At the head of Huaiqing Bridge in Nanjing, the newly opened Baishun Hall is packed with people. Huaiqing Bridge is located at the intersection of Qinhuai River and Qingxi River. It has always been the most prosperous area in Nanjing. Liu Ruogu bought it for 4,000 taels and already occupied a large area.
Cheap. Due to the location advantage and a large number of promotional activities, it became famous in Nanjing as soon as it opened. The Dajiang Bank next door also promoted it overwhelmingly, but the front door was deserted.
Pang Yu seemed to have expected it, so the current scale of Dajiang Bank is not large. The first floor is the business store, the second floor is the office, and the back floor is used as a bank. From the outside, it looks similar to most banks at this time.
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"My Lord has asked me to find a new address for Dajiang Bank. I have been looking at it for three days. There is a row of stores in Sanshan Gate, with a total of five households and seventeen rooms. I have negotiated with three households. If all five households are bought, it will take about seven days.
One thousand taels, but the store is not big. There are two places near Huaiqing Bridge. One is along the Qingxi River to the north, with a large garden courtyard on the left and right, totaling 5,000 taels. The other is across from the inn, on the west side of the inn.
A Nanhuo store is also for sale. The total area is the same as the courtyard in Qingxi, but the price is twice as expensive. The total is eleven thousand taels. If we talk carefully, maybe nine thousand taels or ten thousand taels can be paid.
Buy it."
Pang Yu rubbed his temples, and his dizzy head felt a little better. As the most famous military attaché in recent times, Pang Yu had been welcomed by the scholars of Nanjing's Restoration Society. He had been drinking in the old courtyard for several days in a row. Li Lihua helped him introduce some Nanjing people.
Wealthy businessmen also held banquets and invitations, and he seemed to be a traveler on the Qinhuai River, but he also drank too much.
After listening to Liu Ruogu's introduction, Pang Yu put down his hands and looked up at the inn diagonally opposite. The inn had a large bay facing the street and seemed to have a courtyard behind it. It was located between Huaiqing Bridge and Dazhong Bridge.
It is closer to Dazhong Bridge and is at the intersection of Dazhong Street, Chang'an Street and Shicheng Street. The waterway is the intersection of Qingxi River and Qinhuai River. Dazhong Bridge can be said to be a prime location in the south of the city.
In the past, this inn must have been crowded with customers, but after the bandits came here, not only did outsiders stop coming to Nanjing, but many locals also ran away. Naturally, the inn was deserted. It would take some time for the market to recover, and the selling price at this time was also low.
Not high.
“How about the backward occupying land?”
"The courtyard of the third entrance, the Nanhuo Store next to it, is the second entrance, but the second entrance is quite spacious and is usually used for inventory." Liu Ruogu hesitated and said, "Scholars from Fushe are coming one after another, and there are already three
There are more than ten people, Fang Yizhi alone has saved two thousand taels, and one Mr. Gu has saved four thousand. In the past few days, Li Lihua introduced him. More and more wealthy families have come to deposit money, and the number of deposits has reached 78,000.
Two, the interest is one penny per year, and some pay interest on a quarterly basis. Next year, more than seven thousand taels will be given out at this time. I feel that the house in Qingxi is still cheaper..."
Pang Yu waved her hand to interrupt Liu Ruogu, "We are doing a large business, so we need the best locations. Just buy the two places opposite. Don't be afraid of the price. Go and talk with He Xianya and Zhou Yueru. Then buy the two stores on the left.
, did you see it, it’s the umbrella shop and the fan shop.”
"But sir, those two companies didn't say they were selling it. I'm afraid it would be a lot more expensive to buy it."
"Everything has a price. If they don't sell it, they will offer you a price they won't refuse, or use some other methods. In short, I want those two stores, especially the umbrella shop. It is also a three-story wooden building, and
It's a bit dilapidated and we can't let this dilapidated building stand next to Dajiang Bank."
Liu Ruogu looked at Pang Yu, who was scolding Fang Qiu in front of him, and his eyelids twitched twice. With this business of tens of thousands of taels, Pang Yu was just like going to Qingfeng City to buy vegetables. However, he was used to Pang Yu's style, so he really didn't
Treating money as money, Anqing Baishuntang's business is so good, he mortgaged it as promised, and all the military salary was mortgaged. Now he looks like a rich man and a military leader, but in fact he owes a lot of debt.
Even if Ruogu worked in the Wu family's bank for half his life, he never thought that someone would do this. If he owed so much money, he would definitely not be able to sleep well at night. Only Pang Yu was like a normal person and could still buy houses everywhere.
Store.
Knowing that persuasion was useless, Liu Ruogu temporarily put aside his worries and pointed to the store, "Since your Excellency has decided on this place, I think we should leave an inn, so the lobby will be used as a counter, and two more will be built on the first floor.
The second floor was used to store the mortgaged property. Later, a brick-walled house was built as a bank room. The later building on the Nanhuo side was converted into a building for the servants and apprentices to live in. It was divided into east and west courtyards.
Such minimal changes can save money on modifications, I wonder what do you think?"
Pang Yu didn't even look over there, "Tear it all down and rebuild it."
Liu Ruogu's eyelids kept twitching, and it took him a long time to steady himself, "Sir... that's a three-story wooden building on Dazhong Street, this, this."
"Everything has been dismantled and repaired. I will draw a picture of the lobby for you later. You can find the master to calculate the cost and repair it. Generally speaking, there are three entrances, the second entrance is for inventory and silver, the third entrance is for people, and the first entrance is more open. The inside is
Just like building a garden, let Ji Cheng think of a way. The store facing the street outside is only built with two floors. The second floor is used as a VIP room and your public room. The most important thing is the lobby. The lobby must be big, majestic and majestic.
All the pillars are covered with gold foil, the floors are made of marble, the furniture is made of the best wood, the best dishes and lamps are used, and the maids who serve tea are all dressed in the same uniform.
The movements have to be practiced, so that people will feel something as soon as they come in." Pang Yu suddenly became a little excited, hanging his right hand in the air, with an expression of enjoyment on his face, "Luxury, yes, luxury, not only the most luxurious
The bank is even more luxurious than they have ever seen before."
Liu Ruogu's eyelids stopped twitching, and his mouth opened for a long time before closing. At this time, Pang Yu raised his head and raised his hands in front of him, as if the luxurious lobby was already in front of him, and the maids in uniform were delivering tea cups from the official kiln.
In his hands.
"You stay in Nanjing for the time being to prepare for the bank. Remember to ask He Xianya to do one thing. In each issue of the newspaper, invite different people to visit the bank's progress. Pay money to invite those with good literary talent to come and write about their shock.
Every issue must be written so that everyone has expectations for Dajiang Bank. Even if Dajiang Bank is now open for trial operation, when the building is repaired, the opening day will attract everyone's attention. I also need to find the most famous person to cut the ribbon.
, until then Dajiang Silver Village will be truly opened."
"What the adults said is beyond my imagination, but, how much money will this cost?"
Pang Yu was still intoxicated for a moment, then put down his hand and looked at Liu Ruogu, "I just said, don't be afraid of spending money. Didn't they save 70,000 taels of silver? I will borrow 40,000 taels first, and the annual interest will be one penny and five cents.
It will be used for the construction of this new silver village."
Liu Ruogu's legs were a little weak. He didn't expect that the money to repair the bank could be borrowed from the bank's deposits. In the past, most of the money was Pang Yu's own, but later it was borrowed from various counties for pre-levy.
The silver is just placed in the bank, and it is not included in the bank's accounts. There are some docks on the wharf where a small amount of silver is deposited. Apart from that, only the soldiers' military pay counts as deposits. Now Pang Yu borrows tens of thousands from the bank.
, he will give Yinzhuang six thousand taels of silver next year, which should be a good thing for Liu Ruogu, the shopkeeper of Yinzhuang, but he dare not ask Pang Yu for a mortgage. When Pang Yu says he has no money, he will blame Yinzhuang for this mess.
Don't know how to end it.
"I'm afraid that if the families want to withdraw money then..."
Pang Yu chuckled and said, "So the lobby must be luxurious and rich. When others look at the lobby, they will think that Dajiang Bank is not short of money and will never owe anyone money. As long as there is no worry, they will not take it.
The savings will only increase."
Liu Ruogu frowned and thought for a moment, "It's true as the adults said. It's just that I didn't save much silver at the Wu Family Bank before. It was because they didn't give interest. The money that was released to earn interest was all from the Wu Family."
My own, instead of lending it to others for interest, I am just worried that the principal of the interest will eventually have to be repaid."
Pang Yu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's a good thing to be able to borrow money, the more the better. There are many ways to repay it. Ruogu, don't worry about the interest, otherwise it will inadvertently shake the customer's confidence. You just have to believe in me."
Just be an official."
Liu Ruogu responded. Although he was not completely reassured, Pang Yu's bizarre experiences over the past year or so gave him some confidence. Who would have thought that a fool Zaoli the year before last could open such a large bank in Nanjing this year?
.
At this moment, Pang Yu suddenly took a step back from the window, stood on tiptoes and looked outside. Liu Ruogu immediately turned around to look.
"It's Ruan Dacheng here."
Liu Ruogu also saw Ruan Dacheng through the crack in the window leaves. He had just gotten off the carriage, and there were servants behind him carrying a big box.
"It seems that he is here to deposit money. Do you want to see him?"
Pang Yu hesitated for a moment. Ruan Dacheng was quite high-profile in Nanjing. He boasted everywhere about his great achievements in defeating the Tongcheng bandits and often summoned his cronies to discuss military affairs. Although he had always wanted to ease the relationship with Fushe, Fushe's antipathy towards him became increasingly strong.
Even now, Pang Yu is inseparable from Fushe regardless of economic or political background. Finally, he shook his head and said, "I have returned to Anqing."
"Ruan Dacheng has been here twice in recent days. My subordinates are afraid that he will meet adults on the street."
"You won't encounter it. I will go back to Anqing in the afternoon."
Liu Ruogu was a little surprised. Pang Yu had previously said that he would stay for a few more days and wanted to build more relationships with the Nanbingbu and Nanhubu to try to find more official deposits in the future, but now he suddenly said that he wanted to leave.
Pang Yu waved his hands and said, "An urgent letter came from Jiang Fan. After the garrison camp returned to Anqing, there were warnings of bandits everywhere. Three divisions were transferred to three places by Daotai Yamen. Not only could they not replenish their troops to restore their combat strength, they were also exhausted.
, the soldiers and horses that I have worked so hard to polish cannot be used by Daotai Yamen like this. No matter how we layout in Nanjing, Anqing is our foundation."
…
Four days later at Shengtang Ferry, Jiang Fan was already waiting on the shore to receive Pang Yu who had just disembarked.
Pang Yu did not greet him and asked directly, "Did Shi Daotai personally order the transfer?"
"Yes, sir, the army just returned and had no time to rest. The first division was transferred to Qianshan. A few days later, the third division was transferred to Tongcheng. The second division went to Taihu the day before yesterday. Now the personal division is assigned to guard the city.
City wall.”
Pang Yu hummed and asked, "How is the situation with thieves around?"
"There are traces of bandits everywhere along the mountain. Shi Daotai originally stayed in Tongcheng. After transferring the first division, he heard that Cao Cao's troops were found in Yingshan County, so he transferred the second division to Taihu. In addition to the cavalry
The losses are too great and cannot be used. The other divisions are currently in the field, and it is impossible to replenish the troops and restore combat readiness."
"Who is training the new recruits?"
"There is only one commander left. Commander Yang of the Cavalry Bureau has basically recovered from his injuries. He has recruited a group of new soldiers for training. The number is only three hundred. This time the city is under martial law again and they are also used to defend the city."
There were almost no ships moored on the formerly prosperous wharf. Pang Yu stopped and took a look and said, "Gao Scarzi's gang has collapsed, and all the thieves who can fight are in a group. Why are river ships not allowed to moor."
"It's Master Daotai's strict order, saying that if Mr. Zhang strictly enforces the Qingjiang River, no river ships will be allowed to dock under the martial law." Jiang Fan looked around and then said in a low voice, "Half the people in Anqing are pointing to this dock to live their lives. Qingjiang River is too long.
Many people can no longer cook. There are many people fleeing in Qianjiang, Wangjiang and other places. There are beggars everywhere in the city."
Pang Yu snorted and walked very quickly. Guo Fengyou quickly rushed to the front to clear the way, while Mr. Hou chased after him until he was out of breath.
While they were talking, everyone had arrived at the Shengtang Gate. In addition to the people from the military camp, there were also some members of the Cao Gang on the city tower.
Because the Shengtang Gate is close to the river, the most difficult direction for thieves to attack, it is the only city gate that is open during martial law, allowing those who have fled with local accents to enter the city. There are about a hundred people queuing at the city gate at this time.
Waiting for accent verification.
Several soldiers were standing outside the city gate. Pang Yu could tell by looking at their uniforms that they were from the garrison camp. However, their posture was very casual. They were probably from the newly recruited batch. Thinking that they had not been training for a long time, he didn't pay much attention to it and walked directly to the city gate.
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Unexpectedly, as soon as they arrived in front of the gate, a soldier suddenly raised his sword and shouted, "Anyone who dares to rush to the city gate will have to queue up for me."
Pang Yu was stunned for a moment, and then he remembered that none of his party were wearing military uniforms. He immediately stopped, but he would not explain to the soldiers. Guo Fengyou strode up, took out his badge and shouted, "Call your captain to come out."
"The captain is at the tower."
Guo Fengyou raised his eyebrows and said, "Anqing garrison officer Pang Pang is here, make way immediately!"
The soldier looked at the badge blankly and said, "I'm illiterate. I've never heard of you, Lord Guard."
Just when Guo Fengyou was about to scold him, Pang Yu from behind suddenly asked, "How long have you been here at the garrison camp?"
The soldier seemed a little scared and hesitated before replying, "Sixteen days."
"I haven't heard the name of the garrison officer for sixteen days, so do you know who the largest commander in the camp is?"
No one around him said anything, and the atmosphere was a bit solemn. The soldier knew something was wrong and stammered, "Yang, Yang, Mr. Yang."
Pang Yu nodded, "It is necessary to guard the city gates under martial law and strictly check people passing by, but I have heard that the accent is correct, and I still don't let people pass after seeing the Chinese army's military badges. Who did you learn military discipline from? Guo Fengyou, take it and hand it over to Chiang Kai-shek
Use disposal!"
Guo Fengyou and several of Xu Lengzi's soldiers rushed forward and pushed the soldier to the ground. The refugees waiting outside the city gate screamed and dispersed. The remaining three soldiers at the door stood dumbly, looking stunned.
Pang Yu entered the city gate without saying a word, and just strode towards the garrison. Mr. Hou was already out of breath, but he still didn't dare to be left behind too much.
The sentry in front of the garrison gate recognized Pang Yu, and no one stopped him. Pang Yu stopped and took out his military badge from his arms, showed it to the team leader, and waited for the team leader to salute before entering.
The entourage did the same thing. After entering, they each returned to the public room. Mr. Hou followed Pang Yu to the study room, almost unable to stand.
Pang Yu sat down behind the desk and sat quietly without knowing what he was thinking. Mr. Hou did not dare to breathe loudly when he saw this, so he had to endure it as much as possible, but the sweat on his head kept flowing down.
After a while, Pang Yu's eyes turned around, and when he saw Mr. Hou's look, he said in shock, "How come Mr. Hou is so tired? Sit down and take a rest."
Mr. Hou couldn't even say a polite word, so he quickly sat down on the chair, leaned back on the chair, and planned to take a good breath.
Before he could lean back in his chair, he heard Pang Yu speak again, and Mr. Hou quickly sat up straight again.
"Sir, you have been in my house for some time, and you also recruited some writers last year. Are there any of them who can be used?"
Mr. Hou was stunned for a moment. Because Pang Yu fired too many old people from the garrison office, there was no one to do the paperwork. Last year, he recruited a group of scribes to handle paperwork. Strictly speaking, Mr. Hou was one of them.
But he was the first.
"Sir, most of these recruited writers are from Qianshan, Taihu, and Tongcheng who were hit by banditry. They can read and write, and there are a few of them who are useful, but they still need experience in dealing with official documents..."
"Choose a few, recruit a group, gather thirteen, and send one person to each bureau to serve as a military clerk."