Late next night, after confiscating the family property, Yan Yingyuan called Zhang Feng to his side.
"My Lord, do you have something to ask me?"
"Tomorrow morning, take a few of your trusted aides to the northern desert and contact the Khalkha tribe of the Mongols. They have always been at odds with Jiannu. The court intends to join forces with the Khalkha tribe to harass the Jiannu rear."
"But...are they willing to cooperate?" Zhang Feng asked worriedly.
Yan Yingyuan smiled slightly: "The border market is about to open. The Khalkha tribe needs food, armor and firearms. My Ming Dynasty needs cattle, sheep and war horses. These things can be exchanged between the two sides. As for how to pass through the territory of the Ordos tribe, they need to figure it out by themselves!"
"Moreover, the Khalkha tribe had already met with the four Oirat tribes at Tarbagatai in the 13th year of Chongzhen, and signed the Mongol Oirat Code, uniting to fight against the Jiannu."
"They are not loyal to the Ming Dynasty, and will not surrender to the Jian Nu! This is the strategy of forming alliances and making alliances that your majesty personally formulated. I will assign you three times the number of elite war horses and camels. You must report back within fifteen days whether the plan succeeds or not."
Zhang Feng felt the pressure on him suddenly increase.
However, as a soldier and the most trusted Jinyiwei of the emperor, he paused for a moment and knelt down to receive the order: "I accept the order!"
After Jiang Yingkui left, Yan Yingyuan opened the secret letter again and read it for a few seconds, then shouted, "Come here, let the local merchant representatives come in."
Soon, nearly twenty businessmen walked in from outside with cautious steps.
After entering the door, they knelt down and kowtowed one by one.
The killing was so shocking that these businessmen were frightened and some were even willing to donate all their property just to save their families' lives.
Looking at the pale-faced merchant representatives, Yan Yingyuan smiled slightly and ordered the soldiers who followed him in: "Everyone, get up quickly. Come, give them seats."
"No need, Lord Yan... We are used to sitting on weekdays, so it's better to stand for a while."
"Yes, standing up will relax your muscles and activate your blood circulation."
Yan Yingyuan did not force him, and with a friendly smile on his face, he said, "Everyone, I have not called you here for anything else, but just to tell you two things."
The leading merchant suppressed his inner fear and said tentatively, "Please give me your instructions, Lord Yan."
"First of all, the killings in Xuanfu Town and Zhangjiakou Fort were not directed at individuals, but at the matter. Those killed by the imperial court were people who deserved to die and must die! Not only did they do business with the Jiannu, but they also transported firearms, ironware, food, and armor that were expressly prohibited by the imperial court to Liaodong. If we don't kill them, it will not be enough to appease the anger of the people and the emperor!"
"After the court's investigation, you are all law-abiding businessmen. So I want to tell you not to panic and continue to do business."
The merchants lowered their heads and looked at each other without saying anything.
"The second thing is the cattle, horses, camels and other livestock of the eight businesses, especially the camels, which number several thousand. I want to sell all these livestock to you at a low price. Do you want to buy them?"
The merchants looked at each other again. This time, someone couldn't help but ask, "Sir, can we buy it?"
"Of course! The nine borders of the imperial court need supplies, and civilian transportation accounts for 60% or even 70% of the total transportation. The border troops of the Ming Dynasty all rely on you for support. How can this official and the imperial court cut off their own arms?"
Although the merchants were still a little skeptical, the doubts in their hearts were not as many as before.
What Yan Yingyuan said was indeed true. The main reason for the prosperity of commerce in the Ming Dynasty was that the government did not restrict it. Moreover, the ministers in the court also formed caravans to do business in private. This has long been no secret in the business world.
Seeing that everyone was still hesitating, Yan Yingyuan said impatiently: "If you don't want to buy, I will contact the caravans in Huguang, Zhejiang, Fujian and Shandong. They are eager to take this opportunity to become bigger and stronger!"
As soon as this was said, someone couldn't help but say, "Sir, I'm willing to buy it!"
"I am willing to buy it too!"
"I am willing to do so. As long as Lord Yan tells me to buy as much as I want, I will buy it!"
Someone took the lead, and others followed suit, expressing their willingness to accept the animals.
These businessmen are smart and their brains work quickly.
If the imperial court wanted to deal with them, it could have taken this opportunity to catch them all in one fell swoop. The reason they didn't do so is what Yan Yingyuan called cutting off one's own arm!
In addition, their previous business had been badly squeezed by those merchants. If they could not take advantage of the opportunity to grow and develop, they would still be dependent on others when southern merchants came.
How can this be tolerated?
"Okay, we'll start selling the animals tomorrow, and you all must come and show your support!"
"Of course!"
"Lord Yan's words are really humiliating to me. I don't deserve it!"
After the merchants left, Yan Yingyuan opened the secret letter again, glanced at it, and breathed a sigh of relief.
......
"Your Majesty! Xuanfu Tang News! Xuanfu Tang News!" Wang Chengen walked into the Qianqing Palace with brisk steps.
Chongzhen was taking a nap at the time and was a little unhappy when he was woken up by Wang Chengen.
"read."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Fan Yongdou and other traitorous merchants, their nine clans, the company's grooms, laborers, and more than 10,000 people have all been executed. The amount of their property has been confiscated as follows."
"Gold: 890,000 taels."
"Silver... Silver: more than 23 million taels, and other properties, land, shops, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, etc." (I didn't find the exact amount, I only found some unclear records on Zhihu. If you have an accurate number, please leave a comment and I will correct it.)
Chongzhen sat up directly.
People die for money and birds die for food. The eight "locust merchants" finally perished.
As long as they can withstand the next invasion of the Jiannu, they will face the dilemma of food shortage without the financial support of unscrupulous merchants.
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