Recently, there has been a craze in Beijing to go to Xiliang to pan for gold.
Where does the popularity come from?
Naturally, it was hyped up by the best-selling newspaper in Beijing, "Da Zhou Life Show".
As an industry benchmark, "Da Zhou Life Show" has been dedicated to hyping topics for ten years. It has always been imitated but never surpassed.
The Duke of Lu led the Northwestern Army to destroy Xiliang. Life Show made a special feature for this purpose, and in conjunction with the "Shanhe Academy News", gave a detailed introduction to the Western Regions.
However, the two newspapers have different focuses.
The "Shanhe Academy Newspaper" seriously analyzes the impact of the future border structure of the Great Zhou from many aspects, including geography and politics, which has aroused heated discussions among officials and scholars.
It is said that the "Shanhe Academy Newspaper" is meaningful and has integrity.
There was no flattery or fawning on the emperor in this matter.
Holding the bottom line is very good and very powerful.
The content of the article was also considerable, although some of it caused extreme discomfort to officials.
"Da Zhou Life Show" outlines a very three-dimensional Western Regions for everyone through the specialties of the Western Regions, local customs and people, and scenery along the way.
Occasionally, one or two curious rumors are interspersed in the article, such as the rumor that a certain businessman went to the Western Regions to pan for gold and made a certain amount of money over the years, which aroused the strong curiosity of ordinary readers.
So much so that for a period of time, the only topic people in the capital talked about was the Western Regions.
When the time was right, Life Show suddenly published an article titled "Go to Xiliang to Pan for Gold", which was the front-page headline.
As the best-selling newspaper, the influence of "Da Zhou Life Show" is self-evident.
As soon as the gold rush article came out, it was, as expected, a huge hit...
It was like a thunderclap, exploding in people's hearts.
Gold panning?
Is there really gold?
Gold everywhere?
Can you get rich by bending down?
Is this true? Is it that exaggerated?
The Western Regions are really that good, it can’t be!
What was said in the newspapers is certainly an exaggeration.
"I don't care whether the newspapers are exaggerating or not. I only know that shipping a truckload of goods from the northwest to Xiliang will cost at least ten times as much. And then shipping the goods from Xiliang back to Da Zhou will cost ten times more again!"
boom!
People are excited.
"Can it really be increased tenfold?"
"Of course. If you ship something that Xiliang doesn't have, the price will increase tenfold. The rich over there live an extremely luxurious life. Unlike our Great Zhou, where there are all kinds of restrictions on the wealthy, people over there live as they please with all their money."
After hearing this, many people became restless.
Of course there are also sober people.
"Even if the price increases tenfold, you still have to survive to earn it. Not to mention the bandits along the way, the prairie wolves and the Gobi Desert alone are enough to kill people. Don't try it lightly if you don't know the situation."
"That's true, but wealth and honor are achieved through risk. If you want to get rich, you have to take risks. Besides, if you're afraid of danger, just spend a little more money and join the caravan to Xiliang. There will be people protecting you along the way to ensure your safety."
"It takes half a month to get from the capital to the northwest, and from the northwest to Xiliang. Even if the journey is smooth, it will take at least one or two months. A round trip takes nearly half a year just on the road. This isn't business, it's gambling with your life."
"One trip a year is enough. As the saying goes, if you don't open a business for three years, you can make a living for three years after you open it. Don't forget, Xiliang is now the territory of the Great Zhou. Going to Xiliang to do business is like going from the capital to Jiangnan. What danger can there be? Moreover, there are dozens or even hundreds of countries west of Xiliang. These countries are not big, but they are very rich. Anyone who has the courage to make a trip, haha, will not have to worry about the rest of his life."
"I heard from my ancestors that many years ago, there were many wealthy merchants from the Western Regions in the capital. Later, the war broke out and Xiliang cut off the trade routes, and since then, Western merchants have disappeared from the capital. Now that the Northwestern Army has conquered Xiliang, does this mean that merchants from the Western Regions will be seen in the capital again in the future?"
"Of course! Why did we attack Xiliang? Of course it was for trade. Trade is about give and take. Merchants from the Western Regions can come to our Great Zhou to do business, so of course we can also go to the Western Regions to do business."
"How do you know the imperial court attacked Xiliang for trade? Do you have any relatives in government?"
"You don't need relatives in office; you can figure it out with your brain. Think carefully, why would Life Show publish an article titled 'Going to Xiliang to Pan for Gold' at this time?"
"Why?"
"Stupid! Who is the boss behind the lifestyle show?"
"Her Majesty the Queen."
"That's right. The article 'Going to Xiliang to Pan for Gold' must have been published with the palace's approval. The reason for publishing such an article was, of course, to open up trade routes. Do you know what the Empress' greatest characteristic is?"
Everyone shook their heads.
"The Empress' greatest characteristic, and greatest strength, is that she doesn't like to eat all the food for herself. Whenever something good happens, she always thinks of taking care of common people like us. For example, shares in Universal Transport, houses in Xinmin County, and road construction... Now that the Northwest Army has conquered Xiliang, the court will definitely have to manage it well. This is a rare opportunity to make a fortune, and we can't let high-ranking officials and those unscrupulous businessmen take all the spoils. If common people like us have the courage, we can also participate in this event and make a small fortune. Do you understand?"
Everyone nodded.
"Brother, what you said makes sense. The idea of opening a trade route should be correct. This article is obviously trying to build momentum for the opening of the trade route."
"What an opportunity! Everyone should seize it."
"People like us, with only a few dozen taels of silver in savings, can only look at opportunities like this. We can't even reach them."
“Everyone can pool their money.”
“How do we raise funds?”
"Why not ask Sanhe Express? When it comes to shipping, who can compare to Sanhe Express?"
"Let's go, let's go ask Sanhe Express. If we can really raise funds, I'd be willing to take out the few taels of silver I've saved."
…
Sanhe Express is very busy.
There are people coming and going every day, sending parcels, checking parcels, and receiving parcels.
There is a group of more people asking questions today.
"Raising funds for business? Going to Xiliang."
The staff at Sanhe Express looked confused.
"The newspaper called on everyone to go to Xiliang to pan for gold, but Sanhe Express didn't take any corresponding measures."
"Yes! Our Sanhe Express has recently launched a service to escort caravans to Xiliang. All you have to do is pay a fee and we'll guarantee the caravan's safety."
"Really? Can I do this alone?"
"As long as we gather two hundred people, we can set off."
"Look, we are just ordinary people. How can we afford to put together a caravan of 200 people?"
"You don't need to gather the number of people. We at Sanhe Express will be responsible for taking orders and gathering the number of people. We can set off as soon as the number of people is reached."
"That's good, that's good. How do you charge for it?"
"Based on the value of the goods, we'll charge you 10% of the shipping price from Xiliang. Before you depart, you'll need to pay a deposit."
It’s so dark!
He actually charged 10% of the shipping price from Xiliang as compensation.
“How do I get paid for the return trip?”
"Same rules. If you bring goods, we charge 10% of the value. If you don't, we only charge a head fee. Don't worry about your safety on the road. Our guards are all veterans who have fought in battles. Furthermore, we, Sanhe Express, have a partnership with the Northwest Military Governor's Office. Once you enter the prairie, you can stay at the Military Governor's Office's fortress instead of living in the wild. For this reason alone, I can guarantee that no other carriage company in the world can compare to us, Sanhe Express."
"That's right, that's right! Sanhe Express has a strong background, we all know that."
"I'll tell you another piece of news. You've all heard of the Zhu family of Cheng Enbo, right? They used to be the richest people in the capital."
"I know, I know. What happened to the Zhu family?"
"The Zhu family was the fastest to react. They've already organized a supply of goods and assembled a caravan of 200 people. They've entrusted us, Sanhe Express, to escort them to Xiliang. They'll depart in two days. If anyone wants to join the Zhu family caravan, sign up now."
"The Zhu family reacted so quickly?"
"The Zhu family was able to become the richest family in the capital back then, so they must have some real skills. To be honest, as soon as the news of the Northwest Army's conquest of Xiliang reached the capital, the Zhu family started to take action."
What a quick reaction.
While the court officials were still arguing in the court, the Zhu family had already begun to organize supplies and prepare to go to Xiliang to dig for a bucket of gold.
For a moment, everyone was talking about it.
Some admire, some envy, some are jealous, some try to build relationships...
The Zhu family immediately organized a caravan to go to Xiliang to pan for gold. This matter could not be kept secret.
Many people only realized it later and reacted after learning about the Zhu family's movements.
Oh my god!
Almost missed the opportunity to make a fortune.
Attacking Xiliang was clearly an opportunity for everyone to make a fortune given by the Emperor and the Empress. It was not as dangerous as the court officials said.
It would be even better if there were one, two, three, four or five more opportunities like this.
Naturally, the attitudes of the court officials began to change subtly, and some other voices appeared in the court.
Some people who originally held a conservative attitude and supported abandoning Xiliang began to change their positions.
Either silently or openly support Emperor Liu Zhao's decision on Xiliang.
Liu Zhao sneered.
Xiaojiu is right, money can move people's hearts.
Rather than killing people, it is better to lure them with benefits.
By setting up a leading example, the alliance among the court officials will collapse on its own.
The Zhu family of Cheng'enbo Mansion is quite useful.
As the richest man in Beijing, his reputation can be used occasionally to increase his presence and play a positive leading role.
Liu Zhao was very proud.
You bunch of jumping around ministers are all trash in front of my Xiaojiu.
My Xiaojiu has planned everything out, and he has seen through all your reactions long ago.
You think you are very smart, but you don't know that every step you take was planned in advance by my Xiaojiu.
There is no need for Lord Lu to come out and wave the flag and shout slogans, there will be people who will stand up and make a deafening statement.
"We cannot give up Xiliang! Otherwise, we would be sorry for the soldiers who shed blood and sacrificed their lives, sorry for the efforts of the imperial court, sorry for the hard work of your majesty, and even more sorry for the ancestors of the Great Zhou."
"Expanding territory is an unprecedented achievement. How can we deny the entire achievement because of one person?"
"The Great Zhou cannot afford to lose an inch of territory. Since Xiliang has been occupied by the Great Zhou, it is the territory of the Great Zhou. How can we give it up so easily?"
"Anyone who demands the abandonment of Xiliang is a traitor to the nation!"
The old conservatives were heartbroken and pointed at these fence-sitters, saying, "I've never seen people as shameless as you!"
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