Looking at the anxious Chang Baiye, Hou Qianqian suddenly remembered something and said quickly: "Master Zhou and Liang Wenxing are also involved."
Chang Baiye stopped pacing, and his panicked eyes became calmer.
Yes, it was not only Shanxi merchant Cao Youshan who participated in lobbying the three kings, but also Hui merchant Zhou Dajiang and Zhejiang merchant Liang Wenxing.
When the sky falls, it’s not just a tall person who can carry it, it’s everyone who resists it. If Huizhou merchants and Zhejiang merchants do not want to be beaten back to the Hongwu era by the imperial court, they should work with Shanxi merchants to find a solution.
Shen family.
Shen Yiyuan also heard the news, but his mentality was much better than Chang Baiye.
After all, Zhou Dajiang and Shen Yiyuan are just Huizhou merchants. The two companies only have a cooperative relationship and do not form a whole. There is a certain safe distance. Even if Zhou Dajiang fell into the river and drowned, it would not be Shen Yiyuan's turn to mourn. Unlike Cao Youshan, he was one of the eight major Shanxi merchants and a senior member of the Shanxi Merchants Chamber of Commerce. If he was really going to be dragged to the food market, Chang Baiye would have to be responsible for collecting the body.
But after all, Zhou Dajiang was a representative figure among Huizhou merchants. His actions could easily be regarded by the court and the outside world as collective actions of Huizhou merchants, and then implicated all Huizhou merchants. As the saying goes, no eggs are left intact after the nest is overturned.
Shen Yiyuan looked seriously at Shen Xiude, who was confused, and said: "Master Zhou is just a craftsman, lacking foresight and crisis. His rise among Huizhou merchants did not rely on real skills, but the opportunity of the imperial court to open the sea." This volume When it comes to moving the capital, I am afraid that if the imperial court moves the capital to Peking, Southeast Asian trade will come to a halt and his family's shipping business will not be able to do so."
"You have to remember, whether you are doing business or learning, you must first be a thoughtful person, have the wisdom to see through problems, and have a far-sighted vision. You must not be greedy for the present, lose your sense of proportion, and even You can't advance or retreat due to interests, you need to weigh the general trend and follow the trend to prosper. When Zhou Zhou built a ship, he thought he could sail against the current, but he forgot that he had no mast or sail!"
Shen Xiude listened carefully and kept it in mind, and then expressed his worries: "Father, we are afraid that we cannot stay out of this matter, but is there a way to remedy it?"
Shen Yiyuan pondered for a long time and shook his head: "It's difficult!"
Runniang's eyes lit up and she quickly said: "My husband said it's difficult, doesn't he mean there's no way?"
Shen Yiyuan's eyes were a little gloomy, and he said sadly: "The imperial court previously allowed merchants to participate in the management proposal of the Grand Canal. This was something that the Hongwu Dynasty would never dare to imagine. It can be seen that Emperor Jianwen was determined to improve the status of merchants and vigorously develop commerce. Only then How long has it been since the Grand Canal was completed? Merchants have raised their tails. Many courtiers look down on merchants. They are afraid that there will be a big storm this time and merchants will not be able to survive unless they pay some price. "
Runniang complained and cursed: "They caused trouble and made all the businessmen unlucky. Aren't they afraid of retribution?"
Shen Yiyuan sighed, the talk of retribution was just a mouthful.
"Mother, prepare an umbrella for father."
Shen Xiude looked at the sky outside, and it suddenly became gloomier.
Shen Yiyuan glanced at Shen Xiude with admiration, took the oil-paper umbrella handed over by Run Niang, and said to Shopkeeper Sun: "You should go and prepare too. The invitation should arrive soon."
Shopkeeper Sun admired Shen Yiyuan. He was right. Chang Baiye's invitation was really sent to the Shen family.
Yangchun Restaurant.
Chang Baiye held a banquet and went to the restaurant to greet Shen Yiyuan.
Looking at Shen Yiyuan, who is in his prime, calm, confident, and a little simple, Chang Baiye couldn't help but be secretly surprised. He had long heard that Huizhou merchants were rich and wealthy but few were extravagant. There were even rumors that when Shen Yiyuan returned to Wuyuan, Huizhou, He didn't even hire an oxcart and just walked back with his wife and children.
Shen Yiyuan also looked at Chang Baiye. Although the two had met several times, they did not get to know each other due to the distance or inappropriate occasions. Looking carefully at Chang Baiye, he was very young, less than 30 years old. But he is already famous. He manages the business of Shanxi merchants Zhongchang and Hou, controls the president of Shanxi merchants chamber of commerce, and once made a shocking move to buy out Annan's wealth. He is a powerful figure.
"I will always look up to you, and I will look up to you for a long time."
Shen Yiyuan has no airs.
Chang Baiye repeatedly said he didn't dare: "Uncle Shen, I don't dare to do this."
In terms of seniority, Shen Yiyuan and Chang Qianli are of the same generation, and the two have had some interactions, so it makes sense for Chang Baiye to call them uncles.
Shen Yiyuan and Chang Baiye exchanged some polite words. Chang Baiye took Shen Yiyuan's hand and warmly invited him to the elegant room of the restaurant. After he sat down, the food and wine were full of aroma.
Chang Baiye did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "I believe Uncle Shen also heard the news. Cao Youshan from Shanxi merchants, Zhou Dajiang from Huizhou merchants, and Liang Wenxing from Zhejiang merchants lobbied the three kings to oppose moving the capital. It's okay for us and other businessmen to have a few words about the state matter of moving the capital. But you should never, never use yourself as a businessman to lobby the three kings and interfere in the court's decision-making. If the three of them act like this, the goodwill of the court officials that the businessman has worked hard to gain over the past few years will be lost, and disasters may even happen. …”
Shen Yiyuan nodded repeatedly. Chang Baiye was able to sit in such a high position. He was really capable. He could see clearly and sense the crisis.
Chang Baiye sighed: "Although this matter was done by three people, it concerns all merchants. Once the thunder of heaven and merchants return to Hongwu, Shanxi merchants will no longer have overseas trade, Hui merchants will have no Nanyang trade, and Zhejiang merchants will have no business." How can we support a large family in the future? The matter is very difficult. I asked Uncle Shen to come here today because I hope to find a solution."
Shen Yiyuan understood Chang Baiye's thoughts, pondered for a while, and just asked: "What do you think should be done?"
Chang Baiye is depressed. If he knew what to do, he would still need to treat you to dinner...
"My nephew didn't know what to do, so he invited Uncle Shen to come."
Chang Baiye looked a little helpless.
Shen Yiyuan saw that Chang Baiye's demeanor did not seem to be hypocritical, and after chatting over a cup of tea, he revealed his solution: "The Security Bureau is controlling the capital, the censor is keeping an eye on the vassal king in Beijing, and the merchants' interference in the government affairs is covered up. I'm afraid we can't cover it up anymore, and it's inevitable that we'll go to heaven to hear it. There's only one person who can help us right now."
"who?"
Chang Baiye asked hurriedly.
"King Yan!"
Shen Yiyuan gave the answer.
Chang Baiye took a deep breath, King Yan Zhu Di, how could he help the merchant? The merchant has nothing to do with the Yan Palace. If something suddenly comes to his door, they may not pay attention to it. Besides, how could King Yan solve such a difficult problem?
Shen Yiyuan explained: "In the final analysis, when Cao, Zhou, and Liang went to the residence of the three princes, it was the merchants who tried to interfere in the government affairs and violated the bottom line of the court. But if the three kings stood up to testify for the three of them and did not lobby against the move of the capital, things would be fine Turn around."
Chang Baiye finally turned the corner and the three kings changed their tune. Cao, Zhou and Liang were no longer at risk. Besides Emperor Jianwen, the only person who could make the three kings change their tune was the leader of the vassal kings. King Zhu Di of Yan died.
Although Shanxi merchants, Hui merchants, etc. have never dealt with Zhu Di or visited the dock, they can establish this relationship through one person, and this person is Yao Guangxiao, the minister of the Ministry of Industry and an important figure in the Yinglie Chamber of Commerce.
Shen Yiyuan looked at Chang Baiye who had figured it out clearly, and reminded: "This kind of thing can be done, or it can be hidden from the court, but it is impossible to hide it from the emperor. If you really want to solve the problem and eliminate future troubles, I am afraid that businessmen will have to pay some price."
"What price?"
Chang Baiye asked with a frown.
Shen Yiyuan waved his hand: "It depends on the emperor's intention. We don't have much time left. Tomorrow at the latest, there will be a royal history letter."
Chang Baiye immediately decided to go with Shen Yiyuan to see Yao Guangxiao.
Wuying Palace.
Zhu Yunwen looked at the four documents on the desk, one of which was a report from the Security Bureau, and the other three were written by King Liao, King Min and King Dai. The businessmen wanted to get involved in the government affairs and tried to use the power of the vassal kings to oppose the relocation of the capital. , the three kings did not dare to hide this kind of thing. After sending the three people away, they immediately wrote a note and submitted it secretly.
"Biography of Yu Xin, Ru Yun, and Xia Yuanji."
Zhu Yunwen ordered the chamberlain.
Jie Jin was still pretending to be ill, so he was not invited.
Not long after, Yu Xin, Ru Ru and Xia Yuanji entered Wuying Hall.
Zhu Yunwen took out the memorial and showed it to the three people.
Although Yu Xin and Ru Ru were opposed to moving the capital, they couldn't help but get furious when they saw that businessmen were involved and even dared to collude with the feudal king to interfere in the government affairs.
Ru Yu angrily requested an order: "Your Majesty, it is extremely unpardonable for merchants to interfere in politics like this! The court has been too lenient with them in the past two years, allowing them to be so unbridled. The laws of the Hongwu period should be restored and the flow of merchants should be strictly controlled! "
Yu Xin also said gloomily: "How can merchants interfere in government affairs? They should be punished severely and teach them a lesson!"
Xia Yuanji examined the memorial, glanced at Zhu Yunwen, and said in a calm tone: "Your Majesty, this merchant has gone too far. If not severely punished, it is not enough to serve as a warning. I think that punishing only these three merchants is not enough, and all merchants should be punished!"
Ru Yun and Yu Xin looked at Xia Yuanji. You were not so fierce when you opposed the relocation of the capital, but now you are more powerful. The matter of three merchants, you directly extended it to all merchants...
Zhu Yunwen took a deep look at Xia Yuanji and said seriously: "What Xia Shangshu said is absolutely true. The merchants have transgressed like this because I have been too tolerant in the past two years. If I don't punish him severely, he will do it in the future!"
At this moment, the chamberlain came to announce: "Prince Yan and Young Master Zhan Shi of the Zhan Shi Mansion would like to see you."
Zhu Yunwen raised his eyebrows. What were Zhu Di and Yao Guangxiao doing here at this time?
Another chamberlain announced: "Security Bureau Commander Shi Liu Changge would like to see you."
Zhu Yunwen nodded slightly and motioned for the three of them to enter the hall.
Zhu Di saw that Ru Yu, Yu Xin and Xia Yuanji were all there, and looked at the memorials in their hands. He knew that he was still a little late. It seemed that it was impossible to save these three people, so he had to retreat. Secondly.
"Your Majesty, I have something to say."
After Zhu Di asked about the situation, he said solemnly.
Zhu Yunwen glanced at Liu Changge, saw him looking at Zhu Di and Yao Guangxiao, and knew that the matter he wanted to report was about these two people, so he nodded: "Uncle Yan, please tell me."
Zhu Di solemnly said: "At present, the imperial court's commercial taxes are rising steadily. If all merchants are severely punished, it will affect the imperial commercial taxes. However, there are merchants who have acted arrogantly, and they have to be punished. I ask the emperor to severely punish these three people, confiscate their property, and exile them. Annan, serve as a warning to others."
