Jiu Zhang Ji: The Daily Life of the Reborn Daughter

Chapter 168: We didn’t have it before, but from now on, we have it

The first passenger route encountered many setbacks, but the auctions for the next two cargo routes went very smoothly. This really proves the old saying that everything is difficult at the beginning.

But it's quite interesting when you think about it carefully. The initiator of this auction, Qiao Lili, is the future prince's consort. So, two princesses come to disrupt the situation. Is this called evenly matched?

After several rounds of fierce bidding between the Cao Gang and the Shao Company, the first cargo route was finally won by the dark horse Yinze Sheng Company, which suddenly emerged, at a price of 7.2 million taels.

After the bid exceeded six million, the Cao Gang became cautious in raising the price. Then a little-known Yinze Sheng trading company joined in. They were neither anxious nor panicked, and raised the price by 100,000 taels at a time. After it exceeded seven million, the Shao Firm and the Cao Gang gave up one after another, and watched helplessly as the Yinze Sheng trading company, which they had never heard of, won a freight route with a bidding price of 7.2 million taels of silver.

This is not the most infuriating thing. The most infuriating thing is that the Yinze Sheng Trading Company does not even have a private room. There is only one person sitting in the hall. Relying on the small wooden sign in his hand, he defeated the most powerful trading company and the most powerful Cao Gang in water transportation in Dayan.

When Murong Mo's hammer fell, it shattered the glass hearts on the ground. Who could have thought that the person who was thought to be watching the fun like himself sitting in the hall was actually a hidden big boss.

At that moment, the entire auction hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Everyone was waiting for the auction house's manager Wen, or Murong Mo to come and announce that Yin Zesheng had not paid the bidding deposit, or had falsified his identity, and therefore was disqualified from the auction, and the auction would be invalid.

However, it didn't happen. Half a quarter of an hour passed and no one came to announce that Murong Mo on the auction table was ready to start bidding for the second cargo route. Everyone realized that everything was a foregone conclusion.

The registration of Yin Ze Sheng with Eunuch Li was just a standard business name, nothing special. However, Qiao Lili felt that the name was familiar. She should have heard of the name of this business in her previous life, but she was trapped in the inner house and did not have a deep impression of it.

The Caobang had bid twice but failed to gain anything. After the second cargo route was auctioned, their enthusiasm was obviously not high. They obviously wanted to give up, perhaps because they felt the price was too high. After obtaining a passenger route, Shaw Trading Company still wanted to acquire a cargo route and was still very active in this round of bidding.

The dark horse that has emerged this time is the Beijing United Trading Company, which is composed of fifteen large trading companies in Beijing. When the first two routes were auctioned, this united trading company had been on the sidelines, but now that the Cao Gang has withdrawn from the bidding, they are eager to try.

When the price reached six million taels, it was obvious that the Shaw Company was running out of stamina. The Beijing United Firm thought that their chance had come and directly offered six and a half million taels, hoping to win the bid by seven hundred thousand taels less than Yin Zesheng.

Shaw Trading Company did not raise its bid, apparently it had decided to give up. They had bid for a passenger route, and the contract stipulated that the bottom layer of the passenger ship could also carry cargo. They had obviously taken this aspect of convenience into consideration, so as prices continued to rise, they did not insist on bidding for a cargo route.

Murong Mo knocked on the hammer, "Six million and five hundred thousand taels for once."

He struck the hammer again, "Six million five hundred thousand taels twice."

He had already raised his hammer, and just as he was about to bring it down, a man came into box number four and shouted, "Seven million taels." It was the Cao Gang bidding again.

"Greetings to Deputy Gang Leader Yang." The original bidders in Box No. 4 stood up and saluted the latecomers.

"No need for formalities, let's get down to business first. If you gain nothing this time, you don't have to go back to Cao Gang." After Deputy Gang Leader Yang took his seat, his eyes were fixed on Murong Mo on the auction table.

"Seven million one hundred thousand taels." After some discussion, the Beijing United Trading Company raised the price by one hundred thousand taels.

"Seven thousand and five hundred thousand taels." Deputy Gang Leader Yang who came later raised the price again.

"Deputy Gang Leader Yang, the Gang Leader has ordered that no more bidding will be allowed for amounts exceeding six and a half million taels." The person from the Cao Gang who was previously responsible for participating in the auction carefully informed Deputy Gang Leader Yang.

"When you are away from home, you are not subject to orders from the king. You must take this route at all costs." The old gang leader was too conservative, afraid that he would expose the truth, so he kept the fact that he had set a reserve price a secret from him. "We are the Cao Gang of Dayan. The Ganjiang River, the longest and most extensive river in Dayan, has opened up water transportation, but it has nothing to do with the Cao Gang. Tell me, how can our Cao Gang survive in the future?"

It's just a few million taels of silver, it's not all lost. Others can afford it, so why can't the Cao Gang afford it? When it comes to water transportation, in Dayan, the Cao Gang dares to say it's second, and no one dares to say it's first.

"Seven hundred and six hundred thousand taels." After a negotiation that lasted longer than the last time, the Beijing United Trading Company raised the price by another hundred thousand taels. They thought they could get a bargain, but unexpectedly, they had to pay more than the previous route. However, if they gave up, the Beijing United Trading Company would get nothing.

"Eight million taels!" Deputy Gang Leader Yang didn't listen to anyone else's opinion and directly offered his own price.

The united businesses in Beijing saw that the Cao Gang was determined to win, so they chose to stop.

Firstly, the price has exceeded their expectations. Secondly, they feel that they cannot compete with the Cao Gang, so it would be better to leave a way out so that it will be easier to deal with them in the future.

Murong Mo struck three times with his hammer, and the Cao Gang obtained the five-year right to use the second cargo route in exchange for eight million taels of silver.

Some were happy while others were sad. Those who didn't take photos were disappointed, and those who did were not all happy. "Deputy Gang Leader Yang, we can't explain to you." The Cao Gang member who came to participate in the auction said to Deputy Gang Leader Yang tremblingly.

"I'll take care of everything. Just complete the following formalities."

The three routes were auctioned for a total of 20.2 million taels of silver. Excluding the commission taken by Jiade Auction House, 18 million taels of silver easily went into the national treasury.

There were other items to be auctioned next, so Emperor Yong'an and Concubine Yun didn't plan to stay here, and they set off for the palace. With the silver, he would have salaries and food for the war on the border, and he would have porridge and houses for the people in need of disaster relief. Isn't it just silver? We didn't have it before, but we will have it from now on.

He felt that his back was straighter when he walked.

When these three routes are in the hands of various trading companies, they will be opened as quickly as possible. The revenue at that time, as well as a share of the national treasury, will be extremely considerable and sustainable. In this way, the mountain of poverty that has been weighing on him will be easily removed by a little girl.

The more Emperor Yong'an looked at Qiao Lili, the more he liked her. There was a loving smile in the corners of his eyes and brows. In his heart, she was his successor, the empress of Dayan.

For some reason, Qiao Lili shuddered as she was bathed in the kind and gentle gaze of Emperor Yong'an. Yu Jingyan looked at his father. Could it be that his little A'li had some misunderstanding? This was not a kind and gentle gaze at all, but a malicious one.

He knew what his father was planning, so he quickly hugged Qiao Lili in his arms and looked at his father sharply: Don't set your sights on my wife. You can't even handle your own wife, and yet you keep targeting other people's wives. Humph.