As Zhang Erhe continued his explanation, the faces of all the wealthy people present finally showed eagerness.
"Grand Commandant, I want to invest. I'm not qualified to get a license, but I'm willing to put all my savings into the market!"
"Me too!"
"Take me with you!"
"......"
The crowd immediately became noisy, and many wealthy people, disregarding whether it was impolite, stood up and took turns speaking.
Upon seeing this, the wicked man burst into laughter, "Please calm down, everyone. There are no fools sitting here today. I'm sure you all know about the court's plan."
"I, the Grand Commandant, have only one statement: those who believe in my wicked husband will surely make a fortune!"
"I won't say anything more, lest I confuse your judgment!"
Standing to the side, Zhang Erhe immediately chimed in, shouting, "License auction, begin now!"
The contrast between the highly modern rhetoric and the antique setting made the wicked man's lips curl into an uncontrollable smile; it was truly striking.
"Only ten licenses are available, and the highest bidder wins. The starting price is three million and a half taels of silver, and each bid must be no less than one hundred thousand!"
Zhang Erhe's voice wasn't particularly loud, but it sounded like thunder to everyone.
With a starting price of three million and each bid not less than one hundred thousand, this threshold has already deterred eight out of ten people present.
The wicked man glanced around and, seeing the hesitation in the crowd, casually said, "In the next few years, the imperial court will dedicate the entire nation's resources to developing the trade market in Kucha..."
“…” He paused, his gaze sweeping over the hesitant faces, “…Kucha is located at a crucial point on the Silk Road, a vital link between East and West trade. The imperial court’s plan is to develop it into an unprecedented trading center, which will attract countless merchants and bring unprecedented prosperity.”
“Think about it!” the wicked man continued, his voice laced with temptation. “Once the Kucha market prospers, your licenses will become incredibly valuable. You will not only reap huge profits, but also gain a foothold in the business world and become trendsetters.”
"I have already reported to Your Majesty that the future prosperity of Qin will be inseparable from the development of commerce, and the next stage of national governance will revolve around the development of commerce."
His words were like a shot in the arm, filling everyone present with unprecedented excitement and anticipation.
The wicked man's words were not only a promise and guarantee to everyone present, but also a sign that these merchants were about to embark on a prosperous path.
They knew that once they obtained these licenses, they and their families would surely rise to prominence as the national policy shifted, putting them on the right track.
Everyone's faces showed fervor and determination, completely unlike their previous suspicious and sensitive expressions, suggesting they were prepared to risk their lives.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zhang Erhe's voice rang out again, interrupting everyone's thoughts: "Now, I declare the auction officially open!"
As Zhang Erhe announced the news, the atmosphere reached a fever pitch. The big players raised their paddles, bidding incessantly, creating an extremely competitive scene. Everyone wanted to be one of the ten lucky winners, to secure a place in the future business landscape.
The wicked man watched all this with satisfaction, a hint of anticipation rising in his heart. There should be enough money for the development and construction of Kucha; the only question was whether they could make more money.
That's right!
His initial plan was not only to raise money to build the market, but also to take the opportunity to make a large profit to alleviate the current financial difficulties of the Qin state.
After all, there are still so many refugees waiting, waiting for the imperial court to solve their worries.
"Gentlemen, this is a rare opportunity!" Zhang Erhe added at the opportune moment. "The opportunity to bid for a license is fleeting. If you don't act now, you may regret it later."
As Zhang Erhe finished speaking, a heated discussion erupted from the crowd. Some were still weighing their options, while others were already blinded by greed, bidding recklessly.
"I'll offer four and a half million!"
Six million!
"Eight hundred...I'll offer eight hundred!"
"......"
The bidding never stopped for a moment; as soon as one person made a bid, the next person immediately pushed it down, making the competition extremely fierce.
"Twenty million Qin Banliang!" a voice suddenly rang out, interrupting the bidding.
All eyes turned to the source of the sound, where a middle-aged man stood up, a smile on his face and a determined look in his eyes, clearly determined to get the price.
The wicked man looked at the man with a hint of inquiry in his eyes. At this time of year, someone who could come up with 20 million was no ordinary person.
Seeing the wicked man's gaze fall upon him, the middle-aged man cupped his hands in a respectful bow and smiled, saying, "Your Excellency, I am Ding Min, and I am willing to contribute all my wealth to raise twenty million Qin taels. Furthermore, I have heard that Your Excellency has a fondness for minerals..."
The wicked man nodded slightly upon hearing this. It was common knowledge that he was currently searching for mineral veins extensively throughout the country.
Ding Min smiled and said in a deep voice, "I have come across three mineral veins, but I have never explored them deeply and do not know what kind of mineral veins they are."
Sure enough, the wicked husband became interested, his lips moved, and he uttered, "Besides, let's just say it's three million per line for now. Are you satisfied?"
"Satisfied, of course I'm satisfied!" Ding Min nodded quickly, his eyes filled with excitement.
These three veins were all formed by rainwater erosion. We only know they are veins, but we don't know what kind of ore they are. Since they can be exchanged for nine million coins, they are definitely worth it!
He refused to believe that anyone could compete with him at this price.
"Ten million, is there anything higher?" Zhang Erhe's voice rang out again. He looked around, waiting for a possible response.
However, the scene was silent, as if everyone was stunned by the high price.
Twenty million dollars is an astronomical figure for most people present.
The wicked man watched this scene, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. He knew the auction had achieved its intended effect and would definitely raise enough funds.
"Since no one else is bidding, this first license belongs to this person!" Zhang Erhe announced, while gesturing to his assistant to record the transaction information.
With the sale of the first license, the atmosphere at the scene was reignited, and other major bidders began to raise their bids again, with the bidding frenzy rising higher and higher.
Everyone knows that this is not just a contest of money, but a high-stakes gamble on the future of a business empire.
Suddenly, the wicked man raised his hand to stop the bidding. Under the puzzled gazes of the crowd, he slowly smiled and said, "Gentlemen!"
"Since Ding Min has set a precedent, don't say that I, the Grand Commandant, am being unfair in my actions."
“Any mineral vein, gold and silver jewelry, land deeds, or even food can be used to exchange for money. However, mineral veins are only priced at three million, gold and silver jewelry are priced at the same value, land deeds are priced at half the value, and food is priced according to the market price.”
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