New Shun 1730

I said I don't care, and I really don't care.

After that, Liu Yu didn't care about the trading company. Whether they are short-sighted or not, whether they know what goods to ship, they still have some brains.

As long as they don't ship gold to exchange for silver in Europe, they can ship whatever the Swedes ship. If the Swedes can't order porcelain in time, then they can order more porcelain for the Dutch and British.

Liu Yu, who doesn't have to worry about the trading company, killed his heart and concentrated on preparing for the banquet.

This banquet was extremely grand and bright, and all the big businessmen around Songjiang Prefecture came to support it.

It was no different from the previous banquets, except that there were more exhibits such as glass and cigarettes on each table.

Songjiang is a place with frequent foreign exchanges, which is not comparable to the north.

These merchants have seen glass. Although cigarettes were not popular at this time because of matches, they have also seen cigars rolled with tobacco leaves in Luzon.

I lit two matches out of curiosity and took a puff. I was full of praise for the matches that lit up as soon as they were rubbed. But I was just full of praise. I was not surprised by the match after seeing it. After all, my horizons were broad.

After everyone sat down, Liu Yu first reassured everyone.

"You are willing to come today, and you trust me. If you think that I, Liu Yu, am here to beg for food, I am afraid you will definitely not come."

Everyone smiled awkwardly.

Begging does not mean begging for food, but the court or local officials ask merchants to donate.

Emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce and annexation, keeping the whole country as a big rural area, this is the ultimate dream of Neo-Confucianism. Returning to the well-field system and enfeoffment, this is the dream of Northern Confucianism after the disintegration of Neo-Confucian ideology.

But no matter which one, the attitude towards merchants is not very good.

There is a correct thinking about maintaining stability and unification between the north and the south. Merchants are enriching wealth too fast, and the progress of productivity is slow, which can't keep up with the speed of enriching wealth.

If the merchants were as rich as a country, and land was allowed to be bought and sold, it would have a serious impact on the world.

If other officials had invited guests like this, these people would definitely be unwilling. Perhaps they had to come because of their official power, and they would definitely be nervous when they came.

A few years ago, the climate change caused Songjiang to suffer a certain famine. Local merchants donated more than 20,000 taels of silver to help the victims, but this money was not donated voluntarily. Rather than saying it was a donation, it was better to say that they spent money to buy the government to avoid trouble.

The court also gave many ninth-rank officials a nominal title for this. Under the feudal system, even ninth-rank officials could be different from civilians.

Just like the vermilion gate and gilded animal ring of Liu Yu's house, and the main hall of the seven-room house.

If it was just about money, some merchants in Songjiang could afford it, but even if they were rich, they were not allowed to build it if their level was not enough. This was an usurpation and a courtesy.

Before, 20,000 taels could be donated, but if you want to buy shares, the big ones will easily be 10,000 taels. If it weren't for the situation of buying bones for thousands of gold, it would be impossible for too many people to come this time.

A few smart people saw the cigarettes and glass on the table and guessed whether Liu Yu was going to do such a business.

After secretly calculating, they thought that this was a good deal.

But many people still had some doubts in their hearts, always feeling that something was wrong.

Just like the trade with Japan, it was a reverse monopoly brought about by Japan's isolation. Such a business would make money even if it was a fool, so why would they take the initiative to share it with others?

Or they thought, is it a long-term plan to catch a big fish?

Now that Liu Yu said that he was not here to beg for food, many people secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The dishes on the table were very rich, but whoever could come here for the banquet today would not miss a bite of food, and they all pricked up their ears, wanting to know what Liu Yu was going to do.

But Liu Yu did not speak, but clapped his hands. A few servants came out from behind, holding a thick stack of papers and distributing them to everyone.

Most of the merchants were literate, and a few were not very literate, but after glancing at the contents on the paper, they were all in vernacular, which was easy to understand.

Soon, the noisy hall became quiet.

Everyone at the banquet looked at the contents on the paper with their heads down, some gasped, and some were secretly surprised.

It was all about business.

Some opened iron smelting workshops in Liaozhong area, and some were assigned to open glass, cigarette, match and other workshops in various places.

There were market expectations, possible returns on investment, and various advantages.

It seemed that they were all profitable businesses.

It was also clearly written on it that as long as everyone contributed capital, there would be special people responsible for the operation and opening.

After these people had read almost everything, Liu Yu said: "I have heard that Songjiang's textile industry is developed. As early as the previous dynasty, there was a saying that 'machine owners contribute capital and machine workers contribute labor'."

"What I wrote is slightly different from the investment of machine owners, but in fact it is almost the same. It is nothing more than money contributing capital and labor contributing labor."

"Distribute according to capital."

"With the example of this trading company, I think everyone still trusts me. In the future, we can also use this method. You contribute capital and the craftsmen contribute labor. Open and operate like the head of a ship in a sea trade. They are responsible for their own work and they receive salaries. You share dividends according to capital. Isn't it wonderful in this way?"

"If you have any questions, just ask."

After saying that you can ask, these people were silent.

It's okay to come to the banquet, and it's not impossible to think about contributing capital, but after all, they are just businessmen. The gap between them and officials is too big, and the gap between them and people like Liu Yu who have been granted titles is even greater.

Even if there were some things in my heart, I really didn't dare to ask.

Liu Yu waited for a while and glanced at Lin Yunwen.

Lin Yunwen waited for a while, and when he was sure that no one stood up to ask, he asked: "Sir, there is something I dare to ask. According to what you wrote, these businesses must be profitable."

"As for the capital, it is not much. Your family wealth is several times that of us. Why don't you do such profitable business yourself? Why do you want to share the profits with us?"

"To put it bluntly, we are all businessmen. People in the world say that we businessmen are all willing to cheat our parents. Although this is a bit biased, there are indeed some scums. However, if you can make money yourself, you will not look for others."

"First, it is difficult to trust, and second, the responsibility is unclear. If he commits a crime, I am in the same business with him, and I am afraid that I will be implicated."

Two sharp questions were placed in front of Liu Yu.

Although everyone present knew that this was just a double act.

Lin Yunwen is Liu Yu's man, and he turned over after climbing Liu Yu's high branch. But even so, the two questions Lin Yunwen asked are exactly what they want to ask.

Whether it is a double act or not is really not important.

They are all profitable businesses. You are not without money, nor are you without connections. Why don't you do it yourself but give us the benefits?

Does the court have a policy to guarantee this limited liability system?

If other shareholders commit crimes, will we be implicated?

When the Chamber of Commerce is seized, will only the shares of the offender be seized under limited liability? Or will all shareholders in the entire Chamber of Commerce be implicated?

The former can be explained or not. Maybe the heart is not at ease, but the credibility is there, who would refuse real money?

The latter is the knot that has been hanging in everyone's heart.

The premise of the shareholding system is that the property of merchants cannot be violated. That is only an appearance. Its essence is a compromise reached because the strength of merchants is enough to shake the lofty imperial power.

The tradition of emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce since ancient times has made merchants have no power to resist, and naturally there is no inviolable property of merchants.

In particular, the more people who participate in the shares, the greater the possibility that someone will commit a crime, and the more people will be implicated in the future.

Trust, they trust Liu Yu. But in addition to trust, they hope to have an institutionalized explanation or law.

However, there is no.

Besides, are there any merchants who do not break the law? Are there any who do not evade taxes? Everyone evades taxes and breaks the law. If you do not break the law, how can you compete with others?

Generally breaking the law, generally not having a good reputation under the Confucian and Legalist values, naturally they are all a group of fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered.

Now Lin Yunwen expressed everyone's doubts, and the hall was silent, and everyone wanted to hear how Liu Yu would answer.

"The first question is a good one. I think it's not just Lin Yunwen's idea. I guess many of you here think so."

"In fact, this question is very simple. Why don't I make money myself? Is there anyone in the world who thinks that they have too much money?"

"Yes, I think that I have too much money."

"The way of heaven is to reduce the surplus and replenish the deficiency. It is also said that the moon is full and the water is full. I have too many ways to make money and I am too capable, so I don't want to be too rich, just enough. Do you have any questions?"

This answer was too presumptuous, but it made everyone unable to refute it.

It seems that this is indeed the case.

For trade with Japan, no one knows what Liu Yu said and did with the Japanese shogunate, but he was able to get almost all the trade cards of Chinese merchants.

All the merchants present who have participated in trade with Japan are actually powerless about "selling out the country".

When Nagasaki wanted war horses, military tactics, samurai, military equipment information, defense maps, etc., everyone was tempted. But they were powerless and couldn't get them.

If anyone can get contraband and go to Japan to exchange for trade letters, no businessman will say a word of spitting and calling him a traitor. Instead, they will give him a thumbs up and say: This person is really capable!

No matter how Liu Yu got the trade letters from Japan, or whether there was any traitorous transaction, these businessmen will not care, they can only say that he is capable.

These people certainly know how much profit there is in trade with Japan.

Most of the industries in their hands, such as military factories, shipbuilding, glass, iron smelting, matches, etc., are also profitable.

If someone else said "disdained too much money", some people would naturally think it was too boastful.

But Liu Yu has done so many great things, and when he said that he disdained too much money, it was the truth.

Why should he share the profits with others? Because he disdained too much money.

Why disdained too much money is another question.

This other question, of course, does not need to be explained.

Everyone present is a businessman, and everyone knows it.

Being rich enough to rival a country... is really not a good thing.

There are some questions that you dare not ask and cannot ask. Of course, you don't need to ask them. Many things cannot be said openly.

This reason seems to have been explained, but Liu Yu did not stop there.

"It is said that villains are concerned with profit and gentlemen are concerned with righteousness. It is also said that when doing things, you should be a villain first and then a gentleman."

"The Yongjia and Yongkang schools of thought in the country are orthodox Confucianism. Although I have not read much and am a brave warrior, I also know that there is a very key point in it, that is, righteousness and profit are not fish and bear's paw, nor are they an either-or opposition."

"Dong Zhongshu said: correct righteousness and do not seek profit."

"Then, the great Confucian scholar Yan Yuan of the Northern School said: correct righteousness to seek profit, clarify the way and calculate the merits!"

"The Yongjia and Yongkang schools of thought in the Song Dynasty said: reconcile righteousness with profit, do not suppress profit with righteousness."

"Without benefit, how do you know whether what you do is meritorious? Without merit, how do you know whether what you do is righteous? Some people in the north say that empty talk has made the world like women since the Song Dynasty. After that, it is even more empty talk about righteousness. . Then how can this justice be manifested?

"If a trading company transports rice, during the Jiao-Liao famine, the price of rice will become increasingly expensive. Will the merchants benefit from transporting rice from Siam? Of course they will."

"But if the merchants benefit, will the hungry people benefit? If the hungry people also benefit, how can we say that justice and benefit are inconsistent with each other?"

"The name of a businessman is extremely bad. Therefore, I hope that this time I can point out a clear path so that doing business will be both beneficial and more meaningful."

"As for glass, if we open a glass workshop, we won't have to buy glass from Westerners, and the price of glass will drop to one or two silver a piece, so that everyone can use transparent glass, wouldn't it be right?"

"If we open an iron smelting workshop in the middle of Liaozhong, so that the people who want to reclaim the wasteland can use the best iron tools, which are no less good than those from Foshan, Guangdong, wouldn't this be justifiable?"

"If we invest in military industry so that our soldiers can have superior guns and artillery, it will be worthy of the West. Isn't this just right?"

"Of course I can do it myself, but I still hope that more businessmen will do it together to rectify the name of businessmen. This is the right way."

"What I said before that I don't want to be rich and powerful is just the words of a villain."

"These are the words of a gentleman. My way is that scholars, farmers, industry and commerce are all integrated into one. So where the way is, even though there are thousands of people, I can still go there, how about the mere profit of money?"

Many things have limitations. In his previous life, Liu Yu was not interested in those big businessmen because they had already hindered the development of the times in some places.

But now, in the feudal era, those things that were regarded as obstacles in the previous life are like the light of the right path, leading the trend.

If the debate between righteousness and benefit is the same as that of other schools of thought, then it is a declaration of war on Confucianism.

During the Reformation and Renaissance, we can engage in Protestantism and Reformed Christianity, but we cannot say that Catholicism is not good. Let us all believe in Islam.

The same thing applies to Dashun.

Even if some of the saint's words are nonsense, we must find evidence of "the heresy is reasonable" among the piles of old papers, rather than overthrow it and start over.

The great ideological chaos and hedonism in the late Ming Dynasty can be regarded as the Renaissance.

After more than eighty years of speculation and the collapse of Neo-Confucianism, as well as Dashun's official ideological support of the Yongkang School of Yongjia, it can be regarded as the starting point of the religious reform.

Everything that businessmen do for "self-interest" must be described as "righteousness."

Just like the Protestant Reformed Church of the Reformation, wealth is regarded as proof of God's will and faith.

Liu Yu wanted to overthrow and start over, but Dashun had not yet reached the point where even the gentry and landlords could not survive under external shocks and wanted to vote for the red. Without a foundation, it would be a castle in the air.

Fortunately, there seems to be a basis for religious reform now, so this can be a try. Even if there is not so much righteousness, a lot of righteousness must be said.

Liu Yu is definitely not good at interpreting scriptures. But it’s okay to start by paying a great scholar to explain the scriptures. Since it is possible to supplement Confucianism with Buddhism, it is not wrong to turn Confucianism into one that "uses benefit to harmonize righteousness, and does not use righteousness to suppress benefit."

Liu Yu is reminding these businessmen, don't be stupid and just know how to make money. You have to spend money to find someone to interpret the Bible. Wouldn’t it be foolish not to spend money on this and not take advantage of Dashun’s permission to encourage associations to discuss politics? You’re not short of money, but you’re still afraid that you won’t be able to buy good words?