Yang Shen, on Wang Xiaolie's order, followed Bei Xing and three others down the river to see their business. Three million stones of grain is not a small amount, and we cannot believe them with just a few words. Wang Xiaolie was ready. If they didn't come, something big would happen.
The Han River flows south from Xiangyang, passes through Yingzhou and Fuzhou, enters Hanyang Army, and merges into the Yangtze River. Hanyang City and Ezhou City face each other across the Yangtze River and are another strategic location below Xiangyang. From here you enter the Yangtze River waterway, which is a transportation hub.
It was the rainy season at this time and the Han River was plentiful. Yang Shen and his party arrived at Ezhou City in a few days.
Ezhou at this time, together with the Hanyang Army on the other side of the Yangtze River, was actually the Wuhan of later generations, not the Ezhou of later generations. It is located at the confluence of the Han River and the Yangtze River. It has an important position and developed transportation. It is a strategic location.
After entering the city, Bei Xing found a familiar inn and arranged for Yang Shen to stay there. He said: "It's been a hard journey from a long way. We have a banquet in the restaurant tonight to welcome the officials. You have a rest first, and I will send someone to pick you up when the time comes."
Yang Shen agreed and stayed at the inn.
After Bei Xing and others left, Yang Shen took out the official document written by Wang Xiaolie and went to see Cheng Wuwei, the magistrate of Ezhou.
When he arrived at the official hall, Yang Shen saluted Cheng Wushan. Said: "I am Yang Shen, a councilor under the Xiangyang Wang Xiaoyou Zhizhi Envoy. On orders from Zhi, I want to sell grain to the grain merchants in Ezhou, so I came here to check. I have a letter from Zhizhi, and I ordered it to be presented to the magistrate. .”
The official took the letter and handed it to Cheng Wushan. Cheng Wushan opened the book, read it, and put it on the case. Said: "Wang Kuan's book clearly stated that this year there was a big harvest of winter wheat in Dengzhou, Xiangyang, and Tangzhou, and he wanted to sell it to grain merchants in exchange for some money to support his troops. Last year, Wang Kuan led his troops to Xiangyang, killed Yang Jin, and pacified several states. The chaos was greatly contributed to the imperial court. I heard here that I admired it very much. Raising soldiers is the most expensive, and it is a good thing to observe that there are grains to sell. If you need help from the Yamen, you can come to me. Ezhou is at the crossroads of a large river. , extending in all directions, with the most grain merchants.”
Yang Shen quickly thanked him after hearing this. Because he was not familiar with these officials, Wang Xiaolie had been afraid that he would not help when they were needed. He didn't expect to be so happy to become Wushan, but Yang Shen was overjoyed. With the support of the government, business will be very secure.
Cheng Wushan thought for a while and then said: "There is an official named Xia Ping in the Yamen who is the most familiar with the grain store in the city. I have sent him to stay with you these days. If you have anything you don't understand, you can ask he."
Yang Shen hurriedly thanked him. In this unfamiliar place, it would be best to have a local snake as a consultant.
Cheng Wushan asked again about the current situation in several states in Xiangyang, and then asked someone to call Xia Ping to come and follow Yang Shen.
After leaving the yamen, they saw a teahouse on the roadside. Yang Shen and Xia Ping walked in. They ordered tea and the two sat and chatted.
Yang Shen said: "The grain merchants who came to Xiangyang a few days ago were led by Bei Xing and Yu Zhifu. There was also Kang Mingqi who said he had a boat on the Han River. Has Kong Mu heard of these people?"
Xia Ping said: "Of course I have heard of it. Beixing is the largest grain merchant in Ezhou City, selling tens of thousands of grains every year. Yu Zhifu is not from Ezhou City, but from Wuchang County downstream, and his business is also huge. Kang Ming started to run. In the Han River business, he does have many ships."
"That's good." Yang Shen breathed a sigh of relief. "The army is really short of money now, so it relies on selling food to support the army."
Xia Ping said: "Wang Kuan annihilated Yang Jin last year. We have all heard about it here. It is really rare to see a strong general. Raising an army is not easy. How can you do it without money? Officials, please relax. These people are all rich and noble families in Ezhou. They have been in Ezhou for many years. You can totally trust me when doing business.”
Yang Shen said: "With your words, I feel relieved. When the matter is done, I will thank you in front of Zhizhou."
Xia Ping didn't even dare. The two of them drank tea and chatted about Xiangyang and Ezhou.
Seeing that it was already getting late, Yang Shen said: "I came to Ezhou for the first time, and a few members of the party will welcome me tonight. If not, I will definitely invite you to drink more tonight. Let's do this. Come to my inn at noon tomorrow, and we will meet again together. chat."
Xia Ping hurriedly agreed and said goodbye to Yang Shen.
Back at the inn, the people sent by Beixing were already waiting there. He led Yang Shen to Wangjiang Restaurant, the best restaurant in the city.
When they arrived at the attic on the second floor, Beixing and the other three were waiting there. Invite Yang Shen to take a seat and order the wine to be served.
After three rounds of drinking, Bei Xing said: "Today we returned to Ezhou and asked my family members. I felt that the price of fifty cents per dou mentioned by Wang Zhuan a few days ago was indeed a bit high. The price of wheat in Zhejiang and Zhejiang is indeed high now, but The world is not peaceful, and the freight on the road is also high."
Having said this, Bei Xing looked at Kang Mingqi and said, "Kang Yuanwai is a ship operator. This year's freight is several times that of previous years. Is that right?"
Kang Ming said: "That's right. Not only is the freight to Zhejiang and Zhejiang high, but the price from Xiangyang to Ezhou is also not the same as in previous years. In previous years, when the water was heavy, going down the Han River, a hundred kilograms would cost ten cents per hundred miles. . But that won’t work this year, it costs thirty cents!”
Yang Shen looked at the three of them and said calmly: "Fifty coins per bucket is a price determined through observation. Who dares to change it? If you think this business can't be done, tell me as soon as possible and I will find another one. However, from now on, From now on, you won’t want to do business in Xiangyang Mansion.”
Bei Xing said: "Why should officials be angry? We are businessmen, and we only care about profit or loss. If the profit is small, who is willing to work hard?"
Yang Shen said: "When I left Xiangyang, my observation made it clear. Fifty cents per bucket, which is the price at Xiangyang dock, not a cent less. If you can't pay this price, order me to find someone else. Everyone, the price is It cannot be changed.”
Bei Xing said: "When doing business, the price must be negotiated between the buyer and the seller. Now that you have arrived in Ezhou, you know everything, and you are not afraid that we will lower your price. This year, Dengzhou has harvested more grain, so it must be sold, right or wrong? ?The price is not appropriate, can you go back and report it to Wang Kuan?"
Yang Shen said: "As for the price, there is nothing to report. If you don't accept it, Observation tells me to just find someone else. If you don't have one in Ezhou, just go to Jiangzhou and there will always be someone doing this business. And let me tell you, Observation is here The tens of thousands of troops in the Xiang and Deng areas are not comparable to those of ordinary merchants. Along the way, observation will naturally be spread everywhere, and the Yamen will provide convenience. If anyone is looking for trouble, the Yamen will also come forward!"
Seeing that the atmosphere suddenly became tense, Yu Zhifu hurriedly said: "Let's drink, let's drink! Doing business means negotiation between the buyer and the seller. Naturally, the seller will ask for a high price, and the buyer will sit down and pay back, right?"
Yang Shen picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp. He glanced at the three of them, thinking secretly in his heart, and couldn't help but feel a little anxious. Naturally, Wang Xiaolie didn't say that fifty coins were necessary, but just asked Yang Shen to go to the place and investigate on his own. For Yang Shen, this is the first time he has left Wang Xiaolie to do something important. If the other party lowers the price, how will he explain it when he returns? In Wang Xiaolie's eyes, doesn't it mean that he doesn't know how to do things?
After drinking two glasses of wine, Bei Xing said: "You guys just drink, I have some chores to do, I'll come as soon as I can."
After saying that, he left the attic. After looking around, he went to another pavilion in the other corner and sat down. The person inside who was drinking was Xia Ping, whom Yang Shen had met before coming here.
Bei Xing handed over to Xia Ping: "Kong Mu, we just talked with someone from Xiangyang to lower the price, but he refused. You are the person who is most familiar with the grain store in the yamen, what can you teach me?" "
Xia Ping drank a glass of wine leisurely and said: "Don't be intimidated by that person. After entering the city and leaving you, this person went to the Yamen. The magistrate of the state admired Wang Kuan, so he specially sent me to help Yang Guanren. Before coming here, the two of us drank tea and chatted——"
"What did you say?" Beixing was very interested and stretched his head over.
Xia Ping said: "Who is the king observing? He is just the only son of Wang Tongpan who came to the capital to serve the king. By chance, he won several battles and was appreciated by others. After returning to Ruzhou, he happened to encounter Yang Jin who made a rebellion and was suppressed by him. In less than a year, his army has grown from a few hundred to tens of thousands. How much does it cost to support so many soldiers and horses? According to Yang Guanren, Wang Kuan has no money. He is just waiting for this year's wheat. Sell the money and use the money to support the army. If you think about it, Wang Kuan must be looking forward to it day and night, just looking forward to money."
Bei Xing nodded repeatedly: "We think so too. According to this year's price, Wang Kuan's price of fifty cents per bucket cannot be said to be high. However, with more than a dozen of us grain merchants joining forces, this business will not be easy. . If the price can be lowered, the money saved will be shared equally between Yu Zhifu and Kang Mingqi. As a businessman, who would find money too hot to handle!"
Xia Ping smiled and said: "That's natural! However, I think that Yang Guanren is not easy to deal with. Moreover, Zhizhou specially told me to accompany him these days. If Yang Guanren doesn't understand anything in Ezhou, he comes to ask I."
Bei Xing hurriedly said: "Kong Mu, we have known each other since we were young. What don't you know about me? You have helped us this time, and you will definitely be grateful afterwards! It is said that Dengzhou has to sell three million stones of grain. If Dou can hold down ten cents, that’s a lot!”
Xia Ping said: "Executive member, you also know what I am like. I have said ugly things in front of you. If you give me less benefits, you will not be able to do this business!"
Bei Xing nodded repeatedly: "Peace of mind, peace of mind! As long as Kong Mu persuades Yang Guanren, we will definitely be grateful!"
