In the third year of Zhengxing's reign, there was a grand banquet for all the ministers in the palace.
On the first day of the year, Lao Chang and Da Huang still did not come back.
Chu Qing, who returned to Beijing for the first time, did not attend the palace banquet, but instead hosted a banquet for relatives and friends at Hanmen Academy.
Chu Qing would never say that he has matured. After two and a half years of debut, he has experienced so many things. He has become tired and has more to think about, just like this palace banquet.
Logically speaking, he should participate, but just because he participates alone, countless people will be upset.
It's not necessary. The courtiers still have to work, so they can't be "punished" too harshly. Besides, during the Chinese New Year, pigs and sheep are slaughtered. The courtiers are not touched, only the merchants are touched.
Today's northern suburbs are a bit more lively than Beijing's Zhongbei City, with numerous shops and busy traffic.
In addition to the Hanmen Academy, the largest area is the Chamber of Commerce.
The three-story building is not big, but it is surrounded by warehouses. The merchants spent some money to build roads for transporting goods in all directions.
The splendid plaque only has two words: Chamber of Commerce. It can be said that merchants from the Dachang Dynasty were proud to walk under this plaque. If merchants from other places came to Beijing and entered this Chamber of Commerce, they would be like a carp jumping over the dragon gate, and their worth would double.
On the first day of the New Year, everything was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and so was the Chamber of Commerce, which was very festive.
The academy is not far from the Chamber of Commerce, and it is just in time for the Chinese New Year. How could Chu Qing not come over and be blocked by this group of arrogant and domineering merchants every day?
Chu Qing got off the sedan and smiled slightly: "It looks rich and noble. It's a three-story building. Look at the height... I'm afraid it will be against the rules if it goes up another inch."
Fu San took a closer look and said: "The red door, if you add an extra point to it, it will be illegal. If the window is a little further to the north and half a point, it will be illegal. If the stable in the backyard is larger by another three points, it will be illegal..."
Fu San couldn't help but frown: "Master, this chamber of commerce seems to have broken the rules everywhere, but it can't be said that the rules are broken everywhere."
"Merchant."
Chu Qing's face was full of teasing: "You are not the only one who must take advantage of the loopholes and study Chang Lv every day."
Jiang Yuesheng had a roster in his hand, which was much thicker than the "list" in Chu Qing's arms.
This is not some black material, but the "resume" of a few core merchants of the Chamber of Commerce. These resumes can be published in volumes as a piece of chicken soup for the history of the family.
"Outsiders say that this chamber of commerce was founded by me, Chu Qing, but I have never seen this place once." Chu Qing snapped his fingers: "Let's go in."
Jiang Yuesheng's face turned cold, he drew his sword, and then he was kicked in the butt by the third brother.
Chu Qing turned his head and looked at Jiang Yuesheng with a confused look on his face: "What are you doing?"
Jiang Yuesheng was also confused.
Snap your fingers, why don't you just rush in and do it? Why did you change it after just half a year?
"Psycho."
Rolling his eyes, Chu Qing didn't bother to ask Jiang Yuesheng what was going on. He just brought Fu San and Jiang Yuesheng into the Chamber of Commerce without bringing anyone else, not even Tan Ma.
Chu Qing was about to enter the Chamber of Commerce's compound with eight steps. Unexpectedly, without even passing the cards, a handsome young disciple came up to him. Although he was smiling, he happened to stand in the middle of the three of them.
"Student Chen Yu, I don't know why the three of you are here to visit us."
Chu Qing looked Chen Yu up and down and asked curiously: "Is this scholar a disciple of a group of businessmen?"
A trace of unhappiness flashed across Chen Yu's face, and his smile changed a bit: "It's a busy day today, and the three of you haven't explained your intention yet."
"I want to sell fabrics. The good fabrics from Weijiang are good. People in Beijing say that no matter what you sell, you have to inform the Chamber of Commerce."
"Weijiang Fabrics, just find the right place and transport them to the warehouse. After selling, the Chamber of Commerce will deduct 10% of the proceeds."
"Don't you ask how much it costs and the selling price?"
"First order someone to transport it. The Chamber of Commerce will order someone to count it, remove the losses and deduct the rent money stored. After all is sold, the Chamber of Commerce will get 10%."
Chu Qing asked: "What's the selling price?"
"The sales price will be determined by the Chamber of Commerce's accountant."
"Oh, it's true."
After Chu Qing got the accurate answer, he didn't want to continue inking and snapped his fingers.
The sound of snapping fingers was heard, and the third brother opened his mouth and fell to the ground directly in front of Chen Yu.
Jiang Yuesheng was dumbfounded.
What do you mean, if the commander snaps his fingers, I will draw my sword and get kicked, but if you snap your fingers, everything will be fine?
Needless to say how strong the third brother's hand was, Chen Yu lay in the snow and it took him a long time to realize what he was doing.
"How dare you..."
Just these three words "you fucking mother" were enough for this guy to kill the nine tribes. After all, the third brother was kind-hearted, so he added another kick, and Chen Yu fainted.
Chu Qing picked up a ball of snow, balled it up, and smashed it directly on the plaque.
"Everyone alive, number ten, get out!"
After yelling incoherently, a group of people walked out of the Chamber of Commerce. When they saw Chen Yu lying there, they were about to curse, but suddenly they saw Jiang Yuesheng, and their expressions changed drastically.
Jiang Yuesheng, they are not afraid, because Ergou doesn't know anything about merchants, let alone business laws. Now, if you want to ask which government office handles cases impartially, it must be Qianqiying.
What really made their expressions change drastically was that Jiang Yuesheng was not standing in the first place. There was a young man in front of them.
They have never seen the young man, but they know that the man next to the young man has a scar on his lower jaw.
The old ones, the young ones, the big ones, the small ones, ran towards each other and fell to their knees on the ground without even stopping. They slid directly in front of Chu Qing on their knees and crawled on their knees in the snow one by one, shivering.
The scar-faced man has already explained the identity of this young man.
Everyone knew last night that a young man had returned to Beijing.
Chen Yu lying in the snow also explained something.
In the cold wind, more and more people ran out, and more and more people knelt on the ground.
Chu Qing's face was full of disappointment.
"As for pretending to be a pig, eating a tiger and being slapped in the face, it has always been a long-cherished wish of mine, but this dream has never come true."
Chu Qing walked into the courtyard with his hands behind his back, and went straight to the main hall without even looking at the group of kowtow bugs on the ground.
The third brother's words and kicks were not meant to suppress others with power, even though Chu Qing could do such dishonorable things at any time.
He beats people just because he is overbearing, the Chamber of Commerce is overbearing.
After crossing the threshold and entering the main hall, sitting in the main seat, Chu Qing yawned.
"When you leave, remember to smash the plaque. Yes, smash it in front of the people. Since the plaque is supported by my name, it is up to me to smash the plaque. The prodigal will return home in exchange for gold."
Chu Qing's gentle words made everyone kneel down outside the main hall as if they had fallen into an ice cave.
The Chamber of Commerce is too overbearing. Chu Qing came here today just to see for himself whether the Chamber of Commerce is really so overbearing.
Facts have proved that the Chamber of Commerce is very domineering, even more domineering than Chu Qing imagined.
If you want to do business in Beijing, you must go through the Chamber of Commerce, and the Chamber of Commerce has the final say on the sales price.
That's all. No matter how much money is sold, the chamber of commerce will charge 10%. It's not just 10%, but 10% to start with.
In addition to this 10% "agency fee", the Chamber of Commerce also hired a large number of scholars, that is, people like Chen Yu with a eloquent tongue, and asked merchants from other places to transport goods. Once they entered the warehouse of the Chamber of Commerce, they wanted to bring
It's difficult to leave, there are all kinds of clever names, money, money, money, money.
Merchants are really the smartest people in the world.
Scholars like Chen Yu have become professional "intermediaries", and the Chamber of Commerce will also make "commissions" based on Chen Yu's "performance".
In a word, the Chamber of Commerce is not engaged in production, but is just a middleman. Any merchant who wants to do business in Beijing will have to be severely skinned by the middlemen of the Chamber of Commerce.
"When the country needs you, you are entrepreneurs; when the country does not need you, you are capitalists."
Chu Qing crossed his legs and said, "Why don't you know how to behave? You're naughty."