Chapter four hundred and eighty fourth famous family
I am a tired guest from Chang'an. I have spent twenty years in the soft mortal world. I am speechless and alone, with a little green light, wandering in the sky.
——Excerpt from "The Roar of Water Dragons·Falling Flowers and Flying Catkins" Wen Tingshi (modern times)
…
After hearing this, Princess Qingluan was filled with envy and said, "I wish I had a profitable business."
Bai Fuqi said: "You are a princess, why do you think about making money?"
Princess Qingluan sighed: "After the Anlu Mountain Rebellion, the royal family seemed to be beautiful, but in fact it was miserable. Many of the royal family's savings for many years were not able to be taken away when they fled, and the palace was looted by the rebels. The manor and fertile land in the suburbs had long been
It was deserted and there was no harvest. A large number of tenant farmers fled into the mountains and disappeared...
In order to maintain the dignity of the past, they have to pretend to be fat. The royal family spends a lot of money. In fact, they have already been unable to make ends meet, and they are struggling to support themselves.
As far as I know, many members of the royal family are looking for jobs, but they have no way out."
When Princess Qingluan said this, Bai Fu immediately understood. He pondered for a moment and said: "Your Highness, there is an opportunity right in front of you. If you are willing to do it, it will be a good deal."
Princess Qingluan became interested and asked for details.
Bai Fu said: "I just mentioned the exchange method of "flying money and exchanging it". Merchants from all over the country went to Chang'an and Luoyang and handed over the money to the armies. Envoys or envoys were set up in the "Jinzouyuan" in the east and west capitals, and exchanged it.
Tickets. Half of the joint lease certificates are issued by "Jinzouyuan", and the other half of the joint rental certificates are sent back to the corresponding institutions in various places. After the merchant returns to the local area, he can withdraw money after checking the two certificates and verifying that they are consistent. These government-issued rental certificates
It's called 'flying money'.
Nowadays, the "Jinzouyuan" established by various armies, envoys or Taoists in Chang'an and Luoyang has been abandoned. If you can persuade His Majesty to let Sheng Taikui exclusively operate the "Jinzouyuan", restart the government-run "Fei Qian"
', I would like to suggest to Leader Jiang of the Sichuan Gang that the imperial court should be the wealthy owner of Jinzouyuan, Sheng Taikui should be the second wealthy owner, and you should be the third wealthy owner.
What do you think, Your Highness?"
Princess Qingluan smiled brightly and high-fived Bai Fu. She didn't even bother to eat, so she hurriedly filled out two snacks, asked her attendants to bring a box full of gold ingots, and hurried back to the palace.
Five days later, when the two met again, Princess Qingluan brought back Suzong's decree.
Suzong fully agreed with Bai Fu's proposal. He asked the Ministry of Household Affairs to set up a special Banking Department to be responsible for the preparation and management of the "Jinzouyuan". Bai Fu served as the doctor of the Banking Department of the Household Department.
The chief bookkeeper of Jinzouyuan is recommended by the Sichuan Gang and selected by the Banking Department. The remaining personnel are selected and hired by the chief bookkeeper of Jinzouyuan.
The first richest person in "Jinzouyuan" is the Banking Department of the Ministry of Household Affairs, the second richest person is Sheng Taikui, and the third richest person is Princess Qingluan.
Jinzouyuan distributes dividends according to the proportion of silver shares, and all dividends given to the Bank Notes Department of the Ministry of Accounts belong to Zuozang and are used for palace expenses.
The pigeon letter from Gang Leader Jiang of the Sichuan Gang has also arrived at the Bashu Guild Hall. Gang Leader Jiang strongly supported Bai Fu's move. He authorized Bai Fu to handle the matter with full authority and gave half of Sheng Taikui's silver shares in Jinzouyuan to Bai Fu personally.
Bai Fu divided the part of the silver shares allocated to himself into half and set it up as "top body shares" as a reward to the chief bookkeeper and the clerks. Bai Fu said: "Those who invest are the silver shares, and those who contribute are the bodies."
share".
With Suzong's imperial edict and the support of the Sichuan gang, "Jinzouyuan" was quickly prepared and put into operation.
At this time, the war was beginning to end, and the Central Plains area began to resume construction. Reclaiming farmland and building cities all required money; the prosperity of cities and the stability of people's lives needed to be guaranteed by trade in goods.
As a result, a large amount of money and goods flowed from the hands of merchants from the Western Regions and Jiangnan to the two ticket offices of "Jinzouyuan" and Shengtaikui. "You can exchange money quickly" and the profits were eye-catching.
The chief bookkeeper and the staff of "Jin Zou Yuan" were more motivated because of the "supporting stocks". Within a month, "Jin Zou Yuan" was profitable.
Everyone was happy when the first dividend was distributed: Zuozang's treasury became increasingly abundant, and the daily life of Suzong's harem quickly improved. Princess Qingluan instantly became a truly wealthy princess.
Suzong praised Empress Zhang: "This Bai Fu really has some ideas. In the past, the 'Jinzouyuan' was in the hands of the armies, envoys or officials. The officials were redundant and the profits were meager, and the imperial court could not get much of it."
money.
Now that the financial rights have been returned to the Ministry of Household Affairs, private businesses have been allowed to operate efficiently and profitably, which has eased the originally tight government finances.
Now An Qingxu's rebels have not been completely wiped out, and the army's expenses are very high. It is still difficult for the Ministry of Revenue to supply military supplies with money. If the daily expenses of the palace are too much, the censors will refer to my book again, which will be very annoying.
Now it's good, Zuo Zangfeng is rich, and I can also allocate more to my father, so that he can live comfortably in Xingqing Palace for two days, so that the world can know my benevolence and filial piety."
Empress Zhang turned her charming eyes and said: "Your Majesty, my concubine's natal family is now in dire straits. Can you arrange some money-making jobs for my clan brothers so that they don't idle around?"
Suzong readily agreed.
…
Princess Qingluan came to Bai Fu excitedly and asked excitedly: "What other profitable business can I do next?"
Bai Fu almost spit a mouthful of hot tea on the ground, and said in shock: "Why, is it possible that the dividends from 'Entering the Academy' are not enough?"
Princess Qingluan smiled coyly and said: "That's not the case. But it's not a good feeling to make money by doing nothing, and there is no sense of accomplishment. So, I want to go out and make money myself."
Bai Fu was speechless, and it took him a long time before he spoke, "Your description of the current situation of the royal family last time inspired me a lot. After you left, I sent someone to learn more about the situation of the wealthy families in Chang'an.
After the Anlushan Rebellion, house prices in Chang'an dropped by 70%. Nowadays, many aristocratic families are strapped for money and are selling their redundant houses and manors.
However, although they were eager for money, they did not want to lose their dignity and refused to sell the house to merchants and common people. The imperial court also had strict requirements on the grade of merchants and common people who could live in the courtyard. If they lived without a title, it would be suspected of overstepping. We
Knowing it is an opportunity but unable to profit.
Otherwise, let's set up a business together. You will come forward to purchase these houses on my behalf, and I will provide the funds behind it.
After the house was acquired and returned, I found someone to renovate it. When the war ends, the world is at peace, and Chang'an is prosperous again, housing prices will definitely rise again.
When the time comes, we will sell the renovated house at a high price. For the profit, we will add two to five, what do you think?"
Princess Qingluan's eyebrows were filled with joy. She imitated the merchant's behavior, cupped her fists and raised her hands, and said boldly: "This is a good job. I will definitely satisfy Bai Shaodong's family."
Bai Fu returned the gift and said with a smile: "Shopkeeper Li has worked hard and I'm sorry for you."
…
After talking about the business, Princess Qingluan pursed her lips and smiled and said: "Master Fu, you have made me so much money, I have to give you some gifts, otherwise I will feel sorry for you.
But I only have jewelry on hand and no men’s supplies. I haven’t gone shopping for a long time, why don’t you accompany me to the market today?”
After that, he couldn't help but drag Bai Fu to go shopping in Dongshi.
Before the An Lushan Rebellion, the east and west cities of Chang'an were bustling with businessmen from all over the world, and goods from all over the world gathered. There were many shops with various categories. There were countless teahouses and restaurants. There were all kinds of clothes, food, utensils and toys. Antiques and jades were dazzling. Silk and satin were fashionable.
luxurious.
Comparing the two cities, the quality of goods in Dongshi is better, the price is more expensive, and the customers are more noble.
Today, the imperial court has just recovered the two capitals, and the East Market has not yet returned to the prosperity and prosperity it had before the war. The two of them wandered around for half an hour before they found a sizable antique store.
The waiter in the store saw that the two were well-dressed and noble in temperament, so they did not dare to neglect them and hurriedly welcomed them into the private room on the second floor.
The elegant room on the second floor is luxurious and private. The shopkeeper personally comes out to receive distinguished guests.
The shopkeeper has seen countless people, and he can tell at a glance that they are rich and powerful people. Their fat smiling faces squeeze their eyes into a line, and the service is even more attentive.
The shopkeeper ordered the waiter to make cold fragrant tea and serve four plates, four bowls and eight exquisite snacks for the two of them to take a break.
The shopkeeper presented the silver box with gilt lotus petals and said with a smile: "This is our newly prepared incense. It has the effect of clearing the mind and calming the mind. I would like to invite you two distinguished guests to taste it." When the lid of the box was opened, a faint fragrance slowly escaped.
.
Princess Qingluan took off the hollow cover on the back of the golden duck incense burner, removed the ice-patterned mica partition, and gently fiddled with the incense ashes in the burner with an incense stick.
Princess Qingluan poked through seventeen or eight exquisite holes in the incense ashes, reaching directly to the charcoal buried in the incense ashes, and the incense burner suddenly lit up.
Princess Qingluan put the mica cover back on the incense ashes. Holding the incense stick with her slender jade fingers, she picked up a piece of incense from the gilt silver lotus petal box.
The incense grains are rolled into mica sheets and baked by burning charcoal.
Princess Qingluan then placed the hollow lid on the incense burner. After a while, the golden duck's flat mouth of the incense burner slowly spit out wisps of dense and non-existent mist.
Princess Qingluan took a gentle sniff and said: "From the top notes of the incense, you can distinguish the fragrance of agarwood, armor, clove, chicken bone, incense, white sandalwood and ripe Jiexiang.
The middle note also has the fruity aroma of tongzhi, guanxiang, green cinnamon and white gradually fragrant.
The base note returns to a sweet and rich flavor, and I guess it is also mixed with sparrow, styrax, benzoin, and musk.”
The shopkeeper clapped his hands and said with a smile: "You are indeed a great master, and you are actually able to formulate the spices. You are right. I will give you both a box of this fragrance, just as a small bonus."
Princess Qingluan smiled and said: "This fragrance is not cheap. So many spices are pounded into fine powder, drained with wine, and mixed with white honey to form this exquisite fragrant cake. If there is any slight difference, the whole batch will be made."
scrapped.
You are such a generous shopkeeper and do good business."
Bai Fu was dumbfounded as he listened to the side, and then he gained knowledge. He finally understood what it meant to be a relative of a royal family and a famous family. How could rich merchants and common people achieve these bits of luxury and leisure fun that are ingrained in their bones?!
Even though I am extremely wealthy today, I can only be regarded as a sudden rich man, and I am still far from being a member of an aristocratic family.
Then, a vague idea for a new business suddenly appeared in Bai Fu's mind.