Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Chapter 138 Crazy Harvesting
  "For those of you who have not received the salt industry certificate just now, please go to Tingsongguan to taste tea." Jia Cong said.

Immediately, a young man from the Jiang family came up and led more than a hundred weak micro-salt merchants to retreat. These people were considered eliminated.

Everyone looked at Wanmei Hall, which was suddenly empty, and felt sad. In the blink of an eye, Yangzhou City lost more than a hundred salt merchants.

"Now that the appetizers are finished, we'll serve the main course. Bring me the nest book." Jia Cong smiled and waved.

Everyone's eyes suddenly turned red. This is a cash cow that future generations can enjoy endlessly.

A small official held a huanghuali box two feet long and one foot wide, with a seal on it.

This was the plan for the number of nests that Jia Cong and Xu Qing had agreed upon until last night. Each copy was filled in by Xu Qing himself, and Jia Cong sealed it with his own hand. No one knew about this batch of nests except the two of them and Lin Ruhai. A total of 430 million yin, including those in the hands of the eight major salt merchants, totals 500 million yin.

Jia Cong randomly picked up a stack of bast paper from the box and patted it twice in the palm of his hand. Everyone swallowed their saliva. This was the first time for most people to see Wo Ben's appearance. Even the eight major salt merchants were a little concerned. indefinite.

Jia Cong smiled and said: "Before distribution, let me tell you something. Everyone knows that the Yanyuan Yamen was attacked the day before yesterday. Before that, many righteous people reported the news in advance and helped the Yanyuan avoid the disaster. I have said it before , Salt affairs rectification, in the final analysis, is to reward good and punish evil! If you have merit, you will be rewarded, and if you make mistakes, you will be punished. The Jiang family, the He family, and the Du family."

Hearing Jia Cong's roll call, Jiang Biehe, He Shenghua, Du Chun and others stood up in a hurry, bowed and said, "Please give me your instructions, Third Master."

"The three who are the first to report have merit, and the family will be rewarded with 10 nests!" Jia Cong took out three stacks of bast paper and handed them to the clerk.

Everyone was shocked. This reward was too heavy. It was the Jiang family with the largest nest egg. They only had 20 yuan. This was half more. Do they still want to live?
  Although the three of them were veterans, their faces flushed with excitement, and they bowed repeatedly and said, "I would like to thank Third Master and Mr. Yanyuan for your kindness. In the future, I will never forget your teachings, operate according to my duty, and be an honest person."

He Shenghua and Du Chun were even more impressed by Jiang's old prowess. If he hadn't fooled around with Jiang Lao, how could he have gotten such an easy job.

Jia Cong smiled and waved his hand, and then nodded: "Zhao family, Li family, Chen family, Huo family, Wang family..." He named 12 more families in one breath, "You have also contributed to the report, and each will be given a nest capital of 1 yuan." .”

The heads of the twelve families had never seen a nest in their lives. They knelt down on the ground excitedly and kowtowed repeatedly, saying: "I will thank Third Master and Mr. Yanyuan for the reward. In the future, as long as I have a destiny, I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Everyone saw it with hatred and anxiety. Before the sale started, this nest was already sold out by more than 400,000 yuan.

Jia Cong is not generous. One is to be a favor, the other is to divide the salt merchants, and the third is to arouse everyone's appetite. There is no necessary connection between the nest amount and the final total price. Things are rare and valuable, so they know that the nest amount is more valuable. There are not many left, which can stimulate the bidding spirit, and the price can be higher.

"Next, let's distribute the nest book. Please forgive me. In order to repay the eight major salt merchants for their decades of hard work in operating salt services in the Huaihe River, and they were the righteous merchants of the country named by the Supreme Emperor at that time. They have made great contributions to the country. Therefore, the Yanyuan Yamen is separate. Take out part of the nest book for eight companies to bid, and you are not allowed to compete." Jia Cong said.

Everyone was immediately shocked and couldn't help but mutter. Damn it, they have been fishing for money for decades, but they still have merit? Are you still being unreasonable? The hall suddenly became noisy.

The eight major salt merchants looked at each other and smiled slightly. The third master was still reasonable.

Jia Cong raised his eyes and shouted sternly: "Everyone, be silent!"

When everyone was drunk by him, they didn't dare to say anything anymore. They just looked at him with resentment in their eyes.

"I know that you all feel that the Yanyuan Yamen is biased and unfair. But think about it, if these eight salt merchants had not stabilized the Lianghuai salt industry over the years, how would Yangzhou City be as prosperous as it is today?
  What's more, this salt affairs rectification is based on the Salt Law of the Supreme Emperor. They are also the righteous merchants of the country who have been personally declared by the Holy Emperor. How can they be the same as you?
  Who thinks it's unfair? If I take out a plaque of righteousness given by the emperor, why not let him bid with me? "

Jia Cong didn't want to do this, but he had no choice. Now that the authority of the Salt Academy was insufficient, he had to make some concessions to appease the eight major salt merchants. As long as they did not cause chaos, the Lianghuai River would not be in chaos.

Everyone immediately fell silent. Comparing people with others will lead to death, and goods will be thrown away when comparing goods.

The heads of the eight families in the first row all smiled proudly. They were a bunch of ignorant kids. How could it be that I paid filial piety to the Supreme Emperor in vain? They still want to stand shoulder to shoulder with us. They are really fooled by lard.

Seeing that he had convinced everyone, Jia Cong gave up as soon as he was satisfied, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, everyone. The Yanyuan will naturally have a lot of open bidding, so we just don't let you down."

Everyone's expressions became better just now, and they all held their hands and thanked him.

"Let's not talk nonsense. First hand, the nest is worth 10 taels of silver. The base price is 50 taels of silver. Who wants it?" Jia Cong took out a stack of nests and slapped them on the case.

"80!" Liu Yu, the head of the Liu family, was the first to raise his hand.

"One million!" Gui Lie shouted immediately.

"110 million." Hai Dafu smiled.

"130 million." Lan Dingjian looked calm, as if he was not the one calling out the price.

"140 million." Wanchun Yin said quietly.

……

The other salt merchants were stunned when they saw it, and then they first bid a high price of nearly 200 million yuan. The eight major salt merchants really lived up to their reputation.

The three old family heads looked at each other to decide whether to be more calm or not. Seeing that the fire was almost done, He Shenghua and Du Chun both signaled Jiang Biehe to bid, but they would not participate, as a sign of reciprocating the favor.

Jiang Biehe laughed in a low voice and said, "You two are so generous, but I'm being disrespectful. I'm just asking for a good start."

"250 million!" Jiang Biehe shocked everyone as soon as he opened his mouth and immediately added 50 taels. The other family heads frowned and stopped talking, not because they couldn't afford the money, but because they felt they were at a loss. Only the Yanyuan Yamen benefited from such a random fight.

Jia Cong smiled slightly and said, "The immortal offered 250 million. Is there anything higher?" After asking twice, no one answered. The gavel fell with a thud, "The first hand has returned to the Jiang family." The clerk next to him hurriedly carried it on a tray and brought it to Jiang Biehe.

Jiang Biehe stood up, cupped his hands and said with a smile, "Thank you for your humility."

The other heads of the family all returned the courtesy and said: "It should be done." They were secretly furious in their hearts, and they would never give in. The devil knows how many special nests there are in this batch, and they cannot be snatched away. It will only become more difficult later. Rob.

"The second hand, 10 yuan, is still the same old rule, who wants it?" Jia Cong took out another stack and slapped it on the case.

"100."

"150."

"200."

"220."

……

The Jiang family stopped this move as soon as it was good and did not make another move to avoid public outrage. There was also a tacit understanding among the eight major salt merchants.

With first-hand reference, the price stopped moving at 240 million and was taken by the He family.

Jia Cong smiled slightly, disrupting everyone's expectations and said with a smile: "The third hand, 20 yuan, the base price is 100 million."

With such a large piece of meat, the eight major salt merchants immediately did not dare to hold on to it and started bidding one after another.

"200."

"300."

"350."

"400."

……

It wasn't until the price soared to 580 million that it was auctioned off by the Du family.

Xu Qing smiled like a Buddha, cupped his hands and said, "Master Du is really courageous."

Du Chun cupped his hands and said, "Mr. Xu, that's a ridiculous compliment. It's just a concession from everyone."

"The fourth lot is priced at 15 yuan, with a base price of 80 yuan."

"150."

"200."

……

Jia Cong sold several lots in a row, and sold a total of 100 million yuan. After a slight pause, in the eyes of the small and medium-sized salt merchants who were waiting for food, he finally stopped and said: "This is the end of the nest book for the eight major salt merchants. I will make it public below Bid!”

The eight major salt merchants were slightly regretful. Although they had a tacit understanding, each of them only clapped once, ranging from 10 to 20, which was always too little. Once the bidding is open, the price can be high.

"First hand, it's 10 yuan. I won't set a minimum price. It's up to you." Jia Cong said with a smile.

"300 million!" A medium-sized salt dealer said directly and said the sky-high price.

"320."

"350 million!"

……

Numerous small and medium-sized salt merchants gathered together to bid, and did not give the eight major salt merchants a chance to speak. They directly bid for nearly 400 million. They held it in for a long time and watched helplessly as more than a million nests were rewarded and sold. Who knows? There were still a few more in the box, so they were shouting for their lives.

The eight major salt merchants all smiled bitterly and shook their heads. If they competed now, they would be the target of public criticism. It would be better to wait for a few moves to make them lose their enthusiasm.

(End of this chapter)