Why did the Cao family think it was worth it when Cixi borrowed money from Cao's courtyard during her flight to the west?
In 19, the heroic Empress Dowager Cixi issued an imperial edict to declare war on the great powers. Regrettably, although the number of Qing troops and Boxers gathered by the Empress Dowager was far more than that of the allied powers, they were ruthlessly beaten down by the allied forces. Empress Dowager Cixi, helpless, had to disguise herself as a peasant woman, got on the Xiao Lv bus and hurried out of Beijing.
Cixi's escape to the west is euphemistically called "the Western Hunting", but no matter how beautiful it is, it can't hide the embarrassment of Cixi's escape. Because of the hurry when she fled, Cixi didn't even bring a change of clothes, bedding for sleeping and food. She just took a little silver and went on her way.
this time, Cixi also tasted the pain of fleeing. She didn't have a decent full meal for the first three days, so she had to cook some cowpea horns and young and old corn to satisfy her hunger. When you sleep at night, you can only sleep on a heatable adobe sleeping platform without bedding. Cixi and her party fled all the way to Huailai County, and finally got their first full meal since they fled under the management of Huailai County Magistrate Wu Yong. Cixi was so happy that she felt that Huailai county magistrate was the best official in the world, and immediately appointed Wu Yong as "handling the grain table in front of the road", responsible for the collection and supply of logistics items from now on, and accompanied her.
we often say that it is easy to be frugal and difficult to be frugal. Cixi set an example with Wu Yong. After three days of hardship, she couldn't live any longer. After that, the hospitality standard of the land she passed could at least not be worse than that of Huailai County. However, due to natural disasters, wars, and extortion, many places have already been searched and cleaned up. Xuanhua county magistrate really couldn't organize anything decent to entertain Cixi, so he had to hang himself to apologize to Cixi.
the empress dowager cixi and her party entered Shanxi, getting farther and farther away from the war-torn capital, but they were much more relaxed than when they first left the capital. Cixi can't live a hard life, but she has no money. What should she do? Excuse me. This so-called "borrowing" means "borrowing without paying back" and searching in disguise. Of course, the rich gentry and tycoons have the opportunity to climb the relationship with Cixi, and it is not ink to pay for it.
So Cixi borrowed money from the rich gentry and tycoons who passed by in exchange for official awards, inscriptions and some small things she carried with her. Shanxi merchants began to make a fortune in the late Ming Dynasty, especially Qiao Chang, Cao Houqu and Kang Fankong, the eight masters of Shanxi merchants, who occupied the top eight positions of the richest man for a long time.
Cixi borrowed 12, pieces of silver from the Qiao family (the most famous person in charge is Qiao Zhiyong) with the words "Heaven's Library in Fu Lin". Now this inscription is still at the gate of the Qiao family courtyard in Shanxi. 1, taels of silver is still not enough. At Wu Yong's suggestion, Cixi took an eye on Cao Jia again.
Cao's compound is about twenty miles away from Qiao's compound, and it is also rich. In its heyday, the Cao family had more than 64 pavements, assets of more than 12 million taels of silver and more than 37, employees. The Cao family's business not only spread all over China, but also went abroad and went to the world. From Japan in the east, Russia in the north, France and Britain in the wash, there are traces of Cao family firms everywhere.
Cao's courtyard, known as "Sanduotang", is two or three times as big as Qiao's courtyard, and it is also a very rare courtyard of Shanxi merchants, with a "longevity" shape as a whole. Even in modern times, it covers an area of more than 1 thousand square meters. There are three courtyards, 15 small courtyards and more than 27 houses in Cao's compound.
Cixi borrowed money from Cao's family, which was much more clever than Qiao's. We don't want anything. It's already a great honor for the Cao family that Lafayette passed by. Isn't it 12 thousand silver? We'll pay 32 thousand silver.
Although the Cao family was rich, by the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Cao family still encountered many difficulties because of wars and natural disasters. Three hundred and two thousand silver is not a small expense for the Cao family. However, it is here that businessmen who can achieve great things have different thinking.
Cao's move has at least two advantages. First, the name of Cao Cao was played out again. Our Cao Cao's strength is still very strong. You can rest assured to do business with our Cao Cao. Second, the generosity of the Cao family will impress Cixi.
If Cixi hadn't fled to the west, I'm afraid the Cao family wanted to give gifts, but they couldn't find any suitable excuses. Even if it was sent out, Cixi received it. Among the many gifts that Cixi received when she was proud, I am afraid it is difficult to attract the attention of Cixi. Now, just 32, silver can impress Cixi, and remember the Cao family. This is definitely a cost-effective business. With the support of Cixi, it is far more than the value of 32, silver. At least if you encounter anything in the official, you can speak directly in Beijing. This is also the place where Cixi visited later, and some wealthy businessmen and tycoons took the initiative to donate money.
what is the "collateral" that Cixi gave to the Cao family? It's a golden locomotive clock.
This clock was made by Frans and presented as a gift to Qianlong during the Qianlong period. The clock is made of gold, platinum, black gold and crystal, weighing 42.25 kilograms. There are two watches on the bus. One can tell the time, and the other is said to predict the weather changes.
It was impossible for Cixi to take such a big guy with her when she fled to the west. Later, after Cixi returned to Beijing, she was selected from many treasures in the palace and gave it to the Cao family. What Cixi means is that she didn't forget to borrow money from the Cao family and gave you a treasure from the palace, which should only be paid off.
In terms of the value of the locomotive clock itself, it should be far less than 32, silver at that time. In the early Qing Dynasty, the ratio of gold to silver was 1: 8, and in the middle period, it was as high as 1: 2 because of the massive inflow of silver. In the late Qing Dynasty, the ratio of gold to silver should have dropped a lot because of opium import and reparations. According to the highest ratio of 1 to 2, 43 kilograms of gold can be converted into 86 kilograms of silver. One or two in the Qing Dynasty was 37 grams, which was less than 24, taels of silver. Even if you count the workmanship and commemorative significance, the premium is 1 times, and you don't need 32, silver. Cixi is still very good at calculating.
for Cao family, the value of the golden locomotive clock is not important. When Cao family received the reward from Cixi after she returned to Beijing, she must feel "worth it". Why does Cao Jia think it's worth it? Because the Cao family's goal of giving Cixi 32, silver was achieved, Cixi remembered the benefits of the Cao family. The Cao family, under the name of Cixi, may get more than 32, silver.