Finally, with Zhao Junchen's hard and soft tactics, most of the Huizhou merchants were persuaded by Zhao Junchen, and they expressed their willingness to cooperate with the court and join the United Shipping Company!
At this point, Zhao Junchen's plan to rectify commercial taxes and smuggling is already half successful.￥f
However, Zhao Junchen did not take any immediate action. He just ordered the Hui merchants to go back and make preparations, and asked them to go to the capital to discuss the specific details with Zhao Junchen in a few days.
After all, Zhao Junchen has not officially taken over the business and tax rectification. Regarding the establishment of a joint shipping company, Zhao Junchen also needs to convince Emperor Deqing and the court officials before it can be officially launched. Only in this way can this plan be considered a success.
Initially successful.
However, according to Zhao Junchen, it was actually easier to convince Emperor Deqing than to convince Hui merchants. After all, in Zhao Junchen's plan, compared with the money, effort and manpower provided by Hui merchants, Emperor Deqing did not
You don’t need to pay too much, you just need to provide some policy concessions, and then Zhao Junchen only needs to explain to Emperor Deqing how much money this plan can bring, then Emperor Deqing will not have too much
Hesitated!
One of the biggest shortcomings of Emperor Deqing was that he was "fearful of poverty", so with targeted persuasion, Emperor Deqing could become an emperor who accepted advice and had an easy-going personality.
When Zhao Junchen left "Fuhui Pavilion", the moon was hanging on the branches and the sky was getting late.
After saying goodbye to the Huizhou merchants, Zhao Junchen did not go back immediately. Instead, he led Xu Qingyan to walk in the night market of Taierzhuang and observed the current situation of Taierzhuang in detail.
In Zhao Junchen's plan, Taierzhuang's status is crucial. Although it is rumored that Taierzhuang is now extremely prosperous, catching up with places such as Suzhou and Hangzhou. Zhao Junchen still needs to conduct an on-site inspection before he can feel at ease.
Facts have proved that the rumors are not wrong. Since the opening of the Jia Canal, Taierzhuang has become a hub connecting the north and the south, an important dock of the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal, and a commercial town. Although it is getting darker now, Taierzhuang is still a city.
It resembles the scene of "a river full of fishing fires, singing for ten miles, merchants meandering, and the market does not close at night".
While observing secretly, Zhao Junchen pondered in his heart: "Since the opening of the Jian Canal, Taierzhuang's commercial prosperity has indeed become more and more prosperous day by day! Every year, more than 12,000 canal ships pass through here to the capital.
The amount of food reached more than 4 million shi! In addition, silk, bamboo, tea, rice, cotton and other materials from Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Huguang also passed through this, and were continuously transported to the north. As for the northern mountain fruits, ginger and medicinal materials
, miscellaneous grains, skins, tobacco leather, etc. also transited southward through Taierzhuang! Relying on the south-to-north grain transportation of the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal, material exchanges, currency customs taxation, Taierzhuang’s economic vitality is now so amazing that even the buds of capitalism have
It’s very obvious.”
While thinking, Zhao Junchen's expression was very serious, and he thought: "Since ancient times, many policies have good intentions, but they often backfire. After the policies are implemented, they not only bring no benefits, but also produce many disadvantages, which often
It's because the people working below don't follow the rules and are doing things secretly. That's what the saying "there are policies above and countermeasures below" means!
After the United Shipping Company was officially established, Huizhou merchants may not be able to do anything secretly and treacherously in order to seek greater profits. However, they will need to set up checkpoints at several transportation hubs to further suppress smuggling activities and closely monitor the United Shipping Company.
The shipping company’s goods accounts...among them, the existence of Taierzhuang is the top priority. As long as Taierzhuang’s investigation is rigorous enough, even if the Huizhou merchants want to do something secretly, they won’t be able to cause any trouble!"
Thinking of this, Zhao Junchen frowned slightly.
The existence of Taierzhuang is so important. In order to effectively control the actions of United Shipping Company, Zhao Junchen needs to send a trusted official to station here, closely monitor the goods accounts of United Shipping Company, lock the neck of United Shipping Company, and prevent the company that he personally established.
The behemoth became a wild horse and escaped control.
Therefore, the official stationed in Taierzhuang not only needs to be a close confidant of Zhao Junchen, but also must be strong enough and flexible enough in his methods. The most important thing is that this official must have certain principles and cannot guard and steal.
Easy to buy!
However, most of the officials under Zhao Junchen are corrupt officials, ghosts and monsters. Although there are many loyal ones, outstanding abilities, and flexible methods, there are very few honest and self-sufficient ones, and those who have all four are rare.
There are even fewer people!
This situation made Zhao Junchen scratch his head.
Then, Zhao Junchen suddenly thought of Zhang Jizhi, the prefect of Linqing who had taken refuge with him a few months ago! (See Chapter 308 for details)
Regarding Zhang Jizhi, the prefect of Linqing, Zhao Junchen only met him three times, but he was deeply impressed by him and had a good impression of him!
At the beginning, when Emperor Deqing was on tour to the south, in order to protect the people, Zhang Jizhi was the only local official who did not waste people and money to build a palace for Emperor Deqing!
Because of this, the officials in Shandong were worried about Emperor Deqing's blame, so they all alienated and excluded Zhang Jizhi, which also allowed Zhao Junchen to take the opportunity to take Zhang Jizhi under his sect!
Although this person has a somewhat cowardly personality, he is able to stick to his principles and bottom line, has outstanding vision and talents, is flexible in his skills, and has a good economic mind. He has many advantages, so Zhao Junchen also values him very much!
Originally, Zhao Junchen planned to transfer Zhang Jizhi to the Ministry of Household Affairs in the capital after returning to Beijing to help Zhao Junchen further control the financial power of the imperial court.
However, thinking about it again at this time, it may also be a good choice to transfer Zhang Jizhi here to serve as the prefect of Yanzhou (Taierzhuang was under the jurisdiction of Yanzhou in the Ming Dynasty).
Although Zhang Jizhi is disliked and ostracized in Shandong officialdom, it is precisely because of this that if Zhang Jizhi wants to make a difference in the future, he can only hug Zhao Junchen's thigh tightly! In addition, Zhao Junchen's close confidant Li Lide
Now that he is serving as the chief envoy of Shandong, he can look after him secretly.
"It seems that Zhang Jizhi is indeed a good candidate..."
After his mind gradually settled down, Zhao Junchen planned to go back.
Then, Zhao Junchen suddenly realized that something was wrong - Xu Qingyan's performance today was a little too quiet, and he didn't say anything.
So, Zhao Junchen turned around and took a look. He found that Xu Qingyan was quietly following him, smiling stupidly, and he didn't know what he was thinking.
Zhao Junchen shook his head slightly and asked: "Qingyan, what are you thinking about? Are you smiling like this?"
After hearing Zhao Junchen's question, Xu Qingyan came back to his senses and replied: "Master, you don't know, when we left Fuhui Pavilion just now, a Huizhou merchant secretly told me that they had prepared something for you, Master.
Some gifts have now been delivered to our temporary residence! Hey, young master, think about it, these Huizhou merchants are all rich and powerful. How can they be stingy with the gifts they prepared? Now they are asking for more.
Master, these gifts are probably worth a lot of money, maybe hundreds of thousands of taels of silver!"
After saying that, Xu Qingyan continued to giggle, looking extremely happy.
Seeing Xu Qingyan's behavior, Zhao Junchen couldn't help but smile bitterly and shake his head, knowing that Xu Qingyan's miserly nature was showing off.
Speaking of which, Zhao Junchen has not engaged in any corruption or misappropriation during this period of time. Even if he occasionally accepts bribes, it is mostly out of human considerations and not on his own initiative.
On the contrary, in order to win people's hearts, Zhao Junchen had given a lot of benefits to his officials in the past year. In addition, the establishment of an intelligence network, the plan to infiltrate the army and the inner court, and the daily expenses to please Emperor Deqing were all necessary.
A large amount of money, and all these things combined, have caused the Zhao family's money to be unable to cover its expenses. The silver deposits are decreasing every day. Even with the gold mine of "Yue Rongfang", the situation has not improved much.
.
As a miser, Xu Qingyan was naturally very sad about this situation.
Because of this, for Xu Qingyan, the gifts from the Huizhou merchants were like rain after a long drought, which reversed the Zhao family's bankruptcies. Xu Qingyan was naturally very happy.
Just as Zhao Junchen smiled bitterly and shook his head, Xu Qingyan said again: "Master, when we were still studying in Yangzhou, we were used to the majesty of Huizhou merchants. Even the prefects and magistrates nodded and bowed to them and couldn't stop currying favor with them. But
Now when they see the young master, they try every means to please the young master and are extremely careful, and they almost grab the ground with their heads... Speaking of which, these Huizhou merchants have a lot of influence. After they join the young master, the young master's power in the court will be reduced.
I’m afraid the impact can also increase a lot!”
After saying that, Xu Qingyan looked proud and happy, but this look always made people involuntarily think of the term "a villain succeeds".
Zhao Junchen laughed again and shook his head, saying: "The Huizhou merchants are respectful to me only because they have no choice but to ask for help from me. Even if they are willing to cooperate with me, they may not be willing to surrender. Lin Yunpu has always been secretive, Bai Ming
Yu is also a person unwilling to lie dormant. Even if they surrender to me for a moment, they will not be controlled by me forever. As long as the time is right, they may find a way to get rid of my control, but you cannot be fooled by their disguise.
Cheated."
After saying that, Zhao Junchen asked again: "By the way, when I was in Xuzhou, I asked you to send someone to pay attention to the 'Rongfa Shipping Company' of the Wu family in Xuzhou. Is there any news now?"
Xu Qingyan was slightly stunned and asked: "Rongfa Boat Shop? Oh, I remembered that the young owner of that boat shop once overestimated his capabilities and wanted to compete with the young master, but he was humiliated by Miss Chen Zhirong and Chen. In the end,
They invited Cao Wenbin, the Minister of Household Affairs in Southern Zhili, to apologize to us, and also gave us a precious diamond as an apology..."
Speaking of this, Xu Qingyan shook his head and said: "I sent people to keep an eye on them, but I never received any useful news. I only heard that they followed the young master's advice and planned to leave Xuzhou, which was declining day by day.
To develop elsewhere... However, there is currently no certainty as to whether they are willing to join the young master."
Zhao Junchen nodded and ordered: "Send someone to keep an eye on them. This boat shop will be of great use to me!"
As Zhao Junchen said before, he does not fully trust Huishang Group.
Most of the Huizhou merchant groups are pure businessmen, but most of the businessmen are greedy for profit.
Once the United Shipping Company is established, it will definitely become a behemoth, and the strength of the Hui Merchant Group will also be greatly enhanced.
Therefore, in order to prevent the Huizhou Merchants Group from escaping from his control, while wooing the Hui Merchants Group, Zhao Junchen also prepared many back-ups to prevent problems before they occur.
Among them, setting up checkpoints in Taierzhuang is just one of Zhao Junchen's backup plans!
Planting a nail in the United Shipping Company is another back-up plan for Zhao Junchen!
Regarding the choice of this nail, Zhao Junchen prefers Rongfa Shipyard in Xuzhou! This shipyard has gradually declined due to the decline of Xuzhou. It is easy to control, but it still has its vitality and needs someone to help it.
…
ps: Thanks again for everyone’s encouragement, no more nonsense, here’s an update!