"Nacheng, please provide some evidence." Li Qing said, "The laws of the Ming Dynasty clearly state that officials have embezzled more than sixty liang and stripped off the real grass. If he really embezzles public funds, no one can keep him."
For now, this law set by Zhu Yuanzhang is simply in name only.
If you really want to check, don't say sixty taels, add another zero, and more than 80% of Ming officials will die.
Even during the Hongwu period, corrupt people were coming one after another. It was common to exceed sixty taels of silver, and it was easy to exceed the amount by just being greedy.
When Li Qing said this, he also told Wang Mao from the side that it would only take the death of a minister.
If it involves too many areas, it will make people feel very safe.
Being an official in the court, especially if you can hold the position of minister, how can you be considered mediocre? Wang Mao understood Li Qing's meaning instantly.
"Imperial envoy, don't worry, this is my duty." Wang Mao said with a smile. He hoped that the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue would die more than Li Qing.
Li Qing wanted to establish his authority, and Wang Mao wanted to be promoted. The two hit it off and easily arranged for him to be the Minister of Household Affairs in Southern Zhili.
~
Shen Mansion.
All the wealthy gentlemen gathered here, singing opera on the stage, drinking in the audience, and any dish on the table was very elegant, exquisite, and valuable.
This extremely luxurious life is commonplace for them.
Wang Yuanwai raised his glass and said with a smile: "Today is a banquet and an opera. Why, Lao Shen, your concubine has given birth to a son again?"
"Old Shen, you have such a strong body." The crowd booed, but they naturally knew that was not the case. The wedding wine had something to do with it, and it was just a joke.
Shen Xin picked up a piece of duck tongue with chopsticks, took another sip of wine, and said calmly: "To be honest, I invite all of you to come, because we are brothers who have encountered difficulties."
Li Fushen asked curiously, "How can you, the richest man in Jinling, encounter difficulties?"
"What's the difficulty?" Wang Yuanwai asked.
"It's a financial matter," Shen Xin said.
As soon as these words came out, those who ate food ate food, and those who drank wine, no one answered the question.
Borrow money? no way!
Rich people like them live a luxurious life, but when it comes to borrowing money, they are stingy.
Besides, if the richest man in Jinling opened his mouth, how could the amount he borrowed be less?
Shen Xin had been prepared for this. As businessmen, everyone is profit-seeking, so he was not surprised.
"Everyone, to be honest, Shen has encountered a big opportunity this time, but the money on hand is not enough." Shen Xin said, "Everyone should know that Shen is a good person and will never let his friends suffer."
Hearing this, everyone stopped eating and drinking.
Wang Yuanwai sighed: "Old Shen, that stupid imperial envoy came to repair the plank road secretly to Chencang last time, but it tricked the brothers. This year, the business has become more and more difficult. My workshop has stopped due to the shortage of raw silk." It’s been two months.”
"Yeah, it's the Chinese New Year, and I don't know when we can start work." Liu Fushen continued, "Without the work, it's almost impossible to retain the workers. In order to retain the workers, I have to go there every month. Put money in it."
"Who is not? This business is getting harder and harder to do."
Shen Xin knew that these people were not refusing to lend, but were waiting for him to make conditions, and then make decisions based on the benefits.
He doesn't talk nonsense, "20% profit in five years, 50% profit in ten years."
"The interest rate is enough, but the time limit is too long." Zhang Fushen said, "Otherwise, brother, it won't be a problem for me to lend you three or three hundred thousand."
"At least five years." Shen Xin said.
"Then the interest rate will have to go up." Wang Yuan said, "Brother Shen, it's not that I'm being harsh, but now the maritime business is very profitable, and I really don't like your interest rate."
"Yes, our assets have soared in recent years." Liu Fushen said with a smile, "We are all businessmen, businessmen, and there is no shame in pursuing profit. We are friends, but...Boss Shen is the most successful person in Jinling. As a businessman, you don’t need me to tell you clearly, right?”
All in all, you have to pay more!
Shen Xin nodded with a smile, raised his glass and said, "Everyone, you all know what Shen is like. Business is all about trust. Has Shen ever tricked you all over the years?"
However, I am really going to trick you this time... Shen Xin added in his heart.
"Old Shen, I heard that the stupid imperial envoy has reached an agreement with the big silkworm farmers. In the next few years, half of the raw silk will be sold to the Weaving Bureau. As a result, there will be a shortage of raw silk. Those big silkworm farmers will definitely raise the price of raw silk. The rise is certain." Zhang Fushen sighed, "Business will definitely be difficult this year, so we have to leave some money to resist risks, right?"
In a word, if you add money, you will borrow it; if you don’t add it, you will not borrow it.
They are all business professionals, and their subtexts are clear and clear, so there is no need to explain them too clearly.
Shen Xin was convinced, "To be honest with you, Shen can conclude that business will become increasingly difficult in the future, and the days of picking up money with your eyes closed will no longer exist."
Want to lower the price? no way.
Liu Fushen said: "The difficulty is only temporary. In two days I am going to go outside the city and reach an agreement with the farmers to plant mulberries for me. With the mulberry leaves, I can raise silkworms by myself without worrying about being constrained." .”
"I also have this plan." Wang Yuanwai nodded.
"And I."
…
Shen Xin smiled and sneered.
"We have been dealing with each other for so many years, doesn't it have to be like this?" Shen Xin simply showed off his cards, "You all know that the imperial court and Japan trade separately, but now I heard that the imperial court is still building ships, and the three major weaving bureaus in Jiangnan are heavily involved. Come on, the official kiln in Jiangxi has also started construction. You know the purpose of the imperial court."
Shen Xin said firmly: "Let's see, the market for maritime trade will shrink by at least half in the future, and business will become increasingly difficult."
After a pause, he said, "Let me put it harshly. It's good if you can maintain the status quo. It's impossible for the business to grow bigger. Put your money here with me and you can resist risks. Why not?"
The wealthy gentry were silent.
After a while, Liu Fushen asked: "Since business is difficult, why do you need to borrow money? If my guess is correct, you are here to invest, right?"
Shen Xin nodded.
"Why do you have such confidence?" Wang Yuanwai teased.
"Because I have people overseas." Shen Xin explained, "My relative is planning to build a workshop overseas. That way the cost is low and the profit is very considerable."
"who?"
"The Shen family." Shen Xin said proudly: "The ancestor of the family, Shen Wansan!"
Everyone: "..."
They were not surprised, and even thought it was reasonable.
They had long suspected that a foreigner, who had only been in Jinling for a hundred years, became the richest man, and that in Shen Xin's generation, he suddenly changed his ancestral name in a high-profile manner.
They are rich, good at business, and have the surname Shen. There are almost no families who meet these conditions.
I even asked Shen Xin for confirmation, but Shen Xin was always vague.
Now Shen Xin readily admitted that they had no doubt at all.
"Brother Shen."
"Brother Shen."
The attitude of the group of people immediately changed, becoming flattering, even respectful.
"There is a way to get rich, so take your brothers with you."
Shen Xin didn't despise it. All businessmen were like this, and so was he.
Why did he say: "As the saying goes, brothers settle accounts clearly. I just joined the gang to share the money, not the actual helmsman."
Shen Xin took a sip of wine and said boldly: "Everyone, we have been dealing with each other for such a long time. You all know who Shen is. He never tells lies on important matters. He tells the truth and I make a profit from it. But not much.”
"Old Shen, please add a little more." Wang Yuanwai patted his chest and said, "Add another half percent. Brother, I will lend you five hundred thousand taels."
"Add another half percent." Others agreed.
Shen Xin's attitude was resolute, "I really can't add this. I will earn half of the total, and I have to bear the risks. You can't let me work for nothing, right?"
Without waiting for anyone to speak, he continued: "We are all smart people. I won't say anything false. If you are willing to borrow it, we can go to the government to establish written documents and do justice;
Shen is willing to use his property as collateral, so you can definitely make a profit without losing any money;
Of course, it doesn’t matter if you don’t want to. We were friends before and we will still be friends in the future. "Shen Xin put down the tea cup, "Shen has finished talking, you all make up your own mind as to how to choose. "
After saying this, Shen Xin said no more.
The wealthy gentry looked at each other and began to weigh the pros and cons.
They have a close relationship with the government, and they are aware of the court's policies and even the situation in the court.
Even the turmoil has been subsided, and it is a certainty that the imperial court will return to the West in the future.
The old days of carrying sacks to pick up money are over. It is estimated that even the stalls will have to shrink appropriately. Although the market is large, it is also limited.
In the future, asset growth will definitely take a sharp turn. Instead of saving money and letting it go, it is better to invest.
Shen Xin's offer of interest is indeed tempting.
It is easy to turn one tael of silver into one or two half in ten years, which can be said to be very low.
But it would be difficult, very difficult, to turn one million taels of silver into one and a half million taels of silver in ten years.
"Lao Shen, how much do you need?"
Wang Yuanwai was the first to speak, followed immediately by Liu Fushen, "We are all brothers. If Brother Shen has something to ask for, Liu will help you."
"Count me in."
"And I."
…
"Okay! Shen will keep your kindness in mind!" Shen Xin looked touched and said in his heart: "I'm sorry, everyone, Shen is going to trick you all this time. I can't help it. In fact, I don't want to either." ;
But... I want to become the richest man in the Ming Dynasty, to honor my ancestors, and to be the best! "
