Among the wealthy families of the Shangdang, the Xue family and the Wei family are not the top, but they have the same identity and are married to the high family family.
The married daughter of the Xue family is married to the Wenxi family, and the Wei family is the cousin of the Taiyang family. Not many people from the two families entered the dynasty as officials, and they only focused on one thing on weekdays: cargo farming.
The Pei family is a prominent family in Hedong, and is married to the King of the East Sea; the Taiyang family has served as the prefect of the party for several generations, with intertwined roots and deep influence. Hedong Yanchi, Shangdang Iron Mine is famous all over the world. On the bright side, the profit of salt and iron is in charge of the Danggui court, but how could the wealthy let go of such a lucrative business
Therefore, the family's private salt iron has long been known to everyone. However, in order to avoid an unsightly reputation, most of them will go around and use the little nobles who are vassals of their own clan as agents. Xue's and Wei's are two of them.
They are both proficient in business affairs, and they saw those rare objects at the banquet. Xue Ren and Wei Qu, who were at the banquet, were naturally itchy. Immediately after the banquet, ask to see you. Unexpectedly, Liang Fujun did not summon, but invited them back to the government office together. This time, Xue Ren and Wei Qu couldn't help but feel embarrassed. Two people are fine, how can they not guess each other's thoughts? However, the merchants never said courtesy and humility, and no one was willing to retreat, so they had to enter the prefect's mansion together.
Because it was a private meeting, the meeting place was set in the back hall. When they saw the mansion who had changed into Yanju's clothes, they both cheered up and bowed.
Liang Feng took his seat in the main seat and returned the salute with a smile: "I wonder what the two gentlemen are going to do?"
The Xue family's status was higher than that, Xue Ren immediately said: "Today, I am lucky to see the mansion. . Admirable!"
The horse was shot neatly. Liang Feng snorted: "What's the point of a mere path?"
Being robbed first, Wei Qu would never be left behind, so he hurriedly put on a smile: "If you are a vulgar thing like me, you will be amazed just by seeing the white cup. This thing is probably the white porcelain of the Liang residence, right? Such an immortal figure is worthy of such an elegant weapon."
These words were even more aimed at the target, and Liang Feng's lips twitched: "Wei Lang is praised. Come on, serve tea for the two of you."
Immediately someone held out a white porcelain cup. This time, it is not the lotus flower shape seen at the banquet, but two magpie cups, which are shaped like the Yue kiln, but they are white and flawless, like squabs, naturally cute!
Xue Ren couldn't help but praised: "It's really an excellent porcelain! I'm afraid even Luoyang won't be able to see it."
Wei Qu's eyes lit up, he touched the wall of the cup carefully, and sighed: "It is said that Yue kiln is unparalleled in the world, but now when I see white porcelain, I just know what it is! For twenty thousand dollars, buy this cup!"
Xue Ren didn't expect the surnamed Wei to be so shameless, so he immediately asked for the price, and hurriedly coughed: "I'm afraid 20,000 is too little, I'm willing to pay 25,000!"
The two just shouted the price directly in front of Liang Feng. If they were changed, they were afraid that these two vulgar people would be swept out of the house. Liang Feng just picked one of his eyebrows: "To tell the truth, if there is more white porcelain in the house, it will be sent to Taiyuan."
what! The two remembered at the same time that this Liang Fujun was on good terms with the Taiyuan Wang family. It is no wonder that white porcelain has not been seen circulating in the market. If it is handed over to the Wang family, I am afraid that it will be digested directly among the relatives of the Wang family. They are the first-class clan in the world, how can they sell such a rare thing!
He was very annoyed, but Xue Ren was unwilling to let go, and sighed: "To tell the truth, in a few days, it will be the birthday of the King of the East China Sea. The boy has already racked his brains, and now when he sees this white porcelain cup, it is really true. Intoxicated! If the ruler is willing to give up a few pieces, the price is really easy to negotiate."
As a nobleman, it is quite rare to lower your profile and ask for help. And Xue Ren dared to say such a philistine, precisely because he noticed that white porcelain could really be sold. As long as it can be sold, who will it be sold to? In the end it's a question of price. Now this Liang Zixi has been promoted to the prefect, but it is different from the previous Baishen Tinghou. Where is the status and status, and he has such a big name, the things he loves will gradually become a fashion. In addition, white porcelain is unique, and the market price will only be higher. It's not too bad to spend more money.
Hearing Xue Ren say this, Liang Feng pondered for a moment before opening his mouth: "Well, if Xue Lang really wants to ask for it, a hundred stones of millet can be enough."
what! Xue Ren was almost choked to death, the asking price was too high! Even if the autumn harvest has just ended and the price of rice is not high, it still costs more than 600 yuan per stone! What's more, now that the establishment of the Huns is imminent, in case of war, the price of rice will only be higher. Who can afford such a high price? !
Embarrassed and smiling, Xue Ren said: "Rice is inconvenient to transport, I wonder if it can be replaced with silk? I would like to exchange fifty pieces of silk for this white porcelain."
This price seems to be similar to Liang Feng's asking price, but in fact, the price of rice is high and the price of silk is low. Moreover, Gaomen has mulberry fields, and there is a lot of silk in stock, which is quite cost-effective.
Liang Feng sighed softly: "If you change silk, Taiyuan is better."
Now Xue Ren understood. The other party was willing to sell him white porcelain, but it was because it was too troublesome to transport rice grain back from Taiyuan. If the rice is replaced with silk, the business will not be negotiable.
Gritting his teeth, Xue Ren said, "Since the mansion said so, I wonder if salt can be used? Fifty stone salts are all refined salt produced in salt ponds, which is comparable to fifty pieces of silk."
In fact, the price of salt is cheaper than that of silk. But now the war is about to take place, and salt is a necessary military resource. This thing consumes quite astonishingly, and most people have to beware of starting prices in the east of the river. Xue Ren would say this because he wanted to test whether the Liang Fujun in front of him only accepted these necessary supplies.
Hearing what the other party said, Liang Feng finally let go: "It doesn't matter. Xue Lang can have a detailed discussion with the steward of my house."
This is what should be done! Xue Ren couldn't help but be overjoyed. It was a good deal for him to exchange salt for white porcelain. Although the profit of salt is huge, it is boiled after all. As long as you guard the salt pond, there will always be output, which is far more time-saving and labor-saving than rice silk. If you can monopolize the Liangfu white porcelain on the market, the profits will be amazing!
Wei Qu secretly complained. He would definitely not be able to get food, let alone salt. The surnamed Xue made it clear that he wanted to monopolize the white porcelain business. Rolling his eyes, Wei Qu opened his mouth and said, "I don't know much about this porcelain, but my mother believes in Buddhism, and is quite fond of the Buddhist Seven Treasures. All the others are easy to find, only glazed beads are really rare."
Buddha has seven treasures, but these seven treasures are not fixed. In the Prajna Sutra, it refers to gold, silver, glass, coral, amber, clam and agate. Liang Fujun only loved the "Vajra Prajna Paramita Sutra", so among the seven treasures he identified, there must be a glaze.
Hearing Wei Qu's mention of the Seven Treasures of Buddhism, Liang Feng seemed to be interested: "The Seven Treasures of Buddhism represent the seven points of Bodhi. The colored glass is pure and clear, without blemishes, and it is a treasure of contemplation. If it is a Buddha, it should be matched with it to help practice. ."
Is it true that Liuli was picked up on the street? Wei Qu smiled awkwardly: "It's a pity that Liuli is rare after all..."
Liang Feng smiled: "Green bamboo, take the box."
The maid next to him withdrew immediately, and after a while, she took a wooden box and placed it on the table respectfully. Liang Feng casually opened the wooden box and picked up something from it: "This glazed glass is related to me. I made some a few days ago, and I am preparing to make it into a string of beads."
Wei Qu's eyes almost popped out! Liang Feng actually held several glass beads in his hand, none of them were perforated in the middle, they were round, blue in color, and there were faint cloud patterns, which seemed to be of extremely high quality! Can something like this be fired by fate? ! Is this son really the incarnation of Medicine Buddha? !
Such a fine glass bead, if it is decorated with gold and jade, is definitely a hard-to-find jewelry. It is much more cost-effective than making Buddhist beads!
Seeing that Baici had already been occupied by the Xue family, how could he miss such a good opportunity, and hurriedly said: "I wonder if the ruler of the government is willing to give up his love? I'm willing to give... 3,000 yuan for one piece!"
After all, glazed beads are not very rare things, and they need to be reprocessed before they can be sold. The price of 3,000 yuan is really not low. However, Liang Feng shook his head: "This is a Buddhist weapon, how can it be exchanged for money? However, Shangdang is in urgent need of land reclamation. If Wei Lang can make an iron plow, it can be exchanged to help people."
Iron plow? This thing is not as simple as a hundred refining swords, but it costs a lot of materials and requires manpower to build it. It seems a bit expensive to replace the glass beads...
Wei Qu was about to haggle the price again, when Liang Feng said again: "The shape of the plow used by Shangdang is different from the ordinary iron plow. It needs to be made of fine iron, which is quite difficult. If Wei Lang wants to, I can give it. Drawings. Such a plough can increase the efficiency by 30% compared to ordinary iron ploughs, and even if it is sold to a noble family, it should be worth some price.”
This was far beyond Wei Qu's expectations! So, didn't he just give him a drawing of a new plow for free? Even if it was more troublesome to make and cost more refined iron, for the Wei family, it would only cost more working hours. But being able to make a new product is a long-term business. In this way, not only did he not suffer, but he also took advantage of it!
Is it because he mentioned the Buddha's name that he was treated so favorably
"Fujun is so polite, it makes the boy ashamed!" Wei Qu said ashamed, but agreed quickly, "So, I should play a few ploughs for Fujun. I don't know how many glass beads there are. ?"
"Probably more than two hundred." Liang Feng thought for a moment and gave a number.
Wei Qu is simply stupid. More than two hundred? ! Did you burn this out of the ordinary? ! Burning more than 200 pieces in one go, is this glazed bead still valuable? !
Liang Feng sighed lightly: "It's also a coincidence that I got so many. There are hundreds of them all of this size, and there are hundreds of different sizes, but the quality is the same. I'm afraid I won't be able to get such beautiful beads in the future. If you don't like too much, you can take less..."
"No, no! Such a Buddhist fate, it is appropriate to collect all of them!" Wei Qu immediately reacted and replied hurriedly. What a joke, even if the number is more than I expected, it is still glass beads! And the size is similar, the quality is the same, he can come up with more than ten kinds of extravagant accessories, which are much more valuable than a single bead hairpin. Not to mention the phrase "I'm afraid I won't be able to get it again in the future". This is to control the production volume and increase the price.
In this way, he simply made a fortune. If you don't win all of them, wouldn't it be a waste of time!
Seeing the excited look on the other side, Liang Feng naturally nodded and smiled and agreed.
Although no one took advantage of it, Xue Ren and Wei Qu were still quite satisfied. Both white porcelain and colored glaze were excellent businesses, and what they paid was nothing but salt and iron. How dare they delay, the two immediately withdrew and went to talk to Jiang Ni in detail. Liang Feng also breathed a sigh of relief, it seems that this banquet was not in vain.
When drawing up the list of participants, he put his mind on it. Although it is to invite various noble families, it is necessary to invite a few wealthy agents, in order to attract their interest in white porcelain and colored glaze. And the two most wealthy and wealthy two jumped out first, which is also considered to be in the right hands. Comparing the bidding price between the two will naturally increase the price. Even better, what he urgently needs now is not money, but the military supplies in their hands.
Needless to say, the importance of salt, the iron plow is also something he can't get now. Not to mention the iron materials that need to be consumed, even the manpower of the Liangfu Iron Factory is not enough. And handing over the blueprint to the other party and then using the glass beads to induce it is another matter. There are probably hundreds of craftsmen in the Weijia Iron Mine, and they can easily get the farm tools he desperately needs. These plowshares are also made of fine iron. In case of lack of weapons, they can be rebuilt by melting them. It can be said to kill two birds with one stone.
This is the most convenient way to build your own mine. As for the glazed beads, he really doesn't want to mass-produce them, after all, they can't be sold at a high price. After coming to this era, Liang Feng realized that China has actually had glass products since ancient times, but the craftsmanship is not similar to what he is familiar with. They are all inverted moldings, and the lead content is extremely high, so they cannot be heated and can only be used as ornamental objects.
On the contrary, the glass imported from the West was more similar to what he remembered and could be used daily. So at the beginning of firing, he abandoned the ancient method and developed a cheaper soda-lime glass. He really didn't know where the sodium and calcium came from, but after all, there were only a few commonly used materials.
After several months of experiments, the workshop has initially mastered the method of firing glass. After the blowing process is mature, it is time to make a lot of money. When the transparent glass is blown out, are you afraid that you won't be able to buy it
And in addition to these swindlers, other gains are not without. Liang Feng thought about it for a moment, and said to Lu Zhu, "Go and ask Master Duan."
Although the banquet was just a casual conversation, Liang Feng still carefully observed the scholars who were sitting. In fact, not everyone who comes today is powerful. Among the gentry, there were also poor, even quite poor men. He will also select some of them as a reserve team for the county officials. Now that the order to shelter refugees has been promulgated, not every county magistrate can handle it well. If someone lacks talent and has a bad attitude, don't blame him for being ruthless.
This is not the appointment of the poor. Similarly, with the gentry, what others can say is nothing but meritocracy. But for the whole party, the meaning is very different. Only by making the iron barrels built by the Shangdang general can we ensure that there is enough pressure resistance in Bingzhou and more people can be saved.
For this purpose, no amount of preparation is necessary!
The author has something to say: Regarding burning glass, in fact, this thing also depends on the times. Since the Warring States Period, China has been able to sinter lead-barium glass, which is not the same as the soda-lime glass in the West. Lead and barium must be added as co-solvents. The glass produced in this way is expensive, and the heat resistance is not good. Can only be used as jewelry and ornamental items. After the Han Dynasty, China imported a large number of glass products from the West. In the Northern Wei Dynasty, the skills of glass blowing were mastered, and then high-lead glass and alkali glass were born.
"Bei Shi·Da Yuezhi Biography" records: "When Shizu (Taiwu Emperor)), his country (Da Yuezhi) merchants and merchants in the capital, from Yunneng cast stone into five-colored glaze. So mining was carried out in the mountains, that is, the capital cast it, When it is completed, the luster is beautiful to those who come from the west. It was ordered to be a hall for more than a hundred people, and the light and color were reflected. When the audience saw it, they were all shocked and thought it was done by gods. Of."
It can be seen that as long as there are artisan methods, glassware with high transparency can be produced at that time. However, in the Sui and Tang dynasties, the handed down glassware had glaze engraving patterns, lamination decals, gold painting and other craftsmanship, and the sophistication was not inferior to modern products. In the Song Dynasty, there were also glass workshops among the people, and only very valuable imported treasures would be enshrined in the underground palace. In the Ming Dynasty, glass was completely cheap, and few glass products were buried with them.
So if you travel back to the Song Dynasty, glass-burning is still a hugely profitable industry, that is, the craftsmanship and the temperature of the fire are more particular. After arriving in Song Dynasty, it is not necessarily able to compete with the craftsman's production skills at that time.