Chapter 1531 Fang Jun’s Midas Touch
Fangjiawan Pier.
A boatload of rice from Linyi Kingdom was unloaded from the ship by a boom, and then loaded on a flatbed cart at the dock. This cart has eight wheels. Usually, several kilograms of goods can be easily loaded. The eight wheels are all on the ground. Driving on a paved track, the cart is pulled by four strong oxen, and the rice is transported to a warehouse not far away for temporary storage, and will later be transported to various Changping warehouses and grain depots in Guanzhong.
The people on the shore are happy to hear this. The arrival of so much rice in Guanzhong means that no matter what the situation is this year, at least food prices will not rise and they will not starve.
However, in the eyes of the grain merchants in Guanzhong, this was like cutting off their financial path...
Why do grain merchants make profits?
Selling grain in ordinary times is a small profit, and there is actually not much profit to be made. What grain merchants like most is to hoard goods and operate at will. Once waterlogging, pests or war turmoil affect the grain harvest, they immediately purchase grains in large quantities, causing grain prices to rise suddenly, and then hoard the purchased grains until the harvest is over. There is no more food for sale on the market. Why don't the people who are so hungry that their eyes are blinding and howling howl just let them drive up the price of food as hard as they can?
Even though the imperial court has institutions such as Chang Pingcang and Yicang to regulate grain prices, officials have always protected each other. Which of the influential grain merchants is not a rich and powerful family?
Therefore, when food should be in short supply, it will still be in short supply, and when it should be in increase, it will still increase...
However, it is different now. Rice from Linyi State enters Guanzhong twice every year, causing mountains of rice to pile up in the government's granary. In addition, since the case of grain reselling in Yicang, the censors and officials have nothing to do but stare at the rice all day long. Turn around, hoping to catch a black sheep and punish him severely, so as to increase his influence among the people. Who else dares to risk his life?
As for hoarding goods, don't even think about it. Another explanation for hoarding goods is that things are rare and valuable. Now there is endless food on the market. Even if you want to hoard it, who can afford it?
Therefore, Fang Jun, who led the navy across the ocean to establish a seaport in Linyi State and transported Linyi State's rice back to his country, had an unparalleled reputation among the people!
*****
Fang Jun and the Crown Prince, dressed in casual clothes, were wandering on the pier. King Qi Li You rarely accompanied him, with his hands clasped on his shoulders and a pair of ruthless eyes looking around. He didn't have the dignity of a prince and grandson at all, but more like a dandy in the market...
A dozen elite guards around him were also wearing casual clothes to protect their safety. In the distance, there were dozens of East Palace guards mixed among the civilians and merchants at the dock, paying close attention to the situation nearby.
Listening to the words of gratitude from the people around him from time to time, Li Chengqian was envious and admired, but also a little bit disgusted: "Erlang's reputation, tsk tsk, is really stinking in the officialdom, but among the people, thousands of people have Buddhas. Ah!”
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince made a rare joke...
Fang Jun chuckled and said in a low voice: "Wei Chen didn't mean to do this. He just insisted on his consistent attitude. When facing the princes in the court, I will beat anyone who offends me. When facing the common people of the world, I will beat him. Fulfilling the duties of an official, nothing more.”
Li Chengqian laughed, looked around with interest, shook his head and said, "It's easy to say, but hard to do! It's not just that I'll beat anyone who offends me. It's not easy to do it, but it's also to fulfill the duties of an official." Responsibilities are also difficult. There are countless officials in the world. If only half of them can live up to their responsibilities, why worry about the Tang Dynasty not being prosperous and the people having no food or clothing? "
This is the case in the world. The simpler things are, the better the results are. However, the simpler things are, the more difficult it is to do...
The human heart has its own desires, and this has been the case since ancient times.
Fang Jun praised: "Although His Highness grew up in the palace, he has a full understanding of the sufferings of the world and indeed has the potential to be a wise king."
Li Chengqian laughed and said: "You actually commented on my ability in front of me? If it were the tyrant Emperor Sui Yang, he might have held a grudge in his heart just because of these words. He would wait to settle old scores with you when he ascends the throne one day. .”
Fang Jun also smiled and said: "Haha, according to what you mean, Your Highness... Then as the Crown Prince, you are thinking about what will happen after you ascend the throne. If His Majesty finds out..."
"..."
Li Chengqian's face turned pale with fright. He first looked around, then glared at Fang Jun and said angrily: "Are you going to die? How can you say such treacherous words? It doesn't matter whether you die or not, do you still want to involve Gu? ”
As he spoke, he glanced at Qi Wang Li You.
Li You didn't pay attention to what the two said at first. He was attracted by the merchants coming and going at the dock and the mountains of goods. He was thinking about how much money Fang Jun made in a day in such a prosperous dock.
Then he noticed that the conversation around him paused strangely, and he subconsciously looked at the two of them. He happened to meet the prince's guilty eyes and asked curiously: "Brother Prince, what are you looking at me for?"
Li Chengqian coughed dryly and said softly: "Um...Lao Wu, I just made a blunder as a brother. As for you, don't take it to heart, okay?"
Among the brothers, his relationship with Li You is not close.
Even if she is not a compatriot, she still looks down on Li You's vulgar and dissolute style. Today, when we went to the house, we happened to meet Li You.
Although his position as the crown prince is temporarily stable, the tortured Li Chengqian has long been tense and frightened by the slightest disturbance, and may be deposed by his father at any time. Although Li You has absolutely no qualifications to become the crown prince, if he had malicious intentions and spread the words just now to his father's ears...
Although he said it unintentionally, who knows what his father would think?
Li Chengqian complained in his heart.
Li You blinked and was confused: "What did you just say? I didn't hear it. How about brother Taizi say it again? I have been gathering a lot of these merchants just now."
Li Chengqian wasn't sure whether Li You heard it, but how could he repeat it? He doesn’t want to die...
He immediately changed the topic and followed Li You's tone and said: "This dock is really prosperous. Look at the merchants from all over the world. There are not only barbarians from the Western Regions, but also Turks and even Kunlun slaves... I can't bear it now." I want to be a merchant, discuss business with these merchants, exchange needs, and make money based on my own skills. It is really a pleasure. ”
The speaker has no intention, the listener has intention.
The two most famous things in history for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince are: one is raising a prostitute named Chengxin in the palace to pamper and love him, and the other is arranging some Hu merchants to create a "commercial street" in the palace. He himself turned into a commoner and bought and sold freely...
Fang Jun was almost frightened to death. If Li Chengqian really had the idea to create this "commercial street" in the palace in the future, His Majesty Li Er was furious and sent Baiqisi to investigate carefully. It turns out that the root cause is today. This thought came to my mind when I accompanied him Fang Jun on the dock...
Even if His Majesty Li Er chopped off his Fang Jun, it would be light.
Fang Jun said quickly: "Your Highness is joking, you are the crown prince of the country, how can you personally do such business as a merchant? This dock in Weichen may seem lively, but in fact it doesn't make much money. Your Highness, you better not worry about it."
Just be your prince, there are three thousand beauties, why should you covet a prostitute?
Don’t even play the game of “Commercial Street” in the East Palace...
The three of them walked casually and watched the bustling business of the dock with interest.
Li Chengqian was full of interest: "Looking at the Tang Dynasty, when it comes to the way of cultivating goods and the art of making money, if you, Fang Junruo, consider yourself second, who dares to claim the first place? You are so humble. Although I can't join a merchant, I know the way of a merchant. I’m very interested, Erlang, you might as well tell me, if I were to do business alone, which industry would make me money faster?”
Li You on one side seemed to be looking around, but in fact his ears were quietly perked up.
Fang Jun walked beside Li Chengqian with his hands behind his back, a little behind him. He said casually: "In business, one thing is to do it by doing it, and the other thing is to cater to the trend and innovate."
He pointed at the medicinal materials, silks and other items piled up in the warehouses on both sides of the road, and said: "Drug shops, silk shops, or restaurants and other businesses have existed since ancient times. Although most of them are profitable, there are many people doing them. It is difficult to stand out and profits are naturally limited.”
He also pointed to the clouds and boats on the river: "These cargo ships come from all over the world, Youzhou, Shandong, Jiangnan, and even Lingnan... If these cargo ships are allowed to transport specialties from all over the world to Guanzhong, and display and sell them in one place, it will be unified The prices are guaranteed to be fresh, and buyers can choose at will. Buyers are sure to gather and make money every day.”
It’s quite complicated to say, but it’s actually the concept of a supermarket.
It is definitely not possible to copy the supermarkets of later generations. Even if the waterways are smooth these days, the transportation is still backward, and it is difficult to ensure the freshness of goods from various places after they arrive in Guanzhong. But just using the format of a supermarket to attract attention and sell some non-perishable specialty goods from various places to create strong curiosity among the people should be able to make a difference.
It is certain that the fire will be extremely hot at least within one stage.
Li Chengqian nodded and praised: "The world's goods and products are gathered in one place. The significance of this alone is enough to make merchants willing to come here. Erlang is worthy of being called the 'God of Wealth'. A casual transaction can amass tens of millions of wealth." ”
Fang Jun responded modestly.
King Qi Li You, who was silent on the side, his eyes lit up and his eyes rolled around... (End of Chapter)