"Did Wang Qin also arrange the family of Hou Junji?"

"Yes." The dwarf replied, "When Hou Jun gathered his family to leave Chang'an that day, Wang Qin showed up."

"The one in the Daming Palace is dealing with the troubles left by Li Chengqian. The way of imperial ministers is to use one thing but not know the second. The troubles left behind are inseparable from Li Chengqian. Li Er has always been very polite to the old Duke of the Court, but Li Chengqian doesn't agree with it."

The dwarf nodded, "If Gu Er doesn't have any instructions, I'll go back first."

"Go back and keep watching the movements in the palace. I don't believe that the people behind Tang Jian have not moved yet."

"yes!"

After the dwarf left, Fan Jian walked and said, "The head of the family, the merchants from Jiangnan are here."

"They're here. It seems that the gifts before were useful." Gu Qing nodded, "Call them in."

Jiangnan merchants walked into the Gu family courtyard and sat down one after another.

"Have you agreed?" Gu Qing asked while sitting on top.

"Go back to the Marquis, we have already discussed it." Several merchants spoke, "We have eaten all the 40% of the previously set pieces in Jiangnan. It is just a ten-year deadline for the river channel to be built. We hope it will be fifteen years."

"Fifteen years..." Gu Qing hesitated, "It's too long, how about thirteen years."

Several businessmen whispered and nodded, "It can be thirteen years, but we have the conditions. Next time the sea trade, we hope to be the first fleet."

"Okay." Gu Qing nodded and raised his glass, "I hope we will make a fortune together."

"Thank you, Marquis." Everyone raised their glasses.

"There is one thing I actually want you to do another favor." Gu Qing continued.

"Mr. Marquis, please speak." Everyone said.

"Actually, this matter is also related to sea trade." Gu Qing spread the map again, "I want to build another port on the coast south of Lingnan, that is, the East China Sea coastline."

"Build another port?"

"That's right." Gu Qing said, "The ports of Shanhaiguan can be spread throughout the East China Sea, but it is a bit inconvenient to go to the South China Sea. So I thought I could build another port in Zheng County with Jiangnan as the boundary. This geographical location can be used as an intermediate station between the South China Sea and the East China Sea, connecting the South China Sea and the East China Sea. As long as we can go to the South China Sea, our ships will not only be limited to the East China Sea."

Several businessmen discussed again and said hesitantly: "But..."

"I know what you want is a balance between interests and efforts. I also know that thirteen years have become a huge burden for you. As long as you can help me settle the opposition in the county and select a site, all the manpower and material resources for building a port will be provided by our Gu family. You don't have to worry about this."

The merchants nodded with smiles.

The most important thing in business is sincerity. Being able to bargain is not a bad thing, which means that the other party also wants to do this business. Gu Qing admires these merchants for taking over the construction of rivers. "After the matter in Zheng County is finalized, you can send me a letter in Jiangnan and I will send someone here."

"Mr. Gu, in fact, we have a reluctant request."

"Tell me." Gu Qing put down his wine glass.

Li Zhi has been standing not far away listening to the conversation between Gu Qing and these businessmen, as if they were asking each other for each other, and sometimes they didn't understand some of Gu Qing's actions, but if you think about the business methods carefully, you can understand a lot.

Several businessmen looked at each other and said, "We want to build a college like Gu Marquis in Jiangnan. The imperial examination will be around the corner in the next year. There are many scholars in Jiangnan. They have always looked at the height of the temple but cannot step into it. It is a pity for them."

"Of course, I admire your strategy." Gu Qing bowed repeatedly.

"The Marquis has given up." Several businessmen also bowed, "I will give up first if I have something important."

After these merchants left, Li Zhi walked forward in confusion, "What did you mean just now?"

"I admire them." Gu Qing was drinking tea leisurely.

"Why should Jiangnan build a college like you?" Li Zhi asked.

"You can't eat alone, and you can't just be blessed without sweetness." Gu Qingping said to Li Zhi calmly, "Your Highness King Jin think about it. If these Jiangnan merchants united to build the river, would there be any opposition?"

"Yes! Sure!" Li Zhi answered decisively.

"That's right. They thought of this because they had such an idea." Gu Qing continued, "With the same academy as ours, they can block many opposition voices from the village. Besides, can these merchants represent all Jiangnan merchants? Obviously not. After they have obtained so many members, there will definitely be other Jiangnan merchants who are not convinced."

"Even if other Jiangnan merchants want to target them, with this academy, they will win people's hearts. No matter how big the merchants are, their interests are mostly. Whoever can win the hearts of the people can get more resources and give them back to the village, and the village will know who is thinking about them. It is the same for those who are engaged in farming and mulberry trees. Why not do it to those who are good to them? Business and business, sometimes the reason is similar, and the most important thing is reputation!"

"I learned it." Li Zhi nodded.

"So King Jin must understand in his heart that no matter how rich, rich or powerful you are, you must remember to give back." Gu Qing said patiently, "As long as you gain the hearts of the people, you can continue to develop. The people are the most important and the king is the least. You can become an upper class, but you cannot only have upper class people in your eyes, and the hardships of the lower class must be seen in your eyes. No matter how rich and powerful a person is, he cannot go far."

"Brother, Brother Gu Qing!" Xiao Yizi shouted in the room, "You can have a meal."

Seeing that Li Zhi was still thinking, Gu Qing patted his shoulder, "Don't think so much, just have a meal first."

Li Zhi nodded, but Gu Qing's words still opened a new door in his heart. As the saying goes, people's hearts are terrifying, anyone can see the sinister side of people's hearts, and how many people's hearts are seen.

Yang Sheng came with his family at dinner time.

After dinner, Gu Qing looked at Yang Sheng.

"What are you doing when you look at me like this?" Yang Sheng still likes to bite the grass roots and look at the fields in a daze after dinner.

"Recently, I have come to my house to have free meals more and more times." Gu Qing supported his chin with his hands.

"My wife wants to learn cooking at your house." Yang Sheng shaves the meat between his teeth with grass roots. "I have to say that your food is getting better and better, especially braised pork. My daughter is eager to come to your house to eat."
Chapter completed!