(New books for collections, recommended votes, please, please!) Your attention is the motivation for my writing, thank you! ）

After a whole day of invigilation, Geng Jingzhong was tired and lay directly on the bed and didn't want to move another finger. Think about it all day today, he personally tested the Mandarin speaking test, and then scored it on the spot. At the end of the day, when all the tests are completed, everyone's speaking score will be known. The first test in the morning was the written test, and under the guidance of the correct answers, Yang Jian and several other guards only took less than two hours to complete all the changes. In the end, the 14 people with the highest overall score were selected, and each drew lots to draw lots to the state capital they wanted to go to. The selected gentleman was as excited as Fan Jinzhongju, trembling with excitement. Those who didn't choose could only shake their heads secretly, sighing that their skills were not as good as others, and wait for next year!

In the next few days, the whole of Fuzhou seemed to be so calm on the surface, but in fact, a large number of wealthy merchants and landlords in Fujian dug up the silver cellars at home, boxes of silver were opened, and then they were in full swing to gather the silver to Fuzhou City. Fortunately, there are no bandits in Fuzhou and even in the whole of Fujian now, otherwise they would have to be frightened on the way to escort them.

Geng Jingzhong used the time of the past few days to establish the headquarters address of the Fuzhou Ocean Trading Company with Wang and Gu. The Gu family cleared out a Gu family courtyard near the south gate in Fuzhou City as the headquarters, and all the company's personnel worked here in the future. Tomorrow is the time for the trading company's share auction, and the people of the Gu family are busy doing the final cleaning and inspection inside and out.

Early the next morning, all the big and small families, wealthy businessmen and tycoons who could get the table in Fujian gathered in the Gujia Courtyard in the south of the city, and there were more than 100 people. The two heads of the family, Gu and Wang, led everyone to wait for Geng Jingzhong's arrival in the hall.

Geng Jingzhong didn't sleep lazy today, and rushed over after breakfast. As soon as he entered the hall, everyone got up to greet him, most of them had never seen what the prince of Jingnan looked like, but they heard that he was young and promising, but he didn't expect to be so young. "You're welcome, sit!" Geng Jingzhong glanced at everyone below and sat down at the top. The bottom of the round table at the top was deliberately raised so that Geng Jingzhong could see everyone below.

"The purpose of calling everyone here today is also very clear to everyone. This prince is ready to take the lead in the development of maritime trade, so he invites the big guys to join in. Presumably, the head of the Gu family and the head of the Wang family have told you that the newly established Fuzhou Ocean Trading Company is carried out under the name of my Mawei Navy, after all, the imperial court is still forbidden to the sea. But how many years has this sea been banned, but has the sea trade ever stopped? Geng Jingzhong said to everyone with a smile, and everyone present subconsciously shook their heads.

"Since the sea is indispensable, then it is up to me to lead everyone to make a fortune together. I am not satisfied with you, but the person I sent to the capital has already replied that the four auxiliary ministers, except for the first assistant, Lord Suo, who is seriously ill, the other three have agreed to my formation of a navy. In this way, the big ship of Haimao should be smooth sailing under the escort of the Mawei Navy. ”

"His Royal Highness, we must follow you, tell me about the regulations!" Bai Zhisheng, the head of the Bai family, was lean, but he was very energetic, and asked impatiently.

"Hehe, it seems that someone is in a hurry!" Geng Jingzhong smiled slightly.

"Hahaha!" There was a burst of laughter below.

"Brother Gradual, what are you anxious about, the prince will talk about it in a while." Wang Xiancai smiled and said to Bai Zhisheng angrily.

At this time, Geng Jingzhong stood up and walked slowly in front. "Good. Next, I will talk about our charter carefully. If you want to develop maritime trade, you must have a port. We have only one commercial port in Fujian that can be used so far, which is not good. Without a port, not only do our ships have nowhere to dock, but also foreign ships cannot unload and load their cargo. Therefore, the first one was to build a port. The location has also been chosen, and we are just waiting for the start of construction immediately. The second is the ship. Large ships, large ships that can go to the sea, this one is a little more difficult. But I'm sure you've also heard that my shipyard in Mawei is building warships. Since warships can be built, then building merchant ships is a piece of cake. At the beginning of next spring, I will assign a group of shipwrights to open up a new shipyard for the construction of merchant ships, and according to the current situation, dozens of large ships can be launched every three months. Saying this, Geng Jingzhong picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea.

"The third article is to set up a public bank in Fujian, so that you can control the price of commodities and seek greater benefits in foreign trade. All merchants in our port must be allowed to sell our rules, including ourselves. If there is any violation or forgetfulness of profit, the son of this world will cancel his right to do business in the port. The merchants below are all human spirits, and when they heard it, they understood the meaning and couldn't help but nod their heads.

"But this qiē is now the moon in the mirror, and if you want to do this, you still need the support of everyone here. To put it bluntly, you just need silver. I accounted for 30% of all the shares of Fuzhou Ocean Trading Company, and the two heads of the Wang family and the Gu family participated in the formulation of the company together with me, so each family got five shares in advance, and the rest was auctioned. After deliberation, it was decided that the shares of the seventh floor should raise 21 million, which means that each share needs 300,000 taels of silver. All the money raised will be used to build several commercial ports and shipyards, as well as to train the company's own seafaring talents. The three million taels of silver from the Wang and Gu families have been delivered. If you have any questions now, you can raise your hand to ask questions, and I will answer them for you while there is still time! ”

Everyone below immediately cast envious glances at the two family heads Wang and Gu. "Shizi, I would like to ask if there is a restriction on the purchase of shares in a trading company?" This person is also an acquaintance of Geng Jingzhong, the shopkeeper of Tong Jutang who he once saw in Yuegang. He is now the head of the Dehua Tong family and the largest shareholder of Dehua Porcelain Company.

"Oh, this was just omitted, each family can buy a maximum of five percent of the shares, which is half a percent, just like the Wang family, no more! Some of you are rich enough to eat all the meat, and you have to allow others to drink the soup. ”

"Shizi, there is a problem below. If several commercial ports are built, what will be done with the shops in the port? ”

That's a good question! After the completion of the port, all the shops were owned by the trading company, only leased, not bought and sold, and our own trading house had a limited lease right, and of course, all income was recorded in the company's books. ”

"Okay, then the auction of the following shares is ready to begin!" At this time, Yang Jian, who had been standing next to Geng Jingzhong, stood in front with a pamphlet in his hand.

"The share auction is above board, the child is not bullied, and the one with the highest price wins. In addition, it is stated in advance that the dividends of Fuzhou Ocean Trading Company will not be distributed until two years later, and if you have any opinions, you can withdraw now, and you will not be reluctant. Yang Jian looked around, no one made a sound, and continued: "The shares will be sold in batches, the first time, two percent will be sold, a total of four shares, each share of five shares, and the owner of the auction cannot continue to bid." The second sale of 20 1 shares for a total of 7 shares of 3 3 shares each. The third one percent of shares, a total of five shares, each with two shares. The last time, a total of nine shares, each with one share. Previously, the prince said that the reserve price of each share is 300,000 taels of silver, and the one with the highest price wins. ”

"Now the first auction begins, each five-cent share, the reserve price is 1.5 million, please bid."

"One and a half million, I want the first copy from the Lin family in Putian!"

"I Xinghua Chen family out 1.6 million!"

"The Wu family in Zhangzhou is 1.7 million!"

"Is there anything higher? Without? The first Zhangzhou Wu family was obtained for 1.7 million. Now follows the second one."

The auction in the morning was in full swing, with less meat and more wolves, and the more fierce the scramble became in the back. In addition to their frustration, the owners of the families who did not bid at the beginning began to turn their attention to the small shares, and anyway, the largest rich man had already bought five cents of the shares, and he could no longer compete with them. They are all thinking about how to grasp the opportunity behind this, and they are nervously calculating how much they should bid to be appropriate?

Soon, one-third of the one was also sold out, and the lowest bid was 1.2 million. Then it was a two-point serving, and it was quickly bought. The competition for the last nine shares has reached a white-hot stage. The family, which has already bought two cents of shares since it still has the financial resources, is still not satisfied, and continues to focus on this one cent of shares. The family that didn't buy it couldn't even think about it, and the price went all the way to 500,000 copies! According to the last statistics, 27 wealthy families from Fuzhou, Xinghua, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Yanping, Jianning, Shaowu, and Tingzhou won all the shares, raising a total of 24.6 million taels, which was 3.6 million taels more than the scheduled 21 million taels. Geng Jingzhong's purse, which was already deflated, was instantly filled, and it was so full that it was about to bulge out.

After receiving the statistical results, Geng Jingzhong couldn't help but laugh, how many soft sister coins should be exchanged for in modern times! At this time, more than 20 million taels were raised, nearly 4 million taels more than the scheduled result, which was really an eye-opener for him. Now the tax revenue of the Qing court is only 30 million taels a year, and it can really be said that it is rich and rivals the country! Hey, it's a shame that if these merchants could take out these to arm the army, it would not be enough to see several times the Eight Banners Iron Cavalry!

For the use of this money, Geng Jingzhong has a plan for a long time. In the early stage, it would only cost five million taels of silver to build a few commercial ports and a few shipyards, and another five million would be used to expand the army, and fifteen or six million taels would be left in hand. You can't just hide so much silver, you have to find a way to make it roll, money is king! Let them lie down and sleep, that's the stupidest way to go. If you really want to hide it, you have to replace it all with gold and then hide it, and in the future, only gold will be the most valuable!