As soon as Wang Chongyi arrived in Shanghai, he and Zhang Sixiao paid a generous visit to Lu Kun, the prefect of Shanghai. First, if there is a trend, the government still needs to be suppressed: second, this Lu Kun is a member of the nine families in the southeast, and this time the nine families suffered a big loss in the Huilian incident, and naturally became a fire and water with the Jin merchants.

Wang Chongyi knew very well that this sudden run on the tide was that the Nine Masters were making trouble behind their backs, so he came to visit him to see if there was a chance to ease the relationship and let them not dismantle the stage again.

Lu Kun met with the two very politely, and agreed to Wang Chongyi's invitation to go with him to bail out the Royal Bank.

Wang Chongyi heard the perfunctory in his words, and had to ask clearly: "The lord personally went out to suppress the horse, although the main thing is to appease, but if there is really someone who does not know the severity and intends to incite the trend, please ask the prefect to make it clear, how to deal with it, is it appropriate?" ”

"It's always about going against the grain." Lu Kun said helplessly.

"There should be a measure in this, please make it clear!" Wang Chongyi was displeased and said: "If someone dares to make trouble, what can the government do? ”

Only ,........." Lu Kun pondered for a while and said, "Forgive them and don't dare."

"As the saying goes, you are not afraid of 10,000, but you are afraid of just in case, and you can't guard against it." Wang Chongyi did not forgive.

"No in case. There is a saying that "if you are not stupid or deaf, you will not be a family...... I am the prefect of this prefecture, just like the patriarch of Shanghai City, so naturally I can't see the same as the small people. Lu Kun's attitude is already obvious, and he must be tolerant and accommodating to the people in every possible way, and there is no deliberate connivance in it.

"Lord Lu!" Wang Chongyi accentuated his tone: "Wang is not a member of the public family, but he has also heard of the "way of government, leniency and severity...... If there is that kind of trick on the people, it is not enough to make them obedient, and when the time comes, the adults will not care, which will only encourage the arrogance of the people and make the situation more and more out of control! ”

"It's natural to repay debts, it's obvious that your Royal Bank is the first to take care of the loss" Lu Kun also lowered his face and said coldly: "Let this government suppress the people, it's okay!" But you have to make sense first! ”

"It's simple." Zhang Sixiao couldn't help but interject: "In the end, the Royal Bank will have to fail, and all the people's hard-earned money will become waste paper, and the world will be in chaos immediately!" If there is no run, the Royal Bank will continue to open, and everyone's money will still be money, and life will continue to be the same. ”

"This is a big truth, and the people won't pay attention to it!" Lu Kun waved his hand and said: "They only saw that the early arrival, the hand chief, first took the cash away, and then it failed, the two of them put themselves in their shoes and thought about it, can they not get angry in their hearts?" After a pause, he said heavily: "Everything is most afraid of public anger, once the public is angry, the government can't suppress it, and the money village is smashed, not to mention, I am afraid that it will cause chaos in the city!"

Why is there such a wrath? It's because some people have it, some people don't, it's not fair! Soxìng everyone doesn't have it, but it's also a kind of fairness, the two gentlemen feel it! ”

Zhang Sixiao said angrily: "Lord Lu, you have something to say!" ”

"Look what you hear." Lu Kun was noncommittal.

"Lou knows that the Huilian has been seized by the emperor, and you feel bad" Zhang Sixiao Suo no longer detoured and said: "So I want to pull us to be unlucky together, this kind of thing that harms others and is not beneficial to oneself is not something that the Nine Masters should do." After a pause, he said in an accentuated tone: "Don't forget, your deposits in the Huilian are now in the accounts of the Royal Bank, if we fail, you don't want to get one!" ”

"Why is it on the Nine Families again?" Lu Kun sneered: "Since the day the emperor seized the Huilian, the Nine Masters have ceased to exist!" ”

"I know that the Nine Families have suffered heavy losses." Zhang Sixiao also wanted to say, but was stopped by Wang Chongyi and said: "But that has nothing to do with our Jin merchants, it is the Huilian number that the Wanli Emperor sent Dongchang to seize, if we don't cooperate with the emperor, we will follow in the footsteps of the Huilian." Master Lu, if you put yourself in your shoes, do we have any other choice? "It's like human talk." Lu Kun said with a slight mist on his face: "Then I will also tell the truth to the shopkeeper of Mr. Wang." The so-called Nine Families really don't exist anymore, and there is no one who is making trouble behind their backs, whether it is the common people, the rich businessmen and gentry, they are purely frightened by the emperor and Dongchang. Everyone hands over their hard-earned money to the money bank for safekeeping, the picture is safe and secure, and now the money bank itself is not guaranteed, who can rest assured that the money will be deposited to you? ”

"The little truth is" Wang Chongyi said bitterly: "The money is stored in the bank, and the interest is generated during the day, and the interest is also earned when sleeping at night, so why bother withdrawing cash and putting it at home?" Not only does big money not give birth to small money, but there are also worries about hiding and stealing. If the run continues, the Royal Bank will fail, and everyone's money will have to turn into a bubble. Lord Futai, ordinary people don't understand this truth, should they persuade the big families to accept it? ”

"How do you convince that?" Lu Kun said.

"Let's take a look down there first." Wang Chongyi said: "Only by understanding the specific situation can we make an idea." ”

"Yes." Lu Kun nodded, and then ordered the sedan chair to be prepared, worried about any accidents, and called the soldiers of the Soldiers and Horses Division to escort him.

Because of Wang Benchang's relationship, the Miaoqian branch became the destination of Lu Kun and Wang Chongyi.

As soon as the procession arrived at Miaoqian Street, they saw a crowd of people waiting for the Royal Bank to open its doors and lend money, filling the wide Miaoqian Street. Seeing that the errand led by the head catcher was no longer at a loss, they all drank and ate tea in the teahouses and restaurants on the street to hide from their idleness. Hearing the sound of gongs and shouting on the street, I knew that it was the Lord of Futai who had arrived, so I naturally couldn't be lazy. Fortunately, after resting and recuperating in spirit, one by one the fierce gods and evil spirits, waving whip sticks in the wind, and howling ghosts and wolves, soon opened a way in the crowd. Led Lu Kun and his entourage through the side door into the living room of the Royal Bank.

The Royal Bank's parlor was large and high, with a glass skylight in the center, and the sun shone directly through the noon, illuminating a large marble-topped table of eight immortals in the middle. The furnishings inside were originally very exquisite, with rosewood furniture and celebrity calligraphy and paintings on the four walls. It's just that in the chaos of the day before yesterday, except for this heavy table of eight immortals, all of them were looted, and now they can only temporarily move a set of sour jujube wood chairs from other places, which seems very out of tune.

But Lu Kun and Wang Chongyi were not guests, they only frowned, sat down on the round stool, took a sip of the teacup, and Lu Kun said: "The crowd outside is turbulent, and it's not the same thing not to open the door." I think it should be business as usual. ”

As soon as these words came out, Zhang Sixiao couldn't answer, and Wang Benchang was even more distressed. If you can continue to open as usual, why not get out of the row? I really don't have a backache when I stand and talk.

"I think it's okay to be open as usual." Wang Chongyi added: "But there should be a limit. How much cash do you have in your vault? ”

There are still more than two million in stock, but in front of Lu Kun, Wang Benchang didn't dare to tell the truth, and said in half: "More than one million." ”

"There's so much cash, it's enough to block it for a while." Lu Kun said: "How many tickets do you issue, there is always an account, right?" ”

"Of course, there is the account king Benchangdao.

"How many are under 10,000 taels?" Wang Chongyi asked.

"It's up to you." Wang Benzhi confessed, sat down on the chair next to him, asked the man to take the account book, and quickly calculated the abacus to report: "A total of 3.33 million hanging zero." ”

"Not much!" Lu Kun said.

"My lord" Wang Benchang smiled bitterly: "Although there are not many tickets issued by this number, I don't know about it elsewhere." For example, we also have the same tickets issued by other branches, and even Nanjing, Suzhou and Hangzhou. ”

"I see." Lu Kun suddenly said: "Shanghai is an economic capital, and most of the country's silver tickets have come here, no wonder you are sad." ”

"That's right." Wang Chongyi nodded.

This had to raise the limit. Although Wang Chongyi and Lu Kun both hoped that the silver bills below 5,000 taels could be redeemed, Wang Benchang and Zhang Sixiao thought that they were not sure, and if the limit was relaxed and the silver deposits were exhausted, the second announcement of the suspension of the exchange would make the situation completely out of control.

This is a hard-hitting and unpretentious matter, and in the end, according to Zhang Sixiao and Wang Benchang's intentions, the limit was lowered to 1,000 taels. Next, we will study how to deal with more than 1,000 taels of silver tickets.

"What does our owner mean," Wang Chongyi said: "The Royal Bank is still a gold-lettered signboard, just because the turnover is not effective for a while due to the influence of the market, so please make peace with the people of Futai on your behalf, and please do not withdraw cash for the time being." As long as you stabilize the large households and sporadic individual customers, you will naturally cope with it freely. ”

Lu Kun thought this idea was appropriate. But how to communicate this decision to the customer is quite a matter of deliberation, because then the big customers will not get the money, what if they are not convinced? You have to think about what to do in advance, otherwise the tide will explode soon.

"It's up to us to dredge." Wang Chongyi said: "Most of the people gathered outside today are ordinary people, and there are very few decent gentlemen. Therefore, I was tired of the people of Futai and I, and took the account books to persuade one by one: at the same time, a notice explaining the method was issued, so that it was more appropriate to do both at the same time. ”

Lu Kun understood, Wang Chongyi wanted to use the government as a guarantee to increase the grasp of persuading the big families. But he was unwilling to take responsibility for Jin Shang. If the Royal Bank really fails,

Then he is inevitably guilty of complicit deception, and he came this time just to maintain the market and the crisis to pass smoothly. But if he wants to survive the crisis, he must stabilize the big households, so he can't make up his mind whether he should agree or not.

"The people are looking at the gentry. As long as the big households are stabilized, the hearts of the people will be stabilized. Wang Chongyi persuaded bitterly.

"Okay, this government has no choice but to be with you through thick and thin." Lu Kun finally nodded.

One by one, one The reputation has always been outstanding, the joint number is located in the north and south, the dispatch is more than enough, just for the merger and reorganization, the turnover is not effective for a while, there is no need to be at a loss, the market must seek calm, the bank is open as usual, the silver ticket can also be redeemed, the thousand taels are full of less, more than a thousand come to the door to negotiate, and the difficulties can be passed.

If there is an illegal villain, I hope that the muddy waters will be tried, and the law of the country will not be relied upon. This house is bitter, and there is no need to say it! Cut it off! ”

Under the notice, the officers and soldiers were on alert inside and outside, and the bodyguards and men of the Royal Bank began to push silver out in a cart, stacking boxes at the door of the store, and opening the boxes one by one. Therefore, when I saw so many silver taels, I was immediately worried.

The counter of the bank was also moved to the street, and the guys immediately began to exchange money. After some 180 taels of individual customers, a big customer, Boss Zhu, who opened a spice shop on this street, took a stack of silver tickets and asked for exchange. Even if more than 1,000 taels are drawn, there are still more than 1,000 taels.

The guys brought up a basket and piled up the silver, twenty large ingots, piled up in three columns, all of which were freshly baked foot pattern official seals, white and shining, dazzling and raw.

"This gentleman" The teller stood up behind the square table, and said very politely: "The cash you want is here, please count it." ”

"At a glance, it's definitely not bad. However, "Boss Zhu was puzzled: "How can I get so much silver?" "A basket of more than 60 catties of silver, there is nowhere to collect it, nowhere to hide, do you really want to carry it home?

"According to the rules, it should be sent to the house. However, there are so many people redeeming silver tickets today that I can't draw anyone. I'm really sorry! The teller bowed his hand repeatedly.

"With so much silver left at home, won't you invite thieves?" Boss Zhu made another mistake and muttered there.

"Don't grind." Later, the customer hurriedly urged: "It's good to redeem the silver, and others still want to redeem it."

This urging made Boss Zhu make up his mind: "I won't redeem this silver"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" The teller's heart was full of anger, and he wanted to apologize and said: "When I am a little free tomorrow, how much cash will be used, and our store will send it directly to the house." As he spoke, he handed over the passbook and said, "Here is your fold, please put it away." ”

Boss Zhu's departure reminded many people, yes, wouldn't it be a thief to put so much silver at home? How can there be peace of mind in the bank? As a result, most of the people dispersed, and no one objected to the limit of only 1,000 taels, but some people asked for a written note to ensure that the full amount would be redeemed in the future.

However, there are still many more small households to cash in silver than usual. The Royal Bank is not afraid, not to mention that it wants to take the opportunity to save some reputation, so it will pay for it. On the contrary, many depositors who have already redeemed the cash silver have come back to save money, after all, everyone is used to using silver tickets, and it is really inconvenient to carry a heavy silver tael in their pockets.

Lu Kun was very satisfied, and Wang Chongyi was also very complacent, so he called a banquet that night and held a celebration banquet in the store.

That night, Wang Chongyi rested in the guest room of the branch. After a night of hangover, he was woken up by Zhang Sixiao.

Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he saw a pale face and a newspaper with the scent of ink: "Chief shopkeeper, it's storming......"

"Calm down!" Wang Chongyi put on the huā mirror, took the newspaper, and looked at the headline: "Dongchang eunuch guards steals, 50 million taels of silver is stolen" Although it is no longer Xintong, it completely destroyed all his efforts and struggles.