nanming man

Chapter 214
Over the years, affected by the weather and the loss of population, a large number of people have been slaughtered, and the food production outside the pass is very limited, making it difficult to feed more than [-] Qing troops and their dependents.

The survival of the Qing army in Liaodong was largely dependent on the grain and livestock looted from the pass, as well as the smuggling trade with Shanxi merchants.

The situation of the Qing army is similar to that of Li Zicheng, or even more severe.

Although Li Zicheng faced the Ming Dynasty's blockade, the forces of the two parties were intertwined and full of loopholes, and the Ming Dynasty's blockade was difficult to be effective.

Under the rule of the Shun Army, there was a shortage of materials, which caused prices to rise. Naturally, there were merchants who were greedy for profit, and brought in the materials and made a lot of money.

In addition, after the Shun army occupied Henan and Guanzhong, the two places gradually returned to calm, and the people spontaneously resumed production, which also relieved the supply pressure of the Shun army to a certain extent.

The situation of the Qing army in Liaodong was very different. First of all, they had a small population, did not produce any materials, and were blocked by the Great Wall, so the living conditions were quite harsh.

Refined iron, cotton clothes, tea and other materials are not available outside the customs, and the most important thing is that they cannot even be self-sufficient in food.

To survive in Liaodong, they need a large amount of grain, and these grains mainly come from three sources.

In a normal year, the food outside the customs could not meet the consumption of the Qing army. This year, the weather was abnormal, and the food production was even more pitifully low, not enough to eat at all.

Huang Taiji originally hoped that Abatai would bring back some food, but he only brought back tens of thousands of mouths, which instead increased the burden on the Qing army's food supply, making Huang Taiji so depressed that he became ill.

Self-produced and plundered are not enough to eat, Huang Taiji can only hope for smuggling trade, but the north is corrupt, and the food and materials that Shanxi merchants can provide are also very limited.

The area where Shanxi merchants were active was mainly in the north and outside the mouth, while the south was dominated by salt merchants in Lianghuai and Southeast merchants.

The influence of Jin merchants in the Ming Dynasty was not strong, and Huang Taiji asked them to buy food, but the north had long been dilapidated, and the people themselves were starving to death, so naturally they could not meet the needs of the Qing army.

The Fan family could only turn their attention to the south, but the south has a southern trade network, local merchants, colluding with officials and gentry, hiring local ruffians, monopolizing one side's trade, how can Shanxi people be allowed to collect grain.

In order to help Shanxi merchants open up the situation and obtain relatively cheap food, Huang Taiji took a fancy to the relationship between Liu Liangchen and Liu Liangzuo, hoping to use him to open up the situation for Shanxi merchants in the south.

After Liu Liangchen entered the customs, Fan Yongdou sent his son Fan Sanba to Shouzhou with him, hoping to use Liu Liangzuo's strength to buy grain from the south.

When Liu Liangzuo heard that he was going to buy grain, he had some hesitation on his face.

Everyone is short of food these days, how can it be so easy to get food.

Besides, he's doing well now, and he doesn't see any benefits, so he naturally doesn't need to take this risk.

"A good minister!" Liu Liangzuo wondered, "I am afraid that my brother can't help you with this matter. There is a shortage of food outside the customs, and there is not much food in Nanzhi. How can my brother sell you any food?"

Fan Sanba on the side smiled, "Marshal Liu, why are you short of food? As long as you sell us the food you sold to Chuangjun, wouldn't it be fine?"

Liu Liangzuo was taken aback when he heard the words, he didn't expect that they even knew about this kind of thing, but he immediately became a little unhappy.

Recently, although he has objections to Gao Yihuan, after all, he has cooperated for more than a year, and he can get thousands of taels of silver every month. Why should he help you?
Even if he and Liu Liangchen are brothers, they can't do without money.

Fan Sanba obviously came prepared. Seeing Liu Liangzuo's expression, he immediately stretched out three fingers with a confident smile and said with a smug smile: "Marshal Liu, as long as you sell us the grain, the Jiexiu Fan family is willing to give it more than Gao Yihuan." Three times the commission. If you sell it to Chuangjun, you are selling it, and if you sell it to us, you are also selling it. It is a violation of the king's law. Why don't you choose the one that pays more?"

Liu Liangzuo couldn't help being moved when he heard this, but it still couldn't impress him, because Gao Yihuan didn't just smuggle food, and Fan Sanba's tone of voice made him a little unhappy.

This man is just a lowly businessman, and he dared to talk to him like this and investigate his affairs just because he got on with Manqing, he was looking for death.

Liu Liangzuo said in a cold voice, "Fan Dong's family, the food is not sold by me to Gao Yihuan, but by Nanzhi merchants. I don't know who they are going to sell to, I just collect some taxes."

Seeing this, Liu Liangchen on the side hurriedly said: "Brother, I don't want you to sell us the grain. You just need to send troops to strictly investigate the transactions between the Nanzhi merchants and the intruders, and then allow the Fan family's business to operate under the rule of the elder brother. We collect the food ourselves, and the elder brother doesn’t know anything about it.”

Liu Liangzuo calmed down after hearing Liu Liangchen's words, because his brother was sensible and could speak.

At that moment, he sighed and did not hide it from Liu Liangchen, "Liangchen, let me tell you the truth, I also have a lot of opinions on this Gao Yihuan, but what he smuggled is not only food, but also fine iron, tea, porcelain and other goods, In short, smuggle whatever you have. You asked me to cut off the whole line in order to get a little grain commission, is it possible?"

The north is corrupt, and the Fan family has a limited supply of goods. They are looking for a source of goods everywhere, but there is no good channel. Even if they can get the goods, the price is very high.

After Fan Sanba heard this, he was overjoyed, and regardless of his superiority or inferiority, he said in a nonchalant manner: "Marshal Liu, our Fan family can take over all these things. As long as Marshal Liu allows our Fan family to open shops in Shouzhou and other places, And to purchase supplies exclusively, my Fan family is willing to give Marshal Liu [-]% of the shares!"

Refined iron, cotton cloth, tea, and porcelain are all sold outside the customs, and as long as they are shipped out, they can make a lot of money.

Although he gave Liu Liangzuo [-]% of the dry stock, which seemed to be a lot of capital, but in fact, he used the power in Liu Liangzuo's hands to directly cut off Gao Yihuan, a competitor, and other companies. The entire Shouzhou and other places were bought by his family. , he will be able to lower the purchase price and make more money instead.

This is also a characteristic of Chinese businessmen. Instead of studying how to catch more mice, they think about the collusion between government and businessmen to prevent others from catching mice and gain the privilege of catching mice in activities.

"Thirty percent of the shares?" Liu Liangzuo suddenly felt that Fan Sanba in front of him was not so annoying after hearing this.

Liu Liangzuo knew how much Gao Yihuan had made through the smuggling trade, and he had long wanted to get a share of it, but smuggling was a network, and there were goods, transportation, and sales.Gao Yihuan has mastered the sales side, but Liu Liangzuo has no way to start.

Now Shanxi merchants want to take over this plate, and give him [-]% dry shares, which is better than charging him a toll.

"Fucking Gao Yihuan, you actually gave your head to Huang Chuangzi, then I will cut off your fortune!" Liu Liangzuo's face suddenly became grim, "Okay, no problem."

As he said that, he added sternly, "However, this commander is only strictly investigating merchants colluding with thieves and carrying out smuggling trade. As for where the materials you buy will be shipped, this commander has no idea at all!"

"Brother, don't worry!" Liu Liangchen said with a smile immediately: "It's only natural, we are doing business properly~"

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(End of this chapter)