Chapter 163 Winning the Bid

Zhuo Wen is putting an incense burner on the desk, inserting a pillar of incense stick in it, and when the incense burns out, it is time to seal the box and hand it in.

All of you have known this rule for a long time. Therefore, before you come, you have a good idea of the number of copies you want to buy and the maximum bid. But when it came time to put pen to paper and write, I muttered: What if everyone else is very high? This kind of fixed price, there is no chance of repentance.

It's better to raise your offer a little more, although then the family will be tight, but you can always get by.

This kind of thinking is very common, and when it comes, almost everyone does their best to increase it.

Even the owners upstairs were muttering.

Xu Guochang saw Xu Chang sit up from the easy chair for a while and muttered, "What if you say their bid exceeds 20,000 taels?" No, we'll have to add more. After a while, he sat down and snorted coldly: "Except for a few of us, who has so much financial resources?" There are no more than twenty million houses in the entire south, and no more than ten can come up with a million dollars. Right? ”

Xu Guochang was really about to be played crazy by the old man. He couldn't remember how many times he had answered the question in just a few moments. Swallowing a mouthful of saliva, he replied mechanically: "Don't worry, master, the Xu family has a canal, we have a mine, the Qiao family has a salt introduction, and the Zhuo family has iron tools, so it can be called a family of tens of millions." The rest are small fights and can't afford to make waves......"

Xu Chang listened to his reply, and then he was a little relieved, leaning back in his chair, wanting to rest. After a few breaths, his heart became irritable again, and he straightened up again and said, "But they don't buy much?" 100,000 taels can always be afforded, right? ……”

Xu Guochang looked at the incense stick downstairs, and wailed in his heart, how can this incense be so resistant to burning, and it has been a long time?

Of all the families who participated in the bidding, I am afraid that only the Xu family is not worried. As soon as people are rich in the world, they are wealthy. Second, people are ready to ask for a share, and they are not greedy. The strength is there, and the appetite is not big, so naturally I don't panic.

A dignified-looking young man lifted the brush and, according to the old man's dictation, wrote on the paper, "The Xu family asks for a thousand copies, and each bid is 40,000 taels." "Xu Beiqing decided that the three families next door would last up to 20,000, and writing 40,000 yuan was not only for insurance, but of course, it was also indispensable to stumble three and small outlets.

At this time, Xu Tancheng came in quietly from outside. Seeing that his father wrote the numbers, he had no objection, looked at the young man who was writing, and asked in a deep voice: "Daddy, do you really want Qianshan to be that standing discussion?" ”

Xu Beiqing smiled a little helplessly: "This kind of important matter cannot be entrusted to outsiders. Who made your two younger brothers not angry? If you don't have that status, of course you are the most suitable. ”

Xu Tancheng still wanted to persuade a few words, but Xu Beiqing smiled and said: "Don't worry, your father will be careful, and you can't spoil your precious son." Listening to the meaning of the prince, our Xu family will be of great use in the future, and I am thinking about teaching Qianshan as soon as possible for my father, so that he can go there in the future. ”

Xu Tancheng smiled bitterly: "This kid is less than twenty, isn't he a little younger?" ”

Xu Beiqing stroked his beard and smiled: "It's not small." At the age of twenty, you have become a county magistrate and a parent. Then he said softly to Nunu in the room of the king of Longjun: "This master will only be eighteen next month, but you are acting like an eighty old thief." So it's all about experience. ”

Xu Qianshan, the protagonist and the eldest son of Xu Tancheng, who was talked about by the two, has been sitting at the table silently since he finished writing, looking at his nose and heart, as if his father and grandfather were not talking about him at all. It was only when he heard his grandfather mention Qin Lei that his eyes lit up, letting people know that he still had things he was interested in.

A gong rang out on the ground, telling people that there were still twenty breaths to go.

People always have to push to be effective. Seeing that the time was almost up, the owners of the family, who were still hesitating, finally let go of their burdens, gritted their teeth and wrote down the highest offer they could afford. Then carefully dry the ink, and carefully put the pieces of paper that carried the family's hopes into the wooden box. Then solemnly affix the seal and use the seal. Knowing that it couldn't be changed, I breathed a sigh of relief and put my mind at ease.

As the incense sticks finally burned out, another gong sounded. Ten black-clothed guards worked in pairs, carrying a large wooden box, and put the wooden boxes on each table into the box in turn.

Wait until all the wooden boxes have been collected and stacked neatly on the table. Zhuo Wenzheng asked each row to nominate a notarization to supervise on behalf of that row. As for the big families upstairs, each family can send one.

This process took another quarter of an hour. When the twenty justices came to power, they divided into two groups and supervised the scribes of the governor's palace, removed the seals from the boxes, took out the small pieces of paper in them, and neatly pasted them on a large piece of paper.

It took five large sheets of paper to finish. The scribes then recorded the contents of the slip of paper on another large piece of paper in order of unit price. This process was carried out separately by the five scribes. After each of them is memorized, they are put together for comparison, and the order on the five copies is exactly the same.

At this time, the notary in charge of supervision nodded with satisfaction and nominated one to announce the correct result.

The notaries did not step down, and continued to supervise the transcribing of the list on the large piece of paper to the white wall again.

Two scribes held large pieces of paper, and one held a brush and inkstone, and asked Zhuo Wenzheng to transcribe it himself. Zhuo Wen rightfully lifted the pen, dipped it in the mold, took a deep breath, and wrote the first stroke on the snow-white wall, which was a horizontal.

Everyone held their breath and waited for the first high price to appear.

That's a cross. As soon as this word came out, everyone gasped, buying one copy for 100,000 taels is really crazy. The price of just one copy is far more than the price of five offers. You must know that even in Jiangbei, where people's livelihood is withering, one or two pieces of silver before the war can buy eight stones of rice, which is enough for a family of five to eat for half a year. And the autumn tax paid to the state treasury by the entire Jiangbei Province last year was only a mere 900,000 taels.

Zhuo Wenzheng finished writing the number, and sure enough, it was '100,000 taels', and then wrote five copies later. Fortunately, it's only five copies, which is a lot. Only then did the crowd exhale the cool air that had been inhaled again.

The name of the subscriber also appears in the same line, Tangzhou Chai Shifang. Everyone's eyes searched the room, and finally all of them were on the black charcoal head who was the finale yesterday and the first to come out on top today. He looked embarrassed, and nodded frequently to all sides in shame.

Fortunately, the next quotation soon appeared in the second line, attracting everyone's attention back to Zhuo Wenzheng's side, which can be regarded as relieving Chai Heizi.

The second is still 100,000 taels or five shares, and the subscriber is the Dejia who is also from Tangzhou.

Immediately after the third, fourth, and fifth, all of them were from Tangzhou, and they were all 100,000 taels or 5 copies.

The people below were discussing, and for a while, the five gates of Tangzhou became famous. Qin Lei, who was watching from the second floor, was slightly surprised and said, "This Chai Shifang is not simple." Lu Yanwu, who was accompanying him, said: "Indeed, if he only pays the highest price himself, but only buys a pitiful five copies, others will only laugh at it." But if the five families bid together, it will be shocking, remember the five Tangzhou families with the same spirit. ”

At this time, Zhuo Wenzheng had already written the sixth amount on the wall. Qin Lei chuckled and said: "This master is a bit of a loss, he paid 90,000 to buy ten copies, but he is actually much richer than Chai Shifang." ”

Lu Yanwu laughed softly: "The subordinates can now realize the true beauty of the prince's method, which is to prevent these people on the second floor from being round." ”

Qin Lei pouted and said: "Lone just wants more people to play together, if it's just a few of them, so there is no need to bother to organize this bidding meeting." ”

Lu Yanwu nodded and praised: "The prince is from a high position, and his subordinates are suddenly open." ”

Qin Lei smiled faintly, and was about to say: "Actually, I'm not that good." Something like that. was in an uproar downstairs, drawing attention back to Zhuo Wenzheng.

I saw that in the position of the twentieth line, it was written 40,000 taels, 1,000 copies, Xu Jia.

The scholars are all based on their promises and trustworthiness, and the more they are the gatekeepers, the more they cherish their reputation. Once something breaks the promise and dishonesty, it will be spurned by all the gate valves, and there will be no credibility at all. So even if he is as cunning as Wen Xiangye, he will not regret what he promised. Therefore, the Xu family said that if he could come up with 40 million taels of silver, he would definitely be able to come up with this money. In such an occasion, there will be no bluff.

Qin Lei smacked his tongue and said: "Today can be regarded as seeing what it means to be rich and rival the country, I am afraid that this will be the annual tax revenue of the three kingdoms of Qin, Qi and Chu." ”

Lu Yanwu said with a smile: "Although the Xu family is rich, it can't be called the leader in Daqin, and it can't be ranked in the top three in the world, and it's not too out of line." ”

Qin Lei seemed to have suddenly lost his interest in talking, and turned his head to continue to see Zhuo Wenzheng writing.

Seeing that the prince didn't speak, Lu Yanwu also went to look at the name on the white wall. I saw that there were dozens of lines behind the Xu family, and it was written: 20,000 taels, 700 copies, Xu family.

What is surprising is that there are as many as 100 families tied with the Xu family of 20,000 taels. It seems that this figure is also a reasonable price in everyone's minds.

In the next room, a few families were happy and a few were sad. If it can be spent by half, the Xu family is naturally happy. was able to get seven hundred shares smoothly, and Xu Chang was also relieved.

But the Qiao family and the Zhuo family fell into a panic. So far, only 1,200 seats remain. In other words, one of the two will not get enough of it. Although the three are a cooperative relationship, it is also a matter of getting a share, and now it is a direct competition.

Qiao Qipei and Zhuo Bingchen couldn't sit still, got up and stood at the window staring at Zhuo Wenzheng below. Zhuo Bingchen also said in thought: "Son, write your father first, you must write your father first." ”

It was as if I had heard my father's prayers. After dozens of winning bidders in five and ten copies, Zhuo Wenzheng finally wrote down his own share, 17,500 taels and 700 copies.

Suddenly, the relieved Old Man Zhuo jumped three feet high, if it wasn't for the railing in the way, maybe he would have jumped directly off the second floor.

At the same time, the old man Qiao, who was like a mourner, was numb in his hands and feet, and if it wasn't for the support of someone on the side, he might have collapsed there.

Suddenly, there was an uproar in the room, which had been quiet.

Just next to the next line of Zhuo's house, Zhuo Wenzheng wrote this string of words:

Seventeen thousand five hundred taels, seven hundred copies, Qiao's family.

At this time, Old Man Qiao woke up like a dream, and shouted regardless of decency: "Yes, we are also seventeen thousand five hundred taels!" ”

Tie.

Everyone looked at Zhuo Wenzheng in unison, and while rubbing his sore wrist, he explained: "According to the rules, there are two alternatives, one is that the two families share the remaining 1,000 shares of the right to speak, and the other is that the two sides will conduct a new bidding, and the one with the highest price will win, but it will not affect the share that the other family has already obtained." And each family is still limited to 700 copies. ”

This is fair, as the two lowest bidders naturally cannot claim someone else's share. In other words, the two of them together bid for a thousand rights to speak, and how to distribute it is a matter for the two of them, and it has nothing to do with others.

The transaction price of the remaining 3,000 rights has been generated, and 17,500 taels have been made. The Xu family obtained a thousand copies of them, and spent 17.5 million taels of silver. The Xu family obtained 700 of them, spending 12.25 million. The remaining 1,300 shares of the right to deliberate were obtained by 180 families, although none of them exceeded 50 shares, but they all passed 5 shares, and they were considered to have successfully entered the general assembly. ”

As for the remaining sixteen, they could only return empty-handed. No one pays attention to the loser's face, and everyone's attention is drawn to the head-to-head that is about to take place.

The two families surprisingly did not choose to divide equally, which was foolish in Xu Chang's opinion. From his standpoint, it is the best choice for the two to divide equally, even if it does not affect the total number of the three masters, and it will not be on an equal footing with him.

But both families want to be on an equal footing with the Xu family, so a heads-up is inevitable.

Zhuo Bingchen and Qiao Qipei are going to make another bid, this time the price cannot be less than 17,500 taels, and it will be used as the price for the two to buy the share of the discussion. This is also explicitly mentioned in the rules issued in advance, and there is also a scientific name for punitive measures, which are punishments for acts that are not conducive to solidarity and cooperation.

The Qiao family mastered the salt introduction in the south. Without this small salt guide, it would be illegal to buy or sell salt in the South. The Zhuo family holds the iron tools of the south, and all iron products must be purchased through his family, and any act of buying and selling iron tools without permission will be regarded as rebellion.

Anyone who eats salt every day will be swollen and weak if the body lacks salt; Everyone must have iron tools in their homes, or work in the fields, or chop vegetables and wood. Therefore, it is impossible for these two families not to be rich, although they are not as fast as the Xu family, who controls the north-south thoroughfare, but they are stable and durable.

Therefore, as soon as these two families came up, they came up with 12,250,000 taels of silver, and they decided that the Xu family, which did not have the benefit of salt and iron, was tied together by the three grandfathers, and they could not take out 10 million taels of silver.

No matter how it is calculated, the Xu family is at the bottom, and it is not the turn of the two to cut the meat, so the two did not change their prices when they bid for the first time. Who knew that Xu Chang's old fox had already smelled that the smell was wrong, and he actually took out the silver mine in the clan and flashed the two of them together.

The house leak was even cloudy, and Xu Chang flashed not to mention, the bids of the two were the same, and they were both the lowest bid price, and they were unwilling to be pressed on the head by Xu Chang, and finally had to carry out a second bid that hurt both sides.

After some stimulation, Qiao Qipei secretly swore that he would not lose anyone again, and ordered the steward on one side to carefully calculate the property of the clan, except for those who maintain normal life and business, take them all out and fill in the list sent by the new.

Zhuo Bingchen over there has already been a joy in public, if he finally returns, that person will be thrown to his grandmother's house, and he will not have the face to mix on the ground in the south. gritted his teeth and instructed the steward to count every copper plate in the house, even if it was a broken month.

Both of them had reasons why they couldn't lose, and they both filled in millions of taels more. I have to sigh that the face of these big lords is worth millions of taels of silver.

The black-clothed guard took out the wooden box from the two-person room and was about to go downstairs. When passing by Qin Lei's room in the middle, Shi Dang came out and took the two boxes away. Then he instructed the two guards to invite them to the prince's room.

Although they were red-eyed, they hadn't gone crazy after all, and when they heard Qin Lei's summons, the two of them hurried to the big room in the middle.

Qin Lei ordered someone to close the window, and asked everyone to retreat, leaving only the three of them in the house. Letting the two people who were facing each other like fighting cocks sit down, Qin Lei patted the box on the table, coughed lightly and said, "Do you two know what the results will be after these two boxes are opened?" ”

The two of them said: "The old man won." Another scoffed, "He lost." ”