Chapter 302 Solution
The approval document in Wang Shilang's hand was written by Yuan Shangshu, which was the receipt for applying for silver. It had Yuan Shangshu's signature and official seal on it.
They should have gone to the Ministry of Household Affairs to apply.
In the end, they only gave Qin Chi a document to handle it. This is totally inhumane! Qin Chi took the document and said, "Sir Wang, is it appropriate for me to go to the Ministry of Revenue?"
"It's appropriate. You can go to the Ministry of Revenue to find Minister Xia and ask him to sign and stamp his name."
After saying this, Minister Wang ran away as if he was being chased by a dog. Perhaps he also knew that what he did was not right.
Qin Chi took on a hot potato.
You have to know that there are many departments waiting for money from the Ministry of Revenue. It would be considered good if two out of ten applications for money were approved.
"Sir, they did this on purpose, didn't they?"
Qin Ba had not said anything just now, but after the people left, he finally couldn't help cursing, "It's already autumn, let alone rushing the work. There's not enough cotton and cloth, and it takes time to buy them from outside. It's harder than climbing to the sky to finish. Now, it's their job to go to the Ministry of Revenue to ask for money, but now they've thrown it to you! If they fail to deliver 200,000 cotton clothes to the northwest on time, they will probably put the blame on you."
When the superiors hold Qin Chi accountable, he will be held responsible for dereliction of duty.
This is exactly what Minister Yuan intended.
Another clever plot.
After all, this was originally the task of Yu Hengsi. The Ministry of Industry was delayed for a while because of the corruption case. When Minister Yuan came back, didn't he immediately ask Yu Hengsi to rush the production? If this matter was brought to the outside world, no one would say anything wrong about Minister Yuan.
I just feel that Qin Chi is unlucky.
I just arrived and became the head of Yuhengsi at this time.
Old Huo, who was standing by, almost became invisible. He rolled his eyes when he heard Qin Ba say that. “It may be impossible for others to complete a task, but it may not be possible for you, young master.”
Qin Ba then thought of Qin Chi's ability and suddenly fell silent.
Qin Chi stood up calmly, straightened his clothes, and ordered: "Bring the official documents and credentials, we will go to the Ministry of Revenue now."
Qin Ba packed up and followed Qin Chi, "The Ministry of Revenue will be very busy today. There are many long tables at the gate, and many people are queuing up to donate. Sir, if we go there now, will they have time to pay attention to us?"
"Minister Xia is in a good mood today. Now is the right time to go find him."
If I had told Qin Chi yesterday that it would be difficult to get him to go to the Ministry of Revenue to handle this matter, he would most likely be met with indifference and a cold face. However, Xia Wei and he just happened to have had a meal together that morning.
Before taking over Yuhengsi.
Qin Chi used Shun'an Trading Company to take charge of some military supplies for the Northwest Army, such as medicinal materials, food, and fodder. Qin Chi naturally knew that the Ministry of Industry owed 200,000 military cotton clothes this year. When he took over the Yuhengsi, he expected this day to come, so he asked Song Jin to help purchase cotton in advance.
Just waiting for the Ministry of Revenue to approve the goods and silver.
Xia Wei didn't expect to see Qin Chi again so soon, "What brought Qin the champion here?"
"I have something to ask of you, Master Xia."
Qin Chi placed the previous official documents and certificates on Xia Wei's desk. "The soldiers at the border have not changed their military cotton clothes for ten years. Today, Minister Yuan ordered me to rush to make 200,000 pieces. I will come to see you as soon as I get the approval. I hope you can help me, Lord Xia."
"Four hundred thousand taels..."
Xia Wei wanted to say you might as well just kill me, but when he thought of what Qin Chi had said just now, he hadn't changed his military uniform for ten years, "A military cotton coat is custom-made to specifications, and it can't be less than four pounds of cotton. The price of cotton on the market this year is 20% to 30% higher than in previous years. Cotton alone costs more than one tael of silver. You can keep the cost at two taels, is it okay?"
"Perhaps Minister Yuan is well aware of the difficulties faced by the Ministry of Revenue, which is why he reduced the cost to two taels of silver." Qin Chi was as steady as a rock.
He did not say that Minister Yuan made things difficult for him.
But it seems like he said it!
Isn't it that Minister Yuan is deliberately making things difficult for Qin Chi by reducing the expenses to the lowest level?
Of course, Xia Wei saw through the twists and turns at a glance. Perhaps the Ministry of Revenue was a way for the other party to make things difficult for Qin Chi.
He doesn't like being used as a tool.
Considering that Qin Chi had helped him a lot today, Xia Wei signed and stamped the document happily.
Qin Chi bowed deeply to Xia Wei in gratitude, and went to pick up the silver without saying anything.
When Qin Chi was helping someone to get the silver.
The news was passed back to the Ministry of Industry.
Minister Yuan was stunned. "Xia Wei actually approved it? How is that possible?"
"Sir, it is approved."
The confidant who came back from asking for information said with certainty, "Don't worry, sir. Even if he gets the silver, he still can't complete the task. Cotton in the market now sells for three coins and sixty coins per pound."
"You continue to inquire."
Yuan Shangshu had dealt with Xia Wei a lot over the years. After his confidant left, he looked around at the two assistant ministers and seemed to sigh, "I don't know when Shangshu Xia became so easy to talk to. He approved the 400,000 yuan without hesitation. In the past, when we went to the Ministry of Revenue, we were always left out."
Minister Wang hesitated and said, "Maybe Minister Xia is in a good mood?"
"His good mood is secondary. The main thing is that he owes Qin Qian'an a favor today." The Right Assistant Minister happened to hear the news and told him about Song Jin's donation today.
Yuan Shangshu's face was terribly gloomy and he waved his hand to signal the two men to retreat.
Qin Chi returned to Yuhengsi and immediately began to make arrangements.
There is no wrong version in the 1619 book forum!
There was no shortage of cloth and cotton.
Song Jin had already ordered people to send the purchased cotton to the capital, which amounted to more than one million kilograms and was piled up in the warehouse of Shun'an Commercial Bank. However, Yu Hengsi only needed 800,000 kilograms.
The cloth was also prepared.
All prices are directly purchased, which is half cheaper than the market price.
But in order to confuse Yuan Shangshu's spies, Qin Chi deliberately asked Yuanwailang and the chief official to contact merchants in the capital to inquire about the prices of cotton and cloth.
The Yuan family had already made arrangements behind the scenes, and the price was ridiculously high. They insisted on asking for 350 qian of cotton, which was only 10 qian cheaper than the market price. A piece of suitable cloth cost 140 qian, which was not much cheaper than the market price.
When the official handed over the price list, Qin Chi asked expressionlessly, "Are you sure this is the final price?"
The official said with a bitter face, "Sir, I don't know who spread the news that we are in urgent need of cotton and cloth. These merchants are now refusing to lower the price. They also said that there is little cotton this year, and three coins and fifty coins is the cheapest price."
"Invite them to Piaoxiang Tower and I will talk to them in person." Qin Chi decided to meet these businessmen.
The person has made an appointment.
But these merchants had been greeted by others, so Qin Chi naturally returned empty-handed. In front of others, he pretended to be in a state of panic, and did not return to Cuihua Hutong until dark.
Song Jin saw Qin Chi looked tired, "Are you tired, sir?"
Qin Chi held her in his arms and whispered in her ears, telling her about the troubles that Minister Yuan had made on him, "I was pretending to be tired... I was pretending to be tired for Yuan to see. I wanted to make him happy first..."
Song Jin wanted to say that this was really a shame.
But it was a good job! The two chatted about the cost of cotton clothes again.
Qin Chi thought: "In order to avoid any more trouble, I decided to go to Shun'an Commercial Bank tomorrow to sign a purchase contract. Cotton is 3 cents per pound, and cloth is 120 cents. How do you think?"
“Will the price be set too high?”
The cotton purchased by Song Jin cost 1.80 qian per jin after deducting the transportation costs. The cloth was purchased by Shunan Commercial Bank at a cost of 78 qian.
Qin Chi did not feel guilty about making dirty money. "The merchants outside insisted on 350 wen for cotton and 140 wen for cloth. I reduced the price by 50 wen for one and 20 wen for the other. It can be said to be a fair price."
"Yes, my husband is a man with a conscience." Song Jin agreed unconditionally.
Qin Chi: “…”
At first glance, why does it sound like you are mocking me?
ps: In ancient times, one catty was sixteen taels, and in modern times, one catty is ten taels.
1 liang = 10 qian, 1 qian = 100 wen.