"In the past year or so, prices in Xianyang have increased, and workers' salaries have also increased along with it. I guess everyone knows this, so..."
"The price is just going to increase. Tell me, how much will it cost this time?"
Huang Yuan spoke with a slight embarrassment, but before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Kang Anping who wandered onto the deck.
"Well... the price has indeed increased!"
That was what he meant, but he was really embarrassed to be said so directly.
But even if I'm embarrassed, I still have to shout about the price.
So, Huang Yuan stretched out two fingers and shouted a number loudly, "Two million gold!"
"Two million gold?"
Several groups of ministers began to look at each other.
When the steamship was first built, it cost one million gold, and the imperial court bought several ships for the navy.
Later, when everyone knew that there were spices in Nanyang, they flocked there in droves!
From one million to one and a half million gold.
When there are only a few boats left, the bidding begins, and whoever pays the highest price will be sold.
In the end, I got two million gold directly!
But now there is no need to bid at all, and the price has been directly raised to two million gold. Is this not a money grab?
Even if prices rise, it can't be directly increased by half a million gold, right?
It has only been three or four years since the steamship was built, and the price has doubled?
"Master Liu, the price is higher than we expected, what should we do?"
Upon hearing this number, the smiles on many officials' faces immediately disappeared.
They didn’t have a lot of money, so they decided to buy a boat just to make money, so they bought it after chewing their molars!
Now that prices have increased so much, where will they find the remaining money?
"What else can I do? If you still want to buy it, the extra money can be shared equally among everyone!"
Minister Liu glanced at the people on the other boats and said in a low voice.
"I had guessed that the price would go up before. I thought there would be 200,000 gold at the end. Unexpectedly, it went up to 500,000 gold. It was 300,000 gold more than we expected. Everyone would have to pay another four or five. About ten thousand gold!”
"Alas! I have borrowed all the money at home and borrowed part of it from relatives and friends. If it is more, I will have to borrow money from a bank!"
"We are all the same...!"
Several people made sad faces and complained to each other.
"Okay, stop saying these useless things and express your opinion quickly. If you don't want to buy it, just say it. If you agree, tell Huang Yuan and book the boat!"
The minister surnamed Liu spoke to urge.
Many colleagues have already discussed and responded to Huang Yuan, and they are waiting for them!
"Alas! In order to make money, just raise the price!"
"Yes, I can afford 1.7 million gold. Is there still a shortfall of 300,000?"
"Just take it, you can't lose anything...!"
It hurts, but the arrow is on the string and has to be fired.
If they don't buy a boat, they won't be able to catch up with the Yizhou wave.
By the time their boat came back from Nanyang and set off for Yizhou, all the good stuff would probably have been rowed away, and they wouldn't even be able to drink the soup!
What's more, everyone is looking at them. How embarrassing it would be if someone quit the business because of the increase in ship prices!
From now on, these guys will take it as a joke and talk about it behind my back!
"Okay! Then I'll take my revenge!"
Minister Liu glanced at the few people and asked again, for fear that some people would regret it and not pay when the time came.
"Report it. The extra money will be treated as if you didn't make any money during your trip to Nanyang!"
"Yes, our ship can bring back a fortune from Nanyang, which can probably fill this hole!"
Several people nodded and explained themselves.
"good!"
Minister Liu nodded, took two steps forward, and shouted to Huang Yuan: "We are keeping this ship!"
"We want this ship!"
"Two million is two million, as long as there is a boat!"
"Yes, we want it too...!"
After them, several groups of ministers finalized the matter.
"I'm talking to Huang Yuan, is your shipyard a little dark? Did you get an increase of half a million gold in one go?"
"Yes! What kind of raw materials can increase so much? Is it embellished with gold?"
After everyone else had finished reporting, a few old guys slowly walked off the boat and said dissatisfiedly.
Anyone else would definitely not dare to say this.
But they are notoriously thick-skinned and have high official positions. There is nothing they dare not say!
"Several ministers really have no choice. Not only the raw materials have gone up, but the salaries of craftsmen have also gone up! It doesn't take just a month or two to build a ship. The salary alone has to be spent a lot more! Even this , it’s still difficult to recruit craftsmen!”
Facing the questions from veterans, Huang Yuan still answered patiently.
"These Steam Luncans must have been here for a while, right? If we buy so many at once, it will be cheaper for us at least, right?"
"That's right, if we hadn't purchased them, these ships wouldn't have been sold out even if it took another half a year!"
The old guys started bargaining.
At the same time, other ministers also got off the boat, wanting to see if the old guys could lower the price a little!
Even if it is only 10,000 gold, it is higher than their annual salary!
What little you can save is worth it!
"Ouch! Ministers, you should also know about my situation. I am just a small eunuch, how can I have such great power? If the ministers think the price is too high, they should go to His Highness the Crown Prince. If His Highness the Crown Prince can speak, there will definitely be no problem on my side!"
Huang Yuan spread his hands, expressing his helplessness.
Before he came here, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince specifically stated that not a penny of two million gold could be missing.
He was also wondering. Steamships were expensive, and it usually took months to sell one. Why did the price increase instead of lowering it?
Only now did I realize that it turned out that His Royal Highness had already expected that these guys would come rushing to buy, so he had to increase the price!
"Hmph! Pull him down quickly. That kid is so arrogant that he doesn't want to trick us. Why don't you ask him to lower the price?"
Kang Anping snorted coldly and kept rolling his eyes.
The last time they bought a steamship to go to Nanyang, they planned to sell it to that boy to save tens of thousands of dollars.
Unexpectedly, the steamer was almost sold out without saving a penny.
When they arrived, there were only the last few cars left, and they spent some more money to grab them. This time they didn't want to look for that kid anymore!
"So, please don't embarrass me, the ministers. I am also receiving the salary from His Highness the Crown Prince. If the price is reduced for the ministers, I will have to make up for the missing money!"
Huang Yuan has known Wang Bi and others for more than a day or two, and he knows how to deal with them.
If he were to be tough, these old guys would definitely be tougher than him, and they would break up in the end!
But if he pretends to be a coward and sells out, the attitude of the old guys will naturally soften.
It will be easily resolved at this time!
"Oh! Okay, let's do this!"
As expected, when the old guys heard this, they stopped saying anything.
You can't force others to lower the price and have Huang Yuan pay for it out of his own pocket, right?
That's a real dog!
"Now that everyone has thought about it, come with me and let's sign the contract!"
Huang Yuan turned around and was about to lead them towards the office.
"By the way, the steamships are just the ones in the yard, there aren't any more, right?"
On the way, Zhang Han asked.
"No more, the shipyard is undergoing renovation, there are only so many in stock!"
Huang Yuan answered firmly.
"That's good!"
Zhang Han felt relieved after getting the accurate answer.
Since the shipyard was being renovated, it was estimated that it would take a long time for the next batch to be completed, so he didn't ask any more questions!
Everyone followed Huang Yuan and signed the contract happily!
