Over the years, due to the influence of the weather and the loss of population, a large number of people have been slaughtered, and the grain output outside the customs is very limited, and it is difficult to feed more than 100,000 Qing troops and their dependents.

The Qing army survived in Liaodong largely on grain and livestock plundered from the Guannei and smuggling trade with the Jin merchants.

This is similar to the situation of the Qing army and Li Zicheng, or even more severe.

Although Li Zicheng faced the blockade of the Ming Dynasty, the two forces were intertwined and full of loopholes, and the blockade of the Ming Dynasty was difficult to achieve.

Under the rule of the Shun army, there was a shortage of materials, which caused prices to rise, and naturally there were merchants who were greedy for profits, so they transported the materials and made a lot of money.

In addition, after the Shun army occupied Henan and Guanzhong, the two places gradually returned to calm, and the people spontaneously resumed production, which also relieved the pressure of supply for the Shun army to a certain extent.

The Qing army was in Liaodong, and the situation was very different, first of all, they had a small population, they did not produce any materials themselves, and there was a blockade of the Great Wall, so the conditions for survival could be said to be quite bad.

Refined iron, cotton clothing, tea and other materials are not available outside the customs, and the most important thing is that even food cannot be self-sufficient.

They need a large amount of grain to survive in Liaodong, and these grains mainly come from three aspects, one is the grain produced in Liaodong, the second is plundered from the customs, and the third is through smuggling trade.

In a normal year, the grain outside the customs could not meet the consumption of the Qing army, and this year, when the weather is abnormal, the grain output is even less pitiful, and there is not enough to eat at all.

Huang Taiji originally hoped that Abatai could bring back some food, but he only brought back tens of thousands of mouths, which increased the burden of the Qing army's food supply and made Huang Taiji depressed and sick.

Self-production and plundering were not enough to eat, so Huang Taiji could only hope for the smuggling trade, but the north was erosive, and the food and materials that the Jin merchants could provide were also limited.

The area where Shanxi merchants were active was mainly in the north and outside the mouth, and the salt merchants of Lianghuai in the south and the southeast merchants were in the world.

The power of the Jin merchants in the Ming Dynasty was not strong, and Huang Taiji asked them to buy food, but the north had long been ruined, and the people themselves were dying of starvation, so they naturally could not meet the needs of the Qing army.

The Fan family can only set their sights on the south, but the south has a southern trade network, local merchants, colluding with the gentry, hiring ruffians and hooligans, monopolizing the trade of one side, where will Shanxi people be allowed to collect grain.

In order to help the Jin merchants open up the situation and obtain relatively cheap food, Huang Taiji took a fancy to the relationship between Liu Liangchen and Liu Liangzuo, hoping to use him to open up the situation for the Jin merchants in the south.

After Liu Liangchen entered the customs, Fan Yongdou sent his son Fan Sanba to Shouzhou with him, hoping to buy grain from the south with the help of Liu Liangzuo's strength.

When Liu Liangzuo heard that he wanted to buy grain, his face was a little hesitant.

In these years, everyone is short of food, and where is it so easy to get food.

Besides, he is mixing well now, and he doesn't see any benefits, so he naturally doesn't need to take this risk.

"Good minister!" Liu Liangzuo was puzzled: "In this matter, I'm afraid my brother won't be able to help you." There is a shortage of food outside the Guan, and there is not much food in Nanzhi, so how can my brother have food to sell to you. ”

Fan Sanba, who was on the side, smiled, "Liu Dashuai, how can you be short of food?" As long as you sell us the food you sold to the invading army, won't you? ”

Liu Liangzuo was stunned when he heard this, he didn't expect them to even know about this kind of thing, but he immediately became a little unhappy.

Recently, although he has an opinion on Gao Yihuan, after all, he has cooperated for more than a year, and he can get a few thousand taels of silver every month, why should he help you?

Even if he and Liu Liangchen are brothers, they can't do without silver.

Fan Sanba obviously came prepared, he saw Liu Liangzuo's expression, immediately stretched out three fingers, confident, and said with a smug smile: "Liu Dashuai, as long as you sell us grain, the Jiexiu Fan family is willing to give three times more commission than Gao Yihuan." If you sell to the Chuang army, you sell it to us, and it is also a sale, both of which are against the king's law, so why not choose the one with more pay to sell? ”

Liu Liangzuo couldn't help but move when he heard this, but it still couldn't move him, because Gao Yihuan was not only smuggling food, but also Fan Sanba, and the tone of his voice made him a little unhappy.

This person is just a lowly businessman, just because he caught up with the Manchu Qing Dynasty, he dared to talk to him like this, and dared to investigate his affairs, he was simply looking for death.

Liu Liangzuo said coldly, "Fan Dongjia, those grains were not sold to Gao Yihuan by Ben Shuai, but by merchants in Nanzhi. I don't know who they're going to sell to, I'm just collecting some taxes. ”

Seeing this, Liu Liangchen on the side hurriedly said: "Big brother, I don't want you to sell us grain. You only need to send troops to strictly investigate the transactions between the southern direct merchant Jia and the thieves, and then allow the Fan family's business to operate under the rule of the eldest brother, and we will collect the grain ourselves, and the eldest brother will not know anything. ”

Liu Liangzuo listened to Liu Liangchen's words before he became angry, but his brother was still sensible and could speak.

At that moment, he sighed, and did not hide it from Liu Liangchen, "Liangchen, let me tell you the truth, I also have a lot of opinions about this Gao Yihuan, but what he smuggles is not only grain, but also fine iron, tea, porcelain and other goods, in short, he smuggles whatever he has." Is it possible that you asked me to cut off the whole line in order to get a little grain commission? ”

The north is erosive, the Fan family has a limited supply of goods, and they are looking for a source of goods everywhere, but there has been no good channel, even if they can get the goods, the price is very high.

After Fan Sanba heard this, he was overjoyed, and he didn't care about his dignity and humility, and said no matter how big or small: "Liu Dashuai, our Fan family can take over these things." As long as Liu Dashuai allows our Fan family to open shops in Shouzhou and other places, and exclusively purchase materials, my Fan family is willing to give Liu Dashuai 30% of the dry shares! ”

Refined iron, cotton cloth, tea, porcelain, these things are all needed outside the customs, as long as they are shipped out, they can make a lot of money.

Although he gave Liu Liangzuo three percent of the shares, it seems that he has invested a lot of capital, but in fact, he used the power in Liu Liangzuo's hands to directly cut off Gao Yihuan, a competitor, and other firms.

This is also a characteristic of Chinese businessmen, who do not study how to catch more rats, but think of collusion between officials and businessmen, do not let others catch mice, and get the privilege of catching rats in activities.

"Thirty percent of dry stocks?" When Liu Liangzuo heard this, he suddenly felt that Fan Sanba in front of him was not so annoying.

How much money Gao Yihuan made through smuggling trade, Liu Liangzuo knew, he had long wanted to get a piece of the pie, but smuggling is a network, there are goods, transportation, and sales. Gao Yihuan mastered this sales end, and Liu Liangzuo had no way to start.

Now Jin Shang wants to take over this plate and give him 30% of the dry shares, charging some tolls than him, I don't know how strong it is.

"Gao Yihuan, a mother, actually gave the head to Huang Chuangzi, then Lao Tzu will cut off your financial route!" Liu Liangzuo's face suddenly became hideous, "Okay, no problem." ”

As he spoke, he added, "But Ben Shuai is only strictly investigating businessmen colluding with thieves to carry out smuggling trade." As for where the materials you purchased are going to be shipped, Ben Shuai has no idea at all! ”

"Brother, don't worry!" Liu Liangchen immediately smiled and said: "This is nature, we are doing business properly~"

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(End of chapter)