As a salted fish, I was forced to become the teacher of all ages

"What, any questions?"

"This..." Gu Xinghuai coughed twice and said, "Uncle, merchants are lowly in status after all, if uncle has orders, Xiao Ke will do it for you, but you don't need to see it in person. Downgrade."

"..." Hua Manlou was a little speechless.

After traveling for so long, although Hua Manlou has been adapting to this era, he still cannot accept the fact that the status of a businessman is low.

But the times are like this. Even if there are no officials and no businessmen nowadays, and the collusion between officials and businessmen is unscrupulous, but the identity of businessmen is still very low. In the eyes of some people, they are even of the same class as the half-closed prostitutes, belonging to the bottom class.

And because of this, the shops run by officials and eunuchs are basically shopkeepers named by distant relatives or servants under the door. Even if everyone knows that the shop is his family's property, no one will say it publicly— ——Even Huamanlou himself is the same, his iron shop and stove shop are both under Qiaoqiao's name, and they have nothing to do with him on the surface.

"Anyway..." Hua Manlou sighed softly, "I'll do it myself. Some things have to be clarified in person, and some people have to be punished."

Gu Xinghuai saw that Huamanlou could not be said, so he could only say: "Let's do this, Xiao Ke will settle in a slightly remote place, and the uncle will keep a low profile when he comes."

Hua Manlou looked helpless: "Is this necessary? Speaking of which, isn't your family also a family of merchants? Is it really good for you to belittle merchants like this?"

Gu Xinghuai's eyes widened: "Uncle, I am a famous scholar, and my family is also an heir to poetry and books..."

"That's right, you say yes."

468. Raven

The Gu family is in a secluded manor outside the west of the city, and the environment is very nice, so Gu Xinghuai made it a place similar to a private club, specially used to receive distinguished guests or hold poetry gatherings.

For this reason, Xiao Gu not only raised a group of singers, dancers, cooks, and guards, but even spent a lot of money to invite various styles of red ladies from many places to live here, including but not limited to Bangzi Country, The women from Japan, and even a group of young girls who are still in training, are simply...

Insane.

Anyway, after Hua Manlou walked into the manor and had a look around, he glared at Gu Xinghuai for a long time.

"Uncle, Xiao Ke... did nothing wrong?"

"No, it's pretty good."

"Then...why does that uncle's smile make Xiao Ke feel panicky?"

"Illusion. But what..." Hua Manlou patted Gu Xinghuai on the shoulder, and said kindly: "After today, you don't have to deal with the affairs of the grassland, most of the parts will be distributed to Shanxi merchants, so I hope you can personally go to Japan, Ryukyu, and even Luzon and Siam to stabilize the situation there..."

"Dear...in person?"

"That's right, I think you're really too busy in the capital, why don't you go out and have a look. Oh, the navy will cooperate with your work, there is absolutely no problem with your safety..."

"Thank you uncle for cultivating!" Gu Xinghuai was excited.

Although Xiao Gu completely sold himself to Huamanlou after signing the agreement with Huamanlou, his Gu family has also climbed to the top because of this, and in a short period of time, he has completely transformed into a big business in the Jiangnan area, and even has a faint leader. trend.

But just that sentence, who would like to run to the grassland if they can do sea transportation?But now that Huamanlou has asked him to handle this matter himself, it is almost equivalent to him becoming the sole agent of Huamanlou's shipping business. This right...

Gu Xinghuai trembled with excitement.

But in fact, Hua Manlou's idea is this: I have been thinking for so long but I can't build a manor to raise skinny horses. How can your grandson, He De, dare to play like this?

Well, jealousy is beyond recognition.

"Okay, okay, everyone is here?" Hua Manlou waved impatiently to interrupt Gu Xinghuai's excitement.

Gu Xinghuai hurriedly said: "Yes, everyone is here, drinking tea in the hall."

"Let's go and have a look."

……

The people hired by Huamanlou today are all Shanxi merchants from the capital, and their business is very large.

In this era of no officials and no business, there are officials behind these people, and some people behind them are not young, but even so, none of these people can remain calm in front of Huamanlou. In the hall, he half-bowed and waited for Hua Manlou's instructions.

"Why, is this officer so scary?" Hua Manlou, who was sitting at the top, casually held the cup of tea, took a sip and raised his eyes, "Why are you all so sad?"

Can you not be afraid?

When Gu Xinghuai was inviting people, the group of merchants thought they had some business to discuss, but when they came here, they saw such an old man here—after Gu Xinghuai had just introduced them, most of them went limp.

People don't know how much power Huamanlou has, but can merchants not know?Although most people want to take a share from Huamanlou, no one dares to provoke Huamanlou, not even the people behind them - masters like Hubu Shangshu can only be killed with flattery policy?

So after hearing Hua Manlou's words, a group of merchants put on ugly smiles, but they didn't dare to make a sound. They looked left and right, hoping that someone would come out and say something to break the dullness in the room.

After a long time, a middle-aged fat man who was a little bit bolder moved his body and walked to the middle, and asked tremblingly: "Dare to ask Uncle, today Uncle condescended to summon us for..."

Hua Manlou looked up at the fat man, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly: "Isn't Boss Xu from Wan'an Company?"

"Back to Uncle, it's... the young one." The fat man was sweating profusely.

"You... are not bad." Hua Manlou showed a contemptuous smile: "You are quite courageous."

The fat man was so frightened that he almost peed his pants: "Dare... dare to ask uncle..."

Hua Manlou said with a smile: "In the third year of Guangxing, you got on the line of the magistrate of Datong and started pouring tea, silk, and grain into the grasslands. After starting your business, your business grew bigger and bigger. In the eighth year of Guangxing, you started to resell them. Salt and iron, and even selling weapons, so far it is said that you have a wealth of wealth, and you are considered to be buried, isn’t it?”

puff.

The fat man knelt down immediately, his face was pale and cold sweat dripped down: "Uncle... Uncle, the little... the little one didn't..."

"Didn't you do such a daring thing?" Hua Manlou raised his eyebrows, and said with a half-smile: "You mean, Xuanwu Wei fabricated your guilt?"

The fat man didn't dare to say anything, he just kowtowed and wailed: "The little one doesn't dare, the little one is wrong, I won't dare again..."

Provoking Huamanlou Ding would probably mean death, but provoking Xuanwuwei would not only lead to death, but would also lead to an extremely miserable death. How could he dare to say that Xuanwuwei was not?

"Take it down." After Hua Manlou uttered these two words, people from Xishanwei rushed in and dragged the fat man in the green shirt who was already wet with urine.

Hua Manlou ignored the fat man who had been wailing all the time, glanced at the merchants who were kneeling after Xishanwei entered the door, and said with a smile, "Hey, what are you all doing?"

"Uncle, I'm willing to give up all my family property, just ask uncle to let us go!" A middle-aged man stuck his head on the ground, and there was a thud between his head and the floor, and there was a splash of blood in an instant.

"That's right, Uncle, the younger one is also willing to offer up all the family property..."

"The little one just begs uncle to let the family go, the little one doesn't care..."

"Uncle, please forgive me..."

Hua Manlou held the teacup carefully and tasted it indifferently, without saying a word.

To be honest, Huamanlou wanted to pick out a few bottom-lined ones, but after a search, it was found that the world is as black as crows, and the only difference is matte black or matte black—for example, salt exported from grasslands, some People sell some salt in a cart of salted fish, and some people put a symbolic fish in a cart of salt, such as the fat man who was taken down just now.

Without this group of people, where would there be so many weapons on the grassland?

But if this group of people is captured indiscriminately, the group of people behind them will be dug out. Some relatives of the royal family are really troublesome.

Moreover, after thoroughly investigating this group of people, the business of the capital and even the entire north will definitely suffer a major blow, which will cause big troubles.

In addition, this group of people is still useful, at least in Hua Manlou's design, they play a huge role, otherwise why would he need to gather this group of beasts here?

"Okay, let's all get up." Hua Manlou breathed out, "Let's not pursue your affairs today."

469. Isn't there no choice?

The art of language is here.

The so-called "let's not pursue it today" actually has a lot of connotations, such as "to investigate in a few days", "to investigate when you think about it", "if you don't provoke me, then don't pursue it", how to understand it all depends on this group of people. The lower limit of businessmen's imagination.

So after Hua Manlou finished speaking, none of the group of people dared to get up, they just knelt and shivered.

Hua Manlou was too lazy to wake them up, and even less lazy to explain the facts to them, he just said: "I called you here today, because I wanted to find a few people to handle the business with Oala and Tatars... "

Having said that, a group of merchants all raised their heads, their eyes full of greed.

Seeing this, Hua Manlou snorted coldly and said: "But after a little investigation, I found a lot of incredible things. I dare to ask you, when you sold the salt and iron to Tatars, have you ever thought about how many people died in the country over the years?" Under the sword you sold? Have you ever thought about how many people died because of your family's destruction?"

As soon as these words came out, the group of merchants broke out in cold sweat.

Hua Manlou sneered and said: "Forget it, I am not interested in teaching you how to behave, and I am too lazy to reason with you. I said that I will not pursue what you have done today, but..."

After throwing a stack of papers towards the group of merchants, Hua Manlou sneered: "If these things are made public, the imperial court will not hold you accountable. Do you still have the face to go back to the mountain? What will happen after you go back?" Facing the elders and folks? Is there any shame left to return to the roots?"

A group of people hurriedly searched for their names from the stack of papers, and after reading it, they were all scared out of their wits: Although the paper did not write in detail, in general, what they did and what they sold had nothing to do with it. There are lists, and even the general figures are almost the same, and even the people behind them can be clearly checked.

As Huamanlou said, the concept of the country is still very strong these days, and the concept of returning to the roots of the fallen leaves of the country permeates in the bones, and no one expects that they will not smell bad in their hometown.

Shanxi has been plundered by Tatars for a hundred years, and the people in northern Shanxi hate Tatars. , Even at the expense of offending a large group of scholars, he wanted to sing for him. This is the view of the countryside these days.

Therefore, if the common people know that this group of merchants indirectly killed so many people, all their grandparents and grandchildren will be regarded as national thieves, and they will even have no face to live. They dare not bear the consequences.

After all, they are also Jin people themselves, and compared to Tatars, betrayal by their own people is actually more hated.

But when things got to this point, some businessmen came back to their senses, knowing that Huamanlou didn't come here specifically to frighten them, so they tremblingly said: "Uncle, I know that the crime is serious, but please... ...But I beg the uncle to let the little one go, if the uncle has any orders, the little one will die!"

The others were not stupid, and shouted one after another: "Uncle, I would like to provide two sets of armor for each of Uncle's Xishan guards!"

"The little one is willing to reward the army with 15 taels of silver!"

"Uncle, I can choose a hundred beauties to send to my house..."

Hua Manlou: "..."

I don't know whether it should be said that this group of people has a strong ability to insert needles, or should it be said that this group of people completely regards Huamanlou as an ugly dignitary. This scene is a vivid scene of using power for personal gain. Will pick up the cane and draw out the adopted son he recognizes for half an hour before talking...

Bang!

Hua Manlou smashed the teacup in his hand to the ground, looked at the group of lawless merchants with a sneer, and said, "Who do you think I am? Heh, you really think highly of me. She is both silver and a beautiful woman." Yes, is this considered a hush money, or is it an attempt to bribe the official?"

"This……"

A group of merchants were dumbfounded.

Although some people still think that their asking price is too low, some people who are more informed are sweating their foreheads: the big Jia who participated in the Huamanlou contract in the southeast area only signed the contract for more than 50 million taels of silver, so the price There is basically no shortage of money here.

So trying to buy such a person with money, especially 15 taels of silver, is tantamount to humiliation.

That is to say, the old man in front of him can't be bought with money at all, and what he wants is definitely not money.

Fortunately, Hua Manlou continued to speak: "My official said, I called you here today to trade with Tatars and Oalas, and I want to chat with you about other businesses. keep it!"

"Yes, yes, yes!" A group of merchants hurriedly wiped their cold sweat and nodded, but the fear in their hearts was less.

"You also know that since the Oala tribute, the trade in the grassland has always been handled by Xishan. Over the past year, things have probably been on the right track. It can be regarded as a rule for you. The details are up to Gu Xinghuai Talk to everyone." Hua Manlou said lightly, "That is to say, the trade with the grassland will still go through Xishan in the future, but the business will be done by you."

"However..." Hua Manlou said coldly: "The ugly words are up front. The rules set by the official must be followed. You should know what you should sell and what you should not sell. By the way, I will tell everyone Those people behind, don't look too ugly, otherwise..."

"Yes, yes, I understand." A group of people lowered their heads with happy faces.

Previously, Huamanlou was considered to be a monopoly business, which would arouse envy no matter what, but now that he has let go of this matter, even though there are many restrictions, some food is better than nothing, right?What's more, Huamanlou has the guts to completely overturn the table so that everyone has nothing to eat, and even threatens to kill their heads, so the current situation is the best.

"At the same time, Xishan, my official, will also purchase a large amount of coal and iron ore, and this part will also be handed over to you." Hua Manlou continued: "There are many coal mines on the right side of the mountain, you will know about this It doesn’t matter if you don’t know, you can explore mines by yourself according to the rules, and I don’t care about mining tax, manpower, or transportation. I just buy it. At the same time, I will also produce a large number of iron tools, allowing you to sell them. Everywhere in Dazhao..."

This part is Huamanlou's bait. If you want to cut off this group of people and the people behind them from Na Shangshu, who is also a Shanxi merchant, don't you have to give them something sweet?

Seeing the greedy faces of a group of merchants, Hua Manlou smiled slightly, and began to dig holes for some people: "As for the requirements for cooperation, you have to pay the taxes that should be paid, and the teams that should be stationed have to stand. What do you think?"

The merchants looked at each other when they heard the words, and one of them struggled for a while before opening his mouth weakly: "Uncle, let's not talk about taxes, stand in line... Could it be that Uncle means... Nashangshu?"

Hua Manlou glanced at him and said calmly, "Is it difficult?"

"Uh... this, can you hold me for a few days..."

"Okay, but after leaving this door today, you will lose the opportunity to cooperate with me. If that's okay, please go ahead."

Hua Manlou had a warm smile on his face, but the merchants scolded in their hearts one by one: Isn't this really a choice?

470. How generous is the gift?

On the night when Huamanlou called merchants to 'discuss' cooperation matters, the study rooms of several mansions in the capital were still lit late at night, and almost all of them had conversations similar to the following.

"Trade rules, paying taxes, purchasing coal, and... overthrowing Na Shangshu, are there any other requirements?"

In the study room, an old man with full hair was looking at the piece of paper on the table with a cloudy face. This piece of paper was obviously the one that Huamanlou threw on the heads of the merchants.

Standing in front of the old man's table was a Shanxi businessman who was 'attending' in the afternoon. He hunched over and said cautiously, "Master, Xi Shanbo said that there are only these. This... this is the contract."

The old man snorted softly after accepting the contract: "Oh, it's already signed?"

"This... Master, if you don't sign it, I'm afraid..." The merchant's face was ugly, and there was no trace of blood on his face.

"Well, it's not your fault."

"Yes, thank you sir for your compassion."