Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 121 Fighting Without Breaking

Zhang Dai ultimately did not leave. If this matter were to escalate to the emperor's ears, regardless of who would win or lose, while they were each making a scene, the disaster victims in Henan and Hebei could not afford to wait.

He had already made plans and was just waiting to withdraw Consort Wu Hui's share of the profits as soon as possible and convert it into various disaster relief supplies to be sent to Henan. He needed to get things under control in the disaster area before winter. He didn't have time to wait for the eunuchs and the Northern Office to reach a conclusion.

However, given the commotion they had just witnessed, further discussion would require some changes. The three men, each accompanied by a servant, along with Wang Yuanbao, boarded a pleasure boat in the Xiecheng Canal, while the others waited on the shore.

Zhang Dai himself wanted to get the money for disaster relief as soon as possible, but seeing that Wang Shouzhen and Gao Chengxin, who had just been at loggerheads, were willing to continue the talks, he understood something.

Despite their fierce outburst just now, it was more of a gesture to emphasize and express their stance. While there are indeed conflicts between the Northern Court and the Inner Court officials, they haven't completely broken ties yet; the situation is still largely one of struggle without outright conflict.

The reasoning is quite simple: while the emperor certainly doesn't want his confidants to be all in harmony and unite to deceive him, he also absolutely cannot allow them to become irreconcilable enemies, lest it directly affect the emperor's daily life and safety.

As key figures in their respective camps, Wang Shouzhen, Gao Chengxin, and others naturally had to firmly express their demands and be courageous in fighting for them. However, prominent figures like Wang Maozhong and Gao Lishi needed to maintain a proper balance and not lose control.

Now that the two sides have had such a big argument, they are still glaring at each other, and it's clear that no one expects them to come up with any fair solutions or suggestions.

Zhang Dai didn't have time to waste with them any longer, so he took advantage of the superior position that Consort Wu Hui had given him and took the initiative to express his side's demands: "If a matter is to be accomplished, there must be rules and regulations, and priorities must be clearly distinguished."

I sincerely wish to concede and work harmoniously with both of you, but being dispatched by Consort Hui, I cannot indulge my personal desires. Therefore, I hereby inform you that of the full amount to be taken, I must retain five-tenths on behalf of Consort Hui. Do you two have any objections?”

"This……"

Wang Shouzhen had just planned to get rid of the eunuchs and then put pressure on Zhang Dai, but he didn't expect Zhang Dai to ask for half of it right away, so he was naturally a little unhappy.

However, before he could even open his mouth and utter a word, Gao Chengxin, sitting opposite him, spoke first: "The matter was accomplished thanks to Zhang Lang, and Consort Hui is of noble birth. We are already extremely fortunate that she would deign to serve us servants. How dare we object!"

After two of the three had passed, Wang Shouzhen remained silent for a moment before saying in a deep voice, "I want three points for the rest!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Chengxin raised an eyebrow. Giving face to Consort Hui and Zhang Dai did not mean he would tolerate Wang Shouzhen.

However, before he could speak, Zhang Dai interrupted him, saying, "I agree to what the Crown Prince's servant said. The Second Prince has been running around with his money recently, which has been quite tiring. In the future, we will need his help to manage things. The Crown Prince's servant has helped him and has been introduced to things. It is only right that he should receive more for this!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Yuanbao looked at Zhang Dai with gratitude. In the midst of their earlier commotion, everyone had forgotten his significant contribution to the matter.

This time, it was Gao Chengxin's turn to be pressured. After thinking about it, he still didn't want to offend Zhang Dai, so he snorted and agreed.

In this way, the most fundamental issue of shares was settled, and any subsequent discussions would be based on this foundation.

Zhang Dai then stopped speaking and let Wang Yuanbao, the actual operator, explain the current state of Feiqian's business. Wang Yuanbao was also a shrewd and successful businessman with many years of experience. Although his social status might not be as high as the others present, he spoke in detail about his profession.

At present, Feiqian's business model is relatively simple, involving only the simple exchange of money and silk between the two capitals of the east and west. The business is not complicated, and the accounts are very clear.

The amount of money notes issued by the Chang'an money exchange has reached more than 2.3 million strings of cash. Although the flow of funds from the east to the west is not as strong as the outflow from the east, more than 300,000 strings of cash have been received in succession.

If we take a 25% cut from the money deposited into the counter, the current profit would already be over 600,000 guan.

This figure is truly astonishing. The Prince of Qi has accumulated a fortune of just over 1.7 million strings of cash in the Eastern Capital over the years. Feiqian has only been in operation for a little over two months, yet it has already made such rapid profits. It is impossible for it to be so fast even when the furnace is opened to mint coins!
Trade demand between the two capitals was strong, but transportation resources were very limited. Even the emperor often had to travel east to collect grain, so the transportation resources allocated to merchants were naturally even more limited.

The transportation of goods is fundamental to the profitability of commercial activities and cannot be avoided. However, the raising and transportation of funds also involve huge costs and risks, which directly limits the path for ordinary people to join the trade between the two capitals.

However, social development inevitably stimulates the prosperity of the commodity economy, especially since there is already a large number of people who are engaged in pure consumption between the two capitals.

Some people circumvented funding restrictions by borrowing money, but official loans often charged interest rates of five or six percent and were subject to strict identity and residency restrictions.

Private pawnshops and temples offered slightly lower interest rates, but still around 4 or 5 percent. Moreover, their management was chaotic, with frequent withdrawals and debt collection. Once a business defaulted, merchants would often be bankrupt and lose everything.

Even without withdrawing loans, the exorbitant interest rates would eat up most of the profits, making the accumulation of capital in other locations extremely slow. Merchants traveled back and forth, only to have their profits fed to the local bullies who provided the funds. These local bullies often had considerable local influence. They didn't need to take on market risks to pursue commercial profits; the profits they extracted from commerce through lending were mainly used to purchase relatively stable investments such as residential land, further promoting land consolidation.

Although the interest on flying money is high, it is actually much lighter than lending. Moreover, it is a one-time investment, and the money is directly transported to its destination. It can be used frequently and repeatedly without the burden of interest.

The atmosphere, which had initially been tense and discordant, softened somewhat when they heard that there were already so many profits to be shared.

"The two capitals' flying money business has gradually taken shape. As long as it is managed properly, profits will flow in. This business is not affected by drought or flood. As long as people have needs and things move, profits can be made. Congratulations to the distinguished guests for acquiring this wonderful business!"

Wang Yuanbao stood up again and bowed to the group, looking quite earnest. He said, "You little devils, don't cause any trouble. As long as we do this business well, everyone will make money!"
But people have always been greedy and want more; it's impossible for them not to cause trouble.

Although flying money is no longer Zhang Dai's primary focus, it is still something he brought into the world, and he hopes the business can develop more smoothly. To prevent infighting among his own factions from affecting the operation and development of flying money, he proposed several new regulations.

Firstly, Feiqian was managed by Wang Yuanbao's counter shop. None of the three parties were allowed to directly interfere in Feiqian's daily operations, but they could send people to assist in bookkeeping and auditing. Feiqian's accounts were reviewed monthly, consolidated quarterly, and reconciled at the end of the year, all of which required the presence of all three parties, each sending representatives.

Secondly, Feiqian's accounts adopted the double-entry bookkeeping method commonly used in later generations, which made auditing clearer and more intuitive, and made it easier to find omissions.

Zhang Dai briefly explained the principles and model of double-entry bookkeeping. While the other two still had some difficulty understanding, Wang Yuanbao grasped it quickly and clapped his hands repeatedly in admiration, saying, "Young Master Zhang is proficient in all trades and arts, truly admirable. This method of bookkeeping will greatly benefit all endeavors, and no one can hide it from him!"

It would be an exaggeration to say that no one can hide their secrets, but double-entry bookkeeping is clearly more reasonable and scientific than traditional bookkeeping.

As early as the Chuigong era of the Tang Dynasty, the four-pillar accounting system had already appeared in official administrative documents and decrees such as the "Bibu Ge" and "Gou Zhang Shi".

This is a basic form of double-entry bookkeeping. Extending from it, the principle is not complicated. In particular, since they are applied to the financial field of simple numerical input and output, addition and subtraction, they are naturally easier to understand and use.

The group had no objections to the business management regulations for these flying money transactions, but Zhang Dai's next words made both sides frown.

"The operation of Flying Money is not complicated. Anyone can do it if they have assets and money to control and can gain people's trust. Our advantage in Flying Money is that we are the first to act, so the profits are lucrative. While no one is following suit now, we should advance rapidly and expand to all sides. Not only in the two capitals and three prefectures, but also in the four vassal states, six powerful states, and ten prominent states, we should also expand as soon as possible!"

Zhang Dai began to make grand promises, saying, "The remaining prefectures and counties lack the personnel advantages of the two capitals and must pave the way with money and silk. Therefore, I propose that all profits generated within five years should not be distributed as dividends, but should be used entirely for the development of the remaining prefectures and counties!"

The prospects he outlined were certainly enticing, but when he heard that there would be no dividends for five years, not only Wang Shouzhen shook his head repeatedly, but even Gao Chengxin shook his head and said: "Zhang Lang's plans are grand and his courage is admirable."

But five years is ultimately too long, and besides, the roads, landscapes, and local conditions vary greatly from state to state; it would be far too difficult to reap profits from every single one!

Therefore, a person's cognition and ambition naturally determine their upper limit.

The ancestors of the Li Tang dynasty didn't find it hard to conquer the world, but now Zhang Dai has only proposed an expansion plan in the financial sector, and it's only focused on twenty-odd regional nodes rather than all prefectures and counties, which has already made them lack confidence and hesitate.

Zhang Dai didn't expect them to devour this huge pie all at once, and soon proposed another compromise: "The interest will not be shared for the time being, but loans can be made. As long as the three parties agree, half of the annual profit can be disbursed first, but a portion of the profit must be reserved for the public, to show that we will stick together and never abandon each other."

It's impossible to expect someone to sit on a mountain of gold and not spend it. But we also can't allow you to extract enough capital from me and then secretly start your own business. So we have to retain the profits as a foundation for our cooperation and as capital for further expansion.

Seeing the two of them frowning and deep in thought, Zhang Dai was not in a hurry to make a decision. He simply smiled and said, "This matter can be discussed at a leisurely pace. You two should go back and ask for instructions. However, I have another matter entrusted to me by Consort Hui, which requires me to immediately withdraw 100,000 strings of cash for use. But I will abide by the previous rules and leave a portion for public benefit."

Regardless of whether you agree or not, I need to withdraw some money first. You can think about it yourselves!
The profit is now over 600,000 strings of cash. Consort Wu Hui takes 50%, which is over 300,000 strings of cash. Zhang Dai's take 100,000 strings of cash does not violate the regulations he proposed.

Wang Shouzhen and Gao Chengxin were still frowning and pondering, weighing the pros and cons. When they heard that Zhang Dai was going to offer money first, they raised their eyebrows, glanced at each other quickly, and neither dared to object. They simply acquiesced.

Zhang Dai had no further objections. He raised his hand to signal the pleasure boat to dock so he could arrange for the money to be hauled away. As for the other two, he sent them home to consult their parents.

Regardless of whether they're godfathers or biological fathers, it seems none of them are as close to me as my aunt. She just handed over such a large sum of money to me without even asking a question!

(End of this chapter)