……

……

Although, tonight it was Zhao Junchen who took the initiative to feast on the rich businessmen of the Huizhejiang Merchant Gang, but Zhao Junchen was late, when Zhao Junchen came to Tianhai Tower, the rich businessmen of the Huizhejiang Merchant Gang had been waiting for Zhao Junchen there for a long time.

As the host of the banquet, Zhao Junchen appeared at the latest, not only did not entertain the guests, but let the guests greet him, which was inevitably a little rude.

However, for Zhao Junchen's performance, the merchants of Huizhou and Zhejiang did not care, after seeing Zhao Junchen appear, they all put on the most eager and humble expressions, and rushed to Zhao Junchen's side, rushing to greet Zhao Junchen, only hoping that they could leave an impression in Zhao Junchen's heart, so that when the United Shipping Company was established in the future, they could also strive for more benefits.

For a while, Zhao Junchen's front could be described as a flood of polite words and compliments!

For such a situation, Zhao Junchen has long been accustomed to it, and he has long been able to deal with it easily, so he just nodded to the merchants of Huizhejiang with a smile.

In the end, after a period of chaos, Lin Yunpu, Bai Mingyu, and Dai Fengfu, as representatives of the Huizhejiang Merchant Gang, finally squeezed in front of Zhao Junchen, they met Zhao Junchen many times, and they were already familiar with each other, but they were not as eager as others, but they just saluted Zhao Junchen unhurriedly.

After seeing Lin Yunpu, Bai Mingyu, and Dai Fengfu, Zhao Junchen finally said with a smile: "As the host of the banquet, this official is late, and it is really rude to let everyone wait here for a long time, but there are too many things in the yamen, and this official is also entangled in court affairs and cannot be idle, until now there is time, if there is any neglect, I hope you must forgive me one or two!" ”

Lin Yunpu hurriedly said: "My lord, where are you, you are willing to deign to take the initiative to feast us, we and other merchants in Huizhejiang are already flattered, and how dare you complain about anything!" What's more, you're not late, my lord, it's just that I'm in a hurry! ”

On the other side, Dai Fengfu also hurriedly said: "I heard that you were assassinated by a gangster yesterday, and we were all anxious and worried, but now that you are safe and sound, we are relieved!" I hope you know, I have always admired adults, after learning about your assassination, I also prepared some small gifts for you to be shocked, not respectful, just to talk about your heart, now these small gifts have been sent to your house, I hope you must accept it! ”

At the same time, Bai Mingyu also changed his previous arrogant appearance, and complimented: "My lord, your assassination can be described as a shock to the government and the opposition, I heard that after Xichang caught the assassin, he was about to be escorted to awaiting trial, but he was intercepted and killed halfway, which shows that the main messenger behind the scenes is powerful and ruthless, and then I think that this thief is still eyeing adults, and we are all sleepless and worried!" However, my lord, you are in danger, but you still do not forget us, and you also take the initiative to feast us, which is enough to show your courage and courage, let us and others both moved and admired! ”

Zhao Junchen looked indifferent, as if he was not worried about his safety at all, he just shook his head and said: "Rectifying commercial taxes and forming a joint shipping company is the established national policy of the imperial court today, and it is also the most important thing for this official now!" And you are the key to the success or failure of this matter, and this official naturally can't snub you! Nowadays, although there are still certain dangers, compared with the matter of forming a joint shipping company, the safety of this official is only a trivial matter, and this official naturally puts you first! ”

After hearing Zhao Junchen's complaint, the Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen present naturally took the opportunity to compliment them constantly.

At the same time, through Zhao Junchen's expression, everyone also understood Zhao Junchen's firm determination to form a joint shipping company, and they were in high spirits, and they were more and more looking forward to the establishment of the United Shipping Company in the future!

Then, Zhao Junchen saw that it was not early, and there was no place to talk outside Tianhai Tower, so he no longer spoke politely to everyone, but took the initiative to step forward and led the merchants of Huizhou and Zhejiang into Tianhai Tower.

Speaking of which, in the capital, Tianhailou is not the most luxurious and top-notch restaurant, and the merchants of Huizhou and Zhejiang that Zhao Junchen invited are all wealthy and spend-rich.

However, Zhao Junchen has repeatedly entertained guests in Tianhai Tower in recent years, but he also has another deep meaning, which is to hint to the world his nostalgic character through his own actions!

And people who are nostalgic for the old often do not easily abandon their allies and partners.

Today, Zhao Junchen is still banqueting the wealthy businessmen of the Huizhejiang Merchant Gang in Tianhai Tower, which is naturally a hint.

Regarding Zhao Junchen's hint, Zhao Junchen believes that Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen will definitely understand!

Even if they didn't think of this, before Zhao Junchen appeared, the shopkeepers of Tianhai Tower would definitely take the initiative to remind them.

This is also one of the reasons why Zhao Junchen is one step late!

*

In Tianhai Building, after some politeness and concession, Zhao Junchen and Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen sat down according to their respective status and strength, because there were many Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen who came to the banquet, so they filled five wine tables.

After the banquet officially began, I saw Zhao Junchen stand up, raise his glass and say: "You are all big businessmen and rich people in Huizhejiang and other places, and you are willing to rush all the way to the capital to meet with the official, which is enough to prove the sincerity of everyone, and it is enough to prove the trust of everyone in this official, and this official is also very honored. ”

After speaking, Zhao Junchen had already raised his head and drank the wine in the cup, which was quite refreshing and crisp.

On the other hand, after seeing Zhao Junchen's performance, a group of Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen also got up and raised their glasses, and after each said some compliments, they also drank it all.

Then, everyone quieted down, their eyes focused on Zhao Junchen, waiting for Zhao Junchen's next words.

I saw that Zhao Junchen was still standing, and after scanning everyone with his eyes, he said slowly: "Speaking of which, I am not familiar with everyone, even if it is Boss Lin Yunpu, Boss Bai Mingyu, and Boss Dai Fengfu, this official has only been in contact with them three or four times, as for most of the friends present, this official only met once when he was in Taierzhuang, Yanzhou Mansion, and there are some friends who have only met with this official for the first time......

Under the watchful eye of everyone, Zhao Junchen smiled lightly, and then said: "So, take advantage of this opportunity to introduce yourself first!" ”

After hearing Zhao Junchen's words, all the Huizhejiang businessmen present were stunned.

Zhao Junchen is an important minister of the imperial court, a second-class member, a household secretary, a corrupt official and a powerful minister who is famous all over the world and has a mixed reputation, everyone has been famous for Zhao Junchen for a long time, it is impossible not to know Zhao Junchen, and Zhao Junchen does not need to introduce himself at all, so why do you want to do this now?

Zhao Junchen didn't pay attention to everyone's doubts, but just said to himself: "The official's name is Zhao Junchen, thanks to the trust of His Majesty, and now he is the head of the imperial court, in charge of the world's taxes, money and grain...... What the official wants to say is that since he became the head of the household department, he has been criticized by his colleagues, who think that the official is greedy for money, forgetful of profit, and full of copper smell, not like a court official, but like a businessman...... So, do you think that the evaluation of this official by the colleagues of the DPRK and China is correct? ”

With Zhao Junchen's speech, the merchants of Huizhejiang became more and more puzzled, and they didn't understand why Zhao Junchen wanted to talk about these things.

However, on the surface, all the Hui and Zhejiang businessmen all had serious faces and indignant expressions, and they looked deeply unhappy for Zhao Junchen.

After hearing Zhao Junchen's inquiry, all the merchants of Huizhejiang rushed to speak, and they all called for Zhao Junchen.

"Lord Zhao, who doesn't know your character and integrity? These evaluations are naturally ridiculous! ”

"Yes, Lord Zhao, you are from a top student, and your talent and knowledge are second to none, how can you compare with us and other businessmen?"

"Lord Zhao, these evaluations are all nonsense, for your character, we and other merchants in Huizhejiang have always admired the most!"

"As everyone knows, Lord Zhao, you are an indispensable virtuous minister and capable minister of the imperial court, and you are also the right-hand man that Your Majesty relies on, Lord Zhao, your merits are even more admired by the world, some ministers will slander your lord, it's just jealousy in your heart, you don't have to pay attention to those gossips!"

"Lord Zhao......"

Hearing the indignant cries of the merchants of Huizhejiang and Zhejiang, the calm smile on Zhao Junchen's face did not change in the slightest.

Only after all the performances of the Huizhejiang businessmen were over, Zhao Junchen said slowly: "Thank you for your attention and praise for this official, but this official thinks that the evaluation of this official by my colleagues is not wrong!" Although the official is an official of the imperial court, although everyone is a private businessman, but in essence we do not have any difference, and it is not wrong to even say that it is a peer, since the official entered the household department, he has changed the past rules of the household department, and used the means of doing business to operate the household department's money and grain, buying and selling, and making money with money, which is no different from everyone! The only difference is that you use your own wealth to do business, while the official uses the money and grain of the court to do business, that's all! You are all people with great powers and sensitive information, and you should also know that there is nothing false about what this official said! ”

Hearing Zhao Junchen's words, the Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen present all looked strange and silent, and they didn't know how to respond to Zhao Junchen.

*

Of course they know that Zhao Junchen's words are by no means false, and in fact, they are too modest!

Where is Zhao Junchen just doing business? If it is more serious, since Zhao Junchen became the head of the household department, the household department has become the most influential market manipulator in the Ming Dynasty! The most powerful loan shark behind the scenes! And one of the best smuggling syndicates! The scale of the business of the household department is huge, and it is far more than the many giant businessmen of Huizhejiang present!

The household control of the granary in the Ming Dynasty, since Zhao Junchen into the household, these granaries have become the most important influencing factor in the grain market, whenever the price of grain is low, the granary will take the opportunity to earn a large number of low-priced grain, whenever the price of grain is high, the granary of the household will be sold at a high price to collect the grain at a low price, this buy and sell, one in and one out, it represents tens of thousands of silver income!

In other words, the national grain stockpile, which must not be touched lightly, has become capital to earn silver in the hands of Zhao Junchen, and the household department relies on this business to earn nearly one million taels of silver every year! And that's still income on the books! In fact, the income is even more, but a large part of the silver has been divided among the household officials!

However, it is precisely because of this business that in recent years, the price of private grain in the Ming Dynasty has not fluctuated much, whenever the price of grain is too high, Zhao Junchen will sell a large number of grain in the granaries around the country, and then the price of grain will be reduced quickly, and because of such a move of the household department, the Ming Dynasty has rarely heard of people starving to death because they can't afford to buy food, but it can be regarded as Zhao Junchen's unexpected merit!

Therefore, since Zhao Junchen became the head of the household department, it is by no means an exaggeration to say that the household department is the most influential market manipulator in the Ming Dynasty!

It's just that Qingliu has never seen the benefits of this business, but blindly impeached Zhao Junchen for selling the treasury grain, abusing power for personal gain, embezzlement and bribery, similar impeachments are dozens of times a year, but Emperor Deqing also reaped great benefits because of this business, so naturally all these impeachments were dismissed.

In addition, the household department was also the most powerful usury merchant in the Ming Dynasty, and the officials wanted to go through the door and find a backer, but they didn't have the money to give big gifts? It doesn't matter, just borrow money from the household department! For the sake of everyone being colleagues, we will only charge you three points of profit! It's just that all the taxes in your jurisdiction will be taken over by the household department for the time being, and all other taxes will be used to pay off debts, except for necessary expenses! Businessmen lack capital to do business? It doesn't matter, just borrow money from the household department, for the sake of you being able to talk and come to things, you will only be charged three cents of the profit, but you need your real estate and land as collateral!

Moreover, the usury of the household department is only put on those officials with real power above the seventh grade, as well as powerful businessmen and landlords, so although the number of businesses is not much, each business is very profitable, and I am not afraid that I will not be able to recover the cost!

In addition, the household department is in charge of the transportation of grain, but the grain transport ships that travel back and forth between the north and south every year are not just transporting grain! The ship often secretly carries a large number of other commercial goods, whether it is tea and silk in the south, or fur and medicinal materials in the north, as long as it is a cargo that can be sold for money, the grain ship can be said to have everything, and when the grain ship goes back and forth every year, it means that the household department has increased hundreds of thousands of silver income!

As for the shortage of grain? As long as the household department makes money, it can be purchased directly near the capital, and naturally there are businessmen who are willing to take over this business!

All of this is just one of the many businesses in the household!

Since Zhao Junchen became the head of the household department, he has made full use of the resources and power of the household department and created many ways to make money, and Zhao Junchen and the household officials have made a lot of money, and the money and food in the household treasury have gradually become much more abundant, in a way, it can be regarded as a win-win way between corrupt officials and the country!

Therefore, judging from what Zhao Junchen did, it is not an exaggeration to say that Zhao Junchen is a businessman! Under the management of Zhao Junchen, today's household department is a large commercial house with influence in all corners of the government and the opposition, and Zhao Junchen is the big shopkeeper of this commercial house, as for the officials of the household department, they have now become loyal and long-term workers under Zhao Junchen! After all, the wages paid to them by Zhao Junchen were much higher than those of the imperial court, so the household officials naturally only knew Zhao Junchen and did not know the imperial court!

*

All the Huizhejiang businessmen present were well-informed and well-informed, and they all knew what the household department was doing, but they didn't know why Zhao Junchen suddenly talked about these things at this time? He even did not hesitate to compare himself with private businessmen?

Therefore, all the merchants of Huizhejiang were puzzled in their hearts, and they did not dare to speak easily, but just looked at Zhao Junchen with doubtful eyes, waiting for Zhao Junchen to continue.

They believe that Zhao Junchen's words must have another deep meaning!

……

PS: Well, a big two-in-one chapter.

…… (To be continued.) )