Crazy at the end of the Ming Dynasty

() Hearing Wu Shigong's stern question, Guo Zeng'an didn't panic. He smiled and said to Wu Shigong: "This time I have the honor to meet the general, and I brought something of interest to the general."

After finishing speaking, Guo Zeng'an signaled to a salt merchant representative who came with him, and the representative took out a wooden box.The guards around Wu Shigong immediately stepped forward, opened the wooden box and checked it, then handed the wooden box to Wu Shigong.

Wu Shigong took the wooden box and looked into it curiously, only seeing Wang Mi's head.For antisepsis, there was still a lot of lime in the wooden box, so Wang Mi's head had shrunk due to shrinkage, and the smell of lime was also very pungent, so Wu Shigong felt a little disgusted.

But Wu Shigong still kept his composure.After handing the wooden box to the guards to take it away, he tapped the table beside him with his knuckles, pondered for a while and said, "This is not enough."

Guo Zengan understood Wu Shigong's meaning, he didn't expect Wu Shigong to be so cunning.But Guo Zengan thought of Wu Shigong's past style of doing things again, and he was relieved.Guo Zeng'an then smiled and said to Wu Shigong: "The treasurer Wang has seven other members of his family. They also died of a sudden illness a few days ago. Are their heads also sent to the general?"

Wu Shigong nodded. It is better to be careful about cutting grass and roots.But in this way, Wu Shigong couldn't use Wang Mi's topic to exert too much pressure on the Yangzhou salt merchants.Those Yangzhou salt merchants are indeed good means!

Now that the opening remarks are over, Wu Shigong started to get to the point: "I understand that Mr. Guo came to Runing Mansion this time to sell the salt goods. But why does Mr. Guo think that I will sell salt from these two prefectures?" How about selling the goods and returning them to your Yangzhou salt merchants?"

Wu Shigong's words stunned Guo Zeng'an.He didn't expect Wu Shigong to be so straight to the point.In the Ming Dynasty, when discussing business, the emphasis was on a certain degree of heat. Only after the two parties had reached a certain level of emotional connection would they talk about specific business in a natural way. It was rare to discuss business directly like this.

The main purpose of Guo Zengan's meeting with Wu Shigong today was to get to know Wu Shigong.In Guo Zeng'an's mind, he would have three or two banquets with Wu Shigong before discussing specific matters with Wu Shigong.

However, Guo Zeng'an reacted very quickly. Anyway, it is better to talk about it sooner than later.So he still smiled and said: "The general sees it clearly. The sales of salt goods in Runing Mansion and Guide Mansion have always been the territory of our Yangzhou salt merchants. Now the salt merchants in Changlu have already made money. But here, I don't mean to get entangled in those things in the past. I'm also very sincere, I just want to discuss a solution with the general."

"That should be a matter of your Yangzhou salt merchants and Changlu salt merchants? What's the use of telling me about it?"

As if he didn't hear Wu Shigong's sarcasm, Guo Zeng'an still maintained a good attitude and said: "We Yangzhou salt merchants will take care of the salt industry and official affairs. I don't dare to bother you, General. However, bandits are rampant everywhere now, and the general has worked hard for the security of the place. Our colleagues in the Yangzhou Salt Industry have also discussed that we will contribute 1 taels of silver to the general for military labor. This mere kindness is really not respectful."

Wu Shigong repeatedly stimulated Guo Zeng'an, in fact, he wanted Guo Zeng'an to make a condition first.Although the conditions that Guo Zeng'an said now did not meet Wu Shigong's psychological price, it was finally a good start.As a result, Wu Shigong's face softened, and he said to Guo Zeng'an, "But I still have a salt field in Yangzhou. But the salt from that salt field cannot be shipped to Henan. This is really worrying me."

Before coming here, Guo Zeng'an knew about the salt field that Wu Shigong acquired from the Lu family, and those Yangzhou salt merchants had already discussed the countermeasures for this matter, so after hearing Wu Shigong's words, Guo Zeng'an immediately said: "You don't have to worry about it, general." .Before coming down, our colleagues in Yangzhou have already discussed with each other, and we will give out [-] halite to the general for free every year."

"It's only three thousand stones? The saltworks of this official can produce tens of thousands of stones a year!"

"That's easy to discuss. If the general is willing to buy at the prevailing price, then our colleagues in Yangzhou will never stop it. However, the general can not transport the salt goods to the area where our colleagues in Yangzhou sell salt. I really need to ask the general to forgive me. Because the salt industry has the rules of the salt industry after all, it’s not unreasonable.”

Wu Shigong nodded, the first problem was basically solved satisfactorily.However, the sales model of salt goods in the two prefectures envisioned by Wu Shigong is not like this.

"Give me 5000 taels, and I will return all the salt markets in these two prefectures to you. However, I still have a few conditions: You must give me the salt goods of [-] shi in my salt farm every year." Sell ​​it; I don't want to see that Qi family again in these two prefectures; also, I don't want to abandon those old friends. In these two prefectures, I want to set aside salt markets in two counties, one Give it to the Lu family, and give it to my friend who is Changlu. If you agree, this matter will be exposed."

This condition is simply too loose.Before leaving this time, they, the Yangzhou salt merchants, had discussed it, and the bottom line for labor expenses was [-] taels of silver.And those Yangzhou salt merchants also knew that it was unrealistic to swallow up all the salt markets in the two prefectures, so they promised to reserve salt sales areas in three counties for Wu Shigong.So at this time, a representative of a salt merchant sitting under Guo Zeng'an wanted to agree immediately.

But the representative of the salt merchant saw that Guo Zeng'an was still sitting as steady as Mount Tai, so he tried his best to swallow the words that had come to his lips.

When Guo Zeng'an heard Wu Shigong's words, he was also overjoyed.But he immediately figured it out, after Wu Shigong's loose conditions, there must be more to come.So Guo Zeng'an still smiled and asked: "Then, do you have any other requirements, General?"

After hearing Guo Zeng'an's words, Wu Shigong immediately burst out laughing.It's comfortable talking to smart people.So Wu Shigong immediately put out his ultimate condition: "In these two prefectures, any salt sold by salt merchants will have to pay one coin of silver per stone to the official as the military support fee of the official. And in the future, if the official After the controlled areas are expanded, the sales of salt goods in those areas will also be collected according to this example."

Wu Shigong's words immediately made several representatives of the salt merchants stand up from their chairs in shock.They didn't expect that Wu Shoubei's heart was too dark, and he wanted to peel off such a thick layer of salt in the sale of salt goods.

Guo Zeng'an immediately said: "This is absolutely not possible. General, you should change the conditions."

Wu Shigong made a gesture for the representatives of the salt merchants to sit down, and then said: "Don't be impatient, you haven't listened to what I have to say. This money can be increased in the price of salt. The official is also here Here is a promise, as long as you promise, there will never be any other salt goods in these two prefectures, and the selling price of your salt goods will also be guaranteed."

When Guo Zengan heard what Wu Shigong said, he pondered for a while, and found that the increase in the price of salt products was nothing more than the increase on the people who bought the salt, and the wool came from the sheep.It has no effect on these Yangzhou salt merchants and local salt sellers.

As for whether Wu Shigong's heart is black or not, it has nothing to do with himself, the Yangzhou salt merchants.So Guo Zengan immediately nodded and said: "Since the general said so, I will no longer be ignorant of good and bad. However, I am not qualified to be the master of such a big matter here. So I have to go back to Yangzhou to discuss with my colleagues. But I will Let’s just say it here, it shouldn’t be a big problem.”

After hearing Guo Zeng'an's reply, Wu Shigong was also very satisfied with the result of this meeting.He picked up the teacup with a smile, and the guard behind him immediately shouted: "See off!"