Everyone understood, smiled knowingly, and showed a confident look.
"What Zhao Shenjun said is true."
At this time, another leader, Tang Yongan, spoke out in support.
Zhu Yixi took a look and saw that he was in his thirties, elegant and easy-going, like a scholar, not like a businessman.
"This is Tang Yong'an, the head of the Tang family in Jinzhou. He deals in minerals, especially alluvial gold in the Han River. Hundreds of households are digging for sand, and they are their main business."
After hearing the explanation, Zhu Yixi frowned.
In Hanzhong, there are actually people who deal in alluvial gold. This is a very profitable business.
Tang Yong'an stood up, cupped his hands and said: "We merchants are also heirs of poetry and calligraphy, and we know loyalty. Therefore, in order to protect Hanzhong, we are willing to donate five thousand taels of silver to help recruit troops."
"My He family is no exception, and I am also willing to donate five thousand taels."
He Yiyi also stood up and said with a smile.
"My family provides three thousand taels of salary."
"My family has two thousand——"
"My family has five hundred——"
Immediately, the merchants kept bidding according to the size of their net worth, with an upper limit of five thousand taels.
When Zhu Yixi heard this, she felt unhappy for a moment.
They sell private salt and engage in alluvial gold. Each one is richer than the other, but the amount of donation is disappointing.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look at His Royal Highness Prince Rui aside.
King Rui was stunned and expressed his understanding.
Immediately, with the support of King Qin, before anyone could come out, a voice rang out:
"I would like to donate one hundred thousand taels of silver."
"His Royal Highness King Rui——"
When the merchants saw the old King Rui, they were amazed and hurriedly bowed their hands.
"Why are you here?"
Zhao Shu breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly greeted him and helped him sit down.
"Isn't it everyone's responsibility to donate money to General Zhu, protect Hanzhong, and defend against intruders?"
King Rui looked around and said loudly:
"What's the use of keeping such money? When the intruders come, they'll all have to ransack the house. By then, you'll have money but you'll lose your life."
Everyone present frowned, as soon as Mr. Rui Wang came out, their arrangements were disrupted.
In their thinking, if one person sheds a little blood, they can make up to 100,000 taels, which can not only support the army, but also control Zhu Youyi's appetite so that he will not be too greedy.
He heard the words together and looked at each other with Tang Yong'an. The two business giants were waiting for words. Suddenly, King Qin on the side spoke up and said with a cry:
"I am enjoying myself in the palace. I never thought that when a thief comes, everything will be lost."
"Millions of taels of silver, the huge royal palace, and countless fields were all confiscated. I also heard that the thieves paid according to the family property, and almost 90% of it was confiscated."
"If the money is not paid, they will be tortured and the whole family will be arrested and imprisoned. The city of Xi'an is already a ghost land."
Someone came forward to speak out, and it was the King of Qin, so the business giants had no choice but to believe it.
For a moment, people were panic-stricken, their faces were hesitant, and their sympathy was overwhelming. Everyone could not help but empathize with him and showed their unbearable expressions.
He Yiyi thought for a moment:
"No, the plan has changed."
Tang Yongan on the side also frowned. If this continues, he will really bleed heavily.
"Humph!" Zhu Yixi sneered, then lowered his head and gave an order.
Immediately, in the front hall, Zhang Qi, who had thick eyebrows and big eyes, couldn't help but look at him. Seeing the gradually changing scene, he couldn't help but sigh:
"Why did the gentry deserve it? What did the common people deserve? How innocent are we in Hanzhong?"
He stood up, his eyes were bright, and when he saw everyone watching, he even raised his chest and said:
"I heard that Zhu You attacked and killed Li Guo, the nephew of Li Thief, and also defeated the enemy's cavalry. He must have had a great strategy and was able to outmaneuver others."
"I am willing to donate fifty thousand taels to support the military."
Crash--
Everyone was stunned and looked sideways.
He Yiyi's eyes widened in disbelief: "Damn it, Zhu Yixi actually killed Li Guo. Doesn't this mean that the intruder will definitely end up in Hanzhong?"
Tang Yongan on the side also sighed, lamenting in his heart.
Unexpectedly, this rumor turned out to be true.
"I will pay one hundred thousand taels."
He Yiyi pondered for a moment, made up his mind, raised his hand and said: "He is duty-bound to help pay and suppress the thieves."
"Tang doesn't want his hometown to be brutally murdered, so he is willing to donate 100,000 yuan."
In an instant, two hundred thousand silver came out, and King Rui and King Qin were stunned.
As soon as these two leaders took the lead, a group of patriotic businessmen immediately emerged.
The people in the inner hall numbered between 50,000 and 80,000, with the lowest being 30,000 taels, and all of them looked solemn.
Zhao Shu squinted his eyes and smiled, now at least he would get a million taels.
The small businessmen outside the hall who were not worthy of entering could only be forced to donate a large amount of 10,000 taels, and a small amount of 1,000 taels.
After a while, after signing and claiming, the number reached two million and three thousand taels, achieving the goal.
Zhu Yixi looked at all this and sighed in her heart: "A few dozen big businessmen are enough to replace hundreds of small businessmen. Sure enough? The strong get stronger."
It was King Rui who was ecstatic, and he murmured: "I've made a fortune, I've made a big fortune..."
King Qin couldn't help but tremble. This was the first time he had made money by himself. It felt so good.
After the fund-raising was over, all the merchants left one after another, except for Xing Shouhe and Tang Yong'an who were left behind.
Just when the two of them were confused, Zhu Yixi came out with a smile: "Zhu has long heard about the charm of the two of them, and now that he sees them, it is even worse than the rumors."
"General Zhu."
Tang and He both held their hands in a respectful manner. Although their expressions did not change, they were surprised in their hearts. Why is he here?
"Sit down and talk."
Zhu Yixi had just witnessed the power of the business leader, and his attitude became much gentler:
"To be honest, since the death of Governor Sun, the bandits have become more powerful and have millions of people. Money alone is not enough to drive away the bandits."
"Then, does General Zhu have any ideas?"
He Qi lowered his head slightly and asked with bright eyes.
"In addition to money, we also need people, like you, the country wise people."
Zhu Yixi laughed softly.
He and Tang Yong'an also laughed, this was exactly what they thought.
After expressing some goodwill, Zhu Yixi stepped into the topic:
"I heard that Shaanxi merchants are very powerful. They manage and sell tea, horse, salt, cloth, iron, etc. in the northwest, second only to Huizhou merchants."
"We are in a good location and have no choice but to do it."
He Yiyi smiled slightly and then said: "It's just a pity that thieves are raging and the trade routes are different from the past."
The Shaanxi merchants who prospered due to the opening of China and France relied on border trade. For so many years, they have been suppressing the Shanxi merchants, second only to the Hui merchants.
Zhu Yixi naturally wants this power to be used by me and contribute money, food, information, and materials.
"Now our army is short of war horses, would you two be willing to buy them for us?"
Hearing this, Tang Yong'an couldn't help but said: "General Zhu, I don't know how much he needs? I'll wait for the Shaanxi merchants to do our best."
"I need a thousand war horses, and the remaining sulfur, saltpeter, etc. will also consume a lot of money. The more the better."
Seeing the calm expressions of the two of them, Zhu Yixi couldn't help but whisper.