From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 314

The next morning, Zhou Yuan went directly to the Shanxi Guild Hall.

After going up to the second floor, there were more than 20 people sitting densely, all of whom were the heads of the Shanxi merchant families.

Qiao Chaiqing and Chang Baizhi looked very ugly, as if their father had died. Seeing Zhou Yuan was like seeing a ghost.

Zhou Yuan frowned and said, "Why are there so many people sitting here? Qiao Chaiqing and Chang Baizhi stay, and everyone else goes."

He did not come here alone. Li Yu'an was with him. From today until he came to the Central Plains, Li Yu'an would stay by Zhou Yuan's side to protect his safety.

The situation was already extremely urgent. Zhang Bailong had proved his strength in various ways, and Zhou Yuan dared not not be on guard.

Qiao Chaiqing whispered, "Lord Zhongwu, what exactly are you doing here? To be honest, we are really afraid of you. We are almost bleeding dry. You have to give us a way out, right?"

Zhou Yuan glanced at the people around him and said nothing.

Chang Baizhi waved his hand, signaling the other family heads to leave.

Then, he sighed and said, "Master Zhou, what do you think our Shanxi Guild Hall should do? Two million taels of silver, just give it as you say."

"The Fifth Army Camp needs food, and we have also found a way to raise it. You can't always treat Shanxi merchants as tenants, right?"

Zhou Yuan smiled faintly and said, "Master Chang, you are being polite. I accepted the two million taels of silver, but as a condition, I helped you suppress the crime of smuggling, which is a crime of confiscation of property and extermination of the clan. Don't you make money?"

"You did give me the food for the Fifth Army Camp, but I paid for it. Although it was far below the market price, it was just a favor you returned to me. It's not as exaggerated as treating you as tenants. right?"

"Also, don't get excited, what if I come here today to bring you good news?"

Qiao Chaiqing said with a wry smile: "You, the Loyal Martial Lord, will not do business at a loss, how dare we expect any good news."

Zhou Yuan said: "You two, I need a batch of grain recently, the amount is not large, two million shi."

Qiao Chaiqing's face turned pale, and he immediately exclaimed: "Two million shi? Not a large amount? Lord Zhou, how much is my head worth, and use it to pay back the money!"

Chang Baizhi said: "Two million shi, farmers grow it and it is worth two million taels of silver. If it is transported to Shandong, Central Plains, Huguang and other places, it can be sold for six or seven million taels of silver. Two!"

"Lord Zhou, there is a shortage of grain everywhere in Jin. You asked for two million shi. What can we give you?"

Zhou Yuan said calmly: "Now only the court, the noble families and the Chamber of Commerce can provide two million shi of grain."

"The granaries in various provinces of the court are in danger. It is impossible to withdraw grain for me. The noble families regard grain as a treasure. I don't have time to confiscate their homes and collect grain."

"Zhejiang merchants, Chaozhou merchants, and Guangdong merchants are too far away. I can't reach them, so I can only ask you Shanxi merchants."

Qiao Chaiqing said: "We can't give it either. Shanxi merchants are just doing business, not gods who can conjure up food."

Zhou Yuan said in a deep voice: "First Don't rush to refuse, think about this matter carefully first. "

"I will exchange your two million dan of grain for a huge fortune, see if you can accept it."

Chang Baizhi smiled bitterly: "It's a huge fortune again..."

Zhou Yuan said in a deep voice: "Do you think what I said is all lies?"

"Why do I need two million dan of grain? Because in a few days, I will lead the army to go to the Central Plains to suppress bandits."

"After that, I will personally rush to Yangzhou to inspect the salt and clean up the salt business. All the eight major Zhejiang merchants will be confiscated and exterminated."

Hearing this, Qiao Chaiqing and Chang Baizhi's hearts beat violently, and they breathed rapidly for a while and dared not speak.

Zhou Yuan said coldly: "The court knows better than anyone that exterminating a family is more profitable than taxes. The eight families together have at least 40 to 50 million taels of silver, which is comparable to a year's taxes."

"I will use this money to build a strong army, including navy and cavalry."

"Remember the falconets and muskets I asked you to find out before? We will manufacture them in large quantities by then."

"This stuff costs money, but it is also a big business. You Shanxi merchants have been mining for so many years, are you not interested?"

Qiao Chaiqing said quickly: "Of course I am interested. We are professionals in iron smelting."

Zhou Yuan said indifferently : "Since the founding of the Jin Dynasty, Jin merchants have gradually developed and have gone through so many generations to reach today's scale."

"This shows that Jin merchants have a long-term vision and pursue long-term operations instead of short-term interests."

"Mining, smelting, and manufacturing weapons are the real imperial merchants and enduring businesses. As long as the Jin Dynasty does not fall, you will not fall."

"The military will be your backer, and His Majesty will be your master. Who dares to ask you for money again?"

"Do you dare to take this overwhelming wealth?"

Qiao Chaiqing and Chang Baizhi heard this, that wasI am so excited. Who wouldn't want to be a royal merchant? Who wouldn't want a long-lasting business? Who wouldn't want the emperor as their backer?

But the price is too high, and it's all empty promises, there's no guarantee!

Qiao Chaiqing whispered: "Lord Zhou, we Jin merchants have a long-term vision, but we can't get 2 million shi of grain!"

"But if it's 200,000 shi, we can still squeeze in."

Zhou Yuan shook his head and said: "I'm not here to bargain with you. 2 million shi of grain in exchange for a huge fortune. Whether you agree or not is up to you."

"I'm not afraid to tell you that my Jin dynasty will continue to flourish, even for thousands of years. With the Holy Lord above and my Zhou Yuan assisting, no matter whether it's the Central Plains bandits or the Eastern Tartars and Northern Mongols, they can't make any waves."

"You'd better think clearly, do you dare to take this bet?"

Speaking of this, Zhou Yuan sneered: "Don't think I don't know that you Jin merchants are the largest grain merchants. 2 million shi of grain is indeed a big deal, but it won't kill you."

Qiao Chaiqing and Chang Baizhi looked at each other and sighed slightly.

Zhou Yuan said: "I'll give you another sentence. The world is in a great trend. Those who follow it will prosper, and those who go against it will perish."

"The court must follow this rule, not to mention the businessmen? What do you rely on to make a fortune? A prosperous world!"

"You are well-informed and should know about the methods of Zhang Bailong in the Central Plains."

"He wants to redistribute the land. If he rises, will your business be good? I'm afraid you will not be able to escape the fate of having your family confiscated and your clan exterminated."

Chang Baizhi smiled bitterly and said: "Master Zhou, can you give us a few days to think about this matter?"

"To be honest, such a big thing is really not something we two can decide."

Zhou Yuan nodded and said: "I can give you two days, but... this matter must be kept strictly confidential. If it is leaked from you, the crime will be serious."

"Yes, we will keep it secret."

Chang Baizhi's face was sweating.

Zhou Yuan stood up and smiled slowly, "You two, I want to share the wealth with Shanxi merchants, it depends on whether you can do it."

"If you make trouble for the country, you will eventually be confiscated and exterminated. The eight major Zhejiang merchant families are big enough, right? Unfortunately, the private salt harmed the country, and in return they were killed."

After speaking, Zhou Yuan strode away.

Chang Baizhi and Qiao Chaiqing looked at each other and saw the solemnity in each other's eyes.