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

Through a simple conversation with Zhu Kai, Zhu Yuanzhang changed his previous judgment and felt that the business of this money house was not a good business.

It seems like... I will lose money.

However, Zhu Kai is a guy who will not do anything without profit. How can he do a business that will lose money?

Zhu Yuanzhang firmly believed that Zhu Kai would not do business that would lose money, but at the same time he was wondering how Zhu Kai made money. But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't figure it out.

"Okay, you're such a ruthless kid, I won't do money business with you, okay?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Kai, smiled cunningly and said, "But, boy, don't be too proud too soon. If I find out that you are trying to trick me, then we'll have to talk it out... Then I'll set up a bank, too, so don't blame me for stealing your business."

"will not."

Zhu Kai was eager for Zhu Yuanzhang to open his own bank. He said to Zhu Yuanzhang very seriously, "Dad, doing business is different from fighting a war. What matters is that harmony brings wealth, and only with competitors can we have the motivation to move forward. I really hope that you can set up a bank, so that we can compete with each other and make progress together."

As he said that, Zhu Kai stretched out his hand: "Dad, let's compete together and make each other rich. Dad, congratulations on your wealth."

"..."

Every word sounds like a compliment, but why does it sound so harsh when it comes out of Zhu Kai's mouth as a sentence?

"Stop being so sarcastic, you bastard!"

Zhu Yuanzhang kicked Zhu Kai in anger, and then said seriously: "Just wait for me, I will definitely make my business bigger and better than yours!"

"Easy to say, easy to say."

Zhu Kai laughed and said to Zhu Yuanzhang, "Dad, do you want to deposit the money in my bank first? I'll give you interest."

"..."

Zhu Yuanzhang thought of the key point, and then said to Zhu Kai: "Boy, do you believe me, I will deposit the money and we can take it out in half a year?"

"Of course, this bank allows you to deposit and withdraw money freely, and we are fair to everyone."

Zhu Kai said that the bank was open, "However, if you want to withdraw more than 10 million silver, you have to make an appointment one month in advance, because we transfer the money from other branches of the bank. Of course, the interest will still be calculated during this month."

With a one-month time difference, Zhu Kai was able to complete multiple operations.

A mere tens of millions of silver cannot cause any serious harm to Zhu Kai.

Zhu Kai looked at Zhu Yuanzhang's helpless expression because he couldn't make any money, and couldn't help but laugh: "Dad, just wait and see, I can make the total assets of the bank soar 10,000 times in an instant without spending a penny."

"..."

Ten hundred million taels of silver and thirty million taels of gold, instantly exploded ten thousand times?
How much is that?

Zhu Yuanzhang said he couldn't figure out such an astronomical figure, but then he thought again... something was wrong, so he asked Zhu Kai: "How much money did you invest in the bank?"

Zhu Kai held up a finger and said, "Not much, just 10,000 taels. I'm going to open money houses in Yingtian, Qilu, and Liaodong. This 10,000 taels is the money I'm going to use to build the money houses. The money houses haven't been built yet, but I've already received 37,653,893 taels of deposits."

"..."

Ten thousand taels?

Now it has absorbed nearly 40 million taels of deposit?

This is damn... Zhu Yuanzhang's breathing became heavier. As expected, if all those merchants were confiscated, there would be endless money in the national treasury.

At that time, all the confiscated money will be deposited in the bank, and Zhu Kai will use the money to do business. The national treasury will earn interest, and the money from the national treasury will continue to be transported to the bank... Why doesn't Zhu Kai do such a good thing with himself?

It would be great if we could let our own family earn the money.

Zhu Yuanzhang felt particularly uncomfortable when he thought that Zhu Kai was letting outsiders make money.

Very angry!
Zhu Kai only used 10,000 taels of silver, and after a bit of boasting it turned into more than 37 million taels. Those wealthy merchants and big families who smelled something fishy have not yet made a move... If they work together with Zhu Kai, it will be no problem for Zhu Kai's bank to increase its value by 10,000 times.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang was envious, he was helpless.

He looked at Zhu Kai and sighed, "Boy, it would be great if you were not our son."

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Zhu Kai laughed out loud, "If I wasn't your son, you could do it to me without restraint, right? Don't worry, Dad. We have plenty of money. We can do business all over the world."

"We can't give it to others. Isn't it good for us to make the money ourselves?"

Zhu Yuanzhang continued to take advantage of the situation, but Zhu Kai disagreed with his approach, and the two men's discussion ended in a bad mood.

Of course, Zhu Yuanzhang only complained to Zhu Kai and would not do anything that would affect Zhu Kai's plan. If he made Zhu Kai angry and he quit, that would be the biggest loss.

……

Zhu Kai said that he wanted to increase the assets of his bank by 10,000 times, and that meant it would increase by 10,000 times.

The news that Zhu Kai had reached an agreement with 86 merchants from Yingtian Prefecture to go north to do business together spread throughout Yingtian Prefecture, and the most anxious ones were the big families.

They have money, but if Zhu Kai doesn't take them to play, they will have no chance to make a fortune. They also know that Zhu Kai is a business genius and there will be meat to eat if they follow Zhu Kai. Now that they did not follow Zhu Kai at the first time, they have fallen behind.

Then, we must not fall behind in the second step.

After discussing with each other, several families with good relations decided to take out some money and follow Zhu Kai's lead.

However, when they saw Zhu Kai, they all went crazy and took out as much money as they could. They were not afraid that it was too much, but they were afraid that Zhu Kai would not accept it.

Several people from big families found Mao Xiang and Jiang Li and asked them to pass a message to Zhu Kai, asking them to meet with Zhu Kai. Mao Xiang and Jiang Li had already received Zhu Kai's order and initially refused, saying that Zhu Kai was preparing to go to Liaodong and could not see guests for the time being. When the leaders of several families heard that Zhu Kai was taking action so quickly, they couldn't help but panic.

No, they must see Zhu Kai. They would never fall behind. So, these people came to ask to see Mao Xiang and Jiang Li every day and presented them with generous gifts. Mao Xiang and Jiang Li had no choice but to reluctantly bring a message to Zhu Kai.

Two days later, Mao Xiang and Jiang Lin sent a message: "The Second Prince agreed to see you, but it will be five days later."

When the leader of the big family heard that it would be in five days, he immediately felt that millions of silver had flown away from him. If he followed Zhu Kai to do business, he would lose a lot of money if he was late for one day...

Three days later, Zhu Kai showed up at Prince Wu's mansion holding two large pieces of paper. Several people from big families immediately came over like cats smelling blood.

"We, the Wu family, are willing to contribute 10 million to follow the Second Prince in building the grassland and Liaodong."

"Our Zhao family is willing to pay 15 million taels..."

"Our family has 17 million taels." More than a dozen families measured the money in tens of millions, and Zhu Kai was delighted.

These families are usually low-key and don't show off their talents, but now they take out tens of millions as if it were water. It seems that I have underestimated them.

In this case, Zhu Kai also changed his plan: "You want to participate in my plan for more than 10 million taels? No way!"

Zhu Kai held up three fingers and said, "30 million taels as a starting point. If you're willing to do it, come with us. If you're not willing, get out."

As he spoke, Zhu Kai took out the blueprint he brought and spread it on the dining table: "For the business in Liaodong and the grassland, you will have no chance in the next three years, but for the business on the Silk Road... you can participate. I said, the starting price is 30 million silver. If you want to do it, come!"

Silk Road?

After hearing Zhu Kai's words, the leaders of the big families present suddenly fell silent, but this silence did not last long, and everyone's breathing became heavy.

The business of the Silk Road...this is such a golden and prosperous road!
Thirty million taels, worth it!

However, they could not agree immediately. After calming down a little, they began to think about how much profit this business could bring and how to maximize the benefits of this business.

"Second Prince, you want us to do business with people from the Western Regions, but we are worried about our safety."

"Yes, the Western Regions are in chaos now. Wang Baobao fled to the Western Regions with the remnants of the Mongols. Business is not going well there."

"Second Prince, we invested 30 million taels of silver. How many years of management rights can we have?"

"..."

After the people from these big families thought it through, they began to express their concerns to Zhu Kai, fearing that their businesses would not be secure.

But Zhu Kai has already prepared a response to this, and it was decided from the beginning. Whether these big families are involved or not, Zhu Kai will do this. Now Zhu Kai uses the huge benefits hidden in the Silk Road as bait to attract the investment of these big families, indirectly reducing Zhu Kai's investment a lot.

"Exclusive rights, three years."

Zhu Kai held up three fingers. "As for security issues, you don't have to worry. The 200,000 border troops in the northern border of the Ming Dynasty are your backup. I have asked General Lan Yu to lead 80,000 troops to the Western Regions to ensure the safety of your business."

"Three years is too little."

"Yes, Second Prince. We can't even get back our capital in three years."

"Ten years of operating rights is about right."

Everyone started bargaining based on Zhu Kai's conditions. It is said that there is no father and son in a casino, and there is no distinction between high and low in the business world. Everyone has to maximize their own interests when they put out money. Even if you are the second prince, you have to abide by the rules.

"Okay, stop talking. It's five years at most. Once these five years are over, the contract can only be signed once every three years at most. This cannot be changed."

Looking at the people in charge, Zhu Kai sneered, "Why, do you think I'm as easy to fool as my sister-in-law?"

Anyone who rents a shop on Fuqian Street, including every big family present, has a share.

When they heard Zhu Kai talking about how they had cheated the Lu family, they all lowered their heads in embarrassment. Some of the more daring people who spoke up knew that Zhu Kai was a business man, so they laughed dryly and explained to Zhu Kai, "Second Prince, business is business, and we cannot mix in other factors. This is the rule you set from the beginning, and we have not broken the rules you set, right?"

"That's right, but you're cheating the newcomers. That's not fair."

Zhu Kai looked at the other party and said, "I don't care about other families, but your family needs at least 40 million taels of silver to get a share of the pie."

Seeing the other party's face turn ugly, Zhu Kai was not affected at all: "These businesses are in my hands. You have to listen to it whether you want to or not. Do you have any objection?"

"No, no."

"It's fine if you don't."

Zhu Kai lowered his head and began to draw lines on the map of the Silk Road: "Don't think that I am making money from you. I have invested a lot. I want to build a road from Liaodong in the east to the Western Regions in the west. All merchants on this road will be protected by the Ming soldiers. All charges will be clearly marked and fair. On both sides of this road, there are shops we built. These shops can be rented out or sold to the outside, depending on your needs."

Zhu Kai talked about the road, shops, security, and the exclusive business with the Western Regions together. After listening, everyone felt that the 30 million was not a loss, and it even reduced a lot of losses. In this way, they made a lot of money.

Good business, really good business!
The eyes of the people in charge turned eager when they looked at Zhu Kai again.

It is said that Zhu Kai is fair and just in doing business, and he always makes money together and never keeps it all to himself. Now that he has divided up such a big pie, they feel so lucky to do business with Zhu Kai.

You don’t have to do anything, just give the money to Zhu Kai, and the profits will roll in every year.

What a good God of Wealth... No, what a good Second Prince... Why are there so many bastards in Yingtian Prefecture saying that the Second Prince is the biggest villain in Yingtian Prefecture? He is clearly the best person in the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Kai was not in a hurry to take their money. He just told them his plan and said, "I have told you all the ways to get rich. You don't have to reply to me so quickly. Go home and discuss it."

"No need to discuss this, Second Prince."

Someone in charge stood up and expressed support for Zhu Kai immediately: "Our Zhao family is willing to pay 30 million taels of silver and follow you to do business."

"We are willing to pay 40 million taels."

This is the guy who just spoke. Because he said one more word, his family got an extra 10 million taels. However, he didn't dare to delay for a moment, for fear that he would have to pay another 10 million taels if he was a second late.

"Need not."

Zhu Kai waved his hand, indicating that he didn't want to take the money now: "Wait until you have discussed it. Then just take the money and go to the bank to handle the formalities."

You want money now?
Don't do it.

Zhu Kai wants to maintain his own personal image. He expands his business empire not to make money for himself, but to get more people involved in the development of the business. Zhu Kai doesn't care about money and he has no interest in it.

In addition, the most crucial thing is whether the shops on both sides of this highway that runs across the east and west can be sold.

No matter what, the shops on this street cannot lose money, and you will make a profit if you buy something.

Zhu Kai didn't believe that the big families couldn't see the benefits of these shops.

……

Zhu Yuanzhang always wanted to find out how much money Zhu Kai could make by opening a money shop. When Zhu Kai refused to tell him, he went to check it himself.

If we can’t investigate Zhu Kai, why not keep an eye on those businessmen?

Zhu Yuanzhang dispatched his troops and asked the Embroidered Uniform Guard to help him keep an eye on the merchants and big families who were planning to follow Zhu Kai. Then pieces of information began to be compiled, and notes symbolizing amounts of money also appeared on Zhu Yuanzhang's desk.

When Zhu Yuanzhang saw that the entry threshold of the Silk Road was raised to 30 million by Zhu Kai, Zhu Yuanzhang became completely uneasy.

When the seven big families, as well as the wealthy merchants who clung to them for warmth, contributed a total of 320 million taels of silver to Zhu Kai, Zhu Yuanzhang was completely paralyzed. (End of this chapter)