Chapter 17: Coercion and inducement (Part 2) Second update
When Zhao Junchen came to the hall, he saw more than ten people waiting quietly in the hall.
These more than ten people are among the top businessmen in Shanxi. Some are leaders of salt merchants, some are leaders of camel gangs, and some are bank bosses. But in this era, they all have a unified title, that is, "Shanxi merchants"
The hall was very quiet, and the Shanxi merchants also obeyed the rules and did not make any noise. Most of them just drank tea in silence, occasionally communicating and whispering softly.
Zhao Junchen was very satisfied with the performance of Shanxi merchants.
Therefore, Zhao Junchen was also very polite. As soon as he arrived at the door, he bowed his hands to the Shanxi merchants and said, "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting for so long. I'm late."
"I've met the imperial envoy"
After seeing Zhao Junchen appear, all the Shanxi merchants also showed respect and knelt down to salute.
"There is no need to pay such a courtesy. This is the private residence of Magistrate Liu, and I have invited everyone in my private capacity. This kind of official behavior is not necessary."
While talking, Zhao Junchen personally helped these Shanxi merchants up one by one with a friendly expression.
Although Zhao Junchen is now very well-connected and powerful, and is not afraid of the power of Shanxi merchants, this meeting with Shanxi merchants is for cooperation, so he will not neglect them.
After everyone sat down, Zhao Junchen picked up the tea on the table and said with a smile: "I came here for the first time and didn't bring anything with me. Only this West Lake Longjing was given by your Majesty. I also like to drink it the most." , I brought it with me to entertain you all, and please don’t laugh at me for being so shabby.”
A group of Shanxi merchants did not even dare to say so.
One of the older Shanxi merchants even said with a smile: "Your Excellency, you are too polite. If I taste it correctly, your tea is the best from Shifeng Longjing. It is said that only dozens of teas can be produced every year." Jin, its color is green, its fragrance is rich, its taste is mellow, its shape is beautiful, it is mellow and sweet, and its sweetness lasts for a long time. Such good tea can only be found in the palace, and I will never drink it more than once in my life. How can I feel shabby? If this is considered shabby, then I won’t know what to use when entertaining adults in the future."
Zhao Junchen nodded with a smile and said: "You made it clear, but I don't understand. I have always drank it from cows. I just think it tastes good. If those who love tea see me drinking tea on weekdays, I'm afraid most people will accuse me of chewing Ganoderma lucidum and hoarding natural resources."
Hearing Zhao Junchen laugh at himself, all the Shanxi businessmen couldn't help but smile.
Zhao Junchen continued: "Everyone knows my identity, but I am new to this place and I am not familiar with you. Qingyan, why don't you introduce me to him?"
When these Shanxi merchants came to the mansion, Xu Qingyan personally brought them in. He had put in a lot of effort before, so he knew much more about the origins of these Shanxi merchants than Zhao Junchen.
After Xu Qingyan nodded in agreement, he first pointed to the old man sitting on the left side of the guest seat and said: "This is Big Boss Guo Linxiang. He is the general manager of Tongrui Bank, the largest bank in the north."
Although he had already saluted before, when Xu Qingyan introduced him, Guo Linxiang still stood up, bowed to Zhao Junchen, and said, "Guo Linxiang has met your Excellency."
"Please have a seat, please have a seat."
Zhao Junchen raised his hand and said.
Xu Qingyan pointed to the middle-aged man on the right side of the guest and said: "This is Boss Chen, Chen Xinggong, the largest salt merchant in the north. For many years, Boss Chen has been responsible for the salt and grain sales in the northwest provinces."
"Mr. Chen Xinggong has met you."
Like Guo Linxiang, Chen Xinggong also stood up and bowed to Zhao Junchen again.
"This is Boss He Zenghe. The largest boat gang in the Yellow River and the largest camel gang in the northwest are all industries under the name of Boss He."
"Have you ever seen your lord before?"
…
Seeing the respectful and respectful appearance of all the Shanxi merchants, Zhao Junchen couldn't help but nodded secretly, feeling that the Shanxi merchants were indeed worthy of their reputation.
In later generations, people often juxtaposed Shanxi merchants with Hui merchants and Zhejiang merchants, thinking that they were representatives of merchants in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. But in fact, in Zhao Junchen's view, Shanxi merchants, Hui merchants, and Zhejiang merchants have the same essence. s difference.
Regardless of power and influence, compared to the high-profile luxury of Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants, Shanxi merchants have always been low-key and disciplined, at least in appearance.
In the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was common to hear that officials from the Huizhou merchant network and that Zhejiang merchant were fighting with officials, but there were few such rumors about the Shanxi merchant group. On the contrary, it was often heard that they assisted the court and donated money and materials.
Therefore, there are many Shanxi merchants with century-old merchants in history, but century-old Hui merchants and century-old Zhejiang merchants have never been heard of. When the Ming and Qing Dynasties targeted merchants, they would always deliberately ignore Shanxi merchants and instead use Hui merchants and merchants. Zhejiang businessmen took action.
In the Qing Dynasty, this situation became even more obvious. At that time, the rulers of the Qing Dynasty clearly treated Hui merchants and Zhejiang merchants like pigs. Whenever they were short of money, they would attack them, and then train the next batch of Zhejiang merchants. , Huizhou merchants, while at the same time, Shanxi merchants could continuously obtain business privileges issued by the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
The reason why they are so different, regardless of their business strategies and local personalities, is because they are essentially two types of businessmen.
The reason why Shanxi merchants are so rich is that they are "privileged merchants" or "bureaucratic merchants" and have various business privileges. Under these privileges, they naturally develop extremely fast.
As for the means of making money for Zhejiang and Huizhou merchants, in addition to regional specialties, most of them made profits through smuggling. The famous Zhejiang and Huizhou merchants in the Ming and Qing dynasties were basically the largest smugglers at that time.
Although Shanxi merchants also engaged in smuggling, for example, He Zeng, who owned the camel gang and boat gang industries, was a famous smuggling businessman in the north, but it was not the mainstream after all.
And this is why Shanxi merchants are more polite to people in the government. Although careful calculation shows that compared with other merchants, their influence is greater both locally and centrally.
…
"In this way, everyone can be considered acquainted." After a polite exchange, Zhao Junchen said with a smile: "You must have heard the news during this time, but can you guess why I came to you this time?"
After hearing Zhao Junchen's inquiry, all the Shanxi merchants looked at each other. Guo Linxiang stood up on behalf of all the Shanxi merchants and replied: "Your Excellency, are you talking about disaster relief? We also know that now there is a locust plague in Lu'an Prefecture, and the people It has been difficult, but the court has not been easy over the years. Although it has allocated funds for disaster relief, it is still insufficient. The reason why we businessmen are where we are today is precisely because of the support of the court and the help of the people in our hometown. At this time Naturally, we cannot just sit back and watch, if you are in need, my Guo family is willing to donate a thousand tons of food."
As soon as Guo Linxiang finished speaking, Chen Xinggong also stood up and said: "Boss Guo is right. Our Chen Family Trading Company is also willing to donate a thousand tons of grain."
He Zeng also said: "My He family is also willing to donate a thousand tons of food."
"The Zhang Family Trading Company is willing to donate 700 dans of grain."
"We, Fuhe Trading Company, are willing to donate five hundred dans of grain."
"My Wang family is also willing to donate 800 tons of grain."
One after another, Zhao Junchen secretly counted that in just a short period of time, Shanxi merchants had donated nearly 10,000 tons of grain. Although this grain was just a drop in the bucket for the disaster relief food and grass gap, it was only a drop in the bucket for the Shanxi merchants. , but it can be regarded as giving Zhao Junchen a lot of face.
In fact, in the eyes of the Shanxi merchants, Zhao Junchen's invitation to them to gather this time was a routine blackmail by the government. Because of Zhao Junchen's noble status, they doubled the food they donated.
However, this time they were wrong.
I saw Zhao Junchen shaking his head with a smile and said: "You have misunderstood. This time I meet, I want to do a business with you."
ps: The computer suddenly restarted and half of the chapter needs to be rewritten. Sorry for the late update.
