Ming Dynasty: Zhu Biao's younger brother, the most rebellious son in history

"My sister-in-law said that she wanted to help the Lu family intercede and rent another street from us, but I refused."

Xu Miaoyun curled up uneasily, "Husband, is it not good for me to do this?"

"There's nothing wrong with it. Business is business. Even if he's my biological father, I'd still fight with him for every penny. Besides, she's just my sister-in-law."

Zhu Kai patted Xu Miaoyun's hand, signaling her to rest assured: "Don't worry, if she asks you for money again, just come to me directly. The Ming Dynasty is in its infancy now, and it is a time for grassroots competition. If she does the right business, money will naturally flow into her pocket."

Chang came to find Xu Miaoyun probably because after Lu begged her several times, Chang had no choice but to come to Xu Miaoyun. Otherwise, with her mentality, she would not get involved in any business. She would just give the money to Xu Miaoyun and it would be a piece of cake to make money.

Mrs. Lu was still too self-conceited. If she could adjust her mindset and lower her posture, she could naturally make money. But she still wanted to use the little business she had to build connections for Zhu Biao. That was unnecessary. Business is business and has nothing to do with anything else.

Zhu Kai doesn't care so much when doing things. No matter how powerful or rich you are, as long as you don't follow my rules, it won't work. Therefore, because of his fair and just heart, the merchants of all sizes in Yingtian Prefecture identify with Zhu Kai very much. They will not break any rules he sets.

The love and respect that the merchants in Yingtian Prefecture had for Zhu Kai was reflected in physical objects.

When Zhu Kai's two children were born, merchants of all sizes in Yingtian Prefecture gave Zhu Kai gifts. Small merchants gave him eggs, chickens, ducks, and fish; big merchants gave him gold, silver, and other treasures, and when giving gifts, they directly stated that the gift was small but the thought was profound, and hoped that Zhu Kai would not mind.

Are you kidding? These businessmen don’t even know how much they’ve earned by following Zhu Kai in their business. Isn’t it only natural for them to give him some small gifts?

Zhu Yuanzhang, who was in the court, saw the gifts that Zhu Kai received as a gift, and drooled. He couldn't help but mutter in his heart: If Zhu Kai was a court official, it would be great. He could directly confiscate his property for accepting so many gifts...

After learning that the merchants in Yingtian Prefecture had sent him gifts, Zhu Kai generously booked the largest restaurant in Yingtian Prefecture: Food is the Heaven, and invited all the merchants of Yingtian Prefecture, big and small, to come over.

While thanking them for the gifts they sent to his son, he told them about his plan to make a fortune: I'm going to Liaodong and the grassland to make a fortune, do you want to come with me?

Liaodong, grassland?
Hearing about these two places, the merchants in Yingtian Prefecture were a little hesitant.

They felt that apart from raising poultry, what other business could be done in these two places... But Zhu Kai had already made it known last year that the price of oxen could not rise, and whoever did so would be banned from doing business.

If the cattle-farming business is not possible, how much money can you make from raising sheep?
Zhu Kai took a quick glance and saw what everyone was thinking. Merchants are people who will not do anything without profit. If they don't see the benefits, they will not easily act. "I will go to develop Liaodong, and I will definitely make money, but Liaodong and the Mongols are so small, it is impossible for everyone to go. I can only say that everyone has done a lot of business with me, Zhu Kai, and believe me and go to Liaodong with me."

"Second Prince, I'll go with you!"

The person who stood up was a businessman whose family background was not that rich. The reason why he dared to go with Zhu Kai was entirely based on his belief in Zhu Kai's principle. He risked his life and property to follow Zhu Kai in a gamble. If he made money, everyone would be happy. If he didn't, he could just start over again.

"Second Prince, I will go with you too!"

"Count me in as one and ask the Second Prince to take me in."

"I am Wu Jingzhong, and I would like to ask the Second Prince to give me a bowl of rice..."

More and more businessmen chose to follow Zhu Kai to Liaodong and the grassland.

First of all, most of the merchants who agreed to follow Zhu Kai to Liaodong and the grassland were businessmen who were neither high nor low. They had only done business for two years longer than others and saved two more years of money. These people could not compare with those big families with rich financial resources, but they also wanted to go one step further and leap into the ranks of wealthy families. Now that Zhu Kai offered them the opportunity to gamble, these people naturally would not give up.

Winning means realizing your dream.

Even if they lose...it doesn't matter, they still have the ability to make a comeback.

Of course, in addition to these people, there are also some small businessmen. Most of them form alliances with their fellow villagers, pool their money together and go to Liaodong and Mengyuan to do business.

When it comes to doing business, who would complain about making money? Since Zhu Kai promised them that they would make money, then they would definitely make money.

If you follow Zhu Kai, you will get something to eat, so everyone is willing to take a gamble with Zhu Kai.

Zhu Kai saw that there were about eighty businessmen willing to follow him to Liaodong and the grassland. After a rough calculation, he felt that these people were almost enough.

As for other people who want to go, the entry threshold will have to be raised.

"Okay, just us!"

Zhu Kai waved his hand and said, "Mao Xiang, write down the names of these people and the money they can take out."

"Yes."

Mao Xiang took the order and took note. Those businessmen who wanted to follow Zhu Kai to Liaodong and the grassland to gamble, followed Mao Xiang to register.

And those big and powerful families... are still hesitating and watching.

Although they also wanted to make money, they thought that the things that could make money in the grassland and Liaodong were nothing more than cattle, sheep and poultry. Although Liaodong could grow crops, there was more fertile land in the Central Plains. Zhu Kai only provided them with some seeds of high-yield crops such as potatoes and sweet potatoes, but these seeds would be spread throughout the Ming Dynasty within three years, and Liaodong would have no advantage.

These wealthy businessmen have great wealth and do not want to take risks.

The first person to try something new does make a lot of money, but big families and wealthy businessmen don’t need to be the first to try something new.

When they see that a certain business is very profitable, they can definitely come from behind and get ahead first. They can invest their huge amount of money into this market and use their strong foundation to exhaust their competitors so as to monopolize the business.

However, now their opponents are no longer these small vendors, but Zhu Kai.

Zhu Kai is familiar with the business practices of these big players... and has already taken countermeasures.

After counting the names of more than 80 merchants, Zhu Kai stood in the most conspicuous position and stretched out a finger: "I have 100 million taels of silver and 30 million taels of gold. I will spend all this money in Liaodong and the grasslands within ten years... In addition, I will send Lan Yu to lead troops to attack the Western Regions and open up the Silk Road. If you want to go with me, we can do these businesses together!"

Ten million taels of silver and thirty million taels of gold.

The boss present was stunned by so many numbers.

How does Zhu Kai have so much money?

The money of all the businessmen present here combined is not as much as Zhu Kai's, right?
Oh, Zhu Kai raided the Kong family’s home in Qi and Lu?

That's fine.

But they all heard that the gold, silver and treasures seized from the Kong family covered the streets of Lu County.

It could even fill up a county town, so the 10 million taels of silver and 30 million taels of gold didn’t seem like that much.

The merchants who followed Zhu Kai were all delighted when they heard Zhu Kai's determination to manage Liaodong and the grasslands and invest so much money. If they followed Zhu Kai northward, they could earn the money Zhu Kai invested and double their assets.

Those who did not follow Zhu Kai at the beginning are now regretting their decision. Zhu Kai is not a man of honor... Why didn't he tell them earlier when there were such great benefits?

Zhu Kai continued, "I plan to open money houses in Yingtian, Qilu, and Liaodong. If you find it inconvenient to carry money from the south to the north, you can deposit the money in the money house. When you want to use the money, you can go to the money house with the voucher in your hand to withdraw the money."

Zhu Kai briefly introduced to the merchants the ways and methods of depositing money in the money shop. The merchants seemed a little hesitant after hearing it.

It’s not that they don’t believe Zhu Kai.

It’s that everyone is used to keeping the money in their own hands. To hand it over to outsiders… I really don’t have this habit.

However, this did not pose a problem for Zhu Kai.

Why did he open a money shop?
In order to make money!

How do merchants willingly deposit their money in banks?

Let them see the benefits.

Then, Zhu Kai announced another important news: "Any merchant who follows me to the north can borrow 100,000 yuan from my bank. Those who deposit the money in the bank can be upgraded to high-quality customers of my bank and enjoy a loan amount that is three times higher than the principal."

"..."

loan?

In other words, use Zhu Kai's money to complete your own business?
Is there such a good thing?

Those merchants who did not agree to Zhu Kai's offer at the first time did not think that Zhu Kai was lying. Moreover, Zhu Kai had the entire Ming Dynasty behind him. His father was the Ming Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. He lent money to others, and they all had families to support. Who would dare to swallow Zhu Kai's money? Tired of living?
The key is Zhu Kai’s promise!

The loan limit is three times the principal. If you deposit 30 million silver coins, you can borrow 90 million silver coins to do business. The principal will increase dramatically at once, and you can start a business by spending money.

Such a good opportunity just disappeared.

Many people present were regretting their decision, but unfortunately there was no medicine to cure their regret.

Zhu Kai looked at the crowd in chaos and a smile appeared on his face… You little bastards, you still want to play a business war with me?
Go to hell!

When it comes to doing business, Zhu Kai has never been defeated by anyone.

“And so do others.”

Zhu Kai said with a smile, "If you want to do business in Qilu, Liaodong, or Yingtian, you can come to me and deposit your money in the bank. Not only will you save the cost of hiring an escort agency to deposit the silver, but the money deposited in the bank can give you an annualized interest rate of 1 cent..."

And interest?

Can money make money by depositing it in a bank?

Is there such a good thing?
Basically everyone thinks that this is a good deal, and Zhu Kai is just losing money.

However, you also need to pay interest on loans. It’s not high… 3% interest. If the loan is more than 5 million taels, the interest is 6%… The more money you borrow, the higher the interest you need to pay…

A thank-you banquet was turned into an investment promotion banquet by Zhu Kai. While drinking water, Zhu Kai explained the money houses to everyone and what business could be done in the grasslands and Liaodong. If there had not been a curfew order, they would probably have had a candlelight chat in the restaurant all night.

Zhu Kai didn't think the interest on the deposit was too low, because there was only one money shop and it was Zhu Kai's exclusive business. Others thought that the interest of one cent was already very high and they were just making money for nothing. They also thought that Zhu Kai was being foolish to pay interest.

The money houses helped transport money and made it easier for them to do business, which in itself should have allowed the merchants to spend money to buy peace of mind. However, they never expected that Zhu Kai would just give money directly.

What Zhu Kai needs to do is not to stare at those small favors, what he needs to do is to get the merchants to deposit their money in the bank.

When Zhu Yuanzhang learned that Zhu Kai was going to open a bank, he immediately ran over to ask Zhu Kai about the process of opening the bank and strongly demanded to see the account book. Zhu Kai refused to show it to him: "Dad, this is not right. All those who deposited money in my bank are my customers. Why are you looking at their records?"

"I want to see how much money our Ming merchants have."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes sparkled, "If we put their money in the national treasury, won't our national treasury not have to worry about running out of money for ten or eight years?"

"No."

Zhu Kai shook his head. He felt that Zhu Yuanzhang had ulterior motives in wanting to see the account books. He did not expect that Zhu Yuanzhang was going to wipe out the whole thing. "Dad, you are killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. It is of no benefit to the Ming Dynasty. It is better to let the merchants grow bigger and bigger, and then you can use the business taxes to fill the treasury. Then you can formulate some laws and regulations to regulate business behavior. This is what the Ming Dynasty should do."

"Boy, we don't need you to teach us how to do what we want."

Zhu Yuanzhang patted Zhu Kai on the back and asked directly, "Tell me, boy, how much money can you make from running a bank? Do you want me to join you in such a profitable business? I will invest as much as you invest, and I only want 30% of the dividends, how about it?"

For some reason, Zhu Yuanzhang always felt that the money house business was the most profitable business. Zhu Kai had planned so many things before just to prepare for the establishment of the money house.

Money shops have existed since the Song Dynasty, but there is basically no future for the development of this type of money shops. Moreover, one has to pay a handling fee for depositing money. Not only do they not earn any interest, but they also have to pay out money. This is also the only source of income for the money shops.

But now Zhu Kai has cut off the bank's visible source of income, and he has to put money into it...

After the Yuan Dynasty, money houses basically disappeared. Now that the Ming Dynasty has just entered its seventh year, it is not yet time for money houses to develop.

Zhu Yuanzhang believed that Zhu Kai set up a money house because he must have seen the profits from it, and that was why he wanted to set it up at all costs. However, this guy didn't say anything, so Zhu Yuanzhang could only ask directly.

"What? You and I are in partnership?"

When Zhu Kai heard what Zhu Yuanzhang said, he immediately showed joy and grabbed Zhu Yuanzhang's hand: "Dad, this is what you said. You can invest as much as I invest. Don't even mention 30% of the profit... Why do we care about this? It's 50-50, just 50-50!"

When Zhu Kai talked about dividing the money, he was very generous, which made Zhu Yuanzhang suspicious: "No, no ...

"No... How can I not make money, Dad? I can make money, of course I can make money."

Zhu Kai showed a look of seeing a fat sheep, and said to Zhu Yuanzhang with a smile: "But, Dad, let's be frank. We will split the profits 50-50, but we will also bear half of the losses... Dad, this bank business may lose some money in the first two years, but after these two years, we will start to make money... It's all small things, we will definitely make money."

Zhu Kai kept repeating these two sentences, which made Zhu Yuanzhang's heart beat fast. (End of this chapter)