Desert Eagle Suletan Khan

Chapter 148 Merchants gather for profit

Wearing a thick homespun cotton-padded jacket, cotton-padded shoes, and an ordinary leather hat on his head, it was really ordinary, not even decorated with pearls. Fan Yongdou sat on a large car with squinted eyes. Those who didn't know the inside story thought he was a coachman.

The older generation of Shanxi merchants are almost like this. No matter how much money they earn, they are reluctant to spend it. "Jin Lu" records: "The people of Jin are diligent and thrifty, and they breed outside." "The business customs of Jin are simple and ancient, with the style of Tang and Yu Fu. A house with a hundred golds has no cloth hat in summer; a house with a thousand gold has no long clothes in winter; In the Jin family, food has no taste." "Wuzazu" says: "In the south of the Yangtze River, Xin'an is pushed, and in the north of the Yangtze River, Shanyou is pushed. The large merchants in Xin'an are engaged in fish and salt. There are millions of people in the collection, and there are two or three others. One hundred thousand means Jia'er. Shanyou sells salt or silk, sells it, or stores it in cellars, but Xin'an is extravagant and Shanyou is frugal." "Zhaoyu Zhi·Shanxi" commented: "The people have no other luxuries. The rate is still high. A simple, middle-class family is just like working for a salary, and those who accumulate a lot of gold are as pale as a humble person."

Fan Yongdou looked at his caravan silently. The caravan was very long, but compared to the income he had, it was just a drop in the bucket. In these years, he, together with Wang Dengku, Jin Liangyu, Wang Dayu, Liang Jiabin, Tian Shenglan, Zhai Tang, and Huang Yunfa, were known as the eight major merchants in Shanyou. By doing business with the Manchus and Mongols, his family property accumulated more and more. Because he dared to do any business, including all kinds of ironware, grain and other strategic materials that were strictly prohibited by the imperial court, he gained a reputation as a traitor.

It doesn't matter, as long as he can earn money, it really doesn't matter to Fan Dong's family. He is used to hardship and knows that money is hard to earn. Compared with it, a mere reputation is nothing. The reason why they came to the territory of the Huite tribe was because their Huitaiji was an enlightened monarch who not only encouraged industry and commerce, but also allowed mining. The Salt Department was established in the Ministry of Household Affairs to manage salt affairs, and the Mining Department was established to manage mining affairs. Except for the three types of monetary minerals, gold, silver and copper, which were officially mined by the Gold, Silver and Copper Department of the Ministry of Industry, all other minerals were allowed to be mined privately.

For a time, private mining became popular, which also greatly increased the revenue of the state treasury. As a businessman, his sense of smell is extremely keen. There is no need to say more about the benefits of mining. The iron mines and salt ponds in Oirat, the salt ponds, saltpeter, and granite in Turpan, and I heard that there were also open-pit coal mines in the Sandaoling area of ​​Hami. The eight merchants on the right looked jealous. They knew that Fan Yongdou and Suletan's teacher, the Minister of Rites, Liu Because of the old times, I recommended Fan Yongdou to take a trip to Yingsuo River to explore the road. Fan Yongdou happened to be very interested in Kuqa's coal and iron, so he readily agreed.

He did have an old relationship with Liu Haogu. It was he and Liu Haogu who went to Yingsaochuan together. By some mistake, Liu Haogu became Suletan's teacher.

"Well, based on my relationship with Liu Shangshu, it shouldn't be difficult to get the coal and iron from Kuqa. Then we will use the coal to smelt iron, and then set up workshops to make iron tools. Mongolia is short of iron tools, and we can exchange the iron tools for a large number of livestock . Livestock is worthless in Mongolia. If shipped to Daming, the price will double." Fan Yongdou couldn't help but talk about his business experience.

"Longfeng, have you really thought about it? You don't want to be an official in the Qing Dynasty? The Qing Dynasty is at its peak now, and it is the time to employ people. With your martial arts skills, if you are willing to serve for it, you will definitely become famous." Ying Suochuan Outside the city, Cao Sanxi, the owner of Taigu Trading Company, said to Ji Jike.

Cao Sanxi was a giant businessman in Taigu, Shanxi Province, so he named his business "Taigu" after his hometown. Like the eight major merchants in Shanyou, his business became larger and larger by doing business with the Manchus and Mongols, and he became a wealthy businessman in Liaodong, and extended his tentacles to Monan and Moxi.

Ji Jike is the founder of Liuhe marksmanship and boxing. He has outstanding martial arts skills and was originally a general of the Ming army. Not long ago, because his army was defeated by the rebels, he became the scapegoat of Shangguan. He could not stay in the Ming Dynasty, so he had to find his friend Cao Sanxi for help. A way to survive. Cao Dong's family often trades with the Manchus and has some connections in the Qing Dynasty, and they want to help him. Unexpectedly, Ji Ji was extremely honest and said that as a minister of the Ming Dynasty, he could not be loyal to the Ming Dynasty.

In desperation, Cao Sanxi thought of the Oirat Mongolian Huite tribe. Back then, he asked Ji Jike to escort Liu Haogu, Xue Zongzhou, and Fu Shan to Yingsochuan City, which was considered to be an old relationship with Huite Ji of the Huite Department. After expressing his idea, Ji Jike was desperate, gritted his teeth and agreed. After all, the Huite tribe has always been a vassal to the Ming Dynasty. It is a vassal of the Ming Dynasty and cannot be regarded as an enemy country.

After the two of them had a good discussion, they brought the caravan to Yingsagawa City. Yes, the caravan, the Taigu merchant family has a great business, and the Cao Dong family has many things to deal with every day. If it wasn't for business, I wouldn't have accompanied my friend on this trip.

"Brother Cao, Brother Ji, why are you here?" When they heard that they were coming, Liu Haogu and Xue Zongzhou hurriedly held a banquet to entertain them.

"Why don't you see Qingzhu (Fu Shan's name)?" asked Ji Jike, who was outspoken.

"Master Qing has been appointed as the Provost and Inspector of the Western Region Province by Huitai Ji. He is not in Yingsuochuan City. Otherwise, with his temperament, he would definitely have a drink with the two of you," Xue Zongzhou said with a smile.

"I see." Ji Jike sighed, thinking that all his former friends had become high-ranking officials, but that he had become a criminal and had no way to serve the country.

Cao Sanxi told Ji Jike's story, and Liu and Xue immediately agreed to find a job for him. "Brother Cao, you have many things to do, so you shouldn't be here just to accompany Brother Ji?" Liu Haogu said with a smile.

"To be honest with Liu Shangshu, I am interested in the coal mines and iron ores in Kuqa and want to mine them," Cao Sanxi said bluntly about his purpose.

"Oh, "Shui Jing Zhu He Shui Chapter" records: There are mountains two hundred miles north of Kucha (Kuqa), and people take the coal from the mountains to smelt the iron from the mountains for use in the surrounding areas. How do you plan to run it?" Liu Hao Ancient question.

"Use charcoal to smelt iron, and then set up workshops to make ironware. Mongolia is short of ironware, so you can make huge profits by selling it," Cao Sanxi said with a smile.

"Oh, Mongolia is short of ironware. If you set up a workshop next to the iron mine to make ironware, Huitaiji will definitely ask the Mining Department of the Ministry of Household Affairs to handle the procedures for you," Liu Haogu said happily.

As soon as Fan Yongdou entered Yingsochuan City, he went directly to Liu Haogu's house to visit him. He was a wealthy man and gave him 30,000 taels of silver before he saw him.

Seeing Yinzi, Liu Haogu smiled lightly and said, "Brother Fan, why do you need to do this?" He ordered someone to invite him in.

"Fan Yongdou, a common man, meets Liu Shangshu." As soon as they met, Fan Dong's family gave him a big courtesy.

"Oh, Brother Fan, please don't do this. Please get up quickly." Liu Haogu hurriedly helped him up. "If you have anything, please let me know."

“I’m interested in Kuqa’s coal mines and iron ores.”

"You are a step late, someone has already arrived first." Liu Haogu explained the situation. Seeing that he was a little disappointed, he spoke again, "There are many salt lakes in Turpan. If they can be mined, huge profits can be made."

"I'm worried that the Salt Department will not approve it," Fan Yongdou said worriedly.

"It doesn't matter, Huitaiji is preparing for war and is in urgent need of military funds. If you are willing to serve, this will happen."

As Liu Haogu expected, after seeing the gift of 100,000 taels of silver notes from Fan Yongdou, Suletan approved it with a stroke of his pen.

(End of this chapter)