On the seventh day of November, the snow began to fall, the temperature dropped sharply, and it was another cold winter. Before the Bohai Sea was frozen, the last batch of Huayuan Company's merchant ships going to sea for trade were rushing to load goods. There were piles of cotton-padded clothes and quilts. They were piled onto the ship, trying to get a good price in Japan during the peak sales season of winter.
As far as Wan Lei knows, the textile industry of the Japanese country is very backward. Due to the climate, the Japanese country cannot grow cotton at all, nor can it grow mulberry and raise silkworms on a large scale. High-end consumer goods such as silk can only be worn by the upper class nobles, while the lower class are poor. Ghosts can only wear linen clothes, and many of them can't even wear trousers. They wear a piece of linen cloth on their bodies, and they are no different from beggars in the Central Plains.
Although the Japanese country had no clothes, it did have silver. Since the opening of the maritime trade route, the Japanese people have been digging for silver everywhere, and the amount of silver produced has increased sharply. Some nobles have even fought armed battles to compete for the silver mountain, which is promising. The formation of Yin's life and Yin's death is what Wan Lei likes to see the most.
Chaos is good, the more chaos, the better! In order to make Japan more chaotic, Wan Lei asked Huayuan Company to increase its exports to Japan. Cotton cloth, ceramics, tea and other consumer goods were dumped in large quantities, completely seizing Japan's consumer market. , which completely crushed the Japanese handicraft industry.
After the handicraft industry is squeezed out, there will definitely be a large number of unemployed people, and the gap between rich and poor in the Japanese country will become more serious. When the poor can no longer afford to eat, the country will become chaotic first.
"Manager Liu, this trip is the last one this year. We won't be able to return until spring tomorrow. Let the captains in charge of the merchant ships use more snacks to try to get more money." Wan Lei said to Liu Wenzong, he is really now There is a great shortage of money. Because of the urgent need to repair the Pingbao River Railway, the finances of the province of Beibu Parallel are already very tight.
This group of caravans going to sea for trade can stay in Japan for a while and try to sell their goods at a better price. Although Huayuan Company has to hand over half of the profits to the government, the remaining half is also very generous Yes, and the crew members and captains within Huayuan Company receive dividends, so they will naturally do their best to make more money.
Of course, Huayuan Company also has many regulations to prevent employees within the company from enriching their own pockets. Even Jingzhongwei has planted many spies within the company. All in all, the company's employees must earn their dues in an orderly manner. Don't dare to take money and other crooked ways.
"Sir, don't worry, this trip will definitely yield more harvest, and the profit will not be less than 600,000 silver." Liu Wenzong promised that since he became the manager of Huayuan Company, the entire company has been on track early. In the past few months, it has continuously brought back more than one million taels of profits and taxes to the government and the company. Only with the supplement of foreign trade can the Ping-Bao-Hai Railway be constructed on time.
"By the way, have you heard anything about the merchant ships sent to the Ryukyu Kingdom?" Wan Lei asked again. As early as early September, Huayuan Company sent two merchant ships, under the protection of the Navy No. 05 Zhenyuan, to Ryukyu to test. They were conducting trade on a regular basis, but two months had passed and no news came back. Wan Lei was worried that something might happen on the way.
"I haven't heard anything yet. The Ryukyu Kingdom is located to the south of the Japanese Kingdom, and the sea lanes are far away. It's the first trial voyage, so it's not surprising that it takes more time." Liu Wenzong said, the sea ship is really in a hurry, after all, it has not yet been built. How fast can a ship or a cargo ship driven by sails go?
"Well, that's true." Wan Lei nodded, "It's almost the end of the year. You should compile the financial statements for this year as soon as possible. It's time to pay dividends to the board of directors so that they can have a good year."
"We have already sent people to do it. This is only the first year of opening, and the dividends may be smaller. In the future, this business will definitely grow bigger and bigger, ensuring that everyone will make a lot of money." Liu Wenzong said with a smile. Asked: "Sir, can a new railway be opened to the port to facilitate the movement of goods in and out of the seaport?"
"It's not urgent at the moment. The finances are tight now. Let's talk about it in the spring next year." Wan Lei shrugged. He didn't want to build railways everywhere. However, large-scale infrastructure construction such as road construction cost a lot of money. He would not ask Qin Emperor Sui Emperor learns.
Besides, next year the Peking Army may cross the Yellow River and enter Shandong. Wouldn't it be better to build a frost-free port in Shandong and be able to go to sea all year round? Even if we need to build a railway from Peking to Dagu Port, It will also be repaired when the Pingliao Railway is built.
Seeing that Wan Lei had made up his mind, Liu Wenzong stopped trying to persuade him, but he still had confidence in his heart, because he knew that Wan Lei had a plan in mind, saying that he would wait until next year, and the possibility of repairing next year would be very high. After all, he would go from Peking to Dagu. However, for a few hundred miles, the cost of road construction will not be too high.
"Sir, I have something to ask of you, I don't know..." After the official conversation was over, Wan Lei was about to leave, Liu Wenzong said with a somewhat nervous expression.
"Haha, you want me to transfer Liu Fei's sister back so that she can agree to your marriage." Wan Lei smiled slightly. He already knew about Liu Wenzong's pursuit of Liu Fei. Although the two have the same surname, However, since he is from a different sect, he will certainly not interfere. "Don't worry, Liu Wan will be back soon. However, you must remember to treat me to a wedding banquet."
"Definitely, definitely. How dare I not send you an invitation to your husband? I also want to ask your husband to witness our marriage, but I'm just afraid that he won't be available."
"For such a good thing, I have to find time even if I don't have time. But I have to remind you that the Liu sisters are all good at martial arts. If you are half-hearted, when the time comes, hey, don't blame me for not helping you. ." Wan Lei smiled even more happily.
"Hehe, even if I give my subordinates 10,000 courages, I wouldn't dare." Liu Wenzong scratched his head and said with a silly smile.
In fact, under the influence of Fu Wei, Zhao Xueer and others, every woman in Beiping City has evolved into a "strong woman". The Liu sisters were originally strong women, but now they have acquired the habit of being confident and strong. Such women are very Not easy to mess with.
While Wan Lei and Liu Wenzong were chatting and laughing, a loyal guard quickly walked in and whispered a few words in Wan Lei's ear. Liu Wenzong understood the situation and took the initiative to resign, but Wan Lei waved his hand and said with a smile: " "Cao Cao, Cao Cao has arrived, let's go, let's leave the city together."
"Liu Wan is back?!" Liu Wenzong was overjoyed and immediately followed Wan Lei.
Since it had just snowed heavily and the snow on the road had not yet been swept away, it was difficult for carriages to move. Wan Lei and his party had no choice but to ride out of the city on horseback and head directly to the east of the city. Liu Fei got the news from somewhere and started walking at the gate of the city. Caught up with Wan Lei and his group.
Liu Fei was still afraid of Wan Lei in her heart, so after saluting, she obediently stepped back and did not dare to talk to Wan Lei. However, Zhao Xueer, who was like a follower, was the most at ease, chatting and laughing with Wan Lei without any scruples, and followed him along. The staff were not surprised because everyone knew that Zhao Xueer would soon marry into the Wan family.
The group of people traveled through the snow for nearly thirty miles, and finally saw a carriage convoy slowly heading west. The convoy was escorted by all elite guards. They rode on tall horses, dressed in blue and embroidered with the colors of the Great Wall and auspicious clouds. Sunfu, with a samurai sword at his waist, looks mighty and majestic.
The Jingzhong Guards are men and women alike. Their equipment and uniforms are the same. The difference between the male guards and the female guards is that the male guards wear black gauze hats and the female guards wear purple gauze hats. Wan Lei can see two of them in the crowd at a glance. Female guard.
"Subordinate, I have met Mr. Wan." As soon as the visitors saw Wan Lei, they all dismounted and saluted.
"Thank you for your hard work, let's talk as we walk." Wan Lei turned the horse's head, and the two groups formed a team and slowly returned to the city.
"Sir, all seventeen members of the Xu family have been invited, but..." Liu Wan rode in parallel with Wan Lei. She was responsible for escorting these carriages back to Peiping. Of course, the people in this carriage were Xu Huizu's family. .
In fact, after careful planning by Jing Zhongwei, Xu Huizu's family was obtained. However, Xu Huizu was unwilling to surrender and sought death several times. Therefore, Liu Wan had someone drug him and knocked him out directly. As for how to persuade this If you're stubborn, that's Wan Lei's problem.
In order to get the Xu family, the Jingzhong Guard paid a high price. Several secret agents were exposed and had to return north. Even the entire Jing Zhong Guard agent system lurking in the south of the Yangtze River had to go dormant to avoid this. Once in the limelight, before the severe crackdown by the court has passed, I dare not take any further actions to avoid being exposed.
"As long as the people are here, take them to Jixian Lane. I will arrange for people to monitor the whole process 24 hours a day." Wan Lei also knew that it would not be easy to subdue Xu Huizu, an old stubborn man, but he was still confident. Because In his view, everyone has shortcomings, and as long as he finds the right breakthrough, nothing is impossible.
"Sir, why did you transfer your subordinate back this time?" After finishing the handover of business, Liu Wan said with some confusion. She finally got a foothold in Jinling without the possibility of being exposed, and now she is transferred back. All previous efforts were in vain.
"You have made a great contribution this time, and your previous mistakes have been offset. Your sister is getting married, so you should be allowed to come back to attend the wedding." Wan Lei said calmly.
"Sir, I thanked you for your understanding." In fact, Liu Wan saw his sister in the team at a glance, but business was important, so he did not go over to meet her.
"Go, let's catch up with your sister first. You haven't seen each other for a few months." Wan Lei waved his hand and rode to a carriage. He opened the curtain and saw Xu Huizu in the carriage. However, His hands and feet were tied with ropes, just like a prisoner. There seemed to be many scars on his body, and it seemed that he had been severely tortured.
Among the seventeen people in the Xu family, ten are female. In addition to Mrs. Xu, there are also two concubines. Of course, Xu Huizu cannot have only two concubines. The reason why these two were invited is Because they have children. Although Xu Huizu's father Xu Da passed away early, his mother is still there, and there are several younger sisters who have not left the court.
Among the seven male dependents, in addition to Xu Hui's five grandfathers and sons, there is also a younger brother Xu Zengzhen and a nephew Xu Jingchang. Among this family, except for Xu Huizu and Xu Qin, the majority are afraid of death, so Most of the people were not tied up with ropes. Although they did not dare to speak, there was a look of pleading in their eyes.