Because the economic level of the entire Guanghua Army is still in a planned economy, it will be possible to change to a market economy only after next autumn. At that time, there was a place to spend money. Now if you really want to consume, you have to walk 80 miles to Xiangyang City.

There was silence in the lobby, and Li Xiaoyu and Wang Yun stopped talking.

After a long time, Zhou Bocai said, "So, what was your original plan?"

After hesitating for a while, Li Xiaoyu replied, "Zhou Yuanjun, although we all know that this decision is very difficult, you have to think about it carefully. Now that the black caravan has gone to business, it is estimated that it may be three months before it returns. When they return, they will be able to bring back a lot of goods from the north, and we must have enough silver to buy them, and then resell them with our caravans. ”

Zhou Bo raised his eyebrows, and almost understood what Li Xiaoyu meant.

Li Xiaoyu saw that Zhou Bo did not interrupt him, so he continued: "Right now, as long as we can hold on until the black caravan comes back and resell the goods in the north, we can get an absolutely objective income. This income will naturally solve the dilemma we are facing now. ”

Zhou Bo understood that after the goods from the north were transported to the south, the price could be increased by twenty times to a hundred times. Since the black caravan can give itself the best price, then he can earn thirty times the difference. That is to say, how much silver is left in the treasury now, and how many northern goods are purchased at that time, will be directly multiplied by thirty after this number.

"How's our caravan going now?" he asked.

"I asked my father to come forward in person. My father has acquaintances in Xiangyang City and Ezhou City, and there used to be my father's students in these places, and they are all officials now, and they are almost eighty percent sure that they can be resold along the way. Li Xiaoyu said again and again.

When Zhou Bo heard Li Fuzi's students, he felt a lot more relieved. In ancient times, discipleship was almost second only to filial piety. The reason why the ancient master was highly respected was because once the students he taught were selected as jinshi and juren, these students would remember the teacher's kindness for a lifetime.

No matter how depressed Li Fuzi is now, as long as Li Fuzi opens his mouth and needs help, these students will not obey.

In fact, there is a reason for this, because if a student is ungrateful and does not remember the old feelings after becoming an official, then in the name and reputation of the teacher, if he casually releases a few unfavorable words, then the student will be judged to have a problem with his moral character. In ancient times, officials were all subject to discipline examinations, and the imperial court would send discipline examination officials every year to listen to local reports, and then judge whether local officials could be promoted.

Officials with questionable moral character are unlikely to be promoted, or even demoted or dismissed.

Therefore, the relationship between teachers and students has evolved over the times and has become a custom.

Zhou Bo nodded and said with relief: "That's great." As for the recruitment of the caravan, how are you going?"

Li Xiaoyu said: "I asked my uncle to come out and preside. I don't know how Zhou Envoy ...... Are there any comments. ”

"Your uncle, is Wang Zexi happy?" Zhou Bo remembered this person and hurriedly asked.

"Yes, it's him, Zhou Envoy Jun met with him last time. Li Xiaoyu nodded, of course, she wasn't quite sure what the impression of Zhou Bo and her uncle was the last time she met, so she hurriedly added, "Although my uncle is not in Guanghuajun now, he has reopened his business since last month." My uncle has been in business for more than ten years, and he has experience, contacts and capital. What's more, he's also worked with the Black Caravan. ”

Zhou Bo pondered for a while, the last time he saw Wang Zexi, a chubby person, his impression was indeed very shallow, he could only say that this guy was a full businessman, his speech and demeanor were so sophisticated, and at first glance he was an old fritter in the rivers and lakes!

What's more, Li Xiaoyu said that Wang Zexi has been doing business for more than ten years, and after the war in Xiangyang Mansion, Wang Zexi reopened the business in just four months, which shows that he does still have some strength.

Moreover, it was only through Guò Wang Zexi that he met the black caravan last time, which shows that Wang Zexi will not deceive people. If Wang Zexi was a treacherous liar, then the black caravan would not cooperate with him either!

"Xiaoyu, very good, just leave this matter to your uncle. You tell him that if he has the courage, let him move his industry to our Guanghua Army for operation, and I promise to give him preferential policies. Zhou Bo nodded in approval and said with a smile.

Li Xiaoyu finally breathed a sigh of relief, it seems that Zhou Yuanjun still trusts his uncle.

"Well, I'll tell my uncle about it. But...... There is one more thing, we must discuss it with Zhou Yuanjun first!!" Li Xiaoyu said again.

"Tell me, what's the matter?" asked Zhou Bo.

"My uncle said that he could take care of all the procedures for our goods, package storage, transportation, resale, etc., etc., etc., but he would have to get a share of all the profits each time as a reward. Li Xiaoyu said cautiously.

"What?Yicheng?" Zhou Bo sneered, the words of no businessman and no treachery were indeed fulfilled, and the treacherous of merchants was embodied in this place. "What he said is good, what kind of storage, transportation, resale, etc., can't I do these things myself? The most important thing in the whole thing is to contact downstream buyers, but your father Li Fuzi has already helped us solve this matter, has your uncle paid so much before and after?"

Li Xiaoyu was stunned, she didn't know anything about business, so she didn't doubt anything about what her uncle said. Now hearing Zhou Bo say this, she immediately understood that her uncle's request must be too much.

Zhou Bo snorted and said, "Xiaoyu, if you want to distribute profits, I would rather give your father Li Fuzi's income to 10% than give it to your uncle." You sue your uncle that I only give him 200 taels for the labor fees that I resell each time. No matter how much I make every time, even if I lose, I will give him a reward of 200 taels. ”

He knew very well that 200 taels as a transfer fee was already very high. If the Guanghua Army develops and there are some dart bureaus and the like, they let the dart bureau escort and resell the goods in the north, and the labor fees paid to them will never exceed 200 taels.

Nowadays, the highest monthly income of each worker in the Guanghua Army is only 300 yuan, and 1,000 yuan is consistent, and two runs are equal to one or two pieces of silver. The 10,000 taels of silver that Zhou Bo brought from Lin'an had already fed 2,100 workers for more than three months. It is conceivable that the labor cost of 200 taels of silver is definitely not low.

Li Xiaoyu nodded and said, "I understand, I'll send someone to tell my uncle in the afternoon." ”

Zhou Bo was silent for a moment, and then slowly said again: "According to your current opinion, if you want to solve the financial crisis of the government, you must first slow down the expenditure items of the finances, and then maintain it until the black caravan returns to the Guanghua Army, relying on the goods from the north to replenish the finances, right?"

Li Xiaoyu and Wang Yun both nodded.

Zhou Bo thought carefully for a while and said, "I know your plans. So now you are proposing to cut workers and reduce their wages, so that you can slow down the loss of finance. And you can also save a lot of money, and when the black caravan returns, you can buy more goods from the north. ”

Wang Yun immediately said: "That's right, so please ask Zhou Yuanjun to think about it seriously." In fact, now the cutting workers can still be recruited back when the economy eases up. It's just temporary. I believe that as long as you patiently explain the reason to the workers, these ordinary people will understand. After all, Zhou Envoy Jun had already paid so much for the Guanghua Army, and it was impossible for them to be so tough. ”

Zhou Bo naturally knew this, and the workers definitely did not cause any big commotion because of the shutdown for several months. What's more, these workers have no reason to cause a commotion. After all, the contribution of the government to make orders is to solve their food problems.

You know, the thirteen porridge farms all provide food for free, except for those eggs that are sold additionally.

Of course, most of the food sources of the thirteen porridge farms were also obtained by the ordinary people of the Guanghua Army themselves, except for some military rations, which belonged to the government for relief. However, the people of the Guanghua Army understand very well that they must be in the same boat during the extraordinary period, so there is no need to worry about anything.

"Well, starting this month, suspend the wages of all workers. The finance department wrote the wages in white slips, as the government delayed the wages of the workers, and when the black caravan returned, we sold the goods from the north and reissued them to the workers. Zhou Bo said slowly.

"That Week's Envoy ...... You mean, no more cutting workers?" asked Wang Yun again and again.

"Didn't you say that? Now that it's been cut, in a few months when the finances are restored, we'll have to recruit again. Rather than cutting, it is more convenient to be in arrears of wages, and when the time comes, it is more convenient to let the workers take the white slips to exchange their own wages. Zhou Bo said solemnly.

Wang Yun thought about it, then he reacted, and replied again and again: "I see, I see." ”

Zhou Bo only felt that the ancients were really stubborn when they sometimes thought about problems.

Li Xiaoyu suddenly said worriedly: "But Zhou Yuanjun, what if the workers are unwilling?"

Zhou Bo smiled and said, "They will definitely not refuse." Because there is a shortage of jobs in the Gwanghwa Army, if they give up the stable jobs provided by the government, then the Gwanghwa Army will not be able to provide them with other jobs. ”

He paused, and then said sternly: "Of course, if someone really refuses. Then dismiss him, and henceforth the government will never employ him. ”

Li Xiaoyu and Wang Yun were stunned, they didn't expect Zhou Bo to treat the workers so harshly, and they seemed a little incomprehensible. After all, in their eyes, Zhou Bo has always been conscientious for the Guanghua Army and ordinary people, how could he become so domineering?

Zhou Bo saw Li Xiaoyu and Wang Yun's thoughts, so he smiled and explained: "The reason why I treat workers who refuse to accept arrears of wages is very simple. If there is a worker who is dissatisfied because he is not paid, there are only two kinds of people: one is a narrow-minded stingy person, and the other is a fool with no brains and no vision. ”

Zhou Bo had already reminded him before, and now the ordinary people of the Guanghua Army do not worry about food and clothing, and they are just working to increase their extra income. Now that the government is facing a problem, if there are still workers who are dissatisfied because they delay their wages, they are stingy people who are greedy for money and do not regard helping each other in the same boat at all; or they are narrow-minded and insist on not doing anything because they know that the Guanghua Army has no other jobs.

Li Xiaoyu and Wang Yun both understood, so they didn't say anything more.

"In addition to being frugal, I also have a higher income. Zhou Bo continued.

"Increase income?" but ......" Wang Yun seemed incomprehensible, obviously this issue had just been discussed, and the Guanghua Army was currently exhausted, and there was no way to increase income?

Zhou Bo smiled and said, "I know you think I'm confused. Not really. Presumably you should have heard that there is a kind of wine that is popular in Lin'an City, called Qinfu Daqu, have you ever heard of it?"

Li Xiaoyu and Wang Yun thought about it, they belonged to a small border town here, and they were 108,000 miles away from Lin'an, how could they know what kind of wine the people in Lin'an City liked to drink?

Zhou Bo stopped and said with a smile: "Forget it, you may not know." But if you go to Xiangyang City or Ezhou City to inquire, there should be some big men who have heard of this kind of wine. This kind of wine has been blended by a special process, the wine is fragrant and clear, and the price is not cheap, Qinfu Daqu will cost sixty taels of silver for a jar, and now it may be more than this price!"

"Sixty taels of silver for an altar?" Li Xiaoyu's eyes widened, and both she and Wang Yun were extremely surprised.

"Is this not enough to pay a month's salary to all the workers of the Xiangyang Ordnance Institute and the smelting workshop......? Lin'an City** to this point?" Wang Yun was surprised and angry, and couldn't help complaining.

"This Qinfu Daqu is brewed by me. Zhou Bo said unhurriedly.

Li Xiaoyu and Wang Yun were shocked again, how could they still be the people who made wine? Could it be that Zhou Envoy, whom they respected, was also a ** element?

Zhou Bo smiled indifferently and said, "You don't have to be surprised, in fact, this truth is very simple. If no one buys it, then no one sells it, and I just make a good wine. ”

Li Xiaoyu and Wang Yun looked at each other, and their faces eased a lot. Indeed, as Zhou Bo said, he is just making wine, but those princes and dignitaries in Lin'an City like to waste money.

"Zhou Yuanjun, don't you want to brew some Qinfu Daqu, right? But now let's not talk about the raw materials for brewing, not to mention that even if it is brewed, I don't think anyone in Xiangyang City and Ezhou Cheng can afford it. Li Xiaoyu questioned.

"I don't plan on making wine, and I don't plan on making money selling it. The recipe of Qinfu Daqu is a unique secret, and only I know how to brew it. Now I was forced to do so, so I decided to set up a processing plant in the Guanghua Army to help some dignitaries in Xiangyang City and Ezhou Cheng process fine wine. Zhou Bo spread out his hole cards.

Li Xiaoyu and Wang Yun obviously didn't understand Zhou Bo's concept of a processing plant, and they were still a little confused.

Zhou Bo said simply: "Actually, it's not as complicated as you think, I have a recipe, but there is no silver, and there are no raw materials." So I set up a processing factory, so that people who want to drink Qinfu Daqu can bring their own raw materials, and I will process them for them. Then I have to charge for processing, and even when processing, I can deduct some raw materials for my own use. That's it. (To be continued.) )