In ancient times, salt and iron belonged to the state monopoly on production, management and operation, and its purpose was to solve the problem of central fiscal revenue. It is self-evident that the forbidden commodities are related to the livelihood of the people, the circulation field is wide, and the commercial profits are huge. In the Han and Tang dynasties, the wrestling and game around this right never stopped.

In the Song Dynasty, with the development and prosperity of the commodity economy, more and more merchants vigorously intervened, and the prohibition of state-owned enterprises was gradually relaxed, and the management power was gradually decentralized. By the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, almost all of the restrictions on the transportation of salt were abolished, and the Southern Song Dynasty basically followed the practice of the late Northern Song Dynasty.

On the one hand, the court of the Southern Song Dynasty made every effort to ensure that the prohibited goods were purchased by the state, and on the other hand, it delegated the right to operate and 'order merchants to go to the scene to ask for sales', thus establishing a prohibition system based on official purchase and commercial sales.

With the enactment of the Trade Law, the management of specific matters prohibited by the law was gradually delegated to local governments, and since they were responsible for managing circulation, local officials could find ways to share the profits from each link.

The sole purpose of the ban is to accumulate wealth, and the decentralization of management power has also facilitated the collusion between local tyrants, officials, businessmen, power, and interests. At the end of the Song Dynasty, officials were corrupt, and in the face of prohibitions and huge profits, no one who wanted to take a piece of the pie was an official who had a little power. The profits have been divided up from top to bottom, and when they reach the bottom of the river, their profits are already very small, which forces private businessmen to take risks and embark on the road of making and selling illicit salt.

Since you have embarked on this path, if you want to walk long and steadily, you must find a backer and shelter.

When a group of businessmen learned that Zhu Chengjun not only had a good relationship with the county magistrate and the county magistrate, they couldn't help but be overjoyed.

The profits that can be shared at the end of the ban can only maintain the daily expenses of a family of dozens of people, and cannot make people live a luxurious life, but these businessmen are eager to do it, and Zhu Chengjun can't help but suspect that there is a 'mine' underground in their house.

Zhu Chengjun glanced around everyone and warned sternly: "Now that you can do business legally, please seal the 'mine' in your house, and no one will be able to save you when something happens." ”

Hearing this, everyone's hearts suddenly tightened, their eyes wandered and dodged, and their faces looked stiff, obviously being poked by Zhu Chengjun's words. If they don't have the mine in their hands, a few of them are willing to work hard to earn that hard-earned money.

"Zhu Gongzi laughed......"

"Everybody's ...... Honest and responsible......"

Under the gaze of Zhu Chengjun's sharp gaze, everyone suddenly felt that there was nowhere to hide.

Zhu Chengjun knew that those words could not be put on the table, and they were beaten, and the firewall that should be built had been built, so even if something happened to them, it might not affect themselves. Zhu Chengjun didn't hold on to this issue, waved his hand, and said, "Okay, you all go home to raise money, don't wait for the deadline." ”

"Dare to ask Zhu Gongzi, can the deposit be offset by the purchase of twice the grain stamps?"

Through the last operation, most of the grain stamps in circulation were bought by the three major grain merchants to exchange for grain, and the remaining part was also repurchased and borrowed.

The reason why the food stamps were successfully borrowed was that the grain was not worth that price in the years when there were no disasters and no famines. Their worries are not unreasonable, the three major grain merchants have stopped buying at this time, and the grain stamps are about to be smashed into a pile of grain in their hands, and at this moment, the Changxing ticket number suddenly makes a move and is willing to pay 8% interest to borrow back the grain stamps. In a panic, they couldn't think about it anymore, and lent the Changxing ticket number in one go, so in their opinion, this operation was a profitable business. If the price of the stamps can return to the price at which they lent them after six months, they can get all the money back, and this account can be worth it no matter how it is calculated.

Now that the price of food has returned to a reasonable price range, the people present are all old foxes who have been in business for a long time, and they expect that there will be a wave of food stamps, if they can hedge a part of it by purchasing food stamps, the price they pay will not be too big, and maybe there will be unexpected surprises.

In the agreement signed between Zhu Chengjun and them, it was clearly stipulated that the deposit would not be refunded, and it would not be refunded, because the money was to be handed over to Chang Pingsi (Cangsi), of course, Zhu Chengjun had already handed over the money first, and now he just wanted to collect it from them.

When everyone put forward this proposal, Zhu Chengjun was instantly vigilant, in order to get back the food stamps, he didn't put a lot of effort into it, and now he wants to sell it again, under the premise of such cooperation, the more food stamps they buy, the greater the effect on their own pliers. But now that most of the food stamps are in their hands, how can they generate money if they are not circulated?

"The price is negotiable, 30% higher than the current market price, how about it?"

"Forty percent!" Seeing Zhu Chengjun's deep face, everyone raised the price by one percent, which was already two percent higher than the deposit they needed to pay.

Now that Zhongli County is short of grain, the grain stamps will soon have another wave of market, how can Zhu Chengjun miss such an opportunity to make a fortune. But these old foxes are obviously uneasy and kind, and people have to guard against it.

Zhu Chengjun thought for a moment and said, "Fifty percent, no two prices." And you have to promise that half of the stamps in your hands will not change hands for half a year, and that you must sell all of them by August of this year. ”

They can still accept that they can only sell half of the stamps if the market price improves, and they have stipulated that they must sell all of them by August this year.

Although Zhu Chengjun has eaten up this wave of dividends in advance, there is a fixed amount of grain produced in the field, and it is not difficult for the price of grain stamps to rise by at least four or five percent or even double on the existing basis in less than a month. In addition, the other half of the grain stamps should be held in the hand for half a year and sold before the autumn harvest, which is also a good season for the start of the market, and it is not unacceptable.

When people saw Zhu Chengjun making such a request, it was not difficult to imagine that Zhu Chengjun was short of food in his hands, and if there was a sudden run, the food in his hands would not be enough to deal with it. Of course, because of the situation, they did not dare to set off a run on the tide.

"Just according to what Zhu Gongzi said." No matter how you look at this deal, it's a win-win situation, and it's hard to find fault with it.

After signing all the cooperation agreements, a group of businessmen happily said goodbye to Zhu Chengjun.

When everyone was gone, only Shen Ze and Zhu Chengjun were left in the living room, Shen Ze saw that Zhu Chengjun's face was sinking like water, and said: "My subordinates don't understand why the owner is worried?" In Shen Ze's view, these people can buy less than 30% of the food stamps, and the food stamps that can be sold at any time account for about 1/5 percent of the food stamps issued, which does not have much impact on the overall situation.

Zhu Chengjun sighed lightly: "It is a foregone conclusion that food prices will rise again, and we are powerless to control it." This is nothing to the rich squires, but for the common people, it is a disaster, and they have to survive until the summer harvest...... Easier said than done. ”

"The owner can rest assured that the branch of Yutai Grain Bank has been rolled out to the south, and it is not difficult to transport grain from further south to alleviate the crisis of food shortage in the county." Shen Ze comforted.

It is understandable for businessmen to make profits, so worried about the country and the people, how can they be white.

Waving away the worries in his heart, Zhu Chengjun looked at the sky, and the meeting time he had agreed with Zhong Lizhen was about to arrive.

Zhu Chengjun told Shen Ze to start implementing the matter of dealing with the three major grain merchants of Qian, Sun and Tian, and then got up and went to Piaoxiang Courtyard.

As soon as she arrived at the gate of Piaoxiang Courtyard, the old bustard girl recognized Zhu Chengjun at a glance.

With a generous pilgrim like Zhu Chengjun, it is difficult not to be impressed.

"Master Zhu, I haven't seen you here for a long time." Hua Niang walked over and held Zhu Chengjun's arm affectionately, a pair of peach blossom eyes full of resentment, pretending to be coquettish, and said: "The slave family thought that Zhu Gongzi would abandon Huahaili if he had Xiang'er." ”

The rich smell of fat powder hit the tip of his nose, and Zhu Chengjun seemed to have adapted to it, and rarely did not sneeze.

The flower girl dragged Zhu Chengjun to the Piaoxiang Courtyard, and there was no need for the flower girl to beckon, a group of scantily clad warblers and warblers surrounded her, and a pair of charming eyes were thrown frequently.

Zhu Chengjun's extravagance of spending a lot of money has long been known to the girls of Piaoxiang Academy, and if he is fortunate enough to be favored by him, his hard life will come to an end.

Hua Niang saw that Zhu Chengjun was unmoved by the beautiful Jiao'e, so she raised her hand and wanted to change a batch.

Zhu Chengjun casually rewarded Hua Niang with a piece of silver, and asked, "Is Lord Zhong here?" ”

Hua Niang saw that Zhu Chengjun was here to talk about business, so she no longer recommended the girl to him, and immediately led Zhu Chengjun to the private room.

Walking into the private room, Zhu Chengjun saw Zhong Lizhen hugging left and right, and a pair of big hands were doing their best to rub oil.

Looking at the hour, Zhong Lizhen should have been on duty in the yamen, but he had the leisure to come to Piaoxiang Garden to look for flowers and ask willows, presumably not busy.

When he saw Zhu Chengjun walking in, Zhong Lizhen reluctantly waved away Meijiao'e, who flattered him in every way.

Zhu Chengjun lightly clenched his fists and saluted: "I've seen Lord Zhong." ”

"Brother Xian is polite, please take a seat." Zhong Lizhen waved her hand.

Zhong Lizhen was born in the army, and she didn't have the red tape of civil officials.

Zhu Chengjun got straight to the point and asked bluntly: "My lord's errand this time, did it go well?" ”

Zhong Lizhen poured herself a small wine of three coins and sighed: "Most of the people of the Fang family have been arrested, but it is a pity that the Fang family has already transferred the money, and Lord Zhang was ordered to raid the house this time and only found more than 30,000 taels of silver." It is not difficult for the virtuous brother to imagine that the Fang family has monopolized the salt and iron franchise for many years, and if they only have this bit of family background, the ghosts will not believe it. ”

Zhu Chengjun followed Zhong Lizhen's words: "It is not ruled out that Master Fang has a far-sighted plan and has transferred his property early in the morning. ”

"What the virtuous brother said is very true." Suddenly, Zhong Lizhen's eyes suddenly froze, glanced around the room, moved closer to Zhu Chengjun, and lowered his voice as much as possible: "The Fang family's house and land property that have been raided, Brother Wangxian must take it down, especially ......" Listening to Zhong Lizhen's words, Zhu Chengjun's eyes suddenly lit up, and he said in his heart: The Fang family really has a 'mine'.

Zhu Chengjun knew that this place rich in salt mines was a hot potato, and it was absolutely unavoidable.

Zhong Lizhen saw that Zhu Chengjun was unmoved by the salt mine, and instigated: "What is under that land, I have erased the traces, and it is absolutely safe." ”

Absolutely safe? Not necessarily, your brother knows, and the miners arranged by the Fang family to mine know that it is not safe at all. Zhu Chengjun naturally guessed the intention of Zhong Lizhen's move, and said with a smile: "I didn't know that there was such a piece of land, but the Fang family's house and real estate that were confiscated will be found in the next meeting." Seeing Zhong Lizhen's face of approval, without waiting for him to speak, Zhu Chengjun took the lead in promised: "I heard that Lord Zhong's favorite fifth lady is about to give birth, and I should prepare a generous gift for the adult, so it is better to ...... it."

There is no need to say it explicitly, Zhong Lizhen can also think of it.

Zhu Chengjun saw Zhong Lizhen holding back his excitement, and then said: "My lord, rest assured, it is absolutely safe." ”

"Haha...... Brother Xian is really a wonderful person......"

Such a treasure land, Zhong Lizhen has long intended to keep it for himself, unexpectedly Zhu Chengjun voluntarily bought it with money and gave it to him, Zhong Lizhen seemed to see the grand scene of white flowers and silver piling up in the warehouse.

Zhu Chengjun saw Zhong Lizhen gladly accepting, and said in his heart: It's okay for you to pretend to postpone it, just like this, it's ugly. Successfully shook off the hot potato, Zhu Chengjun couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.