Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Chapter 140

Jia Cong smiled and said: "Let me ask you first, where is the salt from the Huaihe River sold to now?"

"The Lianghuai Salt Region is Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Henan and other places, with a total of six provinces and more than 250 states and counties." Everyone said in unison, knowing everything about the salt industry.

"It just so happens that each of the six of you is in charge of a province, and each of you commands a group of people. As for how to divide it, you can negotiate and work it out. I won't care. In short, everyone will be convinced."

The six leaders said hurriedly: "I will obey the third master's instructions."

"In addition, in order to ensure fairness, so that no one can eat meat and no one can drink soup, the income from the business of the Chamber of Commerce will be managed, used and distributed in a unified way. In the final analysis, the income will be divided according to the number of salt industry certificates, and it will be the responsibility of the heads of the six chambers of commerce. , everyone is supervising, if anyone dares to enrich his own pockets, he will be severely punished once verified." Jia Cong said calmly.

"We don't dare. We must fulfill our duties." The leaders were happy. After all, they are officials. Who knows if they use their hands or feet a little.

Suddenly someone said: "Third Master just said that the number of certificates can be increased at any time. What if we increase it to 50?"

Everyone nodded, yes, why should they be the leaders? The worst thing is to raise the stakes.

Jia Cong laughed and said: "I still mean what I just said, no matter who it is, holding a 50-cit certificate will be the leader. If you are also interested in being the leader, you can add your bets later.

However, in order to ensure the stability of the Chamber of Commerce, replenishment is only allowed once a year. If a new leader is born, we can just discuss the division of salt zones.

All in all, the chamber of commerce is everyone's chamber of commerce. No matter how many leaders there are, everyone works together and shares the profits. The amount of work and the amount of profit distribution are all based on the number of salt industry certificates. In a word, if you pay more money, you should also do more things. Do you understand? "

"Third Master said it thoroughly, I understand." Everyone said.

"In this case, all those who want to add money and pay dues should register, and within three days, send the money to the Yanyuan Yamen. Everything is left to one's own free will. If you register and then regret it, it will be regarded as disturbing the salt administration. You all Don’t even think about getting your deposit back.” Jia Cong laughed.

"I don't dare." Everyone hurriedly said, and went to the clerk's office to register on the spot.

Suddenly Xu Qing came in, walked to Jia Cong and whispered: "The total amount of the auction has just been calculated, how much can I guess?"

Jia Cong pondered for a moment, excluding the 42 quotes given away, a total of 388 million quotes were auctioned, and smiled: "I estimate there are at least 8000 million!"

Xu Qing smiled and shook his head and said: "A total of 9640 million taels! Damn it, after so many years of work, how have I ever seen so much money?"

Jia Cong was also surprised and said: "Now it's just a number on paper. You have to receive cash before you can count it."

Xu Qing smiled and said: "Don't worry, I'm sorry they don't dare to go back on their word. If they do, there are ways to deal with them. As long as there is salt in hand, who will be the salt merchant? In addition to Hui merchants, who will be Shanxi merchants, Guangdong merchants, and Fujian merchants?" Don’t you want a piece of the pie?”

Jia Cong nodded and said, "What I said is absolutely true."

"Brother, what's going on here?" Xu Qing looked at the people queuing up to register and said with a smile.

"Everything goes well. Although these more than 100 people have no foundation, it is no problem to contribute one to two million in membership fees a year." Jia Cong laughed softly.

Xu Qing sighed: "I'm really a genius in business. It's nothing more than borrowing chickens to lay eggs and knocking bones to absorb marrow. It's also a deposit and a membership fee. Although the membership fee is not much, it is better than a long stream of water. I admire you."

Jia Cong whispered: "Why does it sound wrong to me? Are you praising me or hurting me?"

Why is there any curiosity about charging membership fees? After you have played with small membership, big membership, super star membership, blue diamond VIP, pink diamond VIP, and black diamond VIP, you will not be surprised at all.

Xu Qing smiled and said: "Of course I sincerely praise my brother."

Jia Cong said: "I haven't said anything to my brother yet." "Why are you so happy?"

"After this battle, my reputation has skyrocketed, and it's easy to rise to prominence in the future," Jia Cong said.

Xu Qingdao: "It all depends on my brother and Mr. Lin's support. What achievements do I have? Don't you dare to take it seriously?"

Jia Cong said with a smile: "With the gold, mountains and silver this time, it goes without saying that my uncle will be able to join the cabinet and pay homage to the Prime Minister with ease. How can I not help my old subordinates?"

"Then it's up to me to speak kindly in front of Mr. Lin." Xu Qing said with a smile, knowing in his heart that this feat was so great that it can't be described in words. Even if he only gets 1% of the glory, it would be enough. I have been promoted to an official position.

Suddenly a petty official came to report that the registration of the chamber of commerce has been completed.

Jia Cong smiled and said, "You must be hungry. Mr. Jiang has already prepared fine wine and food. You can help yourself."

Everyone hurriedly followed the young man to retreat.

Jia Cong led Xu Qing and several other minor officials to report to Lin Ruhai in the inner room.

"Uncle, this battle is a complete victory!" Jia Cong said.

"Brother Cong, thank you. My uncle has been working hard in Yangzhou for several years, and he has exhausted all his energy and accomplished nothing. When you first came to Yangzhou, you made such great achievements in just ten days with your astonishing skills, which is unprecedented. That’s it.” Lin Ruhai smiled.

"Cong can only come up with ideas, so what's the point? It all depends on my uncle at the helm, and Mr. Xu, Mr. Zhang and other officials work together. Otherwise, Cong will have three heads and six arms, so what's the use?"

"It's very good to accomplish this extraordinary feat without being arrogant or impetuous. You are still young now. You just need to keep calm and calm down. You will be able to soar into the sky one day." Lin Ruhai nodded and asked: "Today Have you calculated the numbers?"

Xu Qing nodded and said: "Your Majesty, we have just calculated it all. The deposit was registered and paid 1860 million taels, and a total of 9640 million taels were auctioned. The salt class is expected to earn 2000 million taels, excluding the salt workers' salary of 500 million, and the local yamen's 200 million Wan, 100 million from the Yanzheng Yamen and 100 million from the Zhen family can be turned over to the court, about 1100 million. In addition, the official and salt federated chamber of commerce's annual membership fee income is around 150 million, do you think?"

Lin Ruhai nodded and said: "The chamber of commerce's dues income will stay in Yangzhou. There are nearly ten thousand people in the Yanyuan Yamen and the Salt Transportation Department. It is not easy for everyone to manage salt affairs."

Xu Qing smiled and said: "Your Excellency is so considerate of your subordinates. I would like to thank you for your kindness on behalf of all my colleagues."

Lin Ruhai smiled and said: "Thank you for whatever I do, it's all for the imperial court. If you want to thank me, just thank me for your kindness."

"Yes, yes, that's it. The total amount we have to pay to the court this time is 12600 million taels."

Speaking of this astronomical figure, Xu Qing's voice trembled with excitement. Since the founding of the Salt Policy, it was the first time in the history of the Lianghuai River that the central government had so much money. It is conceivable that if this money was sent up, the entire imperial court and the entire Shenjing would be affected. , the whole country will be cheered up!
  Lin Ruhai also had tears in her eyes. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes slightly, and took a long time to calm down. She said in a deep voice: "We finally live up to the great trust you have given us. By the way, this time we wouldn't have been able to do this without the Governor's help." So smooth.

Now that the new law has been blocked, the governor's office is having a hard time. It has temporarily left 600 million taels of silver, waiting for the order to be transferred, and then 12000 million taels will be released. "

"Yes, the officer obeys."

"It's a pity that the deposit and the money in the nest are all one-time transactions. If you eat and drink enough this time, you will be hungry in the future." Jia Cong said with a smile.

"My brother is too ambitious. Even if we only send 1100 million salt classes next year, compared with two or three million a year in previous years, it is still a huge difference. What else can the princes in the court be dissatisfied with?" Xu Qing smiled.

"Brother Cong, don't be too greedy. From now on, I am guaranteed to pay more than 1000 million salt lessons every year. I am already satisfied and have nothing else to ask for." Lin Ruhai said with a smile.

"That's what my uncle said." Jia Cong smiled and nodded.

(End of this chapter)