In the morning, the snow stopped.
The snow on the ground was ankle-deep, but it could not dampen the enthusiasm of passers-by. Although it was bitterly cold outside early in the morning, there were people everywhere outside, all of them were people running away from home. They gathered together and talked, and suddenly at the pass It was really sealed. They were panicking because they couldn't get out or get in. Although the court ordered the closure of the port two or three months ago, it didn't have much impact on their ability to sell goods. But suddenly all roads were blocked. Now, can you not panic?
It’s no longer a secret that the eunuch of the East Factory and the Minister of War were patrolling the border. News that Wang Chengyin was arrested and escorted to Beijing was not news. Everyone had a strong premonition that the imperial court was really coming. !
In the fifth year of Longqing's reign (1571), the Ming court and the Tatars negotiated peace and turned their hostilities into friendship. Markets were opened at Zhangjiakou Fort in the Xuan Prefecture, Xinping and Desheng Forts in Datong, which were the earliest ports. Zhangjiakou evolved from a simple military fortress to a border town for trade. In the eleventh year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty, Wang Daoheng, the governor of the Xuanfu at that time, inspected this section of the border and found that "there were only ruins of walls, and the enemy could come and I could go", which seriously threatened the safety of the capital, so he reinforced this section of the city wall on a large scale and opened a small border at the same time. Gate, and build a place for mutual trade, come to the distant castle! Zhangjiakou's trade status reached its peak.
The tea and horse trading market in Gongshi is very lively. Countless oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, tea, and horses, cattle and sheep come in every day. Especially the horse market and department stores in Laiyuan Fort are crowded. All walks of life are prosperous, and thousands of tents are displayed in the dome. , due to its prosperity, the Zhangjiakou Horse Market alone purchased nearly 20,000 horses every year, twice as many as the Datong Horse Market!
There is no other such prosperous port in the Ming Dynasty, and it also breeds all kinds of shady businesses? Those are the smuggling of five products.
Although the Ming Dynasty initially traded with Mongolia, it listed items that were embargoed, such as steel, grain, tea, medicinal materials, cloth, women, salt, etc. This was a murderous policy that successfully defeated the Mongols decades later. Back to the original man.
Without iron, we can't make weapons. Men don't have knives and women don't have needles. It's a problem to cook meat without an iron pot. We can only eat it raw.
Without medicinal materials and tea? Mongolians only eat meat without digestion. Over time, they suffer from constipation and abdominal distension. There is no cure for illness.
Without women, there were already many bachelors, so they had to resort to polygamy and return to primitive society, resulting in a smaller and smaller population. In addition, food shortages caused famine and plague, and then the once powerful Mongols became weaker and weaker. By the Wanli period, they could only Did you rely on the Ming Dynasty's relief every year to survive? After Chongzhen, the Ming Dynasty cut off the relief because it could not protect itself? The Mongols suffered even worse, so that they were easily settled by the Manchu Qing Dynasty.
In the beginning, ordinary merchants really didn't dare to do this business with these contraband goods? Only those desperadoes would try to make money with all their heart. Later, the corruption at the border became more and more serious, and almost all firms or gangs engaged in foreign trade were involved. It's very common to bring in smuggled goods, such as tea, salt, and so on. Later, when the imperial court saw the pitiful appearance of the Mongols, it gradually relaxed its policy. Tea, cloth and grain were included in the trade list, but ironware was still the most tightly controlled, but the Mongols were in great need of iron pots. There are still many people who take desperate risks.
Although it is a mutual market, not everyone can do business. The earliest trade was under official control. To put it bluntly, only state-owned enterprises can buy and sell. It was mainly to prevent smuggling. Later, the policy was relaxed and ordinary businesses and ordinary people could also participate. , but contraband items can only be sold in small quantities by the government, such as tea, cloth, etc., and even ironware. The Ming court can still sell some to Mongolia every year in exchange for war horses and other items. Until the later period, everything was completely messed up. Anyone can do the business, etc. All businesses can be done, it just depends on who has the most access. Anyway, the border guards turn a blind eye and can get away with anything as long as they stuff money with them. This has given rise to a group of big profiteers like Fan Yongdou, who can do anything. Selling, including betraying the country!
It was once a prosperous place, but suddenly the ports were completely blocked. In an instant, many people's livelihoods were interrupted. No wonder these people were anxious.
But for Chang Yu, in addition to reorganizing the military affairs of the Nine Borders, it is better to reorganize the order of the port market. Some things cannot be sold, and others cannot get involved in who sells them. The rules must not be messed up!
Although the Mongolians have long since sunk and are unable to fight against the Ming Dynasty, it is okay to sell them some oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, tea, iron, etc., but too many are sold now, and many of them are resold to the Manchus. clear!
This is the biggest foreign enemy of Ming Dynasty now!
You can use it yourself, but you can never resell it, otherwise you won’t even be able to buy it!
Chang Yu got up early and had breakfast and then left the inn with Zhu Cixiang. Wang Zhengnan, Wang Lang and two guards followed him pretending to be servants. They walked around outside the city and then entered the city. Zhangjiakou was originally a border area. Although the area behind the fort has been expanded, it is only a small town with a circumference of two or three miles, but it is very prosperous inside. There are many shops along the street, including tea sellers, cloth sellers and medicine sellers. However, few people open their doors today.
Is it because it’s snowing and cold and there are few guests?
Obviously not!
The news that the great eunuch of Dongchang was inspecting Jiubian not only shocked the military at the border, but also made the merchants engaged in trade feel guilty. Although the imperial court confiscated the big merchants a while ago, which had the effect of knocking the mountain and shaking the tiger, there was no great eunuch. The shock of being there in person is powerful.
It was obvious that they had heard something.
A few people walked slowly along the street and saw a caravan unloading goods in front of the shop. They must have been stranded outside the city last night and entered the city this morning. However, when they saw strangers approaching, these people looked slightly nervous and stared at Chang Yu and the others. Until it goes away.
"There is definitely something fishy about this company," Zhu Cixiang muttered, and Chang Yu chuckled, "If we really investigate, I'm afraid nothing will be clean."
Zhu Cixiang sighed and said for a long time: "Although this family is not big, it is very prosperous."
"The real prosperity is not here, but in Laiyuanbao," Chang Yu said.
"Have you ever been there?" Zhu Cihong asked, Chang Yu shook his head.
"I would like to ask, where is the Octopus store?" Wang Lang asked a person on the side of the road. The man's expression tightened and he pointed to the north: "Go two blocks ahead." He hurriedly left after walking a long way. Don’t forget to look back at a few people.
The Octopus Store was originally the store of Fan Yongdou, the largest merchant in Zhangjiakou. It was located in the most prosperous area of the city, with eight large stores facing the street. It was closed down three months ago. Badaling was listed here two months ago, but it is not open for business. A few months ago, half of the storefront was listed as Daming Silver Bank. It is said that business is doing well.
It was early in the morning. The door of the Octopus store was closed. The door of the Daming Bank next to it was opened. A man was shoveling snow outside the door. When he saw someone coming, he hurriedly said: "Please, sir, do you want to deposit or withdraw?" ?”
Chang Yu walked towards the lobby and looked around: "Where's Lu Abacus?"
"Uh... Sir, you are looking for the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper hasn't come yet."
"Then you go and call him over and tell him that someone is coming from Beijing." Chang Yu sat down in the hall. Seeing his imposing manner and hearing that he was from Beijing, the waiter didn't dare to neglect him. He quickly served tea, called the waiter at the counter, and hurriedly called the shopkeeper.
"How many people are there in this shop?" Chang Yu learned about the situation while drinking tea. The clerk was a discerning person and answered truthfully: "Thirty-seven."
"How come there are so many people in just this bank?" Zhu Cixiang was surprised, and the clerk hurriedly said: "The younger one is talking about the entire Octopus. Even this one seems to be short of manpower. We just opened a shop in Laiyuanbao, and we will return it immediately. We need to recruit people."
"Does Laiyuanbao also open a bank?" Zhu Cixiang asked curiously, and the clerk nodded: "One share."
Chang Yu couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth. He opened a bank at the port. Hehe, it would be difficult not to make money! What’s more, it is the only one, and it must always be the only one!
If you want to make money, you have to use your power to create a monopoly. He believes that other merchants will soon follow suit and open banks. Sorry, others are fine, but not this!
Looking up at the business license hanging on the wall, Chang Yu asked, "Do all the shops in Baozi have this?"
"Nine times out of ten, we have done it. If we don't do it, it won't work. There are regulations in the yamen. Anyone who opens a shop must apply for this license, otherwise they will not be allowed to open the door. Moreover, there will be a special person to secretly investigate, and it will be found that there is a heavy fine for opening a shop without a license..."
Merchants must apply for a business license before they can operate. This is of course Chang Yu's fault, just to collect commercial taxes, so as to replenish the national treasury and reduce agricultural taxes.
Lu Abacus was the person in charge of Octopus in Zhangjiakou. When he learned that someone from Beijing was coming to his door, he hurried to the shop. Although he didn't know Chang Yu's identity, he knew he had a good background when he saw his aura, so he quickly invited the waiter for tea in the back hall. : "The distinguished guest is..."
"You used to be with Song Siyang, right?" Chang Yu asked lightly.
Song Siyang is one of the Twelve Taibao, one of the major shareholders of Octopus, and the shopkeeper of the main store of the Octopus Chamber of Commerce outside Daming Gate.
When Lu Abacus heard this, he knew that this was one of his own, and he quickly said: "Exactly, he used to work as an accountant under the head of the Song family. He was ordered to take over the Fan family shop three months ago."
"Then do you know who I am now?" Chang Yu smiled, Lu Baopan was startled, and his mind was spinning rapidly. It is extraordinary to be able to call Song Siyang by his first name, but there is no one so young among the Twelve Taibao... Suddenly At that moment, he thought of a person, the young eunuch who was ordered to patrol the border. He and the twelve eunuchs were worshipers and shareholders of Octopus. More importantly, he entered the city with the Minister of War last night.
"The common people pay homage to the Governor." Lu Abacus knelt down with a thud.
Chang Yu nodded: "The name of Abacus is indeed well-deserved. If you have some eyesight," he asked him to stand up and speak.
Then Lu Abacus told the facts about Octopus's situation one by one.
The Fan family's property was confiscated, the money was added to the treasury, and the goods were liquidated. Fan's house and shop were taken over by Octopus. Now Lu Abacus and others live in Fan's house, but Octopus did not operate immediately after it was listed, because at this time The market is currently closed, and legitimate trade cannot be carried out. You can't just follow the example of other shops and engage in smuggling. That would be a slap in the face of the royal family. Secondly, Octopus is expanding too fast and is seriously short of manpower. It is a good opportunity to train manpower. Thirdly, focus on training. In the Ming Dynasty Bank, this is a profitable business. There is a lot of business, and a lot of money is handled. It is inconvenient to carry it over long distances. You can deposit it here and withdraw it when you return to the capital or elsewhere. It is safe and convenient, and only requires a small handling fee.
Chang Yu is definitely not here to inspect the stores. Octopus has a complete system and there are professional people responsible for inspecting various stores. He is here to introduce a transaction and let Lu Abacus prepare to receive the goods, mainly pig iron and salt. You can charge whatever the price is, but you have to do it secretly.
Lu Abacus is very shrewd. He knows the elegant meaning of the piano when he hears it, and he knows that Chang Yu will soon take action to regulate the market.
"Do you have enough money on hand?" Chang Yu asked.
Lu Abacus thought for a while and thought: "There are millions of silver in the bank at this time, most of which are deposited by some merchants, but they can be used."
"It's almost enough. If it's not enough, ask someone to send a message, and the governor will come up with a solution," Chang Yu said.
Lu Abacus smiled: "If it's not enough, I can borrow some."
Oh, Chang Yu couldn't help but laugh and said: "Shopkeeper Lu has only been here for three months, does he already have such a wide network of contacts?"
Lu Abacus smiled sheepishly: "Who told us that Octopus is a gold-lettered signboard? We have made friends with some wealthy businessmen in the city. It is not difficult to turn over more than ten or two hundred thousand!"
"Forget it, it's up to you businessmen to decide the business matters." Chang Yu stood up and left. Suddenly something came to his mind and he said to Lu Suanpan: "Take care of the house. Someone will come to stay in the afternoon."
