Qi Hongxin was taken by Su Ziji to the bullock cart that had been prepared. The two of them were silent on the way. When Su Ziji said "Sir, we are here", Qi Hongxin opened his eyes and recovered from exhaustion.
Wake up.
"Are we here?" He opened the car curtain and took a look outside. When he saw it, he was startled.
I originally thought that Su Ziji would take him to a private room in a restaurant, a temporary residence, or a government office, but instead he took him to the largest square in the city.
The entire square is now densely packed with people. A rough count indicates that there are at least thousands of people.
Qi Hongxin immediately felt no fatigue at all. He opened his eyes wide and took a closer look at who these people were, for fear that something had happened again and he was kept in the dark.
And this sight surprised Qi Hongxin even more.
"These people... aren't they the owners of several restaurants in Fucheng? And those few, they seem to be the owners of silk and satin shops?" Because these people were recognized when Qi Hongxin first arrived in Shun'an Mansion.
, Qi Hongxin has an excellent memory for people who have been here at the Jie Feng Banquet. He has only seen them once and he has already remembered them. That is why he was so surprised when he saw them now.
In addition to these familiar people, the remaining ones who were not familiar with them were all dressed in silk and satin. At first glance, they looked like they were not ordinary people, at least they were landlords and businessmen.
"Master Su, what's going on?" Qi Hongxin was stunned for a moment, turned around quickly, and asked.
Su Ziji smiled: "Master Qi, these landlords and businessmen are all here to participate in the lottery."
"Draw lots?"
"Exactly. The small mines held by the official will be sold by drawing lots in public, and the mineral rights will be sold for ten years. Each person who participates in the drawing will have to pay one hundred taels of silver for each draw...
"
"Everyone pays one hundred taels?" Qi Hongxin took a breath, and he immediately understood what Su Ziji meant.
If there are thousands of people present, and each one pays one hundred taels to participate in the lottery, that would be almost one hundred thousand taels of silver!
The principal amount of the mineral rights is only 30,000 taels.
How does this Su Ziji's head grow?
At this moment, Qi Hongxin couldn't help but have such questions.
"Sir, why don't you come closer and watch the drawing of lots?" Su Ziji gave Qi Hongxin some time to calm down and suggested again.
"Go and have a look!" Qi Hongxin was naturally willing. He was also curious about whether this lottery method was feasible, and whether the people in the square just came to watch the fun, and whether they were willing to actually spend real money.
Come and get a chance to draw lots.
When they walked to the front, they happened to see the official in charge, asking the yamen to check the box first, and turned the opening towards the people present, so that they could all see that this was indeed an empty box, and there was nothing inside.
Mechanisms and tricks.
Then more than thirty old scholars and scholars were invited to come forward.
This is not only to build momentum for this lottery and improve their qualifications, but also these people are famous and famous people, and they have lived a happy life. In order to protect their reputations, they cannot lie about this kind of thing.
This is still to tell everyone present that this draw is credible, winning or losing depends entirely on luck, and there is no possibility of artificial fraud.
Sure enough, when I saw these thirty or so people, I was still a little hesitant at first, but now my heart fell back into my stomach, and I started to look forward to it.
After all, they only know about more than thirty small mines, and they need one hundred taels of silver to purchase the right to draw lots. Everyone draws lots, but how to draw is a problem.
Many of them are thinking about it and can't figure out how to smoke it.
In fact, when Su Ziji first thought about this matter, he thought of using real lots to draw. However, in order to be more fair, he changed his mind and used a new method.
At this moment, more than thirty old scholars and scholars demonstrated on the spot the method that Su Ziji later thought of.
Each of them took a pen and wrote a mine name on a piece of paper, crumpled it into a ball, and stuffed it into the box on the spot.
The box with the lid closed had only a hole on the lid that one could reach into, and everyone who put the note in, immediately released it after pulling out their hands, opened their palms, and signaled to everyone present.
The people looked at it before retreating.
After all the thirty or so people put the notes in one by one, it was the turn of those present to pay money.
Qi Hongxin immediately held his breath and concentrated, and glanced around with some worry. He was not conspicuous in his casual clothes, because everyone's eyes were focused on the big box.
But even so, as the official's voice fell, the scene fell silent in an instant.
"No one wants to be the first to stand up?" Qi Hongxin understood immediately, but the next moment, a voice rang out from the crowd: "I will offer three hundred taels!"
Three hundred taels?
Following this sound, many people showed confused expressions. Didn't you say that you only need one hundred taels?
But when a clerk wrote three words of one hundred taels on the spot, filled in the name of the buyer, crumpled it into a ball, and stuffed it into a box on the spot, everyone present was not stupid and understood immediately.
So that’s it!
In addition to the names of more than 30 small mines, all investors will get one more paper ball every one hundred taels. This paper ball actually represents a chance to draw lots.
If there are a thousand people, and each one bids a price, then in the box, in addition to more than thirty paper balls with the name of the mine, there will also be a thousand paper balls worth one hundred taels of silver that are useless even if they are drawn.
Although it was useless, each paper ball contained money and a name, so the forgery was immediately revealed.
This was extremely fair, and everyone present was immediately convinced.
Moreover, from the fact that the "first bird" paid three hundred taels, it can also be seen that in this lottery, the government is not limited to one draw, but can also pay more money and have more chances to draw lots!
Thinking of this, excitement flashed across the faces of the people present, and they all began to bid, some offered one hundred taels, some offered two hundred taels, some offered three hundred taels, and even a wealthy man offered three thousand taels.
After shouting out, the whole place fell silent for a moment.
Some people looked at him with evil eyes. Was he planning to take over all the small mines by himself?
"Everyone, the maximum one person can give is five hundred taels, and there are five chances to draw the lot." Immediately, a boss shouted, telling everyone present that the maximum one person can give is five hundred taels, and no more will be allowed.
Su Ziji saw that the person who was the first to bid three hundred taels nodded slightly towards him, and he also smiled.
"Is that a promise?" Qi Hongxin, with sharp eyes, actually saw it and asked in a very low voice.
Su Ziji replied: "Yes."
Then I couldn't hear Qi Hongxin's reply. I looked over and saw that Qi Hongxin, who originally wanted to say something, was now turning his attention to the hall behind.
After calling for silver, the money was handed over in the hall. Even the squire did not have the courage to call for silver and refused to hand over the money. At this time, they all handed over the money one after another.
Seeing this, Su Ziji felt that Qi Hongxin valued money more, so he had to say: "Master Qi, let's go over and take a look."