Iron Dynasty

PS: Tonight at the third watch, tomorrow at the sixth watch to make up for yesterday and today.

The atmosphere in the office is a bit stagnant.

After being silent for a long time, Cao Zhengyang said: His Royal Highness, our Cao family fully supports His Highness, but this matter is too big, Cao must go back and discuss it with my father.

Uh... Now it was Xiao Ming's turn to be surprised. He didn't expect Cao Zhengyang to answer so happily.

Today is the first time he has proposed this idea. This is just the prototype of the East India Company, a prototype of a company that uses capital as a driving force to plunder resources around the world.

What he said just now was nothing but the idea of ​​turning the attack on the barbarians into a gluttonous feast for merchants.

Speaking of this, Cao Zhengyang became more and more excited, and then he said bluntly: It seems that my father sent Cao to come this time. It is said that His Highness said in the court that all the things he made came from a Western missionary. It seems that His Highness did not lie. , to be honest, our Cao family is doing business with the Dutch.

Xiao Ming's teacup in his hand shook, and his expression became solemn, You mean Dutch?

Yes, it's the Dutch. Isn't His Highness sending Yue Yun a long voyage this time to establish a trade route with the Westerners?

Turning his eyes, Xiao Ming said, That's right, this is what this king has in mind. It's just that the king of Chu also knows about the Dutch?

Cao Zhengyang seemed surprised, he said: Yes, the King of Chu has been in secret contact with the Dutch. At first, the Dutch thought that the King of Chu was the current sage. Later, they understood, and the King of Chu gave them the most favored nation treatment, and promised to only Do business with the Dutch, and the Dutch give up.

Xiao Ming nodded. Since Cao Zhengyang knew about Western affairs, he didn't need to hide it when he learned that he once had a Western priest and teacher.

Because in his opinion, he must understand the Western world today.

Speaking of this topic, this simple exchange of interests has changed its flavor. Xiao Ming said: The king of Chu is so daring, he has been hiding from the court for so many years, damn it!

His Royal Highness, every vassal king has his own secrets, doesn't His Highness also have them? Cao Zhengyang's eyes were bright, Of course, what we businessmen pursue is always profit. Our Cao family has seen Western chambers of commerce, and they are following the footsteps of national wars to make a fortune.

You know so much, so I won't say much about it. Since your Cao family wants to do business in this king's fief, there is one more thing I hope you can agree to.

Xiao Ming did not expect that today's simple meeting with the Cao family would develop to this level.

From this point of view, the Western powers outside the Great Yu Kingdom have already divided the sphere of influence all over the world, and the barbarians in the north have not yet been settled.

Your Highness, please speak?

The granaries of the Cao family are all over the Great Yu Kingdom, and there is a huge shortage of food in this king's fief, so this king wants to buy some food from the Cao family, Xiao Ming said.

How much food does Your Highness need, please give us the amount.

Six million stone grains. Xiao Ming said.

Last year, he blackmailed millions of stone grains from King Wei, and with the addition of barter for business, these grains were enough to support the soldiers, but if they were on average, they would only be enough for one year.

In this way, he is still two years short of reserves. He calculated that his fief needs six million stone grains a year, and he bought exactly the amount for one year.

The rest he thinks of a way.

Cao Zhengyang's color changed slightly, these six million stones are not a small number, Your Highness is joking, our Cao family is not the king of Wei, although the Cao family is rumored to be the richest man in the world, but its financial resources are far less than that of any vassal king. In my opinion, our Cao family can provide at most 500,000 shi of food, but now there is a gap between the Dutch and the King of Chu. The King of Chu is in need of a lot of artillery to build his fleet, and His Highness can exchange artillery with the King of Chu. , our Cao family is willing to promote this matter for His Highness in front of the King of Chu.

Xiao Ming stared into Cao Zhengyang's eyes. The Cao family suddenly came and placed such a big bet on him, which he had never expected. Now he wants to help him like this.

He doubts that the Cao family may be in some kind of predicament now, and this predicament is a life-and-death predicament.

Otherwise, the Cao family would not be able to take such a big risk to contact him.

Is it really as he thought, the King of Chu was going to kill this fat pig to feed himself? And the Cao family had a hunch in advance?

However, if this is the case, the Cao family will definitely lose a lot, even if they survive, they will not lose the name of the richest man.

And taking advantage of this, he can also read the book of the King of Chu, scolding him for concealing things from the Dutch and deceiving the king.

Thinking of this, he said, That's how it works.

Your Highness is very polite, it is our Cao Family's honor to serve His Highness.

Cao Zhengyang was all smiles, and a stone fell to the ground in his heart. Meeting King Qi this time was really a dangerous move for the Cao family.

Just a step forward is death, and a step back is also death. They are also forced to, just to survive.

After talking about this, Xiao Ming said to Li Kaiyuan: Kaiyuan, you are responsible for entertaining these two days, so as not to lose the courtesy.

Li Kaiyuan nodded, Xiao Ming's status was noble, and naturally he was Li Kaiyuan in charge of entertaining Cao Zhengyang.

When the two left, Xiao Ming fell into contemplation.

The visit of the Cao family this time is really beyond his expectations, although he is confident that the Cao family can't help but find him to do business sooner or later.

It's just that he didn't expect to be in this situation, remembering Cao Zhengyang's fake surprise when he revealed that the king of Chu and the Dutch were in contact, he became more and more sure that there was a problem between the Cao family and the king of Chu.

As for why the Cao family chose this opportunity, it was naturally Yue Yun's fleet that gave him the capital to exchange interests.

With a sneer, Xiao Ming stood up. He needed capital, but he also didn't believe in capital.

Capital will help him expand his territory, but if he is not careful, it will kill him.

Therefore, Xiao Ming has always been cautious about business, using its favorable side and beware of its sinister and bloody side.

However, if the Cao family really provided logistics for their expedition against the barbarians, it would show that the Cao family really had a long-term vision, and they really should be wary.

Thinking all the way, Xiao Ming went to the palace.

On the way, he suddenly bumped into Pang Yukun.

His Royal Highness, the lower official is going to the palace to find you. Pang Yukun was a little anxious.

What's wrong?

Pang Yukun said: Xiaguan's friends in Jizhou sent two letters in a row, one of which mentioned that there had been civil unrest in King Yong's fief, and King Yong was sending troops to suppress and strictly block the news. This is not a good sign.

Hearing this, Xiao Ming frowned, his worries are gradually becoming a reality.