Rebirth as an official

Hearing Qiao Yuxin's slightly childish words, Gu Sitong couldn't help but chuckle and said.

"Yuxin, the ancients said that there is no business without treachery. Do you think those businessmen will do business at a loss? Compared with the little money they paid, the returns they received are astonishingly high."

"How high can it be?" Qiao Yuxin had no idea about this kind of thing.

"Then let me give you an example." Gu Sitong flicked the ashes from his cigarette and continued, "You know Shanxi merchants?"

"Well, "Qiao's Courtyard" is about Shanxi merchants. I've watched it once. That Qiao Zhiyong is very powerful." Qiao Yuxin immediately became energetic when talking about the TV series, especially the story about their "Qiao" family.

Gu Sitong couldn't help but knock Qiao Yuxin on the head and said: "TV dramas are all jokes. TV and books can never tell you what those big businessmen in ancient times really relied on to make their fortunes?"

"Then what do they rely on?" Qiao Yuxin gradually became interested.

"Relying on the huge network of relationships formed in the officialdom, relying on their spokesmen in the officialdom to win the most profitable business for them, such as salt, tea, and finally the bank. In the late Qing Dynasty, the ticket number issued by the Shanxi merchant bank was called Huitong The world. Take the Qiao family in the TV series you have watched as an example. It is said that at its peak, the Qiao family had assets of 100 taels of silver, which is equivalent to current assets of [-] billion."

"You said that with their huge assets, if there wasn't a strong force behind them to protect them, they would have been divided up by others long ago."

"So businessmen must find a backer, and high-ranking officials are their best choice. So it is inevitable that they spare no effort to win over officials."

"But will those officials really be willing to work for those businessmen? Just rely on the small favors from the businessmen?" Qiao Yuxin asked again.

"You underestimate the power of businessmen. In ancient times, you didn't know that you would have more money to spend when you became an official." Gu Sitong continued.

"Let's talk about the Qing Dynasty. After those people passed the Jinshi examination, they only obtained the qualifications to be officials. If they want to obtain actual positions, they must carry out management."

"Those poor Jinshi with no background want to clear connections and obtain official positions. What should they do if they have no money? At this time, businessmen will appear. They use their network to pave the way for these people and lend them money. This is another emotional investment. "

"After these people take office, these new officials will have to support servants and masters, official entertainment, and need to pay filial piety to their superiors during festivals and festivals. At this time, merchants will give another sum of money."

"With such layers of emotional investment, these officials have long been tied to the businessmen, and they are indistinguishable from each other. These businessmen are satisfied with whatever they ask for. Both parties can benefit, and only the common people suffer."

"According to what you say, there are no good people in government. There were some honest officials in history, such as Hai Rui and Yu Chenglong." Qiao Yuxin felt that what Gu Sitong said was a bit extreme.

"Hey, think about it, do you know more corrupt officials or more honest officials? If we just count, there are countless names like He Shen, Yan Song, Yuan Zai, etc."

"Even famous ministers who know about it, such as Zhang Juzheng, he is considered one of the most famous ministers in the Ming Dynasty. After his death, the emperor ransacked his home and found more than 2400 taels of gold, 157000 taels of silver, and other treasures and jewelry. , some valuables.”

"There is also Zhang Tingyu, the chief minister of the cabinet, a veteran of the three dynasties, and the only Han Chinese in the Qing Dynasty who was worthy of enjoying the Ancestral Temple. He has an inseparable connection with northern merchants, especially Shanxi merchants."

"It can be said that the reason Shanxi merchants could become the largest chamber of commerce at that time was inseparable from Zhang Tingyu's relationship. Do you think this investment by these merchants was worth it?"

"I see. Do you think Li An can become the next Zhang Tingyu?" Qiao Yuxin nodded, and then asked another question.

"I don't know if Li An can become a person like Zhang Tingyu, but according to my observation, it is not difficult for him to become the secretary of the county party committee. As for whether he can become the secretary of the municipal party committee, it depends on luck." Gu Sitong said quite confidently.

"But brother-in-law, even if Li An becomes a high official in the future, will he be able to help us with all his strength? After all, what you just said is from ancient times." Qiao Yuxin continued to ask.

Gu Sitong chuckled and said: "Modern times are of course different from ancient times. Modern businessmen still invest in officials, both at home and abroad. Look at the United States. On the surface, two parties take turns in power, but in fact they are elected The president is nothing more than a spokesman for those interest groups."

"As for China, there are countless businessmen working as investment officials. Otherwise, you can often see on TV that officials are caught for corruption and bribery."

"But in my opinion, bribing officials is the stupidest thing to do. Now the country is vigorously combating official corruption. If an official falls, all the businessmen who paid bribes will be unlucky."

"Then what should we do?" Qiao Yuxin asked.

"It's actually very simple. What do officials rely on to get promoted?" Gu Sitong asked, and then gave his own answer without waiting for Qiao Yuxin to answer.

"That is political performance. The most important indicators of political performance now are the economy and people's livelihood. As long as he can achieve results in these two aspects, then this official's promotion will be just around the corner."

"As long as we invest in those potential officials, such as Li An, who need political achievements, we will invest in his cooperatives. We will make money and he will get political achievements, killing two birds with one stone."

"As long as we continue to maintain a good friendship with him through this legal and compliant method, we will be blessed when he grows into a towering tree in the future. You have to know that there are not many relationships in the mall that are strong enough. Officials and friends cannot survive at all."

"Shopping malls are battlefields, and the competition is about resources and connections. The most important thing is how many senior officials you know. Political resources are the biggest capital for doing business."

Gu Sitong told Qiao Yuxin a lot of business experience in one breath. He would not tell others these things easily.

"Brother-in-law, after all, Li An has just entered the officialdom for more than a year. What if you are wrong? Then the money spent will be wasted." Qiao Yuxin asked.

"The ancients said, 'Three years old looks older than seven years old'. When I saw Li An for the first time, I thought of this sentence." Gu Sitong deliberately didn't say it and let it slip.

"What are you talking about?" Qiao Yuxin's interest was aroused.

"Isn't Jinling like an object in a pond that turns into a dragon when encountering a storm? Li An just lacks qualifications now. Qualifications are very important in officialdom." Gu Sitong said.

"That's not right. How come I heard people say that what the officialdom lacks the most is opportunities." Qiao Yuxin raised her own question.

"Haha, how can a person like Li An lack opportunities? Even if there are no opportunities, he will create them."

"Is he so powerful?" Qiao Yuxin felt that Gu Sitong was his junior brother.

"If you don't believe it, then let me test you. Why did Li An let you drag the people from the township government with you this time instead of refusing?" Gu Sitong asked with interest. .