Chapter 825 The Power of Merchants
The torches flickered, and Chen San was surprised when he heard the sound, "Chang Wei Bo?"
As he rode forward and looked up, he saw someone bringing a torch closer.
Chen San took a look and said, "It's Uncle!"
When Jiang Qingzhi went north, he stayed in Changping Prefecture for one night. Chen San saw him at the outskirts. He was very happy and said, "Open..."
"Xiaoqi, you are not allowed to open the city gate without permission. It is a capital crime!"
This is the rule. Even if the emperor comes, Chen San has to report first.
The centurion on duty tonight heard the news and rushed over. Seeing that it was indeed Jiang Qingzhi, he said, "Please wait a moment, my lord. I will go and report it now."
"Go quickly!"
The prefect came upon hearing the news and asked, "Why are you here, sir?"
"This is about the army." Jiang Qingzhi's eyes were cold, "I want to go into the city to look for someone."
The prefect saw that Jiang Qingzhi was with only a few people, and said, "If the higher-ups blame us later..."
If someone impeaches us for opening the city gates at night, who will be held responsible?
"I will take full responsibility for all the consequences!"
The prefect nodded and said, "Open the city gate."
Squeak!
The sound of the city gate opening was very loud.
Boll asked, "Why not use tung oil?"
Sun Bu Tong said: "This is intentional."
The door hinges were deliberately not oiled so that if someone quietly opened the door at night, the noise would not be hidden from the defenders.
When Jiang Qingzhi entered the city, the prefect saw him standing with a knife in his hand and glanced at him sharply. His heart skipped a beat and he wondered what big thing had happened that made this famous Ming general, who had been so popular recently, rush here in the middle of the night.
And we have to go into the city overnight.
"How many people can the food and grass in the city support for a day?"
Jiang Qingzhi asked.
The prefect was startled, "Maybe, maybe..."
What the hell!
Incompetent official!
Jiang Qingzhi narrowed his eyes and said, "Send someone to ask, immediately."
"Yes." The prefect knew that something big might happen, so he quickly sent someone to ask the official in charge.
Not long after, the people came back and said, "Four to five thousand people are fine."
conduct!
Jiang Qingzhi gritted his teeth and asked, "What about the big households?"
This...the prefect hesitated.
Jiang Qingzhi drew out a half-broken sword and said, "The Ministry of Revenue is in trouble and the army is out of food. If we can't immediately deliver food and grass, you will be in big trouble. If I kill a few idiots for this, I think His Majesty will only cheer loudly!"
What the hell!
"Is that so?" The prefect shuddered. "The wealthy families have stored grain, but it's not enough to supply the army. It's far from enough!"
The clerk beside him said, "My Lord, this is the capital, and most of the food and fodder is stored in the capital. Besides, our north is not rich, so if it were the south, it might be easier."
The North was not self-sufficient in food due to weather and land conditions, as well as a large population. Most of the food shipped from the South was stored in the capital and nearby areas.
Jiang Qingzhi narrowed his eyes, "How many wealthy merchants are there in the city?"
The prefect said: "If we talk about wealthy merchants, there are probably more than ten of them."
"Send someone over, immediately!"
Jiang Qingzhi then went to the provincial government.
After entering the provincial government office, Sun Bu Tong went to prepare food and gave everyone a big bowl of noodles.
The steaming noodles were soaked with beef jerky that had been torn into small strips. Sun Bu Tong took out a porcelain bottle, opened it, and a fragrant aroma wafted out.
"Chili sauce!" Sun Chonglou's eyes lit up.
The chili sauce and noodles were mixed together, and the heat stimulated the flavor, whetting everyone's appetite. For a while, no one spoke, and only the sound of slurping noodles could be heard.
After finishing the noodles, Jiang Qingzhi's forehead was covered with sweat. He drank tea and thought about the whole matter.
Footsteps were heard, along with complaints.
"Who wants to see us in the middle of the night? Isn't this a hassle?"
"Damn it, it's probably some passing young man who wants to extort money from us."
"This is Changping Prefecture. Anyone who can do big business here must have some connections in the capital. Let's see who it is. If it's not right, go back."
"..."
More than a dozen businessmen filed into the lobby. Several thick candles lit up the lobby brightly. A young man was sitting there. His eyes were like lacquer and his face was solemn. He was looking at everyone coldly.
"Uncle Ben Jiang Qingzhi!"
In an instant, the anger of more than a dozen businessmen disappeared.
"Hello, uncle!"
Jiang Qingzhi placed his left hand on the high table and said calmly, "Who can get the food?"
"Uh!" The businessmen looked at each other.
"Food? May I ask, sir, how much food is there?" someone asked.
"One day's worth of food and fodder for tens of thousands of troops."
"Tens of thousands of troops, a large army..." The businessman who spoke covered his mouth and looked at Jiang Qingzhi in shock.
More than a dozen businessmen were silent.
These people knew that something might have gone wrong in the army.
Or maybe something went wrong in the court, causing the army to lack food.
"Master, I am not trying to shirk my responsibility. If it were a few thousand people, it would be fine. But tens of thousands... I don't have the ability to do that."
"Yes!"
"Even if Minister Lu of the Ministry of Revenue came in person, he would be helpless."
Amid the buzz of conversation, the merchants all relaxed, as if they were standing on the Yellow Crane Tower watching a capsized ship.
Sun Bu Tong said angrily: "Silence!"
The merchants fell silent.
Jiang Qingzhi took out a cigarette and lit it, then said calmly, "You guys might want to know something about the new policy."
The businessmen nodded, and one said, "It's been talked about everywhere lately."
"The new policy focuses on money and grain. How do we get money and grain?" Jiang Qingzhi took a puff of herbal medicine cigarette. "Crops don't grow in the fields for no reason, and money and grain don't fall from the sky for no reason."
Everyone didn't know why he said this and they all lowered their heads.
"Why is the South so rich? First, the land is fertile and the output is quite abundant. Second, there are many merchants in the South who smuggle goods out to sea, and many of them have become rich from this."
More than a dozen businessmen were all smiling with their heads down.
"I know that someone is smuggling on the grassland. This time, Altan was defeated. I have ordered the Nine Frontiers to investigate this matter strictly. Anyone who smuggles on the grassland will be killed. Half of the seized goods will go to the Nine Frontiers."
The businessmen were shocked.
Northern wealthy merchants have a long history of smuggling in the grasslands. As the Ming Dynasty declined, the smuggling trend became more and more serious.
Half of the seized goods belonged to the Nine Frontiers, and those generals would drive their men out for patrol like wolves and tigers.
Smuggling is probably difficult.
"If you want to make money, you should do it in an open and aboveboard manner." Jiang Qingzhi said slowly, "There are mineral resources in the north, but it is difficult to turn them into money and grain in the short term."
If you want to develop the mineral resources in the north, you must also develop the industry simultaneously. Otherwise, who will use the coal and iron you dig out?
"My Lord, about the food..." The prefect couldn't help but probe. He knew that if the army mutinied, Changping Prefecture, which was not far away, would not be able to escape. Would he, the prefect, die for his country or surrender?
The chaotic army was so bloodthirsty that even if they asked for surrender, they would not be able to escape death.
The merchants looked up and stole a glance at Jiang Qingzhi. What does this have to do with us?
right!
Jiang Qingzhi shook off the ashes from his cigarette and said, "The new policy must obtain money and grain, and it is imperative to open up the sea."
More than a dozen businessmen listened in silence.
Kaihai has nothing to do with northern merchants.
Even if they wanted to get a piece of the pie, the wealthy merchants and literati in the south would stop them and keep them on the periphery.
The land belongs to someone else, and a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake.
"By then, the court and the palace will form a fleet to go out to sea," said Jiang Qingzhi.
In an instant, more than a dozen businessmen looked up suddenly.
Sun Bu Tong even heard the sound of bones rubbing against each other in someone's neck.
"May I ask, sir, is it possible for us to participate?"
Jiang Qingzhi smiled and said, "I once said that the biggest problem of the Ming Dynasty is not the administration of officials, but the imbalance of development between the north and the south. The gap between the north and the south is the biggest problem of the Ming Dynasty. Only by making the north rich can we check and balance the south!"
This is a conspiracy!
But no one can stop it!
The prefect narrowed his eyes and was shocked.
He was from the south and knew the source of the south's prosperity. If the maritime ban was lifted, the wealthy merchants and scholars in the south would become extremely wealthy through maritime trade.
If the wealthy merchants in the north are allowed to get involved, even the palace and the court will get a piece of the pie. Can the literati in the south stop them?
The prefect's heart sank, and there was a strange look in his eyes when he looked at Jiang Qingzhi.
He knew that if tonight's matter was not extremely urgent, this plan would not be made public.
But even if it is made public, who can stop it?
The court, the royal family, northern scholars and officials, wealthy merchants... they will be united as never before. Whoever dares to stop them from going out to sea to trade will die!
Don't forget, the Southern Army is not even as good as a fucking watchdog. If anyone dares to rebel and the army marches south, I will be very happy to use this opportunity to cleanse the South.
Taking advantage of the situation, we will complete the control of the South.
This is a grand plan!
A conspiracy that makes your scalp tingle!
The prefect felt a chill all over his body and decided to keep his mouth shut.
But more than a dozen businessmen were overjoyed.
"My Lord, I wonder if I could become a shareholder?" someone asked.
Don't release the eagle until you see the rabbit. This is the nature of businessmen.
Jiang Qingzhi took a puff of herbal cigarettes, "I have said before that the south is rich and the north is poor. This is the biggest problem of the Ming Dynasty. Your Majesty, the court, and I are all happy to see the north develop and balance the south!"
Jiang Qingzhi stood up and said, "The new policy benefits the country and the people. Who is willing to serve the country?"
Standing behind him were Sun Chonglou and Mo Zhan. In the candlelight, their eyes swept over the merchants like an eagle.
The carrot was thrown out.
Do not eat!
Then wait for the knife!
"The villain is willing!"
"Don't worry, sir. I'll leave this matter to you."
"Please open the city gate. I will leave the city right away to make contact."
A wealthy merchant said sternly, "If anyone leaks out what Master said tonight, I will fight that person to the death!"
What a great thing it is to open up the sea and be able to participate in maritime trade. This is a godsend.
No, it is the wealth given by Long Wilbur.
If the news leaks out, the powerful, the wealthy, and all kinds of people will try to curry favor with the king in order to get a piece of the pie.
More than a dozen businessmen looked at each other and nodded vigorously.
"If I leak this, my whole family will die!"
"If I were..."
More than a dozen wealthy merchants finished their oath and stared at the prefect.
The prefect felt a chill in his heart when he saw that fierce look, "I swear..."
The gate of Changping Prefecture was wide open, and dozens of riders rushed out of the city gate, then split into dozens of groups and fled in different directions.
Jiang Qingzhi was sitting in the hall of the prefectural government office. The prefect was no longer sleepy and asked, "My Lord, those merchants may not be able to quench their thirst with distant water!"
Jiang Qingzhi put out his cigarette and said, "The power of these people is beyond your imagination."
For the sake of profit, these people dare to sell their souls.
And this is just food.
……
Yan Song did not sleep all night.
As the waning moon gradually dimmed, the officials and generals, who had also not slept all night, came to the big tent at the same time.
"Motosuke!"
Yan Song was reading a book, but he didn't turn the page for a long time.
"Hmm!" Yan Song raised his head slowly, "Are you here?"
"I don't know how to say it in other places." someone asked.
Yan Song shook his head. "The food and fodder for six thousand men will probably be delivered in two hours."
"Six thousand men, and it's two hours later. How about breakfast? Those soldiers are like wolves and tigers. If they don't have breakfast, I'm afraid they will make a fuss."
"Just leave it to fate." Yan Song was exhausted physically and mentally. Then someone came in. "Prime Minister, the troops are here to ask for food."
Later, a piece of news spread among the army.
——We’re out of food!
"Someone wants to starve us to death!"
Someone roared.
Yan Song appeared. He walked in front of the gathered soldiers, feeling sad, "Food will arrive later, just be patient..."
"This is a delaying tactic!"
There has never been a shortage of troublemakers in the army, let alone ambitious people, and someone started to make a fuss immediately.
Yan Song's pacification was useless, so he slowly retreated and whispered, "Send someone back to the capital immediately to inform His Majesty, be on guard!"
"Godfather, what about you?" Zhao Wenhua asked.
Yan Song smiled, his gray hair fluttering in the cold wind, "This old man deserves to die!"
The soldiers began to surge forward, and the generals tried their best to stop them, but it was obviously useless.
Da da da!
The sound of horse hooves came hurriedly.
Everyone heard the sound and looked around.
A rider rushed over.
Rein in front of the crowd.
The war horse stopped.
The man drew his sword.
"Who wants to rebel?"
"Chang Wei Bo?!" Yan Song was stunned, and then ecstatic.
"It's Uncle!"
The surging crowd was like a wave beginning to recede, gradually retreating...
(End of this chapter)
