Just like all monarchs, Zhu Yixi's suspicion of his ministers runs through the whole process.
Although the Shaanxi merchants were originally scattered and fighting on their own, Zhu Yixi still couldn't let go, fearing that a second Shanxi merchant would appear.
So Zhang Qi, the father-in-law, became his eyes.
Likewise, he is also his mouthpiece among Shaanxi businessmen.
Merchants run their business in a complex manner. As long as they do something, the news will spread. Zhang Qi can receive the news almost just sitting down.
However, this incident was so big that Zhang Qi could only ask for a meeting secretly in private, but did not dare to visit him at home.
If this was exposed, it would really be a target of public criticism.
"Pig iron?" Zhu Yixi frowned.
Compared with salt, tea, etc., ironware is indeed the lifeblood of the country. Even in the 21st century, steel output still reflects a country's strength.
Not to mention Shunjun, who is eager to regain his strength.
The Manchu and Qing dynasties were all under attack, and production could not come as fast as buying.
"Your Highness does not know that the two largest iron smelting sites in Huguang, Huangmeizhi and Xingguozhi, account for 70% of the pig iron. However, these two places have almost no official operations and are privately owned."
Zhang Qi couldn't help but explain: "Now that a guild has been established, the price of pig iron is locked, and there are many voices of dissatisfaction from top to bottom. Taxes are even required to be paid, and there are many complaints."
"So, they smuggle pig iron, which allows them to make money without having to pay taxes."
Zhu Yixi followed his words and continued.
"Except for the intruders, like Zuo Liangyu and others, they all sold a lot."
Zhang Qi hesitated for a while and confided again: "The pig iron guild can only see their superficial output. They also have many private furnaces that are unknown."
"There is no business without treachery!"
Zhu Yixi sighed, and then said slowly: "It's something that was expected."
"Aside from pig iron, salt, tea, and grain, how can we be as clean as water? There may be so much filth in every corner!"
Having said that, Zhu Yixi did not let go of the pig iron smuggling issue.
Ultimately, pig iron is a strategic resource that must be tightly controlled.
"The news from my father-in-law is very timely."
Zhu Yixi turned her head and praised: "Although the news is important, you must also take care of yourself."
Zhang Qi looked relieved, this son-in-law was not so ruthless.
Zhu Yixi thought about the countermeasures and said: "There can be no more chaos and disorder in Sichuan and Yandong. Each prefecture and county will have monopoly restrictions. My father-in-law can go to Wuchang Prefecture."
"Me? Thank you, Your Highness!" Zhang Qi was stunned, then overjoyed.
In the entire Huguang, the population of Wuchang Prefecture is also among the top five. Before the war, it would have been the first.
Nowadays, due to the influence of water conservancy and transportation, the population has gathered again, and it will not be long before it returns to its heyday. This is a piece of fat!
A son-in-law is indeed a son-in-law, and he is generous in his actions.
Returned with a full load.
The next day, the head of the pig iron guild was summoned by King Yu and scolded bloody.
"You, the Xu family, are also involved in this matter, right?"
King Yu's eyes were like lightning, making people tremble with fear. Xu Jingyang couldn't help but tremble: "How dare a common man do this?"
"They must be those who are greedy for petty gains and are unscrupulous. They only think about the silver and forget the kindness of His Highness Prince Yu."
Xu Jingyang, a fat man with big ears, hurriedly patted his chest and assured: "The Xu family is absolutely not involved. Your Highness, please rest assured."
"It's better if you don't have it!"
Zhu Yixi softened her attitude a little: "I won't do this next time."
"I reiterate once again that pig iron from Huguang cannot leave the province without permission. If there is a next time, don't blame me for being ruthless."
"Your Highness, don't worry. If there is a next time, just go and catch him. No one dares to have any objections."
Xu Jingyang stood up hurriedly and said with a serious look on his face.
Prince Yu seemed to agree. Xu Jingyang breathed a sigh of relief before retreating.
After they left, Yan Chongxin came out of the side room, cupped his hands and said, "His Highness just let them go like this? This is arrogant to the enemy!"
"Right now, we need them to be enemies!"
Zhu Yixi sneered and said: "Li Zicheng is at a disadvantage. Let these profiteers sell him more pig iron. We will get rid of it ourselves and dirty our hands."
"As expected, when they see that my thunder is loud and my rain is small, they will definitely take action again. Your transshipment department will keep an eye on them and control the smuggling route in detail."
"What do you mean, settle the scores later?"
Yan Chongxin rubbed his hands and said excitedly.
"otherwise?"
Zhu Yixi's smile was mixed with a hint of pride: "Li Zicheng's gold and silver will be kept by them temporarily. When the matter is over, I will take back not only the gold and silver, but also the family property including the iron field."
Yan Chongxin felt a chill down his spine when he heard this. These people were really unlucky. Not only did they make wedding clothes for King Yu, they also had to pay for it.
However, this also has advantages for the transshipment department, such as going deep into the pig iron guilds and completely controlling their output to collect taxes.
"Your Highness, these pig iron sellers should be no worse than salt sellers!"
Yan Chongxin explored.
"It shouldn't be better than a salt merchant."
Zhu Yixi thought about it: "The cost is there. Although there is no need to worry about sales when producing iron, there is also a lot of competition and the price cannot go up."
A pound of pig iron is basically about ten cents, and salt is more than ten times that.
When Xu Jingyang returned to the house, his old father looked worried.
In response, he took a sip of tea, took a breath and said, "Don't worry, father, I'm just asking about pig iron smuggling."
The old father was in his sixties, with a gray beard and a bent back. He was sitting on the Taishi chair and was being served:
"Accompanying a king is like accompanying a tiger, and the same is true for King Yu."
"I just said, don't move to Xiangyang. Now you know you regret it!"
"Father!" Xu Jingyang said helplessly: "Sit at the head of the line, who wouldn't dare to come to Xiangyang?"
"Pig iron smuggling?" The old father was startled and trembled: "Which company doesn't smuggle? If we were to arrest them, there would be many people!"
"I fooled it."
Xu Jingyang sighed and said: "The majesty of the King of Yu is increasing day by day. Although the craftsman camp relies on our pig iron supply to make guns, he is not easy to deal with."
"It's just that there can't be a next time."
"Our Xu family should just keep to ourselves!"
The old father breathed a sigh of relief and sighed: "In this troubled world, it is better to be more stable, and I would rather earn less money."
Thinking of King Yu's power just now, Xu Jingyang had to nod his head and said: "People have to bow their heads when they are under the eaves."
"Should we remind my uncle and his family?"
"Just do your duty!"
The old father said in a deep voice: "Tell them that King Yu is dissatisfied with smuggling and let them take care of themselves."
"If your uncle is stubborn, then slowly cut off contact with him, and don't get involved with them."
"Yes!" Xu Jingyang nodded.
King Yu's warning was a very frightening time for the iron merchants.
But Chuang Jun, who came from Henan, gave too much. Everyone knew it was quick money and resold it faster.
They were even surprised to find that the transportation department's monitoring seemed to have become much looser.
Greed eats away at their sanity, and freight becomes even more powerful.
