At night, the Fujian Chamber of Commerce.
Since the founding of the Hua Dynasty, the five major business gangs have risen. They are Hui merchants, Shanxi merchants, Zhejiang merchants, Lu merchants and Fujian merchants.
The biggest advantage of Fujian merchants was their coastal location. It can be said that the imperial court's maritime ban enriched Fujian merchants who were good at smuggling.
The original intention of Grand Ancestor Taizu in establishing the tribute system and sea ban was good.
Foolish businessmen, the water of overseas trade is too deep for you to grasp.
All overseas trade was handed over to the imperial court. You see how the court grasps this.
Grandpa Taizu ignored one thing. In the face of huge profits, more courageous businessmen dare to risk beheading.
They often colluded with scholar-officials to engage in smuggling trade along the coast.
It has been more than 130 years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. The maritime ban became a code of wealth for the collusion between scholar-bureaucrats and maritime merchants.
Whenever someone in the court suggested opening the switch to the sea. Scholar-officials always held high the banner of "the ancestral system cannot be violated."
Once the switch is opened to the sea, the huge profits from the smuggling trade will be gone. What shall we eat?
After so many years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the scholar-bureaucrats have figured it out. When safeguarding one's own interests, ancestral institutions are sacred and inviolable.
When it is not beneficial to one's own interests, ancestral system is just a piece of paper to wipe one's butt.
As an aside, Emperor Longqing, who opened the sea under the pressure of scholar-bureaucrats more than sixty years later, was a great man.
Let’s get back to the subject, and let’s talk about the Fujian Chamber of Commerce being brightly lit tonight.
Countless businessmen and officials poured into the Fujian Chamber of Commerce to greet Lin Sheng, the head of the Lin family in Quanzhou.
Chang Feng followed Qian Neng into the clubhouse and saw countless familiar faces.
He even had the illusion that this was not a businessman's night banquet, but an imperial court. There were too many civil servants, military generals and nobles.
After following Qian Neng into the hall, Chang Feng felt a little lucky again.
Most of the officials sitting in the hall are fifth- and sixth-grade officials. There are no important ministers.
Standing in the hall was a young man of seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in commoner clothes, greeting the guests one by one.
Qian Neng lowered his voice and said to Chang Feng, "That person is Boss Lin."
Chang Feng smiled secretly in his heart: The number one maritime merchant in the Ming Dynasty also knew how to keep a low profile. Wearing commoners, the clothes are simple and do not violate the ancestral rule that merchants are not allowed to wear silk ribbons.
Lin Sheng walked up to Qian Neng and enthusiastically handed over his hand: "Eunuch Qian."
Qian Neng smiled and said: "It's been a long time, Boss Lin. The last time I saw you was three years ago. You were fourteen years old then."
Lin Sheng turned his head and glanced at Chang Feng: "Who is this?"
Chang Feng, like most officials, came to the Fujian Chamber of Commerce in plain clothes and did not wear a flying fish suit.
Qian Neng introduced: "This is Zuo Tongzhi, the commander of Jinyiwei, Chang Feng, the emperor's favorite."
Lin Sheng quickly raised his hand and said, "Ah, it turns out to be Mr. Chang. I'm sorry. Please go up to the second floor."
It turned out that the banquet at the Fujian Chamber of Commerce was divided into two places: the first floor and the second floor.
The little people are having a banquet on the first floor. The big shots are all on the second floor.
Chang Feng wondered: As the protagonist of the reception banquet, why didn't Lin Sheng go to the second floor to socialize with the big shots? But always on the first floor?
Could it be said that there are people with higher status in the Lin family who are accompanying guests on the second floor?
Qian Neng seems to be very familiar with the Fujian Chamber of Commerce. He led Chang Feng up to the second floor.
At the top of the stairs, Chang Feng overheard a conversation.
"Ah, the big boss is really generous!"
"No wonder the big boss can support such a large family business of the Lin family."
Chang Feng was confused: Big boss? Isn't the so-called big boss Lin Sheng on the first floor? Could it be said that Lin Sheng was to the Lin family like Qian Ning was to Jin Yiwei? Just a stand-in for the real person in power?
Right. The Lin family's wealth is said to be greater than half of the national treasury. His connections are all over the officialdom. How could a boy of 17 or 18 support such a huge family fortune?
I think the real big boss must be an older member of the Lin family who is well versed in the ways of the world.
Went up a few more steps. The next scene shocked Chang Feng.
There are only two seats on the second floor. They are all acquaintances of Chang Feng.
At the second table, several officials from the Sixth Department and Ye Guang from the Governor's Mansion were sitting.
At the head of the table, seated were Xie Qian, a member of the cabinet; Xiao Jing, the chief minister of etiquette; Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling, two uncles; Cui Yuan, the prince-in-law and commander-in-chief.
There is another person Chang Feng doesn't know. This man is in his forties, has a white face and is beardless, extremely handsome, and is dressed in white.
Next to the middle-aged man in white, stood a woman in her thirties.
This woman's skin is white and glowing, and she can be called round and round. Exuding charm and charm.
Her clothes are very refreshing and quite Tang Dynasty style.
At first glance, Chang Feng thought she was a brothel oiran invited by the Lin family to accompany her.
He also secretly laughed in his heart: The Lin family is too stingy. There are more than a dozen people at two tables, and we just want an oiran to accompany us to drink? No matter what, it has to be one per person.
When Qian Neng saw the middle-aged man in white, he knelt down and said, "Junior Qian Neng, pay my respects to Senior Wang!"
It turned out that the middle-aged man in white, who was in his forties, was Wang Zhi, a powerful official of the generation.
Wang Zhi was only sixteen years old when he came to power in the Chenghua Dynasty. I have just turned forty this year.
Qian Neng is already sixty years old, almost two rounds older than him. But he still kowtows and kneels before him.
You must know that in the middle of the Chenghua Dynasty, the guarding eunuchs and supervisory eunuchs in various places were all disciples and grandsons of Wang Zhi.
In theory, Qian Neng was just a subordinate of Wang's direct subordinate.
During his lifetime, the old Prime Minister Huai'en called Wang Zhi a brother-in-law.
The camel has fallen, but the frame remains. To this day, many of the stewards in the twenty-four yamen in the palace are the disciples and grandsons of Wang Zhi.
With these people around, Wang Zhi, who had lost his power, still had a decisive influence among the internal officials.
Chang Feng complained in his heart: He just heard the people on the second floor mouthing "big boss" at the entrance of the stairs.
Could it be that the real "big boss" of the Lin family is Wang Zhi?
If the big boss of the Lin family is Wang Zhi, things will be difficult to handle.
Wang Zhi smiled and said: "Money can help you, you little monkey. I haven't seen you for twenty years, how come you have become so virtuous? Sit down quickly."
A forty-year-old man calls a sixty-year-old man a monkey, not to mention the sixty-year-old man Bingbi, the Superintendent of Ceremonies, and the Superintendent of the East Factory?
Not only was Qian Neng not angry, but he smiled and said, "Thank you, Senior Wang, for giving me a seat."
It should be said that Wang Zhi is the idol of all the eunuchs in the palace.
Every eunuch hopes to become someone like Wang Zhi in the future.
Wang Zhi glanced at Chang Feng: "Who is this person?"
Qian Neng quickly introduced him: "This is Chang Feng, the adopted grandson of Mr. Huai'en."
Qian Neng did not introduce Chang Feng's official title, only his seniority. Introducing the official title in front of the powerful Eunuch Wang at that time would appear to be a trick.
Wang Zhi said: "Chang Feng? I remembered. That old guy Huai En mentioned him to me when he was demoted to Jinling."
"Haha, a little general flag that has stirred up the imperial bureau. Now he seems to have been promoted to a member of the Imperial Guard, right?"
Wang Zhi actually called Wynn an "old thing". But this is not an insult, more like a friendly nickname.
Chang Feng cupped his hands: "Exactly."
Qian Neng said quickly: "Why don't you kowtow to Senior Wang quickly?"
Xiao Jing also said: "Wang Gong is your godfather's equal. As a grandchild, when you see him for the first time, you should kowtow and salute."
Wang Zhi waved his hand: "No need. I am just a commoner with no official position. Please sit down."
Changfeng takes his seat.
Wang Zhi asked Chang Feng casually: "How is that chubby girl in your family who loves to eat pork head meat mixed with minced garlic?"
When Wynn was demoted to Jinling, in order to protect Tangtang, he took Tangtang with him.
Tangtang has met Wang Zhi before. Wang Zhi liked that innocent little girl very much.
Chang Feng replied: "Back to Senior Wang. The little fat girl is married and a mother. The child is four and a half years old."
Wang Zhi sighed: "The deceased was like a man who never gave up day and night. The days passed so fast."
After speaking, Wang Zhi took the hand of the thirty-year-old beautiful woman and said, "Brother Chang, this must be your first time coming to the Fujian Merchants Guild Hall. I don't know her."
"Let me introduce you to the big boss of the Lin family in Quanzhou, Yan Pan'er. He is the widow of Lin Sheng's father."
Yan Pan'er, Lin Sheng's father's second wife. A woman who has skill, courage, and can be cruel at critical moments.
For more than ten years, Yan Pan'er has been managing the affairs of the Lin family. She is the real head of the Lin family.
Her nominal son Lin Sheng is just a stand-in at the front desk.
Chang Feng correctly guessed that Lin Sheng was a substitute, but he did not expect that the real boss of the Lin family was a beautiful woman who looked like someone who would make people break the Ming Dynasty law.
Chang Feng noticed that Wang Zhi introduced her not as "Mrs. Lin" but by her real name.
Wang Zhi continued: "Pan'er is my goddaughter. Chang Feng, you are no longer the commander-in-chief who was no bigger than a booger back then. You are the emperor's favorite and the boss of the factory guard."
"You have to take good care of her from now on."
Chang Feng was silent at first.
Qian Neng pulled down his left sleeve, and Xiao Jing pulled down his right sleeve.
Chang Feng had no choice but to say: "Yes."
Yan Pan'er, who has round pearls and beautiful flesh, smiled and said: "Giggles, Chang Tongzhi came to the Quanzhou Guild Hall for the first time. I would like to offer you twenty glasses of wine from the common people."
Chang Feng thought he heard wrongly. Twenty cups? Don't you become a dead dog after drinking? Then this beautiful woman may be taking advantage of any of the big shots here tonight.
Wang Zhi clapped his hands: "Okay. My goddaughter is indeed a hero among girls! Come on, have a drink."
Several servants stacked twenty cups into a small golden tower.
Yan Pan'er said: "My daughter's red wine is too weak. I respect Chang Tong but I don't know how to be respectful. Change it to Liaodong Shao Knife."
The servant brought another large pot to cook the knives.
Yan Pan'er lightly opened her red lips and bit off the cork wrapped in red cloth with her teeth.
She poured the wine into the wine glass at the top of the golden tower. The wine flowed into the wine cup below like a waterfall.
After pouring out the pot of roasting knives, twenty wine glasses were just full.
Chang Feng said: "Mrs. Lin, this knife-burning is too strong. Just drink three cups and it will be done."
Yan Pan'er didn't say anything, picked up the wine glass and started drinking. One glass after another, like a Bacchus.
Everyone at the table on the second floor cheered: "Okay, the big boss is indeed a hero among women!"
"Wonderful! The big boss drinks Shao Knife as if he were drinking water."
"The Big Boss is really a heroine like Hua Mulan and Liang Hongyu in this era."
Twenty cups of roasted knives were all consumed by Yan Pan'er in just a moment.
Wang Zhi said: "Chang Feng, Pan'er offered you a pot of knives, you should return the pot."
Chang Feng was a little dizzy when he heard this. Don't drink it, don't give Wang Zhi face.
Even Xiao Jing and Qian Neng were respectful to him. How can I, a junior, refute his reputation?
Drink. I'm afraid that if the pot is boiling and the knife goes down, it will go directly under the table.
Unexpectedly, Yan Pan'er picked up another pot to cook knives: "Master Chang, the Jinyiwei, is a new guest of the Fujian Merchants Guild Hall."
"Godfather, when he comes back, don't make things difficult for him. I drank this wine for him."
After saying this, Yan Pan'er opened her red lips lightly, said "Cha Cha Cha Cha Cha Cha" to the spout, and drank it all in one gulp.
Zhang Heling was itching to see this scene: I wish the big boss had put mine instead of the jug in his mouth.
After two bottles of wine, Yan Pan'er was not drunk at all. Only her complexion turned slightly red, making her look even more beautiful and mature.
The crowd cheered again.
Yan Pan'er smiled and said: "Godfather. We've finished the welcome wine. Let's have a banquet?"
Wang Zhi nodded: "Okay, let's have a banquet."
Chang Feng believes that the banquet at the Fujian Merchants Guild Hall must be full of delicacies such as bear paws and flying dragons, no less than the banquet at the Confucius Mansion.
Unexpectedly, the dishes served were all stir-fried pork, blanched vegetables, tofu soup and the like.
Yan Pan'er saw Chang Feng's doubts and took the initiative to explain: "Chang Tongzhi, Taizu ordered businessmen to be diligent and frugal and not to be extravagant or extravagant."
"We, the Lin family, are law-abiding businessmen. We always bear in mind the holy teachings of our great ancestor."
"The food is vulgar, don't mind. Giggle."
Yan Pan'er's voice was so charming that it penetrated the bones of her bones. Any man would probably tremble when he heard this.
Chang Feng thought of the word "fragrant bones".
There is a kind of woman who is naturally charming. The man seemed to lose his soul when he saw her. It seems that the big boss of the Lin family in Quanzhou is this kind of woman.
After three rounds of wine, the five flavors of food are gone.
Yan Paner started to talk about the topic. She said to Hu Chuande, the right minister of the Ministry of War, who was sitting at the second table: "Hu Butang, the Lin family has already obtained the ten Western fast cannon samples requested by the Manufacturing Office of the Ministry of War."
"I have sent someone to the manufacturing office."
Hu Chuande handed over his hand: "Thank you, boss."
Chang Feng was surprised: The Ministry of War actually asked a maritime businessman to help with what kind of Western fast cannon?
Wang Zhi glanced at Chang Feng, saw his doubts, and explained: "Westerners are not within the court's tribute system."
"No matter how good the Western things are, the Ming Dynasty officials can't buy them. So we have to ask the Lin family for help."
Chang Feng was stunned: "Oh, so that's what happened."
Even if it is to help the Ministry of War, it is taboo for maritime merchants to purchase Western artillery privately and they will be beheaded.
Yan Pan'er did not shy away from Chang Feng, the butcher of Jin Yiwei.
Yan Pan'er said to the Zhang brothers again: "Two uncles, the goods you want are ready. I will go to your house to pick up the payment in person on another day."
When saying this, Yan Pan'er stared at Zhang Heling with her charming eyes.
When talking about the "day" of the next day, Yan Pan'er deliberately emphasized her tone.
Zhang Heling secretly rejoiced: Hey, everyone calls her the big boss. But this big boss is still a little widow! This little widow is so wise!
Cabinet member Xie Qian has remained silent.
Yan Pan'er poured a glass of wine for Xie Qian and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Xie Ge, the matter has been settled."
She only said that it was done, but did not specify what it was.
Xie Qian nodded: "Thank you."
Xiao Jing smiled and said: "My incompetent apprentice serves as the supervisory eunuch of the Shipping Department in Ningbo. All these years, he has relied on the big boss to take care of him. I give you a toast."
Hearing this, Chang Feng was shocked again. Xiao Jing's words revealed a message.
The dignified eunuch in charge of the Shipping Department of Ningbo City actually needs a widow of a maritime merchant to take care of him!
Yan Pan'er smiled and said, "That's right. There's no need to say thank you, Prime Minister."
After eating this meal at the Fujian Chamber of Commerce, Chang Feng deeply realized the huge power of the Lin family and the intricate network of relationships. As well as the ability and skill of the leader of the Lin family.
This little girl Yan Paner is not simple!
(End of chapter)
