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As reported by the officials of the Ministry of Rites, people from all walks of life in Yangzhou gathered at the Yangzhou Pier, waiting for the arrival of Emperor Deqing. [s: This site has a new URL, shorthand method:, xsw]
The emperor's visit to Yangzhou is not only a major event, but also contains countless opportunities. Whether it is officials, common people, merchants, or scholars, if they can seize the opportunity and gain the favor of the emperor, they may be able to leap over the dragon gate. The benefits are worth decades of hard work.
Of course, Emperor Deqing's status was too noble for ordinary people to get close to him. However, in addition to Emperor Deqing, there were many important figures accompanying him on this southern tour, such as Chief Assistant Zhou Shangjing, Ge Lao Shen Changmao, Hu Bu Shangshu Zhao Junchen, etc., in the eyes of many speculators, these people are also good choices.
Therefore, all walks of life in Yangzhou were a little excited about the arrival of Emperor Deqing. While waiting, they were all talking about it, trying to find out the thoughts and plans of the people around them.
However, when everyone was discussing, the person who was mentioned the most, besides Emperor Deqing, was not the chief minister Zhou Shangjing, nor the elder Shen Changmao, but the Minister of Household Affairs Zhao Junchen!
This is not only because Zhao Junchen himself is from Yangzhou, but also because Zhao Junchen presided over the "Sichuan Salt Reform" some time ago and introduced Shanxi merchants to Sichuan to develop Sichuan salt. Although this matter is still in its infancy so far, However, its far-reaching impact on salt merchants in Hui and Zhejiang cannot be ignored at all.
In places such as Huizhe and Zhili in southern Zhili, most of the wealthy merchants used trafficking in private salt as their main means of profit. Because the price of private salt was only half that of official salt, most people in the Ming Dynasty also bought private salt. Mainly, the Huizhou and Zhejiang salt merchants also made a lot of money.
However, once Sichuan salt is developed, the output of official salt will inevitably increase significantly, and the price is likely to drop a lot. By that time, apart from other things, Hui and Zhejiang salt merchants will at least lose Yunnan, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Gansu, and Shanxi. Markets in other places. Even sales in Huguang, Guangdong and Guangxi will be greatly affected, and profits are expected to drop by about one-third.
Cutting off someone's financial path is like killing one's parents, in this respect. The Huizhou and Zhejiang salt merchants were very resentful of Zhao Junchen. However, Zhao Junchen's status had always been as stable as Mount Tai, and he received strong support from Shanxi merchants. As a result, the Huizhou and Zhejiang salt merchants had no way to influence Zhao Junchen. And Zhao Junchen did not have to worry about the resentment and revenge of the Huizhou and Zhejiang salt merchants.
Businessmen are all real creatures. Since they cannot influence Zhao Junchen, then cooperate with Zhao Junchen. Since the "Sichuan Salt Reform" is irreversible, then get involved and maybe you can recover some losses - this is The final decision of Huizhou and Zhejiang salt merchants.
Of course, in addition to Zhao Junchen, Hui and Zhejiang salt merchants will also try their best to win the support of Emperor Deqing, Chief Minister Zhou Shangjing, Ge Lao Shen Changmao and others. However, Zhao Junchen is the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and the "Sichuan Salt Reform" matter Zhao Junchen has always been in charge. Therefore, for Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants, Zhao Junchen's existence cannot be avoided no matter what.
Therefore, during this period of time, Huizhou and Zhejiang salt merchants have been discussing this matter, considering how to please and bribe Zhao Junchen, and obtain Zhao Junchen's support, so that Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants can also participate in the "Sichuan Salt Reform" "Among the affairs, we finally got a share of Sichuan Salt and recovered some losses.
This is probably what businessmen in Huizhou and Zhejiang are most concerned about right now.
In Yangzhou, people from all walks of life were more or less related to Huizhou and Zhejiang salt merchants, and they saw that the salt merchants were discussing Zhao Junchen's affairs. So they all followed suit and talked about various rumors about Zhao Junchen. As a result, Zhao Junchen had not yet appeared. But the limelight has already overwhelmed the chief assistant Zhou Shangjing and the elder Shen Changmao.
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As the representative of the squire in Yangzhou, Zhao Deqing, the head of the Zhao family in Yangzhou, was also standing in the welcoming team, quietly waiting for the arrival of Emperor Deqing.
Because of the relationship between Zhao Junchen and Zhao Deqing, the Yangzhou government paid special attention to Zhao Deqing when arranging the reception.
At this time, Zhao Deqing was standing quite forward in the welcoming team. In the middle of the fourth row, the people standing in front of Zhao Deqing, in addition to court officials, were only a few veterans who had returned to their hometowns after returning to their official positions, three well-known scholars in Yangzhou, and two old nobles. From this we can see that this period Over time, Zhao Deqing's status in Yangzhou has risen rapidly.
You know, if it weren't for Zhao Junchen, it would have been impossible for Zhao Deqing to serve as the representative of the squires in Yangzhou, let alone stand so high up.
At this time, Zhao Deqing stood in the welcoming team, feeling the attention and respect of the people around him, and couldn't help but feel a little proud.
However, despite being proud, Zhao Deqing also had some hesitation and worries in his heart.
What troubled Zhao Deqing was not other people, but the two masters Zhao Junchen sent to Yangzhou to "assist" him - Su Xiqing and Xiao Wenxuan!
Since arriving in Yangzhou, these two people, relying on the support of Zhao Junchen, have turned against the guests. They have not given any face to Zhao Deqing. They have pointed fingers and repeatedly interfered. Not only did they force the Zhao family in Yangzhou to donate a large sum of money to build bridges, pave roads, and provide relief to the poor, , and also forced the Yangzhou Zhao family to return all the fields they had "purchased cheaply" to their original owners. For a time, there were voices of dissatisfaction within the Yangzhou Zhao family.
If that's all, that's it. Zhao Deqing can understand it. After all, Emperor Deqing is coming soon. Some cosmetic work is always necessary. The money donated can always be earned back and the land returned to Deqing will be waiting for him. There was a way for the emperor to get it again after he left Yangzhou. For Zhao Junchen's sake, Zhao Deqing wouldn't say anything more and just endured it.
However, Su Xiqing and Xiao Wenxuan were involved in too many things. They even had to intervene in the selection of Zhao family children to enter the Imperial Academy, and personally interviewed every Zhao family child of suitable age, completely ignoring Zhao Deqing and the Zhao family. Opinions of the elders - During this period, Zhao Deqing wanted to arrange for his youngest son to enter the Imperial Academy and take the opportunity to seek a good future. However, after Su Xiqing and Xiao Wenxuan interviewed Zhao Deqing's youngest son, they actually said that Zhao Deqing's youngest son " "Talent, learning and conduct are all insufficient", and the quota in the Imperial College should not be taken up at all!
In this way, not only the interests of the family, but also his own vital interests have been damaged. How can Zhao Deqing tolerate it?
In Zhao Deqing's view, Su Xiqing and Xiao Wenxuan are foreigners after all. Even if they are Zhao Junchen's cronies, and even if Zhao Junchen doesn't really like the Zhao family in Yangzhou, the internal affairs of the Zhao family should never be left to these two. People with foreign surnames are pointing fingers!
Therefore, Zhao Deqing was a little unsure at this time, wondering whether he should sue Su Xiqing and Xiao Wenxuan in front of Zhao Junchen after Zhao Junchen appeared.
And just when Zhao Deqing was hesitating, someone suddenly came behind Zhao Deqing and said to Zhao Deqing: "Brother Zhao, how have you considered the proposal I made a few days ago?"
Hearing the inquiry, Zhao Deqing couldn't help but be startled. He turned around and saw a rich old man in brocade clothes standing behind him, with a pair of shrewd and worldly eyes looking at him constantly.
This old man in golden clothes is named Lin Yunpu, and he is the president of the Yangzhou Salt Merchants Association. He is not only a wealthy person, but also the leader of the Yangzhou salt merchants. He is also inextricably linked to the officialdom of South Zhili and has great energy. .
Although the Zhao family was also a wealthy family in Yangzhou, before Zhao Junchen appeared, Zhao Deqing's status in Yangzhou could not be compared with that of Lin Yunpu. There was a huge gap in terms of financial resources and connections.
However, the Yangzhou Zhao family now has Zhao Junchen as its backer, and Zhao Deqing can finally be on an equal footing with Lin Yunpu.
In fact, just two days ago, Lin Yunpu suddenly visited Zhao Deqing and made a very tempting proposal - Lin Yunpu invited Zhao Deqing to join the Yangzhou Salt Merchant Association and help the Yangzhou Zhao family enter the private salt business. The price Zhao Deqing paid was just to introduce Lin Yunpu to Zhao Junchen.
Zhao Deqing was naturally very aware of how lucrative the private salt business was. He wanted to agree on the spot, but was stopped by Su Xiqing. According to Su Xiqing, there is no such thing as a free lunch, so Zhao Deqing should consult Zhao Junchen for his opinion. Make a decision later.
Because Su Xiqing moved out of Zhao Junchen, Zhao Deqing could not help but hesitate, and he was unable to respond to Lin Yunpu's "kind support" - this is another reason why Zhao Deqing hates Su Xiqing and Xiao Wenxuan!
At this time, after hearing Lin Yunpu's inquiry, Zhao Deqing was still a little undecided, but he found a good reason and said: "Boss Lin's invitation, Zhao is very grateful, but Zhao also knows whether the salt merchant business requires With less capital, we need a lot of connections, but Zhao is not ready for these yet, so..."
Hearing Zhao Deqing's rebuttal, Lin Yunpu was very heroic and said: "Brother Zhao doesn't have to worry about this at all. Lin still has some spare money in his hand. If Brother Zhao lacks principal, we can definitely turn it around with our friendship." , As for the connections... Haha, there’s no need for Brother Zhao to worry, Lin’s connections are Brother Zhao’s connections, so why should we worry about anything if we do business together?”
Lin Yunpu's benefits are getting bigger and bigger, and Zhao Deqing's originally unsteady mind is getting more and more shaken.
Finally, Zhao Deqing gritted his teeth and nodded: "In that case, Zhao would like to thank Boss Lin for his support! Please rest assured, Boss Lin, I will definitely introduce you to Shangshu Zhao after he comes to Yangzhou!"
At the same time, Zhao Deqing finally made up his mind - after Zhao Junchen arrived in Yangzhou, he would be the first to complain to Zhao Junchen and make a small report about Su Xiqing and Xiao Wenxuan in front of Zhao Junchen - the Zhao family's affairs, After all, the Zhao family has to make their own decision, otherwise the benefits of Nuo Da will be handed over to others!
And just when Zhao Deqing made up his mind, there was a sudden commotion in the welcoming team, and someone shouted loudly: "Your Majesty's dragon boat has arrived! Your Majesty's dragon boat has arrived!"
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…(To be continued.)