Four hundred and eighth chapter Lianghuai Salt Industry Association
Chapter 408 Lianghuai Salt Industry Association
March is approaching, spring is warm and flowers are blooming, and Yangzhou City is about to enter the busiest two months of the year. It seems that countless people have increased overnight in and outside the city. The suburbs will once again be a world of colorful clothes, fragrant cars, painted boats and music.
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It is said that it is the season when wealthy businessmen compete for wealth, go on spring outings to chase prostitutes, and show off their luxurious clothes and food. However, today, the Xin'an Guild Hall, which should not be lively, suddenly became lively. All the big salt merchants came to the guild hall to enjoy tea.
Just talking, as all regular customers know, something big must have happened again.
However, in the Shenxing Hall of the guild hall, the salt industry giants who were already seated were just chatting calmly and calmly, without being impatient or impatient. If it weren't for the luxurious furnishings around them, and everyone here was decorated with gold and jade, I would probably think that they were just a bunch of people doing nothing.
People gathered around the tea shop and chatted.
I don't know how long it took, but a short but sturdy figure flashed in from outside, and he bowed his hands cheerfully to the hall, "Dear brothers and sisters, my happy event is approaching, and I am making preparations at home. I heard the call suddenly, and I don't know.
What advice do you have from colleagues in the industry?”
Earlier, someone among the salt merchants present shouted: "Jin Wanwan! It's no longer rare for you to marry a younger one every year. It's such a great event. If you know anything about this rectification of the salt law, you should take advantage of it today."
Let us explain it together. Don't do it again like last time, knowing clearly about the emperor's southern tour, but still hiding it and not respecting fellow countrymen! We are not like you, who got a good son-in-law for nothing."
It turns out that these salt merchants all heard the news yesterday that the imperial court wanted to "rectify the salt law". It was nothing at first, but when they learned that Li You, that black man, was actually appointed to rectify the salt law, everyone suddenly felt a sense of crisis.
When Mr. Li was not in control of the salt affairs, he would always make trouble. Although he could not break his muscles, it was probably just because his power was restricted. But things are different now. Now that he has the power, he has the ability to "rectify the salt law"
Righteousness is like a tiger emerging from the cage, with disastrous consequences.
It would be okay if it were someone else, but the key point is that Li You is really intimidating. If Mr. Li launches the white terror for the third time, it is probably their salt merchant who will be the unlucky one, and Mr. Li will most likely have to step on the face and tears of the salt merchant.
The blue sky has been upgraded from a blue sky that only happens once in fifty years to a blue sky that only happens once in a hundred years.
The big salt merchants who couldn't remain calm gathered in the guild hall today to discuss, but everyone found that Jin Wanwan didn't come, so they couldn't calm down anymore.
Although since the end of last year, Jin Wanwan has gradually been helping his relatives rather than taking care of his relatives, and he has been fighting fiercely with his son-in-law Mr. Li, who is almost the public enemy of the salt merchants, so his colleagues have become slightly alienated from him.
But this time when this happened, Mr. Li was appointed by the court to rectify the salt law. Everyone felt that Jin Wanwan should be invited. It seemed that only by being tied to Jin Wanwan would they feel safe. What others said was unreliable.
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The human heart is so delicate... Jin Wanwan sat down in the middle, looked around and said: "There is nothing to say. Rectifying the Salt Law does not mean reforming the Salt Law. Headaches should be dealt with by Yun Si first. If the sky falls, there will be Yun Si.
The yamen are holding up. What's more, no matter what happens with the salt coup and whoever is in charge, we still have to rely on our generation to transport the salt and collect the taxes. We can't do without us. What's the need to panic? The gangs are made of iron and the yamen are running smoothly.
"
The salt merchants all whispered to each other, and this was a good thing. But Jin Wanwan was so powerful now that he dared to openly tease Yun Si Yamen here. Didn't he want to do it anymore?
"But there is one thing we must remember! We have agreed to work together and help each other, and we must not be separated. Only in this way can we protect our family and enjoy wealth!" Jin Wanwan raised his arms and shouted.
Xu Ruichang, another salt merchant, echoed: "Jin Yuan's words are reasonable. I often hear that literati nowadays like to form societies. There are leaders and branches in the society, just like opening a joint store. When something happens, they respond to one call and the branches are like arms.
Even if the government asks him to do something, why don’t we follow his example?"
"Xu Yuanwai is a good idea." Jin Wanwan praised.
When there is a sense of crisis, everyone will think that forming a group to protect themselves is a good idea, but when everyone heard Jin Wanwan come forward to praise,
Then he looked at Jin Wanwan with suspicious eyes, and couldn't help but guess what Jin Wanwan's purpose was?
Jin Wanwan felt uncomfortable being looked at by everyone. He smiled wryly and waved his hands and said, "Don't doubt that I have any intention of living in seclusion. If I form a group, I will nominate Brother He as the leader."
He Yunzi, who is one of the seven giant businessmen with Jin Wanwan, was enlightened. The name of the leader of the salt industry is very attractive. With so much money, they are pursuing various "names". Otherwise, for the seven giants
Everyone is happy to accept the unofficial recognition of being a giant businessman.
Jin Wanwan's humility dispelled everyone's doubts, and the discussion started again. Ma Xuan, a member of the seven giant merchants, said outside: "I have guests from the north at home. I heard that the Jingshi Salt Industry was built in the capital last year.
Since then, the guild has often fought against the powerful, and the abuse of power by the powerful has been greatly alleviated. Perhaps we can imitate it, and as long as we unite with each other, who can easily harm us?"
Another big tycoon, Zheng Wenfu, also said: "Brother Ma is right. We are wandering in a foreign land. Although we are of different races, we are of the same race, so we should be like the same race and help each other, so it is appropriate to establish a guild."
He Yunzi slapped the table with excitement and said: "We can also build the Lianghuai Salt Industry Association. It's better to build it today than to build it today."
"That's a very good statement!" All the salt merchants applauded, and there were several leading merchants, so naturally they all agreed.
Immediately, a statue of the Xiangtang God was put up, and He Yunzi was announced as the general manager of the guild. It was recognized that Jin Wanwan, Zheng Wenfu, An Zhuo, Huang Yingkui, Ma Xuan and Lu Zizhen among the seven giant businessmen were the six major stewards. In addition, more than 30 families in the hall all joined the association.
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This is basically the largest group of salt merchants in the Lianghuai Salt Industry. This is how a far-reaching guild was established under the shadow and sneer of the Great Demon King Li You.
After deciding on the names and seats, the general manager He Yunzi said solemnly: "Listen to me if you are a fellow practitioner. Although the rules of the association are still to be finalized, I have something to say first. There are hundreds of fellow practitioners in Lianghuai and Huaihe River. Anyone who wants to join our association
We will not refuse anyone who comes. However, each family of those who join, including us, must pay one thousand taels of silver. This is combined into membership fees to meet expenses and provide relief to fellow members."
"Of course!" everyone agreed. One thousand taels is really the most expensive guild threshold in the world. Otherwise, it would not be able to reflect the salt merchant's luxurious status and pride in money.
Just as the salt merchants gathered at the Xin'an Guild Hall to establish the Salt Industry Association, hundreds of officials from the Salt Transportation Department were surrounding the main entrance of the Yunshi Hall.
This courtyard gate has been sealed for three months. Mr. Ding, the salt transport envoy who was punished to shut up for self-examination, lived in it and did not come out. No one could enter or exit except the messengers and the scribes who delivered official documents.
But today the deadline has come, and all the officials of the Transportation Department are here waiting for the Transportation Envoy to show up.