The sorrow of Chinese businessmen has been passed down for thousands of years. From ancient times to the present, the four divisions between scholars, farmers, industry and commerce have suppressed the status of businessmen. Although the wealthy businessmen in life seem to be very prosperous, the power of Chinese businessmen is different from that of the West. It's definitely not as good as that.
Even the social status of merchants in China has not been as good as that of neighboring Japan to the east since ancient times. The status of merchants in Japanese history has always been very detached. They even had their own independent armed cities. During the Warring States Period, even the daimyo could not control them.
However, Chinese merchants were devoured by the feudal unified dynasty. The merchant power was completely unable to grow. Their superficial beauty could not hide their pitiful situation as a power dependence. Almost all businessmen had to find power to depend on.
Even if you open a restaurant, as long as the business is booming, officials or nobles from the Eight Banners will come to you to "buy shares." In fact, the so-called buying shares means that you will be asked to buy shares without paying a penny. Dividends.
But if you don't give it, it won't work. If I don't give it to you, the business won't be able to continue, and your life may even be in danger. This is especially obvious in the Forty-Nine City. The major business houses in the capital have a very close relationship with the royal nobles. Two hundred years of entanglement have made them merge into a whole.
The situation in Jiangnan is actually similar. Two hundred years of management by the Manchu Qing Dynasty gave them very deep control over the economy of Jiangnan. Almost all industries have backers within the imperial court, otherwise they would not be able to survive.
The situation improved somewhat during the Taiping Rebellion. During the war, a large number of cities in the south of the Yangtze River were destroyed, many Eight Banners forces were killed, and the court's control over the south of the Yangtze River was relatively weakened. However, the subsequent Hunan Army forces filled in all those who had withdrawn. Come to a blank place.
The huge Hunan Army is a powerful force group. Even if Marshal Zeng is not greedy for money, it does not mean that his men are not greedy for money. During the war, the habit of killing, looting and looting was also carried over to peacetime, Jiangnan All walks of life have allowed these people to eat up a big chunk. Even if the big bosses in Suzhou say that there are no generals of the Hunan Army who want to take over the shares, they will not believe it.
Don't pay, eat dry stocks, and sit back and watch the excitement when there is a crisis. This is the face of those in power. In their eyes, businessmen are just a group of fat sheep that can be slaughtered at any time. Although they are stronger than the common people, sheep are still sheep. , I raise you just to eat meat.
When the crisis in Jiangnan arises, these businessmen hope that their backers can lend a helping hand to help them survive the crisis. But those greedy guys are good at drinking blood and eating meat. You let them go out. Pay for it? That's a fool's errand.
Originally, businessmen all recognized this cruel reality. It has been this way for thousands of years. China's business class has become completely insensitive to this status quo. Do you want to resist? Haha, all that's waiting for you is knives and confiscation of homes.
Countless bloody realities have proven to them that businessmen who want to fight against the powerful court and bureaucratic aristocratic groups are just dreaming.
But today, the already calloused businessmen had a bloody wound opened in their calloused hearts by Liu Henzhen’s words. The sufferings they had never dared to face or pretended not to see have once again happened. emerged from the bottom of my heart.
There was a sigh of relief in the hall. Many businessmen even choked up when they thought of their past hardships when they first started their business. They took out their handkerchiefs and wiped their eyes.
Boss Jia had already burst into tears. Mr. Sang, who was sitting next to him, sighed, "Mr. Hesitation! Everything is fate. What else can we say? This time Jiangnan's money shortage can be safely passed, and we can keep this money." Even if the old life is burnt, what can three points of profit do? Even if it is four points of profit, or five points of profit, do we still have a choice? "
"The only solution for now is to ask Lotte Bank to lend money quickly, so that money can flow in the Gangnam market quickly, so that all workshops can start working, and those industries that have stalled can seize the time to make up for their losses!"
"Especially in the sericulture industry, just like growing crops, it depends on the weather. Once the solar term is over, there will be no harvest for the whole year! By then, it will not be a question of whether to lose money or not, but the number of losses in the entire industry. Millions of people will starve to death and hang themselves!”
"Mr. Hesitation, please give me some advice. How much interest does the bank charge? It makes no sense for the bank to not make money for such a large amount of funds. We have accepted this money. At least Lotte Bank still cares about our life and death. At least it does not stand idly by. Watching the excitement”
Mr. Sang couldn't speak anymore, so he took out his handkerchief and wiped the corners of his eyes. As a businessman, he had said enough, and he almost said "Ming Dynasty".
Liu Yunzhen sighed, "Drink poison to quench thirst! I didn't understand this idiom well before, but today I finally realized it. Sometimes people have to hold their noses to drink even though they know it is a cup of poison wine."
The words made all the businessmen present feel sad. Boss Jia, who was not strict with his mouth, burst into tears, "No way? Lotte Bank really wants more than three cents of interest? Oh, Prime Minister, you pity Jiangnan." People, we really can’t afford it!”
"How much interest do you want, Prime Minister? Four cents? Five cents is not enough. Is it more than five cents? Woohoo." There were more people crying now. A group of old men in the hall cried more than Aqing's wife. It's miserable.
At this moment, there was only a loud bang, and Liu Yuzhen shouted, "What nonsense are you talking about! Is the Prime Minister someone taking advantage of the situation? To tell you the truth, I called you here today just to come up with a plan that doesn't want you." Sharing interest is also a good way to solve the money shortage! Do you really think that I, the special envoy, am just looking for you to chat with you when I am full?"
A roar shocked all the merchants present. They looked at Liu Heshen in disbelief, and all of them opened their mouths, "Huh? Doesn't it mean that the Prime Minister doesn't want even a penny of profit? Does the Prime Minister really want to be a living Bodhisattva?"
With a bang, a businessman immediately slipped under the chair and knocked over the coffee table. He lay on the ground and kowtowed, "Bodhisattva! The Prime Minister is a living Bodhisattva. If the Prime Minister is alive, all the people of Suzhou will be blessed by the Prime Minister." Tablet!"
With a bang, the entire merchants in the hall knelt down. They knew that this favor was really too great.
Liu Yunzhen accepted the obeisance on behalf of the Prime Minister, and then pulled everyone up one by one. "Do you want to know my plan? It's actually very simple, just exchange shares for lives!"
"Exchange shares for life?" Everyone looked confused.
"I wonder if you have heard of a market in the West called the stock market! This is actually a very good way to solve the current crisis, and it is also the only good way to solve the problem!"
"The problems you are facing right now can be summed up very simply. In a few words, the first is lack of money and a large amount of cash. The second is the fear of high interest rates because this year's business has already been delayed to the beginning. If the interest rates are too high, you will not be satisfied. Can not afford"
"Third, you are afraid. What you are most afraid of now is people taking advantage of the situation. When money is scarce, someone will take cash to eat your property. You are afraid that the business accumulated over generations will change hands!"
