Chapter 7 Payroll

"You can set up a chamber of commerce and run it jointly. Of the one million taels, I only need 600,000 taels from you, and the remaining 400,000 taels will be considered as my investment in the chamber of commerce. Of course, if the chamber of commerce makes a profit, I will also take a commission. "Zhao Xu looked serious.

Now everyone understood that what King Yan meant was that they should collect the remaining 600,000 taels together.

Future profits will be distributed in proportion to the money contributed, so the risk they bear is smaller.

"I'm willing to pay twenty thousand taels."

"My family contributes five thousand taels."

"..."

The wealthy families all shouted, this is a low-risk, high-profit business, would you be a fool not to participate?

Zhao Xu nodded slightly and breathed a sigh of relief.

His plan was successful.

In fact, one million taels was a high price he deliberately shouted, and his original intention was only 600,000 taels.

The extra four hundred thousand taels is just a false price to take advantage of the Chamber of Commerce's commission.

Now, it is equivalent to him earning 600,000 taels for just one technique, and there will be dividends in the future.

However, the art of making ice is so profitable that he has no choice but to share the profits with the wealthy families even if he does not monopolize it.

After all, the art of making ice is very simple.

If Prince Yan's Mansion were to run it by himself, he would have no start-up capital, and he would have no power in Jiangnan, so his technology could easily be stolen or robbed.

In the end, you may not be able to make any money, and you may have to lose money.

But using this to trick the wealthy people of Yan County into boarding the ship is different.

By taking the money from wealthy families, he is guaranteed to make a profit. This is the same as contemporary financing.

Moreover, in order to make money, Yanjun's wealthy family will also put a lot of effort into ensuring that the technology will not be leaked and ensure his subsequent profit possibilities.

Of course, he is not as open-minded as the lion and makes the rich spend too much money.

It's not that he has a good heart, but asking for too much can easily lead them to take risks and use underhanded tactics to obtain ice-making methods.

And since the money is not much to spread, there is no need for them to take this risk.

evening.

A ray of setting sun hung on the willow branches, indicating that it was getting late.

But at this time, Prince Yan's Mansion became even more lively.

Rich families who decide to invest in the company are afraid that they will not be able to join the Chamber of Commerce.

You should let your servants go back to carry money, get land deeds, and carry cloth, grain and other items.

The front yard of the palace was busier than ever.

"Qin Zhangfang, you must remember clearly and don't make a mistake."

Liu Fu moved a wicker chair for Zhao Xu to sit leisurely.

Many children of wealthy families surrounded Qin's accounting room and asked him to register the amount of his investment.

Qin Zhangfang wiped his sweat and nodded frequently, "Your Highness, don't worry, I will make atonement for my sins and won't make any mistakes."

Zhao Xu nodded, and then said to the servant who was holding the scale in front of him, "Look carefully, this is all silver, you can't weigh it wrong."

The servants sent by the wealthy family were also watching the numbers on the scale.

Next to the scale were boxes of silver.

It is not easy for wealthy families to come up with large amounts of cash.

After all, silver was a hard currency in short supply in ancient times.

Therefore, Zhao Xu's principle is that money comes first, land comes second, and everything else comes third.

As a result, the wealthy people collected two hundred thousand taels of cash, and paid for the rest with land, grain and other goods.

We were busy until the sky darkened and the statistics were finished.

Qin's accountant gave the account book to Zhao Xu.

"Your Highness, there are now 200,000 taels of cash in the treasury, and there are 60,000 acres of farmland and 50,000 shi of grain..."

Zhao Xu nodded while listening.

Currently, Dasong's land is about five taels of silver per acre, which is quite expensive.

"Your Highness, now that you have received the money, can you teach us the art of making ice?"

The heads of the thirty-eight wealthy families in Yan County are all here and waiting.

"Of course." Zhao Xu let everyone into the room and demonstrated the ice making process in front of everyone.

The wealthy family heads were stunned and stunned.

It turns out that the mysterious art of making ice is so simple.

"This is too simple." Zhang Qian's face immediately turned cold. He felt that he had been tricked. "His Highness is selling this technique too expensively."

"Hey, what Zhang Yuanwai said is wrong, isn't it? This technique is simple, but if His Highness doesn't show it to you, how will you know it?" Dong Yuan spread his hands.

"You..." Zhang Qian was immediately speechless by the question and could only glare at Dong Yuan.

This old boy has now made it clear that he wants to embrace King Yan's lap.

Zhao Xu gave Dong Yuan an appreciative look.

Liu Fu told him that at first the Dong family, Lu family and Yang family all sent their eldest sons.

This shows that the attitude of these three families towards the palace is not as bad as that of the Zhang family, Huang family and Du family, and they can be won over.

He smiled and said, "It is precisely because the technology is simple that we can make huge profits. Now that I have handed over the technology, you must keep it strictly confidential, otherwise the Chamber of Commerce will lose money and I will not be responsible."

Everyone had nothing to say. What King Yan said made sense, because simplicity can make huge profits.

However, thinking that if the technology was leaked, they would make less money, and someone immediately shouted: "If anyone leaks the ice-making technology, he will be the enemy of my Thirty-eight Family, and we will fight him to the death from now on."

Zhang Qian's face looked grim. He had just suddenly thought of selling this technique to others, so that he could make his own money back, and maybe even make a fortune.

Zhao Xu made this point, and the crowd was excited. He immediately gave up the idea, otherwise other families would find out.

The Zhang family has become a public enemy in Yan County.

"Okay, in that case, we hereby swear an oath that if anyone leaks the ice-making technique to the Chamber of Commerce, he will be struck by lightning and die badly." Dong Yuan turned around and said to everyone.

Everyone agreed, and each one swore an oath in front of everyone.

Although Zhang Qian was not happy, he had no choice but to follow suit and swear.

Zhao Xu followed the oath. He made a net profit. It was a good thing that the technology could be kept secret.

After a night of commotion, Yang Cheng, the head of the Yang family, said, "Your Highness, we will hold a banquet at Tianxiang Tower tonight. Would you please come?"

"I'm really sorry. I just recovered from a serious illness. I'm still a little uncomfortable and can't drink. I'll wait a few days, a few days." Zhao Xu declined.

He still had a lot of things to deal with.

"In that case, let's do it another day." The nobles were not angry. Zhao Xu's reason was impeccable.

They saluted one after another and left gradually.

Zhao Xu handed over all the affairs of the Chamber of Commerce to them.

They needed to discuss who to send south and how to keep the raw materials secret.

After everyone left, Zhao Xu took Liu Fu into the warehouse in the middle courtyard of the palace.

At this time, there were rows of boxes inside, all of which were white silver.

In addition to the silver, there were sacks of grain, and in the corners there were fine cloth and other things.

"Go, call Chang Wei." Zhao Xu said.

With so much wealth piled up in the palace, it was like a child taking gold to the busy market. It was impossible for no one to covet it.

These wealthy families were all black and white.

Therefore, to keep this wealth, Chang Wei could only be relied on.

Liu Fu went out.

Soon Chang Wei arrived outside the warehouse.

Zhao Xu ordered the servants to move out a small box of silver and asked, "How much silver does the palace owe you in total?"

"The salary of the Imperial Guard is three taels a month, one hundred people, and a total of nine hundred taels in three months." Chang Wei looked at Zhao Xu with a more relaxed look.

The King of Yan said that he would pay them every three days, but now he has not even used one day.

"There are one thousand taels of silver in this box, you take it all." Zhao Xu handed the box to Chang Wei.

"Nine hundred taels, that's nine hundred taels. The palace cannot owe wages, and I won't take a cent more." Chang Wei said with his neck stiff.

"What a stubborn person, your highness gave it to you, just take it." Liu Fu stood aside and laughed, but Chang Wei glared at him.

"The extra money is for the injured soldiers. In addition, the palace storehouse is very important now and needs to be strictly guarded. You let the soldiers work harder. I will not treat those who work hard unfairly."

As the King of Yan, holding military power is the first priority, so he naturally has to win over the soldiers.

Moreover, Chang Wei has a straightforward temper and is a fierce general. During the day, he cuts people like cutting vegetables, so it is even more necessary to tame him.

When he heard that it was silver for the injured soldiers, Chang Wei's eyes softened, and there was something different in it.

He clasped his fists heavily and said loudly: "Your Highness, don't worry. With Chang Wei here, I won't let a grain of rice go out of the storehouse."

"Well, with your words, I feel relieved." Zhao Xu smiled.

After Chang Wei left, Zhao Xu stretched himself and said to Liu Fu, "Liu Fu, there are bad guys in our palace."

"I understand. There are spies planted by the rich in the palace." Liu Fu narrowed his eyes.

Otherwise, why would the servants of the rich come to rescue Zhang Han.

"Call all the servants and maids in the palace to the front of the bedroom." He left a word.

Zhao Xu walked straight to the bedroom.

At this time, Feng'er was sitting on the steps in front of the bedroom, resting her chin in a daze, while Luan'er was leaning against the door playing with her hair.

Suddenly seeing Zhao Xu coming back, Feng'er stood up with a smile on her face.

Luan'er smiled slightly.

Zhao Xu smiled. The two girls were only fourteen or fifteen years old.

In modern times, they are the age of young girls. The serious posture of the palace is just a pretense for majesty.

When no one is around, the girl's nature is revealed.

"Your Highness is back." Feng'er came over and naturally held Zhao Xu's arm.

Before Zhao Xu was not crazy, the master-servant relationship between the three of them was very harmonious.

Luan'er was not as bold as Feng'er, so she just stayed by his side.

"I've been busy all day, but I neglected the two beauties." Zhao Xu smiled.

There is no way, survival is the first priority at the moment.

"There are many affairs in the palace, and Your Highness should focus on important matters." Feng'er, even though she is lively, can't stand Zhao Xu's teasing, and her face can't help but blush.

Luan'er lowered her head shyly, thinking that the madness of the ninth prince has been cured, but why has he become more dissolute.

As she was thinking, she suddenly saw the servants and maids in the palace coming to the backyard one after another, and couldn't help showing a puzzled look to Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu smiled faintly and said, "Don't worry, just watch, the king will find out the spies in the palace tonight."