The Duke's meaning is, an auction?
Liu Huizi asked Fang Er.
Yes, an auction.
Does anyone have any objections?
Fang Er's gaze swept across the more than a hundred merchants present.
Commerce is all about capital. Good locations, when given to those with capital, can bring in more tax revenue.
The Duke's method is excellent, we have no objections!
Yes, an auction is the best way!
The Duke is indeed the Duke, so insightful!
Everyone expressed their approval of the auction method. While it might cost them more, it was the fairest method.
Very well, three days later, here again, we will auction the land.
Fang Er announced the final decision. After hosting the merchants for a meal, he had Liu Meng escort them out.
Returning to the back courtyard, Chai Yue had already gone to sleep. Xiao Qing remained on guard outside the room.
Seeing Fang Er return, she quickly stood up. "Master, Madam has gone to sleep. Do you still want to wash your feet?"
Fang Er shook his head. "Not yet. Go and call Xing'er over."
Xiao Qing was taken aback. She glanced into the inner room at the sleeping Chai Yue, then shyly said, "Master, Qing'er can also..."
Fang Er took a moment to understand her meaning. He tapped Xiao Qing's forehead with his finger and chuckled, "What are you thinking, you silly girl? Master wants Xing'er to come over for something."
Xiao Qing realized she had misunderstood and quickly covered her face, running out.
Hahahaha!
Fang Er sat in the room, chuckling as he watched her run away.
This girl, it seems it's time to take her in.
After a while, Xiao Qing and Xing'er walked in side by side.
"Master, do you have any instructions?"
"This is the planning map for the market. Take it and study it carefully for the next two days."
"The auction is in three days. You will preside over it."
As Fang Er spoke, he handed the map, which the merchants had circulated and returned, to Xing'er.
Among all the maids in the household, only she was suitable for this. After all, her words at Drunken Immortal Tower, "Let the virtuous occupy it," had surprised Fang Er and were very effective.
"Yes, Master."
Xing'er took the map, carefully folded it, and tucked it into her embrace.
"Alright, there's nothing else. You can go back and rest."
Xing'er was taken aback for a moment, then curtsied. "Master, please rest early. Xing'er will take her leave now."
With that, she took two steps back, turned, and walked out.
He had Xiao Qing bring him water to wash his feet. After soaking his feet, Fang Er slipped into bed.
Seeing Chai Yue sleeping soundly, he kissed her forehead, then closed his eyes and fell asleep.
For the next two days, he visited the iron mine. Steel production was in full swing.
Zhao Gang and his team had managed to build another steel rolling machine, and they were now working on the third one.
Mo Ming had been following Zhao Gang closely these days, making simple parts.
He was like a dry sponge, constantly absorbing knowledge from Zhao Gang and other artisans to improve himself.
In addition to inspecting, Fang Er also took the time to build a three-meter-wide sand table.
The sand table was covered with square wooden blocks, representing residential buildings, hospitals, schools, and market structures.
Three days later, Fang Er was sitting in the courtyard reading a book.
Su Feng walked over. "Duke, the merchants have all arrived, one hundred and twenty-eight in total. I've asked them to wait in the front hall."
*Snap*.
Fang Er closed his book and rose from his chair. "Go and call Xing'er. Tell her the auction is ready to begin."
After Su Feng called Xing'er, Fang Er, along with the two of them, walked to the front hall.
Upon entering the front hall, a crowd of merchants were gathered around the three-meter-wide sand table in the center, pointing and discussing.
Each wooden block on it was labeled with the type of building it represented, making everything clear at a glance.
The four sections of the market were as follows: The northwest corner was District Ding, primarily for livestock trading and carriage businesses, placed on the outermost edge near the main road leading from Shenyang due to potential odors.
The southwest corner was District Bing, mainly inns, adjacent to the north gate of Shenyang.
The northeast corner was District Jia, the area for fabrics, furs, and textiles.
The southeast corner was District Yi, where all edible goods were traded.
This allowed them to clearly understand the location of the land parcels to be auctioned that day, as well as the overall layout of the market.
The merchants outside greeted Fang Er with respect as soon as they saw him.
"Your humble servant greets Duke Fang County."
"Greetings, Duke Fang County."
"Good morning, Duke Fang County."
Upon hearing the voice, others also turned to bow to Fang Er.
"Everyone, I assume you have all made ample preparations over the past three days."
Time is limited, and there are quite a few land parcels. Therefore, I will dispense with further pleasantries.
"Xing'er, begin!"
Nodding slightly to Xing'er behind him, Fang Er walked to the main seat and sat down to observe what would be the first real estate auction in the Great Tang.
"Esteemed shopkeepers, my name is Xing'er."
"The Emperor establishing a market in Shenyang is undoubtedly opening a path to wealth for all of you, building a blessed land!"
"Whether you can seize this opportunity to elevate your businesses further depends on your performance from now on."
"Without further ado, District Jia, Parcel Number Forty-Five, the lease term is five years, with a starting bid of one hundred strings of cash annually, and each increment must not be less than ten strings of cash. Please place your bids!"
Xing'er stood in front of Fang Er, holding a slender wooden stick, and pointed to Parcel Number One in District Jia.
Parcel Number One in District Jia was located in the very center of the entire market, in the southwest corner of District Jia, at the intersection of the four districts.
It had to be said, there were only four such prime parcels in the entire market.
They were Jia One, Yi One, Ding One, and Bing One.
"One hundred and twenty strings of cash!"
A short, stocky man shouted out the first bid of the entire auction.
"One hundred and fifty strings of cash!"
"One hundred and seventy strings of cash!"
Among the crowd, anyone involved in the fur and fabric business was coveting this piece of land.
"You think this little money can secure this treasure land? Hmph! I can only say your foresight is too shallow!"
"Sun's Fur Shop bids five hundred strings of cash!"
Suddenly, a man dressed in furs from amidst the crowd jeered at everyone with disdain.
In the entire Liaodong fur industry, apart from Liu Huizi, he was the biggest player, holding a thirty percent market share, essentially trailing closely behind Old Liu.
If he could secure this piece of land, it would play a significant role in defeating the Liu family and dominating the Liaodong fur trade alone.
Liu Huizi, with his white hair, had been sitting silently. He knew that those who spoke first were mere small fry, raising prices without any real intention to bid, knowing they couldn't afford the rent.
However, Sun's Fur Shop's bid clearly indicated their determination to win.
"Sun's family only has this much ambition? Old Liu bids one thousand strings of cash!"
"One thousand one hundred!"
"One thousand two hundred!"
"One thousand three hundred!"
"One thousand four hundred!"
Thus, as soon as the auction began, these two individuals went head to head.
The shopkeeper of Sun's Fur Shop gritted his teeth and called out a figure.
"Two thousand strings of cash!"
Instantly, the entire venue fell silent.
Let alone others, even Fang Er was dumbfounded.
Damn it, there were forty-five land parcels in District Jia to be auctioned today, but the number of people engaged in the fur business among them was likely less than thirty!
Why the need to play it this way?
Xing'er stood there with grace, looking at the crowd before her, seemingly unfazed by a bid of two thousand strings of cash for half a mu of land.
Seeing no further bids, she spoke in her melodious voice.
"Esteemed sirs, the best land parcels in the entire market are only four, one for each trade!"
"It can be said that these four land parcels are undoubtedly blessed lands!"
"These were specifically reserved for all of you by the Duke, even the various tribes from the grasslands have no claim to them."
"As the ancient saying goes, blessed people reside in blessed lands, and blessed lands further prosper the wealth of blessed people!"
"Therefore, are there any higher bids?"