Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 65: Buy at a low price? I buy it for 0 yuan!

Soon, the second round of selection was over, and Liang Bangrui was among the remaining ten or so people. Of course, Zhang Jing also had a trick up his sleeve and did not reject the kindness of others.

He never refused any tribute or bribe.

However, these people were far less generous than the Liang family. Zhang Jing felt a little regretful, but it quickly disappeared.

Fifty thousand taels of silver was already a sky-high price, plus the Liang family's shops that were sold at low prices in various places, he made a total of seventy thousand taels of silver from the Liang family alone.

These days, he was in such a good mood that even his farts smelled of joy.

the other side.

Zhang Yunxiu sat in the living room, making plans intensively, preparing to eliminate Zhang Jing in one fell swoop.

He secretly figured it out, assessed the situation, and determined when to strike, hitting the venomous snake hard on its weakest point.

As long as he dares to choose Liang Bangrui, that will be his death!

Moreover, the person who informed the emperor could not be Feng Bao or himself, lest the emperor notice something.

After much thought, Wei Qing, the eunuch in charge of the Qianqing Palace, was the right size.

It was past the beginning of summer, and the sun was pouring down from the sky unscrupulously, landing on the glazed tiles on the roof opposite, refracting neon-colored light.

Zhang Yunxiu's eyes flickered and he came back to his senses from his thoughts.

At this moment, Zhang Fu walked in from outside in a hurry.

"What's wrong?" Zhang Yunxiu asked.

Zhang Fu exhaled two puffs of hot air, and then he said in a trembling voice: "The Liang family is selling their property at a low price, and that bad guy Zhang Jing sent people to buy it from behind. Should we also follow and buy some?"

"No need." Zhang Yunxiu smiled and waved his hand. He picked up the teapot on the table and poured a cup for Zhang Fu. He said jokingly, "He is now a grasshopper after autumn. Let him run rampant for now. I will take these things back sooner or later."

Zhang Fu gulped down the tea, wiped his mouth, and said with a smile: "Young Master is really thoughtful. When Zhang Jing's property is confiscated by the emperor, not only these shops, but even his home will be turned upside down."

"That's the truth."

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and said, "Now the fun has just begun. When the big show starts, we will let Zhang Jing know what it means to have two black eyes."

It’s a pity that Zhang Siwei did not participate in the selection, otherwise he would have caught both of them in one fell swoop.

This guy disguised himself very well. Although he was the second-in-command of the cabinet, he consulted Zhang Juzheng on all matters, big and small.

A real obedient subject.

In addition, he was the nephew of Zhang Juzheng's good friend Wang Chonggu, so Zhang Juzheng trusted him quite a lot.

He couldn't go and tell Old Zhang that after he died, this thing would be the first to overthrow him. Zhang Yunxiu was sure that if he dared to say that, Zhang Juzheng would definitely think he was having a hysterical attack.

So he simply stopped thinking about Zhang Siwei.

Seeing that Zhang Yunxiu had been silent for a long time, Zhang Fu glanced at his master's face and whispered to remind him, "Sir, there's a message from Imperial Censor Cao Jiang. I'm afraid it's a bit difficult to get the 50,000 salt permits you asked for. Without the emperor's order, he can only get 30,000 salt permits at most."

The Lianghuai Salt Field is the largest salt field in the world, with more than 700,000 salt wicks per year, each wick weighing 400 kilograms.

Zhang Yunxiu opened his mouth so high that he wanted 50 million yin at once. It was really too scary.

This matter should have been under the jurisdiction of the Lianghuai Transport Commissioner, but the two offices were both located in Yangzhou. As Wang Zhuan was the governor of the grain transport system and a favorite of the current prime minister, he did not dare to be disrespectful.

"I will tell the emperor about this." Zhang Yunxiu hesitated for a moment and said bluntly, "Tell Wang Yushi that we can earn much more from these 50,000 salt permits than from those merchants."

"Where are you going to sell it to, sir?" Zhang Fu's face showed a trace of doubt, and he continued, "Official salt is too expensive, a pound costs at least fifteen coins, and at most thirty coins. The price of private salt is several times cheaper than official salt."

"In most places, people still eat more private salt."

"Don't worry about it for now. Anyway, we can return the capital with interest when the time comes."

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and was vague. Zhang Fu didn't want to ask any more questions, so he just nodded and replied, "Then I will write another letter to the Imperial Censor Cao Jiang to explain the interests involved."

"Ah."

Zhang Yunxiu nodded slightly, stood up and walked out the door.

Inside the Liang family mansion on Chongwen Street, it was now shrouded in dark clouds, devoid of its former prosperity and bustle.

The head of the family, Liang Mancang, had a dark face and a frown as he sat in the living room, his hands constantly flipping through the account book.

From time to time, two sighs came out from his dry lips.

Now he is in a dilemma and has no choice but to send it.

Zhang Jing was eyeing him covetously and was very aggressive. If he gave up halfway, not only would all his initial expenses be wasted, but even his son would be in danger.

He had a son in his middle age and loved him very much.

"Oh, forget it, forget it. As long as Rui'er can marry the princess and fulfill what Master Zhao said, it will be worth it even if we spend more money." Liang Mancang threw the account book on the table, closed his eyes and said with a long sigh.

The silence lasted for a long time, and suddenly footsteps were heard outside the hall.

Liang Mancang opened his eyes and looked outside. Seeing that it was his housekeeper, he stood up and asked anxiously, "How is it? Is everything done?"

The housekeeper nodded and said in a tearful voice: "If we sell the cloth shop and jewelry shop in the west of the city, plus the 20,000 taels in your hand, we can barely make up 40,000 taels. But sir, those two shops are the lifeblood of our family. Selling them at such a low price..."

"It's all worth it for Rui'er." Liang Mancang interrupted him with a wave of his hand, his tone revealing his unquestionable attitude, "If Rui'er can't make it through this, what's the point of me keeping all this money?"

The master has already spoken, how dare the butler refute?

He nodded in agreement and continued, "Except for the maids and servants who really couldn't get away, I gave most of the maids and servants in the mansion silver and sent them away."

"It's my fault, Liang Mancang, for being incompetent. I'm sorry for them."

"Master, please don't say that."

The housekeeper's eyes were red, and his voice was choked with sobs as he said, "We followed your instructions and gave them an extra month's salary. We also gave each of them an extra five taels of silver to settle down, which is enough for them to live on for a long time."

"It is a blessing for us servants to meet a master like you in several lifetimes."

Liang Mancang was also moved by the housekeeper's words. He waved his hand, sat back in the armchair, took a few deep breaths to calm himself, looked at the housekeeper and said, "If I had to say who I'm most sorry for, it would be you."

"We owe you a leg."

"I've recovered a long time ago." The housekeeper shook his head and walked a few steps inside the house in front of Liang Mancang. "Look, Master, the wound from the old dog's bite has already healed."

Seeing the housekeeper limping but looking relaxed, Liang Mancang's tears welled up in his eyes again.

(End of this chapter)