Daming: I can’t kill such a greedy prince-in-law?

"Have you heard? The Beijing-Pingcheng Railway will be officially opened to traffic on the first day of next month!" In the teahouse, a businessman in a satin gown slammed the table, and the sound was so loud that the whole second floor could hear it.

The waiter came over with a teapot in hand, his eyes shining: "Sir, I heard from the boss that the train can travel a thousand miles a day and carry more goods than a hundred horse-drawn carriages!" He shook his wrist and the scalding tea almost spilled on the customer.

The old scholar in the corner put down the Ming Daily and adjusted his glasses: "The Shenbao said that the platform of Baoding Railway Station alone is thirty meters long, and the ground is paved with Western cement--" He suddenly lowered his voice, "I'm afraid the court has emptied all the treasury this time!"

The cloth vendor at the next table suddenly interrupted, "What do you know!" He took out a wrinkled copy of the Commercial Daily, "It's clearly written in the plan of the Prince Consort - a commercial district will be built around the railway station. Now an acre of wasteland only sells for 20 taels. Once the train is connected..." He dipped his finger in tea and drew a circle on the table, "At least ten times more!"

Suddenly, there was a sound of porcelain breaking in the private room on the second floor. The young man in brocade kicked the door open and cursed: "What a damn Beizhili Express! How dare you say that His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan opposed the construction of the railway?" He shook the newspaper in his hand, "This must be the conspiracy of that old man Li Shanchang!"

The teahouse owner hurried upstairs and was suddenly attracted by the noise on the street. He saw a dozen newsboys waving the newly printed "Railway Weekly" special edition: "Look! The Prince Consort announced that he would build a "Da Ming Department Store" next to the railway station! The first batch of shops will be auctioned tomorrow!"

"Look carefully, we will auction the land first, and then build Daming Department Store after the house is built!"

The cloth vendor stood up suddenly, and the tea bowl fell to the ground with a bang. He stared at the detailed plan on the front page of the newspaper in the newsboy's hand, and his throat tightened - the red circle marked "cloth wholesale market" in the picture was right on the three acres of wasteland he had just secretly bought yesterday.

In the backyard of the teahouse, the old woman washing dishes listened to the noise in front and silently took out the letter sent by her son from her arms.

The letter said that he worked as a bricklayer on a railway construction site, earning fifty cents a day, and had also learned how to use "reinforced concrete."

She looked at the Women's Times piled up in the corner - it was serializing "The Railway Changed the Destiny of the Ming Dynasty". Although she was illiterate, she collected this newspaper specifically as if it were an honor for her son.

Suddenly, a group of soldiers came walking down the street, escorting several bruised and battered people. The leading officer knocked on the gong and shouted, "Look out! These are the spies who spread the rumor that the train would disturb the dragon veins!" The tea drinkers crowded to the window, and someone noticed that there was a man in a long gown among them. It was clearly Mr. Liu who was telling stories in the teahouse last month.

The shopkeeper suddenly remembered something and rushed downstairs to take out a copy of "Beijing Miscellaneous Talks".

The latest issue of this folk booklet has the following words in large vermilion characters: “Exclusive revelation: the inside story of the planning of the new railway station town”.

He stared at the author's signature "Railway Man" and his hands shook like leaves in the wind - this writing style was clearly that of his cousin who was a clerk in the Censorate!
The cloth vendor had already squeezed in front of the newsboy, but he heard the special edition of the Journal of Engineering announcing even more explosive news: "A new type of explosive has been invented for railway engineering! The tunnel construction period has been shortened by half!" The old scholar's glasses slipped to the tip of his nose, and he muttered, "No wonder the Journal of Gewu said that the son-in-law Ouyang Lun is recruiting Western mathematicians."

For a time, topics related to railways became the hottest topic among the people of the Ming Dynasty.

In front of the gate of Tianshang Renjian, eight Jinyiwei stood on both sides with embroidered spring swords on their waists, and the shiny scabbards reflected the light of red lanterns.

One after another, luxurious carriages rolled over the newly paved bluestone slabs, and when the curtains were lifted, faces that were either reserved or anxious were revealed.

"Make way! Make way!" Several servants, sweating profusely, pushed the crowd aside to make a path for their master.

The silk-clad Shanxi merchant stepped on a stool and got off the carriage. As soon as his gold-embroidered boots touched the ground, he heard a sneer: "Old Ma, you Shanxi people are also here to join in the fun?"

Mr. Ma, a Shanxi merchant, narrowed his eyes and smiled: "I thought it was someone else, it turned out to be Mr. Cheng from Huizhou. What's the matter, the salt merchants have too much money to spend?"

Boss Cheng was waving a gold-sprinkled folding fan with the four big characters "Cao Yun Tong Da" written in vivid ink on the fan: "I can't compare to you coal miners. I heard that you made this much money just by transporting coal to Liaodong last year?" He spread out five fingers, and Master Ma's face changed immediately.

Next to the carved railing on the second floor, Zhou Bao held a glass cup and watched coldly. The servant behind him whispered, "Sir, the carriage of Prince Yan's mansion has arrived at the back door." Zhou Bao's fingertips trembled, and the wine rippled in the cup: "Take them through the special stairs - don't let the Cao Gang see them."

There was a sudden uproar in the hall.

It turned out that the manager of the Kaiping Silver Safe came in with a team of accountants, each of whom was holding a thick account book in his arms.

Someone said sarcastically: "The Prince Consort's property is also bidding? This is just transferring money from one hand to the other!"

"This brother doesn't know this." The manager smiled and flipped open the "Auction Rules". "The third page clearly states 'All registered merchants in the Ming Dynasty can participate.'" He pressed his finger heavily on the vermilion seal of "Kaiping Silver Cabinet", and there was an immediate silence around him.

In the corner, several Mongolian merchants were anxiously jumping around the interpreter, "Why hasn't it started yet?" The interpreter wiped his sweat and explained, "Master, please be patient. I heard that the prince consort will come in person..." Before he finished speaking, there was a sudden sound of stringed instruments from the second floor, and everyone looked up at the same time -

Ouyang Lun could be seen leaning against the beaded curtain, throwing a golden melon seed to the singer.

"Look! That's the prince consort who invented the railway!"

"I heard that he received 800,000 taels of silver in patent fees last year."

"Shhh - is he from Prince Yan's Palace?"

Suddenly, Wang Tiechui squeezed out of the crowd, sweating profusely, and ran up to the private room on the second floor in two steps.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and bowed, "My Lord, why did you come here in person? I will arrange for you to sit in the main seat right away."

Ouyang Lun waved his hand lazily and threw a melon seed into his mouth: "I'm just here to watch the fun, you can take pictures however you want." He pointed downstairs and said, "See? The man in the purple robe is the confidant of Mr. Guo from the Ministry of Revenue; the man next to him wearing a jade ring is the president of the Shanxi Merchants Association."

Wang Tiechui followed the Prince Consort's gaze and his calves began to tremble again: "There are so many important people..."

"What are you afraid of?" Ouyang Lun chuckled and suddenly lowered his voice, "Remember, when you auction any plot of land later, no matter who bids or how high the bid is, you must give me half a quarter of an hour to bid. Just don't rush to drop the hammer!"

Wang Tiechui was stunned: "What does Prince Consort mean?"

Ouyang Lun didn't answer.

"I understand."

There was a sudden commotion downstairs. It turned out that the owner of the Daming Silver Treasure came in with a few accountants, each holding a heavy box of silver bills. Someone exclaimed: "My God! There must be millions of taels!"

Seeing this, Ouyang Lun's mouth corners slightly raised.

He patted Wang Tiechui on the shoulder and said, "Go ahead and remember what I said. Today's auction is much more interesting than you think."

Wang Tiechui took a deep breath, straightened his official uniform and was about to go downstairs when he suddenly heard the prince consort add behind him: "By the way, if Li Shanchang's men come to cause trouble..."

"You don't have to worry. I have already informed the Jinyiwei commander Ji Gang. He will arrange for someone to handle it."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Wang Tiechui couldn't help but sigh in his heart that he had followed the right person.

The Prince Consort’s connections are really strong!
What does it mean to enjoy the shade under a big tree? This is it!
Wang Tiechui had just walked to the stairs to preside over the auction when there was suddenly a commotion downstairs.

The crowd at the gate parted like a tide, and Li Shanchang walked in slowly in a purple python robe, followed by Liang Guogong Lan Yu. Behind the two were more than a dozen Jianghuai salt merchants, all dressed in brocade and jade pendants jingling on their waists.

"Your Highness, General Manager Wang," Li Shanchang stroked his white beard. His voice was not loud but it instantly silenced the entire audience. "I and others are here to accompany our business friends. Is that okay?" He deliberately emphasized the words "business friends" but his eyes were sideways at Ouyang Lun behind the pearl curtain on the second floor.

Wang Tiechui's official boots slipped on the stairs and cold sweat immediately broke out on his back.

He stole a glance at the golden sword bestowed by the emperor on Lan Yu's waist - it was the reward given to Lan Yu after his victory on the grassland. At this moment, it was flapping against the golden dragon robe embroidered with Lan Yu's steps.

"You are joking, my Lord." Ouyang Lun's voice floated down from the second floor, with a bit of laziness, "Article 3 of the auction rules stipulates that all merchants from the Ming Dynasty can participate." He paused deliberately, "But. Do you have enough deposit?"

Lan Yu suddenly laughed out loud, his laughter shaking the crystal chandelier: "Is your Highness looking down on us?" He waved his hand, and the salt merchants behind him all opened their sandalwood boxes - inside were all salt vouchers with the seal of the Ministry of Revenue, the bright white color hurting people's eyes under the light.

In the corner, a reporter from Business Daily was frantically recording this scene. This was exclusive news!
Li Shanchang tapped the auction book with his bony fingers. "Prince consort, the rules of the 'Da Ming Construction Silver Cabinet'." He suddenly narrowed his eyes. "How come they are exactly the same as the rules of the Kaiping Silver Cabinet?"

The whole audience gasped. Several Mongolian merchants looked at the interpreter blankly, only to see that the interpreter had shrunk behind a pillar and pretended to be dead.

Ouyang Lun ate melon seeds slowly and said, "The Duke has a good eye." He suddenly threw the melon seed shells downstairs. "After all, they are all written according to the Ming Dynasty Code, so they are naturally similar."

The melon seed shell fell right in front of Li Shanchang's feet.

Li Shanchang suddenly smiled, and the wrinkles on his face stretched out like a venomous snake: "In that case," he turned around and waved to the salt merchants, "Go and pay the deposit." He added meaningfully, "Remember to ask for the salt voucher issued by the Ministry of Revenue."

Wang Tiechui watched the salt merchants walk towards the counter of the Daming Silver Cabinet, and suddenly found that each of them had a bronze token hanging around their waists - it was a token of the Cao Gang's chief manager! His legs went weak and he almost rolled down the stairs.

"Lord Wang, be careful." Zhou Bao appeared behind him at some point, held his arm firmly, and whispered, "The Prince Consort asked you to proceed according to the original plan." Then he stuffed a note into his sleeve.

Wang Tiechui took the opportunity to tidy up his clothes and took a quick look. There were only three words written in cinnabar: "Take a bold shot."

Suddenly, the sound of a gong resounded throughout the venue, and Wang Tiechui walked up to the auction stage tremblingly.

"Everyone, please take your seats!" Wang Tiechui suddenly shouted with full energy, and his voice startled himself, "The auction will start soon!"

Wang Tiechui's copper hammer hit the scarlet velvet cloth so hard that his palms went numb. "Plot No. 1 in the east area of ​​Baoding Station, starting price is five thousand taels!" His voice trembled, and out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of Ouyang Lun leisurely peeling grapes behind the bead curtain on the second floor.

"Six thousand taels!" The representative of the Jiangnan Provincial Administration Office was the first to raise his sign, and the fish bag on his waist made a crisp sound as he moved. The clerk beside him immediately opened the "Freight Forecast" and drew a heavy red line under the word "silk".

Mr. Ma raised his mink coat suddenly: "Eight thousand taels!" A ledger slipped from his sleeve, revealing the four gold-plated characters "Coal Mine Monopoly". Mr. Cheng, a Huizhou merchant at the next table, sneered and slammed his folding fan: "Ten thousand!"

Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and a dozen men from the Cao Gang rushed in carrying gold-painted boxes. The scarred man in the lead shouted, "We're here to exchange salt vouchers." Before he could finish his words, a wine cup flew down from the second floor and hit the lock of the box - the box lid popped open, revealing a box full of pebbles!

Everyone was stunned.

Wang Tiechui was also dumbfounded. Someone actually brought a box of pebbles to cause trouble. This was something he never expected. Just when Wang Tiechui was thinking about how to deal with it.

Ouyang Lun's chuckle could be heard from behind the bead curtain: "Take stones as deposit?" He casually tossed up a golden melon seed, "Commander Ji, does this count as deceiving the emperor?" A figure in a Feiyu suit suddenly appeared from the shadows, and with a flash of the cold light of the Embroidered Spring Sword, the belts of the Cao Gang men broke in unison.

A figure wearing a bamboo hat in the corner suddenly lifted the black veil, and a maid from Prince Yan's mansion brought out a brocade box: "Fifteen thousand taels!" The aroma of Liaodong old ginseng in the box instantly filled the whole place. Lan Yu's face suddenly changed - the dark pattern on the brocade box was clearly the dowry style of the Princess of Prince Yan!
"Twenty thousand!" Master Ma roared, ripped open his collar and shouted out the price.

Boss Cheng's folding fan snapped: "Twenty-five thousand!"

There is absolutely no intention of giving up!
Suddenly a Mongolian merchant jumped onto the table: "Thirty thousand taels! Gold!" The Persian dagger on his waist fell to the ground with a clang, and a few Mobei diamonds rolled out of the scabbard.

The interpreter collapsed to the ground: "The master said to use this to resist."

Wang Tiechui's legs were shaking, and he suddenly felt the note "shoot boldly" in his sleeve.

He took a deep breath and slammed the copper hammer on the table: "According to Article 123 of the Ming Dynasty Law, foreign treasures must be appraised by the Maritime Customs!" Before he finished speaking, a document covered with dragon-patterned wax floated down from the second floor - it was the valuation sheet from the Maritime Customs!

"Thirty-five thousand taels!" Li Shanchang suddenly raised the placard himself and slapped the word "Cao Yun" on the auction book with his withered hand.

In the dead silence of the whole place, Ouyang Lun's laughter was particularly clear: "My Lord, your price..." He paused deliberately, "This is a huge investment!" (End of this chapter)