Chapter 112 Qiao Family Courtyard
"boom!"

Banner county.

Inside the Qiao Family compound, the current head of the Qiao Family, Qiao Zhiguang, suddenly threw his cane to the ground and shouted angrily, "What does this eunuch from the capital want to do? He's asking for money so blatantly!"

"Who does he think owns the world of Dayu?"

"Why haven't the officials in the court reported him for blatantly extorting money from the people?"

In the main hall of the Qiao family compound, besides Qiao Zhiguang, there were several other figures.

They are all Qiao Zhiguang's sons, who are in charge of the Qiao family's many businesses and shops. They all live a life of luxury and comfort.

The second son, Qiao Maokang, said, "Dad, you don't know how powerful that eunuch Liu is. He didn't even give face to the county governor and the prefect. When Prefect Chen went there, he stood outside the door for more than an hour before he saw anyone. He was chased out after saying a few words."

"All the women from Datong that we offered to the emperor were kept."

"Hey! If I had my old temper, I would have asked someone to take off my official uniform long ago!"

"Do you really think I'm afraid of him?"

"waste!"

Qiao Zhiguang slammed the ground with his cane and yelled, "Useless! What do you know?"

"Maoyong, you speak!"

The eldest son Qiao Maoyong said: "Dad, I asked someone in the court, and this Liu Chengen is indeed the favorite of the emperor, the kind that he takes with him wherever he goes."

"You came to Bingzhou this time because you were ordered by the emperor to collect military expenses."

"Alas, it's also our fault that we were impatient at the time and intercepted Cui Xiawu on the way and asked him to help us kill those mud-legged people. Otherwise, would this have happened?"

"You only need to stay for a month to get 10 million taels of silver. Is this how business is done?"

Qiao Maokang said: "Dad! It's not that I don't want to spend so much money, it's mainly because this is too worthless, how come..."

"Shut up!"

Qiao Zhiguang asked, "Have you asked the people above to report him?"

"No, father." Qiao Maoyong shook his head and said, "I heard that His Majesty has been immersed in the magic these days and has not attended court for more than half a month. The memorials impeaching him have been left in the cabinet and His Majesty has not seen them at all."

"Ugh……!"

Qiao Zhiguang hit the ground hard with his cane and gritted his teeth and said, "Is it really bleeding?"

"father!"

Qiao Maokang said: "It is definitely not our Qiao family that paid for it. Didn't Eunuch Liu say that his target is the eight major merchants in Bingzhou?"

"Hey! Eight families gather 10 million taels of silver, one million taels per person, that's enough!"

"There are other merchants and noble families."

Qiao Maoyong said: "There are so many merchants in Bingzhou, we can't always let us pay?"

"What did the Wang family say?"

In Bingzhou, many officials, noble families, and businessmen all followed the lead of the royal family of Datong.

This family was passed down more than three hundred years ago, and its members and officials were spread throughout the imperial court.

If the Wang family pays, they must pay as well!

Qiao Maoyong said: "I have sent someone to ask, and they will be back today."

"By the way, Dad, I think this is a good opportunity?"

Qiao Zhiguang said: "Oh? How do you mean?"

"Eunuchs, even without the two taels of meat down there, are they doing it for money? If we can get through to Eunuch Liu, won't it be difficult to do business in the future?"

Qiao Maoyong said: "Hasn't the shopkeeper sent back the news? The 10 million taels of silver are for His Majesty. He will definitely plunder more. We can definitely make friends with him for a high price. It will definitely be beneficial in the future!"

"Let's not talk about the distant ones, let's just talk about the nearby Beijing-Anqing Grand Canal. I heard that it's three or four thousand miles long!"

"On the way to the capital, we need to pass through Jiangzhou, Youzhou, Jizhou, and Bingzhou. We need to recruit millions of civilians to build this Grand Canal."

"This man eats and eats, and also transports soil, sand and gravel, etc. Isn't it all money?"

"If we can get a share of it, it will be enough for us to eat for decades!"

Qiao Zhiguang nodded and said, "I have also considered this, so I did not reject Eunuch Liu."

"But my Qiao family started out as a salt, iron, cloth and silk business, and we have never done the sand and gravel business!"

"Dad, there is no end to the business in this world."

Qiao Maoyong said: "As long as we can get in touch with Eunuch Liu, aren't we afraid that we won't have any business in the future?"

"The business I want to do most is actually with the Royal Chamber of Commerce. That's where the profits are huge!"

"A small bottle of perfume only costs ten taels of silver in the capital, but here, the price goes up to thirty taels!"

"If it is shipped to Jiangnan, it will cost at least one hundred taels!"

"And glass, refined salt, soap, women's bags, which one is not a huge profit?"

"What a pity. For some reason, the Royal Chamber of Commerce only opened three branches in the capital, and there is no movement in other places."

"If we could join the Royal Chamber of Commerce, tsk tsk tsk ..."

Although Qiao Maoyong didn't say anything, everything was implied.

Qiao Zhiguang nodded slightly and said: "Mao Yong is right, as long as we..."

"father!"

Qiao Maokang suddenly interrupted Qiao Zhiguang, glanced at his elder brother Qiao Maoyong and said, "Son, I have another idea."

"Oh? What's your idea?"

"My son has a brother in the army. He told me that the reason why the Great Yu Army has won every battle in the past few years and even occupied two states of the Wu Kingdom is all because of those explosives, flintlock rifles and thunderbolts!"

"If we can get this thing through Liu Chengen, we can definitely sell it for a high price!" "I think the Wu Kingdom definitely wants this thing!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Qiao Zhiguang and Qiao Maoyong's faces changed.

Especially Qiao Zhiguang, he even threw the crutch in his hand over and hit Qiao Maokang hard.

"You rebellious son! I have repeatedly warned you not to talk about the affairs of the Wu Kingdom. Have you forgotten?!"

"What are you afraid of!"

Qiao Maokang stood up suddenly and said, "We have been doing business with Wuguo for a long time. What have you bought from Wuguo?"

"Not to mention the salt and iron, you sold out weapons, armor, and even border guard intelligence. Why are you afraid now?"

"Rebellious son! You rebellious son! Cough, cough, cough, cough..."

Qiao Zhiguang suddenly started coughing, and Qiao Maoyong was so scared that he quickly ran over and kept comforting Qiao Zhiguang.

"Dad! Don't worry! Take a breath! Don't worry..."

"Mao Kang! Things are different now."

While comforting Qiao Zhiguang, Qiao Maoyong explained, "A few years ago, the border troops of Dayu were weak, and there were signs of chaos in the world. For the sake of our retreat, we had no choice but to do business with the Wu Kingdom, and we did it in secret."

"It's not just us. Who among the eight major merchants in Bingzhou hasn't done it?"

"The most ruthless ones are still the Wang family. Even... Never mind. These things are in the past."

"Who would have thought that the new emperor was so powerful? He made use of Xu Mujun and not only repelled the invasion of Wu State, but also occupied two states of Wu State."

"Now that Wu State's Black Mountain Pass is occupied by Dayu, and they have the advantage of firearms, it would be a pipe dream for Wu State to attack us."

"Those envelopes, border maps, and road passes that we used for our trade with the Wu Kingdom are all evidence of our collusion with the enemy and our betrayal of Dayu!"

"If we are discovered, we will all be executed!"

"Why don't you hide yourself now? You are still thinking about using firearms. Aren't you afraid that the Jinyiwei will find evidence of our crimes?"

"What are you afraid of..."

Qiao Maokang, who was about to shout loudly, looked at his angry father and elder brother, and finally softened his tone: "Forget it, I won't say anything nonsense."

"But I really don't believe that Your Majesty dares to touch us. As long as we are willing, we can always mobilize hundreds of thousands of troops. The worst that can happen is that we will rebel like Yongzhou did!"

“Rebellious son! Rebellious son! Get out of here! Get out of here…!”

Qiao Zhiguang was so angry that his lips were trembling and his eyes were almost spitting fire.

"Hmph! Just leave!"

Qiao Maokang ran out at a trot, looked at the thick and vast courtyard wall, and spat, "Old man, he only cares about making a lot of money and doesn't care about his son's life or death."

"You can sell weapons and armor, why can't I?"

"Now that Wu State is eager to take revenge, they will definitely pay a high price for the firearms. I don't believe that there is no one in this world who loves money."

"First bribe Eunuch Liu, then find a way to bribe the commander of Black Mountain Pass. If that doesn't work, go through the mountains and forests or take the water route. You will eventually be able to sell explosives and firearms to Wu State."

"Hehehe, by then, that firearm might be sold at a sky-high price!"

"A musket must be sold for at least... one hundred, no, one thousand taels of silver! Hehehehe..."

"This makes a lot more money than selling iron armor..."

Qiao Maokang became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he had already seen countless gold and silver waving at him.

In the courtyard, Qiao Zhiguang held Qiao Maoyong's hand and said:

"Maoyong, you are the most capable among my sons. Our Qiao family's great foundation will depend on you in the future!"

"Don't worry, Dad. I will definitely develop the Qiao family well and will not let it fail."

"Good good..."

Qiao Zhiguang finally calmed down and said, "Although my Qiao family started late, it has been around for more than a hundred years. We have seen all kinds of storms and waves. It's just that the higher-ups want to assign a fee, so just give it to them!"

"But we don't want to be the leader, nor should we give it last. Let's just follow the big guys."

"As long as the Wang family pays first, we will follow suit. Do you understand?"

"Don't worry, Dad. I understand."

A few days later, the Wang family of Datong suddenly sent out a visiting invitation, summoning the eight major merchants as well as many noble families and landlords to gather in Datong.

Almost all merchants and landlords sent their capable people to the party.

At the meeting, the Wang family first expressed their attitude, saying they were willing to cooperate with Liu Chengen to pay 10 million taels of silver in military expenses.

What we need to discuss next is just how much each family contributes.

After half a day of discussion, a decision was finally made.

The eight major merchants, Wang, Qiao, Chang, Meng, Hou, Qu, Kang and Fang, each contributed one million taels, a total of eight million taels.

The remaining two million taels were jointly invested by other businessmen and aristocratic families.

In addition to this, the eight major merchants also contributed an extra two million taels, which were privately handed over to Liu Chengen and were called "tea money."

Ten million taels of silver were escorted by the imperial guards and transported into Liu Chengen's military camp.

The other two million taels, as well as the extra "tea money" secretly given by other people with ulterior motives, were transported to Liu Chengen's tent through the back door and side door.

That night, Liu Cheng'en met with the representatives of the Eight Major Conferences with a smiling face. His words were eloquent and everyone praised the righteous act of the Eight Major Conferences.

Almost all the merchants and local officials in Bingzhou breathed a sigh of relief. The eunuchs had strange personalities and were really difficult to deal with.

"Oh right! My family will be celebrating his 50th birthday in a few days. Isn't this fate?"

Liu Chengen laughed and said, "How about we hold a birthday banquet at Fenglin Pavilion in Datong to entertain all the heroes in Bingzhou?"

Looking at the representatives of the eight major merchants in front of him, Liu Chengen said with a smile: "This is our family's fiftieth birthday, all clan leaders and masters must show their favor!"

　Asking for a monthly ticket~
　　Asking for a monthly ticket~
　　Asking for a monthly ticket~
　　Asking for a monthly ticket~
　　Asking for a monthly ticket~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)