"Your Highness, do you want them to die faster?"
Zhou Huairen is also a veteran in the business world and he can see clearly what Li Xiang wants to do at a glance.
"We can't participate in the auction directly. There are very few people who can afford to pay right now, and they will definitely have someone keep an eye on us. If we participate directly, they will easily find the trap. Not only will they not invest money, they will most likely take it back, and then we won't be able to cheat them."
Li Xiang sighed. It was really a disaster that the major families had too much wealth. They had to spend millions of coins to keep other projects running. No wonder Li Shimin wanted to weaken them. If such a large amount of money was combined, the emperor's position would be unstable.
"We can start with the price of war horses. If we can push up the price in Chang'an City, they will see the profits from the grasslands. When the fight begins, I believe they will not hold back."
Zhou Huairen had actually been thinking about this for a long time, but he was not quite sure. After all, if you want to push up the price of war horses, it will require a lot of money. Li Xiang's money is all tied up in the land, and he can't get much out in a short time. If the money is too little, it won't have much effect.
Nowadays, the price of a war horse in Chang'an City has reached three hundred strings of cash. Even if it is pushed higher, it is still extremely limited. Unless we encounter a large-scale war and lose the war, the court will purchase a large number of war horses, and the price of war horses will rise.
But now the imperial court has just won the war in the southwest, and Tuyuhun has donated a large number of war horses. If you want to raise the price of war horses at this time, it is almost impossible.
"Raising the price of war horses was possible in the past, but not now. However, your suggestion is still a good one. I have thought of another way."
Li Xiang smiled mysteriously. Zhou Huairen next to him didn't understand what Li Xiang was thinking. If he wanted the major families to invest more in the southwest, he had to let them see the profits. Zhou Huairen had previously said that he would push up the price of war horses, which was indeed a catalyst, but in the current situation, a large number of war horses from Tuyuhun arrived in the capital, and the goods were far more than the consumption. Even if we wanted to push up the price, it would take too much effort.
"What does your Highness mean?"
Zhou Huairen thought that few people could surpass him in business, but he had also seen Li Xiang's strength. Often, an idea could turn stone into gold, so he had always wanted to figure out Li Xiang's thoughts, but unfortunately he did not have that ability yet.
"This requires the Emperor's cooperation. He must issue an imperial decree. For example, the armies in Chang'an City need to replace their warhorses. Of course, it's impossible to replace all of them in one year. We can replace 5,000 to 10,000 horses each year..."
When Li Xiang said this, Zhou Huairen understood what was going on. He was just trying to paint a picture for the big families. "Aren't you hesitant about investing in the southwest?" he asked. "We'll paint a picture for you. Even if we replace 5,000 war horses a year, that's over a million strings of cash."
As long as the people of the major families get this news, there is no doubt that they will be tempted. The laws and regulations promulgated by the court have never been wrong, and they will definitely believe them. Of course, they may not buy yours at that time. What if the court and Tuyuhun reach an agreement, and Tuyuhun suddenly provides a large number of war horses, and the Turks in the north can also provide them? The court will immediately refuse them, and then your investment will be thrown there honestly, just as you are building the border.
At the same time, the price of war horses will drop significantly, and the imperial court can spend a small amount of money to replace the war horses for its own army. Of course, the major families will suffer the loss.
"Your Highness's plan is truly brilliant, but we must act quickly. From what I've learned, the Southwest Auction will begin in ten days at the latest. The major families will be in charge of the auction, with court officials supervising. They'll be moving the auction directly onto the grasslands."
Zhou Huairen stretched out his hand and counted the days. It was true that there was not much time left for us.
"Send the letter to the palace."
Li Xiang did not neglect this matter, but quickly wrote a letter saying that he could not appear in the palace now, after all, he was claiming to be sick.
Cui family mansion.
After Li Xiang returned to the capital, Mr. Cui San had sent him invitations several times, hoping to visit him. However, Li Xiang claimed to be ill and could not go out. Mr. Cui San could not keep asking him, as that would seem a bit immature.
Regarding the issue of auctioning the Tuyuhun grassland, Cui Sanye has always been a leader, but he is a little unsure in his heart. Although he thinks this is a business that is sure to make money, he also hopes to hear Li Xiang's opinion. Although Li Xiang was the first to propose this matter, Cui Sanye always feels a little uneasy. If he can meet Li Xiang and understand Li Xiang's true thoughts, then he will be willing to make this investment.
"Yuncheng should have reached Liangzhou, right?"
Mr. Cui San said as he touched his jade pendant.
"In reply to Third Master, we received the news yesterday. They should arrive around sunset today. Besides us, the other families of the Five Surnames and Seven Families have also arrived, as well as some smaller families from various places. This is indeed a grand event."
Although this auction was not as anticipated as before because Li Xiang rushed back to the capital, the major families did give enough face because of the auction of these grasslands.
"Hasn't the Emperor approved the auction plan we've drawn up yet?"
Each major family has formulated its own auction plan, but the emperor has not approved any of them. According to the ideas of each major family, the area of a single grassland should be as large as possible. Only in this way can some competitors be eliminated. Even if they bring all the family's money, they may not be able to bid for a piece of grassland.
"The Emperor's previous plan contradicts ours. The Emperor hopes that the area of each plot of land will be as small as possible, so that no one company will dominate..."
The butler did not continue. The interests of the court and the major families have always been contrary to each other. It is probably impossible to expect the other party to do things according to your way. The court has always wanted to weaken you. How could it allow you to have a second spring on the grassland?
"Third Master, Third Master..."
Just as the two were discussing the issue, Cui Yunzhu returned from outside. This guy was the county magistrate of Chang'an and was the most well-informed...