On the first day of October in the seventeenth year of Chongzhen's reign in the Ming Dynasty, a large group of brightly dressed people gathered at Dongguan Wharf, the busiest port in Yangzhou. The leaders were Zhou Yanru, the outgoing governor of Huaidong, Chang Yanling, the commander-in-chief of Huaidong, Zhang Haogu, the prefect of Yangzhou and salt envoy to both Huaidus, and three other top bureaucrats in Yangzhou City. There was also a man who had just arrived from Suzhou. Zhou Guozhang arrived, and standing around the four of them with bowed arms were the eight richest salt merchants in Yangzhou City.
Speaking of the eight major salt merchants in Yangzhou, all of them are people with profound backgrounds, otherwise they would not be able to shoulder the responsibility of the salt merchants! It is no exaggeration to say that standing behind these eight people are most of the Ming Dynasty. Not only the nobles of the two capitals and the Southeast Scholars are related to them, but also the current ruler of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Chongzhen and the emperor's nephew Zhu Cixiang. In fact, he is also the figure standing behind the Eight Salt Generals... The salt tax that these Eight Salt Generals need to pay on the surface is only the 5 million stone rice delivered to the Governor's Northeast Military Affairs Yamen every year, but secretly they are behind their backs. The tribute paid by the big shots is probably more than 15 million!
Precisely because the benefits of the salt industry are too wide-ranging, Zhu Youjian's rectification of the salt affairs in his life was only limited to a few points, and he had no intention of conducting a thorough investigation.
But this time they learned that Zhu Cixiang, the nephew of the emperor, personally went south to Yangzhou and served as governor of Huaidong, magistrate of Yangzhou, and salt envoy for six cities at once. The eight salt generals were all worried. They could figure it out with their butts as to the purpose of the emperor's nephew coming south. He just wanted to get more money out of the pockets of these eight salt merchants!
Although the forces behind the eight major salt masters are intertwined, how can those who stand behind the eight major salt masters dare to come forward and confront them when faced with the great nephew of the Ming Emperor and the supreme imperial power of the Ming Dynasty?
If an official comes, the forces behind the Eight Salt Generals can mobilize the imperial censor to impeach... But impeaching the emperor's nephew would shake the country's foundation! Which censor has such courage? What's wrong with not wanting to live anymore?
If a father-in-law comes, the honorable scholars in the southeast can even mobilize the salt men to cause trouble, beat up the dead eunuch, and drive him out of Yangzhou. But who dares to hit the emperor's nephew? This is a rebellion, and they want to destroy the nine tribes! Moreover, the emperor's nephew did not take office empty-handed. Long Live Lord sent the loyal Marquis Li Zicheng to escort him, as well as a battalion of cavalry in front of the tent to protect him. Who dares to make a mistake?
If it was Zhu Youjian himself, the Eight Great Salt Bosses could still bow their heads and submit, and they could also try to delay... After all, Zhu Youjian is the emperor of the world, and it is impossible to really stay in Yangzhou permanently.
But now, it is Zhu Cixiang, the grand nephew of Emperor Ming Dynasty who is unable to participate or fight, and will not leave in a short time.
What other tricks do you have for Mr. Bada Yan?
And just before Zhu Youjian arrived, the Eighth Salt Chief had already known what His Highness Guoben meant through Bai Xiuniang, the woman assigned to Zhu Youjian... They had to be obedient!
Listen to His Highness Kunimoto!
This condition seems acceptable, but if you think about it more carefully, you will know that it is difficult to deal with the Eight Great Salts.
Because Zhu Cixiang's "obedience" had another unspoken meaning, which was to let the eight general managers get rid of the intricate forces behind them and just listen to Zhu Cixiang's words!
This is not easy to handle...because the people behind the Eighth Salt General Manager, although they cannot fight against the Emperor's nephew and dare not fight against the Emperor's nephew, they can ruin the Eighth Salt General Manager's affairs.
It is always easier to mess up something than to make it happen.
When the trap is revealed, the superiors will not be able to find those who caused the trouble, and His Highness Kunimoto will not be punished. Aren't they businessmen unlucky?
Just when the eight general managers were feeling uneasy, someone suddenly shouted: "Here it comes... His Highness the Great Nephew's ship is here!"
The eight salt managers hurriedly looked north along the canal. When their sight was almost gone, they saw a series of official ships with various flags approaching.
…
"I sincerely wish your great nephew a long blessing and a happy life..."
Amidst the sound of gongs and drums, the officials and the eight salt generals lined up on the Dongguan Pier in Yangzhou, as well as some local Shilin leaders in Yangzhou Prefecture, all bowed to Zhu Cixang, the great nephew of the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Cixiang, wearing a python robe and a black veil on his head, strode across the gangplank and stepped onto the Dongguan Pier, escorted by Li Zicheng, Zheng Sen, Wu Guogui, Wang Qi and others.
The cavalry in front of the camp he brought had already disembarked from the official ship, either riding big horses or on foot carrying flintlock rifles. They were on guard inside and outside the dock, creating a somewhat chilling atmosphere.
The eight salt merchants who bowed their heads to welcome him felt even more uneasy!
"Ping Sheng!" Zhu Cixiang stood on the dock with his hand on the hilt of his sword, looking at the officials and salt merchants saluting him, with a smile on his face and a gentle tone, but the words he said made the eight salt managers break out in cold sweat.
Zhu Cixiang smiled and said: "I came to Yangzhou on the emperor's order to clean up the salt tax... Where is the Eighth Salt General?"
"I'm waiting here."
The eight general salt merchants knew that something bad was going to happen, so they had no choice but to stand up and salute Zhu Cihong again.
Zhu Cixi smiled and said: "You are the Eighth Salt General Manager... Please sign up."
"Caomin Bai Siwen, I would like to pay your respects to His Highness."
The first person to stand up was Bai Xiu Niang's father, Bai Siwen. He was a man in his forties, and as his name suggests, he was a gentle and white-faced profiteer. But for him to be the chief of the Eight Salt General Managers, he is definitely not an ordinary person.
"Jia Ruhai, a common man, also pays his respects to my nephew."
Jia Ruhai is also an "old Westerner". He is older, in his fifties, fair and fat, and has a amiable and wealthy appearance.
"Cao Min Qiao Youcai, I would like to pay my respects to His Highness."
Qiao Youcai is older, already in his sixties or seventies, but he is well maintained and has a childlike appearance. He is also an "old Westerner".
"Cao Baichuan, a common man, would like to pay your respects to His Highness."
Cao Baichuan is an old man from Shaanxi, in his sixties, with a red face and a shiny face. He can tell at a glance that he has high blood pressure.
The above four are all salt merchants from Shanxi and Shaanxi.
The salt merchants of the Ming Dynasty were divided into merchant gangs according to their place of origin, the Shanshan Group and the Huizhou Group... Among the eight major merchants in Yangzhou, the Shanshan Group accounted for four, and the Huizhou Group also had four salt merchants. . After meeting Zhu Cihong at the Shanshan-Shaanxi salt merchants, it was the turn of the Huibang salt merchants.
"Wang Chun, King of the Cao Min, respectfully invites His Royal Highness, Jin An."
"Caomin Shen Hanshuang, respectfully invites His Highness Jin An."
"Caomin Wang Baichuan, I sincerely wish your highness a happy and prosperous life."
"Grassman Li Sanbao..."
Zhu Cixiang's eyes swept over them one by one, and his face gradually became gloomy. At this time, the sound of gongs and drums on the pier also stopped, and everyone looked at the 17-year-old His Highness the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Cixi said coldly: "Flowing water does not rot, door hinges do not become beetroots, the Ming Dynasty's salt administration is related to the national economy and people's livelihood, how can it be entrusted to eight of you for a long time? How did you become the general merchant in the past? I don't know... .But from today on, you are no longer the General Merchant of the Salt Industry. We will recruit eight new General Merchants! If you still want to be the General Merchant, you can come and apply!"
What?
Are all the eight major salt managers fired now?
The bureaucrats and profiteers at the next dock were dumbfounded. No one expected that Zhu Cixi would make such a move... As soon as he arrived in Yangzhou, he cut the knot with a sharp knife and fired all eight general merchants! At the same time, it was also announced that eight general merchants would be recruited!
General merchant of salt industry!
It’s true that it’s not easy to do, but there are many people who are eager to do it. Because to put it bluntly, this deal is to help the imperial court collect the poll tax, and you will definitely make money without losing money! Although the money earned has to be divided among various parties, not too much ends up in the hands. But the salt industry is a sure-profit business, with almost no risk, and the business is huge... There are 200 million people in the Ming Dynasty who need to eat salt!
Therefore, the eight major salt managers in Huaiyang are all extremely wealthy owners. Each of them has millions or tens of millions of property in their books... This is a coveted huge amount of money! If these eight people lost their identity as Mr. Yan, they would be eight fat and tender pieces of meat!
Therefore, the faces of the eight general merchants suddenly showed great fear!
