Volume 3: The Richest Man in the World Chapter 71 The Emperor is also waiting for money to spend
Wu Chengjian said: "The British came from afar, drifting 20,000 to 30,000 miles on the sea. They rely on Macau for supplies at the mouth of the Pearl River, and Macau relies on Xiangshan for supplies. Therefore, the British invaded this time, and although they appear aggressive on the surface, they are actually uneasy in their hearts. If we show weakness, they will be tough. If we are tough, they will retreat. Therefore, the outcome of this battle actually depends more on the will of the court. As long as Your Majesty shows strength, Guangdong will be united, and you can use military power to cut off their water and food, then within a few months, the British can retreat."
Jiaqing also felt that even if the small foreign countries invaded the border, they might not dare to be so presumptuous. Although Wu Chengjian said that England's military strength was stronger than Russia's, Jiaqing did not believe it. China and Russia border each other by land, while China and Britain are separated by the sea. Therefore, in the mind of the Qing emperor, it is easy to understand Russia's strength, but it is more difficult to understand Britain's strength.
So after listening to Wu Chengjian's statement, Jiaqing did not think that this small businessman was arrogant, but he shook his head and sighed: "You are a small businessman, but you have some knowledge, but unfortunately your vision is not enough. Before the troops move, the food and grass must go first. The military power also requires money and food. Now the treasury is empty, and the court is short of money."
Wu Chengjian said: "I don't understand state affairs, but if it's a matter of money, I don't think it's a problem."
Jiaqing raised his eyebrows and then laughed, "What a big tone. Can you still conjure up money for me?"
The old eunuch's eyes suddenly became stern, but Jiaqing did not see this stern look, and it only flashed by.
Wu Chengjian said: "I can't do magic, I can only do business. I can't do anything with big money, but I can still think about small amounts of hundreds of thousands or millions."
Jiaqing was stunned, and then he shouted: "Hundreds of thousands, one million, is this still a small amount of money? Xiao Baoshang, you are bragging too much. Do you know how much tax revenue the Qing Dynasty treasury collects in a year? The province of Guangdong only earns a few million a year, and you dare to say that a million or a few hundred thousand is a small amount of money!"
"I dare not deceive the emperor!" Wu Chengjian said, "The state affairs are sacrifices and military affairs - I dare not interfere in these matters. But the Thirteen Hongs are the emperor's southern treasury and are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It is our duty to help your majesty raise money and share his worries."
Jiaqing leaned forward slightly and asked, "You said you can raise military funds for me?"
Wu Chengjian said, "I will take care of the matter of raising money. After the money is raised and deposited into the treasury, I dare not ask what Your Majesty will do."
The expression on Jiaqing's face changed subtly. Even if he was an emperor, he would be happy to hear someone say that he could raise money for him - if it could really be achieved. Especially the second half of the sentence was even more pleasant to hear - only responsible for raising money, not daring to ask how the money is spent, how comfortable it is to hear this.
"Xiao Baoshang...your name is..."
"I am your humble servant, Wu Chengjian. I am the one who speaks the truth. I receive the grace of heaven and understand the business situation."
"Master Zhu is right. You have read a few books." Jiaqing smiled and said, "Wu Chengjian, do you know what the consequences will be if you cannot fulfill your words?"
Wu Chengjian said: "I am now tied up by Heshen. If I can be untied one day, I will raise as much money as Your Majesty needs..."
When Jiaqing heard this, disappointment immediately appeared on his face - it was as good as saying nothing, he needed money the most now, not in the future. If one day he could remove the obstacle of Heshen and really take power, he would be rich by then, and would not need a small merchant like you to raise money!
He was about to rebuke him when Wu Chengjian suddenly finished the second half of the sentence: "Before that, I would like to ask, Your Majesty, how much money do you need?"
Jiaqing was stumped by his question for a moment.
Although he ascended the throne, his power was extremely limited. It was difficult for him to do anything. He could not move the troops or the money. Whether it was the treasury or the Ministry of Internal Affairs, all the money was managed by a dedicated person and had a fixed destination. Although he was an emperor, his food, clothing, housing and transportation were all arranged by someone. In theory, he had no place to spend money, but in reality, how could he not spend money? He couldn't even buy a better house for his teacher a few days ago. Wasn't it because he had no money?
Does the Qing Dynasty have no money? Yes! But the places where money is spent are far more than income. Although he is called the Son of Heaven, he is actually quite tight on money. Even in the current confrontation with Heshen, he is relying on the political system of the Qing Dynasty and his status as an emperor to survive. If we judge his strength by the money and grain he actually has, he can't even catch up with Heshen!
Thinking of this, Jiaqing suddenly felt that his role as an emperor was quite aggrieved. Looking at the businessman kneeling on the ground, he suddenly felt a little hopeful and asked tentatively, "One million, can you take it out?"
Wu Chengjian acted as arrogant as he could in front of the nine nobles, but when he came to the emperor, he was honest and said in a low voice: "I will do my best. How much time limit will the emperor give me?"
Emperor Jiaqing originally wanted to ask for a high price, but he didn't expect the other party to agree, so he added: "One month."
"One month..." Wu Chengjian said, "My base is in Guangdong. One month is too late to walk back and forth. I dare to ask you to allow me to send the message by fast horse. I also ask Your Majesty to have someone count the silver in Guangdong, because one million taels is tens of thousands of kilograms. After I raise the money, it is impossible to transport it from Guangdong to Beijing within a few days."
Emperor Jiaqing thought, can you really raise one million in a month? Then he said, "Okay."
Wu Chengjian added: "I am a humble official, and it is impossible for me to see you at any time. I don't know who I should contact to check on the details of the deposit and transfer of money."
Emperor Jiaqing thought for a moment and glanced at the old eunuch: "Ero, what do you think?"
The old eunuch said, "I will ask the Ministry of Internal Affairs to open a special account, and the Wu family's clause will be put into the special account for His Majesty to use at any time."
Emperor Jiaqing was delighted to hear this and said, "Okay, let's do it." He pointed and said, "I'll wait and see in a month whether you are deceiving the emperor or can really do things for me."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty!" Wu Chengjian said, "Even if I have to sacrifice my life, I will make sure that the one million taels are deposited into the account within a month!"
Just as Jiaqing was about to praise him, he suddenly remembered some lessons from his grandfather, Emperor Yongzheng, and said to Eroli, "Send someone to keep an eye on him and don't let him commit crimes or cheat people in the name of raising money for me."
Wu Chengjian did not wait for Erluoli to answer and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured that this money will be obtained in a clean manner and will not in any way damage your Majesty's wisdom."
Just as he was about to leave the Lama Temple, a young eunuch suddenly called out from behind, "Hey, wait a moment! Eunuch E has something to tell you." He then took him to a corner.
Wu Chengjian was waiting there. Not long after, Er Luoli came over with only a trusted eunuch by his side. He looked at Wu Chengjian for a long while and said sinisterly, "Hao Guan, you are so bold!"
Wu Chengjian glanced at the young eunuch, and with a look from Erli, the young eunuch rolled away.
Wu Chengjian then smiled and said, "How much money you have, how much courage you have."
Eroli sneered, his eyes became even colder.
Wu Chengjian whispered, "But the emperor's appetite is much smaller than Wu Chengjian expected. I originally prepared two million, but now I have only spent half. The remaining half...Eunuch E, can you help me deal with it when the time comes?"
The murderous aura between Er Luoli's brows suddenly dissipated halfway: "Hao Guan, are you serious?"
Wu Chengjian laughed softly and said, "You can brag, but the money is real. Eunuch E should send a trustworthy person to Guangdong. When the time comes..." He held up two fingers.
The remaining half of the evil spirit between Oroli's eyebrows dissipated again: "Unfortunately, this..." He stretched out a finger: "I can't eat it all by myself."
Wu Chengjian held up three fingers again: "Okay?"
Er Luoli was very surprised: "Hao Guan, how much money do you have left?"
"In fact, it's almost reaching the bottom." Wu Chengjian said, "But my greatest ability is not how much money I have, but that I can make money. Money kept at home is dead money. If you lend it out to earn interest, it will only double in a year. And this is the interest rate for small amounts. If you really lend out hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars at once, it is almost impossible to get back double the amount in a year. At most, you can only double half. If you lend it out in batches, although the interest rate is high, there will always be half that you can't get back, and the result is also half. Only with me, if you take one million, I can definitely get two million back in the second year. Because I, Wu Chengjian, make money quickly, steadily and securely, so as long as my reputation as a guarantor is still there, I don't have to worry about no one giving me money."
Eroli was somewhat moved: "What if you can't pay the money back next year?"
"How could I not pay it back?" Wu Chengjian smiled faintly: "Eunuch E can go and ask, who took out the money to rebuild the Thirteen Hongs when the Thirteen Hongs were burned down by a fire two years ago, when all of Guangzhou was in sorrow. I was also penniless at that time, but I can even take out the money to rebuild the entire Thirteen Hongs, a mere one million or two million... Haha, it's nothing!"
This time when Wu Chengjian came back, he was followed by a young eunuch. The young eunuch was ordered by E'luoli not to monitor him but to run errands. He was called "Hao Guan" in front of and behind people, which scared the manager and waiters of the Guangdong Guild Hall.
Wu Chengjian turned a deaf ear to the changes around him. After returning to the guild hall, he wrote a letter, sealed it with ink, and asked a young eunuch to take it and send it to Guangdong urgently over 600 miles.
Zhou Yijin read the contents of his letter, and after the young eunuch left, he said, "Wu Qike hasn't come back yet."
Wu Chengjian smiled and said, "No need. We have already mortgaged the properties of Yihehang and the tea plantations in Fujian. The things we are taking away this time are nothing."
