Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 177 Chen Ce's Layout
The second step has been taken. As for whether the court will agree to his request, Chen Ce feels that the other party should be interested.

Now the Kaizhong system is in name only. Almost no merchants are willing to transport grain to the north because salt permits cannot be exchanged for salt. Merchants already have a lot of old salt permits in their hands, and it is impossible for them to continue to ask for a piece of white paper that cannot be exchanged for salt.

The imperial court would consume too much military strength and financial resources to transport grain to the north on its own, which was not cost-effective.

Food from the nine borders still needed to be transported there, so the court needed a substitute.

Chen Ce did not need the court to give him salt permits, and he would transport grain to the north for free. The only condition was that the government would provide Chen Ce with an express delivery network in Jiangnan.

All that was paid for was the venues in various places and transportation tools such as cattle, donkeys, mules and horses. Chen Ce would not even let the court pay for the labor costs.

Chen Ce felt that there was no reason for the court to reject him.

……

"Why!"

Tang Yin didn't understand and asked, "Why should we transport grain to the nine borders for free?"

"We can lay the network cables in Jiangnan ourselves."

When Chen Ce told Tang Yin about these things, Tang Yin obviously could not understand his intention.

"Are you short of money?" Tang Yin asked.

If you are short of money, then wait until you have money before operating the post station business in Jiangnan and other places? How can you eat a fat man in one bite? Just develop slowly.

Chen Ce thought about it and said to Tang Yin: "This is indeed a factor."

Chen Ce currently does not have the financial resources to build out the entire Jiangnan express delivery network, but the imperial court can do it, and the cost is not high.

It’s just that Shuntian Express will be responsible for the task of transporting grain from the south to the north for the imperial court in the next ten years.

Tang Yin felt that this was not a good deal.

However, Chen Ce also had his own considerations. The problems of the Kaizhong system and the proliferation of salt permits had to be solved for Zhu Houzhao in advance. He didn't have much time left and couldn't wait any longer. He didn't know how long it would take for the express delivery network to be rolled out across the country.

The second factor is that express delivery is responsible for transportation. While transporting food, it can also undertake the transportation of some letters and other items, so it may not be impossible to make a profit.

The most important thing is that while transporting grain, the imperial court will definitely send some officials to be responsible for safety protection. They are unfamiliar with the Jiangnan area, and it will be much safer with the escort of people from the imperial court.

Considering all aspects, although express delivery may suffer losses, the losses will not be too large and are within an acceptable range.

"Okay, this is settled. You don't need to show up later. Let Liu Hong come forward to negotiate with the court."

Since Chen Ce had already made this decision, Tang Yin naturally wouldn't say anything more.

"Gyeonggi Express has officially started operations. The volume is huge, so some mistakes are inevitable in the early stages. I will try my best to avoid them."

"Based on the current volume, it may be difficult to make money in the early stage, but the goods are increasing every day. It will take about half a year to a year before we can start to make a profit."

Tang Yin gave Chen Ce his analysis.

Chen Ce nodded and said, "Okay, I understand. If you have any questions, please feel free to communicate."

Next, Chen Ce went to find Liu Hong again.

Liu Hong has arranged more than 100 spies from the northwest in various regions around the capital. They are not only responsible for the operation of local express delivery business, but also for collecting intelligence.

"Wait until the post station network in Jiangnan and other places is completed, and then transfer some people there."

Liu Hong clasped his fists and said, "Okay!"

"Sir, do you need them to collect any intelligence now?"

Chen Ce shook his head and said, "Get familiar with the express delivery business first, and then assign specific tasks later... By the way."

Chen Ce seemed to remember something and said to Liu Hong, "Please keep an eye on the Ministry of Justice while you are in Shuntian Prefecture. I lost a lawsuit in the Ministry of Justice before, and they may retaliate and assassinate me secretly."

Liu Hong hurriedly said: "Don't worry, sir, I will dispatch a few good fighters to take care of your safety." ...

Chen Ce has completed the deployment and is now waiting for Zhu Houzhao.

Zhu Houzhao had already found Emperor Hongzhi in the Qianqing Palace and said with a smile, "Father, I have a deal for you that can solve the Kaizhong system problem."

Emperor Hongzhi smiled nonchalantly and said, "Can national affairs be resolved by negotiating business?"

Zhu Houzhao asked, "Didn't Emperor Taizu also use merchants to solve the problem of food shortage at the border?"

This made Emperor Hongzhi speechless, as if it was really the case, so he said to Zhu Houzhao awkwardly: "Oh, then tell me, what business did you discuss?"

Zhu Houzhao asked, "Father, have you heard about the recent incident with Shuntian Express?"

Emperor Hongzhi also had the habit of reading newspapers every day, so of course he knew about the recent opening of Shuntian Express, after all, it was the front-page headline of the newspaper.

"how?"

Zhu Houzhao said: "Their post station network in the south has not yet been established. We will cooperate with them and designate them to transport food for us."

"What are the conditions?"

Emperor Hongzhi looked at Zhu Houzhao and asked.

Zhu Houzhao said: "The condition I negotiated with them is that the court will give them a network of express post stations in the south in exchange for their delivery of grain in the next ten years."

Emperor Hongzhi slowly closed his eyes, thinking in his heart what price the court would have to pay.

But when you think about it, it's nothing more than the express delivery site, transportation tools such as oxen, mules and horses, or at the very least, adding some labor.

"What does the court need to pay the other party during the transportation process?"

Emperor Hongzhi opened his eyes and looked at Zhu Houzhao and asked.

Zhu Houzhao shook his head and said, "You don't have to pay anything."

Ok?
If this is true, then the court and the other party undoubtedly made a profit in this deal.

"They will?"

Zhu Houzhao nodded and said, "As long as the court agrees, it should be almost certain."

Emperor Hongzhi took a sip of tea, and without rushing to answer Zhu Houzhao, he smiled and said, "My son, this is a good idea. Who taught you this?"

Zhu Houzhao patted his chest and said, "Of course... I came up with it myself."

"I see that Father is so worried, so why don't I try to help you?"

"You said that in this way, our Kaizhong system will be able to go on smoothly, and we won't have to allow other merchants to enter the market, and we don't have to issue them salt permits."

"Let's designate just one express post, which is enough for food transportation."

"In this way, isn't it revitalizing the Kaizhong system in a different way?"

Emperor Hongzhi nodded. If it was as Zhu Houzhao had envisioned, the Kaizhong system would have been revitalized in another way.

"The emperor will discuss this with the six ministries in the cabinet. You should go back first. He will contact you after the discussion is completed."

Zhu Houzhao smiled and said, "Okay!"

After Zhu Houzhao left, Emperor Hongzhi narrowed his eyes and said to Huai En: "Go and ask Mou Bin to check who made this Shuntian Express."

"Then summon the six ministries of the cabinet to discuss the matter."

"Old slave obeys the order."

(End of this chapter)