Nanming Yiming

Chapter 114

At this moment, there is only half an hour left before the 3 days stipulated by the Governor's Mansion. The feast of Zuixianlou is ready, and the big businessmen who have rented 6 shops have come to the banquet early. Maybe let the dignified Zhongyong uncle wait for them.

Seven of the 10 seats on the round table have already been seated, and Qian Buer, the governor of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, is greeting all merchants.

Soon Franco found his partner here. Dai Peng controlled the tea in eastern Zhejiang, Zhuang Yifan owned a lot of Huzhou silk, and Liu Wentong controlled the Suzhou silk. Soon they reached an agreement. Oral cooperation intention.

Franco finally didn't have to worry about finding high-quality sources, and the price given by Dai Peng and others was much cheaper than when he bought it in Macau.

The slightly embarrassed Huang Sanpang and shopkeeper Zhang were also very interested in their business, but they couldn't get in the way. After all, their financial resources were not at the same level as others.

To Franco's disappointment, although the purchase channel has been settled, it seems that these Chinese businessmen are not interested in his products.

At this time, there are not many commodities that Europe can sell to China, mainly arms, but it is impossible for arms to go through private trade.

Wool fabrics such as suede that are popular in Europe are not popular in China. On the contrary, China's silk, porcelain, and tea are three major export killers that are crazily harvesting the wealth of the world.

It is said that since the "Longqing switch" in the Ming Dynasty, most of the silver plundered by the Spaniards in the Americas flowed into China in just a few decades.

Although this figure has been disputed by later generations of scholars, it is generally believed that during this period, the world's net inflow of silver into the Ming Dynasty was between 1.7 million taels and 5 million taels.

In stark contrast, Chongzhen's annual income was only a pitiful 400 million taels of silver.The rulers of the Ming Dynasty were unable to collect business taxes, so they could only stare at the one-acre land of the common people. Coupled with the continuous natural disasters at the end of the Ming Dynasty, the taxes finally crushed the bottom line of most people.

For Qian Mo, how to collect business tax is also a difficult problem. Qian Mo is going to do his best to build a core business district first.

When businessmen can't leave this business district, Qian Mo will start to collect business tax again!
Just like those apps in later generations, they began to subsidize merchants with free trials and a large number of discounts to make everyone get used to using this app.When both merchants and consumers rely on this platform, they will use their monopoly position for two-way harvesting!

But what everyone is more concerned about at this time is the seventh shop on Yuhuang Street.After all, the person who rented the sixth store is a Portuguese. If a foreign businessman finally wins the agency right of glass sales, how embarrassing are these Ming businessmen?
In Hangzhou, Hui businessman Xu Wentong is anxiously raising funds.

Although Huizhou is very close to Hangzhou, the base camp of Huizhou merchants is in Yangzhou.Since the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty, Huizhou has gradually entered the salt industry. Shanxi and Shaanxi merchant groups that have always been mainly engaged in the salt industry were severely hit. Therefore, Huizhou merchants began to flourish in the Chinese business circle centering on the salt industry.

The land in Huizhou is barren, and it is difficult to support a family by farming. The only way out for men is to start a business. More than 70% of adult men are engaged in business activities.

As the Huizhou folk song says: "I didn't cultivate in my previous life, I was born in Huizhou, I was [-] or [-] years old, and I lost it outside." In fact, most Huizhou people are doing business abroad, not in their hometown in Huizhou.

So when the news of Hangzhou's sky-high renting price spread to Huizhou, Huizhou merchants were caught off guard.

Xu Wentong's good friend Wan Ning said: "Old Xu, in three days, we have no time to raise so much silver and send it to Hangzhou."

"Don't forget that the Ming and Qing Dynasties are engaged in a tug-of-war in Huizhou, and there are chaotic troops everywhere. At this time, if we send a large amount of silver out, it is very likely that we will lose all our money."

Xu Wentong said: "At the beginning, I saw glasses made of glass in Yangzhou. A pair cost several hundred taels of silver. This is a very profitable thing."

"Look at the exorbitant rents of the Governor's Mansion of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. This rent is not just for a shop, it is clearly looking for a long-term partner."

Wan Ning replied: "I have also seen this point of knowledge. Even if you use gold to build a shop, you can't spend this money. It seems that you are determined to give it a try?"

Xu Wentong nodded.

In fact, Wanning, like many Huizhou merchants, did not have a good impression of Qian Mo.Many Anhui merchants also participated in the big gamble of the "Tianxia Bureau" that happened in Nanjing last year.Of course, almost everyone bet on Hong Chengchou. It can be said that a considerable part of the 500 million taels that Qian Mo won was contributed by Huizhou merchants in Yangzhou.

Huizhou merchants who had suffered a loss from Qian Mo all chose to give up this gamble. If Xu Wentong hadn't slapped his face and forced Wanning to pay, he would never have invested money in Qian Mo.Thinking of the 5 taels of silver he lost at Qinhuai River last year, he still feels heartbroken.

However, he also understands that although the commercial status of Hangzhou was not as good as that of Suzhou and Yangzhou before, and it was not even as good as Ningbo in terms of potential, if Huizhou merchants do not participate in the "sky-high renting shop" this time, they will give up the opportunity To Zheshang.

Just this way of renting shows that the Jiangsu and Zhejiang governors understand the business rules very well, otherwise they would definitely not be able to think of such a way to rent.

The two of them are family friends, and they know each other's details clearly.

Wanning knew that the Xu family was well-known among Huizhou merchants after several generations of management, and a few 10 taels of silver could be taken out, but like most Huizhou merchants, Xu Wentong’s silver was basically in Yangzhou, In Nanjing, Suzhou and other places, he only had 5 taels of cash in his hand at this time.

If he didn't help Xu Wentong this time, it would be impossible for him to scrape together such a large sum of money.

So he said, "I'll come forward and guarantee you to borrow some more. I should be able to make up 35 taels for you."

Fortunately, Huizhou merchants are still relatively united. Although many people think that Xu Wentong’s trip to Hangzhou is very risky and they are not optimistic about him, they still lent him some money out of the practice of helping each other among Huizhou merchants.After all, Xu Wentong was the one who lost all his money, and the Xiuning Xu family still had the ability to repay.

Out of helplessness, he had no choice but to send someone to transport the 40 taels of silver to Hangzhou.Who knows that blessings come without pairs, and misfortunes never come singly.Originally, starting from Xiuning, along the Xin'an River all the way down the river, you can go directly to Hangzhou through the Fuchun River.Unexpectedly, the Ming army was attacking Yanzhou at this time, and the waterway of Xin'an River was completely blocked.

So Xu Wentong and others were forced to go overland, crossing Tianmu Mountain with difficulty, and rushed all the way from Lin'an to Hangzhou across Qianqiu Ridge.Although he finally arrived in Hangzhou in time after two and a half days of trekking, Franco had already taken the sixth shop at this time.

In desperation, Xu Wentong and Wanning could only find Huizhou merchants in Hangzhou to help them borrow money. If they were in Yangzhou or Nanjing, it would be easy for Huizhou merchants to scrape together millions of taels of silver in a short period of time.

However, Hangzhou is not the main market for micro-businesses. The local Huizhou businessmen heard that Xu Wentong and Wanning wanted to buy a shop, and they also gave their full support. After all, they know the meaning of this shop better in Hangzhou.

But they used all their relationships to raise funds and could only make up 20 taels.

Wanning said dejectedly: "Now we only have 60 taels, and there is still a shortfall of 168000 taels. There is less than an hour left. Could it be that all previous efforts have been wasted?"

At this time, Xu Wentong was also thinking non-stop. All the bank loans that can be borrowed in the Hangzhou market have been obtained through micro-business guarantees. Where can there be a large amount of money to borrow?

Suddenly Xu Wentong took Wan Ning's hand and said, "Come with me, I don't know where there is money!"

After many twists and turns, they were brought to Qian Mo.

Qian Mo carefully looked at the two people in front of him, thinking that the two people actually found their change of money on his head, it seemed that they really had nowhere to go.

Said: "You are Huizhou businessmen who want to rent the seventh shop, what do you want to do with the governor?"

Xu Wentong said: "Xiaomin now has 60 taels of silver in his hand. He wants to rent the last shop. He has the courage to borrow silver from Zhongyong Bo. The interest is 5%, and the principal and interest are paid off within [-] days. The villain can use Suzhou, Nanjing and Yangzhou The relevant pavements and workshops are used as collateral."

Qian Mo said with a smile: "It's really easy to earn money, but as the renter of this store, if Bendu directly lends money to you, it may be suspected of favoritism and malpractice, which will definitely attract criticism."

"There is a saying that 'if you don't believe what you say, you don't know what to do'. The governor issued the rent notice in front of the world, and operated it in secret. Where is the credibility?"

Of course, Qian Mo hoped that someone would rent the seventh shop, otherwise Franco's merchant ship would be ruined.But you can't just lend money to them just by saying a few words. If this matter gets out, it will definitely affect your reputation.

Xu Wentong said: "Of course we don't dare to allow Uncle Zhongyong to cheat for personal gain, we just hope that we can treat everyone equally!"

"Then it's impossible for Franco to come to Hangzhou with several 10 taels of silver. He must use the goods as collateral; since he can do this, why can't we? Can the Governor treat one more favorably than another?"

Seeing Xu Wentong's neither humble nor haughty performance, Qian Mo felt a sense of appreciation, and said with a smile: "Franco sold a large number of guns and the entire fleet directly to Ben Du, is there anything wrong?"

"If you can come up with something that the governor can't refuse now, I can also buy it with money."

Since Xu Wentong dared to come to Qian Mo, he was naturally prepared, and said: "A few days ago, the army under the governor's office of Jiangsu and Zhejiang has surrounded Jiande, the capital of Yanzhou. Bo led his army into Huizhou, but I didn't know that the three counties of She County, Jixi, and Xiuning could get into the eyes of Zhongyong Bo."

Xu Wentong's remarks really surprised Qian Mo, thinking that my intention to enter Huizhou is already so obvious that even a businessman can see it?

Qian Mo said: "I heard that the Qing army intends to launch a massive counterattack in Huizhou recently. I am worried that Jiang Riguang's department will make mistakes. I really have the idea of ​​going west to Huizhou. If you can get help from Huizhou merchants such as Er, it will be twice the result with half the effort!"

"Since the governor has set the rules for renting shops, he will naturally not use other means to interfere with commercial competition; your lack of money is a commercial act, and it is appropriate to use commercial means to solve it."

"The principal and interest conditions you just proposed will definitely be able to borrow the money. There is still time. You can go to Yuhuang Street to borrow money publicly."

Hearing what Qian Mo said, Xu Wentong immediately understood.Now that time is running out, I immediately bid farewell to Qian Mo and rushed to Yuhuang Street.

In fact, Xu Wentong appreciates Qian Mo's current handling method more than if he borrowed money directly.The government has always used various administrative means to interfere with the normal business behavior of businessmen, and Qian Mo's statement shows that he will maintain the business rules set by himself.

Facing the crowd, Xu Wentong shouted: "I am Xu Wentong, a businessman from Huizhou. I want to rent the last shop. There is still a shortage of 16 taels. I am willing to borrow at 8% interest and guarantee to pay off the principal and interest within 5 days." "

Although everyone was very upset that the grape people had won the final glass agency rights, but in the face of Xu Wentong's loan request, the lively crowd instantly became silent!

Several businessmen who wanted to borrow money were also hesitant because they saw no reaction from the people around them.

At this time, a figure appeared in the crowd and shouted: "I am willing to lend 5 taels!"

"Isn't this person the steward Wang of Uncle Zhongyong's mansion?"

Seeing Uncle Zhongyong's support, everyone contributed money one after another. After all, 5% of the interest will be earned within 1 days, which is quite a considerable income.

Under the attention of the public, Xu Wentong successfully won the seventh shop.

The Huizhou merchants in Hangzhou naturally began to celebrate with each other. Although Xu Wentong and Wanning rented the shop, it was a victory for the entire Huizhou merchant group.

Wanning also had to admire Xu Wentong's vision. He didn't even realize that once the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Governor's Government captured Yanzhou, it would inevitably enter Huizhou, which is close at hand.

As the dust settled in the last shop, the table for 10 in Zuixianlou was finally full.

When they saw Qian Mo and the other three sitting at the table, everyone's expressions were also different, and Franco even wrote full of disappointment on his face.

However, out of politeness, everyone congratulated Xu Wentong, after all, he saved the face of all Chinese businessmen.

Qian Mo said: "I am here to congratulate you all for becoming the cooperative merchants of the Jiangsu-Zhejiang Governor's Mansion Ocean Caravan. The Governor's Mansion will provide each of you with a 400-ton merchant ship, and you can prepare your own goods. I The Zhejiang Navy of the Ming Dynasty dispatched warships to escort this trade to ensure the safety of the fleet, and our targets for this trade are North Korea and Japan."

Liu Wentong asked: "In addition to the merchant ships provided by the governor's office, can we prepare merchant ships to participate in this trade together?"

Qian Mo said: "Of course it is also possible, but the speed must keep up with the fleet, otherwise it will be difficult to guarantee the safety of your self-provided ships."

"In addition, everyone must be very concerned about the tax rate. The tax rate of the Governor's City Shipbuilding Department is [-] out of [-]. Among them, you pay silver when you leave the customs, and you pay in kind when you enter the customs."

This tax rate is not high, even lower than the 7%-10% level in the Southern Song Dynasty, which is acceptable to everyone.

Then he said to Franco: "Of course, Mr. Franco does not need to participate in the government's trade, but I still congratulate you on obtaining the glass agency rights outside East Asia."

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