Halfway through the cold winter, heavy snow arrives as expected.
The snowflakes falling slowly in the sky dyed the entire imperial capital into a world of silver crystals.
There were people on the street carrying brooms and shovels and shouting.
"Go fast, go fast! Damn, it snowed a lot last night. Work harder to clean it up. When I get back, I'll tell the boss that each of the brothers will be rewarded with half a catty of sweet potatoes to bake."
It was Liu Quan who spoke out. He was wearing a red armband on his right hand, with the word "urban management" written on it in black pen.
Under Zhao Kang's operation, he is already the captain of the urban management brigade, and he is different from the temporary workers under him.
He had a formal establishment in the Army and Horses Department, and he suddenly became an official from a gangster.
Liu Quan has been smiling in his dreams these days, and he has become more determined to follow Zhao Kang and Xiao Xuance to the end.
The people in the distance laughed a few times when they saw this. Ever since we had these Thirteen Taibos, life seemed to be much better than before.
Now you don’t have to go out on the street to buy anything, and there are people helping to clear the snow and clean up the trash!
This has never happened before.
As the operation of Biscuit Xixi began, the people in the outer city slowly noticed an improvement in their lives.
The people who were originally a little afraid of local ruffians like Liu Quan no longer looked at them strangely after this period of time.
I can say hello a few times when I meet someone on the street.
His Highness the Prince saw all these changes and was delighted in his heart. Then he looked to Zhao Kang aside.
"Old Zhao, now the cake Xixi has been successfully operated, but I think we have gone astray?"
Zhao Kang raised his eyebrows: "Why do you say this?"
Xiao Xuance sat down and said what he was thinking: "Look, the original intention of us doing these things is to stimulate the economy and make the people rich as you said, but now I think they all seem to be running for the lottery.
Come."
Zhao Kangxiao, Xiao Xuance's ability to think like this proves that he is really devoted to improving the current situation of the imperial capital.
He said: "What you see is just the appearance. During this period, I asked Wei Liang to do a survey. During the period when our cakes were open for business, most people bought more daily necessities, but the amount of money they spent increased.
The money is less than before, do you know why?"
Xiao Xuance said: "Is it because our things are cheap?"
Zhao Kang nodded: "Yes, things are cheap so people don't have to spend more. The increase in consumption also allows merchants to make money. When merchants make money, we will naturally make money as well, so we can support our brothers."
"This is a balanced situation, but in the final analysis, Bing Xixi still operates in the Qian Kingdom and the Imperial Capital."
Zhao Kangdao: "To truly enable the people to live a good life, we must rely on foreign trade."
"Foreign trade?" His Royal Highness was a little confused.
Zhao Kangdao: "That is to do business with other countries, but this must be done step by step and requires careful planning. Even the two of us cannot afford such a big stall."
Xiao Xuance nodded: "You're right, I can't eat hot tofu in a hurry. Let's take it step by step. What should we do next?"
Zhao Kang's eyes dropped. The outer city was almost done, so naturally he had to go to the inner city to muddy the waters.
After all, this is his real purpose.
"Let's wait until Brother Diao comes back." Zhao Kang responded.
In the evening.
Brother Diao, who has been wandering around the inner city with his people during this period, brought back the news.
"Master, we've almost explored everything."
After taking a sip of hot tea, Brother Diao said: "The backgrounds of the merchants in the inner city are complicated, and there are dozens of large and small aristocratic families, but the most important ones are the Lin family of the Minister of Industry, the Zhao family of the Taifu, and Guan Bai.
Zhonglang General Xu Shifei's Xu family, in addition to that, there was originally a Wang family, the father-in-law of Li Yuan, Minister of War."
"But some time ago, I don't know why the Wang family suddenly sold off the merchant properties under their control for a lot of money."
This guy is indeed an old fox.
Zhao Kang raised his eyebrows when he heard this. He understood that Li Yuan must have noticed something in advance that made the Wang family sell their property at a low price.
This person's sense of smell is not particularly sensitive.
Thinking of this, Zhao Kang took out the banknote from his arms: "Tomorrow, go to the inner city to find a good location, select a shop, and buy it in the name of Thirteen Taibao."
Brother Diao had no objection. After accepting the banknote, he asked: "Master, I have been in the inner city for many days, and the consumption level there is ridiculously expensive. You want to take the goods on the cakes and sell them inside.
I’m afraid it won’t work.”
"Who said you sell these things?"
Zhao Kang chuckled: "Selling things from our Yuanjiang County."
Brother Diao seemed to understand a little bit, nodded and left with the banknote in his pocket.
Zhao Kang's gaze shifted and fell on a drawing, which was the urban composition of the inner city of the imperial capital.
It is extremely detailed, and every official residence, shop and street is clearly recorded.
Zhao Kang got this thing from within the Military and Horse Division.
The businesses of the merchants in the inner city naturally do not only operate in the imperial capital. The goods of these merchants are exported to all parts of the Qian Kingdom and even other countries. Every day, many foreign merchants come to purchase goods in the inner city.
The sale of a large number of goods created a lot of wealth for the aristocratic families, and naturally it was not the result of honest business.
Her Majesty the Empress has always been concerned about the aristocratic family, a deep-rooted cancer in the Qian Kingdom, so she has naturally conducted an investigation.
There is even a private salt business among them! And it’s not just one company or two companies.
However, because most of these aristocratic families collude with officials and businessmen, they are closely related to each other, and a single move can affect the whole body.
Xiao Linglong was powerless even if she wanted to take action. Even if she waved the butcher's knife, they would still find a scapegoat.
The problem still cannot be solved from the root cause, Zhao Kang understands this in his heart.
Therefore, if we want to bring down these people, we can only use business matters to solve them.
A few days passed, and everything was calm. People were buying new year's goods and getting ready to welcome the new year.
Grand Tutor Zhao Jinsheng was warming himself by the fire and sipping tea at home when he suddenly heard from his servants that it was Lin Yu who was visiting, so he sent all his servants away.
As soon as Lin Yu, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, entered the door, he hurried forward: "Master, Zhao Kang's people have bought a shop on Zhuque Street in the inner city. It seems that they are planning to do business. Are we?"
Hearing this, Zhao Jinsheng put down the tea cup in his hand: "Oh, he really dares to come! Don't act rashly first, let's see what he is going to do."
Lin Yu frowned and said: "This kid is too evil. If you don't pay attention to control him now, I'm afraid he won't be able to react in time later."
"Don't panic, I've figured it out during this period of time. He's just trying to fool ordinary people with cheap money. We inner-city people and those businessmen from out of town won't fall for his tricks."
Zhao Jinsheng sneered: "I'm waiting for him to reach out!"
