As the auction progressed, Hu Weiyong smiled from ear to ear, almost crazy with joy.
Everything was normal at the beginning, but the amount increased by a few hundred taels.
But as the merchants bid, the price skyrocketed.
Naturally, the gentry did not want to be overpowered by businessmen, so they increased prices like crazy, causing the price of shares to rise.
Originally, Hu Weiyong thought that the expressway's shares could be sold for 1,500 taels per share, which was already the upper limit.
But as time went on, Hu Weiyong discovered that the final selling price of each share was now more than 2,000 taels.
Sometimes, even higher.
Of course, this was entirely due to the vicious competition between businessmen and gentry.
Although businessmen are rich, there are naturally a few gentry with profound background among these aristocratic families.
They have relied on land inheritance for many years and have accumulated abundant money and food, no less than a few wealthy businessmen.
At the end of the auction, there was only competition between a few wealthy businessmen and a few wealthy gentry.
Hu Weiyong saw that almost all the funds had been raised, with almost a hundred shares left.
Then he stopped the competition between several big businessmen and gentry and asked them to suspend the auction.
After all, most of these one thousand shares were purchased by these people, which is really wrong.
Since Hu Weiyong asked Zhu Yuanzhang to issue an edict and let everyone in the world participate in this matter, he naturally did not want to see anyone monopolizing this kind of auction.
The more people there are, the more beneficial it is to Hu Weiyong. If it is monopolized by these people, then Hu Weiyong may be controlled by others in subsequent auctions.
After all, this is just the construction of highways in Yingtianfu and Songjiangfu, and there will be construction of highways across the country in the future.
This is not the result that Hu Weiyong wants to see. He wants businessmen and gentry from all over the country to taste the benefits.
Otherwise they might not come next time.
Immediately, Hu Weiyong ordered that the shares be split and sold in the subsequent auction.
Previously, the shares were sold in units of ten, but now Hu Weiyong asked the host to separate them and auction them one by one.
It also restricted the gentry and businessmen who had purchased shares before and suspended the auction.
If there are no bids, then let these people buy.
Although this made some people very unhappy, under Hu Weiyong's strength, these people did not dare to say anything and could only look at the top shares with eager eyes.
Hu Weiyong's measure rekindled the confidence of some gentry and businessmen who had lost hope and began to invest in the latest round of auctions.
The auction of two hundred shares of the expressway went very smoothly, and everyone was bidding frantically.
After all, the people who come here have very flexible minds and can see the value behind expressway shares.
As long as the shares of the expressway can be auctioned, then it will really be regarded as leaving an heirloom for your family in the future, or an heirloom that you can eat until you die.
After the last share was auctioned, Hu Weiyong was already crazy with joy.
A total of more than 2.3 million taels of silver was auctioned off by himself, which far exceeded his expectations.
You know, the original plan mentioned by Hu Weiyong and Zhu Yuanzhang was only one million taels.
Now it has more than doubled the original goal. How could this not make Hu Weiyong ecstatic?
"Everyone, today's auction has concluded successfully."
After the auction was completed, Hu Weiyong took the stage again and said to all the gentry and businessmen:
"Friends who have bought the shares should come to the backstage as soon as possible to settle the payment."
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will personally entertain everyone at Yanchun Tower tonight as a show of favor."
"After all, today everyone is here to benefit the people, so we gathered together to contribute money to the people."
As soon as these words came out, I was a little distressed at first, but the businessmen and gentry who had just been a little superior and paid too much money suddenly felt that it was worth it.
They only feel that this investment is the best decision they have made in their lives.
If we can really meet His Highness the Crown Prince and take this opportunity to get to know His Highness the Crown Prince, their business will be much smoother in the future without the need for His Highness the Crown Prince to promote him.
The businessman who was a little depressed before not buying the shares is now beating his chest. If he had known this, he should have invested more money just now.
Even if he loses everything, as long as he can meet the prince and have a close conversation, he will be able to eat and drink without worries for the rest of his life.
The auction came to an end with everyone's mixed emotions.
Hu Weiyong's first step in building the expressway was finally completed successfully.
...
Go to the study.
"What? Two million three hundred and eighty thousand taels?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes widened and he couldn't believe his ears.
I originally thought that with 800,000 taels, I could barely afford to build the highway.
Now Hu Weiyong actually ran up to him and told him that he had obtained more than two million taels in total in this auction, which was really unbelievable.
Hu Weiyong raised his hands to Zhu Yuanzhang with a smile on his face and said:
"It's absolutely true. I have sent all these silver coins and banknotes to the national treasury."
"If the emperor doesn't believe it, he can check it himself."
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he slowly came back to his senses.
Since Hu Weiyong dares to say this, it means that this number is real. After all, it must be counted when it is sent to the treasury.
If the numbers don't match, then Hu Weiyong will be arrested for corruption.
"Wei Yong, you did a great job in this matter."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded appreciatively at Hu Weiyong and praised:
"I didn't expect it to be able to achieve such an effect. In this way, building highways will no longer be a problem."
"You should handle this matter as soon as possible. After the construction of the highway is completed, we will reward you together."
"The good leader is already old, and it's up to you young people to take care of you next."
Zhu Yuanzhang's words were serious and thoughtful. After hearing this, Hu Weiyong was overjoyed.
Li Shan is old? Doesn't that mean that Li Shanchang will retire soon?
When Li Shanchang retires, who else in Zhongshu Province can compete with him for the position of prime minister?
Thinking of this, Hu Weiyong was full of energy, bowed to Zhu Yuanzhang and said:
"I will do my best until I die."
After Hu Weiyong finished speaking, he turned around and started arranging the next construction matters.
After all, raising money is only the first step, and the rest must be taken care of quickly.
He had a hunch that as long as this highway kilometer could be completed.
When the highway is completed, it will be the day he is promoted to prime minister.
After Hu Weiyong left, Zhu Biao asked Zhu Yuanzhang:
"Father, the one million taels of silver originally planned has suddenly become more than two million taels of silver."
"What should I do with all this extra money?"
"what to do?"
After Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a moment, he said:
"Put it in the treasury for the time being and use it for disaster relief or to protect Mongolia from the north."
"It has become increasingly cold in the north recently. If we guessed correctly, I'm afraid there will be heavy snowfall in the north this year."
"The Mongols in Mobei will definitely have a hard time this year!"
Zhu Biao was shocked. If this was true, these Mongols would probably go south to invade the Ming Dynasty this year.
Every year when the Mongols are almost unable to survive, they will go south and enter the fortress.
If they could break through the pass and invade the hinterland of the Ming Dynasty, they would plunder like crazy and survive the cold winter with these plundered supplies.
If the barrier cannot be broken, the Mongolians who died in the battle can also reduce the burden of food, allowing the remaining Mongolians to survive the winter alive.
"Father, how about letting Xu Da come back first and go north to defend Mongolia?"
"No, we have already asked Feng Sheng to set off."
Zhu Yuanzhang's tone was calm. In the early Ming Dynasty, there were many talents.
Zhu Yuanzhang's twenty-four generals in Huaixi alone are all peerless warriors.
If you pick one out at random, they are all capable of dealing with these Mongolian Tatars.
Of course, the most fierce ones are the six princes who were canonized by Zhu Yuanzhang. They are really the cruelest among the cruel.
Not to mention Xu Da and Chang Yuchun, Feng Sheng alone is also an invincible existence.
In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Feng Sheng was canonized as Song Guogong by Zhu Yuanzhang because of his military exploits.
And Feng Sheng's record is also worthy of this title. During the three-way northern expedition to Mobei, Xu Da and Li Wenzhong did not win, but Feng Sheng made a lot of gains.
In later history, Feng Sheng led the blue jade Fu Youde to pacify Liaodong.
In just one battle, the morale of the Naha army was destroyed, and more than 200,000 Naha soldiers were forced to surrender, so that Liaodong was included in the territory of the Ming Dynasty.
Not only that, after Xu Da died of illness, Feng Sheng became Xu Da's successor, commanding the army in the north all year round to resist the Mongols.
Now Zhu Yuanzhang sent this ruthless man to the north to supervise the war. It seems that he also takes the Mongolian invasion very seriously.
Zhu Biao felt relieved when he heard that Feng Sheng was heading north.
Zhu Yuanzhang thought of what Hu Weiyong mentioned just now and said to Zhu Biao:
"You should also be prepared to go to Yanchun Tower to meet these people in the evening to calm their minds."
"There's no need to say too much, and there's no need to be too entangled. You can leave after staying there for a while."
Zhu Biao nodded to express his understanding.
