Chongzhen's domineering

Chapter 78 Chung-hsien really knows how to make money (Part 1)

Liu Zongzhou and Huang Daozhou were so provoked that they accepted the imperial edict and left.

Fang Zhenghua also returned to report.

Upon hearing the news, Zhu Jue was overjoyed.

He finally chased away those two flies, but the key was to send them off to annoy the three powerful clans and eight imperial merchants of Puzhou.

This must have disgusted the three powerful clans and eight imperial merchants of Puzhou.

If these two guys were to uncover that the three powerful clans and eight imperial merchants of Puzhou were colluding with the enemy, betraying the country, or even harboring rebels, then things would get interesting.

The Donglin Party will definitely be in an uproar at that time.

These two guys will probably be so angry that they'll fight Han Kuang and Feng Quan to the death!
Hahahahaha.

He finished reviewing the memorials in a good mood and was just about to go to Guangqumen to take a look when Fang Zhenghua suddenly strode in, cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, Wei Zhongxian requests an audience."

Although this fellow is a scoundrel, somehow he sounds much more pleasant than those two self-proclaimed gentlemen.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Jue replied without hesitation, "Summon them."

Soon, Wei Zhongxian strode in, cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "This servant greets Your Majesty."

Zhu Jue nodded slightly, then asked kindly, "Zhongxian, what is it?"

I'm just afraid of falling out of favor.

In the past, when people came to the capital to cause trouble, you always asked me to handle it.

This time, however, you let Fangzhenghua handle it.

Am I useless?

This is not okay.

I need to let you know that I'm still very useful.

At the very least, I'll try to get you some money.

Wei Zhongxian quickly explained, "Your Majesty, I'm getting old, and I heard that wild ginseng can prolong life, so I ordered someone to buy some to try."

This stuff really works! I feel more energetic, my legs are more agile, and I'm eating more.

However, as I was eating, I suddenly remembered that this wild ginseng came from the mountains where the Jiannu lived.

When Wenlong raided the Jurchens, he captured some of it and gave it to me. At the time, I didn't know how good it was and didn't even want to eat it.

The moment I thought about how these were products of the Jurchens, I couldn't help but become suspicious. How could products made by the Jurchens be sold in the capital? Who brought these Jurchen products to the capital?

This kind of thing is most likely the work of an inside traitor!

So, I secretly sent someone to investigate, and they found out that the wild ginseng sold in shops in the capital all came from Xinglonghao, which was apparently owned by Fan Yongdou, a famous wealthy merchant from Shanxi.

Fan Yongdou?
The Eight Great Imperial Merchants!

This time you've found the real mole.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Jue couldn't help but ask, "Where is Fan Yongdou? Have you found him?"

Uh, let me finish.

Wei Zhongxian continued to explain: "Your Majesty, I ordered people to investigate for a long time, and Fan Yongdou is not in the capital. None of the Fan family members are in the capital either. They just opened a branch of Xinglonghao on Fuchengmen Street in the west of the inner city, specializing in the wholesale and retail of valuable goods such as wild ginseng, sable fur, and wild game."

Wild ginseng is now very valuable, its price is comparable to gold. Wholesale price is ten taels of silver per tael, and retail price is twelve taels of silver per tael.

Mink fur and wild game aren't cheap either, but wealthy people love these things, especially around holidays when there are many more people buying them.

"I was thinking, since Xinglong Trading Company is selling Jurchen goods anyway, which is essentially funding the enemy, why don't we pull off a big heist and rob them?"

Oh, so you're trying to make money.

I don't object to this; I just need the money.

The question is, how much of the product can you actually copy by copying someone else's semicolon?

Surely no one would hoard millions of taels of goods in a single branch, would they? It would be a losing proposition to alert the enemy just for a few hundred thousand or even tens of thousands of taels.

Zhu Jue thought for a moment, then simply asked, "How are you planning to pull off a big heist?"

Uh, this method is a bit underhanded; I learned it when I was a hoodlum.

Wei Zhongxian cautiously said, "Your Majesty, we can have our secret guards disguise themselves as merchants from all over North Zhili and even South Zhili, and go to Xinglonghao's branches to buy all their goods."

Then, pretending that business was good, they wanted to purchase a large quantity of goods from them, pay a deposit, and sign a contract stipulating that the goods must be delivered by a certain date, and if they were not delivered, they would have to pay ten times the deposit as compensation.

We'll have our secret guards keep a close watch on all the routes from Shanxi to the capital. Once they spot their goods, they'll disguise themselves as bandits and rob them.

This way, we can not only acquire a large quantity of valuable goods for free, but also force them to pay a hefty sum in compensation.

You're so insidious!
However, I like it.

Why not rob these traitors of their money if they're going to betray their country?
I'm going to rob these guys of their money.

Zhu Jue nodded approvingly and said, "Hmm, that's a good idea. How big are you planning to go with it?"

The bigger the better, of course.

Wei Zhongxian said slyly, "I estimate that the goods in their Fuchengmen Street branch are worth several hundred thousand taels. After we buy all their goods, we can divide them into ten or so stores, and each store can order several hundred thousand taels. That would add up to several million taels."

If we pay a 10% deposit, they will have to pay several million taels of silver; if we pay a 20% or 30% deposit, they will have to pay tens of millions of taels of silver.

However, if we pay too much of a deposit, they might become suspicious, and if they run away, we might not even be able to get our deposit back. We shouldn't be too greedy; just pay 10% as a deposit. That way, we can easily steal goods worth several million taels of silver.

You seem to have overlooked a problem.

Zhu Jue reminded him, "We've looted so much stuff, we need to sell it to turn it into money. How do you plan to sell it?"

This is simple.

Wei Zhongxian explained in detail: "Your Majesty, these things sell very well as the New Year approaches. We don't need to sell them ourselves. We can just wholesale them to shops that sell New Year's goods. They can easily sell millions of taels of goods."

You're in the wholesale business?

I was just worried about not finding a way to make big money, and selling valuable goods seems like a good idea.

Zhu Jue pondered, "Wholesale this will reduce the profit by at least 20% to 30%. 20% of several million taels is at least a million taels. We can sell it ourselves."

You still want to sell it yourself?

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhongxian cautiously replied, "Your Majesty, I have considered this as well, but there's a problem with selling it myself. They'll immediately recognize that we've stolen the goods!"

Can this even be called a problem?
Zhu Jue said seriously, "So what if you're obviously robbing them?"

Ugh, you're making me take the blame again!
But it doesn't matter.

My grandfather, who is nine thousand years old, is clearly robbing you, so what?
Besides, you are traitors who collude with the enemy and betray the country, so it is only right for me to rob you!

Wei Zhongxian's eyes darted around, and then he nodded repeatedly, saying, "Your Majesty is wise. This servant will openly rob these traitors who collude with the enemy."

Hmm, not bad. I'll count you in for this deal of selling valuable goods.

However, I still need to discuss the business with Bi Maoliang. He is the Minister of Commerce of the Inner Court, and I cannot sideline this minister whom I appointed.

Zhu Jue nodded slightly, then announced loudly, "Summon Bi Maoliang to come and pay his respects."

Bi Maoliang?
Is this related to Bi Maoliang?
Upon hearing this, Wei Zhongxian couldn't help but show a hint of doubt.

Zhu Jue pondered, "Zhongxian, actually, we can not only rob in the capital, but also rob on the road, and we can also have Mao Wenlong rob in Liaodong."

Mao Wenlong can't just stay cooped up on Pi Island and do nothing. You send your trusted confidant to deliver my imperial edict to him, instructing him to send men to secretly ambush the Jurchen hunters and ginseng diggers in the mountains.

They can also hunt and dig for themselves. Whether they steal it or find it themselves, we'll buy it at half price. This way, they can earn some money and their lives will be a little easier.

That's a good move.

Wei Zhongxian nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty is wise. This servant will immediately send someone to convey Your Majesty's oral decree."

(End of this chapter)