Become a feudal king from today

"That's right, it's three million stones." Zhao Xu's eyes were bright.

This is a year's ration for millions of people.

The reason why he asked for so much was well thought out.

First of all, there were probably nearly 300,000 people coming from Jinzhou.

This number is still growing.

Next are the craftsmen and royal soldiers who entered the workshop.

They only consume food, not produce it.

Finally, there is the current situation facing the four northern counties.

In his opinion, the foreign wars in the four northern counties will not stop in the future, which will continue to consume food.

It is absolutely necessary to store three million stones of food for backup.

Otherwise, once the four northern counties face a food shortage, and the powerful clans work together to cut off the source of their food, the four northern counties will be in chaos without a fight.

"It's just that this is too much. I must go back and discuss it." Xie Lan wiped the sweat on his head, "The empress said that the official can decide for himself the food within one million taels of silver."

Zhao Xu nodded.

This one million taels of grain was the sincerity given to him by the Xie family.

In a place like Yanzhou, food is expensive and can be sold for one tael or one stone.

But in Jiangnan, rice is cheap and one tael of silver can buy more.

This one million taels of silver is equivalent to 13.4 million shi of grain.

Thinking of this, he said: "I will not make things difficult for you. I will use artillery to capture the remaining food. How about that?"

Xie Lan breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this, and said: "This time the Xie family wants to buy 350 artillery pieces from His Highness."

The number of artillery purchased by the Han family and the Liang family is not a secret.

His Xie family is not as wealthy as the Liang family, but he cannot lose to the Han family.

So there are fifty more doors than the Han family.

Zhao Xu chuckled softly, "In that case, when you go back, tell the Queen that you will give cash for three hundred artillery pieces and fifty cannons in exchange for grain. Before attacking Xiliang, I hope that three million stones of grain will arrive in the four northern counties." "

When Xie Lan heard this, he took a deep breath.

Fifty artillery pieces only cost 400,000 taels of silver.

In addition to the one million taels of silver promised by Queen Xie, King Yan wanted to buy three million shi of grain for 1.4 million taels of silver.

This is basically equivalent to asking the Xie family to buy food for him at half price.

But he thought in his heart, but didn't dare to say it.

Xie Jiaben was bargaining with King Yan.

This matter is not something he can decide. "I will report this matter to you truthfully."

"Well, okay, I have written the booklet and prepared a generous gift, and will send it to the capital immediately. When the Xie family agrees, the gift will be sent to the prince's house, and the booklet will appear in the court." Zhao Xu dropped a bargaining chip and it was up to the Xie family to pick it up.

"I'll remember it." Xie Lan stood up, saluted Zhao Xu, and turned to leave.

Zhao Xu watched Xie Lan leave and quietly drank the tea on the table.

Just as he was about to return to his dormitory, Feng'er walked in and complained as he walked: "Your Highness, it's time to take care of these profiteers in Yancheng. These coal cakes are getting more expensive day by day. They are really robbing money."

After officially handing over the responsibility of managing the palace to Feng'er.

Feng'er is naturally in charge of the current expenditures for the palace's internal affairs.

Hearing this, he said: "You said the price of coal cakes is rising?"

Feng'er nodded, "I asked my servant to buy some for the boiler, but I didn't expect that the amount of money I would give was twice the usual amount."

Zhao Xu's expression darkened.

Fortunately, he bought a lot of coal when he was selecting officials for the trading company.

These coals are piled up in the warehouse of the War Department.

Otherwise now he would have to buy coal at a high price.

This will inevitably increase the cost of various commodities.

But even now there is no problem.

This doesn't mean there won't be problems in the next few months.

After all, his military department was manufacturing flintlock guns in Dasong.

There are also huge orders for artillery, which require a large amount of steel, and steelmaking requires burning coal.

"I know, you send someone to the trading house, and the officials of the trading house will call the coal merchants from Yancheng." Zhao Xu said.

After Feng'er, King Yan wanted to reprimand the coal merchants, so he went away happily.

Half an hour later, more than a dozen coal merchants, led by officials from the trading company, arrived at the palace.

When the coal merchants saw Zhao Xu, they saluted, and before Zhao Xu could say anything, they started to cry out, "Your Highness, you can't blame us for the increase in the price of coal cakes. Jinzhou was captured by Xiliang, and no one was mining the mines. So are we." It’s so helpless.”

When they arrived, they guessed that King Yan was looking for them about coal.

After all, the Wangfu has always been a big coal buyer.

Zhao Xu raised his hand to signal the merchants to be quiet.

He did not blame the merchants for the increase in coal prices.

When Jinzhou was captured by Xiliang, he thought that the situation would be like this.

"Don't worry, I don't mean to blame you. I just want to ask if there is any coal coming from Jinzhou." Zhao Xu said.

The merchants breathed a sigh of relief.

A merchant said: "At first, there were still coals, but now they are gone. The price of coal was high. After Xiliang occupied Jinzhou, they took over all the coal mines and forced the people to transport coal to Xiliang."

Zhao Xu frowned. The resources in Xiliang's territory have always been scarce.

As far as he knew, the coal and iron from Xiliang were smuggled in by Jinzhou merchants.

Now that they have occupied Jinzhou, they will naturally steal coal and iron.

"What's even more abominable is that after the fall of Jincheng, the four wealthy families in Jinzhou flattered Xiliang, acted as help for the tigers, led the Xiliang soldiers, and seized many merchants' mines. They even left us with no coal to buy, and then they sold it to They gave us coal at a high price, which caused the price of coal to skyrocket." Another businessman was filled with indignation.

"Four wealthy businessmen?" Zhao Xu's eyes narrowed slightly.

Because the sky is high and the emperor is far away from Jinzhou and Yanzhou, the local wealthy families have always been rampant.

The Zhang family in Yanzhou and even the Yuan family smuggled goods to Beidi.

The Jinzhou wealthy family, who could not take advantage, naturally had the idea of ​​​​Xiliang.

It is said that in the past hundred years, an unknown amount of coal and iron have been secretly smuggled to Xiliang, making them fat and oily.

When Zhao Xu was in the capital, these Jinzhou wealthy families once caused a big disturbance.

A son of a wealthy family in Jinzhou relied on his wealth and spent huge sums of money. He actually became jealous of the royal family's children in a brothel.

As a result, the Wang family kid got angry and beat the Jinzhou wealthy kid to death on the spot.

These four wealthy families in Jinzhou are truly wealthy.

Shengsheng used money to open up the door to the Dou family, and forced this powerful family member to be sentenced to death.

Although the Wang family was dissatisfied, how could they defeat the Dou family in the court.

I could only swallow this breath hard.

"It's them. It is said that they have said that the price of coal going to the four northern counties will be increased by five times or even ten times." The merchants said.

When Zhao Xu heard this, a cold light flashed in his eyes.

To put it simply, the coal issue is that Xiliang occupied Jinzhou.

As a result, the wealthy Jinzhou family attached themselves to Xiliang and took the opportunity to raise coal prices in order to make a fortune from them. They really treated Xiliang like dogs and felt superior.

"Well, I know. You guys should go back. I have my own plans." Zhao Xu said.

After hearing this, the merchants bowed and left.

"Jinzhou." The merchants disappeared, and Zhao Xu softly uttered two words.

This Jinju War will be fought even for coal.

It is known to many that Shanxi's coal is of the best quality in the country today.

Among them, thermal coal, bituminous coal, and anthracite coal are all of the highest quality.

This thermal coal is simply fuel.

Thermal coal of good quality produces large amounts of heat and is very suitable for burning boilers. Thermal coal is used in thermal power plants.

Bituminous coal is suitable for refining coke, which is in great demand in the military.

As the name suggests, anthracite burns without smoke. Because of its very large carbon content, it is often used in blast furnace blowing.

Although he doesn't need it now, he will in the future as the technology in the smelting industry improves.

At the same time, anthracite can also be ground into powder to filter water.

In short, such an important coal base is related to the industrial lifeline of the four northern counties.

The resources here must not fall into Beidi's hands.