In the past, when the Jiangnan gentry came to ask for a meeting, the regent would usually put down his work and check it out.This time, everyone ran over, but they didn't even enter the door, which released a very bad signal.The regent is alienating them.In an official-based society, if there is no political umbrella, the small officials in the county who are not in the mainstream can casually bully and extort businessmen.Wang Duo hurriedly returned to the Jiangdong Chamber of Commerce and informed Cheng Bi of the situation.This made Cheng Bi also a little uneasy, before the Jianghuai cotton industry, they were also called, but now the two Huai coal industry and the two Huai salt industry are about to start, and he actually didn't get any news.Could it be that the regent wants to abandon us gentlemen and merchants in Jiangsu and Zhejiang?"
Did you hear me?"
Cheng Bi sweated on his forehead, "Is the regent really preparing for the coal industry and the salt industry?"
”Wang Duo bowed his head and said, "It's true.It was the guard in front of the palace gate. ”Even the guards know it, but I don't!
Cheng Bi was shocked!
He was an old man who had followed the regent since Jiangyin, and he thought he was quite close to the regent.In recent years, the regent's situation has improved, he is less dependent on merchants, and he is also busy with business, so the relationship is a little distant.I don't want to, it's actually so far."
Now, you have made me and the Jiangdong Chamber of Commerce miserable!"
Cheng Bi sweated like a pulp, like a needle carpet, and stood up, "No, I have to go and confess my mistake to the regent in person." ”At this time, Cheng Bi realized that today's Zhao Ming is no longer the Zhao Dashuai who needs help from all sides, but the regent of the Ming Dynasty, and it is not an exaggeration to say that it is Emperor Zhao.The emperor was furious, and millions of corpses were ambushed!
The regent holds great power, not Tianqi and Chongzhen, let alone Hongguang, Jianwu, and Longwu, but the acting emperor who can be like the Yongle Emperor, who is decisive and decisive.Although the regent is kind on the face, since he ascended the throne of the regent, his majesty cannot be violated, and I actually support Wang Duo and Zhao Zhilong to demolish the regent's platform, I really don't know whether to live or die.Although the regent is not yet the emperor, the companion is like a tiger, which is also a trial.Since Taizu, businessmen who dare to confront the imperial court have almost no good end.From Shen Wansan in the early Ming Dynasty to the Hui merchants in the Jiajing period, they all suffered heavy losses.Cheng Bi knew that he couldn't compare with Shen Wansan at all, let alone the Huizhou merchant group that had a close relationship with Wang Zhi and Xu Hai, who were pirate merchants in Huizhou.If he continued to go against the regent's wishes and made the regent withdraw and abandon the gentry and merchants of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, then the cotton textile industry in Jiangnan would definitely be taken away by other merchants.At that time, Yangzhou was rich in the world, but the masters of Yangzhou were Qin merchants in Guanzhong, Jin merchants in Shanxi, and Huizhou merchants in Huizhou, for more than 200 years, they had nothing to do with the locals.As soon as Cheng Bi thought that with the support of the regent, the major merchant gangs attacked the city and plundered the land in Jiangnan, and he immediately became a spirit.At that moment, Cheng Bi's footsteps were fast, leading Wang Duo and others to the outside of the palace again."
Why are you here again?"
The guard on duty couldn't help but frown.At this time, Cheng Bi didn't care about his identity, and said straight to the point: "Cheng Bi, president of the Jiangdong Chamber of Commerce and honest uncle, ask to see His Royal Highness the Regent, and please pass it on your behalf!"
”A stack of silver tickets was delivered, but the guards didn't dare to take it this time, unlike Wang Duo, who had no official status, Cheng Bi was a serious earl, and he was also a king merchant of the Han Kingdom."
Uncle, later, I will go to pass on the word!"
The guards clasped their fists and saluted, and hurried into the palace.After a short time, the guards came out and saluted, "Uncle, the regent has summoned you to your audience." ”Cheng Bi and the others were ushered into an outer hall to sit, while Zhao Ming was in the inner hall, summoning Xia Wanchun and several businessmen.Between the inner hall and the outer hall, there is a hollow round hole partition, and you can see the inside when you sit in the outer hall.However, generally speaking, the people who sit in the outer hall and wait for the summons are sitting on the chairs with half their buttocks, waiting for the summons without squinting, but they dare not look around.However, the voice in the inner hall made Wang Duo couldn't help but glance at it, and this look suddenly shocked him."
President, Old Hui'er Wu Chongde, and Qin Shang's people are actually inside!"
Wang Duo said in a low voice.Cheng Bi's heart froze, and suddenly there was a sense of crisis that he would be abandoned, marginalized, and excluded from the core.At this time, he sat on a needle mat for nearly half an hour before the discussion was finished.The regent Zhao Ming and Wu Chongde, as well as a few dark and rough Qin merchants, came everywhere and sent them to the outer hall before they said goodbye to a few people affectionately, as if they were talking very happily.At this time, as soon as a few people left, the smile on Zhao Ming's face disappeared immediately, glanced at a few people coldly, and dropped a sentence, "Come in!"
”Zhao Ming turned around and entered the inner hall, walked to the middle hall and sat down, picked up the teacup, took a sip of tea, and said: "I signed a one-year supply contract, and you don't want to hurry up and harvest cotton!"
”This made everyone embarrassed, and Cheng Bi was even more ashamed, because he came up with this idea, and the first sentence of the regent said this, which means that the regent knows everything."
Your Highness, this time I'm confused."
Cheng Bi snorted for a while, and didn't know what to say, so he could only kneel and kowtow to Zhao Ming, and tried his best to justify: "Everyone is targeting Hui Shang, not His Highness, we all support His Highness from the bottom of our hearts, and really want to serve His Highness!"
”"Against Hui merchants?"
Zhao Ming sneered.Cheng Bi hurriedly said: "Your Highness, those Hui merchants have a criminal record.If they become bigger, it will not be a blessing for the court!
At that time, they colluded with the Japanese and brought great disasters to the southeast.In Jiangnan, it is still our Jiangdong businessmen, which is more reliable. ”Cheng Bi's previous conviction of the Huizhou merchants is that after the Huizhou merchants became bigger, they controlled seventy percent of the world's commerce and participated in the smuggling trade in Shuangyu Port.Later, Shuangyu Port was pacified by the imperial court, and in order to let the imperial court open the sea for trade, the Hui merchants colluded with Wang Zhi and led a fleet to approach Ningbo, forcing the imperial court to open the sea, and finally caused a rebellion in several provinces in the southeast.This matter is more complicated, involving the dispute between the open sea faction and the forbidden sea faction.However, there is no doubt that this rebellion made the imperial court even more afraid of the rise of merchant power, and from then on, it did not dare to open the sea in Ningbo for hundreds of years, until it was opened by foreign powers.Zhao Ming smiled and said, "So, the lonely king still has to thank you?"
”Cheng Bi hurriedly led everyone to kowtow, "The ministers don't dare, I just hope that His Highness will forgive the ministers for the sake of the ministers' modest achievements in the past, and let the ministers continue to serve His Highness." ”Zhao Ming naturally can't do anything about these big households, with them, Jiangnan is a prosperous Jiangnan.However, for merchants, whether it is Jiangsu and Zhejiang merchants, Qin merchants, Hui merchants, or even Jin merchants, they need to be managed and tamed."
Get up!"
Zhao Ming waved his hand and said in a deep voice: "That's it for now!"
In the future, between the various merchant gangs, the lone king encourages fair competition, but he cannot violate the laws of the Ming Dynasty!
Do you understand?
”"Thank you, Your Highness, for your understanding!
In the future, the ministers must compete fairly!
”Cheng Bi was overjoyed and led everyone to kowtow again.Zhao Ming waved his hand and motioned for them to go back, but seeing that everyone continued to kneel on the ground and not leave, he couldn't help frowning and asked, "What else do you have to do!"
”Cheng Bi immediately smiled and said: "The ministers want to compete fairly and serve His Highness!"
”Zhao Ming pretended to be puzzled, pretending to be confused, "What kind of effect?"
”Seeing this, Cheng Bi could only point out, "The ministers heard that His Royal Highness is raising shares for the Lianghuai Coal Industry and the Lianghuai Salt Industry, and the ministers happen to have some silver in their hands and are willing to work for His Highness!"
”Zhao Ming suddenly realized, "Oh!
AhhThe lonely king advises you to think about it, the qualifications of these two companies are far inferior to that of JAC Cotton, and the lonely king can't keep making a steady profit without losing money, you have followed the lonely king for a long time, and the lonely king can't bear to harm you!
”Cheng Bi was immediately anxious when he heard this, and hurriedly said with a sincere face: "Your Highness, it doesn't matter if you earn or not, the main thing is that the ministers want to serve Your Highness!"
”Zhao Ming took a deep breath and reluctantly agreed: "Since you are willing to take the risk, then go back and prepare the silver dollar and participate in the call auction in three days!"
”"Your Highness!"
Cheng Bi's face was full of joy.Zhao Ming waved his hand, and Cheng Bi and the others happily retreated.Zhao Ming looked at everyone's backs, shook his head, and looked helpless, "It's really risky, why don't you believe in loneliness?"
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