In the battle between the North and the South, the outcome was not just the simple superficial balance of forces in the army. It could even be said that the performance on the battlefield was more hidden in these details.
As businessmen, they are more concerned about commodity prices. In their view, the various types of commodity prices with which they are most familiar can often better reflect the resilience and support capabilities of a regime.
This exchange of information lasted for nearly an hour, and each other inevitably had to discuss and analyze the situations they learned and put forward their own opinions.
Weng Qiyang felt that it was almost done, so he coughed slightly, and everyone became quiet.
"That's the situation. I guess everyone knows it by heart. If it was just a sale by the imperial court, there would be no need for you and me to come to war in such a big way. In fact, we are just here to take a look at the imperial court's performance..."
Weng Qiyang knew that if he didn't speak up, these people would never speak up. This was not only Weng's status, but also a responsibility and pressure.
"Judging from the current situation, I think the performance of the imperial court seems to be better than that of Nanjing..." Weng Qiyang said calmly: "There may be many unsatisfactory things, but just for these hundreds of thousands of refugees entering the capital, the capital
The city can still provide food and accommodation in an orderly manner. The current situation actually dares to allow refugees to enter the city. This is not easy. If you don’t have some confidence, I’m afraid you won’t dare. I don’t think Nanjing will have the courage to encounter such a situation.
Courageous, right?”
"Mr. Weng, prices in the capital have become more expensive than we expected, especially the price of food..." Du Sanbao hesitated for a moment before saying.
"It is true that food prices are soaring, but if it is beyond our expectations, I don't think so. The price is one aspect, but I think the key is to see whether it can be controlled. This is the key..." Weng Qiyang
Seems very confident.
"I specifically asked people to check the food prices from July last year to now, and compared them with the food prices at this time last year. The increase was indeed fierce at first, but after the sharp increase after the Qiu Ni in Tiewang Mountain last year,
The rise soon slowed down, but of course it is definitely still rising. There is a severe drought in the north and water transportation is interrupted. If there is no rise due to these two factors, then our Jiangnan will not be the same as Jiangnan..."
Everyone laughed. This was their background. Goods flowed from the north to the south. It was merchants like them who supported the trade flow in this great Zhou Dynasty, especially the transportation of grain from the south to the north.
"Grain prices are rising, but the extent of the increase has slowed down. There are even ups and downs. Of course, the overall trend is still rising. But do we know how much grain is stored in Dinggu and Yuguan? We probably know it, but do the people know it?
?I don’t know, but they think that Dingzigu and Yuguan have enough food, haven’t they seen "Today's News" saying this all the time? The people in Beijing have even more trust in it than the imperial newspaper.
…”
Su Zingxian took up what Weng Qiyang said, "Young Master Weng is right. If the people in Beijing think that the food is safe, they will not rush to buy it. As long as this trend does not start, the price of food will be controllable. This is not the case."
There seems to be some tacit understanding between the imperial court and this "Today's News" without mentioning the issue of shipping."
"Sea transportation is the imperial court's back-up plan. This is also to prevent other changes. If this hand is revealed, it can be used to stabilize the people's mood..." He Tingfa said softly, "I guess the imperial court probably has other back-ups. It seems that it is well-prepared." ah."
"Not necessarily." Du Sanbao shook his head: "With such a high rise, how long can the people in Beijing sustain it? Can they hold on until the end of the year? Will there be a bumper harvest in the north this year? I heard from the Qintian Prison that it might not be possible in the north this year. The land will continue to be dry."
"But it is enough for the imperial court to conquer Jiangnan before the end of the year." He Tingfa retorted.
"But can the imperial court do it?" Du Sanbao shook his head, "Shandong is so big. Niu Jizong and Sun Shaozu gathered the elite army of Datong in Xuanfu. There are also canals available, and it is extremely convenient to transport supplies. Can the imperial court easily defeat them? As long as it is delayed until the summer and autumn. I'm afraid that the court will be unsustainable. You don't think that Niu Jizong and Sun Shaozu can't survive even a few months? And there is Huaiyang Town as a backing. This has not yet said that if the prince in Huguang goes north, how will the court respond? Will the Jurchens and Mongols outside the Pass ignore this opportunity?"
These words made everyone present feel a little shaken.
The imperial court was surrounded by enemies on all sides. Once these enemies united, Nanjing would only need to adopt a delaying strategy to bring down the imperial court. Maritime transportation would be a temporary relief, but it would not last long, at least not yet.
Will these enemies unite?
Definitely. Even if there is no contact between them, this tacit understanding will allow them to act quickly. If the imperial court wants to defeat Nanjing, it will not be able to end the war in three to five months. This is enough for the surrounding enemies to act. Woke up.
I have to say that Du Sanbao's views are still very realistic. Unless the imperial court can completely defeat Nanjing in one fell swoop, if it drags on and the surrounding enemies unite to launch an attack, will the imperial court ignore one thing and lose the other, or even fall into crisis?
"Actually, it doesn't matter if we can't capture Jiangnan by the end of the year. As long as we capture Shandong, it will be enough." Su Zingxian said slowly.
"Why does Brother Sine say that?" Du Sanbao asked in confusion: "Can Shandong supply what Gyeonggi needs?"
"Shandong will definitely not be able to meet the needs of Gyeongsang Province, but at least it can alleviate the pressure on Gyeongsang Province to a certain extent, and water transportation can go directly to Jining and even Xuzhou!" Su Xingxian replied: "This does not include sea transportation, which is still an unstoppable channel. , it’s just not as effective as water transport.”
"Xuzhou?" Everyone was confused.
"Chen Jixian has both sides. Who can tell clearly what Chen Jixian's attitude will be once the imperial court takes over Shandong? Even if he does not surrender to the imperial court immediately, he will at least have to secretly communicate with the imperial court. He might be secretly communicating with the imperial court now. Where's the song?" Su Zingxian curled his lips. This was the rumored news brought by Gu Dengfeng, "If Chen Jixian's attitude is ambiguous, brother Tingfa, Yangzhou and Huai'an dare to sever ties with Xuzhou?"
He Tingfa shook his head, "That's impossible, unless Nanjing sends a large army to the Pizhou front line. Even then, the effect will not be good, and it may even trigger Chen Jixian to take the lead in sending troops to Jiangnan."
"If that's the case, then what are we worried about?" Weng Qiyang made the final decision, "Based on our current observations and understanding, it is impossible for the imperial court to be unable to sustain itself for even one year. Moreover, even if foreign enemies join forces, the Mongols and Jurchens will be defeated.
Liaodong, the prince sent his troops out of Henan, so what? After all, the court still has Liaodong town, can't it hold on for a year? After Shandong is solved in one year, Jiangnan will not be able to hold on at all. By then, the army will move south in one fell swoop, and Jiangnan will
I’m afraid it’ll just depend on spreading the word.”
Du Sanbao hesitated for a moment, "Nanjing can't just watch the imperial court take over Shandong without taking any action, right?"
"What action can Nanjing take?" Su Zingxian asked with a sneer: "You don't know the three guarantees of those soldiers in the Jiangnan Guard Station, do you?"
Everyone chuckled.
Indeed, it is well known that the situation of the Jiangnan garrison army is not strong enough for a fight. In the past few years, hundreds of Japanese pirates were able to run rampant in various prefectures in southern Zhili, making it difficult to control them, which is embarrassing to say the least.
"It can't be said that if Wang Ziteng's Denglai army frees up its hands to defend Nanzhili, it may be delayed for a while, but once Shandong is lost and the Xuanfu army and Datong army are defeated, the imperial court can take the initiative, and this
If the public sentiment and trends change, Nanjing will soon be able to get back on its feet."
What Weng Qiyang said was very pertinent, including Du Sanbao who was most worried and He Tingfa who was still hesitant and had to nod.
"Besides, we are just evaluating and analyzing now. It does not mean that we have to stand on which side. We are businessmen and do our own thing. Which side we prefer is our own business. If we
It's like coming to the capital, walking around, taking a look, and purchasing some things that suit our needs. What's the point?" Weng Qiyang said more and more calmly, "Even other people's purchases of houses and land don't seem to have much to do with us, no?
What?"
Everyone smiled and nodded.
"Okay, everyone has been talking for so long, and everyone's hearts have become enlightened. Nothing has happened, and there is no attitude. It is still the same as before. Just be careful..." Weng Qiyang clapped his hands and stood up.
, "Everyone, please go back early."
This round of sales has been postponed to mid-January. The Ministry of Finance is very worried about this and is very pessimistic about whether it can achieve the goal. However, Feng Ziying is confident.
There are more than 120 houses and farms, which can be said to be too many or too many. It is impossible to rely solely on the purchasing power of the capital. But if all the merchants in Jiangnan are shouted at, it will not be enough.
Moreover, this round of sales has a big discount on the base price, and buyers who participate in the bidding are also welcome to check it out in advance.
Compared with the Jingtong Ercang case, which mainly focused on various antiques, this round is mainly about mansions and farms, which account for the vast majority. Therefore, these mansions and farms do not require an expert, and anyone can walk around and find them.
Just ask and you can get a rough idea.
"I told the Ministry of Household Affairs that we are going to buy the house in Rongning Second Mansion." Feng Ziying sat on the edge of the bed, soaking her feet in hot water. Next to her were Baochai, Baoqin, Yingchun, and Yingchun.
Son, Ling Guan was rubbing Feng Ziying's feet, while Si Qi was beating his back.
"Ah?" Although they were mentally prepared, when Feng Ziying raised the matter seriously, Baochai, Baoqin and Yingchun were still a little shocked, "Mr. sir, is there any problem?"
"What's the problem? Mr. Huang is still looking forward to begging someone to buy it. The location of Rongning Second Mansion is too far away, far less than that of Yongfang, Anfufang, Mingyufang, Jiqingfang, Nanxunfang and Baoda.
The locations of Fangqingfang, Qingfangfang and Renshoufang are good, but the area is too large, there are many illegal things, and the renovation cost is not small. There were few people visiting some time ago. I heard that there were only two or three families, and there was nothing to see.
If people care about it, it will be really uncomfortable if it falls into the hands of the Ministry of Finance." Feng Ziying looked nonchalant.