"Incredible, shocking news. This morning, His Highness the Fourth Highness proposed to exclude businessmen from the untouchables and allow businessmen to participate in the imperial examination."
"What? Real or fake?"
"It's more real than real gold. All the court officials objected, and His Royal Highnesses argued with each other. In the end, His Majesty agreed to remove the merchants from the untouchables. As for participating in the imperial examination, it has not been decided yet."
"..."
As soon as the news came out, the entire Kyoto business community was shocked.
Merchants are the last of the four peoples and have always been regarded as untouchables. Although they have money, they cannot enjoy many things, one of which is the imperial examination.
This is still happening today. Earlier, no matter how rich a businessman was, he could not ride a horse or a carriage. He could not even wear silk and could only wear burlap.
Although things have improved, there are still great restrictions in all aspects.
The scale of building a mansion, the scale of travel, etc.
Moreover, if the government wants to punish you, it will do it directly without any excuse.
This is why, after the Southwest Business Act came out, businessmen poured into the Southwest like crucian carp crossing the river.
Because only in the southwest can the interests of businessmen be protected.
In other places, they have to be on tenterhooks at all times. If they do anything wrong, they will be cut off.
One of the most important reasons for the failure of Ezhou New City was that they despised businessmen. Although Zhu Kun and Zhu Tai had shown enough importance to businessmen on the surface, their contempt in their hearts made them do some things that were unthinkable to Lin Bai, but In their opinion, it is natural.
Even Fan Renli and Qin Zhengqing didn't think it was inappropriate.
If this were the past, it might not have much impact.
However, with the treasure of Southwest in front of him, how could the businessman be willing to take risks with these two prodigal sons, so...
Nowadays, it is conceivable that great talents want to fight for social status for businessmen, remove them from the untouchables, and allow businessmen to participate in the imperial examination.
"His Highness has said before that he will improve the status of businessmen, and he has really taken action. He has made businessmen no longer untouchables, and is still trying to allow businessmen to participate in the imperial examination."
"That's right! As early as in Jiangnan, when His Highness was still a scholar, he spoke out for businessmen, and today he is even more..."
"But after all, His Highness is alone and weak, and the civil and military officials in the court will not agree."
"..."
At this moment, countless businessmen have gathered together in the huge Kyoto.
Because of the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty, except for His Royal Highnesses and a very small number of people who supported him, the other ministers were strongly opposed.
"The Fourth Highness is helping us and helping businessmen all over the world. We can't just sit back and let the Fourth Highness fight alone."
"That's right! We should also do something to support His Highness the Fourth."
"But we are just businessmen. We can't go to court and can't do anything."
"No! We can, at least we can make the Fourth Highness more confident. The imperial court left the mess in Ezhou to His Highness. As long as we help His Highness clean up this mess, the Fourth Highness will be more confident. Those officials in the court You don’t dare to look down on us businessmen.”
"Well said! We can't let them underestimate us merchants. Even if there is a huge hole in Ezhou, we can plug it up."
"Yes! Even if we are not enough, there are still businessmen all over the world."
"Everyone took action immediately and spread the news as quickly as possible, letting all businessmen in the world know. Tell them that it is up to them whether their children can participate in the imperial examination."
"..."
The news spread like the wind, spreading throughout Kyoto, to the surrounding provinces, and to further places.
The entire business world was shocked.
For businessmen, there may be no day more important than today, because it is likely to change their destiny, and of course, more because it is Lin Bai who leads all this.
If it were other people, they might not have hope, but Lin Bai was the same.
They saw hope in Lindbergh.
Because Lin Bai once gave them hope.
To put it bluntly, even if there is no hope now, what about the future?
Lin Bai is the most popular prince in Li Dynasty, and he must ascend to the existence of Dabao, so they must take action, even if it is not for now, for the future, they must take some actions to prove to Lin Bai, prove it to Lin Bai. It was shown to the civil and military officials of the entire court that all businessmen in the world were supporting His Highness the Fourth Prince.
As the news spread, countless businessmen began to pour into Kyoto.
"What a good idea!"
Qin Zhengqing stood at the attic, looking at the bustling pedestrians below, including many businessmen on the run.
Fan Renli also nodded sincerely, "One Ministry of Commerce, one memorial, and the situation has been reversed before everything has started. Businessmen from all over the world have returned. It's really incredible. We didn't lose unjustly."
I thought about many possibilities.
But I never expected that the other party just proposed to establish a commercial department and submitted a memorial.
Businessmen all over the world rushed for it.
The key point is that the Ministry of Commerce has not yet appeared, and the personnel have not yet arrived, but the scene presented is already earth-shaking, and it is simply unbelievable.
"The world's businessmen have returned home?"
Qin Zhengqing frowned and said, "Master Fan, are you exaggerating? Your Majesty has not yet agreed to merchants participating in the imperial examination. Moreover, excluding merchants from the untouchables is just a formality and has no practical significance. The status of merchants has been improved in recent years. They are not untouchables." Untouchables have long been no longer mentioned.”
Fan Renli said: "The form is enough. This is what businessmen want. They have money and there is no need for any practical significance at all."
"As for His Majesty's refusal to allow businessmen to participate in the imperial examination..."
He paused and continued: "Don't Master Qin think that this is intentional?"
"deliberately?"
Qin Zhengqing was stunned.
Fan Renli said: "If this were not the case, how could those businessmen be so active as now? Are they all used by His Highness the Fourth?"
this!
Qin Zhengqing's face was full of astonishment, and he finally calmed down after a long while, "You are right! We did not lose unjustly. One Ministry of Commerce, one memorial, and the court paid nothing, but the situation turned upside down."
"It's ridiculous that we still want to bring him down."
Fan Renli smiled bitterly, "There is no chance for a long time, but you and I don't have a choice."
Qin Zhengqing gritted his teeth and said: "It's Dali and Wanxiang Kingdom. If they hadn't said they would help..."
Fan Renli said: "They are afraid that he will rise to power. While dealing with Duan Zhenglong in Dali, they hope that we can create some trouble for him and prevent him from rising to power."
"Fan is actually looking forward to it now. He is looking forward to him taking over. What will happen to Li Chao at that time?"
There was a glimmer in his eyes, with a look of longing.
Qin Zhengqing looked at him in surprise, opened his lips, and finally said nothing.
On the streets below, there seemed to be more and more businessmen pouring into Kyoto in an endless stream.
…
