After the conference, Zhao Ming took a car to the Regent's Mansion.

At this time, the news of Huang Zongxi's arrest had spread like wildfire, and Nanjing City and even the entire Jiangnan were soon learned.

This made some Huang Zongxi's followers and the Southeast gentry very uneasy.

Many people immediately gathered together and used their strength to prepare to rescue Huang Zongxi.

Because the person who arrested Huang Zongxi was Yan Qiheng, the left censor of the Inspectorate, and Yan Qiheng was first from the Longwu clan, they immediately pointed their finger at Yan Qiheng and Du Yinxi, believing that they influenced the Regent's decision.

For a time, they began to organize people to impeach, and newspapers controlled by merchants in Jiangnan also began to launch attacks.

The workers who caused this incident raised their wages and reduced working hours became the key to the debate.

The Southeastern gentry knew very well that after Huang Zongxi fell, the court had a high probability of using policies that would harm their interests, so he put on a stance that he could not even be too old to publicize these policies, which would harm merchants and the court.

However, at this time, the underrepresentations controlled by the court, as well as newspapers controlled by the government, were ordered by Zhao Ming to begin to publish the gentry and merchants in Jiangnan, colluding with Huang Zongxi, influencing the court's decision-making, and soliciting evidence of fraud in the meeting.

This immediately caused the newspapers controlled by the Southeast gentry and merchants to be silent, and those corrupt scholars who originally spoke for the gentry and merchants and Huang Zongxi were slapped in the face of the evidence. As the evidence was released, the presidents of the Donglin Chamber of Commerce, including the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, were immediately arrested and imprisoned.

Zhao Ming then published a letter in the underreport of the government, speaking for workers, demanding that workers be treated increase, and denounced the gentry and businessmen's behavior of bribery to interfere with the government's affairs and expressing his attitude.

If they face ministers such as Du Yinxi, Jiangnan gentry and merchants, and officials from the Jiangnan division in the court could fight back and resist, but when faced with Zhao Ming's attitude, they could only stop.

However, Jiangnan gentry and businessmen were the main supporters of Zhao Ming and an important participant in his establishment of a great dynasty.

After dealing with a group of businessmen who interfered with the government, Zhao Ming immediately invited Jiangnan gentry and merchants to come to Nanjing to participate in an annual meeting to stabilize the hearts of gentry and merchants.

The 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, the Little Year of the Lunar New Year.

On this day, all departments of the Ming Dynasty had sealed them. Except for a very small number of officials on duty to maintain the operation of the huge empire, most officials had already gone home for the New Year on holiday.

Regent Zhao Ming, however, was not allowed to rest, but met merchants from all over the country at the Guoshe Pavilion Building.

Although time was in a hurry, there were still more than a thousand gentry and merchants who came to Nanjing to participate in the annual meeting, verifying the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty Jiangnan region.

As we had to entertain so many people at once, the court could only quickly change the national society lobby into a banquet hall, and set up more than a hundred tables.

In the evening, gentry and merchants from all over the south of Jiangnan were introduced to the lobby and took their seats according to their own name.

At this time, each large table was filled with more than ten dishes prepared by the imperial chef.

Although these dishes may not be as delicious as they are at home, many people feel honored to be able to sit in the National Hall and participate in the state banquet.

At this moment, the guard suddenly said loudly: "The Regent is here!"

More than a hundred tables of gentry and merchants immediately stood up and welcomed Zhao Ming in.

Zhao Ming was wearing his regular clothes and walked to the high platform. The original long table was moved away, leaving only a small table, and no stool was prepared.

Zhao Ming walked to the table, raised his hand and pressed it down, signaling everyone to sit down, then picked up the iron horn on the table, and smiled and said, "Something has happened to the government and the government recently, which has made everyone turbulent and made everyone very uneasy!"

Everyone in the lobby was silent, and they were sitting straight at Zhao Ming, afraid that they would reveal a word.

There is no doubt that the Southeast gentry and merchants supported Zhao Ming. It was the Regent who drove away the Qing Dynasty and then opened sea to lead them to make money. Everyone supported Zhao Ming in their hearts.

Therefore, Zhao Ming took action against Huang Zongxi this time and arrested a group of merchants and gentry, which made everyone very frightened. Some people didn't even know why the Regent took such a move.

To be honest, they are now the Regent, and they all agree with it if they want to be the emperor.

Therefore, many people can't understand why the Regent wanted to mess with them.

"Today, I want to take this opportunity to give everyone a peace of mind!" Zhao Ming continued: "Here, I must first emphasize that the court's policy of valuing business will not change, but when merchants enjoy the court's policies and make money, they must have an understanding of themselves. First of all, merchants are merchants. They work hard to run a good business club, abide by the court's national policies, earn wealth for themselves, and ensure their lives of workers and employees, and are qualified and worthy of their respect."

Everyone pricked up their ears, and some smarter ones already understood the meaning of the Regent.

Businessmen must keep their duties as merchants and do not attempt to participate in or interfere in politics.

Zhao Ming said in a deep voice: "I and the court do not oppose merchants making money. On the contrary, they hope that merchants can make more money. Only when you make money can the workers get wages and the court has taxes. But I hope that the money you make is not obtained by controlling the court's policies and slapping the people of the Ming Dynasty. Merchants can participate in politics normally and give opinions to the court, but if they use improper means to bribe imperial officials, interfere with the court's policies, and seek personal gain for themselves, then I will never be ruthless!"

Although Zhao Ming's words were very strict, some people had settled down. The regent meant that they hoped that everyone would make money in peace and not try to interfere with national policies.

Zhao Ming was very disgusted with merchants participating in politics because merchants were pursuing profits. Once they had the ability to interfere in politics, it would inevitably lead the court to formulate more policies that would benefit them, thereby harming the interests of ordinary people.

This is the most obvious example of the Donglin Party. For the interests of the Southeast, harming the interests of the Ming Dynasty will eventually lead to the collapse of the court.

Therefore, Zhao Ming did not want merchants to interfere in politics, create wealth for the court and society, and just follow the court's arrangements.

Just like improving the treatment of workers, such things, with the nature of merchants, if the court does not strictly stipulate, most merchants will not be able to be aware of the treatment of workers and take the initiative to increase the treatment of workers. They will squeeze out the last part of the workers without hesitation.

Everyone understands the principle that too much is too little. If the landlords exploit tenants, the tenants will abandon their wasteland and rebel, and the workers will be exploited and harsh, which may also cause the same problem.

However, understanding the truth is one thing, and whether it can be corrected is another thing. History tells Zhao Ming that it will not be corrected without a knife on his neck.

Therefore, it is necessary to maintain strong government supervision for merchants, directly intervene and formulate policies, and prevent merchants from acting too much.

At this time, Zhao Ming said in a gentle tone: "I believe that everyone here is a good businessman who is law-abiding. The next five-year plan of the court will be launched soon, and there will be countless projects waiting for you to make money. Here, I hope everyone will treat workers well and make money reasonably and legally."
Chapter completed!