During the Kangxi period, Emperor Kangxi was overjoyed when Fan Yubin wrote a letter requesting an agent to purchase military rations.
Chang Yu didn't know how happy the emperor was, but Chongzhen's whole body and pores were radiating joy, letting him know that he was right again.
In the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Chongzhen was pacing back and forth, rubbing his hands together. If it weren't for the joy on his face, it would be easy for people to misunderstand that he had encountered something troublesome.
"Is what the prince said is true? Is it really feasible?" Chongzhen asked, looking at Chang Yu. Gong Yonggu, who turned his eyes to the side, couldn't help but smile again: "It's really... incredible that he could come up with such a method." .
"I have heard this before, and I deeply agree. Your Majesty, if this matter comes to pass, it will really benefit the country and the people!" Gong Yonggu bowed and said.
"Listen to him first"
Chongzhen pointed at Chang Yu and said: "What the prince said, please explain it in detail from beginning to end."
Chang Yu said yes, and then told the whole plan. Chongzhen and others felt itchy after hearing this, and they were eager to have a big fight right away.
"If this happens, it will leave at least millions of dollars in various expenditures for the court every year, saving manpower and material resources! And it will be more time-effective than before." Chang Yu finally concluded.
Chongzhen suppressed the excitement in his heart and coughed lightly: "I want to ask you, purchasing and transporting military rations is painful and tiring, and the price is low and far below the court's budget. The price is low and the profit is low. Is there any private businessman willing to take over?"
"have"
Chang Yu affirmed: "When I first came up with this idea, I made an unannounced visit to Jiangmi Lane for a long time and talked with some grain merchants. They were very interested, but they just lamented that they didn't have this opportunity."
"But why is there so much interest in taking such a risk when the profit is so small, it is painful and tiring, and any delay would be a serious crime?" Chongzhen was puzzled.
Chang Yu smiled slightly: "Everything in the world is about profit, and everything in the world is about profit. Businessmen value profits, and they are only interested in profit. Although purchasing military rations is hard, tiring, risky, and the profit is small, working for the imperial court is the greatest Interests".
"You mean that what they want is actually the benefits brought by purchasing military rations for the imperial court!" Chongzhen reacted immediately!
Chang Yu nodded: "Businessmen who purchase military rations for the imperial court and are specially approved by the imperial court to work for the royal family have great interests to gain."
Gong Yonggu and Zhu Cixi suddenly realized.
Chongzhen nodded heavily and said: "What they want now is fame. Once they have fame, they will naturally have benefits and serve the court. The court will naturally not treat them badly in the future." He laughed and said, "You are right, businessmen are only interested in profit and have a long-term vision." ah!"
"But how did you come up with the idea of letting the civilian and commercial leaders purchase military rations on your behalf?"
Chongzhen looked at the little eunuch in front of him and found it incredible. What was in his mind and how could he be so unreasonable?
"I actually came to this realization when I was in Zhangjiakou investigating Fan Yongdou and other traitors who collaborated with the enemy. I was thinking at that time, why these traitors were obviously people of the Ming Dynasty, but they were willing to take risks and become lackeys for the Manchu Qing Dynasty. After much deliberation, I only came up with one possibility. That’s because they want to embrace Qing Gou’s lap, and of course Qing Gou has promised them some benefits, such as becoming an imperial merchant in the future!”
"So that's it." Chongzhen was silent for a while: "Huangshang, this should be the title that those civilians and merchants who work tirelessly want to get the title most. Chang Yu will leave it to you to handle it now. The sooner the better. If there are merchants willing to undertake the procurement of military rations, , I gave him the name of Imperial Merchant!"
"My Lord, take the edict." Chang Yu seemed to be calm, but his heart was already surging, he was getting rich, he was getting rich.
"Purchasing military rations is not only tiring and difficult, but also requires a huge advance of capital, which ordinary grain merchants may not be able to afford," Gong Yonggu said beside him.
"If you don't have one family, you have two families, or three families!" Chang Yu smiled faintly. The prince-in-law looked down on those merchants in the capital. Some families were no less rich than those with high honors, or even far exceeded them.
When he mentioned honor, Chongzhen seemed to have thought of something. He looked at Chang Yu with a half-smile but said: "A group gathered outside the Qianqing Gate, and even the Sanfa Si came to join in the fun. The commotion was quite big. You are so popular. It doesn't look good, far inferior to Gong Aiqing."
"That's right, the prince-in-law is a humble and talented man. Everyone is proud of their friendship, but he is not as angry as Chen." Chang Yu laughed.
Chongzhen snorted: "You're just talking, but have you negotiated a price with those two traitors?"
"Before it was too late, I wanted to show them off and make them confused. In panic, I took the initiative to talk to me, so that I could get a better price!"
"You are the only one who is smart." Chongzhen couldn't help but laugh, and then said: "You are about to leave the capital. This matter cannot be delayed for too long. If you want to do it quickly, I just need money on hand."
Chang Yu quickly agreed.
"There is also the matter of purchasing military rations, which must be done as soon as possible. Soon Shi Kefa will go south and the army will be dispatched. There must be no shortage of military rations. This is a big matter and there is no room for any mistakes. You will be busy these days." Chongzhen Yi The face is solemn.
Chang Yu smiled bitterly: "Your Majesty, time is short and I have no skills. Can you please send someone to help me?"
Chongzhen hummed: "Who do you want?"
"Commander of the Jinyi Guards, Master Wu can assist me in handling assassination cases, and Prince Consort Gong can assist me in handling civil and commercial procurement matters," Chang Yu blurted out.
Chongzhen was secretly happy, this boy was not only smart and clever, but also knowledgeable.
"Alright"
"Also, I am afraid that the approval of the cabinet is required when handling military food matters on behalf of civilians and merchants..." Chang Yu said again.
Purchasing is a bad job. If you take it away directly, you will tamper with some people's cheese. There must be no one to stop it, so Chang Yu has to ask for a word before he can make a move.
Chongzhen sneered: "Anyone who obstructs such things that benefit the country will be punished, but the cabinet is all sensible people, so you can just go ahead and do it."
After leaving the palace from Xuanwu Gate, Chang Yu suddenly felt dizzy. As he said, there were too many things on his hands, and they were all extremely complicated and he was pressing too hard.
"Fang San"
Chang Yu saw Fang San, who had been waiting for him by the Tongzi River outside Xuanwu Gate, chatting with a few people, but didn't even notice him, so he couldn't help but shout.
Fang San turned around after hearing the words and trotted over quickly. There was a person closely following him, and it turned out to be Hu Ling, whom he hadn't seen for a few days.
Hu Ling was injured on the head in Taiyuan. Although Chang Yu returned to Beijing for treatment, he had been staying in the dormitory these days and rarely showed up. Chang Yu felt friendly when he first met him: "Hurry up and greet you. It's cold outside. Why did you come out? How serious is your injury?" How's it going?"
"It's much better. I've been suffocating in the house every day. Come out and get some air. By the way, Mr. Factory, are we going out of the palace again? I heard Chunxiang said we are going to the north?"
Chang Yu hummed, then checked Hu Ling's injuries, with a solemn expression on his face: "I know what you want from me. You have an injury on your head, which should not be underestimated. This time, you can rest assured to recover in the palace."
"Mr. Factory!" Hu Ling immediately became anxious: "Please take the little one out, this little injury is nothing, he won't die!" He knelt down.
"Get up!" shouted angrily in a low voice. Hu Ling quickly stood up, lowered his head and gasped: "Please!"
Hey! Chang Yu sighed: "Damn, everyone is ambitious." He raised his legs and walked away. Hu Ling followed closely: "Mr. Factory, you have agreed!"
"San'er, go inform Chunxiang and Mr. Wu of Jinyiwei to come to the inner Yamen to discuss matters." Chang Yu ignored Hu Ling and walked quickly to call. Fang San turned around and trotted away.
"Go and find Lao Hu for me," Chang Yu said to Hu Ling again.
"okay"
Hu Ling looked happy and ran away. After running a few meters, he turned around and shouted to Chang Yu: "Mr. Factory, are you okay now? I can run and jump..." He almost talked with someone while talking. The passing eunuchs bumped into each other.
Damn it, Chang Yu rolled his eyes and walked straight towards the inner Yamen without saying anything.
In the Qianqing Palace, Chongzhen was still chatting with Gong Yonggu and Prince Zhu Cihong while drinking tea. The expressions of the three of them were relaxed and solemn for a while. Wang Chenen was waiting beside him with his head bowed, silent, and occasionally seemed to be deep in thought. ( To be continued)