Chapter 1535: Fatten up, time to kill

Hearing Yun Zheng's question, Miaoyin and Zhang Xu were both stunned.

Is it so direct?

This should be a secret for Hou Shikai, right?

Will he speak?

Hou Shikai thought for a moment and replied, "About 500,000 taels of silver."

"Five hundred thousand taels? That's a lot!"

Yun Zheng was even more curious, "By the way, what kind of business do you do in the Northwest Protectorate?"

Five hundred thousand taels of silver is indeed a lot of money.

The key point is, this is just Hou Shikai alone.

There are still many people in their caravan.

Even if others didn't earn as much as Hou Shikai, they should have reaped a lot, right?

When asked by Yun Zheng, Hou Shikai was also stunned for a moment.

What is the prince going to do?

Why are you asking so carefully?

Are you going to check your own taxes?

That shouldn’t be the case!

I'm ready to give away the silver for free, but the prince doesn't want it, so why would I resort to such petty tricks?

Probably, just curious, right?

Hou Shikai thought for a moment, then put aside his worries and answered honestly: "I do make more money, mainly because I own a small jade mine and also buy jade from some local nobles and resell it."

"In addition to jade, we also buy wine, grain and other things from there and send them to Shuobei or Jiqing."

"Occasionally, we would buy cattle and sheep from Beihuan and sell them there, but there were relatively few cattle and sheep. Instead, there were more furs and the like, because after all, cattle and sheep had to eat, drink, defecate and urinate on the road..."

Hou Shikai told Yun Zheng in detail how they made money.

Anyway, it's just buy low and sell high.

Buy cheap things from one place and transport them to another place to sell.

Refined salt and white sugar are also selling well in the Northwest Protectorate.

However, the bulk of the profits from these businesses should have been made by Yun Zheng and Zhang Xu.

They just took over the business left over by Yun Zheng and Zhang Xu.

"You guys are quite lively in this way."

Yun Zheng laughed and said no more.

Hou Shikai didn't know what Yun Zheng was up to, and his eyes fell on Zhang Xu again, "Master Zhang, I have something to ask you, is it convenient for you?"

"what?"

Zhang Xu became interested, "Do you have anything else to ask me?"

"We didn't want to trouble Master Zhang, but we met him today, so we wanted to ask him if he was interested..."

After the Chinese New Year, the merchants who often traveled to Shuobei, Beihuan and Northwest Protectorate gathered together to eat and drink.

As everyone chatted, they started talking about the Chamber of Commerce's ideas.

Everyone wants to form a chamber of commerce so that they can keep each other warm.

The Chamber of Commerce's idea was unanimously agreed by everyone.

With a chamber of commerce, naturally there needs to be a president or something to support it.

And the first person they thought of was Zhang Xu.

Because Zhang Xu was far above them in both status and reputation.

Moreover, the people with the biggest business in Shuobei should be Yun Zheng and Zhang Xu.

Later, when Hou Shikai wanted to talk to Zhang Xu about this matter, Zhang Xu had already returned to the imperial city.

Then the matter was delayed.

At present, they have the prototype of their chamber of commerce, but it has not been officially established yet.

As long as Zhang Xu nods, they can establish the Chamber of Commerce within a few days.

Chamber of Commerce?

Listening to Hou Shikai talking to Zhang Xu in detail, Yun Zheng couldn't help but be secretly surprised.

They have a good idea.

We stick together to keep warm and share risks.

However, is this considered an early consortium?

"forget it!"

As soon as Hou Shikai finished speaking, Zhang Xu shook his head and refused: "I am so busy all day long now, how can I have the energy to take care of the affairs of the Chamber of Commerce? You can be the president yourself! Besides, I am a third-rank official, not suitable to be the president."

"Third... third rank?"

Hou Shikai was stunned.

Even if Zhang Xu has a good relationship with the prince, he shouldn't be promoted so quickly, right?

How old is he?

This makes him a third-rank official. How can he be promoted in the future?

"What's your expression?"

Zhang Xu bulged his eyes and glared at Hou Shikai, "Can't I be a third-rank official?"

Although Zhang Xu's position as a deacon at the Institute of Technology does not sound impressive, its rank is really high.

A definite third-rank official.

Three levels higher than his father Zhang Heng.

Zhang Xu is now the highest-ranking official in the Zhang family.

"no no……"

Hou Shikai waved his hand and said, "I just didn't expect that Master Zhang is so young and promising..."

"Stop flattering me."

Yun Zheng looked at Hou Shikai with a smile, "Zhang Xu is indeed not suitable to be the president, you can take the position yourself! It just so happens that your chambers of commerce can unite and organize a caravan on the sea!"

"Then listen to the prince!"

Hou Shikai nodded quickly.

"But there is one thing I want to tell you first."

Yun Zheng restrained his smile, "The Chamber of Commerce is the Chamber of Commerce, don't get involved in those messy things! Merchants pursue profits, which is also normal, but no matter how much money you have, don't think about being above the government!"

"Keep in mind, villain!"

Hou Shikai nodded heavily.

He understood that Yun Zheng was drawing a line between them.

As long as you cross this line, don't blame Yun Zheng for being rude.

"Okay, that's it!"

Yun Zheng smiled, "Since you're here, why don't you stay and have a quick meal together!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness."

Hou Shikai stood up and said, "However, I have to rush back to Muzhou to visit my sick father. I dare not delay too much. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

“In that case, I will not try to persuade you to stay.” Yun Zheng smiled, “If you encounter any troubles when you set up a sea caravan in the future, you can come to me!”

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Hou Shikai was very grateful and bowed to Yun Zheng, Miaoyin and others again before taking his leave.

Yun Zheng asked Lin Ji to take him to see Hou Shikai off.

It was not until Hou Shikai left that Yun Zheng smiled and said to Miaoyin and Zhang Xu, "It seems that it is almost time for the Northwest Protectorate to take action."

"Ok?"

Miaoyin looked at Yun Zheng in surprise, "Why did you suddenly think of this? Is it because Hou Shikai made money over there?"

"His earning money is just an appearance."

Yun Zheng smiled and said, "Even they can earn so much money over there, which means that the nobles over there are frantically making money! Didn't you hear what Hou Shikai said? They can buy wine and beverages from there and transport them back to Shuobei to sell. This means that after a few years, the nobles who are left have a lot of extra food in their hands..."

If you just make money from the people, at such a long distance, you can only earn a hard-earned penny.

Only by trading with those nobles can you earn a lot of silver.

When they conquered Qiuchi and Dayue, they just wanted to support those nobles first, as long as those people did not recruit people to resist their rule all day long.

Now, three or four years have passed since the capture of Qiuchi Dayue.

Those people have eaten their fill and have become fat!

It's time to drag him out and kill him!

Kill some and keep some.

It can make the Northwest Protectorate more stable!

It’s time to use these people to win over the people’s hearts!

If we continue to raise it, I'm afraid there will be trouble...