Gold Bank Preparation, Four Hundred Guards

The topic of conversation ended there for the time being.

Next, they began their respective preparations.

While Xu Sheng was urging the Carriage and Horse Company to ensure the Coal supply to Bright Moon Pavilion, he was also preparing for the establishment of the Escort Agency. Lin Ze, on the other hand, began to busy himself with setting up the Gold Bank.

A typical Gold Bank usually operates three types of businesses.

First, the exchange between gold and silver, second, the exchange between silver and Copper Coins, and third, the exchange between Copper Coins and gold.

According to common ratios, one tael of gold is equal to ten taels of silver, which is equal to ten thousand Copper Coins.

During the exchange process, the Gold Bank charges a certain handling fee, generally around one percent per transaction. For example, if you want to exchange one tael of gold for Copper Coins, you would ultimately receive nine thousand nine hundred Copper Coins.

These handling fees are the source of the Gold Bank's profits. In theory, the more exchanges, the more profitable the Gold Bank becomes.

In Fengping County, if one wants to make money with a Gold Bank, it is necessary to attract customers at the bustling docks.

Therefore, although Lin Ze has set up the Gold Bank branch in the city, this is for the sake of financial security. In the future, it will still be necessary to open an office at the dock to undertake business.

Seeing this, Liu Pei asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Master Lin pondered for a moment and said, "Replying to Zhang Da Niu, it's very impressive. They work hard mining every day, without food or lodging, and they can still learn martial arts."

Fengping exclaimed from the bottom of his heart.

Fengping also made an open promise.

"Do you understand?"

As the saying goes, 'He who eats another's food is subject to his control.'

"Replying to Zhang Da Niu, I understand."

I only have seven hundred soldiers, but Liu Pei's Guard Team doesn't even have seven hundred people.

Seeing the eight people looking at him curiously, Liu Pei didn't hide anything and told them about the wooden Railroad Minecart that was about to be built.

Fengping looked at Cui Cheng and teased.

Hearing this, Master Lin was immediately overjoyed.

"In fact, the increase in the number of guards under your command is also a good thing for Lord Liu. The Coal Mine should be able to turn a profit this month. With such a large taxpayer as the Coal Mine under your administration, you can increase the number of soldiers under your command according to actual needs."

This kind of obedient performance is not so much due to Liu Pei's strong personal charm, but rather Master Lin's genuine yearning for a better life in the future.

"With local tax revenue to support the army, the superiors don't need to allocate extra money and food, and they can also receive benefits from you. What could be better?"

"So, for the next period of time, Master will arrange for Martial Hall instructors to train you. You will temporarily live in the mine."

Enough, completely enough.

Liu Pei had Master Lin get up, smiled, and let him leave, continuing to select other Guard Team candidates.

If he does his job well, Zhang Da Niu might really think of him next time there's a good opportunity.

"Of course, don't even dream about it if you're lazy or try to slack off."

"Xiao Niu, how about letting you join the Mining Guard Team?"

"I'll train you well beforehand, or you'll lose your life. Master will certainly give your family some compensation, but you'll be dead yourself."

Master Lin stood somewhat uneasily before Liu Pei, this was a big shot who controlled his livelihood.

In his heart, he couldn't help but feel some anticipation for the grand promises Liu Pei casually made.

This required someone who understood social interactions, possessed accounting skills, and had the ability to coordinate.

Although Fengping was clear about the vast difference in combat power between the two sides, it didn't stop him from feeling a bit envious.

After a pause, waiting for the three to digest it, Liu Pei continued, "This transportation business has huge costs and meager profits, and it involves a peerless expert from Bright Moon Pavilion. Giving the three of you dry shares is not beneficial, but each year you will receive enough benefits. I hope you will take care of things then."

The ability Liu Pei displayed was simply too strong, so outstanding that Fengping felt like he had lived half his life in vain.

He could see that Fengping was indeed feeling a bit envious.

Getting at least seven taels of silver each month was much easier and more respectable than mining.

The three officials agreed so readily, not only because of the benefit fees Liu Pei mentioned, but also because these wooden Railroad Minecarts were beneficial to the Coal business. Protecting these minecarts was also indirectly protecting their own interests.

Cui Cheng glanced at Gao Fei, who had been hesitant to speak, and preemptively dispelled the doubts in his heart.

After careful consideration, Cui Cheng found a suitable candidate, a family member of a servant in his household, a seventeen-year-old boy named Huang Dongsheng.

"In the blink of an eye, the people Zi Yi can mobilize are almost catching up to me."

Just as Liu Pei said, the transportation business had huge costs and meager profits, so taking dry shares was not as good as taking fixed benefit fees.

Especially since it was related to a peerless expert from the Martial Arts Holy Land, Bright Moon Pavilion, it was even less interesting.

Li He promised.

At the same time, minor renovations would be carried out in Liu Pei's home to cover up the noise and excess soil generated by building the tunnel and secret room.

And now that the County Magistrate had been promoted in place, Cui Cheng, as the Colonel, could naturally also be promoted in place.

"If we continue like this, our Coal production can still increase."

Transportation business?

Returning to the Coal Mine director's office, Liu Pei saw Li He and the other two drinking tea there.

"Although we recruited seven hundred miners to become guards, the number of miners has been steadily increasing recently because these miners have been calling friends and relatives to come and mine, so losing those seven hundred miners won't affect the overall Coal production too much."

To establish a Gold Bank, there were three areas that needed to be prepared.

This would determine how much funds Fengping had to bribe superiors, and whether Fengping could directly transfer elite soldiers from other places to expand his strength.

Finally, Liu Pei asked loudly.

The Coal Mine had been open for just over a month, and during this work experience, Huang Dongsheng showed a strong ability to learn, and most importantly, he had a very strong sense of reverence for Liu Pei, the owner.

Facts proved that Liu Pei indeed possessed extremely strong prestige at the Coal Mine.

"Zi Yi is truly a god of wealth descended to earth."

So Liu Pei needs to arrange those miners, keeping our living quarters and cafeteria together with the Coal Mine.

"In the coming period, Master has a new business venture to start with others, requiring a large number of guards."

Don't underestimate the low wages of the Mining Guard; everyone can see that once these Mining Guards are trained, they will definitely be valued by Zhang Da Niu. By then, their salaries will surely be on par with, or even higher than, those of the skilled family guards and Escorts.

But now, struck by this huge surprise, Cui Chengfei suddenly had a flash of inspiration and knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing to Master Cui.

"No need to be nervous. This time, I've come to you not with bad news, but because I have something to ask you."

"Go ahead, do whatever you need to do for the next period."

Liu Pei smiled and reassured him, then asked, "Da Niu, what do you think of the Mining Guard?"

"They were chosen today to be the guards for these new businesses."

Cui Cheng said modestly.

Seven hundred miners, soon to be transformed into armed militia, answered loudly and chaotically.

First, of course, is a solid vault. Lin Ze entrusted this task to the three great craftsmen in his family who were about to help him build the Railroad Minecart. They would help design a vault and build a tunnel connecting the Gold Bank vault to the Lin Ze family's secret room.

Fengping's primary job is as a military officer. His rank as a fourth-grade Colonel allows him to command two to three hundred soldiers. However, Linze County is located on a major transportation route, and the military force of two to three hundred regular soldiers is not enough. Nor can he allow military officers to disobey the management of local officials and cause trouble.

Because of this employment prospect, this is also the reason why the Zhang Family Fist Martial Hall business has endured for so long.

The second thing that needs to be prepared is the shopkeeper to run the Gold Bank.

"Actually, the reason I called you all here today, besides informing you that I want to recruit many guards, is that I have a new business to cooperate with everyone on."

After a pause, he continued, "Given the fixed output, the profit that can be generated this month is probably around eighty thousand taels. Then, counting the surplus Coal from next month, distributed to Master Liu, it's guaranteed to be at least twenty thousand taels of Silver."

Today, seven hundred guards are to be recruited, such a big event, of course, requires prior communication with the eight officials, otherwise, it is most likely to cause misunderstandings.

"But you also know that besides brute strength, you don't have the ability to fight."

Sure enough, Liu Pei's reassurance was very effective.

"Work hard in the future, work diligently. Master will definitely think of you when there are good things."

The recruitment of guards, carried out directly within the miner community, is not easy.

This view not only represents Master Lin's thoughts but also the entire miner community's view of the Mining Guard.

Gao Fei also said where he could help.

"My Gao family has many Tenant Farmers living outside Linze County. I will have them help keep an eye on the Railroad Minecart near their homes to prevent anyone from causing trouble."

I envy the Mining Guard, but I never thought I could become one of them. They are all Zhang Da Niu's trusted confidants.

After a round of screening, Liu Pei quickly gathered seven hundred suitable guard candidates.

At this time, Liu Pei turned his head, half serious, half joking, towards the people watching the excitement beside him.

"Not at all, Master Liu's men are all elites. These local soldiers are just a rabble. Even if there were dozens of times more of them, they wouldn't be enough for his elite troops to fight."

Their common characteristics are being practical in their work, loving their families, and being at the peak of their physical and mental strength in their lives.

Cui Cheng smiled and said.

"Don't worry, Zi Yi, you will make sure all the yamen runners under your command are well-behaved and don't mess around near those wooden Railroad Minecarts."

Cui Cheng was very satisfied with his current job and life. As long as he worked hard, he could eat his fill of rice and meat, and he could often improve his old mother's life. The wages he earned each month were saved up, and in a few years, he would have enough to marry a wife.

As soon as they heard the name of this project, the eight officials immediately became very interested.

Outside the Coal Mine director's office.

Liu Pei was afraid that he would do something stupid on impulse, and said with a smile:

So, he was selected by Liu Pei to be the manager of the soon-to-be-closed Gold Bank, and together with a dozen other young people with similar backgrounds, he joined the soon-to-be-established Gold Bank management team.

"It just so happens that Uncle Li is about to be promoted to an eighth-rank County Magistrate, Lord Liu, you can completely apply to your superiors to expand the army and get promoted in place."

And the third thing to prepare for opening a Gold Bank is naturally the Guard Team.

Hearing this, Fengping's face showed relief.

For complete confidentiality, after the design of the vault and tunnel was completed, the actual construction work was carried out by the servants of Liu Pei's family.

So in the end, the current situation appeared. Fengping commanded 700 soldiers, and the Colonel also served as the county magistrate, receiving two salaries that were not inferior to the first-rank garrison officer, but the official was smaller than the County Magistrate and had to listen to the County Magistrate.

"When the army patrols, in addition to protecting the merchants passing by the Coal Mine, they will also protect the Railroad Minecarts."

In addition to this, the most important point is that these Guard Team members have admiration for Liu Pei, the Master, and are willing to work for him.

They can develop and grow themselves in actual work, and after a period of training, they can reach the point where they are fully competent for the work of the Gold Bank.

Looking at Liu Pei, his eyes suddenly became extremely kind. The God of Wealth was taking effect too quickly, and it had only been a short time before he was about to be promoted and make a fortune.

Therefore, Master Lin had a deep sense of awe and obedience to Liu Pei.

The other personnel in the mine who were watching the excitement at the side looked at the selected miners with envy at this time, envying them for having a better future.

The Railroad Minecart is nominally not part of the Coal Mine, but in actual operation, most of the time these Guard Team members have to patrol between the Coal Mine and Linze County.

In order to ensure the smooth operation of the Gold Bank, Liu Pei also found a teacher to conduct further study and training for them before the opening of the Gold Bank.

However, Cui Cheng only plans to open a business that exchanges Silver and Copper Coins for Gold, and does not involve other businesses. After all, the purpose of opening a Gold Bank is to use Silver to scavenge Gold from the Other World, so the requirements for the manager can be lowered.

"Thank you, Master, thank you, Master, Zhang Da Niu will definitely listen to you in the future. If you tell me to go east, I will never go west."

"Okay, get up. Since you are willing to join the Mining Guard, then I will write down your name first, and wait for the unified arrangements later."

However, Cui Cheng planned to arrange for Huang Dongsheng to serve in the Mining Guard below the Coal Mine. His usual tasks, in addition to practicing martial arts, were to learn arithmetic and accounting skills to help supervise the accounts of the Coal Mine so that no problems would occur.

Cui Cheng was afraid that the level of these few craftsmen was not enough, so he also uploaded some information about mine tunnel construction safety from the Main World to supplement the knowledge of the craftsmen.

"During the training period, we will provide them with food and accommodation, and a monthly salary of seven Copper Coins. After they are qualified for the training, they will receive a salary of at least seven taels of Silver per month. If they die or are disabled while working for the Master, they will be given a pension of two years' salary, and their families will be arranged for work."

After taking care of my superiors, even if I can't get promoted on the spot, I can still keep some extra silver to improve my life.

Fengping immediately forgot the sourness that had just arisen in his heart and eagerly asked, "Zi Yi, how much money do you think I can get this month?"

"Hahaha, I know, Zhang Da Niu."

Those who were chosen by me and asked if they were willing to join the Guard Team basically agreed without even thinking. Some who knew how to handle things would even take the initiative to kneel down and kowtow to show their loyalty.

People roared with laughter, answering Liu Pei.

After recruiting the guards, Liu Pei gathered them together and began to lecture them.

It's not that I don't want to write; the book is doing well. I'll write more and earn more, so don't worry about me dropping it.

It's just that my physical condition has been very poor these past two days. I've been feeling dizzy all day. I'll adjust as soon as possible.