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Although Zhao Junchen was hosting a banquet for many businessmen from the Hui-Zhejiang Merchant Gang tonight, Zhao Junchen was late. When Zhao Junchen came outside Tianhai Tower, many wealthy businessmen from the Hui-Zhejiang Merchant Gang were He has been waiting for Zhao Junchen there for a long time.
As the host of the banquet, Zhao Junchen was the last to show up. Not only did he not entertain the guests, but he let the guests welcome him, which was a bit rude.
However, the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants did not care about Zhao Junchen's performance. After seeing Zhao Junchen appear, they all put on the most eager and humble expressions, and rushed to Zhao Junchen one after another, scrambling to express their gratitude to Zhao Junchen. Junchen said hello and expressed his goodwill, hoping that he could leave an impression in Zhao Junchen's heart. In this way, when the United Shipping Company is established in the future, they can also get more benefits.
For a time, Zhao Junchen was flooded with compliments!
Zhao Junchen was used to this situation and was already able to cope with it. He just nodded to the Huizhe merchants with a smile.
In the end, after a period of confusion, Lin Yunpu, Bai Mingyu, and Dai Fengfu, as representatives of the Huizhe merchant gang, finally squeezed in front of Zhao Junchen. They had met Zhao Junchen many times and were already familiar with each other, but they were not like each other. Others generally lost their composure and eagerness, and just saluted and greeted Zhao Junchen one after another.
After meeting Lin Yunpu, Bai Mingyu, and Dai Fengfu, Zhao Junchen finally said with a smile: "As the host of the banquet, I came late. It is really rude to keep everyone waiting here. I'm just a yamen official." There are too many things to do, and I am so busy with government affairs that I have no time until now. I hope you can forgive me!"
Lin Yunpu said quickly: "My lord, if you are willing to deign to take the initiative to entertain me and others in your capacity, we Hui and Zhejiang merchants are already flattered, so how can we dare to complain! What's more, my lord, you are not late, it's just me It’s too late to be impatient!”
On the other side, Dai Fengfu also said quickly: "I heard that your Excellency was assassinated yesterday. We were all anxious and worried. Now that we see that Your Excellency is safe and sound, we are relieved! I hope you know, Your Excellency, we are waiting for you. I have always admired you, sir. After learning about your assassination, I also prepared some small gifts to calm your shock and express my feelings. Now these small gifts have been sent to your house, and I hope you will accept them!"
At the same time, Bai Mingyu also changed his past arrogance and complimented: "My lord, your assassination has shocked the government and the public. After hearing that Xichang had caught the assassin, he was about to be escorted for trial, but he was actually He was intercepted and silenced on the way, which shows that the mastermind behind the scenes is powerful and ruthless. Thinking about this person's covetous gaze on you, we can't sleep at night and are worried! However, you are in danger, sir. But he still didn’t forget me, and even took the initiative to entertain us, which made us both touched and admired!”
However, Zhao Junchen looked indifferent, as if he was not worried about his own safety at all. He just shook his head and said: "Rectifying commercial taxes and establishing a joint shipping company are the established national policies of the imperial court, and they are also the matters that I attach the most importance to now! And everyone is more It is the key to the success or failure of this matter. Naturally, I cannot neglect you! Now, although there are still certain dangers, compared with the establishment of a joint shipping company, my safety is just a trivial matter. Naturally, I am We put you all first!”
After hearing Zhao Junchen's confession, the Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen present naturally took the opportunity to compliment him endlessly.
But at the same time, through Zhao Junchen's confession, everyone also understood Zhao Junchen's firm determination to establish a United Shipping Company. They were all refreshed and looked forward to the establishment of the United Shipping Company in the future!
Then, in front of Zhao Junchen, it was getting late, and there was no place to talk outside the Tianhai Tower, so he stopped being polite to everyone, and just took the initiative to step forward and lead the Hui and Zhejiang merchants into the Tianhai Tower.
Speaking of which, Tianhai Tower is not the most luxurious and top-notch restaurant in the capital. Now, the Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen that Zhao Junchen is hosting are all wealthy people who spend a lot of money. It would be a bit awkward to entertain them in such a restaurant. Stingy and not classy enough.
However, in recent years, Zhao Junchen has repeatedly entertained guests in Tianhai Tower, but he also has a deeper meaning. He wants to hint to the world that he is nostalgic through his actions!
People who are nostalgic often do not abandon their allies and partners easily.
Today, Zhao Junchen still entertains many wealthy businessmen from the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchant gangs at Tianhai Tower.
Regarding Zhao Junchen's hint, Zhao Junchen believed that the Hui and Zhejiang businessmen would definitely understand!
Even if they didn't think of this, the shopkeepers of Tianhai Tower would definitely remind them before Zhao Junchen showed up.
This is one of the reasons why Zhao Junchen came late!
*
After arriving on the second floor of Tianhai Building, after some polite exchanges, Zhao Junchen and the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants sat down respectively according to their respective status and strength. Because there were many Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants who came to the banquet, five people were seated. A table.
After the banquet officially started, Zhao Junchen stood up, raised his wine glass and said loudly: "You are all well-known big businessmen and rich men in Huizhou, Zhejiang and other places. If you are willing to travel all the way to the capital to meet with me, it is enough." This proves your sincerity and your trust in me. I am also very honored. I would like to toast you all and hope that we can have a happy cooperation in the future!"
After saying that, Zhao Junchen raised his head and drank down the glass of wine, quite refreshingly.
On the other side, after hearing Zhao Junchen's words and seeing Zhao Junchen's performance, a group of Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen also stood up and raised their glasses. After each said some compliments and polite words, they also drank it down in one gulp.
Then, everyone became quiet and focused on Zhao Junchen, waiting for Zhao Junchen's next words.
I saw Zhao Junchen still standing, scanning everyone with his eyes, and then slowly said: "Speaking of which, I am not familiar with you, even with the three bosses Lin Yunpu, Bai Mingyu, and Dai Fengfu. We only met them three or four times. As for most of the friends, I only met them once when I was in Taierzhuang, Yanzhou, and there are some friends whom I met for the first time..."
Under the attention of everyone, Zhao Junchen smiled softly, and then said: "So, taking this opportunity, I would like to introduce myself first!"
After hearing Zhao Junchen's words, all the Huizhe merchants present were stunned.
Zhao Junchen is an important minister of the imperial court, a second-rank official, and the Minister of Household Affairs. He is a corrupt official who is famous all over the world and has mixed reputations. Everyone has been famous for Zhao Junchen for a long time. It is impossible not to know Zhao Junchen, and Zhao Junchen has no need for self-esteem at all. Introduction, why does Zhao Junchen bother with this?
Zhao Junchen ignored everyone's doubts and just said to himself: "My name is Zhao Junchen. Thanks to your majesty's trust, I am now the Minister of Household Affairs of the imperial court. I am in charge of the world's taxes, money and food. Regarding these matters, everyone knows I should already know you very well, so I won’t say more... What I want to say is that since I became the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, I have been criticized by my colleagues. They think that I am greedy for money. He is a philistine, unfaithful, and smells like copper. He does not look like a court official, but looks like a businessman... So, do people think that my colleagues in the DPRK are correct in their evaluation of me?"
As Zhao Junchen spoke, the Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen became more and more puzzled, and they didn't understand why Zhao Junchen said these things.
However, on the surface, all the Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen had serious faces and angry expressions, as if they felt deeply grievances for Zhao Junchen.
After hearing Zhao Junchen's inquiry, many Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen rushed to speak first and helped Zhao Junchen call Qu Zhengming.
"Master Zhao, who doesn't know your character and conduct? These comments are of course extremely ridiculous!"
"Yes, Mr. Zhao, you are a top scholar and your talents and knowledge are second to none. How can you be compared with merchants like us?"
"Mr. Zhao, these comments are all nonsense. We, the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants, have always admired you the most for your character!"
"Everyone knows that Mr. Zhao is an indispensable virtuous and capable minister in the imperial court, and is also the right-hand man whom His Majesty deeply relies on. Your achievements, Mr. Zhao, are even more admirable. Some ministers will slander you, but that's just I'm just jealous of you, sir. You don't have to take those rumors to heart!"
"Master Zhao..."
After hearing the insincere indignation and grievances of the Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen, the calm smile on Zhao Junchen's face did not change at all.
Only after all the performances by the Huizhe merchants were over, Zhao Junchen said slowly: "Thank you all for your respect and praise for me. However, I believe that my colleagues' evaluation of me is not wrong! I Although we are court officials and you are private businessmen, there is essentially no difference between us. It is not wrong to even say that we are colleagues. Since I joined the Ministry of Household Affairs, I have changed the past rules of the Ministry of Household Affairs and used them as Using business methods to manage the household money and food, buying and selling, and using money to make money is no different from everyone else! The only difference is that you use your own wealth to do business, while I use the court's money and food to do business. Doing business, that's all! You are all people with great powers and quick information, and you should also know that there is nothing false about what I said!"
After hearing Zhao Junchen's words, all the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants present looked strange and silent, and did not know how to reply to Zhao Junchen.
*
Of course they knew that Zhao Junchen's words were absolutely not false. In fact, they were too modest!
How is Zhao Junchen just doing business? If we take it seriously, since Zhao Junchen joined the Ministry of Household Affairs, the Ministry of Household Affairs has become the most influential market controller in the Ming Dynasty! The man behind the most powerful loan shark! And one of the best smuggling groups! The scale of Hubu's business is huge, far exceeding that of all the Huizhe merchants present!
The Ministry of Households controlled the granaries in various places in the Ming Dynasty. Since Zhao Junchen entered the Ministry of Households, these granaries have become the most important factor affecting the grain market in various places. Whenever the price of grain is low, the granaries of the Ministry of Households in various places will earn a lot of money. Whenever the price of grain is high, the grain warehouses in various places will sell the grain collected at a low price at a high price. This buying and selling, entering and exiting represents the number of grains. Tens of thousands of silver income!
In other words, the state's grain stocks, which must not be touched lightly, have become money-making capital in the hands of Zhao Junchen. The Ministry of Household Affairs can earn nearly one million taels of silver every year from this business! This is still income on the books! The actual income is even more, but a large part of the money is divided up by the officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs!
However, because of this business, the price of grain in the Ming Dynasty has not fluctuated much over the years. Whenever the price of grain is too high, Zhao Junchen will sell a large amount of grain stored in granaries in various places, and then the price of grain will also drop. It quickly dropped, and because of the small actions of the Ministry of Revenue, few people were heard of starving to death because they could not afford to buy food in the Ming Dynasty over the years. This can be regarded as an unexpected merit of Zhao Junchen!
Therefore, since Zhao Junchen took charge of the Ministry of Household Affairs, it is not an exaggeration to say that the Ministry of Household Affairs has become the most influential market controller in the Ming Dynasty!
However, the Qingliu people have never seen the benefits of this business. They just blindly impeached Zhao Junchen for reselling state treasury grain, abusing power for personal gain, and taking bribes. Similar impeachments occurred dozens of times every year. However, Emperor Deqing also suffered from this business. The business reaped great benefits, so all these impeachments were dismissed.
In addition, the Ministry of Revenue was also the most powerful loan shark businessman in the Ming Dynasty. Officials wanted to find connections and backers, but they had no money to give big gifts? It doesn't matter, just ask the Ministry of Accounts to borrow money! Seeing that we are all colleagues, I will only charge you three points of profit! It's just that all tax revenue within your jurisdiction has been temporarily taken over by the Ministry of Household Affairs. Except for necessary expenses, all other tax revenue must be used to pay off debts! Do businessmen lack capital to do business? It doesn't matter, you can just borrow money from the Ministry of Household Affairs. Since you are good at talking and getting things done, we will only charge you three points of interest, but your property and land will be used as collateral!
Moreover, the usury loans from the Ministry of Household Affairs are only given to those powerful officials of seventh grade or above, as well as powerful merchants and landlords. Therefore, although the number of businesses is not large, each business is very profitable, and there is no fear of not being able to recover the cost!
Also, the Ministry of Revenue is in charge of grain transportation, but the grain transport ships that travel between the north and the south every year are not just for transporting grain! There are often a large number of other commercial goods carried in the ship, whether it is tea and silk from the south or fur and medicinal materials from the north. As long as they are goods that can be sold for money, the grain ship has everything. The annual round trip of the grain ship means that households The Ministry has added hundreds of thousands of silver!
As for the shortage of grain? As long as the household department makes money, it can be purchased directly near the capital. Naturally, there will be businessmen willing to take over the business!
All these are just part of the household business!
Since Zhao Junchen took charge of the Ministry of Household Affairs, he has used the resources and power of the Ministry of Household Affairs to create many ways to make money. While Zhao Junchen and the officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs have made a lot of money, the money and food in the treasury of the Ministry of Household Affairs has also gradually increased. Being more affluent, in a certain respect, can be regarded as a win-win situation between corrupt officials and the country!
Therefore, judging from what Zhao Junchen has done, it is not an exaggeration to say that Zhao Junchen is a businessman! All his practices are also the practices of merchants. Under Zhao Junchen's management, today's household department has become a large-scale trading house with influence in all corners of the Ming Dynasty, and Zhao Junchen is the shopkeeper of this business. As for The officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs have now become Zhao Junchen's loyal assistants! After all, the wages paid to them by Zhao Junchen were much higher than the salary of the imperial court, so naturally the officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs only knew about Zhao Junchen and not the imperial court!
*
All the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants present were well-informed and well-informed people, and they were all well aware of what the Ministry of Household Affairs was doing, but they did not know why Zhao Junchen suddenly wanted to do it at this time. Talk about these things? Do you even hesitate to compare yourself with private businessmen?
Therefore, all the Huizhe merchants were confused and did not dare to speak easily. They just looked at Zhao Junchen with doubtful eyes and waited for Zhao Junchen to continue talking.
They believed that Zhao Junchen’s words must have a deeper meaning!
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PS: Well, two chapters in one.
…(To be continued.)
