When Liu Hong left, he felt top-heavy and in a daze. He had no memory of how he got on the carriage or how he got home. He didn't fall asleep that night, and his mind was filled with Su Ren's words. Maybe he didn't understand.
I seemed to understand a little more. I said I understood it, but I felt like I didn't understand anything. I lay on the couch and stared blankly at the roof, feeling a strange feeling all over me.
I tossed and turned until I couldn't sleep in the second half of the night, so I turned over and sat up on the couch: "Come here, go and invite Zuo Zhonglang and Wu Zhonglang immediately!"
Since it was the master who invited him, he would naturally come over in a hurry. Yawning and drowsy, the two people entered Liu Hong's house and were immediately led to Liu Hong's bedroom. The house was very spacious, with low tables and soft couches, and
Snacks and soup had been prepared long ago. Liu Hong was disheveled and his hair was messy. After only a few hours, he seemed to be a few years older. He sat there staring at the cup filled with water in front of him in a daze.
After gathering their energy, Zuo Wu and Wu were greeted by Liu Hong, trying their best to look less tired. It took Liu Hong a long time to react: "Sit down!"
"Master, what's going on?" Zuo Wu spoke first, looking at Liu Hong in confusion.
Liu Hong sighed: "It was said by Su Ren." Without any unnecessary nonsense or politeness, he narrated to Zuo Wu and Wu what Su Ren said to him while drinking water. The two people were invited here to make up his mind.
Naturally, it cannot be exaggerated or reduced. It is such a bland narrative without any emotional color.
"Do you two gentlemen think Su Ren's words are appropriate?"
Zuo Wu and Wu Bei were also lost in thought, with their heads lowered and their drowsy brains starting to work. They were no longer older than Liu Hong, and their minds were already numb when they were called up in the middle of the night. At this time, they talked about something so profound and difficult to understand, even
The two old men were somewhat confused about the issue that they had never come into contact with before.
Wu was asked: "Su Ren really said that?"
Liu Hong nodded: "It's true to every word, and he has persuaded the emperor to invest 30,000 gold in Jiangsu City. He sent someone to check at the beginning and found that there was indeed money sent from Chang'an, but he didn't know that it was sent by the emperor."
Zuo Wu took a breath: "It seems like it can't be fake. If it's true as Su Ren said, we should also have a hand in it, but it's all Su Ren's words. We don't have any news about it. Just in case..."
Wu Bei nodded: "I have also been thinking about Su Ren these days. Ever since the words I said at Cuixiang Tower during the New Year, I always felt that something was wrong. Unfortunately, the two of us could not hear it in person, so we could only
Judging from what happened later, and he really sent someone to deliver money a few days ago, it cannot be said falsely. Su Ren indeed has advantages among merchants that ordinary people cannot match, but he can triple his money in just one year.
There has never been anything like this in the world of dividends.”
Liu Hong looked at the two of them: "Two gentlemen, do you mean Su Ren is lying to me?"
Zuo Wu quickly waved his hand: "You can't say that. If the emperor really invested money, Su Ren shouldn't have the guts to deceive the emperor."
Liu Hong stretched out his hands and rubbed his face vigorously: "Then do we believe it or not?"
"What do you mean, Your Majesty?" Zuo Wu asked again.
Liu Hongdao: "It's already late when I came back from the other courtyard today. I haven't gone to the palace yet, so I can't figure it out. I really can't sleep, so I asked the two gentlemen to come to discuss it. I hope you can make an idea first, and then
Then report to the father."
"This matter is of great importance. We can discuss it with the king in person tomorrow. The current situation is extremely beneficial to the young master. If we come to a conclusion in a hurry, if something goes wrong by then, the king will blame it and it will not be good for the young master. Besides, it is not good for the business.
It’s not that the profit is guaranteed, if Su Ren makes a mistake in Jiangsu City and the money he has accumulated over the years cannot be recovered, and the king blames him, the young master may not be able to bear it.”
Wu Ban nodded repeatedly: "Mr. Zuo Zhong is right. It is best for the king to decide this matter. The young master must not fan the flames."
Liu Hong thought for a long time and nodded: "Okay, then I will tell my father tomorrow and listen to his arrangements."
"Let the king invite the crown prince here. If the crown prince agrees, we will oppose it. If the crown prince opposes it, we should not say anything and wait and see how things will turn out for the better. This way we can be invincible."
Liu Hong said: "Okay, let's do it like this!"
Several people were discussing things in the room. In order to avoid being overheard by outsiders, there was no servant in the room, and confidants were arranged to guard the door. When the discussion was completed, they turned around and found that it was already daylight. One was the young master, and the other two
As a lieutenant, he doesn't have to go to the council hall every day to light the knot. Over the years, Liu An has tried his best to do an impeccable job on the surface. If no one else comes, he will call the prime minister, lieutenant and others to discuss the affairs of the state every day.
, even though he didn’t interrupt and just listened to the Prime Minister’s arrangements and then left, it has been going on for decades, which is considered good.
Today's discussion with the state ministers was about Su Ren's amassing a large amount of money in Huainan. Chang Shi believed that this was a private behavior between merchants and the government could not stop it. However, the state minister felt that Su Ren's purpose was impure, and Nong Nai
It is the foundation of the country, and Su Ren taught people to take advantage of the situation. As time goes by, the Huainan Kingdom will be shaken. The two argued endlessly, and only the king of Huainan, Liu An, and the lieutenant remained silent and watched the two people perform.
Seeing that it was almost noon, Liu An asked everyone to go back and think about it tomorrow, and then got up and went back to the back hall. He had just learned that Liu Hong, Zuo Wu, and Wu had been asked to see him. As soon as he went out, he saw three people waiting outside the door. Liu An sent the three
He was called over and walked towards the pavilion next to him. When the servants served the drinks, Liu Hong told Liu An again what Su Ren had said, and at the same time asked to send someone to call the prince Liu Qian for discussion.
Liu An glanced at Liu Hong and smiled slightly: "What do you think Hong'er should do?"
Liu Hong said quickly: "I was discussing this matter with Zuo Zhonglang and Wu Zhonglang last night, but we still haven't reached a conclusion. I came to report it to my father early in the morning. So far, I still can't make up my mind about the child."
Liu An said with a smile: "There is indeed something wrong with this matter, but Su Ren is a business genius. Needless to say, things in Shuzhong. I heard that this method was used when building the Imperial Academy in Chang'an, which not only recovered the cost
There is still a surplus, and it is still a good story in Chang'an. The emperor's ability to invest money this time probably depends on his ability in imperial studies."
"Father, do you mean you can invest money?"
Liu An smiled mysteriously: "Don't worry, we'll wait until the prince comes."
Liu Qian was disheveled and was still packing his robes while jogging. He had already arrived in front of Liu An, but he still hadn't tidied up his clothes neatly. The hair on his head was crooked. One look at him and he knew that he must have done nothing good just now.
Without waiting for Liu Qian to salute, Liu An frowned: "Dignified prince, how can you be so slovenly?" Without giving Liu Qian a chance to explain, he continued: "I heard that you opened many wine shops in Ma Hutong.
Is there such a thing as making money every day?"
Liu Qian glared at Liu Qian resentfully: "Father, my child..."
"Don't look at him. Someone else told me, how about you imitate the kind of wine shop opened by Su Ren? How much money can you make in a month?"
Liu Qian was trembling, lowering his head and shrinking his neck: "I dare not hide it from my father. The business is quite good, and I earn 10,000 yuan every day."
"Ten thousand a day?" Liu Hong was surprised and couldn't wait to confirm.
Liu Qian glared at Liu Hong again: "Father, my son had no other purpose in opening those wine shops. It was just to prove what Su Ren said. Now it seems that what Su Ren said in Cuixiang Tower is true."
Liu An calmed down a little: "Okay! Now there is such a thing. Su Ren intends to let me participate in the construction of Jiangsu City, saying that the profit will be tripled in one year. What do you think of this?"
Liu Qian glanced at Liu Hong and others, everyone was looking at him, and thought for a while: "I can't say this, it all depends on my father."
"You can say what you want. I will make my own decision whether to participate or not."
"What do you think, fifth brother?"
Liu Hong smiled: "I'm not sure. My father wants to hear the prince's opinion. The prince must have tested Su Ren's words by opening a wine shop in Ma Hutong."
Liu Qian lowered his head and pondered. He was pondering Liu Hong's psychology. Liu Qian was not a fool. He could tell that Liu Hong was setting a trap for him. As long as he agreed with Liu Hong, he would definitely oppose it. If he opposed Liu Hong, he would probably agree. This
This matter is a test for Liu Qian. If he is right, his status as the crown prince may return to the past. If he is wrong, Liu Hong will take the opportunity to suppress him, and the crown prince may be deposed.
After weighing it again and again, Liu Qian said: "Father, neither you nor the child have ever been in business, let alone dealt with merchants. And the fifth brother is very close to our merchants in Huainan. This matter should be based on the fifth brother's opinion."
shall prevail.”
Liu An smiled, how could a father not know how worried his two sons were. As soon as Liu Qian's words came out, Liu An felt that Liu Qian was not hopeless, at least he knew that in this situation
This is the time to let others choose first to make yourself invincible. Liu An then turned to look at Liu Hong. Liu Hong turned to look at Zuo Wu and Wu Qui, both of whom frowned.
Liu Hong thought for a while: "Father, I think it's okay to consider it." He paused and continued: "As the prince said, I have some contacts with our Huainan merchants and knows about business. Su Ren is not an ordinary person.
This person's vision and means are incomparable to ordinary merchants, not to mention that this person went from being a wild child that no one knew about, to becoming the current Marquis of Guannei, Zhonglang General, and the wealth in his hands in just a few years.
First, Su Ren often said that there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies in the world, only eternal interests. As long as my interests in Huainan and Su Ren's are consistent, he should not deceive us, so I think this matter can be considered.
"
"Father, I don't think it's appropriate!" Just after Liu Hong finished speaking, Liu Qian also said: "What the fifth brother said is true, but even if a merchant makes a profit along the way, it is very small. The current 20% bonus is incredible.
If it is tripled, it will be even more unconvincing. Besides, Su Ren mentioned that he has a grudge against me, the Huainan Kingdom, so how can such a good thing come to our advantage? So I feel it is inappropriate." After saying that, he glanced at Liu Hong provocatively. (To be completed.)