Chapter 0002: Primitive Accumulation
The encampment of the imperial army tasked with quelling the rebellion is orderly and well-organized, with formidable fortifications. Flags flutter in the wind, and within the camp, one can frequently see cold-faced armored soldiers patrolling in an orderly manner.
He shook his head and did not continue speaking, while Zhu Yuntai also smiled bitterly. Now, the national fortune is difficult, and the world has entered a season of troubles. Such arduous efforts, rushing around to put out fires, are merely a way to exhaust human efforts
A young man from a humble background, without connections or a privileged background, is destined for a challenging life after leaving campus
In the final years of the dynasty, marked by consecutive natural disasters and widespread suffering among the populace, the price of rice in the capital city had skyrocketed by more than tenfold. In those provinces afflicted by famine, the price of grain had reached an astonishing level.
Looking into the distance, the county town was enveloped in silence under the night sky, with the tall city walls resembling a giant beast quietly lurking in the darkness
If in the future the court is overthrown and the overall situation becomes difficult to reverse, where should they go from there
Three hundred taels of gold is just over ten kilograms, and when divided among several parties, it is hardly significant for those large chain jewelry stores with substantial strength. In a prosperous and wealthy international metropolis like Binhai, the combined daily sales of their branches located throughout the city are not a small figure. The turnover of private jewelry stores and pawnshops is also considerable.
After returning from drinking with a few equally troubled classmates yesterday, Qin Feng, exhausted, lay on the bed and fell into a deep sleep. He vaguely felt a sharp pain in his body, as if there were voices in his mind narrating something, but he could not remember a single word.
Of course, those who insist on showing off their wealth by casually throwing out dozens or hundreds of kilograms of gold are simply asking for trouble. They attract the attention of mysterious authorities or become targets for ill-intentioned forces, and in that case, they can only blame themselves for their own demise
Meng Luo said softly: "However, Jidu County was occupied by the rebel Lü Kang and his army two days ago. The Ministry of War has issued a directive for us to quickly pacify Zhao Yuanjin and rush over to provide urgent assistance. Furthermore, Shangyang County is also unstable; Qishui County has been besieged by the rebel forces, and Yurao County has been completely looted after being breached by the bandit army, resulting in numerous military and civilian casualties..."
As Qin Feng reappeared, he slightly raised his hand, and 60 bags of rice and flour materialized out of thin air, stacked into a small pile, causing Zhao Yuanjin's eyes to suddenly shine with brilliant light
"I really don't know how long this battle will last," Meng Luo said softly, gripping the hilt of the knife at her waist firmly.
According to the laws of the Great Qi Dynasty, one tael of gold can be exchanged for ten taels of patterned silver. During the prosperous and flourishing period at the beginning of the founding of the nation, the Ministry of Revenue stipulated that the price of two shi of white rice was one tael of patterned silver, with one shi of white rice approximately equivalent to one hundred jin. In reality, as the national population gradually increased and agricultural yields varied over the years, this price has been fluctuating and trending upwards.
After being besieged for many days, with daily bloodshed and relentless fighting, Zhao Yuanjin is indeed facing a situation of heavy losses and a dead end, yet the losses of the imperial troops are also considerable.
Zhao Yuanjin, during their discussions, once mentioned trading with items such as silver, jewelry, jade, and antiques, all of which were politely declined by him
He took out a dagger, carefully cut open the packaging bag, and grabbed a handful of white rice from inside. Holding it under the light, he examined it, his face filled with excitement.
This is quite normal; in a chaotic world where smoke rises everywhere and human life is as cheap as grass, even generally prosperous families face massive bankruptcies and are unable to sustain themselves. The common people are left to gnaw on tree bark and resort to cannibalism. Meanwhile, many unscrupulous merchants collude with the authorities to hoard goods, artificially inflating prices, making it difficult for ordinary people to purchase food even with money in hand
The clattering of pots and pans echoed in the kitchen, as visions of a beautiful future life unfolded in my mind. After a flurry of activity, steaming hot dishes were served on the table. Stewed black-boned chicken, sweet and sour pork tenderloin, braised carp, and stir-fried asparagus marked a satisfying achievement of self-sufficiency.
In the room
At this point, the imperial army is undoubtedly in a position of victory, and the breach of the county city is imminent. By then, Zhao Yuanjin will have nowhere left to escape.
Therefore, as long as one remains sufficiently low-key and cautious, and does not let go of too much at once, there will fundamentally be no trouble, and future gains can be handled in this manner
Zhu Yuntai smiled and said: "Zhao Yuanjin is now at the end of his rope, relying solely on the solid walls of the city to stubbornly resist. According to the information from our spies in the city, the supplies can only last for three days at most, and the injured bandits lack medical care and supplies, with morale low. Even if we surround them without attacking, the fall of the city is just a matter of time."
As for the antiquities and cultural relics industry, it is even more complex; moreover, it is merely a parallel world akin to ancient Huaxia. If one were to truly bring some items over, not only would it be particularly troublesome to liquidate them, but there is also a risk that others might consider him a fraud.
As for how long Zhao Yuanjin can hold on after securing enough provisions, he is not particularly concerned; his own benefits have already been obtained. If this governor truly meets his demise, he can always find a way later to seek out another suitable person for trade.
In another world, outside the county city
As long as we endure this most difficult period, we can regroup and rise again in the future. Is there any reason to fear the lack of territory and wealth?
It is essential to find a suitable and stable channel to handle these matters, Qin Feng thought to himself
"That works, let's discuss the future transaction prices," Qin Feng said
After a comprehensive comparison and weighing of options, gold is currently the most valuable and easily liquidated resource, which is why Qin Feng insists on having only this item
Why does the general sigh
When he woke up again, he discovered that a mysterious disc-shaped warship had appeared within him. The purple-gold hull shimmered with brilliance, exuding an air of magnificence and nobility. Inside the hull was a small dimensional space, and the information that naturally surfaced in his mind made him understand the extraordinary fate he had encountered.
However, the current court is plagued by numerous issues, with treachery and deceit rampant, compounded by years of natural disasters. The common people and rebel armies are emerging in endless waves, and suppression efforts are failing one after another. Even if Zhao Yuanjin is eliminated, how many more days can the court extend its life?
After a busy day outside, he felt somewhat tired, so he hurriedly took a shower. After changing his clothes, he went to the supermarket downstairs to buy a free-range chicken, a bundle of tender asparagus, two pounds of pork tenderloin, and a fresh carp, along with a case of beer, intending to return home and prepare a delicious meal to reward himself
Over the past year and more, during the conquest of territories, he has ordered the execution of numerous officials and wealthy individuals who opposed him, with their properties and children confiscated. Although he has spent a considerable amount on recruiting soldiers and military campaigns, he still possesses a substantial amount of wealth, making it effortless for him to purchase three thousand stones of grain from this immortal to alleviate his urgent needs
Although the quantity of this batch of grain is not large, approximately around 10 stones, it does prove that this mysterious immortal has the ability to procure grain through unknown means in times of need
With the successful completion of the first transaction, and then the arrival of the second batch of gold, Qin Feng suddenly realized that his original accumulation had been completed rapidly in such an astonishing manner
With the initial crossing using the warship, it is normal to feel tense and flustered. However, after Qin Feng quickly adapted, the second crossing appeared much more composed, and he fortuitously encountered Governor Zhao Yuanjin. The subsequent events unfolded naturally.
This individual obtained the title of juren at the age of twenty-six, possessed considerable wealth, and was adept at winning people's hearts. He indeed had some talent, far surpassing the ordinary bandits and commoners. Moreover, he had several capable military officers under his command, which is why, despite facing such adverse circumstances, he has managed to hold on until now, unlike those insignificant groups of refugees that easily disband at the slightest setback.
It is good this way
These damned traitorous ministers!
Finally, certain precious medicinal materials are also a good option, such as wild ginseng, cordyceps, tiger bone, bear bile, and rhinoceros horn. However, these life-saving items, when they appear at critical moments, can easily attract the attention of powerful figures, so one must act with caution and prudence. It is acceptable to take out a small amount occasionally, but if the quantity is too large, it will inevitably lead to trouble
Meng Luo felt troubled in her heart, and after sleeping for a while, she got up again. She donned her armor and took her sword, stepping out of the tent. She saw fine strands of rain continuously falling, with dark clouds densely covering the sky, and occasionally, blinding flashes of lightning could be seen in the distant horizon.
However, Qin Feng also found himself in a bit of a dilemma. As the number of transactions increased in the future, it would mean that he would have more and more substantial gains in his hands. At that time, how to handle it discreetly and safely would become a major issue
He once speculated that if it were not for the fact that this rebel leader had reached a state of utter despair, and he himself had suddenly appeared in such a strange manner, would he have been regarded as a monster and ordered to be killed? There should be a high possibility of that.
In the world where Qin Feng resides, the economy is prosperous and productivity is highly developed, making the prices of rice and flour quite low, with one kilogram available for just two to three yuan. Therefore, this exchange rate allows him to earn a substantial profit. Each round trip between the two worlds yields nearly ten times the return effortlessly. With more frequent trips, his earnings will reach an unimaginably substantial level.
Another option is precious wood. Once I have established a certain foundation in the real world in the future, I can consider importing some rosewood, golden silk nanmu, or mahogany, if such resources are available in that world
Good ... ... very good
After making a round in the city, I visited several gold shops to sell the gold in batches, and only then did I drive back to my rental apartment to sleep
Due to his insistence on accepting only gold at present, both parties, after some discussion, agreed on a ratio of one tael of gold for three shi of grain, and aimed to procure three thousand shi of grain for Zhao Yuanjin as quickly as possible to address the urgent situation
Perhaps in the future, after acquiring a certain level of economic strength, one might consider temporarily leaving the borders of China to travel to Southeast Asia or Australia. The governments of these countries are not very strong and have relatively weak control over domestic situations, making many matters easier to handle. For instance, items like gold are mostly traded there without inquiries about their origins, with direct weighing and valuation.
A clear and tranquil voice was heard, belonging to Zhu Yuntai, a military staff officer. He was a slender middle-aged man dressed in a blue robe, with bright and sharp eyes
From now on, he will no longer be that uncertain, lost, and helpless struggling student, but a true wealthy individual with the opportunity to stay in the coastal magic city. With a special ability to traverse between two worlds, he will engage in resource trading and mutual exchanges, making it exceedingly easy to amass wealth
Today, silver can almost be considered an ordinary industrial metal, hardly valuable, with a price of only a few thousand yuan per kilogram, and the purity of ancient silver was not high. Although jewelry and jade are appealing, Qin Feng has no knowledge in this area, making it troublesome to handle.
He cursed inwardly with resentment, but soon his expression darkened again, and he let out a sigh of dejection.
... ...
However, from Zhao Yuanjin's perspective, he does not feel that he is at a disadvantage. This is a special period when the imperial army is besieging the city, and the situation is extremely precarious. Food is something that can save lives, while gold and silver cannot be consumed.
In the blink of an eye, Qin Feng's figure reappeared in the rental apartment
How is this grain? Qin Feng asked with a smile
Having filled his stomach, and noticing that it was still early, Qin Feng decided to go out once more to dispose of the gold he had on hand in batches, planning to rent a warehouse in the suburbs tomorrow
Zhao Yuanjin nodded eagerly, repeatedly saying: "If the immortal can continue to procure enough food for me, I, Zhao, will certainly not hesitate to offer a generous reward."
After the discussion was concluded, Zhao Yuanjin immediately took it upon himself to bring three hundred taels of gold to Qin Feng as a deposit, promising to expedite the procurement of grain.
Qin Feng is a medical student about to graduate. The university he attends is fairly decent, but finding a job these days is not an easy task. Moreover, as an international metropolis, the high cost of living and intense competition in Binhai rank among the highest in the country