Follow Zhu Yuanzhang to conquer the country

Chapter 208 Zhang Shicheng and others spent huge sums of money to trade with Zhang Cheng
After Zhang Cheng said this, both Zhu Yuanzhang and Guo Tianxu fell silent.

This economic model has given them a big impact.

They didn't expect that people's unwillingness to buy things would affect their base.

Because the previous mode of exploitation by the powerful officials and gentry was to exploit land, they were accustomed to thinking that as long as the land was not idle, it would be fine.

But who would have thought that now there is a situation where people's basic market is affected if they don't consume.

Zhang Cheng felt secretly happy when he saw the two men thinking deeply.

He knew that the industrial economy he created, which relied on controlling industrial materials as the main method of exploitation, was really beginning to force people like Zhu Yuanzhang to change their concepts.

"The people are still not rich enough!"

"If the people all become rich, why won't they be willing to buy good things and be clean?"

"Looking at myself, if I don't have time to change clothes, I usually prefer to wear silk in summer and mink in winter. Could it be that I really like this cloth wrap?"

Let us say that Zhang Shicheng knew about this not long after the Chinese army captured Jiqing.

This made him quite jealous.

"But to make the people rich, the income of our Datong Society must increase. Only in this way can we establish better protection, so that the people have no worries and dare to consume. They don't have to worry that just because they consume and enjoy themselves, they will be destitute when natural disasters and man-made disasters occur. suffer hunger and cold."

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang said decisively: "Then let the cabinet send a letter to the Privy Council and ask it to issue a document banning the sale of old firearms such as bird guns, in the name of assisting the anti-Yuan rebels in various places to drive away the Tartars."

"Now, we have made new and more powerful firearms here. It is time to sell the old firearms and expand the profits."

There is no way, these people now need the ordnance provided by Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhang Cheng and others, so while sending people to congratulate them, they will also order a batch of arms.

Even the Longfeng regime was not angry because Zhu Yuanzhang and others had refused to surrender to them before, and sent people to congratulate them.

Guo Tianxu understood what Zhu Yuanzhang said and agreed, "That's right! That's why Datong Society has a lifelong goal of making the people rich."

Because of the new arms trade regulations determined by the Tingyi Bureau, which arms the cabinet can sell must be reviewed and approved by the Privy Council and Zhu Yuanzhang, so Zhang Chengcai specifically came to ask Zhu Yuanzhang and Guo Tianxu for their opinions.

"To increase the income of our Datong Society, the trade benefits must increase, and some firearms must be sold."

Therefore, after Zhu Yuanzhang and Guo Tianxu agreed, Zhang Cheng formally notified Cheng Renmo, who was in charge of the arms trade, and asked him to prepare to contact Zhang Shicheng and other forces, expressing that Jiqing was willing to sell firearms to them.

Moreover, when Zhang Shicheng learned that the Chinese Army was going to sell them firearms, and even Zhu Yuanzhang, the Duke of Wu, gave him a blunderbuss, Zhang Shicheng was extremely happy.

But Zhang Shicheng was helpless about this. In order to make Zhang Cheng, Zhu Yuanzhang and others willing to continue selling arms to him, he even sent a special envoy to express his congratulations.

After all, Zhu Yuanzhang was the Hongwu Emperor in history, and he was still very strong in understanding. He quickly revealed the root cause behind this kind of thing, that is, the root cause of people's unwillingness to consume was not enough wealth.

Guo Tianxu also nodded: "I agree!"

"Both of you are right."

At the same time, Zhang Cheng also asked Li Shanchang to prepare a list of corresponding firearms that could be sold at the upcoming investment fair and auction.

The same goes for the Tianwan regime, which also sent envoys to congratulate him.

Because he knew how important Jiqing was strategically.

"In this way, other forces can continue to develop the habit of relying on us to provide sharp weapons, but still lack the motivation to research on their own. It can also encourage us to actively improve new firearms, so as not to fall into laziness."

Zhang Cheng said with a smile.

"I've heard for a long time that your Chinese weapons are powerful, but I never expected that you would be willing to sell such weapons."

Zhang Shicheng was overjoyed and spoke to Song Siyan.

Song Siyan said with a smile: "Our Chinese Army also decided to ban the sale of firearms to your army in order to achieve the common goal of expelling the Tartars and restoring China."

Zhang Shicheng nodded after hearing this, and then asked people to take Song Siyan down to settle down. He immediately called Zhang Shide and Zhang Shixin and other brothers and generals, and informed these people about the matter.

"This is a good thing. If you have muskets, you will not be afraid of the Yuan army. But our current money and food may not be enough to buy firearms."

Zhang Shide put forward his own opinion at this time.

Zhang Shicheng couldn't help but frown and asked, "Why is it not enough?"

"Because right now we have to concentrate craftsmen to make equipment, and we also have to spend money to buy mines, so this means that we can't get more people to work in the fields to increase their income, and secondly, we can't use the money we have saved. Give enough money to buy firearms.”

Zhang Shide replied.

Zhang Shicheng nodded: "This is really a headache, but we don't have our own iron ore yet."

As Zhang Shicheng spoke, he ordered Zhang Shixin: "In this case, Shixin, please arrange for some people who will explore the mines to go to our Huaiyang area to find out whether there are any places where iron ore is stored."

Zhang Shixin said yes.

Then, Zhang Shixin also took the initiative to suggest: "Brother, since Zhu Yuanzhang and the others have decided to sell firearms to outsiders, they will definitely not only sell firearms to us, but also to other forces. Therefore, it is better for us to buy some firearms as soon as possible. , otherwise you will only be bullied! Don’t even be able to defend Huaiyang before the Northern Expedition.”

Zhang Shicheng nodded: "Yes! Now we have to save money and food to buy firearms first." "Then we can only give up making our own equipment first, save the money for buying mines and raising craftsmen, and buy firearms. At the same time, organize people to open up the land as soon as possible. Arata to increase profits.”

Zhang Shide said at this time.

Zhang Shicheng nodded: "This is the only way!"

Therefore, in order to expand his strength as quickly as possible, Zhang Shicheng's ministry had to temporarily abandon the plan to develop industry, and start over by tying craftsmen, soldiers and civilians to the land, encouraging farming, and at the same time using the saved money, grain and other goods to pay for the Chinese army. Purchase Firearms.

Liu Futong also agreed to purchase firearms from the Chinese Army after the Chinese Army sent an envoy to express its willingness to purchase firearms from him, and because they were currently fighting a fierce battle with the Yuan Army's Dashi Batur and other troops.

Chen Youliang also did not refuse because he wanted to actively increase his strength.

The same goes for other rebel forces.

For a time, a large number of caravans representing these forces came to Jiqing with a lot of gold, silver and food, making the ships on the Yangtze River and Qinhuai River waterways in Jiqing even denser.

There were as many as 50,000 to 60,000 civilian laborers employed as porters alone.

"The Kingdom of Zhou brought 30,000 taels of gold, 160,000 taels of platinum, and 700,000 shi of grain!"

"The Song Dynasty brought fifty thousand taels of gold, 120,000 taels of platinum, and five hundred thousand shi of grain!"

"Tianwan Kingdom brought 20,000 taels of gold, 190,000 taels of platinum, and 300,000 shi of grain!"

……

The Cabinet has established a new Department of Commerce and Administration.

The day after the investment fair and auction.

Li Cunyi, a doctor in the Department of Commerce and Political Affairs, looked at the senior figures of the Chinese Army in Datong Society and paid attention to the money and food brought by Zhang Shicheng, Liu Futong, Xu Shouhui and other forces to buy muskets.

Because these forces were eager to increase their strength, they did not bother with Sosou. Instead, they took the money and food from the bottom of the box and wanted to buy all the firearms that the Chinese Army was willing to buy. Obviously, they were not worried about whether the Chinese Army would do this. They are raising prices on the ground, and are only worried about whether the Chinese Army does not intend to sell too many firearms to the outside world.

Zhu Yuanzhang, Guo Tianxu, Zhang Tianyou and other important figures in Datong Society were all dumbfounded by this.

Zhang Cheng himself couldn't help stroking his beard and smiling.

He had long known that this arms trade would bring a lot of profits.

Because from ancient times to the present, the arms trade has been the top three trade among many trades.

After all, having violence means having power, and having power means that there will be no shortage of other benefits.

Therefore, no one will be picky about strengthening their own strength.

It's just that these parties who purchased firearms showed such strong financial resources, Zhang Cheng knew that he would have to increase the price of gunshots next year.

Besides.

What Zhang Cheng needs to consider now is how to use so much money and food to strengthen his own strength.

First of all, we must increase the scale of industry.

These forces have ordered so many blunderbuss that they need to recruit many new craftsmen to produce them at the same time in order to be able to supply them.

Secondly, you must strengthen your own strength. You must not be stingy in buying horses, building ships, or recruiting troops.

In the end, we have to increase research and development efforts and spend money to develop more high-precision technologies.

Now, Zhang Cheng doesn't have to worry about the problem that Wang Guangyang raised before by giving too many rewards to craftsmen with good performance in order to stimulate production, which will make the craftsmen unwilling to work hard in production after accumulating too much money and food, and instead engage in the business of making money. .

Because Zhang Cheng has now established a craftsman training system, new craftsmen will be continuously trained.

Mature craftsmen will also be directly promoted to officials and assigned to do research and development, and the government will even provide money to support their investment in the development of new technology industries.

However, the arms trade only brought about the prosperity of heavy industry, and most of the benefits did not benefit the people. To truly benefit the people, light industry must be revitalized.

In order to promote the prosperity of light industry, increase employment, increase the income of more people, improve their lives, and thus provide better sources of soldiers and students, we must further cultivate the market and stimulate consumption.

Therefore, Zhang Cheng said to Zhu Yuanzhang and others on this day:

"We still need to consume more. At present, most of the soap and cotton cloth can only be used as wages to be used by the people, and the purchase volume is still not enough."

"But what most people can do are basically farming, soap making, textiles, etc., so the income of many people still cannot be increased. If the people's income cannot be increased, they will not be able to have more children, and they will not be able to be strong enough. And smart young people can strengthen our Chinese army.”

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang stood up and said, "Okay, let's take the girl out for a walk."

"Let's take my mother out for a walk too!"

Guo Tianxu followed.

(End of this chapter)