"No iron tools?" Chongzhen stared at Zhou Kui.
Zhou Kui was so frightened that he knelt down directly: "Your Majesty, please forgive me, there is... a little, but not much. The Tatars have a great demand for iron, and the price is high. All the caravans doing business there sell ironware. I am just following the crowd..."
Although the Ming court had trade with the Mongolian tribes, it strictly prohibited iron pots and ironware from being transported to the Mongolian grasslands to prevent the Mongols from re-forging ironware and making weapons to enhance their military strength.
The Later Jin took advantage of the opportunity of mutual trade, promised these caravans large sums of money, and transported large amounts of iron ore and ironware to Liaodong to fight against the Ming court.
"I killed some traitorous merchants some time ago. Did you know about this?"
Zhou Kui nodded with a dead heart.
It seems that the emperor is going to take action against him.
"I'll give you a chance. In half a month at most, you have to take over all the business of those companies. Can you do it?"
Zhou Kui had originally given up resistance, but after hearing Chongzhen's words, hope rekindled in his eyes.
He looked at Chongzhen in disbelief and asked carefully, "Your Majesty...are you testing me?"
"Do you think I'm free?"
“I dare not…” Zhou Kui swallowed.
Although he didn't know why Chongzhen asked him to take over the business of those companies, this was definitely an opportunity to make a lot of money.
"I don't need half a month, I only need ten days!"
"Okay!" Chongzhen threatened with a smile: "If you don't have enough money, ask me for it. If you don't have enough people, ask me for them. But remember one thing, no matter who you do business with, you can't sell even a pound of iron ore or ironware, or I will make you bankrupt!"
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