Daming: I asked you to hang yourself, but I didn’t ask you to rebuild the Ming Dynasty

Li Shusheng:

"What your Majesty said is true, it is true.

Therefore, merchants are usually limited to a certain place, and the circulation of goods relies more on specialized transport gangs, horse gangs, etc. "

Zhu Youjian became interested and asked:

"How are the prices calculated for these transporters?"

“It’s expensive!“

Li Shusheng sighed:

"As the saying goes, sailing a boat and running a horse are three parts of your destiny. They run freight with their heads high, and the money they collect is naturally high.

It usually accounts for more than [-]% of the total value of the goods. If it is hauling handy materials or valuable materials, the price can even account for more than half! "

Zhu Youjian raised his eyebrows.

This price is really too expensive!

No wonder it was rare to see big businessmen across the country at this time.

"Tell me about the caravan? How much does their shipping cost?"

"Your Majesty, today, in the mountains of southwest China, there are horse gangs transporting goods. They are divided into professional Dian gangs and makeshift gangs.

These transporters, because they originated from Yunnan, mostly transported tea, so they came to be known as the Tea Horse Merchant Gang.

If Pu'er is transported from Yunnan to Sichuan, the price will be double that of the original tea. "

“As for the reason why the price is high, in addition to the difficulty of traveling on trade routes, it is also more likely to be robbers.

If it were a bandit from a mountain, it would be easier to talk about.

Such people usually only need half of the goods or money to buy the goods, and rarely do anything to avoid being exterminated by the government.

The biggest fear is that other caravans will pretend to be bandits and rob. Usually no one will be left alive in such a robbery!

This is the main reason for high shipping costs. "

The prince who stayed aside said in surprise:

“Then why hasn’t anyone integrated the entire tea-horse merchant gang?

If this step is achieved, the shipping cost will be reduced a lot, right? "

Zhu Youjian laughed:

"My great-grandfather, after the restoration of China, I remember that I once made a living by begging.

Therefore, he divided the world's beggars among themselves and managed the beggars in the world.

Even the beggar head of Taizu, the old man with a golden mouth and jade seal, could not achieve national unification, let alone these freight gangs! "

It is clearly recorded in the history books that by the Song Dynasty, there were gangs of beggars.

"Tokyo Menghualu" clearly records - "As for beggars, there are also standards. The slightest slack will be tolerated."

After Zhu Yuanzhang succeeded to the throne, he divided the world among beggars.

These beggars who have obtained official status have the same rights as the military households of the Ming Dynasty, with the right to succeed after the father dies.

At the same time, in order to prevent someone from persecuting the people and begging for profit, Zhu Yuanzhang made strict regulations in the "Ming Law":

"Anyone who harvests or mutilates a human being shall be executed without mercy and his property shall be forfeited to the family of the deceased."

As long as someone dares to intentionally maim someone, not only will they be executed hurriedly, but all their property will be confiscated and handed over to the victim...

However, even though the beggars of the Ming Dynasty were entrusted by the founder of the country, there was never a national beggar gang.

A nationwide beggar gang had to wait until the Qing Dynasty.

In the Jianghuai area, beggar gangs gradually took control of water transportation.

With the help of water transportation, the beggars in China were finally integrated, thus forming a relatively unified "beggars gang".

Prince Zhu Cixi understood.

Even the beggar head conferred by Emperor Taizu could not integrate the beggars, let alone the caravans.

Zhu Youjian looked at Li Shusheng.

This guy is a descendant of Li Xian, who comes from a top wealthy family.

Li Shusheng knows much more about this era than he does.

Zhu Youjian asked:

“You said you can also use banknotes for inter-provincial transactions.

How was this banknote exchanged? "

Zhu Youjian directed his words towards the bank.

Li Shusheng explained:

"Your Majesty, for example, I want to go to Jiangxi to buy porcelain.

Then, I can find a merchant who has a shop in Jiangxi. It is best if he has a shop in Handu.

In this way, Xiaochen can take the silver and ask him to write a "note" for Xiaochen to go to Jiangxi and exchange the silver at his shop.

In this way, Xiaochen can go on his way with only a few pieces of paper.

In this way, it will not attract the attention of thieves. "

Zhu Youjian frowned:

“What if the person dies on the way before redemption?

When the time comes, how will the money be taken out? "

"It all depends on one's conscience!"

Li Shusheng smiled bitterly:

"If the other party is conscientious, they will return the money after checking the account books.

If they are not conscientious, even if they go to the government, they will most likely lose the case...

Because the other party only needs to make false accounts on the books. "

Zhu Cixiang said in surprise:

“Isn’t there an inspection to examine handwriting?

As early as the Warring States Period, there were love books.

China has long had a mature method for examining evidence.

Once you go to court, isn't it obvious?

Even if someone imitates the handwriting, there are traces to follow! "

"Your Highness, the official word has two meanings!"

Li Shusheng sighed:

“Not to mention being thousands of miles away, it’s inconvenient to travel back and forth.

But the biggest problem is that people's hearts are separated from each other.

Those who are able to issue redemption certificates are all local wealthy families. Even if the local officials are honest and enforce the law impartially, people have long known about it.

If they take over the local government, they only need to produce false evidence, and they can legally swallow the money.

If the local government can't handle it, then they just need to insist that the money has been taken away long ago, and for some reason, no written receipt has been established...

I dare to ask Your Highness, how can we determine this? "

Zhu Cixiang stopped talking.

Zhu Youjian sighed:

"Look, there are difficulties on both sides!

Doing business is not easy! "

These days, too many businessmen are gone forever!

Not only were their lives lost, but their family fortunes were also lost.

Everyone sighed.

Yes, it seems that businessmen can indeed make a lot of money.

but--

If a big businessman can enter the officialdom, it is good to say that he can at least rely on the strength of the post stations in various places to protect his family.

Those small businessmen are either controlled by the transport gangs, or they just do business with their heads up.

It's exactly that saying - cars, boats, shops, feet, teeth, even if they are not guilty, they should be killed!

Zhu Youjian laughed:

"So, everyone, I will solve this problem for you!"

He pointed at Zhang Shutang and said:

"I want to open a bank!"

bank?

Seeing the emperor mention this thing again, everyone became interested.

They have been following the emperor for more than half a year, and they already know that every time His Majesty makes a move, he never fails.

Is this bank the solution to their predicament?

Zhu Youjian laughed:

"Li Shusheng, when you find someone to exchange tickets, you have to give them money, right?"

Li Shusheng nodded:

"Yes, if it is a 1000 tael exchange, you need to pay a minimum of 50 taels of silver depending on the distance."