Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 78: A chance to gain merit

The emperor did not seize the property by force, but instead "sincerely invited" everyone to invest, and no one reacted.

The nature of the subsequent events did not actually change, and everyone expressed their willingness.

Zhu Changluo knew that they were still just "robbing and plundering", but he was not at ease with the quality of these vassal nobles.

In any case, this is just the beginning. Even if we use this method to get them involved first, the pressure on the royal family and relatives is not that great at the moment.

When things have begun to show results and they have tasted the sweetness, they can naturally "issue more". At that time, it will be smoother to implement any reforms that touch the core interests of the royal family and noble relatives.

The main focus today is not on these brainless nobles, but on their ability to understand when they are asked to choose their crown princes or young children and grandchildren to serve in the "Changming" to be established.

Therefore, after the false alarm, the princes and nobles followed the emperor's order not to disclose the news to other families, and went back to decide how much silver to put in as a "shareholder".

In the emperor's words, he kept them on purpose because he trusted them more, and not every vassal could enjoy the initial grace and honor.

Some fools just feel that it is better not to have this favor.

No matter how much money you give, just consider it as a filial tribute to the emperor.

Then the top ten Shanxi merchants were retained.

The atmosphere was completely different. Zhu Changluo spoke first: "Even if Wang Zhizhen didn't say it, you all know that it was because of the Shanhaiguan uprising. The three judicial departments have investigated six families. The list was given to me by Wang Zhizhen."

"...Your Majesty, forgive me!"

There was a lot of kowtows and pounding of garlic in front of him, and Zhu Changluo was the first to accept it.

"You are different from the vassal states and meritorious officials who have enjoyed grace and honor for generations. You have all worked hard to please others." Zhu Changluo paused and said, "I only called you Shanxi merchants, and not the Lianghuai, Jiangnan, Fujian and Guangdong merchants. That's because I know that it is more difficult for you to make money than them. After all, the border trade with the northern barbarians has been reopened not long ago, and your Wang and Zhang families are much weaker than the big families in Jiangnan."

The way the ten major Shanxi merchants felt about the emperor at this moment was very different from the rumors outside.

They didn't dare to reply casually.

"Because of the opening of the Sino-French policy, you were able to make a fortune. Because of the silver deduction policy, you border merchants were controlled by the domestic merchants. Just this salt law, you have gone through a lot of back and forth." Zhu Changluo looked at Zhang Zhizheng, "Your uncle Zhang Siwei abolished some of the new policies in the past, not all for the public."

Zhang Zhizheng's body trembled slightly: "Your Majesty is wise and knows that we are just border merchants. The rise and fall of our business is all due to the change in the silver exchange rate in Kaizhong."

"Of course I know."

The intricacies involved here, just from the perspective of the salt permit management system, have already touched upon the core areas of Ming Dynasty's industry and commerce.

Salt was a monopoly in the Ming Dynasty. If salt merchants wanted to sell salt legally, they had to have a salt permit.

Only with salt permits could one buy official salt from the many salt roads of the Ming Dynasty and then sell it.

In addition to being frequently requested as a reward by some vassal states and noble relatives, the main practice was to summon salt merchants to sell the salt permits.

Later, due to the difficulties in logistics support in border towns and the large losses in transportation of grain, salt and other goods, the Kaizhong method was introduced. Merchants could transport the necessary materials to border towns and obtain "warehouse notes" from them. With the warehouse notes obtained from border towns, they could exchange them for salt permits, so that they could sell official salt.

As for the silver exchange, the grain, horses, silk, grass, etc. sent to the border towns were directly converted into silver and handed over directly to the national treasury, and then salt permits were obtained; the national treasury also allocated the silver directly to the various border towns, and then let them purchase.

Both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages, but the important difference lies in the initiative in obtaining salt permits.

If the Kaizhong method is used, those who can transport goods to the border towns stably will have the initiative; if the Kaizhong silver is used, those who can come up with huge amounts of funds will have the initiative.

The complete Kaizhong method often takes several years to realize the complete interest chain from goods to warehouse notes, from warehouse notes to salt permits, from salt permits to actual salt, and from actual salt to profits.

The border merchants who were closer to the border towns later learned their lesson. After obtaining the warehouse notes, they did not engage in salt trade entirely. Instead, they sold the warehouse notes directly to salt merchants in other salt-producing areas. This way, they had a higher capital turnover efficiency.

They were called border merchants. In salt-producing areas, those who specialized in salt business became domestic merchants. They did not sell actual salt, but bought warehouse notes, exchanged them for salt permits, and then sold the salt permits to merchants who actually sold salt. These merchants were called water merchants.

The most accurate description of domestic merchants should be called the futures, bond and financial merchants that actually exist in the Ming Dynasty at this moment.

Only those with the wealthiest assets, the strongest penetration into the relevant salt laws and regulations, and the most border and water business partners have the ability to play with domestic business.

Salt production can be unstable, salt permits can be stockpiled, and salt prices in different provinces can fluctuate.

All of this became the key to domestic merchants being able to make profits by trading warehouse notes and salt permits without having to travel outside to do business, and only by maintaining good relationships.

There are many more methods involved, and Zhu Changluo gained a deeper understanding of them through Ma Tang, Sun Long and others.

Making this clear to this group of "border merchants" at this moment is only to let them know that the emperor understands a lot.

Wang Xun, Zhang Zhizheng and others did think that the emperor understood a lot, but when you consider that he did not mention the Lianghuai, Jiangnan, Fujian and Guangdong merchant groups, the deeper meaning behind this is frightening.

"According to the current law, you cannot stand the investigation. But I want to use you, and I want you to hear clearly. Lift up your heads."

Looking at ten pairs of anxious eyes, Zhu Changluo said slowly: "Starting from Changming, you will represent me! Business should be done as it should be. I have everything you need to buy. First, I have only three requirements for you."

"I listen respectfully..."

"One: Pay all the taxes you are required to pay when you go through the various checkpoints. Don't play tricks. The checkpoints you set up at the checkpoints are private. Keep a record of the amount of money you paid and the people who collected your money."

Wang Xun and the others were shocked. His Majesty was going to set up a trap. If they were just the shopkeepers of the emperor, the royal family, and the nobles, then the local officials were accepting bribes from the emperor...

"Second: Go to Tatar and Jurchen to trade, collect their intelligence, and let some of the chieftains indulge in pleasure. On the contrary, if you are bribed by them and only listen to my request, you know what a sin it is."

"...I dare not."

"Three: Build a Changming Academy. The children of the royal family, nobles and relatives who are sent to Changming Academy for training, the children of your family, and the children of the shopkeepers and servants of your families can all go to study there. In addition to the classics, we will especially emphasize accounting, mathematics, and business."

Wang Xun and others couldn't help but look at the emperor.

Zhu Changluo said calmly: "I am your host, and I will naturally support the students of Changming Academy. Wang Chonggu, Zhang Siwei, Wang Daokun... In the past, there were also important officials who came from merchant families. Why did the Song Dynasty become rich, and why is the Ming Dynasty in financial difficulties now? You are not fools, you know what I intend to do."

Wang Xun and Zhang Zhizheng would rather not know, as they were sweating profusely now.

Zhu Changluo still said calmly: "Think it through but don't speak it out, do things step by step. Today I let you meet me with the royal family, vassal, and noble relatives. Whether you can live and work with the country like them in the future depends on whether you understand the pros and cons. You wear cotton and linen, but you know that the profits from industry and commerce far exceed those from land. Farmers are the foundation of the country, and industry and commerce should also add wealth to the country. I will not send tax collectors to exploit you like my father did, but I will remove some of the shackles on you."

Rest with the country... shackles...

The shocking secret fell into the ears of these ten people, and they looked at the emperor in surprise and doubt.

"Do the first step well, and let me take control of the nine borders." Zhu Changluo looked at them, "In the future, the salt law, money law, copper and iron, military preparations, official farmland, and horse administration will all be under Changming. How are these founding shareholders different from the founding ministers? This is what you are good at, so do you want to take the blame and receive this special honor? Tell me."

Is there a choice?

Although he knew that this was an extremely bold attempt by the emperor and that he would most likely become a scapegoat if things ultimately failed, he had no choice.

Don't meritorious officials have to sacrifice their lives in order to live with the country?
"...I am willing to give away all my family property..."

"Grassman..."

This was a unique form of entertainment and their hearts were pounding.

A meritorious official has nothing more than a hereditary certificate and a salary.

But the emperor's current idea is to share the profits from many financial projects year after year.

It is difficult to calculate in detail how many shares each person has and what the expected profits are in the future.

Although the emperor only offered one million taels of silver now, he, the "old man", would of course take the biggest share.

Next, they fully witnessed the young emperor's achievements in finance, which completely surprised and shocked them. It was impossible for the eldest prince to learn these things.

Zhu Changluo only took 70% of the shares first, and did not ask each family to take out their wealth.

The ten major Shanxi merchants quickly understood the concept of adding some industries and assets, and then increasing capital and diluting it.

The more details there are, the more it proves that the emperor both understood and was determined to do so.

Their hearts were beating wildly uncontrollably.

The whole world still doesn't know what kind of drastic changes the Ming Dynasty will usher in, and they will be the first batch of weapons that the emperor will secretly sharpen.

"Because of the first and second requirements I put forward, the additional costs paid by Changming will not be included in the actual costs next year." Zhu Changluo added, "The royal family and nobles don't know much, so let them see the profits first, understand?"

"I understand! I understand!" Wang Xun answered repeatedly.

"That's good. Once we have done the first step, I and Changming will be able to get the help of some important generals in the border towns and most of the royal relatives, so that we can win the real financial battle."

Zhu Changluo waved his hand, and Wang An brought a plate with ten small boxes on it.

"I will trust you first and use you first. Each of you will have a seal to report to Wang An. He will supervise the six Baohe stores as the Imperial Household Department, and you will submit to him as your trusted confidants."

"… the common people are terrified."

Isn't this equivalent to revealing secrets? That is the power only the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet has.

"Why don't you just do your job well?" Zhu Changluo looked at them. "Before the end of December, you should come up with a plan for next year. If I review it and find it acceptable, you can become my subjects."

All ten of them felt dizzy from the heat of the moment.

What kind of wise ruler is this who understands business?
Inexplicably, such a great mission and opportunity fell upon them.

Carrying a huge secret, he left the Forbidden City in a daze and gathered at Wang Xun's house in the capital, where Wang Zhizhen was waiting.

"It doesn't have to be us, but since the Holy Mother Empress Dowager is originally from Shanxi, I happen to be in charge of the defense, and most of our families are border merchants, so it has to be us." Wang Zhizhen clasped his fists to them, "Please! My honor and disgrace also depend on you. This matter is both internal and external!"

"…The matter of Shanhaiguan is entirely due to the Admiral's efforts!"

"...No, when His Majesty sent me to investigate the case, he had already planned for this day." Wang Zhizhen took a deep breath, "As His Majesty said, this is a blessing in disguise. Although the road ahead is difficult, is there still such a great opportunity? Please remember: make up for your crime with merit!"

(End of this chapter)