There are no fewer than a hundred merchants like him in Nanjing, so although the government provides goods, he is only responsible for selling them.
However, because they have to constantly 'honor' various relationships, the Feng family did not get rich by selling salt. Selling salt was just used to manage various relationships.
Today, Feng Zhengwu was planning to take the gift money to the Yandao Yamen and then transport a batch of refined salt back.
But as soon as he prepared his things, the old housekeeper walked in in a panic.
"Master, it's not good, the young master was captured by the king."
When Feng Zhengwu heard this, he dropped the teacup in his hand to the ground.
"What? That scoundrel, how did he provoke the king?"
"Master, it may not be the young master who provokes the acting king. After all, he is the acting king."
The old housekeeper had watched Feng Shaoqiang grow up, and also knew the virtues of the legend of Nanjing City, so he whispered.
Feng Zhengwu was startled for a moment, and he thought the old housekeeper was right, but so what? No one who fell into the hands of King Dai could come out intact.
More importantly, even the emperor was indifferent to this kind of thing and only criticized the king once.
"Master, there is also someone coming from the Prince's Palace and I want you to come over."
The old housekeeper lowered his voice because the soldier from the acting prince's palace was already standing behind him.
"What? Let me go too, I..."
Just when Feng Zhengwu was about to say something, a soldier from the royal family came over and said, "Are you the father of Master Feng? Please come with me, please, please."
Feng Zhengwu slumped down in his chair, his eyes blank, as if he had been sentenced to death.
The soldier didn't care what he looked like. The king's order was the greatest. He walked over directly, picked up Feng Zhengwu and walked out.
The old housekeeper followed him all the way to the gate, but he was helpless about this kind of thing. He had to rush to inform other people in the Feng family, trying to find some connections and smooth things over.
Even if we can't save the father and son, we can make their departure less painful.
…
Zhu Gui was asking Feng Shaoqiang about the business situation of the Feng family in the living room, but Feng Shaoqiang, who was already frightened, gave an inappropriate answer, and he quickly lost his patience.
Fortunately, the soldiers were very fast, and Feng Zhengwu and his son quickly knelt down in front of Zhu Gui.
"My lord, your lord, if this evil son offends you in any way, the common people are willing to part with all their wealth, just to spare his life."
Feng Zhengwu grabbed the ground with his head and said with a sad look on his face.
"Dad..." Feng Shaoqiang also sobbed. He didn't expect that his father would not abandon him at this time.
"Okay, okay, I have no plans to do anything to you."
Zhu Gui said impatiently.
But his words had no credibility, and the two of them continued to kowtow.
"Want to try the Ming Dynasty torture?"
Zhu Gui could only find another way.
This sentence was indeed useful. The father and son suddenly seemed to be petrified and froze in place.
Zhu Gui breathed a sigh of relief.
He said to Feng Zhengwu: "I know that I have been notorious in Nanjing for a long time. It is normal for you to be afraid. However, I am now the vassal king and will not act like I did in the past. I saw Master Feng today and felt a bit like it, so I
Bring him back to the palace to get acquainted, don’t misunderstand me."
Zhu Gui explained.
Feng Zhengwu showed a puzzled look. If the king really wanted to harm their father and son, why did he need to explain so much?
But if what Dai Wang said is true, it would really subvert Zhu Zhengwu's world view.
But now he can only bite the bullet and choose to believe.
"So good, so good."
Zhu Gui continued: "I heard from your noble master that your family sells salt?"
Feng Zhengwu replied: "Exactly, the Feng family sells refined salt for the Salt Road Yamen."
Zhu Gui nodded and said: "I have established a Datong Chamber of Commerce in Datong Mansion, which sells locally produced refined salt at affordable prices. I wonder if it can be sold in the Feng family?"
"This..." Feng Zhengwu was a little confused. He didn't know why the acting king brought the topic to the salt merchant? Did he want to invade the Feng family's property?
But this sale of salt is originally a property of the imperial court. What does King Dai want to do? And even if he agrees, once the Salt Road Yamen investigates it, the matter can be big or small. King Dai may be fine, but the Feng family may.
Nine tribes were implicated.
In the end, he could only bite the bullet and said: "If I go back to the prince, there is a special salt road in Nanjing. Datong Prefecture is too far from Nanjing. In addition, it is not a place where salt is produced. In addition, due to the losses on the road, I am afraid the price will not be high."
Advantages.”
He could only talk about this issue from a business perspective, hoping to get the acting king to reveal his true purpose. Even if he sacrificed all the Feng family's fortune, he could only accept his fate.
Zhu Gui heard this and said with a smile: "It's too early to say this. Mr. Feng should first take a look at the quality of the refined salt I can provide."
After that, Zhu Gui asked his soldiers to drag a wooden box from beside him. After opening it, it was filled with refined salt, as white as snow.
Feng Zhengwu couldn't help but be stunned when he saw it.
It's not that he has never seen refined salt, but he didn't expect that the acting king really wanted to talk to him about refined salt, which made him a little confused.
In desperation, he could only crawl to the edge of the box, grab a handful of salt with his hands, rub it, and quickly put it back.
"The prince's salt is indeed much finer than that provided by the Salt Road Yamen, but even so, price is an unavoidable issue."
Feng Zhengwu said.
"You don't have to worry about this. You only need to mix this salt with the refined salt from Yandao Yamen and sell it at a ratio of half and half, but you can reduce the price by one-third."
Zhu Gui said lightly.
"Reduced the price by one-third?" Feng Zhengwu looked up for the first time at the young prince sitting in front of him.
The other party looked indifferent, as if he wasn't joking.
"That's right, and you don't have to worry about the Yandao Yamen. I will go over and say hello. If everything goes well, I will ask Datong Chamber of Commerce to supply you with goods in the future."
"Well, if it is as the prince said, even if the court does not pursue the case, I am afraid that other salt shops will cause trouble for the common people."
Feng Zhengwu said with a bitter smile.
Yes, selling salt involves a huge network of interests, and it is also related to the court's taxation. If someone wants to get their hands in here, I'm afraid the court will not agree.
On the one hand, Zhu Zhengwu didn't think that the young prince could really provide such high-quality refined salt for a long time. On the other hand, he also felt that the court would not really make this offer, but he couldn't refuse directly, so he had to give some other reasons.
.
But Zhu Gui doesn't just want to sell salt, he just wants to pave the way for the Datong Chamber of Commerce, so he won't get too entangled on this issue, but he won't let go either.