Liu Yong and others transported the native silk to Shanghai, but the quality of the native silk was uneven. If they wanted to achieve the "Jili Ganjing" variety, they had to be recombed and then made into silk diameters by professional workshops.
Liu Yong transferred several traders from Nanxun's "Liu Shunheng" Silk Shop, changed the original "Liu Zhengmao Silk Shop" in Shanghai to "Liu Shunheng Foreign Trade", and opened another silk factory.
Unexpectedly, native silk is equivalent to waste silk in the countryside, but they are all made from good cocoons. After recombing, 80% of the dry warp can be combed. In addition, due to the war, very few silks came to Shanghai, and foreigners could not buy them.
Silk cannot be produced in Jili. Therefore, the price of Jili silk has skyrocketed, making Liu Yong an indescribable amount of money.
Winter came very early this year, and after the beginning of winter, the weather became cold. Early that morning, there was heavy snow in the sky, and it was freezing cold.
Zhang Songxian's wife was about to go out when she saw a foreigner carrying a baggage at the door of Zhang Henghe Trading House. He was about fifty years old, wearing thin clothes, rubbing his hands and shivering in the morning cold.
When he saw Mrs. Zhang, he stepped forward and asked: Madam, is this Zhang Henghe, Zhang Songxian's boss Zhang's family?
Mrs. Zhang said: Exactly, may I ask who you are...?
The man said: My surname is Wang, and I am an old friend of Zhu Zhai.
Mrs. Zhang smiled and said: "It turns out to be Boss Wang. I heard it from my master. Please come sit down in the room."
Mrs. Zhang invited Boss Wang into the trading house and served him hot tea: "Please sit here for a while. It will take half an hour for our master to come over."
Mrs. Zhang asked her maid Zhuzhi to bring him more tea, and then walked to the gate to wait for Zhang Songxian.
Zhang Songxian walked slowly from the Zhang family villa, saw his wife standing at the gate, and asked: It's such a cold day, who are you waiting for at the gate?
Mrs. Zhang pulled Zhang Songxian aside and said: There is someone waiting for you inside.
Zhang Songxian said "Oh" and stepped through the door.
When Wang Shengqi saw Zhang Songxian coming in, he immediately stood up, clasped his fists, and said solemnly: Brother Zhuzhai, long time no see!
Zhang Songxian came forward in surprise, pulled Wang Shengqi and said: He Zhi, is it really you? Are you from Yangzhou?
Wang Shengqi thought of the hardships of his journey, his eyes turned red, and he murmured: Exactly.
Zhang Songxian invited Wang Shengqi into his study, closed the door and asked: He Zhi, are you in trouble?
Wang Shengqi lost control of his emotions. He hid his face for a long time before calming down and said: Brother Zhuzhai, my Wang family is in great danger.
Wang Shengqi was a salt merchant in Yangzhou, and the ancestors of the Zhang family ran a soy sauce garden. Zhang Hengtai had branches all over Jiangsu and Zhejiang, so Zhang Songxian and Wang Shengqi had many contacts. Because the two had similar temperaments, they became close friends. On weekdays, there are many shortages in the market.
When it came time to buy salt, as long as Zhang Songxian said a word, Wang Shengqi would definitely find ways to get Zhang Hengtai salt to help him tide over the difficulties smoothly.
Although Zhang Songxian was frightened in his heart, he tried his best to comfort him and said: No problem, no problem, just tell me if you have any difficulties, as long as I can help, I will do my best.
Wang Shengqi cried and complained, which made Zhang Songxian frightened.
The fact that the Wang family was able to work safely as a salt merchant in Yangzhou was originally related to Fang Minlu, a subordinate of Mu Yin, the Minister of Guan Ming. Later, Mu Yin was exiled, and Fang Minlu was also implicated. He had already been too busy to take care of himself and could not protect the Wang family. At that time, the Taiping Army was in
There was a lot of trouble in Yangzhou. After the Qing army regained Yangzhou, Wang's eldest son Lu Ming was falsely accused of having an affair with the "Langzhi" and was thrown into prison. The Wang family was confiscated. Now Lu Ming is still in prison awaiting trial. If he is not cleared,
relationship, it is very likely that he will be sentenced to death by hanging.
Zhang Songxian asked: How much money is needed to smooth the relationship?
Wang Shengqi stretched out his hand and said: Now we only have this number.
Zhang Songxian asked: "Five thousand taels of silver?"
Wang Shengqi shook his head and said: "We have managed all the way from below to the capital. Everyone has a huge appetite. I calculated that it would be impossible without 50,000 taels of silver."
Zhang Songxian exclaimed: There are so many.
Wang Shengqi said: Brother Zhuzhai, I am not here to borrow this money from you. The Wang family is in such a situation that even if I borrow it, I won't be able to pay it back.
Zhang Songxian looked at Wang Shengqi suspiciously, not understanding what he meant.
I saw Wang Shengqi take out a stack of salt quotations from the baggage he carried with him, put it on the table, pushed it to Zhang Songxian, and said: These are two hundred salt quotations, each of which is fifty thousand kilograms of official salt. I spent that money back then.
I bought it from the imperial court for 60,000 taels of silver. This is the only property I have hidden. Just accept it! I only need 50,000 taels of silver.
Zhang Songxian looked at the pile of salt quotations and couldn't help but fell into deep thought. Since the Taiping Army was in trouble, illegal salt was rampant in various places, and the court's salt quotations were no longer valuable. It would be really risky to acquire this batch of salt quotations at this time.
I lost all my money. But now that my best friend is in trouble, it makes no sense not to lend a helping hand.
Wang Shengqi saw Zhang Songxian's troubled expression and pleaded: Brother Zhuzhai, I also know that Yanyin is not worth much now, and I also know that it is too difficult for you. But my son's life or death is uncertain, so I can only beg you shamelessly.
If you can save Lu Ming's life, you will be a great benefactor to my Wang family. If I cannot repay you in this life, I will wear a grass ring in the next life and work as a cow or a horse to repay your great kindness.
Zhang Songxian couldn't bear it and said hurriedly: He Zhi, I didn't say no, but I can't come up with so much cash. For now, you can stay at home with me. You can tolerate me for a few days, and I'll find someone to discuss it. And
Instruct his wife to arrange for Wang Shengqi to stay in the villa first.
Wang Shengbao thanked Zhang Songxian again and again. He knew Zhang Songxian's character very well. Seeing that he didn't refuse, he was half relieved.
Zhang Songxian checked the account books and found that there was less than 30,000 taels of silver in the account. If this money was touched, the cost of harvesting cocoons would be tight when the spring silkworms come next year.
He really couldn't make up his mind and didn't dare to tell his family that he knew about it, so he could only go to Hengshun Foreign Company to discuss it with Liu Yong.
Liu Yong happened to be drinking tea and chatting with Qiu Xiancha here, discussing the possibility of Hong Ying's whereabouts.
Zhang Songxian didn't shy away from it and simply told them both about it.
After hearing Zhang Songxian's worries, Liu Yong thought for a while and said: You must have a strong balance in your mind whether to help or not. You come to ask me because you just want to get an affirmation.
Zhang Songxian asked: You also think I should buy these salts, right? But the money I can afford is really not enough.
Liu Yong smiled and said: I can provide 20,000 taels, and the remaining 10,000 taels, A Liang will probably be fine.
As soon as these words came out, both Zhang Songxian and Qiu Xiancha were shocked.
Zhang Songxian thought to himself that Wang Shengqi was his best friend, so he could only help him. But Liu Yong was an outsider, so why should he help him so much? And it didn't make sense that he was dragging Qiu Xiancha, who had nothing to do with him.
.
Qiu Xiancha looked at Liu Yong and Zhang Songxian in embarrassment. He didn't know how to answer the question, so he could only laugh a few times.
Zhang Songxian also laughed a few times and said: Sigh, I'm confused, so stop joking.
Liu Yong said seriously: "Am I kidding? I am a businessman and I am in business. I think these salt quotations should be collected."
Zhang Songxian and Qiu Xiancha asked at the same time: Why?
Liu Yong said: Your friends are our friends. Now our friends are in trouble. From now on, even if these salts are worthless, we still have to help. Ah Liang, do you think so?
Liu Yong's words left Zhang Songxian and Qiu Xiancha at a loss.
Liu Yong went on to say: Nowadays, the illegal salt industry is rampant and the imperial court is unable to control it. But what if the Taiping Army is defeated? After the imperial court calms down, according to the temperament of Cixi and Lafayette, they will definitely reorganize the salt industry and arrest the salt tax.
Qiu Xiancha said: "Brother Yong's words are reasonable. Judging from the current situation, the 'Lance' cannot hold on for much longer."
Liu Yong said: After more than ten years of war, the imperial court was empty. How could the salt tax be lost?
Zhang Songxian thought for a moment and said: It makes sense. I heard someone say a few days ago that the imperial court did send officials to contact the Caobang. It seems that the imperial court really has this plan. But Yanyin also has a date. If the status quo is still the same in the past two or three years, then
We all lost everything.
Liu Yong said: I dare to bet on this, A Liang, do you dare?
Qiu Xiancha said: I believe in Brother Yong.
Zhang Songxian nodded and said: Okay, I will definitely help him anyway. As for how we will end up, we will leave it to fate.
At noon the next day, Liu Yong and Qiu Xiancha sent 30,000 taels of silver notes to Zhang Songxian. Zhang Songxian handed a total of 50,000 taels of silver notes to Wang Shengqi in exchange for his 200 Yanyin notes.
Wang Shengwei burst into tears with gratitude, and kowtowed to Zhang Songxian three times while lying on the ground. Zhang Songxian quickly pulled him up and said: He Zhi, what are you doing?
Wang Shengqi cried and said: If my son Lu Ming can escape from danger, you will give him this life.
Wang Shengqi took the banknote and refused to stay for a moment longer. He wanted to rush back to Yangzhou immediately.
Zhang Songxian cupped his hands to say goodbye and said: Congratulations, take care along the way!
After Wang Shengcui left, Zhang Songxian divided the 200 Yanyin bills into five parts, giving 80 to Liu Yong and 40 to Qiu Xiancha.
Liu Yong joked: Whether this pile of bills will become a pile of waste paper depends on the next year or two. This chapter has been completed!