Xiangguo, Ministry of Commerce.

Today is the day when the merchants of the Ministry of Commerce come to the meeting, and a total of twenty-eight businessmen who are doing business in the territory of Zhao have come here.

Lingqi, as one of the richest businessmen, is also among them.

The reforms of the Zhao king seriously offended the interests of the merchants, especially the salt merchants and iron merchants, and they lost the qualification to engage in this business in the territory of the Zhao state, causing them great dissatisfaction.

Fortunately for other merchants, although the business tax rate has been raised, the tax rate is not too high compared to other countries, and the merchant is still profitable.

The merchants gathered in the lobby of the Ministry of Commerce, and some people knew each other and were talking.

Those salt merchants and ironsmiths, their shops in the territory of Zhao have been closed, and those who have salt works in the northeast have been taken over by the Ministry of Commerce, and their faces are full of sorrow.

When they received the notice that they would come here to concentrate, they said that there would be an opportunity to make money, and the businessmen were skeptical.

Everyone asked each other about what the money-making opportunity was, to see if anyone knew the inside story, but no one could answer.

"Squire-sama has arrived..."

A grassroots official shouted.

Uncle walked into the hall with his head held high, and all the merchants saluted him in unison, the status of merchants in ancient times was low, even if they were rich, they had to be respectful in front of officials.

He walked directly above the middle of the lobby and looked down at the merchants present in a condescending manner, and it was a gift to the merchants that King Zhao could give these people the opportunity to make money.

Ling Qi first asked, "Uncle, I don't know why you summoned us?" Say there is an opportunity to make money, but I don't know what the opportunity is? ”

Uncle Li said loudly: "Everyone already knows about the reform of the imperial court, so this official won't say much." Now, the focus is on money-making opportunities. ”

The attendant officer took a bag, removed the paper from the bag, and distributed it to each merchant.

It was the first time the merchants saw this novelty, and they took the paper and looked at it carefully, and I have to say that the paper was really good.

Soon, they saw a business opportunity in it.

A businessman asked, "Uncle, is this a newly made paper?" ”

The news of making paper in the paper mill has spread in the capital a few days ago.

Uncle Li replied, "That's right. ”

Ling Qi said: "Dare to ask adults, I don't know how much paper makes cost?" ”

Uncle Gong asked rhetorically: "As a businessman, don't you know that this is a secret?" The people of the world only need to know the purpose of the paper, and know that it was made by the Zhao court. ”

Some businessmen quickly guessed the purpose of the uncle's call.

Ling Qi asked again: "Uncle Gong, did you call us here to sell us the paper so that we can rebuy it to all the countries in the world?" ”

This is a huge business opportunity, and the original depressed mood of the businessmen has dissipated a lot.

Uncle Gong said: "Yes, the imperial court is responsible for wholesale, and you will go to retail." However, not everyone is qualified to become a wholesaler who cooperates with the imperial court, my king has an order, must implement the access system, only give you five places, those who intend to cooperate with the imperial court, must pay the sincerity money to the imperial court, and all the merchants present bid for the top five sincerity gold to become partners. ”

The terms wholesale, retail, sincerity money, and access system have not yet appeared in this era, and they are all said by Zhao Xie to his uncle, and explained in detail, so that the uncle who is familiar with the way of doing business admires again and again, and shouts in his heart that I am Wang Yingming.

After hearing this, the businessmen couldn't help but gasp, King Zhao is really shrewd, and the means are ruthless enough, to make this kind of means, before the business has started, he will first extort a so-called sincerity money.

Despite this, because the business opportunities are unlimited and profitable, many businessmen are still willing to pay this money, depending on who pays more.

Next, the bidding began, the merchants took turns bidding, in order to obtain the qualification for cooperation, everyone was competing fiercely, the bids were getting higher and higher, and those who were not strong enough could only withdraw gloomily.

After a brutal bidding PK, 5 big businessmen were finally selected, and Ling Qi was one of them.

These people will have to hand over the sincerity money within the stipulated time.

Everyone thinks that it must be Haotian God who taught King Zhao papermaking, and many people have an idea, that is, to study it as soon as possible, hoping that they can also make it.

Some people even thought that they could bribe the people who bought the paper mill to leak the paper-making method to themselves.

——————

In the afternoon of that day, Granny Yu took a man to the palace and met the queen.

"Queen, this is what I told you, the second disciple of Juzi."

The second disciple's name is Gongsun Pili, who is in his twenties.

Successfully brought him, Zhao Qian was happy in her heart.

"The grass people meet the queen!"

Gongsun Pi left the long bow and saluted.

Immediately, he asked again: "Queen, in addition to papermaking, I don't know how many skills Haotian God has instructed the king?" The grass people want to meet the king. ”

Because of the papermaking technique, the second disciple believed that King Zhao must have other skills, which made him very interested in technical research.

The queen said: "The king will be very happy to see you, he has gone south yesterday for the matter of Xiang Yu, you can stay here for a few days." ”

The rumors spread by Liu Bang in Xiang Yu's army had spread in Xiangguo, and the king of Zhao had Haotian God to help, and the subjects had great confidence in Zhao.

——————

Xiangguo is about 100 kilometers away from Jinsuo Pass, and 150 kilometers away from the lower reaches of the Zhangshui River at the eastern end of the Great Wall.

Zhao Xie set out from Xiangguo, and after three days of marching, he arrived at the camp on the north bank of the lower reaches.

King Zhao already had a high prestige in the hearts of the army and the people, and he came to the army to play a certain role in encouraging the soldiers of Zhao.

Li Zuoche came out of the gate of the camp to greet him, he admired King Zhao's strategy very much, and after entering the tent, he reported the specific military situation.

In the past few days, the Chu army in the camp on the south bank has not shown the slightest sign of crossing the river to attack, and it is estimated that Xiang Yu's hostility towards King Zhao has decreased a lot.

At present, in the deployment of troops of the Zhao army on the north bank of the Zhangshui River, there are 10,000 troops in the military camp of Li Zuoche's headquarters, and the rest are camped with 3,000 troops at intervals to ensure that there are no defensive loopholes in the defense line of the Zhangshui River in the territory of Zhao State.

Li Zuoche's measures effectively ensured the safety of the Zhangshui defense line, and it was difficult for Xiang Yu to think of a way unless he made a detour to Qi to attack from the east.

"Guangwujun, you did a good job!"

Zhao Xie affirmed his various measures.

Li Zuoche said again: "King, with you coming in person, it is more possible to negotiate with Xiang Yu." King, you can write a good letter and send someone across the river to send it to Xiang Yu. ”

He didn't say how to write the content of the letter, the king was wise, he believed that King Zhao understood what to do and what to say to Xiang Yu.