid even if he loses a few more battles.
The imperial meeting at the Qianqing Palace ended in an atmosphere of overwhelming confidence. The officials went back to their offices and began to prepare military equipment, horses, food and civilian vehicles. They only waited for the money from the Ministry of Revenue to arrive before they began to transport supplies to the west. However, I am afraid that this money will not be enough. It’s hard to wait…
The imperial court now places all its hopes on the issuance of the second wave of Western Region Funds. However, the first wave of funds has now fallen to eighteen levels of hell. How can it be sold in the second wave? However, the bureaucrats do not consider these issues. Well, Zhang Fulin is a talented person, so I’m afraid this little thing won’t trouble him.
Zhang Fulin was shocked when he returned to the Securities Regulatory Commission's Yamen. It turned out that the Yamen had been surrounded by excited people on three floors from the inside to the outside. Zhang Fulin secretly thought that something was wrong. He was about to let the bearer turn around and run away. Suddenly, the people knelt down when they saw his driver. When we came down, the dark mountains called out to Mr. Zhang for help.
Zhang Fulin's courage suddenly became full again, and he ordered the sedan to stop. The eight-carrying green cloth sedan stopped. Mr. Zhang got out of the sedan majestically, held on to the loose jade belt around his waist, and walked out with a steady official step. First, he frowned.
He frowned and shouted: "A crowd gathered to surround the government office. Is it possible that you want to rebel?"
One of the leaders cried: "Master Zhang, it's clear that the young people don't want to rebel. They are really forced to live no longer. The fund bought with two or three taels of silver has dropped to two or three taels of silver. We have lost everything. If the court doesn't take action,
We are really going to die."
When he said this, the people behind him also started to make noises. Some businessmen said that all their business capital was invested in it, some farmers said that all the money they spent to buy seeds was bought into the fund, and some women said that all the money they spent on food for the whole family was stolen.
As we went in, there was confusion again as we talked, with people shouting at dogs and children crying, and there was a lot of noise outside the Securities Regulatory Commission's Yamen.
Zhang Fulin pressed his hands around and shouted: "Quiet, quiet." But no one could hear his words in the loud voice. It was not until his servants knocked the gong more than ten times that the people became quiet. Thousands of people were quiet.
My eyes were fixed on Zhang Fulin to see what he had to say.
Zhang Fulin cleared his throat and said: "Fellow folks, don't be afraid. The Western Regions Excellent Performance Fund only fell temporarily. This is a normal financial fluctuation. You must have confidence in the court and in me. I'll tell you the truth."
, I just came out of the palace, and now the imperial court is ready to use troops against Xixia again. Victory and defeat are commonplace for military strategists. Only after experiencing a painful defeat can we usher in a glorious victory. I firmly believe that Governor Yuan and the soldiers of the Western Army
There will be another good news and the wolf will be granted the title of Xu! You don’t know that the grasslands of the Western Regions are vast, with flocks of cattle and sheep, and fruits everywhere. When you take over the thousands of miles of mountains and rivers in the Western Regions, let alone your funds being unblocked, they will rise to five taels.
, eight taels is also possible!”
As soon as Zhang Fulin said his provocative words, the ignorant people seemed to understand something. Some people had the courage to ask: "Then we just need to hold on and not sell it, is that enough?"
Zhang Fulin said: "Yes, I won't sell even if I die. Not only will I not sell, I will also buy. I might as well reveal an inside message to all the folks present. The imperial court is going to issue funds again. This time it will still be one or two face value, but
The issue price is only five yuan, which is like a dumpling falling from the sky. You heard me right, it is the absolute bottom now. You should go back and raise money now. There is no shop like this after passing this village! If you want to make a fortune,
Hurry up."
Suddenly a few men stood up among the common people and shouted: "Master Zhang, you are right. Let's go home and sell iron to buy funds. We can gain wealth through risk. It will be too late if we don't buy the bottom now!"
The common people were stunned by Zhang Fulin's sweet words and these hidden shills. In a short time, the crowd outside the Securities Regulatory Commission's Yamen dispersed completely. Zhang Fulin wiped the cold sweat on his forehead, sat back in the sedan chair, and said
: "Go back to the Yamen."
That night, in a secluded but luxurious house in the capital, three middle-aged people in luxurious clothes were sitting around drinking. Next to them, the sound of silk and bamboo was melodious, and a singer was playing the pipa and singing in a melodious voice. While the wine was in full swing, a servant came in.
Someone whispered a few words into his ear, and that person smiled and said: "Sir is here, please hold the lamp, add wine, and remove the singing girls. Let's ask him for advice."
As soon as he finished speaking, a haggard old man walked in with a smile on his face and held his hands in all directions: "Hello, Mr. Huang, Mr. Wu, Mr. Zhang."
The three of them stood up and returned the greeting: "Sir, you are here just in time. Let's add more wine, turn on the lights, and resume the banquet to discuss world affairs."
The four of them sat down, and the maid added bowls, chopsticks, cups and saucers, added charcoal to the mutton stove, and re-scalded the daughter's red, then walked out respectfully, and carefully closed the door of the hot pot, creating a good conversation for the adults.
environment.
After drinking for three rounds, Huang Xiaotian, the current household minister, who was called Mr. Huang, said: "Last time, thanks to your advice and guidance, my brother finally corrected himself. I will definitely remember this kindness in my heart. Please drink to your heart's content, sir."
After this cup, brother, I still have something to ask."
The wizened old man was not polite. He drank a glass of wine generously and said, "Master Huang, please speak up. I will teach you all this skill."
Huang Xiaotian said: "Now the Western Region Jiebun High-Performance Fund has dropped to 2 yuan, and the people are complaining, and other stocks have also plummeted. If this continues, the second wave of 30 million taels of funds will not be distributed at all, and stock transactions will become more and more expensive.
It will directly affect the income from stamp duty. In this way, all the brothers' boasts in front of the emperor will be in vain. It is a small matter to be dismissed from office, but the brothers will regret having cut off the imperial court's financial path. So I still need to ask for advice, sir.
Let’s talk about how to deal with this situation.”
Zhang Fulin also said: "What Mr. Huang said is true. Today, the common people have surrounded Xiaguan's Yamen. If Xiaguan hadn't suddenly had the wisdom to coax them back, a civil uprising might have broken out on the spot. But this is not a long-term solution.
If the old fund does not increase, the new one cannot be sold, and if the new fund cannot be issued, our financial path will be cut off. The emperor will be furious, and Mr. Qian Ge cannot protect us, so what should we do?"
The old man said nothing, but poured himself three cups, picked up a few chopsticks of plump lamb meat to eat, chewed and swallowed it carefully, and then started talking: "Finance is like fighting, you will have to collapse before you."
Without changing his expression, I summed up a few lessons: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. Now is a great opportunity. We have money and insider information, and even have the power to formulate the rules of the game. How can we be helpless?
Woolen cloth."
Zhang Fulin said: "Sir, please make it clear."
The old man said: "The current plummeting stock market is a huge opportunity for us. How to make money in the stock market is nothing more than buying low and selling high. At the beginning of the year, we had already sold off the Western Region Jiebun Fund while we were well-informed. Now the money is exactly
When there is plenty, you can take advantage of this opportunity to buy back those good ginseng-like stocks at carrot prices."
Zhang Fulin said: "Do you mean to start bailing out the market now?"
The old man stroked a few yellow beards on his chin and said: "No, the fall is not hard enough now, we have to hit it again before we can make a move, and we are not the only ones in this financial market. Rishengchang
Don't underestimate them over there. If you relax a little, they will take advantage of you. I have already written down the arrangements for the next step. Sir, please read it." As he said, the old man took out a piece of paper from his sleeve, Huang Xiaotian and
After Zhang Fulin came together to look at it, he couldn't help but extend his thumbs up and praise: "Sir, he is indeed a master of the world and a master of loneliness."
The old man nodded slightly and said: "It's embarrassing. The implementation of this plan depends on Mr. Wu's information and cooperation."
The middle-aged man who had been silent all this time said: "Well, Governor Yuan was really defeated this time. The whole Western Army is very busy. I haven't had any letters from home for a while."