The merchants in Huizhou and Zhejiang are all wealthy people. Now that they want something from Zhao Junchen, they will naturally not be stingy with gold and silver.●⌒
In order to entertain Zhao Junchen, Hui merchants booked the most luxurious restaurant "Fuhui Pavilion" in Taierzhuang, and set up the most luxurious banquet in "Fuhui Pavilion", such as pigeon tongue porridge and steamed bear paws.
Anchovies fins, pipa prawns, venison and dragon breasts and other expensive dishes are all available, and the most beautiful singers and dancers from all around Taierzhuang are also invited to do the most luxurious things.
In addition, the Huizhou merchants also prepared a number of "merely small gifts", hoping that Zhao Junchen could accept them happily.
In fact, as long as Zhao Junchen is willing to speak, Hui merchants will definitely prepare everything for Zhao Junchen in the shortest time that can be bought with gold and silver.
Now, Zhao Junchen is about to be responsible for the rectification of business taxation. In a certain respect, the life and death of these Huizhou merchants largely depends on Zhao Junchen's eyes. For Huizhou merchants, as long as they can please Zhao Junchen
Junchen, no matter how high the price is, it is worth it!
That night, when Zhao Junchen came to "Fuhui Pavilion", Huizhou merchants also went out to greet him. Although there were no gongs and drums or firecrackers, the scene was grand, the momentum was huge, and the attitude was respectful.
This gave Zhao Junchen enough face.
However, after Zhao Junchen saw such a scene, he subconsciously frowned slightly, seeming a little unhappy.
At the same time, Lin Yunpu, president of the Salt Merchant Association, Dai Fengfu, the boss of Maosheng Trading Company, and Bai Mingyu, the boss of Darong Shipping Company, quickly came to Zhao Junchen and led all the Anhui merchants to salute and greet Zhao Junchen.
, extremely humble attitude.
Now, as the situation has changed, the attitude of these three people towards Zhao Junchen has undergone a fundamental change - when they met last time, the three people seemed to be respectful. But in fact, they put themselves in a different position with Zhao Junchen.
They were in equal positions, hiding their agility and not giving in at all. But at this time, their postures were much lowered. Even the young and energetic Bai Mingyu showed a submissive look.
"Mr. Zhao, I haven't seen you for a long time. How is everything? I heard that you have been busy with business and tax rectification in recent days, and you have been thanking guests behind closed doors. I took the liberty to invite you tonight. I didn't dare to have high hopes at first, but I didn't expect that.
It is truly a great honor for us and the Hui-Zhejiang Merchant Gang that Mr. Zhao can take advantage of his busy schedule to attend the banquet."
After saluting and saying hello, Lin Yunpu looked deeply honored and kept saying.
On the other side, Bai Mingyu also added: "Yes. Mr. Zhao, if you take the time to show your face to the banquet, you regard our Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants as friends. Please believe that Mr. Zhao, although we and the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants are all just
A stinky businessman, but he will never treat his friends badly!"
Dai Fengfu took the opportunity to please and said: "I heard that Mr. Zhao, you have been rectifying the business tax for the past few days. I have been thinking hard behind closed doors these days. I am very lucky and have the heart of serving the country and the people. It can be said to be a lesson for the world and it is true for the ages.
You are an unprecedented capable minister. It is an eternal blessing for the imperial court to have your assistance, Mr. Zhao!"
As the words of the three people fell, all the Huizhou merchants also responded one after another, as if Zhao Junchen's attendance at the banquet gave them great honor.
Regarding the flattery and compliments of the Huizhou merchants, Zhao Junchen was neither salty nor indifferent. He did not show too much happiness or disgust, but said slowly: "Oh? So you think so highly of me.
, However, after I proposed cooperation to you, I have been waiting for news from you, but I have not received a reply for a long time. I thought you were disdainful of my proposal."
Upon hearing Zhao Junchen's insinuation, all the Huizhou merchants, led by Lin Yunpu, looked embarrassed.
Then, without waiting for their explanation, Zhao Junchen said again: "Also, you are all rich people. It is my honor to be willing to entertain me. But now that the Southern Patrol Fleet has arrived at Taierzhuang, His Majesty and the Central Committee
Nearly half of the staff are gathered in the vicinity. It is a time of great change, so it is best to keep a low profile. However, if you all entertain me with such great fanfare, if this matter spreads, wouldn't it bring trouble to me?"
Lin Yunpu quickly explained: "I hope you will learn from it, Mr. Zhao. We, the Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen, all attach great importance to your cooperation proposal and will never dare to neglect it. However, your proposal is really important and has far-reaching influence.
There are many members in the Hui-Zhejiang Merchant Gang with different ideas. It naturally takes a long time to come up with a result. After I finally reached a conclusion, I found that His Majesty had finished his southern tour and returned to Beijing.
Well, now that we have rushed to Taierzhuang, it is actually for cooperation!"
Then, Dai Fengfu also explained: "We also know that Your Majesty and many important officials of the imperial court are near Taierzhuang now, and we will never dare to cause trouble to Mr. Zhao. Therefore, while we entertained Mr. Zhao at Fuhui Pavilion, we also paid for the general.
The entire street where Fuhui Pavilion is located has been reserved. Now everyone in the area is our own people. All irrelevant people have been screened out. There will never be any bad rumors spread. Please ask Mr. Zhao for this.
Don’t worry!”
After hearing Lin Yunpu's explanation, Zhao Junchen just remained noncommittal.
But after hearing Dai Fengfu's explanation, Zhao Junchen was slightly stunned.
Subconsciously looking around, I found that the whole street was deserted. Except for the many followers of Huizhou merchants, there was no one else.
Therefore, Zhao Junchen couldn't help but secretly sigh in his heart - these Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants are indeed very wealthy and spend a lot of money. For others, the most they can do to entertain guests is to rent out a restaurant, but these Huizhe and Zhejiang merchants are better, not only renting out the restaurant, but also the entire street
The streets are all booked by them!
You know, since the opening of the Jia Canal, the prosperity of Taierzhuang has caught up with places such as Suzhou and Hangzhou, and consumption is by no means low. As the most luxurious restaurant in Taierzhuang, "Fuhui Pavilion" is naturally located on the most prosperous street.
, the amount of silver the Hui-Zhe merchant gang spent on this would probably be an astronomical figure.
While secretly sighing, Zhao Junchen stopped pursuing these trivial matters. He just nodded and said: "So it turns out that I am overly worried. In this case, let's have a banquet. You don't have to be restrained. Let's
Just talk while eating."
Lin Yunpu and others naturally agreed to Zhao Junchen's request, and quickly welcomed Zhao Junchen into the "Fuhui Pavilion". During this period, Lin Yunpu and others took the opportunity to introduce the identities of the other Huizhou merchants to Zhao Junchen.
These Huizhou merchants are all the bosses of well-known shipping companies and well-known trading houses. They are usually very wealthy and have great hands and eyes. I am afraid that even Su Changzhen, the governor of South Zhili, may not be able to take them seriously, but at this time they have a request from Zhao Junchen.
, but all of them had a humble attitude. When they saluted Zhao Junchen and said hello, they almost grabbed the ground with their heads.
*****
After entering the "Fuhui Pavilion", the three wine tables were packed with people, with Zhao Junchen sitting at the head seat, and Lin Yunpu, Bai Mingyu, and Dai Fengfu sitting beside them.
After the banquet, Lin Yunpu and others originally wanted to recruit dancers and singers to entertain, but Zhao Junchen actively refused.
Then, Zhao Junchen raised his hand and pressed lightly to stop the compliments of the Huizhou merchants. Then he stood up and said slowly: "All the friends present are all famous businessmen in Huizhou and Zhejiang. They are said to be rich.
It is not an exaggeration to say that you are an enemy country, even the local magistrates and magistrates will not dare to neglect you! I am very grateful and honored to treat you so warmly today."
After speaking, Zhao Junchen raised his wine glass and took a sip.
On the other side, as Zhao Junchen finished speaking, all the Huizhou merchants stood up together. After toasting and drinking, they all said some compliments and polite words.
Zhao Junchen once again raised his hand and said softly: "However, although I am very grateful for your hospitality, I am busy with government affairs and really don't have much free time. I'm afraid I won't be able to enjoy it with you tonight, so we
Let’s keep the story short and get to the point.”
After hearing what Zhao Junchen said, all the Huizhou merchants were slightly startled, and then their expressions became serious.
They knew that what Zhao Junchen was going to say next was closely related to the rise and fall of the Huishang Group, so they also calmed down and listened carefully to Zhao Junchen's speech.
Zhao Junchen still looked indifferent and said slowly: "You all rushed to Taierzhuang and entertained me so warmly. You must have heard about the things in the capital... Yes, during His Majesty's southern tour, the prince was in the capital.
A resolution was passed to rectify commercial taxes and rectify smuggling! Moreover, unlike those small fights in previous years, the prince announced many figures, claiming that the court lost at least 20 million taels of silver every year due to commercial tax loopholes and rampant smuggling.
, this has aroused the attention of everyone in the government and the public, so this rectification must be drastic and drastic, and we will not give up until we achieve the goal."
As Zhao Junchen finished speaking, many Huizhou merchants looked panicked.
Zhao Junchen sighed, and then said: "Speaking of which, you are all wealthy people, but how you got your wealth is also known to everyone! Therefore, for hundreds of years, every time I come to court,
When the commercial tax and smuggling are rectified, many Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants will be affected. Not only will their wealth that they have accumulated through hard work be confiscated, but their lives will also be lost... But this time the rectification is worse than in previous years.
The intensity is greater, the scope is wider, and the determination is greater. It is no exaggeration to say that if no one comes to help, within the next year, at least half of you here will have their homes confiscated and executed, and the rest will even
If I can save my life, I’m afraid I’ll have to lose most of my family fortune!”
These words could be described as very cruel, but Zhao Junchen's expression remained calm, as if he was just saying something insignificant.
After hearing Zhao Junchen's description, the Huizhou merchants became even more panicked, and some even couldn't help but tremble.
However, the Huizhou merchants also knew that Zhao Junchen was not threatening them. According to the news from the capital, the current situation would be much more serious than what Zhao Junchen described!
However, Zhao Junchen's words also destroyed the last luck in their hearts.
For a time, the Huizhou merchants, led by Lin Yunpu, Dai Fengfu, and Bai Mingyu, begged Zhao Junchen one after another: "Master Zhao, you must find a way to do this!"
"Master Zhao, you are the only one who can save us now!"
"Master Zhao, as long as you can help us, we and the Hui-Zhejiang Merchant Gang will be richly rewarded in the future!"
"Master Zhao..."
When the Huizhou merchants were begging one after another, Zhao Junchen raised his hand for the third time to suppress the chaos on the field.
After the Huizhou merchants calmed down, Zhao Junchen sighed: "To tell you the truth, the imperial court is very determined this time. Therefore, in this commercial tax rectification, some smugglers will inevitably be severely punished. The imperial court's commercial tax situation
There must be improvements, otherwise the imperial court will never give up easily... If you want to resist and defend, even I can't save you. Now your only way to save yourself is to cooperate with the imperial court!"
After a pause, Zhao Junchen continued: "As for the method of cooperation, I have discussed it with President Lin and others before, and President Lin and others must have mentioned it to everyone, that is, the imperial court provides preferential policies, and
You provide ships, manpower and financial resources, and we join forces to monopolize the business of the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal and the Yangtze River Waterway. In this way, you become the collaborators of the imperial court. With the preferential policies of the imperial court, although your profits
It is slightly lower, but it also saves the expenditure and energy of managing relationships and buying off officials. The most important thing is that from now on, you no longer have to be frightened or frightened by the changes in the court's policies. For you,
But it is also a long-term way to gain a foothold...perhaps, in a few decades, your trading houses will become century-old shops like Shanxi merchants."
After hearing Zhao Junchen's description, although it was difficult for the Huizhou merchants to have any other choice, they still looked embarrassed.
After all, the risks of cooperating with the imperial court are too great, and they will be controlled by others.
In addition, after getting used to windfalls, it is difficult for Huizhou merchants to get used to this kind of steady business model.
After seeing the changes in the expressions of the Hui merchants, Zhao Junchen sneered at the corner of his mouth and said: "I also know that smuggling is difficult to eradicate. Even if a group of smuggling merchants are killed, there will soon be
Another group of smugglers appeared... But I have received the favor of the emperor, so I will naturally be loyal to the emperor. Now I have great ambitions, and I just want to complete my success in one battle and completely reverse the proliferation of smuggling in our country."
Then, Zhao Junchen continued with a non-startling attitude: "However, I also know the principle of 'blocking is worse than sparing', and the method I have conceived is somewhat different... That is, the imperial court and you smugglers... Cooperate! At this point, I might as well open the skylight and speak frankly. The essence of this cooperation is to legalize your smuggling activities! Then the money you spend to bribe officials and open up joints will become the imperial court's money. Commercial tax revenue... Of course, in this way, although the imperial court's commercial tax revenue will increase, it is still far from insufficient. Therefore, I will only cooperate with those businessmen who are strong and willing to cooperate. , as for those smugglers who lack strength, and those who are unwilling to cooperate... After annexing their smuggling shares, the commercial tax revenue will probably be enough to satisfy the court! In addition, these people's homes will be confiscated and interrogated. After the beheading, I can give the court a satisfactory explanation. After all, the court is so vigorously rectifying business taxes and suppressing smuggling. If there are not a few smuggling businessmen's property and heads as a foil, I am afraid it will not be enough to show the majesty of the court! Everyone Do you think this is true?"
After speaking, Zhao Junchen smiled again and concluded: "So, if everyone here is unwilling to cooperate with the court, I will never force you to do so! However, in the end, don't blame me for being ruthless."
…
ps: I have been busy with family affairs. I have been getting up early and going to bed late recently. I have not had enough rest, which makes Chongzi feel very tired. Yesterday, I reached the limit. My head kept throbbing and I couldn't concentrate. I fell asleep in the middle of typing.
It's stuck, I couldn't update, I'm really sorry.
So, today as compensation, I present two chapters in one!
In addition, as the entry point of this chapter, although the first thousand words of this chapter have been revised many times, I am still not satisfied with it and the writing is not good. Please forgive me!