"Buying land? That seems like it wouldn't cost money; just finding the old landlords would probably make them ecstatic.
Buying people? Ordinary servants don't need to be bought. If I just opened a recruitment drive, the young and strong on the estate would be scrambling to get in.
That's it! Buy artisans! Artisans, you can never have too many!
But then I thought, with so much copper money, it feels inconvenient to have someone carry it around to buy artisans. One string of cash weighs over seven catties. Damn it!
As he was thinking, Fang Er slapped his thigh. With so much capital, why didn't he just open a bank? But doing this business alone didn't seem quite right. He figured it would be more reliable to find someone to partner with.
The next day, Zhang Tian flew a helicopter to Shenyang and picked up Sun Simiao. As he sent Old Sun into the palace, Fang Er took a detour and appeared in the Liangji Hall.
Li Shimin casually set aside the memorial he had just finished revising and looked at Fang Er curiously. It was almost dinnertime; why had you come to the palace, kid?
Heh, kid has a business deal, but it's not suitable to do it alone. So I came to find Uncle.
There was no one else in the hall, only Fang Er, Li Shimin, and the eunuch Deng Gonggong at this time, so Fang Er was not polite. He directly went to the imperial desk and took out a box of cigars from his pocket, placing it in front of Li Shimin.
Hey, it's rare for you to bring me something willingly. Tell me, what's the matter!
Li Shimin opened the cigar box, glanced at it, and closed it again.
Kid plans to open a bank.
A bank? What's that?
And, you see, if this copper money is kept at home, it will easily rust. Over time, no one will want it when you take it out to spend. You can also get interest by depositing it in a bank. What a good thing! During this time, kid can lend money to others and charge interest. It will definitely be a little higher than the interest for saving money.
Li Shimin's brows furrowed into the shape of the character '川.' He didn't understand finance very well, so he beckoned Eunuch Deng to come closer.
Go to the Ministry of Revenue and see if Duke Fang is off duty. If he is still there, summon him to the palace.
Yes, Your Majesty!
Eunuch Deng bowed and was about to walk out of Liangji Hall when Fang Er stopped him.
Wait, Your Majesty. Kid is bringing money to your Imperial Treasury. If you summon Duke Fang, kid will have to do this business with the Ministry of Revenue.
This was also one of the reasons Fang Er didn't look for Fang Xuanling. Another reason was that partnering with the Ministry of Revenue would be equivalent to introducing state capital, which would be too troublesome later!
Li Shimin was stunned for a moment. He preferred to put money into his Imperial Treasury rather than the Ministry of Revenue. If he hadn't paid much attention before, he started to like this feeling after his daughter's family sent him money every month.
But if he didn't call Fang Xuanling, he really didn't understand the complexities. So he looked at Fang Er and asked, How much money do you plan to have me invest?
Hey! Why talk about money! Kid will provide the money, and you provide the shop, alright? If we make money, we split it fifty-fifty! Within three years, kid guarantees you'll have more money than the Ministry of Revenue!
Li Shimin suddenly stood up and shouted at Eunuch Deng: Get out! No one is allowed in the hall! Pretend you didn't hear anything!
Yes, yes, I didn't hear anything! Deng Deng cast a resentful glance at Fang Er, then withdrew from Liangji Hall.
Kid, you're not kidding? After he left, Li Shimin looked at Fang Er with disbelief.
Sure, certain, and definitely not kidding. Fang Er patted his chest and guaranteed. The bank's first step is to absorb gold and lend it out. Once credibility is established, once paper currency is introduced, hehehehehe.
Li Shimin became restless, pacing back and forth in Liangji Hall with his hands behind his back. Three years, more money than the Ministry of Revenue. That's called being as rich as a nation! No wonder this kid dared not do it alone and ran to rope me in. If he had done it alone, he would probably have been impeached by all the civil and military officials long before three years. A common man's sin is his treasure. At that time, the immense wealth, and the accumulating military achievements of this kid would become targets of criticism! Excessive merit overshadowing the ruler, wealth rivaling the nation. This is a major taboo in any dynasty! Coupled with his methods of manufacturing, helicopters, diesel vehicles, five-toothed great ships, firearms, and cannons. Adding all this up, it would be troublesome even if anyone jumped out to fan the flames.
Kid, this share, five percent is too much for you! Li Shimin suddenly stopped when he thought of this.
Fang Er was stunned for a moment, then heard Li Shimin continue. You take forty percent, and I'll only take forty percent. The remaining twenty percent will be distributed by me. Do you have any objections?
Fang Er was not stupid; he instantly understood Li Shimin's meaning. This was protecting him. For him, forty percent and fifty percent really made no difference. He just didn't expect Li Shimin to have concerns. The noble families have either been wiped out or fled. What concerns does he still have? Can you tell me how Your Majesty plans to allocate the remaining twenty percent?
Li Shimin did not speak. He returned to the imperial desk, took out a piece of white paper, and wrote something on it with a pencil. After a long time, he rubbed his sore wrist and looked up at Fang Er. This twenty percent, I plan to divide it into ten portions! The Left Servant-in-attendance gets one portion, the Right Servant-in-attendance gets one portion. Each of the Eight Frontier Protectorate Governors gets one portion. When an official resigns, the shares will be left for the next one.
Fang Er was stunned! Is this using money to buy off the Left and Right Prime Ministers and the heads of the military regions? Li Shimin is playing an even bigger game than I am! Awesome! A real boss is a boss! He tied the empire's top brass together with benefits. This way, no matter how much money the bank makes in the future, who the hell would dare to babble nonsense? Brilliant! Truly brilliant! Your Majesty is wise, kid admires you! Fang Er could no longer find words to express himself.
Li Shimin looked at him and smiled: What's to admire? Haven't I learned it from you, kid? The markets, hospitals, and schools in Shenyang, you used the same method, didn't you, to pull my ministers over?
Fang Er was instantly embarrassed. Damn it, who leaked this to him? If no one informed me, do you think my Hundred Cavalry Guard is a decoration? Alright, you go and handle this matter. I'll just wait to collect the money.
Li Shimin, with his hands behind his back and taking his 'unruly' steps, walked out of Liangji Hall and said to Eunuch Deng outside: Prepare the carriage, to Ganlu Hall!
Yes! Your Majesty, prepare the carriage for Ganlu Hall! Eunuch Deng's sharp voice echoed in the square outside Liangji Hall.
So stingy. He said it was almost dinnertime just now, but he wasn't willing to keep me for a meal! Fang Er muttered as he exited Chengtian Gate. Zhang Tian had been waiting for him in the helicopter the whole time. The two of them flew directly back to Fang Family Village."