Chapter 325

As night fell, the city gates of Xiangyang were still wide open, and the caravans shuttled among them. Only more soldiers stood guard and patrolled at the city gates.

For several days, Xiangyang City banned carriage traffic during the day and entered the city at night, which greatly alleviated the congestion at the gate.

This kind of gate is not closed for several consecutive nights, or all the gates, which has never happened in history.

After all, Xiangyang is an important military town, and its strategic value is too high.

Although almost 80% of the people went back at night, some people in remote areas decided to spend the night in the city.

After all, it only takes two or three hundred Wen a night to find an ordinary inn. For the people in Xiangyang today, they can afford to bite their teeth, but they are just a little distressed.

These days, almost all the food vendors in the city and those who run restaurants and inns have made a lot of money.

The business was booming beyond everyone's imagination. Although the vendors were half tired, they couldn't close their mouths with laughter.

Street stalls selling thousands of steamed stuffed buns a day and hundreds of bowls of noodles or scallion cakes can be found everywhere.

Of course, what makes them most happy is that even if the business is good, there are no land hooligans to make trouble, not to mention the officials in the Yamen to extort money, nor the childe or dogleg of a big family to make trouble, which was almost impossible in the past, so they all yearn for this kind of day to continue all the time.

When the Chinese army attacked Xiangyang, all the big families in the city ran away, and the local ruffians who took advantage of the fire were killed. Only some small businessmen and vendors did not leave.

At this time, in the largest restaurant in the city, in the elegant room on the second floor, more than a dozen middle-aged shopkeepers in Chinese clothes are pushing cups for lamps.

"Ah! It's a pity that the Jiaofang department in the city doesn't do business with outsiders. Otherwise, I can go there and talk about it. "

"Yes, it's a pity that there are only good wine but no beauty to cheer up!"

These people were sent by major merchants in the south of the Yangtze River. Three of them were salt merchants in Huainan. When they drank, they felt a little dull.

After all, if you are in Jiangnan, you must go to the elegant place to hold such a banquet. However, there is not even a brothel in such a large Xiangyang City. The only teaching workshop department is only engaged in military business, which makes everyone very unaccustomed.

But after complaining for a while, I was helpless, because even with more silver, I'm afraid I can't get a woman to accompany me in Xiangyang City.

"Brother Liu, I heard that you went to the palace to meet the president of the chamber of Commerce yesterday. How about that?"

"Hey, don't mention it. I haven't even seen you this time." Wearing a fur hat and a moustache, the middle-aged man waved his hand when he heard the speech, looking angry.

"Oh, no, it's reasonable to say that their salt should be running out. Now it's time to worry. How can they avoid it?"

All of them put down their glasses and looked at the three salt merchants in charge, with a look of disbelief.

"That's why brother Huang and brother Li and I can't figure it out. Look at the situation these days, several Daqin firms in the city will be out of stock tomorrow at most, and even other things, but they don't allow other merchants to sell salt. Won't everyone eat salt then?"

"I don't think you need to worry. In my opinion, the king of China is ashamed to do more. At that time, he will certainly let the businessmen in Nanyang contact you."

"Hum, whether the salt business is exclusively operated by Daqin firm or sold by other businesses, it has nothing to do with us. Anyway, if you want enough salt, that's the price!"

The middle-aged man with a moustache raised his chin and said. The other two salt merchants nodded. They only hoarded a small amount of salt in Xiangyang, and the others were hoarded in Jingzhou Prefecture.

If the other party wants to be rough, they are not afraid to lose tens of thousands of kilograms of salt at most. However, they believe that as long as the other party is not a fool, they will never do such a thing.

Compared with these three salt merchants, other cloth merchants and tea merchants are not so calm.

To tell the truth, these days, seeing a large number of people buy things from Daqin firm, they are still a little anxious, because almost all the goods they transport are still stored in their hands.

There was no way. The shops of those big families in Nanyang didn't dare to raise their prices, so they only bought some goods as a facade, and they didn't have their own shops. They could only watch fat meat slip away from their mouths.

After all, no one can guarantee what will happen this year and next year. Will there be so much silver in those mud legs?

Therefore, they are waiting for the Zhao family firms everywhere to have no goods to sell. After closing, they are showing their strength.

At the same time, Li and a large group of Nanyang families were also discussing future business in a living room of the palace.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the branches of our Daqin firm will not sell other goods tomorrow. For a long time, they will only sell salt, iron and grain. Therefore, we must not work as hard tomorrow as before."

Li took a sip gently with his tea cup, and then said slowly. He raised his hands and feet with a faint threat only from the superior.

Where is this still the figure who was lying at the carriage window and spanked by King Qin?

"The president can rest assured that we are absolutely duty bound, but if we continue to sell at the price of Daqin firm, we will not last for a few days even if we lose our wealth!"

"Yes, those profiteers are really hateful. A piece of cotton cloth used to cost up to two liang silver, but now it costs three Liang. If we sell it for two, two or five dollars, we will not only make a penny, but also lose five dollars. What's the matter?"

"There has been no such business since ancient times."

All the gentry were bitter and looked forward to it. At the same time, they all looked at Li's position and said carefully.

"Well, the king and I know your difficulties. In any case, we won't lose money. We can rise a little. But now it's a critical period in the state of Qin, so both I and the king hope you can stick to it. After all, there will be opportunities to make money in the future. Don't worry about it."

Li nodded and said that now their cloth, cotton and other materials have been sold out except for some military supplies, which can only make these businessmen earn less or no money to maintain the stability of their business.

"This is nature!"

When they heard that the price could be increased, they were all relieved. They also understood Li's meaning, that is, how much money to purchase, how much to sell, or raise a little to sell.

People have no opinion on this. Those who can do it here are not short-sighted people. They value the future of the Qin state rather than the present.

The next day, as soon as Daqin firms opened their doors, all the people fried the pot, especially those who had not bought new year materials.

Fortunately, soldiers were deployed at the gate of each firm, so there was no smashing.

Other shops also changed their old attitude of idleness and sent their staff to the door to shout.

Although all kinds of goods are almost twice as expensive, people have to go to Daqin firm to buy salt and iron ware first, and then bite their teeth to go to other stores.

Fortunately, the price of salt and iron is not expensive, and the quality is also very good. The people get some comfort more or less.

The salt merchants fried the pot.