Gu Zhengchen couldn't save Liu Ji, and the two met too late.
Liu Ji knew the reason why his condition worsened, and he also knew that Zhu Yuanzhang did not want him to live too long. After all, he was a cold-blooded and ruthless emperor.
Waving hands is a farewell of life and death.
Gu Zhengchen did not have the authority to send Liu Ji back to Wuyang, nor could he go to Liu Ji's house to sit there. There were many things going on in Quanzhou Prefecture, and as the prefect, he had to rush back as soon as possible.
Standing on the boat, I watched Liu Ji being supported by his two sons. He was so old that it was difficult for him to even stand.
It is sad that a hero dies too late.
When the ship was far away and the dock was no longer in sight, Zhang Xiwan walked up to Gu Zhengchen and called softly: "Husband."
Gu Zhengchen stretched out his hand, held Zhang Xiwan's hand tightly, looked at the mountains and river to the west, and said, "Let's go to Quanzhou Mansion."
Zhang Xiwan could feel Gu Zhengchen's loneliness and sadness, but she couldn't comfort him, so she had to stay by her side.
Because they were against the current and facing the wind, every ship stretched out its long oar. The sergeants or crew members in the cabin shouted slogans and moved the water rhythmically. The ships swung in a zigzag shape on the sea and headed south.
Quanzhou Prefecture, Jinjiang.
The second hall of the government office was full of people and noisy.
"Lu Shenzheng!"
Jinjiang businessman Wang Ge saw Lu Zongyi approaching and saluted quickly.
Zhangzhou businessman Wang Gewanyuan, Xinghua businessman Le Baiju, Jianning businessman Huang Ruyu, Fuzhou businessman Tang Dabang and others all turned around and saluted.
Lu Zongyi was followed by two people, and he introduced to everyone: "This is Nie Yuanji, the magistrate of Quanzhou Prefecture, and this is Lin Tangchen, the general magistrate of Quanzhou Prefecture. If you have official business in Quanzhou Prefecture, you can find them."
Nie Yuanji raised his hand, with a slight smile on his thin face, and his short beard moved.
Lin Tangchen raised his hands cheerfully and said, "I hope you will gain something today."
Lu Zongyi, Nie Yuanji, and Lin Tangchen sat down and looked at the crowd, but there was no place to sit.
Lu Zongyi shook his head and apologized: "It's true that the government office did not provide good hospitality. I thought it would be good to have more than a dozen people here today. Unexpectedly, the merchants were so enthusiastic that more than forty people came. I heard that some people came from Jianji." Ning, Fuzhou?"
Tang Dabang came out and said with a smile: "Lu Shenzheng, I am the owner of Chating Street in Fuzhou. I was lucky enough to join politics last summer. I feel quite honored."
Lu Zongyi raised his brows and nodded: "I remember, there is such a thing. It's hard for you to come here after running hundreds of miles."
Tang Dabang said quickly: "As long as we can buy some properties in Jinjiang City, this little hard work is nothing."
Lu Zongyi smiled, looked at others, and said sternly: "You come here, probably for the shops and houses in the hands of the government. But one thing needs to be made clear. It is not clear whether the imperial court will open the sea, and according to Quanzhou According to the arrangement of the prefect Gu Zhengchen, the shops and houses in the hands of the government will all be sold at a higher price. If the price is low, the government will not let go of these shops and houses, but they can rent them to you for a period of two years."
As soon as these words came out, Tang Dabang, Wang Ge, Huang Ruyu and other businessmen couldn't help but look a little embarrassed.
rent?
Everyone came here so hard not to rent a shop, but to buy a property and put their own name on the shop.
Lu Zongyi saw everyone's thoughts and winked at Nie Yuanji. Nie Yuanji arranged for the officials to take out a stack of papers and distribute them to the businessmen present.
Tang Dabang got a piece of paper, glanced at it, and couldn't help but widen his eyes: "Fuqian Street, there are three shops in the middle, the asking price is 5,000 guan?"
Huang Ruyu lowered her head and couldn't help shouting: "Two shops at the south intersection of Fuqian Street, five thousand guan?"
Le Baiju stared, his heart trembling: "Near the east gate, five warehouses, four thousand strings!"
The prices are all ridiculously high.
Wang Ge originally wanted to buy two shops on Fuqian Street, but when he looked at the prices, the lowest one was 3,800 yuan. This price has seriously exceeded everyone's expectations.
Tang Dabang's Adam's apple twitched several times, he held the paper and looked at Lu Zongyi, and asked uneasily: "Lu Shenzheng, is this price too high? Stores in Fuzhou don't even have this price."
Huang Ruyu, Le Baiju and others agreed repeatedly.
The price is too high.
This is Jinjiang City in Quanzhou, a small, down-and-out place that is not worth the price. As the seat of Fujian Province, Fuzhou City has a large population. Although there is no prosperous business, there is still some business, but the shops there are only 2,000 guan at most, and cannot easily reach 4,000 guan.
Although everyone is a businessman, the businessmen in Fujian Province are not as good as the businessmen in Suzhou, Hangzhou and Jinling. Once they spend thousands of dollars, it will affect other businesses.
The most uncomfortable thing is that the court's attitude is still unclear. No one can be sure whether the emperor will open the sea or not. Magistrate Gu went to Jinling, but he hasn't come back yet. With his behavior in Quanzhou Prefecture, he might not be able to come back...
Everyone wanted to gamble their luck and came here with their money to buy a shop or a house. They originally thought they would spend one or two thousand guan. Even if the court did not open the sea, it would be fine. The most they could change hands would be a few hundred guan, so it would not be a heartache.
But now the price offered by the government is too high. I don’t say whether the money is enough. I just want to ask, if the court does not open the sea after buying it, how should the store be renovated?
Without opening up the sea, with Jinjiang’s popularity and business, it would take twenty or thirty years to earn back four thousand guan?
Who wants to spend twenty or thirty years in a run-down little place?
Lin Tangchen stood up and said after everyone calmed down: "You think this price is high, but do you know that once the sea is opened, Jinjiang City will bring in a large number of merchants in a short time, not to mention four or five thousand yuan, which is seven Eight thousand, tens of thousands of dollars, there are people buying it! This is only one opportunity now. If you miss it, the government will not sell these shops, but only rent them."
Tang Dabang, Huang Ruyu and others looked at each other.
What Lin Tongpan said is not unreasonable. After the opening of the sea, Jinjiang City will become a popular place, and land prices will soar in a short period of time. Once businessmen from Jinling, Suhang and other places enter, those big households spend a lot of money, and transactions of more than 6,000 yuan can indeed occur.
However, the premise is to open the sea!
Without opening up the sea and conducting ocean-going trade, the shops in Jinjiang City would be of little value.
Lu Zongyi said calmly: "If you buy it, you will either suffer heavy losses or make a lot of money. No matter how you decide, you can give us the result tomorrow. If there is a problem with the circulation of money and food, it doesn't matter. The government allows you to find someone to guarantee it. Or pledge it, and the government can advance the money and food for you first, and then you can pay it back with interest."
"this--"
Wang Ge, Tang Dabang and others were depressed.
The government office actually still lends money?
It is not unusual for the government to lend money. For example, when Suzhou Prefecture suffered a disaster, the court loaned them rice. This is a typical lending behavior. There was also the Green Miao Law in the Tang and Song Dynasties, which was essentially lending.
Lu Zongyi stood up: "Although the shop is expensive, the rent is cheap. The rent for two years is 400 yuan. Of course, the price will not be the same after two years. I will not keep you here when I am busy with official duties."
Tang Dabang, Huang Ruyu and others had no choice but to bow and leave.
The second hall, which originally seemed crowded and noisy, suddenly became spacious and quiet.
Lu Zongyi looked at Lin Tangchen: "Have you done what I asked you to do?"
Lin Tangchen said solemnly: "Don't worry, Lu Shenzheng. The government has summoned all the merchants in Jinjiang City and told them not to sell off their shops and houses easily. The people in the city have also arranged for people to inform them."
Lu Zongyi nodded: "As for whether they can resist the temptation of these businessmen, it depends on them. The government has fulfilled its duties. It is passed down that the seller must write a deed for any house, whether it is a house or a shop. Instrument of Voluntary Sale.”
Lin Tangchen nodded.
They have been told that the sea may open. As for their choice, that is their personal matter.
After Tang Dabang, Huang Ruyu and others left the government office, they each returned to the inn. Looking back, they came to Quanzhou Prefecture to buy shops and houses. They did not necessarily have to buy them from the government office. Those with open doors and residences Any shop or house owned by the owner can be bought and sold. Although the locations of these shops in their hands are not as good as those in the hands of the government, the advantage is that the price is lower.
What's more, after these years of hard work, many businessmen have already reached their limit, and they have very little money left. When they are really weak, as long as you give them some money, the deal can still be completed.
Sure enough, Tang Dabang negotiated repeatedly with the owner of the grain shop on Fuqian Street and finally bought his shop for 1,800 yuan. Huang Ruyu only spent two thousand dollars to buy a cloth shop...
Chen Yanxuan stood on Fuqian Street, frowning slightly as she watched the businessman leaving with a smile on his face.
Steward Chen Gui ran over and said: "Master, I found out that the government is planning to sell a group of shops, but the price is too high, so businessmen from other places have the idea of becoming the owner of the shops here."
Chen Yanxuan looked at Chen Gui: "Businessmen are all people who can't afford to wait early for no profit. They are pouring into Jinjiang City, and the idea of opening up the sea is not groundless."
Chen Gui shook his head: "I heard that the government office didn't believe it either. Ever since Magistrate Gu left, everyone was hoping that he would come back with a letter. Unexpectedly, Magistrate Gu didn't reply and the court hadn't expressed its position yet, but the government office started selling the shop. Come on, loan arrears are still allowed."
Chen Yanxuan raised his hand and touched his chin, scratched his sparse beard, looked in the direction of the government office, and said in a deep voice: "Let's go, let's go to the government office."
Chen Gui was stunned for a moment and quickly stopped him: "Master, with the little money our family has, we are not even qualified to speak. The shops on this street cost at least one thousand guan, and we can't afford it."
Chen Yanxuan pushed Chen Gui away: "Young master, I want the shop. What I want is the tower in the hands of the government office!"
Chen Gui almost fainted.
Tower building?
That was the Bu family's largest restaurant in Jinjiang City, and Bu Shou always chose to hold birthday banquets there. That's not the price of an ordinary store. If you want to buy that building, you need 8,000 guan instead of 10,000 guan.
But the Chen family couldn't even produce eight hundred strings.
Chen Yanxuan ignored this and went straight to the government office. After saying a few words to the government officials, he was ushered out of the second hall.
Lu Zongyi was dealing with official documents in the second hall. Hearing that someone wanted to buy a tower, he ordered someone to invite Chen Yanxuan. Looking at the young man who walked in, Lu Zongyi stared slightly and asked: "Where are you, a businessman who actually bought the tower?" Lou’s confidence?”
Chen Yanxuan saluted respectfully and said solemnly: "I am a businessman from Tong'an, Chen Yanxuan, the young owner of Tingxi kiln. I would like to discuss the purchase of the tower building with Lu Shenzheng!"
