When they saw the first sea-going voucher from the Maritime Trade Department, they bid for a high price of 420,000 taels, which made Gao Gong and others secretly relieved.
"If we can continue to maintain this situation, we will be able to report to His Majesty by then."
Gao Gong looked at the increasingly lively atmosphere in the audience, then picked up the teacup on the side, took a sip, and said slowly.
"Yes, this first sea-going voucher was sold for a high price of 420,000 taels. After all these sea-going vouchers are auctioned, the national treasury should be able to earn at least 10 million taels!"
Zhang Juzheng on the side saw this and immediately echoed.
"Now, let's start the auction for the second sea-going certificate. The rules are still the same as before. The base price is 10,000, and there is no upper limit!"
After the old man finished speaking, he turned his gaze to the many merchants in the audience and said in a deep voice.
"I'll pay fifty thousand!"
As soon as the old man finished speaking, a businessman raised the number plate in his hand. While he was raising the plate, he also showed an expression that he was determined to win.
"No. 6 bids 50,000, is there anything else..."
Just like before, the old man was interrupted before he finished speaking.
"I'll give you 100,000!"
Perhaps he was angered by the behavior of the previous merchant, and saw an old man with white hair wearing a brocade robe, raising the number plate in his hand.
"The bid on the 11th is 100,000, is there anything higher?"
At present, after only two rounds of quotations, the price of this second sea-going certificate has soared to one hundred thousand taels of silver!
Seeing this, the old man suppressed the horror in his heart. When he wanted to speak, he heard a rather dull voice coming from the corner.
"I'll pay you two hundred and fifty thousand!"
Hearing this quotation, everyone present took a breath and said to themselves: "It's a one-time increase of 150,000 yuan, how can I argue with you!"
"The bid is 250,000 on the 18th. Is there anything higher?"
Seeing this, the old man looked around and then extended his tone.
"Five, four, three, two, one, congratulations on the 18th, for winning the second sea voyage certificate at the price of 250,000 taels of silver!"
Seeing that no one was willing to increase the price, the old man shook his head helplessly and announced the result.
"A one-time increase of 150,000 yuan will scare all potential opponents, so that you can get what you want at the lowest cost. Not bad, not bad."
Gao Gong looked at the merchant holding the No. 18 plate, stroked his beard and praised.
"Judging from the information collected in advance, this No. 18 seems to be from Shanxi merchants, right?"
Seeing this, Yan Shifan couldn't help but frowned, and then asked.
"Well, yes, this No. 18 was born in Shanxi merchants. He seems to be from Taiyuan Prefecture in Shanxi."
Gao Gong glanced at Yan Shifan and then explained.
As more and more sea-going certificates are auctioned off, the sense of crisis among the remaining merchants becomes more and more serious!
After all, right now, there are only thirty certificates for going to sea. If you auction one, you will lose one!
Therefore, the further you go, the higher the bidding price becomes. It even broke the previous record at one point, and the transaction price reached 600,000 taels of silver!
After the last sea-going certificate is auctioned, this auction can be said to have come to a successful conclusion.
Those merchants who successfully bid for sea voyage certificates left the auction site safely under the escort of guards sent by the government.
The last thing they have to do next is to stamp the shipping certificates they auctioned with the Sea Trade Department's seal and register them in the Maritime Trade Department!
After recording your place of origin, family name, etc. in the book of the Maritime Trade Department, these sea-going certificates will be officially effective.
The thirty sea voyage vouchers being auctioned this time all have a unique number on them, thus eliminating the possibility of counterfeiting!
Qiao Jun looked at the sea voyage certificate that had been stamped with a seal in his hand, and he couldn't hide the excitement on his face.
He was the merchant who had held the No. 18 plate at the previous auction and had bid for the certificate to go to sea for 250,000 taels of silver.
The Qiao family in Taiyuan Prefecture, Shanxi, where Qiao Jun lives, is a family that has been doing business for generations and is quite famous throughout Shanxi.
After his family learned that the imperial court was about to hold an auction to officially auction the sea voyage certificate, he keenly sensed the business opportunities, so he sent Qiao Jun to the capital.
The elders in the family specially told Qiao Jun before leaving that he must obtain a sea voyage certificate at all costs.
Seeing that his goal had been achieved, the stone that had been weighing on Qiao Jun's heart for a long time quietly fell to the ground.
…
Forbidden City, Hall of Nourishing Heart.
At this moment, Jiajing was quite leisurely tasting the new tea that had just been delivered.
Immediately, Lu Fang walked into the Yangxin Hall with silent steps and said respectfully.
"Your Majesty, Gao Gong and the other two are asking for a meeting outside. They must be at the auction. The results have already been obtained."
"Well, let them in!"
After hearing this, Jiajing put the tea cup aside and ordered.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After Lu Fang responded, she immediately walked out of the Yangxin Hall.
After a while, a high-pitched voice was heard: "Gao Gong, Yan Shifan, Zhang Juzheng, come to see me!"
Immediately, the three of them entered the Nourishing Heart Hall under the leadership of Lu Fang.
As soon as they entered the hall, the three of them knelt on the ground respectfully and said in unison.
"I see your Majesty, long live my emperor!"
"Well, everyone, get up."
I saw Jiajing sitting on the dragon chair, waving his hands quite casually, and said.
"Come here, give me a seat!"
As soon as Jiajing finished speaking, a eunuch came forward and prepared seats for the three of them.
When the three of them saw this, they immediately looked at each other and thought to themselves.
"Does His Majesty have something else that he wants us to do?"
With this uneasy feeling, the three of them immediately sat down on their seats.
"Tell me, you came to see me this time. Did you get any results from the auction?"
Jiajing looked away from the three of them and asked immediately.
"Your Majesty is wise, I am here to inform you of the results of the auction."
When the emperor asked about this, Gao Gong stood up immediately and explained.
At the same time, Gao Gong also took out a memorial from his arms and raised it high above his head.
"Your Majesty, here is the record of silver taels obtained from this auction of sea voyage certificates. The total proceeds from this auction are 13.68 million taels!"
After Jiajing heard what Gao Gong said, he immediately winked at Lu Fang who was standing aside. The latter quickly understood and took the memorial from Gao Gong and handed it to Jiajing.
Jiajing opened the memorial and saw that it clearly recorded the final transaction price of each sea-going certificate, as well as the person who bid for this sea-going certificate, his name and his place of birth.
After Jiajing glanced through it twice, he lost interest, then put it aside and encouraged him.
"Well, you guys did a good job on this matter!"
"Compared to the previously expected six million taels, it's more than doubled. Not bad."
Seeing this, Yan Shifan on the side quickly complimented: "All this is due to your Majesty. If it weren't for your wise leadership and the direct suggestions you put forward, we would be better off."
"The current auction of sea voyage certificates will definitely not go so smoothly!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, all this is your fault."
Zhang Juzheng on the side saw this and followed suit with compliments.
(End of chapter)
