Chapter 366: Zhao Xu Has Grown Wealthy

"Let them wait," Zhao Xu said to Feng'er.

The arrival of these two families was also within his expectations.

Although he did not like the Dou and Xiao families, business still had to be conducted.

Moreover, both the Dou family and the Xiao family guarded a mountain pass.

He did not wish for these two passes to be breached by Xiliang.

Otherwise, if the Great Song fell into chaos, it would affect his business.

After all, he still needed to extract primitive capital from the Great Song to realize the Industrial Revolution in Yanzhou.

"My virtuous nephew need not accompany me; feel free to go about your business. I came in a hurry and left in a hurry last time, so this time I shall spend two days sightseeing in Yancheng," Prince Chun said, his eyes rolling.

He was a man who knew how to read the room, and he had already said what he wanted to say to Zhao Xu.

There was no need to continue staying here and delaying Zhao Xu's important matters.

"Very well, I shall host a banquet to entertain you, Imperial Uncle, this evening," Zhao Xu nodded and saw Prince Chun to the gate of the Prince's Mansion.

"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Chun." As soon as Prince Chun stepped out, two young men bowed to him.

Prince Chun looked surprised. "Dou Kuang, Xiao Qian, for the Dou family and Xiao family to send you two this time, they truly show great sincerity. You two go ahead and get busy; this Prince will go for a stroll."

Having said that, he turned and left.

Dou Kuang and Xiao Qian smiled awkwardly.

At this moment, the two hurriedly bowed to Zhao Xu again. "Greetings, Your Highness Yan Wang. It has been a long time; Your Highness looks increasingly dashing and refined."

"So it is the young masters of the Dou and Xiao families. Please, come in," Zhao Xu said.

In his mind, he had an impression of basically all the important descendants of the Eight Great Influential Clans.

Naturally, he recognized Dou Kuang and Xiao Qian.

After arriving at the Hui Ke Tang with the two, and exchanging some pleasantries, Zhao Xu went straight to the point.

"The two of you have come this time for the artillery as well, haven't you?" Zhao Xu said.

"Your Highness is truly brilliant; that is exactly the case." Dou Kuang's smile was almost sycophantic.

Despite having been slapped by his own father, he had still been dispatched to Yanzhou to be responsible for the procurement of artillery.

Originally, he should have come long ago, but he had been delayed because of the Ma Family affair.

This time, both the Dou family and the Xiao family were facing the problem of defending their passes.

Thus, they came to Yanzhou together to seek to purchase artillery.

Although having artillery did not necessarily guarantee they could hold the passes.

It was still much better than having none at all.

Xiao Qian also said at this time: "Nowadays, Jian Pass and Wuguan may suffer attacks from foreign tribes at any time; we hope Your Highness will show compassion."

Zhao Xu chuckled inwardly.

The Dou family and the Xiao family were being so low-profile toward him now, likely because they were feeling guilty and afraid he would refuse them outright.

However, he would not refuse; he would only fleece them on the price.

So he said: "There is no question of compassion or lack thereof. As we are all part of the Great Song, this is merely a small favor. However, you should also know the price of this artillery, right?"

Before coming, Dou Kuang had already inquired with the Han Family and the Xie Family; this artillery cost 8,000 silver per piece.

He nodded and said: "It is said to be 8,000 silver per piece."

"That is indeed the price.

And you must transport them back yourselves," Zhao Xu said.

Although they knew this price was inflated far too high, they had no other choice; after all, the other families had already paid their deposits.

Dou Kuang and Xiao Qian said simultaneously: "Your Highness, we each require three hundred pieces."

Zhao Xu nodded. Except for the Liang Family, the number of artillery pieces requested by the other families was about the same.

After all, the Liang Family intended to load a portion of the artillery onto ships.

"Since that is the case, it is the old rule: pay the deposit first." With that said, the business was considered settled.

Zhao Xu accompanied the two in awkward small talk for a while longer.

Finally, noticing a bruise on Dou Kuang's face, he said: "Young Master Dou, your face?"

"Oh." Dou Kuang was startled and hurriedly covered it. "I bumped into something by accident."

However, as he spoke, a flash of hatred crossed his eyes.

Having settled the matter of the artillery, Zhao Xu did not keep them, only politely suggesting they spend two days sightseeing in Yancheng.

However, the two declined, saying they needed to make a trip to Yanguan.

The Beidi merchants were no longer heading to Yanguan, and the Beidi cavalry had once again crossed Yanshan.

Naturally, they had received this news.

Therefore, the two were acting on their families' orders to go to Yanguan to observe the situation, and if things looked wrong, they would have their own merchants withdraw from Yanguan.

After the two left, Zhao Xu went to the study.

Thinking it over, he totted up the number of artillery pieces the influential clans and the Imperial Court were purchasing from him: roughly over three thousand pieces.

This many artillery pieces were worth over twenty million silver, while the cost was only around 1.5 million silver; he was making a massive profit.

And this did not even include the other items the Imperial Court was purchasing.

Overall, this wave of arms trade would bring him a profit of 24 million silver.

And this was only the current figure; the Wang Family and the Fan Family had not yet come, but they would come eventually.

If the firearms he manufactured could also gain their approval, he would be able to earn another fortune then.

"This silver is enough for the major infrastructure of Yanzhou," Zhao Xu mused.

Infrastructure was the supporting facility for industrial and agricultural development.

This is equivalent to him scattering Silver to the commoners, letting them participate in the construction of various facilities.

In this way, the commoners benefit from the infrastructure, and their pockets bulge.

He benefits from the completion of roads, bridges, water conservancy, and mining facilities, laying the foundation for industrial development.

He had actually been thinking about this massive infrastructure project all along, but was troubled by the lack of Silver.

Now, with the enormous profits from the arms trade, he can fully support his ambitions.

After the summer harvest comes sowing, and after that, the commoners will be idle; that will be the beginning of the massive infrastructure project.

Thinking of this, he planned out the facilities that needed to be built in his mind.

At this moment, Feng'er reported that Liu Fu had arrived.

Patting his head, he remembered that today he was supposed to inspect the summer harvest with Liu Fu.

This was something he had proposed himself.

Just as one shares joys and sorrows with soldiers when marching to war, he felt it was necessary to personally inspect agricultural work.

Firstly, it is to show the importance he places on agriculture, and secondly, it is mainly to put on a show for the officials.

It is to make them stop acting like high-and-mighty officials and instead be close to the people, so they do not end up unable to distinguish the five grains.

Leaving the Prince's Mansion, Liu Fu was already waiting outside.

Mounting his horse, he and Liu Fu headed toward the outside of the city, accompanied by officials responsible for agriculture and students from the academy.

This time, they came to Fushi Village.

Because it is the closest to Yancheng, it has practically become a place similar to a model village for the current era.

Upon arriving, Zhao Xu discovered that the commoners were cutting wheat in the fields.

In this place of Yanzhou, wheat is planted in the winter and rice in the summer, with two harvests a year.

At this moment, the wheat in the fields was a golden expanse, very pleasing to the eye.

The only thing that made Zhao Xu dissatisfied was that the wheat was a bit sparse, and the grains were not very plump either.

And this is the reason why one mu of land can only yield about two hundred catties.

However, he knew there was no help for it; this era has no high-yield seeds.

One can only rely on fertilizer and some reasonable farming methods to increase production.

"Your Highness, look, the commoners' enthusiasm is truly high; not a single one is slacking off. This sight is something I, your subordinate, have never seen before," Liu Fu said with a smile.

"That is only natural. The fields are their own, and the grain is their own; how could they not be motivated?" Zhao Xu said.

Liu Fu smiled and nodded, "After harvesting this season, the commoners' families will have surplus grain. They can even take the excess out to sell, and they can sell another harvest of rice next season; this year will be easy to get through."

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