armyinform Chapter 1167 Heavenly Way and Human Way
Chapter 1167 Heavenly Way and Human Way
Chapter 1167 Heavenly Way and Human Way
Ye Zuqia's experience as an official over the past ten years has never been as difficult as it is today.
The establishment of the exchange was not decided by Ye Zuqia alone. When Zhang Yue first set up the exchange, he established a board of directors to isolate the exchange from the direct management of the exchange by the Traffic Supervision Bureau.
Although Ye Zuqia could interfere with or directly appoint the chairman of the board of directors of the exchange, the day-to-day management of the exchange was handled by the chief manager and other managers.
After so many years of operation, the equity structure of the exchange has become extremely complex.
Among them were the royal family, the two Empress Dowagers, the imperial relatives, the three court departments and the former Shaanxi Road Transportation Department (Yongxingfu Road Transportation Department), as well as Han Qi, Zeng Gongliang, Wen Yanbo, Fu Bi, Wu Chong, Zhang Yue and other former or current senior officials, Huang Lu, Cai Jing, Ye Zuqia and other upstart officials from the salt exchange, management like Shen Li, the big salt merchants in Shaanxi who played a vital role in the salt industry, and finally the common people and ordinary businessmen.
Such a complicated structure made it impossible for the imperial court to manage the exchange. When Wang Anshi was in power, he did not touch the exchange.
Wang Anshi wanted to manage the world's finances, so he wanted to bring the Jiaoyinso under the complete control of the court. However, there were too many issues involved, so he gave up in the end.
Similar to the exchange is the Xihe Exchange.
The Xihe Exchange not only had shares of the Bian Jing Exchange, but also shares of the Xihe Road Jinglüe Division, the Qinfeng Road Transportation Division, as well as shares of Zhang Yue, Wang Hou, Gao Zunyu and others.
The chief treasurer of both the Exchange and the Xihe Road Exchange is appointed by the annual board of directors, and the chief treasurer may not agree with Ye Zuqia's decision.
The current chief manager is Shen Chen. It was his foresight that led to the earliest investment in the exchange. In return, Zhang Yue has always supported the uncle and nephew of the Shen family.
Today, the Shen family has become an important family in Bianjing.
Shen Chen's uncle Shen Yan has passed away long ago. As the current head of the Shen family, Shen Chen adheres to the Shen family's business purpose, which is to establish good relations with the court when running any business.
The Shen family now has the status of an official businessman, which is what many ordinary businessmen dream of.
Shen Chen was cautious and said, "As long as Lord Zhang continues to be the prime minister, he should not offend these officials too much."
Ye Zuqia said, "But Mr. Zhang has already said sternly that when the market closes, the salt bill will be 15 strings per seat."
Shen Chen said: "We must do what Lord Zhang wants. It's still early, so let's not hold it up for now. Let the salt notes fall in the middle to give the yamen who sold short yesterday a chance, and then we can pull it up later."
Ye Zuqia said, "You mean to deliberately let a few big fish escape by leaking a net first."
Shen Chen nodded and said, "When hunting, you have to surround the area on three sides, otherwise someone will jump out of desperation."
Ye Zuqia said: "It's just that Mr. Zhang has been planning this for a long time, so..."
Shen Chen said: "Those who are willing to spend some money to buy peace are also considered smart people. As for those who are not smart, I guess there is no need for Lord Zhang to show mercy."
"You and I are doing this for the sake of Zhang Gong's plan!"
Ye Zuqia said: "Okay."
There was a pile of notes on the table between the two of them.
……
The officials in the restaurant were pacing anxiously.
"Down, down, down!"
"The salt bill dropped from 12 strings of cash per seat to 10 strings of cash per seat..."
All the young masters showed surprise, but then frowned.
However, most people sold their salt notes at an extra five strings of coins yesterday, and if they are asked to buy them at ten strings of coins today, not everyone can bear the loss of cutting their positions at a loss.
Wang Zhongxiu opened the curtains and looked at the people constantly coming in and out of the exchange. They were all businessmen who had heard the news and came here.
Once the official salt is liberalized, merchants can freely purchase official salt with salt notes. Therefore, in the future, the only way to buy official salt is to use salt notes, and salt notes will become more expensive.
This was something that everyone had expected, so the businessmen all took action as soon as they heard the news.
It is true that Wang Zhongxiu did have some judgment as a yamen official. In another historical period, Cai Jing allowed official salt merchants to transport and sell salt, and all salt could be withdrawn with salt notes. Merchants from all over the country became extremely enthusiastic about buying salt.
However, Cai Jing later issued salt notes indiscriminately and constantly used the method of exchanging old notes for new ones to harm salt merchants, which eventually turned this good law into a bad law.
But Zhang Yue did the opposite. He did not issue new salt notes, not because he could control himself, but because the profits from the Jiaoyin Office were greater.
In the private rooms of the restaurant, lights are on even during the day because there are curtains on all sides.
Wang Zhongxiu paced back and forth and said, "I will discuss this with Ye Zuqia and Shen Chen in person later, and then I will knock on the door of Prime Minister Zhang to see if the date of delivery of the salt notes can be postponed. I think it is difficult for us to produce the salt notes for delivery at the moment, and the exchange office can understand it. Prime Minister Zhang will not be so unreasonable."
"We have been through a lot of ups and downs over the years, and it's not easy to be in the same boat together. Of course, if you want to buy something, just go buy it yourself. There is no reason to tie us together."
After hearing what Wang Zhongxiu said, everyone agreed.
The young master in the restaurant was a man who had experienced a lot of ups and downs, so he felt a little relieved after hearing Wang Zhongxiu's words.
Although you can now pay compensation and leave, you will always be unwilling to do so.
But a few people went downstairs quietly.
One of them wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, walked to the side and told another person, "Buy back all the salt notes that were sold short yesterday."
"My dear, this... has cost you a lot of money!"
The other party said, "Wang Zhongxiu didn't listen to his father and thought he could follow Zhang San's path. He is really dreaming."
"In the past, we were high and mighty, looking down on everyone, and didn't treat others as human beings. Yes, we did make a lot of money from this, but now the court has taken action."
"But you still have to give up what you need to give up. Don't be greedy. Just think of these years of hard work as a waste."
"My dear, I'm going then."
The other party nodded, with a look of difficulty and determination on his face.
……
As several people came to buy salt notes, they settled the bills on the spot and left at a loss, and the price of salt notes continued to soar.
After learning about this, Shen Chen and Ye Zuqia both breathed a sigh of relief. Merchants who heard the news flocked to the city and easily bid up the price of salt notes, which finally closed at fifteen strings of cash.
When Wang Zhongxiu learned that the price of salt notes had risen again, he went to Zhang's mansion with Gao Shichong and others before the market closed.
Wang Zhongxiu delivered a visiting card and went to see Zhang Yue as if nothing had happened.
Zhang Yue met Wang Zhongxiu. Gao Shichong wanted to go into Zhang's house with Wang Zhongxiu but he was scared in the end. He and others waited for news in the carriage outside the house.
Wang Zhongxiu said, "I heard that the price of salt bills has skyrocketed. This is not good for the national economy and people's livelihood. I still remember the Empress Dowager's entrusting the Prime Minister to control the price of salt. I wonder if the Prime Minister has any good ideas now?"
Zhang Yue said: "The flooding of the salt pond caused the court to lose 5 million strings of salt profits and more than 1 million seats of official salt in one year."
"If I can find these millions of salt notes from somewhere else, why should I worry?"
Wang Zhongxiu said: "The Prime Minister's analysis is very powerful. I admire him very much."
"But the people are in a state of confusion and controversy. How many people in the world can understand your painstaking efforts?"
"I'm afraid that once the price of salt rises, it will be difficult to control it."
Zhang Yue smiled but said nothing.
Wang Zhongxiu said, "Sir, you are calm and composed. It seems that you have a good plan in mind. I am afraid that I am worrying too much. My father always said that you are a person like a crouching dragon and a phoenix. Today I have seen it for myself."
Crouching Dragon and Phoenix Chick... Zhang Yue said, "Your father is too kind. I have received a lot of teachings from you over the years and have benefited a lot."
"Now I have something to say to you from the bottom of my heart."
Wang Zhongxiu said, "This humble official is all ears."
Zhang Yue said: "If you want to snatch meat from a wolf's mouth, you must act quickly. You must take the meat out when the wolf bites down, otherwise you will lose one hand."
“When it’s time to stop, stop.”
Wang Zhongxiu asked, "May I ask you, sir, what is a wolf's mouth?"
Zhang Yue smiled and said, "It is a law, it is the way of heaven."
Wang Zhongxiu said: "But as far as I know, it is the order given by the lord. Could it be that the lord compares himself to the law and the way of heaven?"
Zhang Yue laughed and said, "Yanei is wrong, wrong."
"The way of heaven is to reduce the excess and replenish the deficiency, and the way of man is to reduce the deficiency and serve the surplus."
"If speculation in salt notes goes on, the winner takes all. Once that happens, the thing will be ruined. Therefore, the court follows the way of heaven, taking away the surplus and giving to the deficit."
"To put it bluntly, we can't let the winners earn too much, nor can we let the losers lose too much. Otherwise, if the table is overturned, no one will be able to play. This is the law, this is the way of heaven, this is to take away the surplus and give to the deficit."
"Even if I didn't issue this order, wouldn't there be another person who would do the same? There are still people who want to continue to be in charge of the imperial court."
Zhang Yue’s words can be summarized in one line: to do business you must understand both market economics and political economics.
Not only do you need to rely on your own ability to eat meat, you also need to know how to look at the weather.
The weather has changed!
Wang Zhongxiu looked unhappy, he picked up the teacup and put it down again. Zhang Yue said, "Young Master, your father and I are both teacher and student, and we are also ministers in the same palace. If you have anything to say, just tell me directly."
Wang Zhongxiu was already in a state of panic at this moment. He didn't take Zhang Yue's words to heart, but asked, "What did you say?"
Wang Zhongxiu was a little embarrassed, then he raised his head and said, "Sir, was this a plan you set up?"
Zhang Yue shook his head and said, "There is no conspiracy here. I am just surprised that there are only a few million salt notes in the market of the entire Bianjing."
"But yesterday, the number of short positions for selling salt notes reached over 200,000."
"Where on earth can they get so much goods? And where can they get so much money? This is really crazy!"
Wang Zhongxiu sat down heavily. Most of these salt notes were what they sold in the market.
Wang Zhongxiu said: "Sir..."
Zhang Yue asked: "How much did you sell short? Can you buy it back?"
Wang Zhongxiu was furious. If he could get her back, would he still need to come? Even if he could get her back, he would lose everything he had.
"Can you give me some time?"
Zhang Yue shook his head and said, "No. In fact, where can you ask the court to find hundreds of thousands of strings of silver?"
Wang Zhongxiu hesitated to speak.
Zhang Yue then said, "But it's not impossible. Here is paper and pen. Write down everything!"
"Write it down first, and we'll talk about it later! Otherwise, you can buy it at the closing price of 15 strings of cash!"
(End of this chapter)