In the afternoon of that day, Song Che, Feng Tao, Wu You, Fang Qi, and He Qiu, together with only Xu Xiao and more than 30 soldiers and government officials, left the city from the north gate and headed for Shilipo.
"stop!"
Before I reached ten miles of slope, I heard a sound.
In the woods and grass, two to three hundred refugees with sticks suddenly jumped out and blocked the road.
He Qiu, who was sitting in the carriage, was shaken and complained to Song Che: "I have already said that there are too few people with us, so this is a good time. If this matter cannot be negotiated, you and I will never leave alive."
"Master He, don't be surprised. Stay in the car and don't show your head for the time being." Song Che ordered, got out of the carriage, and said to Feng Tao and others:
"General, Dutou, brother, please put your sword away. There will be no fighting today."
The accompanying guards then sheathed their swords.
Song Che jumped off the carriage and stepped forward alone to greet the gang members: "I'd like to trouble you fellow villagers to tell Gang Leader Chen that Song Che is here to come."
The stick gang recognized Song Che and stopped pressing. The gang returned to announce. After a while, Chen Wei walked down the hillside and frowned when he saw the general's officer behind Song Che.
Song Che explained: "Don't worry, Gang Leader Chen, there are only thirty of us accompanying us today and we did not bring any troops. Look at this..."
He glanced at the gang again.
Chen Wei winked, helped the crowd put away their sticks, and gradually dispersed the siege.
Song Che first pointed at Feng Tao and Wu You and introduced them one after another, and then said bluntly:
"Last month, the Japanese pirates attacked Hangzhou, resulting in a major defeat for the navy. Now the coastal defenses of the two Zhejiang provinces are empty. It is the time to recruit troops and generals. The Japanese pirates are rampant and destroy our country. It is also the time for you brothers to take revenge!"
Chen Wei hesitated, "Then yesterday Mr. Song promised to settle our family..."
Song Che smiled and said: "Brothers, don't worry, please listen to me explain the policy in detail - for this recruitment, anyone over the age of sixteen, under the age of fifty, and able-bodied can be recruited. For example, Gang Leader Chen, you have served in the military. Those who have command experience are classified as upper-class soldiers; those who have combat experience are classified as medium-class soldiers; those who have no experience and meet the standard are classified as lower-class soldiers;
The monthly pay for the upper-class soldiers is one thousand cash, the monthly salary for the middle-class soldiers is 700 cash, and the monthly salary for the lower-class soldiers is 500 cash. For this recruitment of sailors, Lin'an Prefecture promised that once the registration is successful and they are included in the military, they will receive an advance payment of three months' military pay;
In other words, even if you are just a pawn, you can still get 1,500 coins. Although the money is not much, it is enough to keep your family from going hungry. "
The gang members whispered that a steamed bun can fill their stomachs with just a few pennies. One thousand and five cents can be eaten, not to mention rice, flour and food, but also meat. Compared with the current days when one meal is not enough, it is much more abundant. .
Song Che continued: "The above is only for the welfare of those who join the army. To settle down, to settle down, you must naturally have a home that is 'sheltered from wind and rain';
I have discussed with Lord He that we will set up three refugee areas in Xiangming Mountain, Suzhou North, and Zaoxian County. The Suzhou government will allocate 80,000 taels of disaster silver to help you build temporary houses, provide hoe tools for farming, and rent boats for fishing and hunting. , those who have lived for one year can also settle down in Suzhou and be merged into the household registration of Zhejiang and Zhejiang. "
If you can fill your stomach, protect yourself from the wind and rain, and survive, what else can you ask for?
The gang was about to make a move, but Chen Wei still had doubts, "Mr. Song, it's not that I don't believe you, but the Suzhou government has not issued a notice. You are just a businessman. How can you guarantee that what you said above is true?"
Song Che smiled and greeted the carriage: "Master He, it's your turn to come out and say a few words."
With a sullen face, He Qiu stepped out of the carriage and looked down at the miserable refugees. He finally relaxed his brows, let out a long sigh, and said loudly:
"Every word Song Che said is true. I had misjudged the situation before and had to send troops to suppress it. Now that I see that you are still loyal and courageous, I... will no longer hold the culprits accountable for the past robberies, but since I have abandoned the bandits, When you join the army, you should protect your family and the country and stop causing trouble to the world. When you return to the government later, I will immediately issue an official document to notify the entire Suzhou that arrangements for the refugees will be implemented from now on. With this order, congratulations to Qiuxuan!"
"Bang, bang, bang..."
The gang put down their sticks and knelt down to kowtow:
"Thank you, Mr. Song!"
"Thank you, Mr. He!"
Although He Qiu was arrogant, there was little joy in his eyes. He glanced at Song Che with a hint of disdain and admiration. He flicked his sleeves and got into the car.
"Fellow fellow villagers, when I was young, my Shen family would give out porridge outside the North City Gate, and General Feng and the others would also set up a post at the city gate. If you think you are strong enough to wield a sword or a gun, you should first have a full stomach before going. Exam registration!”
After Song Che finished explaining, he also got into the carriage. On the way out, there were refugees crying to see each other off, shouting, "Uncle Song is a good man."
Although Song Che felt happy in his heart, his eyes seemed to have sand in them. Doing good deeds can not only impress others, but also yourself.
Every time the refugees praised Song Che, He Qiu's face turned uglier. He was very young and never expressed his jealousy in his heart.
"Of the 80,000 yuan for disaster relief, the Suzhou government will spend at most 10,000 yuan. The remaining 70,000 yuan is your business." He Qiu said coldly.
Song Che smiled and said: "If Lord Zhou were to take office, let alone 70,000, or even 170,000, he could easily come up with it - but he was unwilling to take it, and left this mess to you."
He Qiu hummed: "It's a pity that he has resigned, otherwise I would definitely join him!"
He Qiu is a very cool person. Sometimes he is a gentleman, sometimes he is a villain, making him unpredictable. For this kind of people, neither praise nor belittle them is the most difficult thing to get along with.
But at least he's not a corrupt official. This is the only advantage Song Che sees in him so far.
"Speaking of how to raise this disaster relief money, I would also like to ask Mr. He for a favor in the name of Suzhou Prefecture."
"how?"
"Hold a charity auction!"
…
Suzhou people are very rich.
Everyone makes a random donation, and it is easy to get 80,000 disaster silver.
It is easy to donate money, but the hardest part is how to donate more, make your donation valuable, and make your donation justified.
Charity auctions are the best tactic.
Wealthy people all have some antique utensils. They put them up for auction, usually at a price higher than the market price, and 30% of the auction price is used as a donation for disaster relief. In this way, the seller gets silver, the buyer gets the auction item, and both families get a reputation for doing good deeds. Why not?
"Hey, I heard that in this auction, Boss Liu from Baiyulou is going to sell a painting of Zhang Jiuxu's 'Hundred Scholars' Night Banquet'. Our father has been thinking about this painting for a long time. No matter how much money we have, we must get it."
Shen Wenjun was swinging on the swing and vowed, but then he showed a sad face again and sighed: "What other families brought out were either original works by famous artists or beautiful jade antiques. I searched the entire Shen Mansion and found only a few treasures. Dad held them again If we don't let go, if the auction items are too inferior, we will inevitably lose our status as a wealthy businessman in Suzhou."
She glanced at Song Che, who had a corpse lying on a wicker chair: "Husband, what do you think we should take for auction?"
Song Che said calmly: "The charity auction is just for the rich people in the city. We know the reason, so why spend so much money? We can just buy a few private houses and use them to deal with it."
Shen Wenjun said: "Private house...how can such a frivolous thing be put up for auction?"
Song Che raised his head and smiled mischievously: "If you can find the 'Queen's Original Private Room', you can definitely sell it for a shockingly high price?"
Shen Wenjun reacted for a moment before she figured out the reason. She blushed, tore off a bunch of grapes, and threw them at Song Che with a smile: "Do you dare to be more rude?"
Song Che grabbed the grape and took a bite with a smile, "I sent a letter to Hangzhou yesterday to ask someone to send a Ming Dynasty orb. Although it is not a priceless treasure, it is enough to keep our Shen family from losing face."
"I'm really looking forward to the auction."
"Why?"
"You can see rare treasures, and we businessmen are naturally fond of bidding with others. Each price is higher than the other. It is like a wave made of silver. It keeps roaring. Thinking about it, it feels like It’s fun.”
"Yes, there will always be a few people at auctions who can't help but take advantage of them. I don't know who they will be."
…
How could wealthy businessmen in Suzhou not support the charity auction organized by the government?
There were more than eighty seats in the venue, and they were all packed. Everyone was holding the calling sign in their hands and watching eagerly.
"The first lot is a pair of 'Yezhao Jade Unicorns' donated by Boss Sun of Babaolou. The starting price is three hundred taels!"
"Five hundred taels!"
"Eight hundred taels!"
"One thousand taels!"
…
"The second lot is a 'Warm White Jade Pure Vase' donated by Boss Zhang of Zhang's Cloth Shop. The starting price is one hundred taels!"
"Two hundred taels!"
"Three hundred taels!"
…
"The third lot is a 'Blue Moon Pearl' donated by Mrs. Song from Yunshuifang. The starting price is three hundred taels!"
"Five hundred taels!"
"One thousand taels!"
"Two thousand taels!"
With Song Che's reputation in Suzhou City, he can fetch a high price for the second item, of course...
"Two thousand taels once, two thousand taels twice, no one has ever offered a higher price!"
"Bah!" The doctor said with finality: "Congratulations to Mr. Liu of Yunfa Casino for taking the photo of Pearl of the Blue Moon!"
Song Che nodded towards Liu San'er, and Liu San'er smiled in response.
Of course, the good news does not flow to outsiders, but the family makes their own money. Is there anything wrong with that? Nothing wrong with it at all!
…
"The thirteenth lot, hehe, this one is really awesome. It's an authentic work by Zhang Jiuxu, the famous painting master of the former dynasty. Boss Liu is really grand. 'The Night Banquet of Hundreds of Officials', the starting price is one thousand taels!"
"One thousand and five!"
"two thousand!"
"Two thousand and five!"
"Eight thousand taels!" Shen Wenjun paid the price with contempt for the whole audience.
Or because of Song Che's face, even if some people could afford it, they stopped bidding.
And just when Shen Wenjun thought he had a sure chance of winning, he heard someone shout:
"Ten thousand taels!"
Song Che used his butt to figure out who was bidding.
"This Chen Rencai is really annoying. Even if he goes against you in business, he will even steal the paintings!" The jade-faced young man pouted in anger and raised his sign again: "I'll pay eleven thousand taels!"
If this painting were placed a thousand years later, it would be possible to sell for hundreds of millions, but according to contemporary rarity, a price higher than ten thousand taels would be considered a premium.
"Fifteen thousand!" Chen Rencai shouted loudly, blowing his beard and staring, as if to say: "I'm going to have sex with you today!"
"Eighteen thousand!" Shen Wenjun raised his sign again.
Chen Rencai hesitated for a moment, then the bidding reached 20,000.
"Chen Rencai, don't go too far! You have to increase the ten thousand tael painting to twenty thousand! Our Shen family has provoked you, haven't we!" Shen Wenjun's face turned red with anger.
Chen Rencai was so proud that he forgot about everything: "How about it? Isn't the auction just for the highest bidder? Is there any upper limit? I happen to like this painting too. I am rich, and if you have the ability, you are better than me!"
"You!" Shen Wenjun squeezed the sign tightly, struggled with his thoughts for a long time, and finally relaxed, "I almost got led away by him, so I don't want this painting."
At this time, Song Che picked up the calling sign, held it high and softly said two words: "Thirty thousand."
Thirty thousand taels! After ten thousand taels, every hundred taels overflowed would be considered a huge loss. Adding it to thirty thousand taels was truly astonishing.
More than eighty guests in the audience all focused their attention on Chen Rencai. Everyone wanted to see who would win this authentic painting.
"Master Chen, do you still want to continue bidding? If you don't bid, then I will——"
"Thirty thousand...zero one tael!" Chen Rencai squeezed out a number through his teeth, thinking that he had taken advantage, and stared at Song Che with a crazy look: "Song, from now on, every time you bid, I will Just give me an extra tael and let me see how much money you can have!"
The old doctor in charge was a little embarrassed: "Mr. Chen, you... are making it difficult for me to handle this."
Difficult? If it’s difficult, just don’t do it!
Of course, Song Che couldn't flip the table, he just threw the calling card casually: "No more playing."
Then he got up and took Shen Wenjun with him, striding out of the venue.
Chen Rencai was dumbfounded.
