Buying land? All the land in Yangzhou area had been annexed long ago.

Doing business? Nine times out of ten you lose.

Lending money for interest? This is indeed their main investment channel.

But with such high interest rates, who would come back to borrow unless they were desperate? As a result, in most cases, even the principal of the money lent out could not be recovered.

So they could only build gardens, set up opera troupes, and raise skinny horses, and all the money that could not be squandered was stored in cellars.

The cellars were filled with jars of silver, and the salt merchants were also anxious. Which merchant didn't know that money makes money? It was a great sin to let money sleep at home.

That's why the salt merchants loved Mr. Zhao so deeply, and loved him so humbly. They would even agree to the condition of just paying money and not asking about the company.

It's like you spend money to marry a wife, but you can't ask where she sleeps at night.

Even so, those salt merchants who did not get the chance to invest in Jiangnan Company have been blaming Zhao Liben for being biased.

So this time, Lao Zhao has to compensate them...

After speaking for the salt merchant, Zhao Liben said a little shyly, "Besides, Grandpa himself also wants to buy a hundred thousand taels of bonds..."

"Grandpa, wasn't the last fifty thousand taels said to be coffin money?" Zhao Hao couldn't help but exclaimed: "How come there is another hundred thousand taels?"

"This time it's private money." Zhao Liben said without blushing, "It's all saved by grandpa through his frugal life. You know, this is the guarantee of a man's freedom."

"Then why buy bonds? You won't be able to use them in three years." Zhao Hao reminded him.

"Alas, grandpa is old, it's time to settle down." Zhao Liben showed a look of nostalgia, regret and helplessness. "It's better to save everything so that I don't have to think too much."

"Then keep it and use it slowly. Don't let Grandma Ye spend money all the time," suggested the grandson.

"What do you know, you little brat!" Zhao Liben immediately lost his composure and said, "It's a blessing to have a woman willing to spend money on you, don't you understand?"

"Hey, what a blessing." Young Master Zhao wanted to tease the old man, but then he thought that he was still living in the girl's house.

"The fine family traditions of our Zhao family must never be lost, remember that?" Zhao Liben solemnly admonished his grandson, "As long as we have this ability, our Zhao family can always turn things around no matter how many times we fall!"

"..." Young Master Zhao looked at Zhao Liben, who was not joking at all, and almost spit blood on his face.

"Oh, by the way, there is something I need to remind you of." Zhao Liben turned to the main matter without any transition, and said with a gloomy face;

"It's easy for you to issue bonds, but you also want to open a bank and monopolize the government's use of silver. Those big money houses will definitely not sit idly by and watch you monopolize the Suzhou money house industry."

"Yes." Zhao Hao nodded to accept the advice. The old man was the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue in Nanjing back then, and he must be very familiar with the money lending industry.

Then Zhao Liben said in a deep voice: "What does a money house do? Simply put, it is a business where people put their money with them and they make money with their money."

"Great!" Zhao Hao praised, saying it was spot on. Although banks have a variety of functions, everything serves this one purpose.

"You asked the government to only accept your banknotes, and I heard that you also want to allow deposits to be made for free," Zhao Liben asked in a deep voice, "Are you trying to attract all the deposits from other families to yours? How can you let people live?"

"Let's see..." Young Master Zhao muttered. He hadn't told Grandpa yet that he still had to pay interest on his fixed deposit. And the longer the term, the higher the interest rate.

But he probably didn't dare to mention it if he told his grandfather that he would explode on the spot.

"What do you mean by 'just watch'?" Just this made Zhao Liben very angry.

"You are breaking the rules, do you understand? Will those big banks let you off?"

"Come on, who's afraid of who?" Young Master Zhao said indifferently.

"I call you a mad boy! I call you a mad boy!" Zhao Liben was so angry that he jumped up and was about to kick Zhao Hao's butt again.

"As the saying goes, if you don't have the right tools, don't take on the job. Who among those who can open banks all over the country is a good person?!"

"Oh, what's so great about them?" Young Master Zhao quickly dodged and asked curiously.

"There are four major banks today. Wanyuanhao was jointly established by Yangzhou salt merchants, and backed by the Salt Transport Office. Who dares to offend them? Do you still want to eat salt?"

"Hengtongji is a sideline business of the Canal Transport Office. The Governor of Canal Transport and the General of Canal Transport serve as their civil and military protectors. I just want to ask you, do you still want to do business on the Grand Canal?"

"Xinlong is backed by the Northern Hubu Department, which is the private land of those old men."

"Tianhui Pawnshop is a royal store. That vicious woman was really arrogant when she was here." Zhao Liben said with undisguised gloating:

"But she was kicked out. Now Concubine Li's brother Li Gao is in charge. In less than a year, things have become chaotic. I guess the four major ones will soon become the three major ones."

"No, it's the Three Obediences and One Big." Zhao Hao reminded seriously.

"Uh, what do you mean?" Zhao Liben asked puzzledly.

"The three banks are affiliated with the only super-large bank, Jiangnan Bank." Mr. Zhao said confidently.

"Who gave you the confidence, Yang Chenglin?" Zhao Liben looked at his grandson speechlessly, feeling that all his words were in vain.

"Grandpa said this to mean that although your Jiangnan Company is not afraid of anyone, they are not afraid of you either. As a result, no one should use tricks, and everyone has to return to the business arena to compete."

"We are all veterans who have been doing this for many years. You two are too young and will definitely suffer."

"Grandpa, I understand your concern." Zhao Hao smiled and took Zhao Liben's arm and said, "Don't worry, I will stay alert and handle it carefully... Besides, if I really can't handle it, don't I still have Grandpa?"

"Well, that sounds like human language." Zhao Liben finally regained his dignity as the head of the family, nodded with satisfaction and said, "Grandpa will stay in Suzhou for a few months and help you keep an eye on them!"

"That's great!" Zhao Hao was overjoyed when he heard that.

An old man in the family is like a treasure. Moreover, the old man's vision and means are far superior to his.

Zhao Hao had long wanted to keep his grandfather as a consultant, but Zhao Liben was a person who could not stay still. After staying in one place for ten days or half a month, he would get bored and want to move to another place.

Zhao Hao felt like he had won the jackpot this time when he was able to take the initiative to ask to stay for a few months.

But he soon realized that he was still too stupid and naive...

The old man is simply Xiang Zhuang dancing with a sword, aiming at Pei Gong!

Songjiang Huating County, official ship dock.

Zheng Yuanshao, the military governor of Susong, and other local officials, including the prefect Zhong Zhenji, respectfully welcomed Lin Zhongcheng back.

Zheng Yuanshao and others were caught off guard by Lin Run's quick counterattack.

Yet they still competed to flatter the Lord Zhongcheng for his wisdom and bravery, his swift military strategy, and the fact that the rebellious people were defeated.

But Lin Run ruthlessly interrupted him, saying, "We did nothing. We just went back to take a look. It was Governor Cai who put down the riot. If you want to flatter him, go to Suzhou."

"That is also inseparable from the wise leadership of the Zhongcheng..." Zhong Zhengji and others wiped their sweat secretly. They were really unlucky to be targeted by such an unyielding governor.

All of these officials in Songjiang were bought out by the Xu family, and Lin Run was too lazy to be polite with them.

After sending them back, he went straight back to the headquarters in the sedan chair.

ps. Fourth update, please give me a monthly vote. My eyes don't allow me to continue writing, I will write tomorrow.