"Greetings to Mr. Li! Mr. Li looks more energetic!"
Among the greetings one after another, someone asked: "Why don't you see Mr. Jia coming with you this time?"
Another man tugged at the sleeve of the man who had spoken before and whispered: "Since Mr. Li has been stationed here, Mr. Jia has been on other errands for several years. They have not seen each other for a long time!"
The person who spoke before was shocked, and then he realized that although the person in front of him had acted based on Jia Sidao's name, he was after all a high-ranking official sent by Zhou Dynasty in the Song Dynasty. And that experience embarrassed many high-ranking officials in the Song Dynasty.
Never mention it again in public.
Fortunately, Li Yun was not embarrassed by this. There are rumors that when he went to Huainan to meet Jia She, he would half-jokingly show off the etiquette of treating his father like a son. This was true in Huainan, and he didn't care even less when he was in Lin'an.
.
He smiled and stretched out his hand, nodded at the apologetic merchant, stood up, and stood in the center of the hall: "You are all my old friends. I won't hide or use polite words from you! This
The first time I rushed to Lin'an, I only talked about one thing, and that was money!"
Li Yun glanced at everyone in the room and said in a deep voice: "Everyone must know that since the founding of the Zhou Dynasty, our biggest enemy has been the Black Tatars in the north. Over the years, there have been constant small-scale conflicts. By this year
There is already a war! Fighting requires money, a lot of money. Everyone, His Majesty needs the support of his old friends, just like he needs your support on the coast of Shandong and in the country of Koryo!"
Many wealthy merchants in the Song Dynasty were already extremely wealthy, especially in recent years. The total number of wealthy merchants stationed in Lin'an and their employees exceeded 100,000. In terms of financial resources, they far surpassed any country in the world.
The Zhou Dynasty's construction of several large ports and shipyards along the coast, and even its wanton seizure of Goryeo, were actually indispensable for their cooperation.
After cooperating for a long time, the two sides really have some friendship and know each other well.
For example, at this moment, there was a simple-looking man following Li Yun, without saying a word the whole time. Everyone knew that it was a new trick created by Dazhou. Because many middle and lower-level officers of Dazhou also paid to form a team to participate.
Port investment, this is the representative elected by the soldiers, is responsible for going to the south to review, especially to determine whether the proportion of sea transport volume increasing year by year is as previously predicted.
The Zhou Dynasty established the country with force and raised Qiu Ba's status to an extremely high level. In the early days, some military leaders were still showing off their prestige. In the past two years, even the lower-level soldiers began to run rampant in the Song Dynasty. Most people in the Song Dynasty could not understand this virtue, but in Shang Dynasty
Speaking of business, just ignore it for the sake of money.
"Master Li!" Zhang Kai, a famous merchant in Qingyuan Prefecture, looked around, stood up and asked: "If Da Zhou needs money, we people must support it. After all, when Da Zhou makes money, he never falls behind.
us……"
As soon as this was said, the surrounding area burst into laughter and everyone nodded.
"But what is the specific situation of this war in the north? How much does His Majesty the Emperor of your country require? How long will it take? How will it be repaid? Or, what kind of spoils will be used to offset it?"
"Yes, yes..."
The merchants in Qingyuan Prefecture who are familiar with Zhang Kai all said: "We have the same idea as Mr. Zhang. Money is not an issue. Li Langjun has led us in the past few years, and we are all aware of things. However, if there is a clear charter,
, that’s the best!”
"Yes, yes... we in Huainan are the most familiar with Mr. Jia. Of course, now only Mr. Jia... ah no, only Mr. Li is following the lead. The regulations are set, and we will follow them immediately!" The merchant leader in Huainan
, Xie Guoming, who made his fortune by colluding with Jia She in smuggling, also jumped out.
“This is also the case for all our families in Fuzhou!”
A giant businessman stood up and said with a glance. Li Yun knew that although Shi Xiang was from Yin County, Qingyuan Prefecture, because Qingyuan Prefecture was under the eyes of all the kings, Shi Xiang's own business interests were more important.
The land was entrusted to Hu Ju, the prefect of Fuzhou, and Shi Songzhi, the nephew of Shi Xiang. Over the past few years, the merchants in Fuzhou became more rigid than the merchants in Qingyuan Prefecture.
"Of course there are regulations."
Li Yun clapped his hands, and someone immediately came out from the back hall and distributed books to everyone present.
He smiled and said: "Everyone, please see. Li is in Daxing Mansion. He has discussed it with His Majesty the Emperor of Dazhou and all the nobles. This will give the Mongols some shame, so there are some who will be transferred to the grasslands with the army.
A large number of newly-made firearms, including several of the military and national weapons that I demonstrated to you a while ago. This represents a special expenditure of more than 6.5 million yuan. Half of it will be raised in Tianjin."
Having said this, he paused, looked at everyone's expressions, and continued: "You are all old friends, and many of you are shareholders of Shanghai Bank and Tianjin Bank. When good things happen, I will never forget you, so from half of the time,
I took out another half of it, 1.5 million yuan, and gave it to you."
In the early years, even if the Song Dynasty was prosperous, figures of more than one million were not discussed casually. The annual coin was only 250,000!
But at this time, everyone was rich, and their expressions did not change. However, many people went to the back of the book to see what benefits Da Zhou had promised. Sure enough, at the back of the book, there were complicated formulas to calculate interest rates, and there were
Densely listed are the names, locations and approximate valuations of industries that can be greatly expanded after the threat from the north is completely eliminated.
Obviously, after the war, Dazhou will not repay the money directly, but will use these properties to top up the amount. This is a good thing!
How can a single business compare to an industry that continuously generates money?
Sure enough, war is the fastest way to make money in the world! The Zhou Dynasty used the money of the Song Dynasty to fight the war, and the Song Dynasty relied on the wars of the Great Zhou Dynasty to make a fortune. Is there anything more beautiful in the world than this?
All the merchants felt a little happy. They had no intention of staying here at the moment, but wanted to go back quickly and find a reliable person to verify the property listed in the book.
Li Yun did not keep them much longer, and immediately signaled to see the guests off, adding that a banquet would be held at Yujin Boat in the evening.
When the commotion broke up, the merchants chatted with each other. A merchant with a good background rooted in Lin'an said casually: "In the past two days, the gossipy people in the court have been violently impeached by the ministers of Prime Minister Shi.
Don't take care of us... We just took this opportunity to get the matter done!"
When they were talking, Li Yun was far away and didn't notice. Zhang Kai happened to be nearby.
As the crown prince's health gets worse and worse, the political forces surrounding King Yi's heirs have become increasingly active recently. The Taiwanese admonishers controlled by Prime Minister Shi have exhausted all their skills in order to deal with them. This is not a big deal.
News.
Everyone also knows that most of the people standing around the heirs of King Yi are a group of people who have no ambitions and cannot be used in the court. There are also a few intellectual figures and scholar leaders. Since they have no contact with practice, they always sing in tune.
His reputation is extremely high, and his position is always very upright. There are many talented but ungrateful people under Prime Minister Shi's sect, and there are indeed many flaws. It is difficult to cope with them, and it is inevitable to suffer losses.
As for political rights and wrongs, merchants don't care. However, in order to attack Shi Xiang, the party of King Yi's heirs never strayed from the threat of powerful neighbors in the north, which was very detrimental to their generation's ability to make money under Shi Xiang's wings. Therefore,
Merchants generally prefer historians, and they always look down upon anyone who has high opinions in daily conversations. Now I hear that Taiwan's admonishers have the upper hand, which is rare.
Zhang Kai asked casually: "What are they impeaching?"
The local wealthy businessman from Lin'an replied: "This time it is said that those who promise to assemble the army and prepare for the occasion, but when it comes time to use them, in fact they have neither courage nor incompetence, and cannot share the worries of the imperial court."
Someone thought for a while and suddenly said: "Dishan, a doctor of the Han Dynasty, advocated peace with the Xiongnu. As a result, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty made fun of him and asked whether Dishan could handle a border county, a county, or a barrier. Dishan was forced to take office.
In the blink of an eye, he was beheaded by the Xiongnu. Is the Prime Minister using the allusion in reverse, and wants to send all the wings of King Yi's heir to the border military states, away from the center of the imperial court?"
Several people shook their heads at the same time: "It's a good idea, but the world is at peace and the border is very stable, so there is no need to use force. Is it possible to throw them to Lingnan to suppress the pirates? There won't be many people available?"
Someone next to him laughed and said: "If there is a sudden war in our northern border, it would be easy to fill out not only a few errands, but hundreds of errands..." The high-profile and eye-catching things in the court will be wiped out, haha,
Ha ha."
This statement was too ridiculous and made everyone laugh.
Naturally, Shi Xiang had a lot of ruthless tactics against his political opponents, and he wanted to kill them quickly. However, the trade with the Zhou Dynasty was the source of confidence for Shi Xiang's party. If there were turmoil on the border between the two countries, it would have a great impact on Shi Xiang's own financial resources and governance.
The foundations are all devastating blows. Moreover, the heir of King Yi is not the emperor's heir after all. Even if Shi Xiang has thunderous means, why should he use it so urgently and so obviously?
Merchants all know what is light and what is important, let alone Ming Duan, the prime minister of the Song Dynasty.
Everyone chatted and laughed casually and dispersed.
Zhang Kai, however, found a deserted flower hall and walked around the back corridor alone to look for Li Yun.
After listening to what he said, Li Yun was a little confused: "What do you mean?"
Zhang Kai coughed a few times: "When I was asked to go to the Song Dynasty, it was clearly agreed that it would be three years, but three years later, it was another three years. I was suspicious every day, and my hair turned white, and I just put it away when all the messy thoughts came up in my mind.
I can’t restrain myself…”
"Tsk, just tell me, what do you think?"
"Shi Xiang is by no means an innocent person. There must be a reason for the commotion in the court these days. Could it be that... something we don't know happened somewhere, causing the situation in Lin'an to change. And Shi Xiang wanted to do something for a certain person.
This is the key, even at the border..."
How smart is Li Yun? He immediately thought of what Zhang Kai was referring to.
He hissed and gasped, wanting to laugh a little, but also really worried: "How is that possible? It's not possible, right? Even if the sick man in the palace couldn't support it, how could Shi Miyuan have such confidence? How could the Song Dynasty still have such confidence?
Is there any general who dares to stir up trouble to cooperate with him?"
"I always feel like something is wrong. It's better to ask someone to check, just in case."
Li Yun nodded: "I'm self-reflective. Just go and don't reveal your whereabouts."
Zhang Kai was about to leave when he suddenly heard the sound of footsteps rushing on the corridor behind him, and then someone slapped the door regardless.
This is too unruly.
Li Yun frowned and shouted: "What's the matter!"
Someone from the outside said in a deep voice: "There is a secret message sent... Number A just sent it personally, please let me pass it on immediately."
Zhang Kai slightly stepped back.
He himself was one of the hidden men placed by Zhou Dynasty in the Song Dynasty. He also had a serial number used to deliver secret messages and refer to his identity, but it started with the character B. Obviously, the number one character A was placed among important figures.
There are people around you who are responsible for extremely important tasks. It’s okay if you don’t listen to the contents of such a secret message.
The next moment, he saw Li Yun's face change suddenly after reading the secret letter, as if he had seen a living ghost.
Zhang Kai subconsciously asked: "Is there any hindrance?"
Li Yun's hands were shaking a little. After taking several deep breaths, he said solemnly: "No. 1 is a trusted butler whom I bribed with a lot of money in Shi Miyuan's house earlier when I was working for him."
"What did this confidant butler say?" Zhang Kai's heart beat twice: "Did I guess it correctly? Could it be that something really happened in the palace, and the Prime Minister sent people to provoke trouble at the border of Zhou Dynasty in order to banish political opponents?
thing?"
Li Yun nodded and shook his head.
"The crown prince is indeed seriously ill, and Shi Miyuan indeed sent people to provoke trouble at our border in Great Zhou."
"Who? Is it Zhao Fang? Or Cui Yu? Or maybe An Bing was transferred back to Sichuan?"
"It's the Mongolian army."
"..." Zhang Kai thought there was something wrong with his ears or that he was confused. He stared at Li Yun: "What?"
"It's the Mongols. Shi Miyuan colluded with the Mongols and allowed an elite group of Mongolian troops to use the Lizhou East Road to attack the Central Plains directly!"
"Is Shi Miyuan crazy!?"
"He's not crazy. He just hasn't seen the power of the Mongols! He's just stupid!"
Li Yun banged a bronze chime on the desk, immediately alerting his subordinates outside. Then he waved his hand to Zhang Kai: "I need 100,000 yuan to urgently send a message to the north. You can also help me. If there is any carrier pigeon, please hurry up."
Ships, privately-set stations and horses, all are used! I’m afraid it’s too late...it’s already too late!”
"well!"
Zhang Kai turned around and ran out. He just looked ahead and didn't pay attention to the soles of his feet. He tripped over the threshold and stumbled out all the way.
