Qi Hongxin was taken by Su Ziji to the ox cart that had been prepared. The two of them were silent on the way. When Su Ziji said "Sir, we are here", Qi Hongxin opened his eyes and recovered from exhaustion. Sober up.
"Are you here?" He opened the curtain and took a look outside. When he saw it, he was immediately startled.
He originally thought that Su Ziji would take him to a private room in a restaurant, a temporary residence, or a government office, but instead he took him to the largest square in the city.
The entire square was now densely packed with people. A rough count showed that there were at least thousands of people.
Qi Hongxin immediately lost all sense of fatigue. He opened his eyes wide and took a closer look at who these people were, for fear that something had happened again and he was kept in the dark.
And this sight surprised Qi Hongxin even more.
"These people... aren't they the owners of several restaurants in Fucheng? And those few, who seem to be the owners of silk and satin shops?" Because these people were recognized when Qi Hongxin first arrived in Shun'an Mansion. , Qi Hongxin has an excellent memory for people who have been at the Jie Feng Banquet. He only saw them once and already remembered them. That's why I was so surprised when I saw it now.
In addition to these people who knew each other, the remaining ones who did not know each other were all wearing silk and satin. At first glance, they looked like they were not ordinary people, at least they were landlords and businessmen.
"Master Su, what's going on?" Qi Hongxin was stunned for a moment, turned around quickly, and asked.
Su Ziji smiled: "Master Qi, these landlords and businessmen are all here to participate in the lottery."
"Draw lots?"
"Exactly. The small mines held by the official will be sold by drawing lots in public. They are all sold for ten years of mining rights, and everyone who participates in the drawing needs to pay one hundred taels of silver for one draw... "
"Everyone pays one hundred taels?" Qi Hongxin took a breath, and he immediately understood what Su Ziji meant.
If each of the thousands of people present pays 100 taels to participate in the lottery, that would be almost 100,000 taels of silver!
The principal amount of the mineral rights is only thirty thousand taels.
How does this Su Ziji's head grow?
At this moment, Qi Hongxin couldn't help but have such questions.
"Sir, why don't you come closer and watch the drawing of lots?" Su Ziji gave Qi Hongxin some time to calm down and suggested again.
"Go and have a look!" Qi Hongxin was naturally willing. He was also curious about whether this lottery method was feasible, and whether the people in the square just came to watch the fun, and whether they were willing to actually spend real money. Come and get a chance to draw lots.
When they walked to the front, they happened to see the official in charge, asking the yamen to check the box first, and turned the opening towards the people present so that they could all see that this was indeed an empty box, and there was nothing inside. Mechanisms and tricks.
Then more than thirty old scholars and scholars were invited to come forward.
This is not only to build momentum for this lottery and improve their qualifications, but also these people are famous and famous people, and they have lived a happy life. In order to protect their reputation, they cannot lie about this kind of thing.
This is still to tell the people present that this draw is credible, winning or losing depends entirely on luck, and there is no possibility of artificial fraud.
Sure enough, after seeing these thirty or so people, there was some hesitation at first, but at this moment, my heart fell back into my stomach, and I began to look forward to it.
After all, they only know about more than thirty small mines, and they need to spend one hundred taels of silver to purchase the right to draw lots. Everyone draws lots, but how to draw is a problem.
Many of them were thinking about it and couldn't figure out how to smoke it.
In fact, when Su Ziji first thought about this matter, he was thinking of using real lots to draw it. But in order to be fairer, I changed my mind and used a new method.
At this moment, more than thirty old scholars and scholars demonstrated on the spot the method that Su Ziji later thought of.
Each of them took a pen and wrote a mine name on a piece of paper, crumpled it into a ball, and stuffed it into the box on the spot.
There was only a hole in the lid of the closed box that one could reach into, and everyone who put the note inside immediately let go after pulling out their hands, and opened their palms to signal everyone present. The people took a look before retreating.
After more than thirty people put the notes in one by one, it was the turn of those present to pay money.
Qi Hongxin immediately held his breath and concentrated, and glanced around with some worry. He was not conspicuous in his casual clothes, because everyone's eyes were focused on the big box.
But even so, as the official's voice fell, the scene fell silent in an instant.
"No one wants to be the first to stand up?" Qi Hongxin understood immediately, but the next moment, a voice rang out from the crowd: "I will offer three hundred taels!"
Three hundred taels?
Following this sound, many people showed confused expressions. Didn't they say that they only need one hundred taels?
But when a clerk wrote three words of one hundred taels on the spot, filled in the name of the buyer, crumpled it into a ball, and stuffed it into a box on the spot, everyone present was not stupid and understood immediately.
So that’s it!
In addition to the names of more than thirty small mines, all investors will get one more paper ball every one hundred taels. This paper ball actually represents an opportunity to draw lots.
If there are a thousand people, and each one bids a price, then in the box, in addition to more than thirty paper balls with the name of the mine, there will also be a thousand paper balls worth a hundred taels of silver that are useless even if they are drawn.
Although it was useless, each paper ball contained money and a name, so the forgery was immediately exposed.
This was extremely fair, and everyone present was immediately convinced.
Moreover, through the three hundred taels that the "first bird" paid, it can also be seen that the government does not only limit the lottery to one draw, but can also pay more money and have more chances to draw lots!
Thinking of this, excitement suddenly flashed across the faces of the people present, and they all began to bid. Some offered one hundred taels, some offered two hundred taels, some offered three hundred taels, and one wealthy man even offered three thousand taels. This time After shouting out, the whole place fell silent for a moment.
Some people looked at him with evil eyes. Was he planning to take over all the small mines by himself?
"Everyone, the maximum one person can give is five hundred taels, and there are five chances to draw the lot." A boss immediately shouted, telling everyone present that one person can only give up to five hundred taels, and no more will be allowed.
When Su Ziji saw the person who was the first to bid three hundred taels nodded slightly towards him, he also smiled.
"Is that a promise?" Qi Hongxin, with sharp eyes, actually saw it and asked in a very low voice.
Su Ziji replied: "Yes."
Then I couldn't hear Qi Hongxin's reply. I looked over and saw that Qi Hongxin, who originally wanted to say something, was now turning his attention to the hall behind.
After calling for silver, the money was handed over in the hall. Even the squire did not have the courage to call for silver and refused to hand over the money. At this time, they all handed over the money one after another.
Seeing this, Su Ziji felt that Qi Hongxin valued money more, so he had to say: "Master Qi, let's go over and take a look."
