Huang Qubing excitedly knocked on the door of the eldest prince's mansion.
"I'm looking for your wife. It's urgent."
The servant invited him into the house and took him to the study.
Gu Jiu asked him to sit down.
As soon as Huang Qubing entered the room, he shouted, "Madam, great news!"
"Let me guess, Your Majesty agrees to the mass production of carriages?"
Huang Qubing nodded repeatedly, "Madam, your guess is correct. His Majesty has relented. This is great news! After so much effort, His Majesty has finally changed his mind."
He was so excited that he wanted to cry.
During this period, I couldn't eat or sleep well, and I was full of self-doubt and self-denial. I always thought that I had messed up the four-wheeled carriage plan.
Like a sinner, I condemn myself every day.
Unexpectedly, after so long, things took a turn for the better.
Huang Qubing couldn't hide his excitement and looked relieved.
"Congratulations, you finally got it done." Gu Jiu encouraged him generously.
Huang Qubing was a little embarrassed, "It's not my credit, it's the current situation that changed your majesty's mind."
Gu Jiu laughed, "In short, you also deserve some credit for the successful mass production of the four-wheeled carriage."
Huang Qubing smiled happily.
It was like going back to the early days of Wenqing Bookstore. The sense of accomplishment I gained and the excitement that filled my heart were incomparable to anything else.
After the excitement, he finally calmed down.
He belatedly asked, "Madam doesn't seem surprised. Could it be that she had already anticipated that His Majesty would relent?"
Gu Jiu smiled and shook his head, "I'm not that amazing. It's just that there are fewer and fewer things that can excite me now."
Huang Qubing did not delve into the matter further.
Even if he knew what Gu Jiu said, he couldn't believe it completely.
He looked hesitant.
Gu Jiu said bluntly: "If you have any difficulties, just tell me."
Huang Qubing pondered for a moment, "Your Majesty has approved the mass production of four-wheeled carriages. The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works are all vying to invest in them. Your Majesty has tacitly approved it and ordered the Minister of the Imperial Household to negotiate with Madam."
Gu Jiu raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Could this be the condition that His Majesty agreed to?"
“I guess so!”
Gu Jiu tapped the table lightly. "Tell me, which government offices want to invest?"
Huang Qubing hurriedly said, "Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Works, Ministry of War, Ministry of the Imperial Household, and Ministry of Horse Administration."
Gu Jiu smiled faintly, "With such huge benefits, wouldn't the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Personnel be tempted?"
"Of course the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Personnel also want to invest, but the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of War have united and firmly oppose their diluting the profits."
Gu Jiu laughed out loud when he heard that.
"I never thought that the Ministry of Revenue could actually strike back at the Ministry of Personnel. The Ministry of Personnel is the head of the six ministries. When did it become so weak?"
"It's because Lord Zhao from the Ministry of Revenue said something that moved Your Majesty."
"What did you say?" Gu Jiu was very curious. Any words that could move Emperor Wende must be extraordinary.
"Lord Zhao said that the Ministry of Personnel is the head of the Six Ministries, and it's responsible for the appointment and promotion of officials. It's a matter of great importance, so how can it be tainted by the smell of money and disrupt people's hearts? He also said that the Ministry of Rites recruits talents for the Great Zhou, and it's related to the education of the people of the world, so it can't be tainted by the smell of money. As for the Ministry of Justice, it deals with human lives, and it must not be corrupted by money."
Gu Jiu burst into laughter.
After she finished laughing, she said, "Lord Zhao is truly a brilliant man. He has gone to great lengths to prevent the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Rites from profiting from their own small profits."
The high-sounding words conceal the struggle for interests and rights.
Gu Jiu smiled and asked, "Is Your Majesty really moved?"
Huang Qubing nodded heavily, "Your Majesty also believes that the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Personnel should not be tainted with money."
Gu Jiu nodded, "They shouldn't be tainted with money. These three government offices should remain pure."
Even if no one can be pure, at least he can't become worse.
Gu Jiu asked again, "Why is Ma Zheng joining in the fun?"
"Didn't Madam say that a four-wheeled carriage needs horses? Ma Zheng naturally wants a piece of the pie."
"The horse administration should just focus on selling horses. Why bother with carriages? Tell the horse administration that Xiaohegou Horse Farm can cooperate with Qingping Horse Farm to jointly establish the Universal Horse Sales Center."
The Universal Horse Sales Center has a very strange name.
It’s just a mule and horse market, and it’s also called a sales center.
Huang Qubing secretly complained.
Gu Jiu knocked on the table. "Have you forgotten what I said before? Packaging! When selling products, packaging is particularly important. Yes, the Junma Sales Center is actually a mule and horse market, but do you think any rich kid would be willing to wander into a mule and horse market?"
Huang Qubing wrinkled his nose, thinking of the unpleasant and pungent smell of the mule and horse market, and the dirty and muddy ground. That place was really not a good place to go.
Rich families would ask their servants to buy horses for them and rarely go to the mule and horse market in person because the environment in the mule and horse market kept away customers.
Gu Jiu said, "To facilitate horse sales, I plan to build a large horse farm in the west of the city, integrating entertainment and sales. Ask Ma Zheng if he's willing to invest. I can give him 20% of the shares, and he can sell all the horses he has, from slow horses to thousand-mile steeds. As for the four-wheeled carriages, tell Ma Zheng to get out of here and stop messing around."
You haven't even taken good care of horses yet, and you want to make a four-wheeled carriage. That's too big a step, be careful not to get into trouble.
Huang Qubing agreed, "I will discuss this matter with Ma Zheng. They have no right to the four-wheeled carriage. I will try to persuade Ma Zheng to invest in the Junma Sales Center."
“Very good!”
After talking so much, Gu Jiu felt a little thirsty and drank half a cup of tea.
Huang Qubing asked, "How should the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of War return to their residence?"
Gu Jiu frowned slightly. "Originally, I promised to give the Shaofu 30% of the shares. Now the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of War want to participate, which will inevitably dilute the Shaofu's shares. Because the shares I can give to the court agencies cannot exceed 30% in total. This is the bottom line. This 30% of shares will be divided between you, the Shaofu, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of War. How to divide it is up to you two to discuss."
Huang Qubing was worried, "Can we discuss and decide the shareholding among ourselves?"
Gu Jiu nodded and said, "I won't interfere with how these 30% shares are distributed."
Huang Qubing felt a headache and asked, "Madam, why don't you just make the decision directly?"
Gu Jiu shook his head. "It's about the proportion of government shares. I can't participate."
She takes responsibility for everything, and if something goes wrong in the future, she will be the scapegoat.
Gu Jiu knew clearly what he could do and what he could not do.
"Is there no room for negotiation?"
"Yes, there is no room for negotiation. You, the Shaofu, and the other three yamen will discuss it among yourselves. Tell me your decision in three days."
Huang Qubing is worried!
Now the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War are bound to argue with each other.
Three days and the arguments were endless.
Gu Jiu continued, "Tomorrow's episode of 'Da Zhou Life Show' will feature an announcement announcing the official establishment of the Universal Transport Company. A public offering will be launched in two weeks. I will offer 30% of my shares, split into 100,000 shares, each priced at 150 taels."
Huang Qubing was so shocked that his jaw dropped to the ground and he finally closed it.
Thirty percent of the shares, that is, 100,000 shares, each worth 150 taels, which is 15 million taels.
Is it possible that a newly established business that has not yet generated a penny of profit is worth 50 million taels, an unprecedented value?
"Madam, would you like to reconsider this? One hundred and fifty taels per share is too high, isn't it?"
Gu Jiu smiled and asked, "Do you think I'm asking for an exorbitant price? That no one would buy it at this price? Or do you think the value of a four-wheeled carriage is far less than 50 million taels?"
Huang Qubing was a little confused.
"I believe the four-wheeled carriage will be sold all over the world. However, right now, the company hasn't been established yet, and a 30% stake worth 15 million taels is ridiculous. I'm worried that no one will be interested, and it will be a joke."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Do you know what I think?"
Huang Qubing shook his head.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "One hundred and fifty taels per share is too cheap, it's already a bargain. In my mind, a share of the transport company should be worth at least five hundred taels to be worthy of a four-wheeled carriage. However, because the company has just been established and has not yet made a profit, I lowered the price to one hundred and fifty taels per share.
I can tell you this: in half a year, the price at the transport company will definitely exceed 150 taels per share, reaching 300 taels, or even 400 taels per share. And in a year, 500 taels per share will be no problem.”
Huang Qubing was dumbfounded.
Among the playboys, he is the one who dares to think and act the most.
But compared to Gu Jiu, his bold imagination was nothing.
In front of Gu Jiu, he became a conservative person who dared not think.
Huang Qubing laughed at himself.
Gu Jiu smiled and asked him, "You don't believe it?"
Huang Qubing shook his head. "I just think it's too crazy! This is equivalent to raising five million taels from the public in one go. Will it attract the attention of His Majesty?"
"Your Majesty should be pleased. I gave 30% of my shares to the government offices. This means that your Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Works, and Ministry of War got 15 million taels for free."
Huang Qubing took a breath of cold air.
What is getting something for nothing? This is getting something for nothing, so amazing.
He cautiously suggested, "Can we increase the 100,000 shares to 200,000, or even 300,000? Lower the price of each share so it doesn't attract so much attention."
Gu Jiu thought for a moment and said, "Issuing additional shares should have been done two years later. But your concerns are reasonable. One hundred and fifty taels per share is too expensive for ordinary people to buy, and it won't benefit the general public."
How about changing it to 500,000 shares, each worth 30 taels, so that the common people of the entire capital, the northwest, the northeast, and the vast south can also have a share. I will set aside at least 50,000 shares for the common people to purchase, and also give them a chance to enjoy the dividends.
Huang Qubing was still worried, "Isn't thirty taels a bit too expensive? Most ordinary people don't have thirty taels in savings. Thirty taels per share can only benefit a small number of self-cultivating farmers or some small vendors."
Gu Jiu said solemnly, "It's these people who are supposed to benefit. Self-employed farmers and small traders are the main source of tax revenue for the imperial court, and they are also the most vulnerable to risk. Once they encounter natural disasters or man-made calamities, they will fall into bankruptcy and sell themselves into slavery. As for those landless tenant farmers and hard laborers, even if one share is sold for only five taels of silver, do you think they have the money to buy it?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
