The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 339 Turning Against Xue Yan

The wheels rolled over the bluestone streets, and the horses pulling the cart were fine blue steeds from outside Datong Pass.

Not only are they incredibly durable, but they also have a gentle temperament, making them ideal for driving.

In the carriage.

Ping'er vividly described how Lin Daiyu put on airs: "Even though everyone knows that Daiyu is faking it, everyone still feels sorry for her. No wonder the old lady dotes on her the most."

Unless there is a special reason, Wang Xin never rides in a sedan chair.

Today, to accompany Ping'er, Wang Xin did not ride a horse. Before he was promoted to general, his coachman was hired from outside. Now that he has been promoted to general, many things are inconvenient.

With more bathrooms in the house, the kitchen, which used to be too small for two people, now needs to be used by three.

The sedan chairs, cattle, and horses that come and go also need to be managed.

As a result, the number of servants in the mansion increased to eighteen, with a total of eighteen people of various ages.

There were two coachmen, three cooks, three servants, four maids, four old women doing menial tasks, and one manager and one manager's wife.

Compared to other generals, Wang Xin was extremely poor.

However, Wang Xin didn't care.

"As long as she's happy."

Wang Xin was relieved.

The servants of the Jia family have continued for generations, forming their own closed social atmosphere. Just one person gossiping behind someone's back is enough to make you want to die. I used to personally take care of them at the Convex Jade Mountain Villa, but now that I've left, I can't go back even if I wanted to.

Although Lin Ruhai is still alive, in theory no one would be blind to his existence, but there's always a chance of something going wrong.

Ping'er hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

Given the relationship between Miss Lin and Master Xin, why didn't Miss Lin ask Master Xin a single question this time? Could it be that Miss Lin is angry with Master Xin?
However, considering that the wedding date for the Third Miss and Lord Xin had already been set, Ping'er was unwilling to cause any trouble.

Although Miss Lin's appearance and character are indeed amazing, Ping'er also admires the Third Miss's skills to the extreme. In addition, Ping'er is closer to the Third Miss, and the Third Miss and she have a good relationship, so Ping'er still likes the Third Miss more in her heart.

The carriage wound its way through several streets without incident.

Upon arriving home, Wang Xin jumped off the carriage and, without waiting for Ping'er's reaction, scooped her up in his arms.

Ping'er leaned out of the carriage and stretched out her hand, thinking that Wang Xin would help her. But she was suddenly picked up and screamed in fright. When she came to her senses, she was both ashamed and happy. She couldn't help but raise her hand and pat Wang Xin's chest lightly.

"Master Xin, how can you act so recklessly outside? Put me down right now."

Ping'er felt incredibly ashamed at the thought of being seen by outsiders.

"So what if I saw it? I didn't do anything."

Despite his words, Wang Xin still gently put Ping'er down and helped her stand up for her sake.

Although the surrounding area is not a place of power and wealth, it is still quite quiet.

Several of the neighbors were business owners and knew Wang Xin's identity. Especially after Wang Xin was promoted to general, the neighbors became even more polite and respectful, and dared not visit him easily on ordinary days.

"hey-hey."

Shi Gandang and his guards chuckled foolishly.

"Laugh, laugh, Shi Ping is a father now, and you're still like children. You've grown so big for nothing." Wang Xin turned around and scolded the group.

I was scolded for no reason.

Shi Gan, the boldest of them all, grumbled unhappily, "What's so good about getting a wife? Ever since Shi Ping got married, he's been controlled by his wife every day. He even has to sneak around when he goes out for drinks. I'm not getting married."

Wang Xin was amused.

“That’s just childish talk.” Ping’er covered her mouth and laughed as she explained, “I’ve already arranged for a girl to come over. I’ve explained everything to her elders, and she’ll bring her home in a few days. You two can talk and see if you like each other.”

This was also Wang Xin's idea.

He doesn't force it.

If he likes someone, he'll act as a matchmaker like an elder; if he doesn't, then so be it.

Anyway, I chose my wife myself, so if things don't go well in the future, I can't blame myself.

Upright officials can hardly break housework.

Wang Xin paid close attention to this matter, including when Shi Ping insisted on marrying his wife despite others' opinions, Wang Xin did not interfere.

"I can't see you."

Shi Gandang immediately said.

"I must see him."

"What's there to be ashamed of, a grown man?"

Wang Xin exposed the truth.

Shi Gandang immediately denied it, saying, "I did not do it, sir, you are slandering me."

The brothers looked at Shi Gandang with suspicion, feeling that what the commander-in-chief said was true.

Shi Gandang became even more anxious.

Ignoring their commotion, Wang Xin helped Ping'er into the house, while Qingwen followed behind, looking speechless.

Ping'er also felt this was inappropriate, and quickly said with a smile, "We've only just arrived, how could I be like this? I don't need you to help me."

"It would be good to help him up."

Wang Xin did not give up, fearing that something might happen to Ping'er.

Ping'er then fell silent, leaning against Wang Xin with a blissful expression on her face. Even Qingwen, standing nearby, couldn't help but feel envious; though she was slow to react, she could sense Ping'er's joy.

In Tongzhou City, there was a governor's mansion and two generals' mansions.

The Governor-General's Office is currently without a Governor-General.

Therefore, the inner residence in the rear half of the governor's mansion was also empty. However, while the inner residence was empty, the governor's mansion office in the front half remained the same, with Zhu Shenggong still living in a courtyard between the governor's mansion office and the inner residence.

The Left Route General's Office is located in the east of the city.

The Right Route General's Office is located in the west of the city.

The inner residence of the Right Route General was renovated for two months and left vacant for one month. Originally, he planned to move here with Ping'er and the others, but considering that Ping'er was pregnant, he was unsure whether there would be any problems with the renovation in this era, so Wang Xin lived alone in the General's Mansion.

The distance from the city gate of the capital to Tongzhou city is more than 20 li.

Wang Xin couldn't travel from the capital to Tongzhou every time. At his level, many restrictions became meaningless, but Wang Xin wouldn't act recklessly. Therefore, he spent most of his time in Tongzhou.

"Why not buy a house in Tongzhou?"

Xue Ke made the suggestion.

Houses in Tongzhou are cheap, but that's outdated.

Since the market outside Hexi Camp was established, land prices have soared. New houses are being built every year, but demand still exceeds supply. People who want to buy a house can't, and many people still live in temporary shacks.

"You own a house?"

Wang Xin asked.

Xue Ke nodded honestly, "My father acquired five nice houses in Tongzhou three years ago."

"Master Xue has good taste."

Wang Xin sighed with emotion.

Xue Ke is a true second-generation rich kid.

They own houses all over the country, not only in prime locations but also as luxury homes paid for in full. Not to mention their thriving businesses, which are primarily driven by cash flow.

With a capable father above him, he could simply secure a government job and wait to take over the family business.

Young and talented.

Looking at Xue Ke, Wang Xin couldn't help but feel envious.

Unfortunately, this is the capital city.

Even Xue Pan, who was nominally a member of the Ministry of Revenue, was contemptuously called "Xue the Fool" because his status as a rich second-generation was not enough, let alone Xue Ke, whose status was far inferior to Xue Pan's.

Feeling uncomfortable being watched by his own father, Xue Ke took the initiative to suggest, "The houses are all empty. My father is not short of money and does not want to rent them out. Why don't we sell one to the General Headquarters, as long as the General Headquarters doesn't mind?"

"Let's talk about it when we see your father."

Wang Xin neither agreed nor refused.

One house is not enough.

Xue Yan built a trade route from outside the Great Wall to Jiangnan on his own, becoming the biggest winner with an annual income of one million taels of silver, more than the entire Juzhongchang Group.

It was a tough job.

In the end, they're all working for Xue Yan.

This was also why Xue Yan was willing to compromise, retaining only 10% of Juzhongchang's shares. This 10% was primarily for maintaining a voice and avoiding being squeezed out of the business circle outside the Great Wall; the core market remained in Jiangnan. Wang Xin returned to the General's Office, where Xue Yan was already waiting.

Xue Ke went to greet his father and took the initiative to tell him, "Father, the best house in Tongzhou is ready. The General may buy it."

"What Lord Xin said?"

Xue Yan asked, puzzled.

Xue Ke explained for a while and offered a suggestion: "If we give it all away, the governor-general won't agree. The price is too high, and the governor-general can't afford it. Let's sell it at half price and give it away at half price."

After hearing his son's words, Xue Yan gave a bitter smile.

The son underestimated the appetite of the governor-general above him.

"I have met the Commander-in-Chief."

For a while.

Upon meeting Wang Xin, Xue Yan took the initiative to bow.

"Master Xue, you're too kind. We're all family. Please have a seat."

Wang Xin adapted to his new identity, and so did everyone else. In six or seven years, before he was even thirty, he had risen from a junior general to a commander-in-chief.

Xue Yan was more emotional than anyone else.

Back then, his daughter was a carefree little girl. Now, although she is not yet of marriageable age, she has been jilted at the altar. Xue Yan feels both regret and resentment, and also pities his daughter.

Wang Xin didn't know what Xue Yan was thinking, but given Xue Yan's intelligence, he could probably guess.

Wang Xin was too lazy to waste words.

"I have invited Master Xue here today to discuss something."

"Don't dare."

Xue Yan said politely.

Wang Xin didn't take it seriously, knowing that Xue Yan was waiting for him to name his price.

"Juzhongchang buys various livestock such as cattle, sheep and horses from the herdsmen. Taking horses as an example, the purchase price for each horse is three taels of silver, and it is resold to various merchants in the three cities outside the pass for six taels."

"Xue Dongjia is one of the major shareholders of Juzhongchang, so Xue family business took half of last year's 30,000 horses."

"Not so much."

Xue Yan waved his hand repeatedly, but said nothing more.

All of this was happening right under Wang Xin's nose, and since he was a shrewd businessman, he couldn't hide anything from him.

"Even if it's not half, it's at least ten thousand horses."

Wang Xin said decisively.

Xue Yan didn't deny it; continuing to deny it would be intentional. Wang Xin had calculated him so clearly, and Xue Yan felt a heavy weight in his heart.

It seems they've made thorough preparations to call me here today.

“The prices of goods in Jiangnan are the highest, and the same goes for horses. In other parts of the south, a horse costs fifteen taels, but in Jiangnan it can sell for twenty or thirty taels, and the supply can not meet the demand.”

Horse prices vary from region to region.

The transportation distance in the north is shorter, and the rate of horse injuries and illnesses is also lower, resulting in a much lower overall cost compared to the south.

In the Jiangnan region, the high price of horses is due to the developed economy and strong demand.

Wang Xin did not quote a higher price.

Sometimes a good horse can sell for fifty taels, one hundred taels, or even two hundred taels in Jiangnan.

However, two hundred taels of silver is no longer considered a normal market price.

With just these 10,000 horses, Wang Xin calculated the total cost. After deducting all costs, including bribes at checkpoints along the way, Xue Yan made a net profit of 40,000 taels of silver in a year.

In addition to cattle and sheep, etc.

Cows are cheaper than horses, but there are more cows than horses.

Last year, no other business made as much money as the Xue family's business; Xue Yan earned at least 100,000 taels of silver.

This is the money Xue Yan earned all by himself.

Not counting the annual salaries of at least a thousand managers and employees of the Xue family along this trade route, nor counting how many people profited along the way, the gross profit after deducting the cost price of purchases from outside the pass was approximately 400,000 taels.

Wang Xin has always believed that...

The most complementary trade to business in the mainland is not maritime trade, but grassland trade.

While maritime trade could indeed bring countless amounts of silver to the Great Zhou, this trade model only exacerbated the gap between the rich and poor within the Great Zhou and further stimulated land annexation. Its contribution to productivity was far less than that of trade between the interior and exterior of the Great Zhou.

The only pity is.

Because of the abolition of the Ming Dynasty's paper money and the fact that the Great Zhou Dynasty did not establish its own paper currency, the Great Zhou Dynasty was extremely short of "money".

Later, the Qing Dynasty was established.

For the ruling class of the Qing Dynasty.

There was little difference between Han Chinese scholars and merchants; they were all their lackeys, and in fact, they freed the hands and feet of the merchant class.

For example, the demand for paper money was a problem that the officials of the Ming Dynasty could never solve.

But for the merchants of the Qing Dynasty...

As long as there are no officials hindering business development, these demands will actually be the foundation for stimulating the great development of the market economy.

Therefore, the shortage of "money" stimulated the rapid development of private money exchange in the Qing Dynasty, which in turn provided a solution and supported commerce. In the end, the Qing Dynasty's foreign trade flourished with thousands of businesses.

For example, during the Daoguang era.

In Longshengzhuang, outside Datong Pass, there are more than 3000 shops with signboards.

pity.

If the root cause is wrong, even if the direction is unexpectedly right, there may be a brief period of prosperity and glory, but in the end, it will only grow more and more crooked, and the longer it drags on, the more miserable it will become.

The slave society of the Qing Dynasty reversed the course of history, and its fate was sealed from the very beginning.

It will only become a malignant tumor in the development of civilization, bringing only a major regression to civilization.

An unreadable expression appeared on Xue Yan's face.

Given his relationship with Wang Xin, and the goodwill between the two families, Xue Yan would be happy to meet Wang Xin's needs if it were just a matter of mutual benefit. With shared interests, the two families would only get better and better.

Unfortunately, Wang Xin did it for "official business".

Although he understood Wang Xin, Xue Yan was still somewhat displeased and forced a question: "How much does the Commander-in-Chief need?"

Wang Xin understood Xue Yan's dissatisfaction, but Xue Yan wanted to maintain trade outside the pass. He could make him succeed, or he could ruin him with a single word. This was Wang Xin's confidence: "Twenty thousand taels of silver for now."

Xue Yan raised his head and looked at Wang Xin intently.

Wang Xin did not hesitate and firmly said, "Consider it paying taxes to the imperial court."

The imperial court was indeed unable to collect taxes, and Wang Xin could not overstep his bounds, so he had no choice but to find trade routes and collect taxes himself.

Juzhongchang is a prime example.

Juzhongchang monopolized the area outside the Great Wall and became the largest local power. The 25% that it handed over to the Datong Western Army was equivalent to tax revenue, and the Datong Western Army did indeed solve the border troubles of the imperial court.

Xue Yan made a fortune in Jiangnan through trade outside the Great Wall.

Wang Xin, of course, also had to "collect taxes".

“Since it’s called a tax, we’ve already paid quite a bit of ‘tax’ along the way,” Xue Yan emphasized. “It’s almost half of the total tax.”

"It must have been tough."

Wang Xin understood Xue Yan's dissatisfaction.

Many of the problems faced by ordinary people are actually caused by officials.

For example, prices.

The imperial court's commercial taxes were indeed very low, but the taxes collected by privately established checkpoints in the localities were quite high.

These tax checkpoints set up by local government offices were originally intended to make up for the deficits of local government offices or to solve certain problems. However, without supervision, they all became private cards used by individuals.

Merchants can only raise prices.

Why can't the illegal salt trade be banned?

Because government-issued salt was expensive and of poor quality, people were unwilling to buy it and preferred to buy cheap, high-quality smuggled salt.

Why is it that the quality of government-produced salt, produced in centralized facilities, is inferior to that of privately made salt from small workshops?
Wang Xin knew exactly what was going on.

He made his fortune through the salt trade.

(End of this chapter)