I'm really not the carpenter emperor

Hong Liangwen didn't dare to say anything, and refused repeatedly, but the smile in his eyes became brighter and brighter.

Huang Huatang complimented here, then changed the subject, and said: "The Hongdong family has so many properties, it must be time to consider finding a guarantee for myself and the Hong family."

The smile on Hong Liangwen's face stagnated, and he asked, "Old Huang, what do you mean by that?"

Huang Huatang didn't intend to say anything more, he pushed the wine glass in front of his eyes, and said with a smile: "I think the Hong family already knows about the signing of the trade agreement between the imperial court and Frangji."

Hong Liangwen narrowed his eyes and did not speak.

"What His Majesty told me to go is to build a Royal Chamber of Commerce in Suzhou. This Royal Chamber of Commerce must include other chambers of commerce from all over the world."

This sentence exploded among the merchants like a thunderbolt.

All the people here are leaders from all walks of life. The assets in their hands are all over the south of the Yangtze River, and most of them are at the helm of chambers of commerce in various places.

Even a group of such businessmen knew what Huang Huatang said.

There are chambers of commerce all over the place. This is an organization that gathers prominent local businessmen. It is these chambers of commerce that control a place's prices, freight in and out, and even the lifeline of the economy.

The subordinates of the chamber of commerce, as well as the shipping companies in various places, have piers where the canals pass. Merchant ships travel between north and south every day, and the chamber of commerce commands and dispatches them.

Huang Huatang explained one thing in one sentence. From now on, the imperial court will pay attention to the development of the chamber of commerce, as well as the economy of various places.

Signing a trade agreement with Francois is a beginning, and forming the Royal Chamber of Commerce is an advanced step.

The headquarters of the Royal Chamber of Commerce was established in Suzhou, with the purpose of bringing chambers of commerce from all over the world under its jurisdiction.

Of course, the imperial court will not directly manage merchants, but still manage merchants through merchants, and the emperor only manages the head of the Royal Chamber of Commerce.

While realizing the opportunity, the businessmen felt a little sad, even powerless.

Because the imperial court is too powerful, all the sources of goods in various places are in the hands of the imperial court. After the opening of trade, the goods from the Western Frangipani must first obtain the permission of the imperial court before they can be traded.

Everyone has a premonition that the businessman's life will be difficult.

To be precise, the days of businessmen who are at odds with the court will soon be sad.

Some people are willing, and some people are definitely not willing.

Before Hong Liangwen could speak, a businessman sneered and said, "I would like to ask, which one of you here is not wealthy and has countless branches in various places?"

"The imperial court wants to set up the Imperial Chamber of Commerce to manage all local chambers of commerce. Is it too lenient?"

Another businessman stood up and said: "Our Song family alone has [-] mu of salt fields in Huai'an and Denglai. Our business is not big, and we only care about the salt fields and salt fields, and don't want to get involved too much."

"Our Song family has always acted according to the court's laws and does not participate in this Imperial Chamber of Commerce. We thank the Huang family for not embarrassing us!"

After finishing speaking, the people from the Song family turned around and were about to leave.

Huang Huatang was originally a businessman, so he naturally knew the truth of it.

He was already laughing when he heard half of what he said, and when the man finished speaking, Huang Huatang didn't save any face, and said with a sneer:

"Don't say it so sanctimoniously, it has long been an undisclosed secret that your Song family and the Denglai Inspection Department resell private salt for huge profits every year!"

"The imperial court will investigate and deal with the salt affairs of the Denglai Inspection Department in the past few days, and none of the relevant ones will be able to leave."

"To tell you the truth, even if you don't join the Imperial Chamber of Commerce this time, the imperial court will take over Shandong Salt Industry sooner or later!"

"Shandong Salt Industry can make huge profits. Do you think that all the people in the court are fools, and they will be indifferent to seeing you monopolize it?"

"If you want to enter by then, I'm afraid it will be too late."

When Huang Huatang saw this man's footsteps stopped, he knew that he understood, and changed into a persuasive look, and continued:

"Don't be in a hurry to wipe your butt so clean. If you wipe it yourself, the imperial court should investigate or investigate! Do you think the imperial court will only run an imperial chamber of commerce this time?"

"Wrong, big mistake!"

"After the establishment of the Imperial Chamber of Commerce, the imperial court will investigate the Shandong salt industry, and then the coastal fishery industry in Ningbo, especially your Hongdong family's Hangzhou. It is also a big family that resells grain at high prices during the famine. It must also be investigated!"

Chapter 437 Suzhou Royal Chamber of Commerce

That said, it's more serious.

The businessman who was about to leave paused for a while, but he came back incessantly, sat on the chair slumped, thinking about something.

A group of businessmen also realized something from these words. The recent actions of the court are indeed very frequent.

Since the victory in the Battle of Liaodong, more than [-] senior officials have been implicated in a major imperial examination case, and countless officials have been dismissed, never hired, and sent to the frontier.

If the Royal Chamber of Commerce is really going to be established, I am afraid that those words just now will be the next move of the court.

The scene was silent for a while, but Hong Liangwen from the Hangzhou Chamber of Commerce smiled awkwardly, bought a glass of wine for Huang Huatang himself, and asked:

"Since the court's decision has been made, I'll wait until I'm not feeling well before declining, but I don't know what Huang Dong's family learned from His Majesty."

Seeing Huang Huatang looking at him, Hong Liangwen's heart tightened, and he explained: "That's right, I'll find out more details, and then I can tell my subordinate chamber of commerce and shipping companies to follow the holy will when I go back."

Huang Huatang's expression remained unchanged, he took a sip from his wine glass and said:

"I'm also a businessman, and like you, I'm a person who has no profit and can't afford it early. I just said something serious. Please forgive me!"

After that, he looked at the Song family businessman.

After the businessman heard these harsh words, he naturally knew that his business was not clean, and he was worried about the lives of his relatives, so he dared to be tough, because he saw the donkey on the slope.

"East Huang's words are serious, it was Song who was abrupt."

Huang Huatang smiled slightly, put down his wine glass and said, "Your Majesty didn't tell me too much, he just asked me to come back and discuss with you."

"In my opinion, after the establishment of the Royal Chamber of Commerce, the most important thing is the arrangement of merchants in various places. Is there any difficulty?"

Huang Huatang's words conveyed many meanings.

After he finished speaking, he looked up at Hong Liangwen, then glanced at the rest of the businessmen, and said, "The time limit given by the court is very tight this time, and the decision must be reported immediately. It is best to discuss a regulation this time." .”

Hong Liangwen took a deep breath, rolled his eyes in their sockets, and asked tentatively:

"It's not only us Jiangnan merchants who are powerful now, but also Shanxi merchants in the pass. I wonder how much the court can help?"

Huang Huatang sneered and said:

"I'll tell you the truth. It's best to cooperate with the imperial court this time. It won't be long before the imperial court will punish those merchants who don't cooperate."

"The reason why the trade agreement was signed is that the imperial court wants to generate income and control commerce, not for the convenience of your business with Francine."

Having said that, Huang Huatang continued:

"This time I came to Beijing, and I have a little friendship with the envoy Xu of Jin Yiwei. If you are worried about this, you can rest assured."

"Where it should be done, the court will not be soft."

The meaning of these words is obvious, as long as you work hard with the Royal Chamber of Commerce of the imperial court, the imperial court will help you clean up those competitors. The factory guards are not vegetarians, and it is easy to arrange crimes and arrest individuals!

All the merchants present could tell that the imperial court was going to get serious this time. They would be fine if they joined the Imperial Chamber of Commerce, but if they didn't join, they would be the first to be punished.

After being puzzled and resentful at the beginning, now that I think about it carefully, many people are thinking about it.If the imperial court really launched a large-scale attack on business groups from all over the country, there would be no other way but to follow the Imperial Chamber of Commerce.

After discussing with other businessmen, Hong Liangwen turned around and said, "If that's the case, then I'll get straight to the point."

"The 57 well-known businessmen from all over the world present can all join the Royal Chamber of Commerce this time, but we also have some conditions. Mr. Huang's family is also a businessman, so they should know the current situation of businessmen."

Huang Huatang nodded, motioning for him to continue.

"If you join the Royal Chamber of Commerce, the 57 companies sitting here must be twisted together, because apart from those who oppose the Royal Chamber of Commerce, we have a bigger enemy."

Having said that, Hong Liangwen paused, but Huang Huatang sneered and said:

"You're talking about Shanxi merchants who took advantage of Jiannu's defeat and transported grain, grass and supplies outside the pass!"

Hong Liangwen nodded, sighed and said:

"Actually speaking, Shanxi merchants are much more capable than us, especially the Fan family in Zhangjiakou, who has friendship with Wang Hai, the governor of water transportation. Using the convenience of water transportation, the profits obtained from outside the customs are top ten of ours every year!"

For the first time in such a long time, Huang Huatang's expression became a little heavy.

Shanxi Merchants are indeed much stronger than their Suhang Chaebol Group in terms of overall size and individual strength, but he can also guess that since His Majesty said that the establishment of the Imperial Chamber of Commerce in Suzhou basically means that he has no interest in Shanxi Merchants.

Huang Huatang could guess that the imperial court wanted to deal with Shanxi merchants, and he had no doubts that this was a piece of fat!

The person from the Song family also stood up and said: "Since ancient times, merchants have been the most profiteering, and they are just tea, horse, salt and iron!"

"Our Song family already has some strength in Denglai. Joining the Royal Chamber of Commerce does not ask for anything other than to control the salt industry in the six prefectures of Shandong for the imperial court!"

In addition, soon someone spoke up.

"Our Zheng family has some background in Datong, and we can wrestle with Shanxi merchants! After joining the Royal Chamber of Commerce, we can hand over the tea horse trade at the Datong border to our Zheng family!"

After everyone finished speaking, Huang Huatang stood up, cupped his hands and said:

"Everyone, I am only managing the Royal Chamber of Commerce for the imperial court. The imperial court is responsible for many things, but you can rest assured that those who join the Imperial Chamber of Commerce today will be guaranteed as long as they do not commit crimes in the future!"

Hong Liangwen also stood up, laughed and said:

"I'm relieved when the Huang Dong family said this. My Hong family joined the Royal Chamber of Commerce today and followed the court!"

……

A few days later, a secret report from the Jiaoshifu was presented to Zhu Youxiao's imperial court.

Put together, there is also the "Beijing News" news about Huang Huatang, the treasurer of Juxing, who ordered to dissolve the Suzhou Chamber of Commerce and establish the Royal Chamber of Commerce in Suzhou.

As soon as the news came out, it immediately swept through the business groups all over the world like a hurricane.

The problem before us is very acute and urgent. The imperial court obviously wants to control the business, and a wave of bloody purges is probably brewing.

Should we lower our heads and join the Royal Chamber of Commerce and agree to be brought under the control of the imperial court, or should we jointly boycott the formation of the Royal Chamber of Commerce?

Only a very small number of merchants saw the opportunity after joining the Imperial Chamber of Commerce. For many people, the merchants and goods sold by the Imperial Chamber of Commerce must not be as free as they used to be, and the court is not here to do charity, but to divide up the benefits.

This also means that in the future, merchants will be subject to the control of the Imperial Chamber of Commerce. You can only sell what you are told to sell, and you can only transport goods when they are issued a pass.

After reading it, Zhu Youxiao burned the secret music, summoned Wang Chaofu, the steward of the Qianqing Palace, and ordered in a low voice:

"I passed on my decree, Fu Sance, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, as the governor of water transportation, and rushed to Zhangjiakou from Dongchang to dismiss the current governor of water transportation, Wang Hai, for investigation."

Wang Chaofu said to obey the order, and was called back by Zhu Youxiao just as he turned around.

"Also, Zhu Xieyuan, governor of Shanxi Province, was ordered to strictly investigate the reselling of grain, grass, army horses and luggage by businessmen outside the customs. I think the secret report of Dongchang is not unreasonable!"

"Tell Zhu Xieyuan that I have given him the power of life and death. If he is found to be an enemy, he can be dealt with with full authority."

When Wang Chaofu heard this, he was horrified just now, and when he left the Qianqing Palace with a stack of notebooks that had been approved by the emperor, he realized that there was a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.

Chapter 438 Investigate Wang Hai

As soon as the imperial decree was issued, it immediately caused a shock in the capital.

Emperor Apocalypse's imperial decree, it can be seen clearly that he just changed the governor of the water transport, but why did it cause such a big storm?

Because this position is not only a great official in the frontier, but also has great power in his hands, and it is also a cross point where all forces are criss-crossed!

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the court's investigation of Wang Hai is just the beginning, and the next actions will probably become bigger and bigger.

Today the emperor can withdraw Wang Hai, the governor of water transportation, and tomorrow he can let Dongchang copy the Fan family!

Whether Wei Zhongxian is loyal or treacherous, who the Donglin Party is, and who the Shanxi merchants are, Zhu Youxiao knows best.

Zhu Youxiao sat in the Xinuang Pavilion, closing his eyes and thinking about the next move.

Now that he is in power, and the voices in the court tend to be consistent, it is time to make a drastic move to eliminate the opposition forces.

Although after the imperial examination case, Zhu Youxiao logically emptied most of the Donglin officials from the court, and arranged his own people in various important positions, but the situation is still not optimistic.

The "Beijing News" has been established for two years, but its influence among the people is still not as good as that of social scholars. There are almost no Donglin officials in the court, but there are more Donglin celebrities in the opposition.

Donglin celebrities will not willingly watch the "eunuch party" harm the court, they will definitely do everything possible to continue to rule.

This has led to a problem, every other day, the number of Donglin disciples in the local area is multiplying, and academies in various places have sprung up like mushrooms after rain.

Zhu Youxiao clenched his fists tightly. Those Donglin officials who had been dismissed and investigated have now transformed into celebrities in various places, and there are countless acquaintances!

Now that they have been cleared out of the court, they must control all public opinion, so that ninety-nine out of ten scholars in the world come from Donglin!

Thinking of this, Zhu Youxiao's eyes gradually turned cold.

Obviously, the emperor would never allow such a situation to happen among the people. It seemed that the struggle between the eunuch party and Donglin was far from over.

Now, on the one hand, Zhu Youxiao wants to eliminate the hidden danger of Shanxi merchants betraying the country, and not allow them to deliver supplies to the Jiannu after the defeat. On the other hand, he must also strictly prevent Donglin from usurping power!

People from the Donglin Party are dreaming of restoring the situation of Taichang that month!

There are too many interests involved in the investigation of the Shanxi merchants this time, but Zhu Youxiao no longer intends to write any more. One day later, the Jiannu outside the customs will get a batch of supplies from the Shanxi merchants.