Chapter 280 The Crown Princess feels good about it
Author: History turns to ashes
Chapter 280 The Crown Princess feels good about it
What did Xu Jingchang do wrong?
How could Yang Shiqi dare to talk nonsense? He hurriedly bowed and said: "Dong Guo, I just sent a message for some villagers, and I definitely had no intention of colluding. Moreover, I thought that there were some things that I should let Duke Ding know. This is my fault."
I am good at making my own opinions, and I hope Duke Ding will forgive me."
Xu Jingchang smiled faintly and said, "It doesn't matter. Let's all get some air time and understand the situation. There's nothing wrong with it. As long as you keep your mind straight and your buttocks firmly planted, that's fine, don't you think?"
Yang Shiqi hurriedly raised his head and said, "Thank you very much Duke Dingguo for your magnanimity. I will resign."
Coming out of Xu Jingchang's study, Yang Shiqi's forehead was covered with cold sweat. After thinking carefully, he couldn't help but feel panic... In the current situation, Jiangxi's big grain merchants, according to their past habits, bought a large amount of grain and waited to make a fortune.
However, the price of grain fell sharply in Yingtian. After careful calculation, they found that they were losing money by selling grain. They rushed to call for help from officials.
However, there has been no movement, and they have paid for a large amount of food. Now, the merchants, holding a large amount of food, are restless, fearing that if something goes wrong, they will lose their entire fortune.
Yang Shiqi knew the situation of this group of people. At the same time, he thought that Xu Jingchang supported the development of merchants. They were already willing to bow their heads and admit defeat and escape with blood. As long as Xu Jingchang offered a price, everything would be easy to negotiate.
But why does Xu Jingchang’s tone make people feel uneasy?
Could it be said that Duke Dingguo wanted more?
Yang Shiqi didn't dare to pretend to be a big clove of garlic anymore, so he quickly shut up.
On the courtiers' side, they gathered in the General Administration Department one after another for constant discussions. Everyone was anxious, but Xu Jingchang always remained calm and unhurried.
Today, several ministers have joined forces to force the palace, and they even invited Qi Guogong Qiu Fu.
Qiu Fu also said: "Dingguo Gong, you see, the army also needs food and grass. Can you purchase 1.5 million stones of military food to prepare for emergencies?"
Xu Jingchang smiled, "Yes, I agree. As long as the source of the money is solved, I will do it immediately."
The ministers were stunned for a moment and were all speechless.
Xu Jingchang looked at Jian Yi, who coughed lightly and said, "The Ministry of Personnel has already reduced a lot of subsidies, and they can no longer be reduced."
If you don’t reduce your expenses, you won’t be able to spend money to buy food.
His eyes fell on Fang Bin, the Secretary of the Ministry of War, who had a bitter look on his face. He could only look at Qiu Fu and said, "Dong Qi, do you think our Ministry of War and the Governor's Office of the Fifth Army can jointly reduce some expenditures and squeeze out money to purchase military rations?"
Qiu Fu frowned, he was obviously just asking me to help, why should he make me bleed?
"Fang Shangshu, you also know that now the nine sides are reorganizing the army, abolishing military households, training the forbidden army, and money is being spent everywhere. I think it is more appropriate for the Ministry of Revenue to provide the money."
Xia Yuanji, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, was not there, but Xie Jin smiled and said: "I also agree that the Ministry of Revenue will pay, but I require the eight governor tax districts to be in charge of grain reserves, responsible for purchasing and selling, and ensuring stable grain prices. As long as you agree to this,
Our Yingtian Tax District can now spend 800,000 taels of silver to purchase food!"
After he finished speaking, the courtiers simply shut up and no one paid any attention to him.
With only 800,000 taels of silver, you want to take away Yingtian’s grain market. Aren’t you dreaming?
Xie Jin just sneered.
Xu Jingchang saw that he was at a deadlock again, so he said: "Let's see if I can borrow some money from the bank... Let's all think of a way."
None of these old fritters are fools. The one named Xu made it clear that he wanted to delay. Xie Jin also showed his knife, and his purpose was very clear.
Xie Jin wanted the imperial court to be responsible for all grain sales.
As long as he succeeds, he will have a huge grain trading company, the value of which is no less than any factory in Peiping! Even with this credit, he can replace Xia Yuanji and return to the center.
The other important ministers did not agree, and Xie Jin had no choice. Let's ride on the donkey and read the songbook, and wait and see. I don't believe you can endure it.
After the meeting of the General Administration Department ended, Xu Jingchang had some food and was taking a lunch break when Zhu Gaochi came.
"Brother, you are really good at predicting things. I really have news here."
"What news?"
"I just hope to intercede, show mercy and let them go."
Xu Jingchang still had a smile on his face and said casually: "Then what are you going to do, Your Highness?"
Zhu Gaochi sighed and said, "Listen to me first. Here's the thing. Someone has found my father-in-law's side, hoping to help smooth things over. They are willing to give up 30% of their profits to me. By the way, they can also pay tribute to my virtuous brother. No.
There will be less.”
Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "Then His Highness is tempted?"
"I was tempted, but someone stopped me." Zhu Gaochi said honestly.
"who?"
"Princess."
Xu Jingchang was shocked. He was really a little stupid at this moment. Logically speaking, the princess shouldn't have long hair and short knowledge! How could she be more decisive than Zhu Dazhuang?
And why would she object to this?
"Cousin, you are right. These grain merchants are holding the reins of the wealthy gentry. They are actually mutually beneficial, right?"
"right!"
Xu Jingchang nodded.
Zhu Dazhuang added: "When the gentry annexed land, they must have a lot of food on hand, right?"
"That's right!" Xu Jingchang continued to nod.
"Then if they can't sell it, will they still annex the land?" Zhu Gaochi gritted his teeth and said: "If there was no land annexation, would the foundation of our Ming Dynasty be more stable?"
Xu Jingchang looked at Zhu Gaochi in astonishment. What he said seemed to make sense, but it was not entirely reasonable.
But Zhu Gaochi was right. The gentry annexed land and charged high rents. They had a lot of grain in their hands. They had to sell the grain and exchange it for money. Only then did it make sense to annex the land.
Otherwise, they would have so much food in their hands that they would not be able to sell it or make a profit, and they would become receivers.
Therefore, cutting off the grain trade was equivalent to cutting off an arm of the gentry and cutting off their financial path.
Although this move cannot really completely solve the merger, it will indeed be effective.
"Your Highness, may I venture to ask, why does the Crown Princess not want to help the grain merchants?"
Zhu Gaochi took a deep breath and said, "Brother Xian, I won't hide it from you. She told me that even if she annexed the land, it was her annexation... You know, she also has a workshop and thousands of looms.
We need a lot of raw silk."
Xu Jingchang was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
This smile made Zhu Dazhuang stupid.
"What's wrong with you kid?"
Xu Jingchang shook his head repeatedly, "Nothing, I just admire the princess. She is really a hero among women, much better than you."
Zhu Gaochi was stunned for a moment and said angrily: "What do you mean? Are you laughing at me?"
"I speak the truth. A capable daughter-in-law is better than a wise prime minister."
"That means having a good wife at home is better than having a good prime minister in the country." Zhu Gaochi hummed: "Cousin, tell me, what should we do about this matter?"
Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "It's easy to handle! Just keep dragging it!"
"Procrastination? How else to procrastinate?"
Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "It is rainy in the autumn and winter in the south of the Yangtze River. In addition to the large government warehouses, I have all the granaries in other places. The few remaining private warehouses cannot hold so much grain. If they don't want to cut the meat, they have to take it."
Come out and hand it over to the court honestly."
"Then what if they don't hand over?" Zhu Gaochi asked.
Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "Why don't they surrender? Your Highness, I ask you to play the role of a grain merchant now. What will you do?"
"I, the worst I can do is transport the grain out of Yingtian and find another place to store it."
Xu Jingchang smiled and then took out an official document, "This is an order from the General Affairs Department. Guards in golden uniforms are to guard all the ferries along the river. Without the approval of the imperial court, grain is not allowed to be transported at will, especially grain is not allowed to be transported out of the country!"
Zhu Gaochi was stunned, "You can still play like this? Then I'll put it in Yingtian City. Even if it rots, I won't give it to you!"
Xu Jingchang took out another official document and said with a smile: "This is the latest order. If you store grain for a long time and do not trade, you will be fined 10% for hoarding. After that, for every ten additional days, it will be increased by 10%!
"
Zhu Gaochi was stunned again, "If you do this, I will throw away all the food at worst. Can I accept compensation?"
Xu Jingchang calmly took out the third official document, "This is about strictly prohibiting the abandonment of food. Anyone who wastes food will be punished three times as much!"
Zhu Gaochi was rendered speechless.
If anyone encounters such an unreasonable thing, there is nothing you can do about it!
Xu Jingchang is not just a talker, he holds a royal guard and can mobilize the soldiers and horses of the Five Army Governor's Mansion. The whole court really can't stop him!
"Well, then I will hand over the grain to the court at a low price now, just like Xie Jin said, is that okay?"
Xu Jingchang smiled, "Of course this is possible, but all the granaries in Beijing need to be re-inventoryed. They can wait in line and the court will allow them to deliver as soon as possible."
Zhu Gaochi swallowed subconsciously. "You said as soon as possible, how long does it take?"
"It's hard to say. You also know that our court officials are not quick to do things. It may take three to five days, or it may take thirty or fifty days, or it may take three or two months."
Zhu Gaochi's face turned dark, and he coughed: "You said you don't have to pay those fines during this queuing period, right?"
Xu Jingchang was stunned, "Your Highness, how could you think so? That is the order of my General Secretary, how could it not be counted?"
Zhu Gaochi thought for a long time and then said quietly: "You are bent on driving them to death!"
Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "Don't they deserve to die?"
This time Zhu Gaochi was completely speechless. After a long time, he smiled bitterly and said: "If I had known this, they would still be able to get 800,000 taels of silver after listening to Bachelor Xie's words... Cousin, don't you think Jie Jin is too honest?
Bar?"
Xu Jingchang smiled faintly and said, "There is nothing I can do about it, he is also from Jiangxi, and it is true that he passed away as a scholar."
It turns out that Xie Jin is called a scholar!
Zhu Gaochi staggered back to see Ms. Zhang and told her the general situation. Ms. Zhang was stunned and immediately showed a look of surprise.
"My father is truly wise, and Duke Dingguo is truly a wise prime minister of the country!"
Zhu Gaochi glanced at his wife, "How did I realize that you two are more like a family?"
Zhang blushed and said angrily: "What nonsense are you talking about? We businessmen want to seize land, people, and money from the gentry and landlords! How can we win without thunderbolts? You are a woman.
