Nine hundred and fortieth chapters Qianjin buys a horse
Liu Shangdong chuckled, "It's an honor for the Liu family to be able to associate with the Dugu family, so why bother?"
"Uncle Shi is too modest!"
Liu Shangdong asked Dugu Mingli to sit down and asked with a smile: "Have those ten large ships started to be used?"
Dugu Mingli leaned forward and said: "It is currently docked in Runzhou for repairs and inspections, and then we are going to go to Silla to purchase paper and medicinal materials from Silla."
Liu Shangdong stroked his beard and said with a smile: "The paper in Silla is relatively cheap, it seems to be only 30% of that in Chang'an! The medicinal materials are also good, and you can buy high-aged ginseng. Are you planning to use Runzhou as your home port?"
Dugu Mingli shook his head, "We are planning to use Cangzhou Hekou Port as the home port. After the goods arrive at the shore, they can be directly transferred to inland water transportation and shipped to Chang'an."
Liu Shangdong became somewhat interested and asked: "Isn't Hekou Port abandoned?"
"Of course it is not abandoned. It is now used as a salt port. Currently, the Salt and Iron Department, the Cangzhou government and the county government are conducting comprehensive renovations on the port. I believe it will become the largest port in the north sooner or later."
Since Hekou Port has been mentioned, Dugu Mingli simply continued to follow this topic, "Zhu Si was defeated in Hebei. According to accurate information, he wants to recruit another 100,000 troops, but where will the military expenditure come from? Luoyang and the Central Plains have been destroyed.
He has nothing to lose, so he can only pursue Jianghuai's ideas. Yangzhou is the first to bear the brunt. I believe that soon, Zhu Si will take action against Yangzhou's giant businessmen again. Liu Shishu, Yangzhou is already very unsafe, and it is time to make a choice."
Speaking of this, Dugu Mingli took out the autographed letter from King Jin Guo Song and put it on the table, pushing it to Liu Shangdong, "This is the autographed letter from His Highness King Jin to Uncle Shi, please uncle Shi to read it!"
Liu Shangdong was shocked to find that it was an autographed letter from His Highness the Prince of Jin. He quickly picked up the letter respectfully, opened it and read it carefully. After reading the letter, he was silent for a moment in deep thought.
Dugu Mingli saw that Liu Shangdong was a little tempted, so he struck while the iron was hot: "His Royal Highness the King of Jin has always told my father to govern the country with Confucianism, strengthen the country with the army, nourish the country with agriculture, rejuvenate the country with industry, and enrich the country with business. He speaks from the bottom of his heart
The purpose of developing business was not to fatten and kill pigs. Now Chang'an has become the most prosperous place in the world. This is no accident, but the result of His Highness the King of Jin's long-term emphasis on business. When people go to higher places, I think the Liu family chooses Chang'an.
Sensible."
Liu Shangdong said after a while: "I have seen the sincerity of His Highness Prince Jin. To be honest, I am very touched. But this decision is a big deal for the Liu family. I need to discuss it with my family. Let's do this! Two days later, I will give Mr. Dugu a formal
reply."
...........
Dugu Mingli said goodbye and left. Liu Shangdong immediately came to the back house and found his father Liu Xun. His father became a monk and practiced Buddhism. He had not been involved in family affairs for a long time, but today's matter was not trivial. He hoped that his father could give him guidance.
one direction.
The sound of wooden fish came from the meditation room, and his father Liu Xun said coldly: "I devote myself to practicing Buddhism and no longer care about worldly affairs. You have discussed and decided these things, so why bother asking me?"
Liu Shangdong knelt at the door and said: "If it is a trivial matter, I won't bother my father. But this matter is related to the life and death of the family. I can't make up my mind. Please ask my father for advice."
After a long while, Liu Xun said calmly: "Come in!"
Liu Shangdong walked into his father's Zen room. There was a faint scent of sandalwood lingering in the room. Except for an incense burner, a futon, and a wooden fish, there was nothing else in the room. His old father, who was over seventy years old, was sitting cross-legged.
On the futon, she looked at him with majestic eyes.
Liu Xun was much more powerful than his son Liu Shangdong. He traveled all over the country for decades, traveling to Southeast Asia, Japan, and west to Tianzhu and Persia. It can be said that the Liu family became the number one maritime merchant in the Tang Dynasty because of the foundation laid by Liu Xun.
But ten years ago, he suddenly saw through the world of mortals and became a layman. He has been concentrating on practicing Buddhism at home and basically no longer cares about family affairs.
Liu Shangdong knelt down and said: "My child received a personal letter today from King Guo Song of Jin, sincerely inviting our Liu family to move to Chang'an. This is the second time he has sent an invitation. My child is very conflicted and I don't know what to do."
"What conditions did he offer that actually made you feel his sincerity?" Liu Xun asked.
"The fact that King Jin wrote an autographed letter to his son is a sign of great sincerity. In addition, he promised in the letter to sell a thirty-acre garden house to the Liu family as the Liu family's residence in Chang'an. If the Liu family wants to
If he makes a contribution, he will also ennoble the Liu family."
"Aren't you willing to move to Chang'an?"
The "you" Liu Xun mentioned refers to Liu Shangdong, his two brothers, and his three sons. The six of them can decide the future of the family.
Liu Shangdong sighed, "I am neutral, only Erlang wants to move to Chang'an, the other four want to go to Hangzhou, and then move the fleet to Mingzhou."
"Since most people want to go to Hangzhou, what are you worried about?"
"My son is worried that King Jin gave us enough face, but in the end we didn't appreciate it. I'm afraid he will retaliate against us in the future."
"Do you think he can take revenge on the Liu family?" Liu Xun asked again.
Liu Shangdong nodded, "If he wants to take revenge, he can definitely do it."
Liu Xun thought for a moment and then asked: "I still want to know why he wants to take revenge on the Liu family? Is it just because he can't let go of face?"
"It's not because I can't let go of face!"
Liu Shangdong explained: "Father, this is actually the reason why he wants to win over the Liu family."
"Tell me more specifically, what is the reason?"
"The child understands in his heart that he actually values our sea-going ships. They have been in the west for a long time. They just captured Hebei and gained access to the sea, but they do not have large ships to go to sea. If they want to build a batch of large-scale ships, they do not have ten
It can't be done in twenty years, and the time is very unfavorable to Jin, so the King of Jin wants to use the Liu family's ships."
Liu Xun nodded, "Your analysis makes sense. It seems that we are indeed important to King Jin. If that's the case, then just move to Chang'an. What are you worried about?"
"I'm not worried about anything. The key thing is that the third son and my sons are worried that the King of Jin will be like Zhu Si, borrowing ships in the name of not returning them in the future, so Zhu Si lent us twenty large ships.
, was later detained by Zhu Tao and never returned, so the matter ended."
Liu Xun gently stroked the wooden fish stick in his hand, and after a while he slowly said: "I'll give you a suggestion. If the Liu family can survive overseas and never return to China, you really don't have to consider the requirements of the superiors, but if you
If you can't leave for a while, you must have a choice.
The so-called businessmen do not get involved in politics. Those are childish lies. Believing them will kill people. Whoever you think can unify the world in the future, go and join them. The sooner you join, the greater the dividends you will get in the future. Don’t worry about it for a while.
When it comes to your children’s gains and losses, you must take a long-term view.”
"My child understands!" Liu Shangdong kowtowed to his father and slowly stood up and retreated.
Liu Xun closed his eyes and started beating the wooden fish again and chanting sutras, as if nothing had happened.
Liu Shangdong then summoned his two brothers and three sons to the back hall to discuss matters. Unlike last time, when he was indecisive and was unable to make up his mind due to the arguments between his brothers and sons, his father now taught him a lesson. There is no position.
Businessmen are like fish on the chopping board. Anyone can kill you. If you want others to protect you but are unwilling to give anything, you will get nothing in the end.
"I have already decided on what I discussed with you last time!"
Liu Shangdong glanced at everyone and said calmly: "I have decided to move the Liu family to Chang'an and bid farewell to Yangzhou for the time being."
There was a sudden shock in the lobby. The eldest son Liu Qingshan said anxiously: "Father, didn't you decide to move to Hangzhou? Why did you change your mind again?"
Liu Shangdong shook the letter in his hand, "This is a personal letter written by King Guo Song of Jin to me. As the supreme king of the world, he asked us to move to Chang'an. I have to give this face. If we ignore it, one day we will
regret."
Liu Qingshan was silent as he looked at the letter in his father's hand. Of course he was not stupid. The more sincerity King Jin showed, the more pressure he would feel. Although Han Huang invited them to Jiangnan, he did not produce an autographed letter. In fact, the Liu family still had everything
It's all up to you.
"Brother, what kind of favorable conditions did King Jin give?" Liu Shangnan, the third child, asked.
"Promise to sell us a thirty-acre garden and house, promise to ennoble our family in the future, provided that we have meritorious service, and also promise that we can put part of the ships in Mingzhou and the other part in Cangzhou."
"This is the best!"
The second eldest son, Liu Shangbei, said excitedly: "In fact, he promised us that the Liu family would have three caves and leave a retreat in the south of the Yangtze River, and he actually agreed to sell us the garden and house. This sincerity is really touching."
Liu Shangdong's second son Liu Qingyun raised his hand and asked: "Second uncle, what is the garden house?"
"You are ignorant! The garden house is the house on the east bank of Qujiang River. It is where the royal family and other powerful people live. No businessman has ever been able to live there. Of course, it is one thing whether we can live in the garden house or not.
,The key is that King Jin shows his sincerity."
For this reason, Liu Shangdong's three sons no longer objected. Liu Shangdong said decisively: "Since we have decided to leave, we must speed up. Once Zhu Si discovers us, we will not be able to leave. We will leave in two groups."
, tomorrow night at the latest, our whole family will get on the boat, go north to Cangzhou, and then transfer from Cangzhou to Chang'an."
In fact, the Liu family has long been ready to move. All the wealth was transferred to three large sea ships like ants moving. The sea ships were anchored at Runzhou Pier, and hundreds of sea ships had already gone to Mingzhou in advance. As long as
More than a hundred members of their family boarded the boat and left, and Zhu Si could no longer persecute them.