Ambassador Chen hesitated: "The cost of ten thousand taels of silver is very high. I still have to spend ten thousand taels of silver every year. Can the cost be reduced slightly?"
Out of the businessman's habit of bargaining, Ambassador Chen began to lower the price.
Pan Xiaoxian shook his head: "You must know that the female officials of the Imperial College are extraordinary and attract the attention of the palace."
This sentence almost makes it clear that the purpose of taking out the money is to sell it well to the Queen Mother.
The Yangzhou salt merchants were not the wealthy but powerless merchants in Jinling. They had many ways to sell salt, and they would prepare birthday gifts for the Queen Mother every year.
Ten thousand taels of silver is just to buy a ninth-grade female official for her daughter.
Ambassador Chen couldn't make up his mind and could only say: "I'll call the salt merchants from the Lianghuai Guild Hall and discuss it carefully before giving you an answer."
Pan Xiaoxian nodded helplessly. This kind of thing cannot be forced. He can only go back and wait for news from Ambassador Chen.
There are many salt merchants in the Lianghuai Salt Field, dozens of them, and there will always be someone who agrees.
Before evening, Ambassador Chen called over the salt merchants from the Lianghuai Guild Hall, which aroused the curiosity of the salt merchants.
Ambassador Chen explained: "Chen Yuanyuan brought Pan Xiaoxian from the Imperial College today to recruit a group of female students. The fee is 10,000 taels of silver per year."
The salt merchants smiled when they heard the first half of the sentence, but they completely exploded when they heard the second half.
"How much! Ten thousand taels of silver. It's obviously a money grab."
"We also provide 10,000 taels of silver every year. If our daughter stays in the Imperial Academy for five years, we will need to provide 50,000 taels of silver."
"You said we spent money, is it possible for our daughter to sit in Liu Rushi's position?"
A Yangzhou salt merchant suddenly asked if his daughter could one day wear a blue official uniform after becoming a female official.
She spends ten thousand taels of silver every year just to make her daughter a ninth-grade female official.
not worth it.
If my daughter could be like Liu Rushi and wear a blue official uniform.
Not only is it worth it, it’s also a hugely profitable deal.
Let alone 10,000 taels of silver per year, the 20,000 taels of silver every year are worth it.
Ambassador Chen thought seriously: "It's the time of employment in the palace. The Queen Mother has just left behind the curtain to listen to politics, so she needs a lot of female officials to consolidate her position."
When it was mentioned that the Queen Mother was employing people, many Yangzhou salt merchants were moved.
"Count me in! Once the money is spent, it belongs to you. If you don't spend it, keeping it at home is equivalent to saving money for officials."
"That's right. If our daughter can get an official position like Liu Rushi's, it will be worth ten thousand taels of silver."
"I also want to give it a try. As long as I succeed, I will make a lot of money."
There are dozens of Yangzhou salt merchants sitting in the Lianghuai Guild Hall. These people have different personalities. Some are willing to try, while others choose to continue to wait and see.
Ambassador Chen counted the number of people. Including himself, there were a total of ten Yangzhou salt merchants who were willing to give 10,000 taels of silver to try.
Other Yangzhou salt merchants left one after another, leaving only the Yangzhou salt merchant who was willing to pay 10,000 taels of silver.
After one final confirmation, the remaining salt merchants made up their mind and decided to take out ten thousand taels of silver.
"Wait a minute."
Just when Ambassador Chen was about to send someone to call Pan Xiaoxian, a voice suddenly came from outside the door.
Fan Chengde walked in and said with all his official airs: "Without my consent, none of you can come up with ten thousand taels of silver."
"Ah."
Ambassador Chen sneered: "Look, you are wearing a light green official uniform. You are only a seventh-grade official at most. You are just an official of the size of a county magistrate. You dare to talk big words in the Lianghuai Guild Hall."
When the governor of Yangzhou came to the Lianghuai Guild Hall, he had to be polite and did not dare to show off his official airs.
Fan Chengde said arrogantly: "My official position is indeed not high, as long as the power behind it is high enough."
Ambassador Chen said: "No matter you..."
I haven't finished saying this sentence yet, and I can't go on.
A man came out from behind Fan Chengde, with a fair face and no beard, wearing the clothes of a palace eunuch.
Ambassador Chen was startled and stood up quickly, not daring to continue sitting.
The other salt merchants stood up hastily.
Ambassador Chen asked cautiously: "Which yamen do you work for?"
This sentence has only one meaning, asking whether Eunuch Tong is from the East Factory or the West Factory.
Eunuch Tong didn't say anything, he walked over and sat on the main seat.
Ambassador Chen quickly stepped aside, gave up his position, and said hello again: "Come here, please serve tea to this father-in-law."
A maid came in and put on the best tea in the Lianghuai Guild Hall.
Ambassador Chen walked over, came to Fan Chengde's side, and secretly stuffed a banknote: "Which yamen does this father-in-law belong to?"
Fan Chengde silently accepted the bill and said only one sentence: "This father-in-law's surname is Tong."
The Yangzhou salt merchants were very well-informed and paid special attention to the news in the palace.
When Ambassador Chen heard a person named Tong, he understood it immediately and hurried over: "It turns out that Mr. Tong from the West Factory is here. You didn't say anything in advance, so I can arrange for someone to prepare a table of good wine and food for you." Dust off.”
Eunuch Tong still didn't say a word and drank tea slowly.
Just sitting put a lot of pressure on Ambassador Chen.
Yangzhou salt merchants were extremely afraid of the eunuchs from the East and West factories.
Ambassador Chen quickly asked: "I don't know what instructions my father-in-law has."
Fan Chengde spoke: "Don't even think about it. It is a good thing to study in the Imperial College. Why does Pan Xiaoxian come to Yangzhou to recruit female students..."
This sentence was half said, no more.
Ambassador Chen cursed in his mind and could only take out another banknote and handed it to Fan Chengde.
Money can make the world go round.
Fan Chengde took away the banknote without leaving any trace, and continued: "I'm just telling you, don't spread the word. The recruitment of female students in the female school involves the struggle between the east and west factories."
When Ambassador Chen heard that the East and West factories were involved, his legs went weak and he almost knelt on the ground.
Not to mention taking out ten thousand taels of silver.
Even if they offered him 10,000 taels of silver, the Yangzhou salt merchants would not dare to get involved in the struggle between the east and west factories.
Ambassador Chen only had one idea now. He was unwilling to give up 10,000 taels of silver and let his daughter follow Pan Xiaoxian to Jinling.
Whether my daughter can wear a blue official uniform is still unknown.
If he really got involved in the struggle between the East and West factories, he would definitely be in trouble.
Fan Chengde said that he would only tell Ambassador Chen, and his voice was so loud that all Yangzhou salt merchants heard it.
The Yangzhou salt merchants looked at each other, you looked at me, I looked at you, and they all made new decisions.
We can't let our daughter follow Pan Xiaoxian to Jinling.
It was even more impossible for a Yangzhou salt merchant to spend 10,000 taels of silver and go to the Imperial College to study.
Without saying a word, the Yangzhou salt merchants made excuses one by one and left quickly, running away as fast as if they were being chased by wolves.
Fan Chengde was proud: "If you dare to go against me, you will lose your hat this time."
