Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 15: Buy or Get Out!

For a moment, the room fell silent, and everyone's eyes were drawn to the contents of the scroll in Yu Xiangdou's hand.

Zhang Jianxiu was also curious about how his younger brother would manage to swindle money from these cunning merchants.

He glanced at the scroll and immediately gasped.

The price list was neatly arranged in calligraphy.

"Front page headline, two thousand taels of silver per month; front page headline, one thousand taels of silver per month; inside page, five hundred taels of silver per month."

Yu Xiangdou added with a chuckle.

"This newspaper advertisement not only has a price for the location, but also a price for the size of the page. Let me tell you, the price listed above is for a quarter page by default."

Half-page will double in price, full-page will double again.

"Good heavens! This is robbery!"

Zhang Jianxiu was very anxious; in his eyes, the price was too high.

Two thousand taels of silver?
This is equivalent to a wealthy businessman in the capital's annual income. How dare Zhang Yunxiu ask for such a price?

Is your newspaper made of gold or something?

Selling advertisements to businessmen is indeed a way to make money.

But Fifth Brother is still too young. Merchants are not so easily fooled.
As expected, as soon as the price was announced, the merchants immediately frowned, their faces grim, and they remained silent.

"What's wrong? Do you all think this is inappropriate?"

Zhang Yunxiu remained calm and composed, even taking the time to gently shake the tea leaves in his cup to even them out, without even glancing at the merchants.

The merchants looked at each other in bewilderment. Wang, the owner of Cuiyu Tower, was the first to stand up and cupped his hands in greeting to Zhang Yunxiu and Zhang Jianxiu.

"Lord Zhang, Vice Commissioner Zhang, this Wanli Xinbao is indeed a fine item, but isn't the price a bit too high? It's not that we commoners are unwilling to spend the money, it's just that..."

Wang Dongjia looked pained; could anyone possibly ask for two thousand taels of silver?
Zhang Yunxiu scrutinized the other party and asked, "What price does Mr. Wang think it should be?"

Wang Dongjia felt that this young man had an aura of his own, but since he was able to survive in the capital, he must have come into contact with quite a few officials, and his skill in playing the game of Tai Chi was also superb.

He said tactfully, "We dare not ask for much from you, sir. We only hope that you will give us a way to survive. These two thousand taels are far more than our annual income. How can we possibly afford them? Please have mercy on us, sir!"

Merchants in the Ming Dynasty had a low social status. Even during the Wanli reign, they were still afraid of and respectful to the gentry and powerful, and naturally dared not say anything harsh or offensive.

But they are all old foxes, always talking big but actually very difficult to control. The Beijing merchants have deep-rooted connections, and it's really hard for ordinary powerful people to touch them.

Even high-ranking officials and ministers of the Six Ministries and Grand Secretaries of the Imperial Court would have to think twice before dealing with them, lest they cause trouble for themselves.

This is the troublesome aspect of dealing with businessmen.

Zhang Jianxiu was a rough man. As a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he had daily contact with them and knew how difficult it was to deal with merchants.

It's not that easy to squeeze money out of them.

Zhang Jianxiu was anxious; he desperately needed the money.

If Zhang Juzheng were to find out that he had spent two thousand taels of silver on a prostitute, he would definitely send him to the palace to become a eunuch.

Zhang Jianxiu was about to shout, "How dare you!"

He was about to get up to assert his authority when he heard Zhang Yunxiu speak again, and he almost stumbled.

"Please don't misunderstand one thing: it's not me, Zhang Yunxiu, begging you; it's you begging me!"

Zhang Yunxiu's youthful voice echoed throughout the hall.

Zhang Jianxiu was somewhat surprised by the voice, as if he saw his father's shadow in his younger brother.

He had some authority, but it wasn't enough to intimidate these Beijing merchants.

They appeared fearful, and Wang Dongjia bowed even lower, but still spoke.

"Please forgive us, sir, but we simply cannot afford this amount. If the price could be reduced by half and the period extended, we might be able to grit our teeth and pay. We have heard that you are currently short of funds."

"Are you threatening me?" Zhang Yunxiu retorted. "I wouldn't dare," Wang Dongjia said, prostrate on the ground. "This humble servant is willing to generously contribute to your cause, and I hope you will alleviate the suffering of the people."

"Humph!"

Zhang Yunxiu sneered.

He had long seen through the true colors of these merchants, and the reason they found it "unbearable" was simply because they knew about his and Zhang Jianxiu's theft of the Immortal Map.

Zhang Yunxiu glanced at the merchants present and spoke in an indifferent tone.

"I'll just say this: buy what you want, or get lost! Don't get in my way!"

"This this."

The merchants looked at each other in disbelief, never expecting this man to have such a bad temper.

Zhang Yunxiu glanced at Yu Xiangdou quietly, put down his teacup, and pushed it to the front of the table.

As if understanding, Yu Xiangdou immediately came out to speak.

"Gentlemen, don't underestimate our newspaper. The newspaper is so popular in the capital that you've all come out here, hoping to ride the coattails of the Wanli New Daily to success."

To be honest, the newspaper sales figures came out this morning, and it's only 50,000 copies. At this rate, it won't be less than 100,000!

Please believe it or not, Xinming Bookstore has already intended to sell this newspaper to the regions of Beizhili. In the future, it will go to Nanzhili. What if it sells a million copies then?

The price is right here. We adults don't accept bargaining. If you want to buy, you can stay; if you don't, you can leave.

Why were newspapers sold so cheaply? It wasn't because Zhang Yunxiu did charity work.

In reality, free things are often the most expensive.

Only by offering low prices can a company seize the market, and once it has seized the market, it will be the only one left.

The emergence of newspapers is likely to bring about an information revolution in the Ming Dynasty, which will intensify the flow of information among the people.

Under this general trend, all industries will inevitably be impacted and affected.

Considering the subsequent development and influence of the Wanli Xinbao, this price is absolutely fair.

However, most merchants are clearly short-sighted.

Wang Dongjia's smile vanished, his hands froze in mid-air, but he dared not show the slightest disrespect, and gritted his teeth as he cupped his hands and said.

"If Your Excellency insists on this, then we can only take our leave now. However, if Your Excellency changes your mind, you may come to find us again."

"get out."

Zhang Yunxiu said without any mercy.

"Farewell!"

Wang Dongjia's smile was stiff, and he eventually left the hall with several merchants.

With Wang Dongjia taking the lead, some of the merchants in the hall were also eager to make a move, and several of them got up and followed Wang Dongjia away.

The merchants in the capital are mostly deeply entrenched, and the fact that Master Wang can speak on behalf of everyone speaks volumes about his seniority.

Zhang Yunxiu wasn't in a hurry, but Zhang Jianxiu was frantic.

If I hadn't promised Zhang Yunxiu that I wouldn't participate in this "literary contest," I wouldn't have gotten involved.

Zhang Jianxiu had no choice but to draw his sword and force these despicable merchants to leave their money behind.

In his anxiety, he stood aside, making faces and grimacing noises.

This is all money! How can we let it get away!
At this moment, dissenting voices suddenly arose in the arena.

The owner of Ruijin Silk Shop, who had been silent until now, raised his hand and stammered, "I...I'll offer two thousand taels of silver to buy a quarter of the front page of your magazine for one month!"

(End of this chapter)