The Young Master Is Fierce Chapter 10: Huangshang
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The chirping of cicadas gradually subsides, and the heat gradually fades away.
Fu Daguan woke up at Youshi, his feet were a little shaky, but his mind was clear.
He came downstairs and bowed to Dong Shulan from a distance, "Fu is greedy, please forgive me."
Dong Shulan smiled and replied: "The Master of the Fu family has really embarrassed the little girl. If the little girl stays here, she will be disturbed."
The three of them sat around, and Fu Xiaoguan took it upon himself to put dinner in the pavilion. He felt that there was a night breeze and he could hear the stream. Compared to the dining room, this place was more casual.
Dong Shulan didn't take it seriously. She didn't think that Fu Xiaoguan didn't understand etiquette. Instead, she thought that such an environment was more suitable for talking about imperial business affairs.
Of course he didn’t drink any more wine. Fu Daguan had no appetite, Dong Shulan didn’t have a big appetite, and Fu Xiaoguan was certainly not polite. This age is the time when he is growing up, and he really needs to supplement his nutrition, so a table of food is almost the same. Half of them were wiped out by him.
Putting away the bowls, Fu Xiaoguan made tea. Fu Daguan went out for a while and came back soon.
"As I expected, the heads of the three major grain merchants have given some kind of information to the Fu family... Please forgive me for starting the conversation, little lady. Mr. Fu, you should know about the profits of the imperial merchants. So, let's talk about it. your thoughts."
Dong Shulan at this moment is completely different from that in the afternoon.
She had never put on a veil. Although she had a smile on her face, her words already had some weight.
"Miss is smart." Fu Daguan did not blink, took a sip of tea, and said: "Their original intention was to elect a representative, Yang Ji, who would sign a contract with the lady, and the three families conspired to do this. Business, how’s it going?”
"Of course there is no problem with me, it's just the price..."
Daguan Fu let out a long breath and said with a wry smile: "The price... they might as well just entrust me to handle it."
"What price will Mr. Fu give me?"
"This thing got me involved. If I bid, then the price I give them will definitely have to be lowered. This business is really not cost-effective."
Dong Shulan pursed her lips and smiled. This was a thankless job for Master Fu, so she said: "I understand Master Fu... I had some exchanges with Mr. Fu this afternoon. What do you think? If our business can be settled, I will wait for my return. Your Royal Highness, the Princess of Beijing, will open a new path for your Fu family... For example, if Mr. Fu's subsequent products are really innovative, I can also help and include them in the royal family's procurement."
In fact, imperial merchants are just a name, such as grain merchants. The royal family recruits huge amounts of grain every year, which is either stored in the national treasury to survive the famine years, or supplied to the frontline military.
The purchase price of these grains is very low, at least 10% lower than the market price.
But the royal merchants have a privilege. If there is something good that they can get rid of, the royal family is willing to buy it at a low price or even a high price, and it has the endorsement of the royal family for purchasing. For merchants, this is a golden sign and a symbol of the family. glory.
So when Fu Daguan heard Dong Shulan's words, he made a small calculation in his heart.
"You see... my family is a landowner near the river, and there is nothing else in the house except food. As for the Xishan wine brewed by my son, to be honest with you, Miss, the yield rate of this thing is extremely low, and the success rate is also extremely low. . So even if it is supplied to the royal family, the quantity will not be enough, but if this wine can enter the royal family, my Fu family will be honored... Miss, just tell me, how much do you want from Linjiang's imperial grain?"
Dong Shulan held out three fingers, "30% lower than the market price!"
Just as Officer Fu was about to speak, Dong Shulan said, "Wait a minute, listen to me."
"The price of grain in Jiangbei is 10% higher than that in Jiangnan, and 20% higher than in the hinterland of the Central Plains. Jiangnan is a prosperous land, and the price of grain is cheaper than that in Jiangbei. The grain and rice in Central Plains are the same as those in Jiangnan and Jiangbei. I don't understand this, so the royal family conquered wheat in the Central Plains."
"And in the area north of the Yangtze River from Qizhou up to Mizhou, the price of food near the river is another 10% higher, so... Mr. Fu, I think it is not an exaggeration to say that the price will be reduced by 30%."
Fu Xiaoguan didn't understand the situation, but he had to admit that this girl was quite powerful.
It seems that she has put in enough effort during her trip to Linjiang. Let’s see how her father responds.
Fu Daguan nodded frequently, "You are indeed right, but there are two things that Miss Dong may not understand well."
"First, Linjiang's grain output is slightly lower than that of other prefectures and counties."
"Secondly, the land price in Linjiang is slightly higher than that in other states and counties."
"There are many reasons. The terrain in Linjiang is hilly, with many mountains and little fertile land, making it difficult to cultivate. However, Linjiang has a large population... According to statistics from the Linjiang Prefecture last year, Linjiang Prefecture has a total population of 60 Seventy-four thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, and Linjiang City is home to 336,711 people. Let’s look at Mizhou again. Mizhou has vast fertile fields, but its population is only fifty. More than 80,000 acres. Taking into account all the fields in each state, Linjiang has 130,000 acres of land, and each acre of land needs to support at least six people. However, Mizhou has 200,000 acres of land, and each acre of land can only support three people."
"So the food in Linjiang is a little more expensive. In fact, the lady doesn't know that the food produced in Linjiang is not enough to supply this state, and we have to go to other states to buy food."
"If a food emperor appears in Linjiang, then the food gap in Linjiang will be even greater, and more food will have to be bought from various places, and the price of food in Linjiang will continue to rise... Linjiang, isn't it less? Some quota? ”
Dong Shulan frowned slightly. She really didn't understand these things. If what Fu Daguan said was true, the 30% she asked for seemed a bit high indeed.
Before she could speak, Fu Daguan struck while the iron was hot and said with a smile: "Of course, it is Linjiang's honor to contribute to the royal family, but can it be 10% lower than the market price according to Jiangnan standards!"
Dong Shulan suddenly smiled, with bright eyes and white teeth, and the fragrance of orchid in her mouth, "I believe what the Master Fu said is true, but the Master Fu has ignored another issue."
"Linjiang is the place where two rivers converge. It has been home to outstanding people since ancient times. This is the reason why Linjiang has a larger population. The business and trade of Linjiang is only comparable to that of Jiangcheng on the Yangtze River. The development of commerce and trade brings about the circulation of currency. It also brings prosperity to Linjiang, so the price of food in Linjiang is higher, but Linjiang’s purchasing power is also very strong. So, Master Fu, for your and my reasons, it’s 25%.”
"One and a half percent!"
"Twenty percent!"
"Deal!"
Fu Xiaoguan was a little stunned. Fu Daguan beat his chest and said: "Young lady is a genius, with this price... I am afraid that I will be drowned in the spit of the three major grain merchants. In addition, please ask me to let my wine enter the royal family." Miss."
Dong Shulan watched Fu Daguan's performance with a chuckle, and thought to himself, this old fox, if I don't let go, he will agree.
"Master Fu, rest assured, this wine is unparalleled in the world and the royal family will definitely adopt it."
"That's it, the big thing is over. I'll have another drink later." Fu Daguan turned around and said, "Chunxiu, ask the kitchen to prepare some exquisite side dishes and bring the wine!"
The new moon hangs high, and there are bursts of frog sounds.
Fu Daguan was drunk again, but Dong Shulan was still fine. Fu Xiaoguan only drank one glass - he still felt that the wine was not good to drink, it was spicy and too strong.
Fu Xiaoguan helped Fu Daguan back to his dormitory again. Chunxiu took Dong Shulan and Xiaoqi to the west wing. The people in the courtyard were scattered and the lights were dimly lit.
……
The next morning.
Dong Shulan and his party bid farewell to Fu Daguan and his son and returned to Linjiang, taking with them two poems and two jars of wine.
Watching the carriage leave, Officer Fu suddenly sighed, "Son, you should be like Dong Shulan in getting a wife."
Fu Xiaoguan laughed and did not answer the topic, but asked: "Why don't we just become emperor merchants?"
"Because we are landowners and do not have a caravan for shipping and land transportation. For us, it is extremely uneconomical for us to be an imperial merchant and only sell grain."
"Then why are the three major grain merchants fighting?"
"Because they have the means to adjust grain from the south of the Yangtze River. Dong Shulan is right. The price of grain in the south of the Yangtze River is at least 10% cheaper than that in the north of the Yangtze River. If the channels are correct, the price they get will be 15% or even 20% lower. As Grain merchants have their own shipping and caravans, which can save a little on transportation. In total, if the price is less than 20%, they will lose at most 10% of the profit, but the emperor has a big deal. Small profits but quick turnover will not affect their profits in Linjiang, so of course they will have to fight for it."
Fu Xiaoguan understood the truth. His family was a landlord and produced products, but the three major grain merchants were platforms. They sold products, had more purchase channels, and had their own logistics, so their business was more flexible.
"Are the data you mentioned true?"
"Of course, that girl is not easy to fool. Look at how quickly she reacted. She must not know the data, but she happened to think of the one I deliberately avoided. The place where the two rivers converge, Linjiang, wealthy Ah! It is precisely because of the wealth that so many people can gather, and the prices are a little higher than elsewhere... So the reason is not that Mr. Tian didn't get around her, but he hit the nail on the head!"
Fu Daguan patted Fu Xiaoguan on the shoulder, "Son, when you marry, you should be like Dong Shulan! Talent, talent!"
"Oh, Butler Zhang told me that you wanted to buy the land nearby, and I agreed. In addition, I also told him that if you have any instructions in the future, just follow them, and you don't have to go through me again... But , what exactly do you want to do? ”
"You can make money by tinkering with small things and setting up a few workshops."
Fu Daguan looked a little confused. He stopped, thought for a moment, and said, "Our family is not short of money."
"I know, but something has to be done."
"Is it good to study? To be a successful candidate and to become an official in the court?"
"Dad, I really can't do this."
Fu Daguan was silent for a moment and nodded, "Okay then, do what you are happy to do."
After all, Senior Officer Fu had some regrets about this matter.
I thought my son had enlightened me and even composed two highly praised poems. If he studied quietly, it seemed that it would be possible to pass the Juren Examination.
Those aristocratic families are the result of generations of scholars. This is the spirit of culture, not the odor of a merchant's family.
The world loves the smell of copper, but they admire the literary spirit.
With Wenqi, the smell of copper seems to have been purified, and even their money seems to have become more noble.