Shanxi was a major military town in the Ming Dynasty and an important base for weapons manufacturing in the Ming Dynasty. The famous Shanxi merchants in later generations developed by relying on the "Kaizhong Law" of the salt industry at the border of the Ming Dynasty.
Regarding the "Kaizhong Law" which had a huge influence in the history of the development of the salt industry, this is not the focus of this article, so here is a brief introduction: it was the merchants who provided grain and grass for the Ming army at the border in exchange for salt as a reward.
At first glance, this seems to be a good way to win a win-win situation, but taking advantage of loopholes is the strength of businessmen in any period. By the end of the Ming Dynasty, a group of big salt merchants who used salt to attract rich people finally appeared. And the group of Yangzhou salt merchants that Wu Shigong dealt with
Many people in Shang Dynasty are also from Shanxi and Huizhou.
At that time, Huizhou merchants and Shanxi merchants were the two richest business groups in the Ming Dynasty. Huizhou merchants mainly relied on their own land of plenty, while Shanxi merchants relied on border trade.
By the end of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty's border ban had become ineffective. A large number of Shanxi merchants sold salt, grain, armor, weapons and other materials to the Mongols outside the customs, and even sold them directly to Hou Jin, who then traded with himself.
The friendly Mongolian tribes received a large amount of military and strategic materials, but all they paid for were the property looted from inside the pass and the specialties outside the pass by Hou Jin. Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that the development history of Shanxi merchants is the blood and tears of the Chinese nation in the late Ming Dynasty.
history.
So at this time, Shanxi merchants were so bold that they sold salt, grain, armor and weapons to the Tatars outside the pass. So what's the big deal about selling some weapons to the bandits inside the pass?
Of course, the price of these weapons is quite expensive, basically seven or eight times the market price. However, such expensive weapons are often out of stock, because when Hou Jin purchases weapons in large quantities, Shanxi merchants can sell these weapons.
A huge profit of more than ten times.
So when these Henan bandits learned that they could buy swords, guns and weapons at about five times the price, they immediately purchased them enthusiastically. You know, the bandits were not in harmony with each other. It can be said that they were fighting each other every day.
For various interests, large and small conquests are taking place.
Modern people who are deeply influenced by modern martial arts novels may not know that as long as it is a cold weapon, no matter how magical it is, as long as there are a few fierce battles, the weapon will be scrapped after being hit and chopped, so the Henan bandits
The weapon gap is very large. After all, when it comes to fighting, it is always impossible to use those agricultural tools.
In a short period of time, the Runing Army sold a large number of second-hand weapons that had been captured in the past. The Runing Army had no use for these seized weapons. They were rusty and rotten in the warehouse, but they were used by the bandits.
Arrived, the price offered was high, Shanchuan Division really did a good business.
However, the Shanchuan Division also has principles in doing this kind of weapons business. It only sells to those bandits who form strongholds to protect themselves. Because those bandits basically do not move around and pose little threat to the Runing Army, and in case of those bandits
The bandits fell out. It was convenient for the Runing Army to retaliate. After all, they had a family and a job and couldn't run away.
In addition, the Runing Army does not sell armor and firearms. It only sells hunting bows and arrows. It does not sell powerful longbows. The supply of military-standard arrows is limited. And in order to hide, the Runing Army is willing to make more money for middlemen rather than itself.
The purpose of coming forward in person is to prevent the government from being aware of this arms business.
This business was so prosperous that Runing Army earned more than 10,000 taels of silver in a short period of time. Even shopkeeper Zheng, who had just arrived in Runing, got on board. This time he brought a hundred Japanese knives for trial sale.
It was also swept away.
Through the intermediary of Sihai Trading Company, Shopkeeper Zheng's Minhai Trading Company also received a large number of orders for Nanyang goods from big cities in Henan such as Kaifeng and Luoyang. This simply made Shopkeeper Zheng smile from ear to ear. Don't look at the chaos in the mainland.
The consumption power level of the officials and gentry in the mainland is not low at all!
The money earned from this arms transaction was immediately deposited by the Runing Army as a reserve fund. No one thought about using this windfall. For Wu Shigong and the others, the hard life the Runing Army lived was a bit of a struggle.
Enough is enough!
Good news also came from the capital. Xue Yufei gave birth to another son. Wu Shigong looked at the good news written by his father-in-law Xue Lian, but the ecstasy in the strokes and tone could not be concealed. Wu Shigong couldn't help but curse in his heart.
He said: "What's so happy about? Isn't it just a double insurance? Re-insurance, isn't that still my son?"
Of course Wu Shigong himself was also very happy, and this time his father-in-law Xue Lian returned the naming rights of his son to Wu Shigong. Wu Shigong thought for a long time and finally chose the word "ping". He hoped that his son would be safe and sound, and even more hope that the world would be peaceful.
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However, as soon as they agreed on the name "Xue Chengping", they were immediately besieged and criticized by the wives of the inner house. They all thought that the name was too bland, and then they attacked Wu Shigong as usual for being ignorant and incompetent.
That night, Wu Shigong, who was seriously injured, only sought comfort from Xiuzhu, who had the lowest level of education. After a storm, Wu Shigong stroked Xiuzhu's hair and sighed: "It is virtue for a woman to have no talent!"
Unexpectedly, Xiuzhu twisted the tender flesh of Wu Shigong's waist fiercely. He said coquettishly: "No matter how talented these ladies are in the inner house, they still cause trouble for the young master!"
Wu Shigong, who was choked by these words for a long time, finally raised his head and sighed: "I really can't live this life!"
At this time, the peasant rebel army, which was being suppressed by Chen Qiyu, the governor of the five provinces, walked to the Hanzhong plank road. The peasant rebel army, Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong, Xing Zikuan, Zhang Miaoshou and other troops, under the pressure of the official army, mistakenly entered the carriage south of Xing'an.
gorge.
Chexixi Gorge, as you think about the name of this canyon, you will understand that it is surrounded by cliffs and cliffs, making it impossible to climb. The exit was tightly guarded by the Ming army, and it rained for more than 70 consecutive days.
, the clothes and armor were soaked, the horses’ hooves were worn through them, and they couldn’t eat anything for several days.”
Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong and other tens of thousands of people were almost in dire straits. In order to get rid of this difficult situation, the leader of the peasant rebel army decided to resort to the false surrender strategy again.
It was still the same old method. Leaders like Li Zicheng ordered to collect the gold and silver property seized from the army. After entering Chen Qiyu's camp, they bribed everyone around him. Afterwards, they burst into tears and snot in front of Chen Qiyu, and they almost dug out their loyalty.
After suffering so much, many civil and military officials of the Ming army also opposed recruitment. However, Chen Qiyu was surprised to discover a situation. Those civil and military officials were opposed, but none of them was willing to lead troops to completely annihilate this trend.
Peasant rebel army.
Everyone understands the principle of a trapped beast still fighting. Who would take the risk to fight to the death with the peasant rebels who are in trouble? So Chen Qiyu found himself in a situation where he had to recruit.
In addition, Chen Qiyu had very little experience in dealing with the peasant rebels. He may have thought that the peasant rebels were really afraid of being defeated. In addition, he was a little worried that the peasant rebels would jump over the wall. In the end, Chen Qiyu agreed to fight against this peasant rebellion.
The army carried out recruitment. (To be continued.)