Survival countdown

As soon as they left the Jiangxi Chamber of Commerce and turned a corner, Zhao Baiyu and Yanbing went around and hid in the corner to watch. After a while, they saw a female officer wearing a fence coming out of it.

"See? Wait for me." Zhao Baiyu said with a smile.

Yan Bing was puzzled: "They did this to force you to kowtow and admit your mistake?"

"That's what I mean by bowing my head and admitting defeat. Whether it is Shangui or the Shipping Department, they are all on the same line with Gan merchants. I kowtow to Jiangxi merchants. Scholars have a high spirit, and civil servants have a higher spirit. It is really forced to change someone. Kowtow, maybe I will find a rope and hang myself when I go home. If I kowtow, how will I get along in the officialdom in the future? Another reason is that the Holy Majesty will not remove me for this, nor will I really chop off my head, so he sent The imperial envoy explained to Liangjiang. Instead of forcing the fish to die, it is better to leave room, humiliate my morale, and boost the morale of Liangjiang officials and businessmen who have been hit hard one after another recently."

Zhao Baiyu was thoughtful: "I don't know whether it is the third master behind Chen Luowu or Princess Changping who sees through the situation."

If it was Princess Changping, it would be easy to understand, after all, she was familiar with Emperor Yuanshou's temperament.

On the contrary, if the rumored "Third Master" can understand the temperament of the emperor above the temple, it can be said to be extremely talented.

"Officials worshiping businessmen? Idiots are talking about dreams." Yan Bing disdainfully.

"Otherwise, how can it be called humiliation? Go back to the mansion." Zhao Baiyu waved his hand, "Wei Bo should have responded."

***

Ganshang Guild Hall.

Everyone roared with laughter, Boss Ping even handed over to Yan Sanwan, a grain merchant: "Jiang is still old and hot, once Yan Ye made a move, wouldn't the invincible Zhao Baiyu have to beg us? The humble look just now, Do you see? I hid behind and grabbed my thigh to keep from laughing!"

Guan Wenbin, the magistrate of Hongzhou, smiled with the corners of his mouth pulled, and said with some concern: "But forcing people to kneel and kowtow...would it be too humiliating? If Zhao Baiyu bites to death and does not bow his head, he will really kowtow to the end with us." what to do?"

Dou Zumao hurriedly answered: "How dare he not knock? The grain merchants went on strike, the purchase of grain was unsolvable, and the public opinion was full of turmoil. He dared to hang his neck and not bow his head. Your Majesty dared to favor Zhao Bai regardless of the life and death of the people and the participation of all officials. Fish? It’s just three bangs, you can solve this matter without sweating or bleeding, not only save his life, but also continue to be his third-rank official, such a good thing, a fool would not do it.”

The dispatch envoy Shui Honglang glanced at Dou Zumao when he heard the words, and closed his eyes. He really didn't want to look at such a servile villain. He didn't have the slightest literati spirit. Remember that the transfer judge's shortage was donated with money?

It's no wonder that if you haven't read the books of sages and sages, and haven't been educated in Confucian temples, your bones are soft.

Chen Luowu: "Third Master said that if you have the ambition to swallow Wu through hard work, and if you are humiliated by your crotch, you can be named a marquis and worship a minister. Now it is just three rings. Zhao Baiyu is a smart man, and he knows how to do it."

Boss Ping was immediately dissatisfied: "You still want to give him a chance to try his luck?"

Chen Luowu didn't speak, Shui Honglang spoke for him first: "Liangjiang is not the Wu Kingdom that despises the King of Yue, and it is not a chaotic world where rituals and music are broken. , verbal criticism, enough for him to die in Liangjiang."

When he speaks and clicks through the key, everyone feels at ease and continues to talk and laugh happily.

***

Changping Princess Mansion.

The female officer came back to report, and focused on describing Zhao Baiyu's posture and haggard and irritable appearance when he was begging for help, saying that he is now fighting a beast, but she also has the same doubts in her heart.

"Literati have always been arrogant, let alone officials worshiping merchants. I think Zhao Baiyu's character is quite rigid. I am afraid that going to the Ganshang Guild Hall to ask for help is the biggest concession. The words of Ganshang have been released. If Zhao Baiyu does not Wouldn't the situation be worse if we bowed our heads and couldn't come to the table with each other?"

The female officer thought for a while, and then said: "The imperial envoy's secret visit to Liangjiang shows that His Majesty does not intend to inquire about the crime. Zhao Baiyu has this support, and I am afraid that he will not bow his head."

"The definition of non-criminalism lies in how big the incident is and the severity of the punishment. If the grain merchants continue to strike, and there is no official grain ship to the capital at the end of March, Zhao Baiyu may be dismissed from office... This kind of disadvantage is not only dismissed from office, but also It is said that there is no question of guilt. But Zhao Baiyu will definitely kneel, not because of public opinion, officialdom, and His Majesty's attitude, but because the war in the Northwest is intensifying, and there is an urgent need for food and grass. However, Guanzhong was plagued by locusts last year. It is difficult to buy grain, once summer comes, without the grain support from Liangjiang, how much do you think the Northwest Defense Line can sustain?"

Princess Changping set out the chessboard, holding black pieces in her left hand and white pieces in her right hand. The more she played, the more she enjoyed the game. She was delighted by the satisfaction of driving the prey into a trapped beast with a sure chance of victory.

"The person who sent to inquire came back and said that my good son and my great nephew are very affectionate, and Zhao Baiyu is a person who values ​​friendship." Princess Changping chuckled: "That's why Zhao Baiyu will come to kowtow to me in person. .”

The female officer nodded halfway and was stunned. Why did she come to kowtow to the princess instead of Gan Shang?

***

Wei Bo was ordered to send Zhao Baiyu's letters to He Guangyou in Huainan and Chen Fangrong in Shandong respectively. Recommended as the prefect of Jining Prefecture.

The two of them received Zhao Baiyu's letter, pondered for a while, and then agreed without much thought, until the Kyoto government came with a decree related to a good policy of "purchasing", and their hearts were completely at ease.

At this time, Huainan He Mansion.

In order to implement and promote it as soon as possible, He Guangyou has been busy following for nearly three months, and finally promoted and completed the first batch of Huainan salt merchants to do business in the four northern provinces for cross-introduction and settlement cooperation. It went smoothly as expected.

The person who responded positively to him was Chen Fangrong, the magistrate of Jining Prefecture. I heard that he had just reported to the court a while ago, saying that the transaction and settlement made the merchants who had been watching eager to move, and the local business inspired unprecedented vitality. More than half of the annual purchase of grain was completed in less than three months, and the purchase price was a little lower than the market price monopolized by grain merchants last year.

With this good news, the imperial court supported the good strategy of buying money. It also specially praised Guangyou for advancing despite the difficulties and being the first. He was encouraged to continue to work, and it would be best to drive the surrounding provinces, especially the two Zhejiang provinces, which have been a bit passive and sabotage recently.

Master Daobi finished deliberating, and handed the revised notice to He Guangyou: "Twenty thousand copies of Huai salt, Huai tea and spices have been opened, of which [-] have been allocated to the four northern provinces, and [-] copies have been distributed. Distributed to Zhejiang Province, [-] copies to Jiangxi Province... Every three days, Jiangxi ships enter the Huaihe River, and there are frequent transactions. Why do you still reserve [-] copies for Jiangxi Province? Or after the increase? intercourse."

In order to promote the good policy of convenient purchase, the government gave generous profits and increased the price in the hands of merchants. The so-called price increase means that when the government buys grain and grass from merchants, it gives a price higher than the market price.

For example, a bucket of rice will give you an extra thirty or forty pennies. If a merchant exchanges tea or salt for tea or salt, he will give you one extra bag for every ten bags of salt.

If the profit is too large, it will inevitably breed corruption, so the distribution of cross references will be restricted.

While checking the notice, He Guangyou said, "Jiangxi merchants in the southeast dominate. I think they will have [-] official ships by the end of the year, which is three times that of our Huainan official ships! Their business focuses on Kyoto Prefecture and overseas, and they rarely do business with the North." The business is because of the long distance, it is extremely inconvenient to go back and forth, and there is not much profit. Now that there are so many official ships, it is impossible not to be tempted. The tea, cocoon silk and linen in the southeast are unique. It's very popular in the north, but they don't have salt, but we have it in Huainan."

After confirming that there was no problem with the notice, he stamped it. He said: "Tea and salt are good goods with huge profits, but we don't have many official ships. It is better to let more Jiangxi merchants transport the salt from Huainan to the four northern provinces, and we can also distribute it." Go to Jiangxi to exchange tea from them, maybe one day Huai merchants will spread all over the world."

Master Daobi suddenly realized, and felt that He Guangyou was worthy of being a provincial envoy, and his vision and strategy were beyond the reach of ordinary people.

"Hey!" He Guangyou laughed, "I'm also a reminder from Mr. Zhao. When it comes to strategy and long-term vision, he has to be the one who has figured everything out. I don't dare to take credit for it."

Returning the notice to Master Daobi, He Guangyou said: "Okay, you post this notice, and then send this letter to Liangjiang Caoshi's residence, and send it to Zhao Baiyu."

Master Knife and Pen took the order.

At the same time, the same thing happened again in the study of the prefect of Jining Prefecture.

Chen Fangrong has also been busy these few months, lobbying his colleagues and chambers of commerce, trying to accept a good purchase strategy. Taking a cooperation jointly promoted by him and Huainan Cao envoy He Guangyou as a successful case, he finally received the annual grain purchase at the end of the month Liucheng, and under the escort of Wei Bo, transferred [-]% of the official grain to the northwest.

***

The replies from He Guangyou in Huainan, Chen Fangrong in the north, and Ma Deyong's replies to grain merchants in Zhejiang and Zhejiang were almost sent to Zhao Baiyu. The contents of the letters were all good news for him.

A grain merchant from Zhejiang and Zhejiang wrote back that he still knew the president of the grain merchant, and that he could raise 30 shi of grain with his contacts, but the other party rejected the deal.

Zhao Baiyu asked Ma Deyong to write a reply letter, mentioning good strategies and referrals.

"What is convenience purchase? What is intercourse?" Ma Deyong, whose living conditions have improved a lot because of cooperation, asked carefully.

Zhao Baiyu looked at him with a smile.

Ma Deyong shivered all over, and quickly said: "There is no need to explain, what are you talking about."

But as the topic unfolded, more and more words were written, gradually understanding and intercourse, and I couldn't help but look at Zhao Baiyu with horrified eyes.

Being locked up in the Caosi yamen these days, it's not that Ma Deyong didn't know about the strike of grain merchants and the lack of access to buy grain. To be honest, he was quite happy for his selfishness.

If Zhao Baiyu's envoy position is removed, maybe he still has a chance to be acquitted.

So be careful and quick-witted, just now I wanted to play tricks in the letter, but now I realized that I didn't dare to play tricks at all.

His Highness's strategy is indeed sophisticated and ruthless. For ordinary people, such as him, Ma Deyong, who was in this predicament, would have knelt down three times and begged for mercy, but this Zhao Baiyu was able to survive the desperate situation, making the court and Huainan and the four northern regions The provincial capital has become his help to get out of the current predicament.

If you can't fight, let's cooperate honestly.

"It's finished." Ma Deyong looked at Zhao Baiyu in awe, "Your Excellency has an exchange note that can be exchanged for Huaiyan. In fact, there is no need to go far and wide to find two Zhejiang provinces. Moreover, the production of Zhejiang salt is not less than that of Huaiyan salt, so the Huainan exchange note is right. Merchants from Zhejiang and Zhejiang are not very attractive, but they definitely attract merchants from Liangjiang. Private salt was only caught, and no one dares to risk their own lives at the moment, and official salt makes little profit. Therefore, the Huainan exchange after the increase and the government’s encouragement Measures such as lowering tariffs for merchants to do business in the four northern provinces, as well as more than 2000 more official ships built this year, are enough to attract merchants from Liangjiang and surrounding provinces.”

Zhao Baiyu looked at him fixedly: "You are locked up here, and you are well informed?"

Ma Deyong smiled apologetically: "The old slave is at His Highness...uh, I have been with Princess Changping for more than 20 years, and I often deal with businessmen, so I know a little bit."

Zhao Baiyu: "Then you should know that Jiangxi merchants are teaming up to punish me."

"Your Excellency, I don't know that not all the merchants gathered from the north and the south are Gan merchants, and they don't necessarily have to deal with the Gan merchant guild hall. There are still many merchants who travel by land, even by water. They also go to Kyoto and the four northern provinces. Yes, not all of them go to the sea. Especially in Beishang, tea and salt are necessities, but in Jiangxi, unless you deal with the Ganshang Guild, you can’t get a large amount of good quality tea and salt, and the Ganshang Guild will Deliberately suppressing the northern merchants. In comparison, if you can exchange the two rivers for tea and Huainan for salt, then those northern merchants will not be crazy to do business with you? The problem that bothers you has nowhere to buy food will be solved , not only the imperial government’s annual quota will end early, but even the province’s granaries will be filled to the brim, so are we afraid that the grain merchants will go on strike in the future? Are we afraid that they will deliberately withhold grain and grass and not sell it?”

Zhao Baiyu said, "Then tell me, how can you talk to Beishang?"

Ma Deyong: "A guild hall was built at the post station [-] miles outside the city for northern merchants to settle down, and also received some small businessmen from other provinces. Their business made little profit. How powerful. You send someone to the North Chamber of Commerce to yell, and I will use my head to guarantee you that they will be the first to do this business with you!"

Zhao Baiyu looked at Ma Deyong curiously: "You can do it, it's amazing."

Ma Deyong was a little embarrassed to be praised: "The little cleverness that survives is not comparable to the great wisdom of adults."

Zhao Baiyu: "I found that Princess Changping is surrounded by talented people. Tian Yingzhuo, who has no friends and no party, can climb up to the second-rank official and manage the Southeast Sixth Road. Although the princess is helping him, his ability cannot be underestimated. Another you..."

A person who has no descendants can become a general judge of the whole government, but not many people know his identity as an eunuch, so he is also a well-rounded character.

"It's a pity that if you say give up, you will give up, if you say you will kill, you will kill, it is just a mistake, why don't you even give it a chance to make a new one!"

One sentence evoked Ma Deyong's sadness, his cheeks twitched, both joy and sorrow, as if he was about to cry.

"Yes, this time I have to thank you - order good wine and good food tonight, and let you have a good meal."

"Can a little girl come in and play some bombs to help the fun?"

"Push your nose on your face, right?"

Zhao Baiyu kicked his feet, and Ma Deyong covered his head in fright and rolled into a corner.

***

The planning of the two Zhejiang provinces was done step by step. As expected by Zhao Baiyu, everything went smoothly. The unexpected harvest was the North Chamber of Commerce. There were hundreds of businessmen going in and out there every day. On the same day, the dark guards were sent to the North Chamber of Commerce to convene people. Talking about the government's good policy of collecting grain in exchange for exchange, it also focuses on describing the preferential policies.

Among them, the increase and reduction of tariffs really attracted this group of merchants, and the exchange of Jiangxi tea and Huai salt completely attracted the northern merchants who traveled long distances to Liangjiang.

The president of the North Chamber of Commerce even grabbed the hand of the hidden guard and asked: "Really? Master Zhao didn't lie to us?"

The secret guard: "If the imperial court's decree has come down, can there be any false? The four northern provinces and Huainan have already used cross-quotes for settlement at the beginning of spring. Besides, this cross-quote is issued by the court, and the tea and salt settlement is handled by the government. Could the court still lie to you?"

The president of the North Chamber of Commerce was ecstatic, and he rubbed his hands in disbelief: "No, no, the imperial court is dedicated to the people, and I can't thank you enough, just, just too excited."

Northern merchants who come to Liangjiang usually buy Gebu, cocoon silk and other things to return to the north. Tea and salt are the most profitable, but whether they can buy them or not depends on the Jiangxi Merchants Guild Hall.

The most important thing is that the illegal salt was seized last year, but the news was not transmitted back to the north in time. As a result, in the spring of this year, the northern merchants came to Liangjiang as usual, but found that they could not buy salt!

It's like a trip in vain, and you can't afford to pay for the freight alone. Many people are frowning, and some even cry.

Of course, the president of the North Chamber of Commerce also thought about gritting his teeth and going to Liangzhe or Huainan, but unfortunately it was unrealistic. He couldn't buy salt in the familiar Liangjiang, and it was even more impossible to get his wish in a completely unfamiliar place.

In the midst of despair, who would have expected the turn of events?

The hidden guard: "But can you buy food and grass?"

The head of the North Chamber of Commerce patted his chest and said: "Please rest assured, my lord, I dare not say anything about tea and salt, and it is a small matter of buying grain and grass. I can do it by asking myself."

The secret guard said again: "For the matter of intercourse, please keep quiet for the time being."

Chairman of the Northern Chamber of Commerce: "I understand." How could the Jiangxi Merchants and Cao Si make such a big noise, how could they not understand? "Within ten days, no, within seven days, the official rations that your lord needs will be sent to the Caosi yamen in a beautiful and safe manner!"

***

Grain Merchant Yan Mansion.

Boss Ya Shangping came to visit, and he was talking happily with Yan Sanwan. After drinking for three rounds, someone suddenly reported that it was the president of the Northern Chamber of Commerce who asked to see him.

Yan Sanwan: "What is he here for?"

Boss Ping: "I came to visit you, Yan Sanwan, not for food, but to make friends?"

Yan Sanwan: "No see."

"Hey, wait a minute, don't miss me. Anyway, he is the president of the North Chamber of Commerce. He has been in contact with each other these years, and the North is also a big market. Besides, the visitor is a customer. Don't you happen to have a large amount of food in your hand? He really wants to come. If you buy it, just sell it to him." Boss Ping persuaded leisurely.

Yan Sanwan's heart fluttered for a moment: "But Cao Si..."

"What if Zhao Baiyu doesn't bow his head? Why can't we throw millions of shi of grain into his hands?" Boss Ping said, "But I'm afraid there will be fraud if I suddenly jump out to buy grain at this moment."

Yan Sanwan thought for a while and said: "See you first, let's talk about it, if there is no problem, then do this deal, no one thinks it's too much money."

After meeting, the chairman of the North Chamber of Commerce went straight to the point and explained his intention.

He would not refuse anyone who came, he drank a large tank of wine boldly, soon became drunk, and said with bright eyes: "Do you know that there are wars in the north? The Great Xia has repeatedly invaded, and the Turks are restless. They are in desperate need of food and grass, but the northern food and grass They are all monopolized by a few grain merchants, if I transport back the grain and grass that I have looked at at this juncture and sell them to the northern government, the price difference and the profit will be enough for me to lie down and enjoy myself for four or five years!"

The president of the Northern Chamber of Commerce said sincerely: "Bosses, you were born in this beautiful and fertile land. What flows in the Caohe River extending in all directions is not water, but gold! As soon as the Jiangxi boat landed, I knew it was a full reward. Merchants are flocking to it, and your Ganshang Guild Hall is the most sacred place in the hearts of businessmen all over the country! If I am not from the north, I would also be from the south of the Yangtze River... Alas, that’s all, let the two of you see the joke.”

Yan Sanwan and Boss Heping looked at each other, and they all smiled.

I have to say that the chairman of the North Chamber of Commerce is very good at talking, which made them feel comfortable from head to toe.

"You're welcome, you Beishang heard that there are rich and powerful households, and the government should respect you three points. But it's not that I don't want to sell, it's just that the grain and grass sold by the government have to be screened. It must be of good quality. We really don't have much... ...You also heard that the government bought grain, but there was no harvest--"

Before he finished speaking, the president of Beishang hugged Yan Sanwan's arm and cried: "Brother! Please save us Beishang!" He snotted and cried, "You don't know, Last year, Beishang, who brought salt back home, made a lot of money. In the spring of this year, the folks clamored to go to Liangjiang to pan for gold. It was a desperate attempt, and suddenly there was no salt to buy. Didn’t everyone die? If you don’t sell grain, There must be a group of people jumping into the Ganjiang River, I was desperate to come up with such a method, and I asked you two to get it, and I also ask the two old brothers to show mercy and save the big guy."

Yan Sanwan glanced at Boss Ping, who nodded.

"It can be sold, but the price must be higher and the quantity must be larger, otherwise the grain merchants in this province will lose money." Yan Sanwan said: "It's okay for me to suffer a little loss, but I can't let the grain merchants who trust me go Are you going to make a loss-making business for my face?"

"Understood, fully understood." North Chamber of Commerce asked: "How much higher is the price?"

Yan Sanwan: "Every stone adds a hundred words."

"Brother—" the president of the North Chamber of Commerce howled immediately.

"All right, all right, two hundred and sixty per stone, plus sixty." Yan Sanwan was very annoyed: "But you have to collect 30 stone, of which [-]% is official grain and [-]% is ordinary grain."

Chairman of the Northern Chamber of Commerce: "40 shi for official grain and 15 shi for ordinary grain."

"Great." Yan Sanwan was surprised: "Can you eat it?"

Chairman of Northern Chamber of Commerce: "nearly a thousand northern merchants are sitting in the guild hall with a box of money they sold their ancestral house as family property. If you don't believe me, let's go to the guild hall thirty miles away from Hongzhou Prefecture." To pull him up.

Yan Sanwan quickly refused, saying that he believed his words, and asked when the deal would be made.

"To avoid peach blossom floods, naturally the sooner the better."

Yan Sanwan thought for a while, and said affirmatively, "You can pick it up within five days."

"It's a word."

After negotiating a business, the three continued to drink.

After seeing off the president of the Northern Chamber of Commerce, Yan Sanwan asked while drunk: "I am doing this business to make money, and Boss Ping has no profit. Why is he more active than me?"

"I just don't accept it." Boss Ping sneered, "Zhao Baiyu cut off the smuggling of salt and disrupted the smuggling business of Huang Canyun. How many good opportunities for us to make a lot of money have been missed? Now there is a strike of grain merchants, let him There is no food to buy, and it will kill him!"

If private salt is copied, whoever loses the most, the dentist says second, and no one dares to admit the first.

"Three bangs?" After taking a sip of wine, Boss Ping said in a harsh tone, "I want him to kowtow, and I also want him to pay with his life."

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The author has something to say:

Bianbu (di, the meaning of buying rice. The antonym is 粜, selling rice. Look at the beginning, one in and one out): merchants in B place sell goods to A place, earn money, usually buy local goods and ship them back to B place .

If there are no good sellable goods in A, then the copper coins and iron coins are too heavy, difficult to transport, and there is no return of goods, which is not conducive to the return of profits.

At this time, the money from selling goods can be used to buy grain and grass.

Then sell the grain and grass to the government, and the government will issue a certificate for you, which is intercourse.

With the exchange quotation, you can go to the government office in B to exchange money, or tea and salt.

In order to promote, generally give preferential treatment, that is, give more money.

Because the discount is strong and convenient, merchants choose more conveniently.

The setting in the article is that provinces cooperate with each other, province A tells you province B, and gives you 10 quotations that can come to me in exchange for salt.

Merchants can sell grain to province B and exchange it for salt in province A.

If province B exchanges tea with province A, merchants from province A can come to province B to exchange tea.