Yang Yuanqing took out two copper coins, one was the new coin issued by him, and the other was Bo Daye coin. He put the money on the table and said to everyone: "Everyone is familiar with these two coins. I heard that some people use these two coins."
I don't know if any of you here have done this to make huge profits based on the price difference between the Sui and Tang Dynasties. I want to remind everyone that I have given an order to the army to strictly prohibit the money from Guanzhong's great industry from entering Hedong. Of course, a small amount is allowed, everyone
You cannot bring more than ten dans of Daye money. You will be warned for half a month first. If you exceed 1,000 dans after half a month, you will be directly arrested and imprisoned. The money will be confiscated. What if a businessman brings a thousand dans of money? It is very simple. Go buy goods and enter the country.
Don’t violate the ban again, I’ll remind everyone about this first.”
A businessman said: "Reporting to your highness, we have all heard about this matter, but we have not done it. For us, it is too risky to walk around Guanzhong with huge copper coins. This matter is caused by the businessmen from Guanzhong.
Yes, Your Highness prohibits the entry of money from big business, thus blocking their access. I believe this matter will not happen again in the future."
"Okay! In that case, I won't talk about it anymore.
Yang Yuanqing stopped mentioning the matter. When the topic changed, he smiled again: "It has been more than half a year since the new money was issued. We have stored a large amount of Daye money exchanged in our hands, and they are all piled up in the Jinyang Palace warehouse.
I planned to destroy them all, but I heard that Daye Money was still circulating in Guanzhong and Sishu. I thought, instead of destroying them, I didn’t use them to buy some supplies from Guanzhong. I know that you big businessmen all have their own ways, so I thought
I leave the money to you, and you will buy supplies for me. It can be any supplies, grain, oil, salt, cloth, tea, silk, cattle, sheep, wood, etc. If this is done well, I will record your contribution.
,How about it?"
The fifteen businessmen stared at each other. Only now did they understand what the King of Chu was asking them to do. The words that excited them for a long time turned out to be that they were asking them to dig out the Tang Dynasty's wealth. With their connections, it was not impossible.
However, once seized by the Tang Dynasty, they would face the risk of detaining people and goods. Of course, the risk of the goods had nothing to do with them, but the loss of people and mules and horses did belong to them, which contained great risks.
After a long silence, the most senior businessman said: "Your Highness, there will be great risks in doing this. I'm worried..."
Before he could finish speaking, Yang Yuanqing interrupted him with a wave of his hand, and said calmly: "You are all well-known big merchants in Hedong County and have close business ties with Guanlong. I am an outsider and don't know how to avoid risks, but you should know about this matter.
You go back and discuss it! The money will arrive from Taiyuan in two days, and I am waiting for your good news."
…
The fifteen businessmen all went back helplessly. Pei Wenjing had to go and deal with it temporarily. Only Cao Yuanqing and Du Yan were left in the meeting hall.
When Yang Yuanqing was talking to the businessmen, Du Yan basically said nothing, but he had a lot of worries in his heart. It was only then that he cautiously said: "To be honest with the manager, I actually think this matter is very risky. Once Tang
They will indeed be in great danger if they find out."
Yang Yuanqing didn't take this risk too seriously. He smiled and said: "Prefect Du doesn't have to worry about this for them. They are all sophisticated businessmen. They know how to avoid risks. They will never do it."
Putting yourself in a dangerous situation, you know better than the government, so you might as well leave many things to them, and they will do a better job."
Du Yan saw that Yang Yuanqing was confident and the matter had been settled. There was no point in worrying. He thought of another thing and said: "Actually, what I am really worried about is the Chamber of Commerce. This will unite the merchants and they will screw up in the future."
These businessmen are very smart, sophisticated and shrewd. If they are scattered, the government can easily deal with them. If you kill one, the others will be afraid. But the Chamber of Commerce is different. They have enough financial and material resources to fight against the government.
, if it is won over by the Tang Dynasty, it will be a big hidden danger, General Manager, I really do not agree with letting them set up a chamber of commerce."
Yang Yuanqing held the tea bowl and sneered slightly, "You think too much and go too far. Since ancient times, people will rise up to rebel when they are in dire straits. When have you ever heard of merchants rebelling? Businessmen are smart people. What they want is profit, not profit.
Quan, if they twist the rope and confront the government, there is only one possibility. Corrupt officials will force all businessmen to have no choice, and then they will resist. Isn't this good? Give the censor a clue."
Perhaps because he felt that his tone was a bit too strong, Yang Yuanqing softened his tone and said with a smile: "Prefect Du, I understand your worries. I also believe that every prefect has the same worries, but you must also think about the fact that in the fight for the world,
At that time, businessmen were a force that could not be ignored. They controlled a lot of money, but they had no status and were very low-key, so not many people noticed them. They were an invisible force. I asked them to form a chamber of commerce.
, give them a little more sweetness, and establish a mercantile image, so that businessmen will work for me instead of the Tang Dynasty. Governor Du, if you have no money to build bridges and no food to run schools, go to the Chamber of Commerce and let them
Isn't it better for them to just go and distribute the goods themselves than if you go door-to-door knocking on doors to mobilize?"
Du Yan nodded silently. He somewhat understood what Yang Yuanqing meant. In troubled times, we should make full use of the power of businessmen. When they become strong and fat, we can then consider new methods. This is like letting the water go to raise fish. One day, they will become fat.
The fish will eventually become the ruler's meal...
…
There is a large house covering an area of ten acres in the west of Hedong City. This is the house of Zhang Yuanzhong, a big businessman in Hedong, that is, the oldest businessman. According to the housing regulations of the Sui Dynasty, businessmen are not qualified to live in such a large house. Moreover,
I can only afford to live in a small house with an area of one or two acres.
It was only because of the war that the laws and regulations no longer had much binding force, so Zhang Yuanzhong bought this mansion covering an area of ten acres. In fact, with his financial resources, it was no problem to live in a huge mansion of one hundred acres, but he did not dare to show off.
The big house of 6 acres is still facing great risks, also because Du Yan and Pei Yuanjing are both newly appointed officials, and they can't care about the violation of regulations in his house.
In Zhang Yuanzhong's main hall, fifteen big businessmen gathered to discuss the tasks assigned to them by Yang Yuanqing today.
A businessman said: "I estimate that the money accumulated by the imperial court for great undertakings is in the tens of millions. Once a large amount of money poured into the Tang Dynasty and bought goods, it would create a situation where money was cheap and goods were expensive. Prices skyrocketed. Tang Dynasty
The court will immediately find out that we are causing trouble, and a decree has been issued to arrest all the merchants from Hedong. What do you think we should do?"
Another businessman surnamed Wang said: "Actually, it doesn't matter. The food supplies in Guanzhong come from Sishu to a large extent. We just need to control the amount of purchases. Don't rush in all at once to buy, but buy in a steady stream."
, it was Sishu that was drained out in the end, not Chang'an, and their prices also increased little by little, and the court couldn't realize it. If you persist like this for half a year, the purchase volume will be quite considerable."
The businessman surnamed Li nodded and smiled: "Old Wang is right, the key is to use clever methods. I suggest not to touch grain at the beginning. Things such as grain, oil and salt are too sensitive and can easily attract attention and be discovered by the Tang Dynasty. You can
Start with cloth, silk, tea, wood, livestock, medicinal materials, and do not purchase large-scale caravans. Break up the caravans, and some will go to Tongguan, some to Pujin, and some to the inner pass.
It's not easy to be discovered. Maybe the Tang Dynasty was still very happy. Trade was prosperous, business taxes increased greatly, and money was pouring in. When it was almost done, we would concentrate on buying grain and leave. Don't worry about the collapse of the sky in Guanzhong.
Come down."
Zhang Yuandian nodded and said slowly to everyone: "Actually, there is a way. If it doesn't work, just let the merchants in Guanzhong deliver the goods to your door, and we can purchase it locally. Isn't there no risk as well? The reason why I am in the King of Chu
The purpose of complaining about the danger in front of us is actually to ask the King of Chu to give us some benefits. For example, after completing this matter, we will all be awarded the title of honorary officer, then we can legitimately ride a carriage, buy a house, and marry a concubine, without having to worry about it all day long.
Live a good life, everyone says, right?"
Everyone laughed and gave thumbs up, "Lao Zhang is still thinking far ahead!"
Zhang Yuanzhong smiled bitterly again and said: "Actually, to be honest, the King of Chu is already very good. He promised to restore the citizenship of merchants, remove all regulations that discriminate against merchants, and allowed us to establish a chamber of commerce. Of course, we need to pay. Over the years, we have
Just focus on amassing money and living underground like a mole. No matter how much money you have, it is of no use. Can you enjoy it? If you don’t enjoy it, you will be scolded and discriminated against. The reason why country squires are famous is that they treat local people well and help orphans and widows.
Old man, today I heard the King of Chu call us gentry, and my face turned a little red at that time. Everyone, we can't afford the word 'gentry'!"
Everyone was silent. Zhang Yuanzhong was right. If you just want to get something but are unwilling to pay, it is impossible to gain respect from others. A large number of immigrants came to Hedong County some time ago. Famous families from various townships have the money and ability to contribute, but they businessmen
But they all shrank to one side, and no one was willing to come forward. No wonder they were hated.
A businessman sighed: "Actually, I have also thought about paying attention to those displaced hungry people, but I feel that my power is too small, and I also feel that I am the only one who contributes money and effort, while others do not move, which is a bit too much."
I suffered a loss, so I just thought about it instead of putting it into practice."
Zhang Yuanzhong smiled and said: "That's why the King of Chu suggested that we set up a chamber of commerce and do it in the name of the chamber of commerce. The money and food consumed will be shared by everyone. In fact, each family is not much, but the effect is very good. I suggest that we set up a chamber of commerce today."
Zhang Yuanzhong thought very well. If a chamber of commerce is established in his mansion today, the leader of the chamber should be Zhang Yuanzhong.
"Then what should we do with what King Chu told us?"
"The money from Taiyuan is estimated to take two or three days to arrive. After we establish the chamber of commerce, we can formulate a plan and then divide the work and collaborate to minimize risks."