Chapter 64 Big Business Yunqi explained the truth to her in detail. …
Yunqi explained the truth to her in detail.
"This matter requires the Fan family to submit a petition on your behalf, which means that the Fan family is already a known partner. However, if we cannot raise enough silver as capital for the princess, or if we provide a sum far lower than what the Fan family can provide, then this petition will become a gift to others. Since you do not have enough capital, you will inevitably be reduced to a supporting role."
"Even if the Fan family is loyal, money has always moved people's hearts. Would he really take out such a large sum of money just to help the princess? To be honest, the princess doesn't owe them that much. It's normal for people to have selfish motives."
Cui Gu was also smart. She understood after a little thought, but she still frowned: "What you said makes some sense. But I am worried that if we take this money recklessly, what if the princess has other plans? You and I both know that the princess always has plans in mind. Even if she gets this money from the business, it is unlikely that she will spend it all on herself. Most of the time, she will use it for other purposes."
"That's very true. Thank you for your advice." Yunqi thought about it and felt that it made sense.
After thinking it over again, Yunqi said, "In fact, according to my opinion, we can list such a number in the account first. It will also let the Fan family know our importance and not dare to have any other thoughts. Even if this proposal is successfully approved, the fees do not need to be paid all at once. At most, a deposit can be paid. The full amount will be paid only when things are completely settled."
It will take some time to get permission, plus we have to find a boat, workers and translators. It will take at least April or May before we can set sail.
She continued, "The two or three months in between give us a chance. We can inform the princess and get her approval. If she agrees, then the deal can go ahead. We can also transfer the deposit to the Fan family or someone else who wants it. The worst that can happen is that we lose some of the deposit. What do you think?"
These words were quite soothing. Cui Gu thought to herself that Yun Qi's attitude was also very clear. He was willing to ask for her opinion and did not have the intention of bullying her. This made her feel a little relieved.
Cui Gu gathered her outer clothes and said with a straight face, "If that's what you said, I'll give you some money for now, and it won't be difficult to write something on paper. But I'll still say it in advance, unless I see the princess's handwritten order, I won't give you all the money in the capital."
Yunqi laughed: "That's great. If you give me all the money so easily, I will really criticize you when we get back to the princess."
She said that since the princess could choose this girl to be the one to manage the purse in the capital, she must have some extraordinary abilities.
Now that the matter had been agreed upon, the two of them went their separate ways, each making careful preparations.
Yunqi is full of confidence in this proposal.
She had some understanding of the princess's personality. Although the princess was young and kept a low profile in public, she could sense that the young princess was unruly at heart. In other words, the princess was willing to take risks in some matters, even if they might not be so thorough.
Therefore, she firmly believed that after the princess knew about going to Japan to purchase copper, she would definitely agree.
For such an important matter, Fan Yuqi could not make the final decision just by speaking, and he had to discuss it with the head of the Fan family, Fan Yuqi's father Fan Sanbo.
Yunqi made a special trip to Fan's house.
According to the regulations when entering the Pass, only the children of the Eight Banners could live in the inner city, but the Fan family was an imperial merchant of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and perhaps they had some connections, and they actually placed the Fan Mansion outside the inner city. However, the decoration of the house looked simple, and even the clothes worn by the Fan family were mostly half-new, not luxurious.
Mr. Fan received her with a friendly face and a respectful attitude, as usual towards officials.
"My son has already briefly explained this matter. It is indeed a good business. We in the Fan family will definitely follow the princess's wishes. I wonder if Aunt Yunqi has any specific rules?"
Yunqi said, "There is one thing I want to do. I want to draft the document with you, old man."
After the ink was ground and the paper was spread out, Yunqi wrote three words with his wrist: "Save money".
Mr. Fan stroked his beard and asked, "Why do you save money?"
"Such a happy matter. The Ministry of Internal Affairs cannot decide on its own. It must be reported to His Majesty." Yunqi raised his hands and clasped his fists. "The princess is noble, but when it comes to His Majesty, no one can be more noble than her. I think we should write it clearly in the letter that the money saved will go directly to the inner treasury to honor His Majesty."
This means that the money saved went straight into the emperor's personal pocket, without having to go to the national treasury.
"What a thrifty guy." Old Master Fan praised, "You are worthy of being the princess's right-hand man."
"You are too kind. I am just repeating what my master said."
Before leaving, the princess specifically told Yunqi that she would have a share of the profits from the sheep trade. Yunqi also followed this line of thought and proposed saving money.
With the important indication that the saved silver is deposited into the inner treasury instead of the Ministry of Revenue or the national treasury, there is an extra level of security.
As soon as the Lantern Festival was over and the aroma of the glutinous rice balls had not yet dissipated, the Fan family submitted a memorial to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, requesting to take charge of the copper business in the capital, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and willing to reduce the price to the market price, giving one penny of silver per catty of copper and five cents for the price of copper, and going out to sea to buy copper.
The officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs did not dare to make a decision on their own and quickly delivered the memorial to the Forbidden City.
Ten days later, news came from the palace, with two light words: "Approved."
A scene of great joy.
The Fan family specially prepared a sumptuous banquet and invited Yunqi, Cuigu and others to drink together. Fan Yuqi drank until his face turned red, and he was still laughing: "Hehe, I am the only one who can get copper for the court."
Mr. Fan took this matter very seriously and planned to go to Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions in person to meet some old friends and supervise the shipping affairs.
Yunqi was worried and wanted to go with them, but he was afraid that he would be late in escorting the silver and goods back to the princess.
Cui Gu found out and tried to persuade her: "Go with Mr. Fan and have a good look. Fan Yuqi will follow you. If it doesn't work, find someone else."
Who should I look for? The small peddler Wang Erbazi, who I had picked up on the way, jumped out and vowed: "Aunt Yunqi, I will definitely do this job properly. If there is any negligence, I will bring my head to you!"
"Your head is not worth anything."
Joking aside, there really was no better candidate. Yunqi asked Wang Erbazi to take charge of this matter and told him to take the Zhangku official road and go there quickly.
The day before leaving Beijing, Fan Yuqi walked back and forth in front of Mr. Fan's bedroom for a long time, wanting to find him but not daring to.
"If someone didn't know, they would think you were possessed by evil spirits. If you have anything to say, come in and tell me."
Mr. Fan sat on the kang, looking exhausted. He took an orange and peeled it slowly. The air was filled with the scent of oranges.
"Tell me, what are you thinking about?"
Fan Yuqi gritted his teeth and said, "Dad, can I? Can I? Go south with you to buy copper?"
"What about Mobei?"
After a long silence, Fan Yuqi said, "But, didn't Zheng Yunqi go either..."
"Is it a one-time thing?"
Mr. Fan's voice suddenly rang out: "Let me ask you, you got a good job with the help of the princess's staff, and now you find excuses not to go in front of her. What will others think? You learned how to do business from me before, and you learned all these tricks?"
Fan Yuqi said nothing, but lowered his head and stared at the floor tiles.
To have such a good opportunity to work for the court, my father not only went there in person, but also asked my second brother to go with him to the prosperous places like Yangzhou. However, he had to go to such a barren place like Mobei and eat sand outside the Great Wall.
Mr. Fan coughed twice and said slowly: "You can figure this out yourself. Besides, your wife is still with the princess. It's not bad for her to stay there. It can also make the princess feel at ease."
Fan Yuqi glanced at his father quickly. He understood the implication. His wife and he were like a guarantee for the Fan family to the princess, acting like a hostage in ancient times.
He smiled rather bitterly: "Yes."
Mr. Fan handed him an orange slice and said, "You are still young, don't be impatient. I also know that you are wronged, just bear with it. I will call you back when I have the chance."
"My son knows."
When setting off, Fan Yuqi was still a little depressed and walked slowly.
The other person who was promoted temporarily was very lively. He greeted people in the team with a smile, asking them if they had eaten enough and if they had brought all the food.
Fan Yuqi was a little annoyed, and when Wang Erbazi came to ask him, "Master Fan, are we leaving now?"
He frowned and forced a fake smile: "Okay, by the way, what's your full name? Since you are now a manager, I can't keep calling you Erba Zi."
"Wang Xiangqing, I asked the fortune teller to tell me a name." Wang Xiangqing grinned, "But you can just call me Erbazi. It's me anyway, there's no mistake."
After exchanging pleasantries, they finally set off. The two of them led the team, one in front and one behind, and galloped on the official road.
Because they were carrying the annual salary, cloth, and other gifts granted by the court to the princess, the large group could not move very fast. To avoid delays, they reported the matter of going to Japan to buy copper to the princess as soon as possible, and made a decision before the ship set sail. They also selected two good horse riders to rush back to Mobei to deliver the message.
On the day when the letter from the capital was received, Mu Xue was leading people to look at the several small tents on the right side of the princess's tent. These were set up for the princess's school. Although the conditions were definitely far inferior to the formal clan schools in the capital, it could at least be considered a classroom that could shelter from the wind and rain.
"Princess, Yunqi has sent someone to deliver a letter."
So fast?
Is there something wrong?
Mu Xue received the letter box, unlocked it with the key, and quickly read through it.
Aunt Wu and Aunt Zhao beside her were looking at her, trying to guess whether it was a good thing or a bad thing based on her expression.
Mu Xue smiled and said, "It is indeed a good opportunity."
She handed the letter to Nanny Wu and motioned for her to read it.
Nanny Wu flipped through the pages in confusion, her face changed, and her voice became shrill, like the sound of a kettle: "Princess! No matter how good the matter is, if we spend the money, will we not be able to live like this?"
Seeing her so excited, Mu Xue said quickly, "Okay, okay, it's not like we're out of food now. Don't worry, there's always a way."
Nanny Wu held her chest with her hands, looking as if she was about to faint: "Even if we sell sheep, it won't make up for the deficit. But it takes some time for the sheep to grow up. We have to wait until summer to sell them."
Muxue took back the letter written by Yunqi and only pressed her fingertips on the word "deposit".
She thought for a long time and asked, "Have you heard of the concept of futures?"
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