Hearing what Zhao Yunyan said, Zhu Su couldn't help but be stunned for a moment. Turning to look at Zhang He inquiringly, Zhang He nodded after feeling Zhu Su's gaze, proving that what Zhao Yunyan said was true.
Then he also remembered that when there was a banquet in Shen Yuan that day, there was indeed someone like him. I remember that after the Shen family was the first to express support, Zhao Yunyan was the second to express support for Zhu Su and donated 85,000 shi of food and grass.
Zhao Yunyan's Chinese character face is still very recognizable.
"Since you are a rice merchant, why didn't you tell me earlier? I am not an unreasonable person." Now, it was Zhu Su who felt a little embarrassed.
Other merchants hoarded grain just for fun, but what rice merchants usually sell is rice, so hoarding is normal. Moreover, in the year of disaster, this businessman did not increase the price too outrageously. The people he had previously suppressed and punished in Suzhou were unscrupulous businessmen who hoarded goods. It can be said that Zhao Yunyan was just a fish in the pool.
To be fair, if you can insist on selling grain at a fair price during a disaster year, not only can you not be considered an unscrupulous businessman, you can even be regarded as a righteous businessman.
"Haha, Your Highness and we have a deal. This is what you and I wish to do." Zhao Yunyan said with a smile.
"Besides, the grassroots people insisted on selling grain at a fair price when Suzhou was flooded, which offended many wealthy businessmen. If it hadn't been for His Highness's intervention, the grassroots people would have been suppressed by them and their bones would have been wiped out."
"This time raising grain to go to sea is the last grain merchant business that the grassroots will do. The grassroots will next plan to rely on His Highness Ji Wei and become a maritime merchant on the Maritime Silk Road. I hope that Your Highness can give me more support."
Zhu Su's heart moved slightly and he looked at Zhao Yunyan with admiration. Before, I made excuses to reopen the Maritime Silk Road, but I was afraid that other Suzhou merchants would only think that it was just a step for them to step down. Now it seems that Zhao Yunyan is the only one who takes this matter seriously.
Regardless of whether what he said about being "suppressed by wealthy merchants" was true or false, Zhu Su had to admire this man's courage to decisively abandon the grain merchant business and prepare to transform into a maritime merchant. After all, the direction of the wind in the Ming Dynasty at this time was generally in favor of sea ban. Being able to bet on the sea in advance at this time is enough to prove that this businessman has extraordinary vision.
Moreover, this person directly and frankly stated that he wanted to join his boat during the meeting, and he showed enough sincerity twice before and now. It is difficult not to make Zhu Su feel good. This person really has a clear vision. As long as he can board the big ship of the King of God, what does the business of a mere grain merchant mean? If you abandon it, abandon it.
The Shen family has gone downhill before, and even whether it will be defeated or not depends on Lao Zhu's thoughts. But now, isn't it prosperous? Isn't it because the glass business was taken away from him?
Thinking of the Shen family, Zhu Su couldn't help but look at Shen Sen below. Shen Sen looked at Zhao Yunyan with a hostile face, as if he was very guarded that this person would steal his place in the house.
Seeing this, Zhu Su couldn't help but shake his head. Everyone in the Shen family was short-sighted. Originally, I wanted to let the Shen family take the lead in private shipping, but now it seems that the Shen family is embarrassed.
"That's all. Zhao Yunyan, since you have worked hard for me, I will naturally give you a good future." Zhu Su turned his head and looked at Zhao Yunyan.
"This time General Zhang He transported grain by sea, it was just a temporary measure. But after I return to the capital, I will inform my father and make the matter of shipping grain from Liaoning become a regular practice."
"For the time being, you can do some maritime trade with the court's ships transporting grain. When the Ming Dynasty has a large ocean-going ship, I will send you to open up the Maritime Silk Road together."
"Yes!" Zhao Yunyan looked ecstatic when he heard this. He immediately knelt down towards Zhu Su and knocked his head heavily on the ground: "The common people thank the court for its kindness! Your Highness is so kind!"
This is sea trade! With the words of the Fifth Highness, it can be said that the Zhao family has the power to carve out a piece of profit on the extremely wealthy ocean.
After the Yuan Dynasty had occupied China for hundreds of years, many people had forgotten the benefits of maritime trade during the Song Dynasty. But Zhao Yunyan always remembered the prosperity of sea trade during the Song Dynasty described by his ancestors. Chinese goods are treasures in foreign countries. As long as they can participate in maritime trade, even if they are dilapidated and have only four walls, once they can successfully return from overseas, they can instantly become rich and wealthy.
As for when the big ship will be available...so what? Even if he can't go far across the ocean now, as long as the imperial court's shipping of grain from Liaoning becomes a regular practice, and he passes through Ryukyu and Japan along the way, he can still make enough profits through trade with these two places. What's more, Ming Dynasty's army protected them along the way, so they even saved money on hiring guards. He can still use the name of His Highness the Fifth Prince and no longer fear the suppression of the wealthy businessmen in the country.
It’s worth distributing all the Zhao family’s current possessions in exchange for these promises from His Highness the Fifth Prince!
After comforting the three people with kind words, Zhu Su left the three people and part of the food and grass in Changli and asked Ru Taisu to use it to resettle the refugees. He and Zhang He took the rest of the food and grass and rushed to the Sanchakou camp day and night. Seeing the vehicles entering the camp, the morale of the Ming army rose to a higher level. After all, paper cannot contain fire, and the soldiers still know something about the lack of food in the army. This incident has also had a slight impact on the morale of the military.
If Zhang He doesn't come again, Zhu Laosi will be thinking about whether to imitate Cao Cao and borrow one or two heads of grain officials to calm the morale of the army.
"Fifth brother, you came just in time." Looking at the endless supply of grain trucks entering the camp, Zhu Di rubbed his hands in joy, but he still remembered the business and said to Zhu Su: "There is a man named Wu in the big tent. , he came to our camp a few days ago and said that he went outside the customs on your order."
"He claimed that there was something extremely important. No matter how I asked him, he didn't say anything. He just said that he must tell you face to face." Zhu Di felt a little depressed when he said this.
"A man named Wu?" Zhu Su was stunned, then overjoyed. "It must be Wu Baihu!"
He immediately took big steps and walked quickly towards the big tent. Zhu Di also followed.
"Wu Baihu!" Zhu Su opened the curtain, and sure enough, he saw a familiar figure.
The figure turned around when he heard the words and saw Zhu Su approaching. He quickly knelt down on one knee and said with a moved expression: "Your Highness! It's been so long since I've seen you! Are you feeling well?"
"Okay, okay." Zhu Su quickly helped the man up, "How come you, Wu Baihu, still have arrow marks on your face? You are the only pillar of the Wu family. If you make any mistake, Mrs. Wu will not be able to hit me. door?"
"Hahahaha, your highness, don't worry. It's just a bit scratched. When will those Tatars outside the customs deserve to be taken into consideration by us!" The man surnamed Wu laughed.
Seeing that the two were indeed old acquaintances, Zhu Di, who was following Zhu Su, also relaxed. He walked up to Zhu Su and asked, "Fifth brother, who is this strong man? Why don't you introduce him to me?"
"Oh. I met an old friend in a foreign country, but I forgot about it for a moment." Zhu Su said with a smile. "Fourth brother, this is Wu Ting Wu Baihu. During the Northern Expedition a year ago, they were the ones who protected Brother Bao'er on the battlefield and fought through the siege."
"Later, after he was discharged from the army, he settled in Huangzhuang under Bifeng Mountain. However, Wu Baihu couldn't stay idle and said he wanted to find something to do. So I asked him to take the old brothers to form a caravan and go outside the customs to buy wool. of!"
"But it's not just about buying wool. I also asked Wu Baihu to do a top-secret event. If this happens, Yuanting in the north will no longer be a problem for our Ming Dynasty!" Zhu Su said.
(End of chapter)
