From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 541

Zhou Yuan closed the box and waved to Li Yu'an.

Li Yu'an understood and brought the box to the cabin.

Seeing this, the middle-aged scholar breathed a sigh of relief, and the smile on his face became more natural.

Zhou Yuan said: "It's noon, let's have a meal, Mr. Wu must be hungry."

Wu Shu said in panic: "Thank you, Duke. I'm sorry to bother you. Please, Duke."

After entering the cabin and sitting at the small table, Li Yu'an brought Zhou Yuan wine and drinks like a maid.

The boss was also sensible, and a few dishes were quickly served on the table.

Zhou Yuan raised his wine glass and smiled faintly: "Mr. Wu is really a warrior. He dared to carry a box on my ship alone. This courage is really admirable."

Wu Shu quickly raised his wine glass and bowed his head and said: "Duke is too polite. Who in the whole Jin Dynasty doesn't know your name? You led an army of 60,000 to recover the Central Plains and fought fiercely at Shanhaiguan to bombard the enemy chieftain. You are the real hero."

"Now I can see the military god of my Jin Dynasty. It is a great honor. Duke, I offer you a glass."

Zhou Yuan drank the wine and waved his hand and said: "Mr. Wu, don't talk nonsense. Recovering the Central Plains and bombarding the enemy chieftain is just serving His Majesty and being loyal to the country. That is my duty."

"The so-called 'grass "It's not right to call yourself a 'civilian'." Wu Shu nodded quickly and said, "I was confused. I will punish myself with a cup. Please don't blame me, Duke." "Duke, you are worried about the country and went south to investigate the case. I wonder if our Wu family and Xu family can help you? If there is, please let us know and we will go through fire and water." Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "What investigation? I went south this time mainly for the construction of the Military Equipment Bureau." "Last year, in the Battle of Guangdong, our Great Jin was defeated miserably and signed a shameful compensation treaty. Your Majesty is a wise monarch. Although she is a daughter, she has a strong character. She hates the mistakes made by Prince Fu very much." "So she specially expanded the Military Equipment Bureau and appointed me as the supervisor. Responsible for the manufacture of guns and cannons..."

Wu Shu nodded and said, "I think only the Duke of Wei can take on such an important task. Those foreign devils on the southern sea are really abominable."

Zhou Yuan said, "But making guns and cannons is really too expensive. The treasury is an empty shell and no money is allocated to me. Alas... This job is not easy to do!"

"So, I thought about investigating the case and getting some money for my military equipment bureau, otherwise how can I fight in the future?"

"Mr. Wu, let me tell you the truth. Next year I will be the governor of the Fujian and Guangdong armies. Revitalizing the navy requires guns and cannons. Otherwise, how can I regain control of the sea? How can I compete with the Portuguese?"

"I am already in this position. What cases do I need to investigate? That's what civil servants do. I just lack money. "

Wu Shu nodded quickly and said, "Yes, yes, the Duke is right. You are already the top figure in the military of Dajin and the favorite of His Majesty. Why do you need to investigate any cases?"

Zhou Yuan said, "So tell me the truth, Mr. Wu, do the Bai family and the Song family have eight million taels of silver in total? My military equipment bureau needs at least eight million taels!"

Wu Shu was obviously stunned for a moment, and then he lowered his voice and said, "Don't worry, Duke. If the Bai family and the Song family can't make up eight million taels, my Wu family and the Xu family will make up for the rest for you, and we will definitely ensure the construction of the military equipment bureau."

"It is only natural for businessmen to contribute to the country!"

In fact, he was very happy in his heart. Eight million taels? No matter how poor the Bai family and the Song family are, they can't be without even eight million taels!

How can the Duke of Wei, who is such a big figure, act as if he has never seen money? Is the national treasury really that poor?

I thought he had a big appetite, but I didn't expect that he would be satisfied with eight million.

Wu Shu knew very well that even the bottom of the eight families, such as the Bai and Song families, had assets of five or six million taels, which definitely added up to more than ten million.

Zhou Yuan nodded and said, "Okay! You Wu family are generous. I will keep this in mind. If the Bai and Song families don't have eight million in total, you must fulfill your promise."

Wu Shu found it funny and whispered, "Of course, of course, please rest assured, Duke."

Wu Shu had a relaxing meal. Although he had to accompany Zhou Yuan carefully, his goal was at least achieved, and he knew very well what kind of person Zhou Yuan was. He was just a bumpkin with a high position and power. He had no idea about the money of salt merchants. He thought he had a big appetite, but in fact, that little money was nothing.

After seeing Wu Shu off, Zhou Yuan was also full of energy and couldn't help laughing out loud.

Judging from Wu Shu's performance, he was sure that the money of the eight families in Yangzhou, added together, might be enough to pay taxes for a year. The accumulation of private salt for dozens or hundreds of years was really terrible!

Zhuang Xuansu frowned and said, "You won't also hand over this one million taels of silver, right?"

Zhou Yuan looked at her, then at Guan Caixi, whose eyes were shining, and couldn't help laughing: "What are you two looking at? You have never seen the world, and you are frightened by a million taels of silver?"

"I don't just want these, I want them all!"

"This large sum of money is enough to solve all the current difficulties of Dajin!"

He stood up, carrying the box and said: "I'm going back to my room, don't disturb me for the time being. "

Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what Zhou Yuan was up to.

…

Zhou Yuan spent two days studying hard before he understood the complicated information.

The eight major salt merchant families in Yangzhou really controlled almost the entire salt business of Dajin. The salt in Sichuan and Yunnan was self-sufficient and sold to the surrounding areas, while the salt in Yangzhou covered all parts of the country except the above two provinces.

This is not the most terrible thing. The most terrible thing is that they actually sold salt for 40 wen per catty...

According to the normal salt price, the cheapest time is about 5 or 6 wen per catty, and the most expensive time is 30 wen per catty. Even during the war years, it is at most 50 wen per catty.

But the salt merchants in Yangzhou sell for 40 wen per catty in most areas, and even sell for 60 or 70 wen per catty in remote areas.

This is not selling salt, this is clearly robbing money and sucking blood!

The most hateful thing is that a large amount of private salt does not have to pay taxes at all, and the salt accounts on the surface are It is also extremely cheap, selling for only eight to twenty coins per catty.

With tens of millions of catties of salt every year, I wonder how much money is divided up by these salt merchants and corrupt officials.

According to Guan Lu's calculation, the salt merchants of the eight major families in Yangzhou can earn more than six million taels of silver every year...

That's every year!

Of course, they definitely can't get that much, they have to bribe the higher-ups.

But no matter what, they must earn at least two to three million taels of silver every year.

Don't underestimate this number. If they can survive Zhou Yuan's review and stay safe for at least another ten years, that's two or three million taels.

No wonder these families have a total family fortune of tens of millions after decades, excluding extravagant expenses and costs.

"If only Liu Jing were here..."

Zhou Yuan really couldn't understand these numbers. He couldn't figure out the cost, sales, or taxes no matter how he calculated.

Finally, he simply stood up and gritted his teeth and said, "If I can't figure it out, let them do it! "

He strode out, looked at Guan Caixi and smiled: "Caixi, are you interested in going to Jining to sell salt with me!"

"What?"

Guan Caixi asked in confusion: "We go to sell salt? We? Sell salt?"

Zhou Yuan smiled and said: "Your favorite plot is here, the one I told you before, disguised to sell salt, see how those so-called officials will treat us."

"Do they really only recognize the eight major families? Let's wait and see. "