As the auction proceeded, Hu Weiyong laughed so hard that he couldn't stop and was so happy.

At the beginning, everything was normal, and a few hundred taels were added.

But as the merchant bid, the price rose rapidly.

The gentry naturally did not want to be suppressed by the merchants, and increased the price in a crazy way, causing the price of shares to rise rapidly.

Originally, Hu Weiyong thought that the maximum share of the expressway could be sold at 1,500 taels per share.

But as time goes by, Hu Weiyong found that the final sale price of each share is more than 2,000 taels.

Sometimes, it will be even higher.

Of course, this is entirely due to the vicious competition between merchants and gentry.

Although merchants are rich, there are naturally a few gentry with profound backgrounds among these aristocratic families.

They relied on land for many years and had a huge savings of money and grain, which was no less than that of several wealthy merchants.

At the end of the auction, there were only competition between a few big merchants and a few well-funded gentry.

Hu Weiyong saw that the funds had been raised almost all, and there were almost a hundred shares left.

Then the competition between several big merchants and gentry was stopped and the auction was suspended.

After all, most of these thousand shares were purchased by these people, which is really inappropriate.

Since Hu Weiyong asked Zhu Yuanzhang to issue an order to let everyone in the world participate in this matter, he naturally did not want to see someone monopolize such an auction.

The more people there are, the more beneficial it will be to Hu Weiyong. If it is monopolized by these people, then Hu Weiyong may be subject to the subsequent auction.

After all, this is just the construction of the expressways between Yingtianfu and Songjiangfu, and there will be construction of expressways across the country in the future.

This is not the result Hu Weiyong wants to see. He wants those merchants and gentry from all over the country to taste the sweetness.

Otherwise they might not come next time.

Immediately, Hu Weiyong ordered the shares to be sold out in the next auction.

Before, the shares were sold for ten shares, but now Hu Weiyong asked the host to separate them and auction them one by one.

And the gentry and businessmen who have bought shares before will be restricted and auctioned will be suspended.

If there is no bid, let these people buy it.

Although this made some people very unhappy, under Hu Weiyong's strength, these people dared not say anything, and could only look at the top shares.

However, Hu Weiyong's measure rekindled his confidence and began to devote himself to the latest round of auctions.

The two hundred highway shares were auctioned very smoothly, and everyone was bidding wildly.

After all, the people who come here have very flexible heads and can see the value behind highway shares.

As long as you can auction shares in the expressway, you will be considered as leaving a heirloom for your family in the future, or you can still eat the heirloom for your death.

After the last stock was auctioned off, Hu Weiyong was already crazy about being happy.

The total amount of more than 2.3 million taels of silver was auctioned off by himself, which far exceeded his expectations.

You know, the plan Hu Weiyong and Zhu Yuanzhang mentioned at the beginning was only one million taels.

Now it is more than twice the initial goal, how can Hu Weiyong not be ecstatic?

"Everyone, today's auction has ended successfully."

After the auction was completed, Hu Weiyong took the stage again and said to all the gentry and merchants:

"Friends who have captured the shares will come to the backend as soon as possible to pay the money."

"Tonight, His Highness the Crown Prince will personally treat everyone at Yanchun Tower to show his grace."

"After all, today we are all gathering together to contribute to the people."

As soon as these words were said, I felt a little distressed, but just now, the merchants and gentry who had made too much money suddenly felt worthwhile.

They only feel that this investment is the most right decision they have made in their lives.

If they can really meet His Highness the Crown Prince and take this opportunity to meet His Highness the Crown Prince, they will have much smoother business in the future.

The businessman who had been a little depressed before he bought the shares was now even beat his chest and stamped his feet. If he had known this, he would have invested more money just now.

Even if you lose everything, as long as you can meet the prince and have a close conversation, you will be able to eat and drink in your life.

The auction came to an end under the complex mood of everyone.

The first step in Hu Weiyong's construction of the expressway was finally successfully completed.

...

Go to the study room.

"What? Two hundred and three hundred and eight hundred and eight thousand taels?"

Zhu Yuanzhang widened his eyes and couldn't believe his ears.

I originally thought that 800,000 taels would be enough to build a highway.

Now Hu Weiyong actually ran to him and told him that the auction had received a total of more than 2 million taels, which was incredible.

Hu Weiyong bowed to Zhu Yuanzhang with a smile on his face and said:

"It is true that all these silver and notes have been sent to the treasury."

"If the emperor doesn't believe it, he can check it out himself."

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he slowly came to his senses.

Since Hu Weiyong dared to say this, it means that the number is real. After all, it needs to be counted when sent to the national treasury.

If the number does not match, then Hu Weiyong will be arrested as embezzled.

"Weiyong, you did this beautifully."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded to Hu Weiyong with appreciation and praised:

"I didn't expect that such an effect could be achieved. In this way, building a highway will no longer be a problem."

"You can do this as soon as possible. After the highway is completed, we will reward you with it."

"The Chief of Goodwill is old, and I will have to look at you young people next."

Zhu Yuanzhang spoke earnestly, but after Hu Weiyong heard this, he was ecstatic.

Elder Li Shan? Wouldn't that mean that Li Shanchang is going to retire soon?

When Li Shanchang retires, who else can compete with him for the position of prime minister?

Thinking of this, Hu Weiyong was full of energy and bowed to Zhu Yuanzhang and said:

"I will devote myself to my whole life and die."

After Hu Weiyong finished speaking, he turned around and began to arrange the next construction matters.

After all, raising money is just the first step, and the rest must be handled quickly.

He had a premonition that as long as the construction of this highway kilometer could be completed.

When the expressway is completed, it will be the day when he is promoted to prime minister.

After Hu Weiyong left, Zhu Biao asked Zhu Yuanzhang:

"Father, the one million taels of silver that I originally planned has suddenly become more than two million taels of silver."

"What should I do if I have so much extra money?"

"what to do?"

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a moment and said:

"For the time being, it will be placed in the national treasury for disaster relief or in the northern Mongolian world."

"The north has become colder recently. If we are not mistaken, I'm afraid it will snow heavily in the north this year."

"The Mongols in the northern desert will definitely be hard to bear this year!"

Zhu Biao was shocked. If this was the case, these Mongols would probably go south to invade the Ming Dynasty this year.

Every year when the Mongolians were about to get through, they would go south into the Frontier.

If they could break the barrier and invade the hinterland of the Ming Dynasty, they would plunder crazily and spend the cold winter with these plundering materials.

If the barrier cannot be broken, the Mongols who died in battle can also reduce the burden of food and allow the remaining Mongols to survive the winter alive.

"Father, why don't Xu Da come back first and go north to defend Mongolia?"

"No, we have already let Feng Sheng set off."

Zhu Yuanzhang's tone was calm, and in the early Ming Dynasty, many talents emerged.

All of Zhu Yuanzhang's twenty-four generals in Huaixi were peerless and fierce.

Anyone who takes out can be used to deal with these Mongolian Tartars.

Of course, the most powerful one is the six great dukes enthroned by Zhu Yuanzhang, who are really the ruthless people.
To be continued...