Chongzhen Daming: Starting from Coal Mountain

Chapter 423 There is no way out
"Ge Lao, that's not what you said."

Mao Jingzu said with a wry smile: "Didn't the Wang and Hu families take over the business of transporting 60 shi of military food to Yunnan last year? Although they lost money in the end, they got involved with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Water Conservancy and Food Bank. Therefore, you can buy grain at a low price from the Water Conservancy and Grain Bank with only a part of the deposit.”

Although the Ministry of Internal Affairs has clearly stated that Huguang's grain can only be purchased and sold by the water conservancy grain bank, neither Huguang grain nor Nanzhi grain merchants take it seriously.

In Daming, one cannot be a big businessman without some background.

For example, the Mao family, the Qian family and the Xu family are all deeply rooted aristocratic families.

These aristocratic families were able to force back the commercial tax imposed by the emperor's order, so how could they take a mere ban from the Ministry of Internal Affairs seriously?Give you a face?They didn't intend to do business with the water conservancy and grain bank at all, but bought grain directly from farmers in Huguang at a low price. They could get the goods directly from the source, so why should they make money for the middlemen?

So Qian Qianyi looked down on the Wang and Hu families very much in his heart, since he couldn't afford to buy grain directly from the farmers, why would you fight with big grain merchants like us?

"So what?" Qian Qianyi said disdainfully, "They can only buy food from the water conservancy and grain bank, and let the Ministry of Internal Affairs earn a price difference in the middle. How low can the price be? Even if they only pay a part of the deposit How much grain can one million taels of silver buy? Two million shi will be the top, right?"

"It's not too bad." Xu Ersui said, "The food shipped by the two families is almost 200 million shi."

"Then what are you panicking about?" Qian Qianyi said, "It's just 200 million shi of grain, you can eat it directly, and you need to make a special trip to Banshan Hall?"

"Fourth brother, I'm afraid things are not that simple."

Qian Qianli said: "The Wang and Hu families only shipped 200 million shi, but it doesn't mean that they only have 200 million shi in their hands. There are more than 1000 million shi of grain lying in the warehouse of the Water Conservancy and Grain Bank!"

"And there are even more terrifying things." Mao Jingzu whispered.

"The food hegemony of Huguang grain merchants has collapsed. Now the price of grain in Huguang has dropped to three yuan per stone, and it is still falling continuously."

"That's what they deserve." Qian Qianyi snorted.

"Who let them eat alone? If we let our Nanzhi grain merchants take a share, how could we have the situation today? You guys are not allowed to lend them money, let them lose all their wealth."

The Qian family, the Mao family, and the Xu family also participated in Huguang's food hegemony at the beginning.

But since the grain merchants in Huguang attached themselves to Wang Fuzhi, they kicked them away.

Although the three families were very angry, there was nothing they could do, because it was Huguang after all, and it was in their territory.

Mao Jingzu sighed and said: "Master Ge, we don't care about the life and death of Huguang grain merchants, but we are worried that there will be interference from the Ministry of Internal Affairs behind this matter?"

"What do you mean?" Qian Qianyi asked with a frown.

"You mean, it was the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs who punctured the grain hegemony of Huguang grain merchants?"

"That's probably the case." Xu Er said, "Otherwise, who has such great ability?"

"That's not right." Qian Qianyi shook his head and said, "Huguang's food hegemony is the head of the Wang family, and the Wang family's backer is Wang Fuzhi, a scholar of Prince Qin from Hengshan. He is a scholar battalion leader."

"It's hard to say." Mao Jingzu said, "There are so many scholars in the scholar camp, it is inevitable that there are factions."

Qian Qianli said: "If our guess is true, it is really a good thing done by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, then we must also be careful, because the Ministry of Internal Affairs will be able to eat Huguang's surplus grain at a very low price after piercing Huguang's grain hegemony, and then If we can use Huguang's surplus grain to smash Nanzhi's game, then I will be the next one to be unlucky."

"Yes." Xu Ersui clapped his hands and said, "Huguang has a surplus of 8000 to 2000 million shi. As long as the Ministry of Internal Affairs borrows [-] million shi from the Wang and Hu families to Nanzhi, we will be hit hard."

Qian Qianyi frowned when he heard this, it was really possible.

Immediately Qian Qianyi asked: "So you mean, let the old man go to inquire about it?"

"At this point, I'm afraid I can only rely on you, Mr. Ge." Mao Jingzu sighed, "Our three families and more than a hundred other families' lives are all bet on this business, and there is really no room for loss. "

Qian Qianyi asked: "What if it turns out that the Ministry of Internal Affairs really intervened?"

"Then we can only stop the loss." Xu Er said, "Sell the grain as soon as it is still profitable. Although we sell the grain on a large scale will definitely cause the price of the grain to plummet, it is better than rotten in our hands."

"Is there no other way than selling to stop the loss?" Qian Qianyi was still a little unwilling.

"Of course there is a way." Mao Jingzu said with a wry smile, "As long as we have enough money in our hands to eat all the grain shipped from Huguang, the price of Nanzhi's grain will remain at a high level, and it can even be higher. High, even if we raise the price of grain to ten taels of silver a stone, we still have to buy what should be bought.”

"Understood." Qian Qianyi said, "The old man will return to Nanjing now."

At that moment, Qian Qianyi left the Banshan hall, came to the red bean restaurant and said to Liu Rushi: "Madam, my husband has an urgent matter to go back to Nanjing. Do you want to stay in Changshu for a few days, or go back to Nanjing together with my husband?"

"But for food?" Liu Rushi's face changed slightly.

"Master, didn't you say you don't get involved? You won't be involved, right?"

"Ma'am, I originally thought this was a guaranteed business." Qian Qianyi smiled wryly.

Hearing this, Liu Rushi's expression became even more embarrassing: "Master, how much money did you invest in?"

Qian Qianyi was kind to Liu Rushi and did not hide anything: "A total of 100 million taels of silver was invested."

"What? One million taels?" Liu Rushi's pretty face turned pale, "Master, where did you get so much money? Our family doesn't have so much money, right?"

"Borrowed." Qian Qianyi said, "Borrowed from various banks."

"Master, you are so confused." Liu Rushi stomped his feet and sighed, "Hurry up and withdraw before the food price drops, and then pay back all the money you borrowed."

But Qian Qianyi couldn't listen at all.

"Ma'am, when this business is completed, our family will have 100 million taels of income."

"At that time, I will build a big garden for you, and move all the precious flowers in the world into this garden. This big garden is called 'Wo Wen' Garden."

"My lord, I don't want a garden."

"Ma'am, wait for my good news."

……

On the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, Yanziji Wharf.

Chongzhen was standing on the pier watching the new army line up to board the ship.

Taking a boat in rivers and lakes is a completely different concept from taking a boat in the sea.

The sea is windy and rough, and almost everyone will get seasick when they first arrive at sea, so it takes a certain amount of time to adapt to training to avoid the seasickness reaction.

Otherwise, when I arrived in Liaodong by boat, my legs would feel weak.

How to fight after landing on the beach?Spray with saliva?

"Long Live Lord." Wang Chengen covered Chongzhen's head with an oil-paper umbrella, "It's raining."

Chongzhen looked up, and it was really raining: "Wang Daban, how many grains have the Wang and Hu families shipped to Nanjing as of today?"

"About 600 million shi." Wang Chengen said.

"What about food prices?" Chongzhen asked with a dark face, "Is it still going up?"

Before New Year’s Eve, the price of rice in Nanjing had risen to five taels, and it had even risen to six taels by the Lantern Festival. This also strengthened the decision to take Nanzhi grain merchants to sacrifice the flag. These profiteers deserve to be killed.

Wang Chengen said: "It has not risen, it is stable at six taels."

"It seems that they are also a little scared." Chongzhen said coldly.

After saying this, he said again: "But it's too late to be afraid now."

While talking, Gao Qiqian came over and reported, "Long Live Lord, Mr. Qian Ge is asking to see you."

"Wang Daban, look, this is the word that came to spy on me." Chongzhen sneered, "In that case, I will give them a reassurance pill for free, so that they can die more thoroughly, Gao Banban, please Come over here."

In less than a moment, Gao Qiqian led Qian Qianyi to the pier and greeted Chongzhen.

After seeing the ceremony, Qian Qianyi said in a respectful voice: "The Holy One is really a famous king, and he does not forget state affairs when he is resting."

"Isn't Mr. Qian Ge also running around for the country?" Chongzhen smiled and asked again, "By the way, why is Mr. Ge so anxious to see me?"

Qian Qianyi said: "My lord, this is the case. Last year, many farmlands in Nanzhili were converted to cotton, mulberry seedlings, and Tamba wild rice, which resulted in a lot of reduction in rice production. As a result, the price of rice was high, and it rose a year ago. It reached five taels for one stone, and it rose to six taels for one stone a few years later. If the price of rice remained high for a long time, the minister was worried that the people in Beijing would not be able to afford it, so he took the liberty to ask for an audience, and begged the emperor to order from Huguang in the name of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Grain adjustments to stabilize rice prices."

"The elder Ge is concerned about the country and the people, he is really a model for all officials." Chongzhen praised.

"I'm ashamed." Qian Qianyi's bones were lightened, "This is all my job."

"It's just that the matter of food prices is a bit complicated." Chongzhen said, "Mr. Ge, you also know that the Ministry of Internal Affairs is also tight at the moment, and even last year's dividends have not been paid."

"Yes, yes, the veteran also knows about this situation." Qian Qianyi said, "During the cabinet discussion years ago, the veteran also suggested to Chief Kui that the Bank of the Ministry of Households should lend a sum of money to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The department bank doesn't have much money, so in the end, the matter can only be left alone."

"I appreciate Mr. Ge's kindness."

Chongzhen said: "So let's leave it at that about food prices."

Speaking of this, Qian Qianyi 'understood' that the Wang and Hu families are selling grain according to the Holy Majesty's order, and the Holy Majesty also wants to sell high-priced grain, and does not want the price of grain to fall.

Qian Qianyi was completely relieved.

But the superficial high profile is still there.

"Your Majesty, the old minister is worried that the people in Beijing will suffer famine."

"Not at all, Mr. Ge, you also know that the people in Beijing are not short of money now."

"That's right. So many workshops popped up suddenly last year. Almost every household has people working in the workshops. They have indeed earned a lot of wages. There is no problem in sustaining them for a period of time."

"That being the case, the old minister resigns." Qian Qianyi resigned and left.

Seeing Qian Qianyi walking away, Chongzhen suddenly shouted: "Old Qian Ge."

"Your Majesty?" Qian Qianyi turned his head when he heard the sound, and looked at Chongzhen blankly.

Chongzhen said quietly: "I'm not greedy for too much. I can sell 1000 million shi. But don't be too cruel. The price of rice should be kept at six taels. It can't go up any more. That's the price."

Qian Qianyi's heart shuddered when he heard this.

It turned out that the Holy Majesty knew everything.

……

Back home, Qian Qianli, Mao Jingzu and Xu Ersui were already waiting.

"The old man has just seen Sheng Jia." Qian Qianyi said with a sigh of relief, "The Wang and Hu families are indeed going to Nanjing to sell food according to the order of the Holy One."

"Ah? It's really the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

"It's a little troublesome now."

"Hey, it seems that this time we can only stop the loss."

The three of Mao Jingzu couldn't help stomping their feet and sighing deeply when they heard the words.

"Don't panic, you three." Qian Qianyi waved his hands and said, "It is true that the Wang and Hu families went south to sell grain directly according to the imperial decree, but the Holy Majesty did not intend to stabilize the price of grain, because the Ministry of Internal Affairs is also short of money. "

"This..." The three of Mao Jingzu were stunned, this is true and did not expect.

After a long while, Qian Qianli asked: "That is to say, can we continue to eat?"

"Eat it in." Qian Qianyi said, "Eat it all in, this is what the Holy Spirit is anxious about."

"What Ge Lao said is very true." Mao Jingzu said with a smile, "After all, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is short of money."

"But, how much money does the Ministry of Internal Affairs want to raise?" Xu Er frowned and said, "Huguang's surplus grain is as much as 8000 to [-] million shi, can we handle it?"

"Not all of the seventy-eight million stones can be mobilized."

"The Holy Majesty has clearly stated that only 1000 million stones will be trafficked."

"However, the Holy Majesty also said that the price of rice cannot rise any further."

Qian Qianyi said solemnly: "If Xiaoyou Xu is worried, you can quit."

"No, late Jin has no such intention." Xu Er shook his head again and again, "Wan Jin is just worried."

"Worry is inevitable, and the old man is also worried." Qian Qianyi said, "After all, all the savings of the old man who has been an official for decades have been bet on this business. If the old man loses money, he should throw himself into the lake."

After a pause, he continued, "However, what the Holy Majesty said is still worthy of trust."

"Elder Ge's words are very true, and the words of the Holy Majesty are worthy of trust." Mao Jingzu said, "After the Yangzhou Guarding Eunuch Office and Nanjing Guarding Eunuch Office were raided, all the stolen money that has passed more than ten years have been returned in full."

Xu Er wanted to say that the Holy Majesty's public promises are different from private promises.

But Xu Ersui didn't say this after all, because the Huating Xu family had no way out.

Not only the Xu family in Huating has no way out, but the Mao family in Rugao and the Qian family in Changshu also have no way out.

The reason is very simple, if they also sell grain outside, the price of grain in Nanzhi will collapse in an instant, not only offending the Holy One, but also losing more than half of their capital.

Because the faster you sell, the harder the price falls, which is an endless loop.

So the only thing they can do is continue to eat 400 million stone.

When the Holy Majesty and the Ministry of Internal Affairs have eaten enough meat, they will come to eat the bones again.

[Kneeling for monthly ticket, recommendation ticket]

(End of this chapter)