In the southwest corner outside Yangzhou City, at the North Lake of Lotus Pond, and on Zhongchang Island on the east bank of the Erdao River, there is a building with water in front and back. Across the water to the west, you can see the winding hills of Shu, and across the water to the east, you can see the river bank outside Yangzhou South City.

It is a garden of peach and willow trees. This garden occupies a good piece of land, with willow shadows, water shadows, and mountain shadows in front, back, and left. It is trance-like, poetic and picturesque, so it was named Shadow Garden by Dong Qichang, a layman in Xiangguang.

The owner of this film garden, whose surname is Zheng, is named Yuanxun. He is one of the most famous people in Yangzhou City today. He was a Jinshi in the 16th year of Chongzhen's reign and the second son of the late Zheng Zhiyan, a great salt merchant. The Zheng family salt merchants belong to the Huibang salt merchants.

, although he is not ranked among the general merchants, he has a rich net worth and is not under the eight general merchants. Moreover, because Zheng Yuanxun was born as a Jinshi Gong (this was a Jinshi with extremely strong activity, he was already a famous scholar in the southeast when he was still in the exam, and

With friends all over the Huaihe River and the Three Rivers), the Zheng Family Salt Merchant’s status in Yangzhou became even more detached. They did not assume the responsibility of the general merchant, and received benefits and influence but were not inferior to any other general merchant.

So tonight, the most prominent people in the Yangzhou salt industry gathered in this movie garden to discuss how to deal with Zhu Cixiang, the nephew of the Ming Dynasty who came here with no kindness.

The person hosting this party tonight is not the owner Zheng Yuanxun (Zheng Yuanxun is an official in Beijing), but his eldest brother Zheng Yuanhua.

In an attic where you can see the winding hills of Sichuan and the whirling peach and willow trees at the same time, the eight general merchants plus one Zheng Yuanhua, plus an old farmer named Zhou, gathered at a table and were drinking and chatting.

Why is there a person who looks like an old farmer? Because this old farmer is a relative of Zhu Cihong. He is the father-in-law of Emperor Chongzhen. The younger brother of Zhou Guozhang is named Zhou Fugui. He was originally a farmer, but he became rich because of his cousin Zhou Kui. Now,

He is also a salt merchant.

Ten salt merchants gathered at a table, and of course they had to discuss how to deal with Zhu Cixiang, a young man...

"It's true that the young master opened eight general merchants as soon as he came to Yangzhou. He is not afraid that the salt industry will collapse and the people in the world will have no salt to eat!"

Worrying that the people of the Ming Dynasty had no salt to eat, Zhou Fugui, who looked like an old farmer, had a wrinkled black face full of simple worries.

Zheng Yuanhua, who was shaking a folding fan and had an elegant demeanor, looked more like a scholar than a profiteer, and asked with a smile: "Brother Fugui, you are a relative of the emperor, so you must know more than idle people like us..."

Why don't you tell us how much His Highness Kunimoto wants? If we can get it together, we can send the money to His Highness as soon as possible to avoid the hassle."

Zhou Fugui smiled and looked at the eight major salt merchants present. They had just lost their position as salt generals and could no longer control the salt affairs. They were somewhat depressed. After hearing Zheng Yuanhua's words and being glanced at by Zhou Fugui, they all reacted immediately.

When they came over, they all agreed.

"Yes, yes...as long as I can get it, I will do my best to serve you."

"Yes, as long as I can restore my status as general merchant, the money will be easy to come by."

"His Royal Highness Kunimoto needs money, and we will repay the favor!"

"I'm also willing to pay."

"How much you want to pay depends entirely on Brother Fugui's words."

"I mean the same thing."

"I also have this intention..."

"Exactly, exactly so..."

The eight general merchants all nodded hurriedly, and it seemed that they all had made up their mind to save money and avoid disaster - going against His Highness the Great Nephew was not something that salt merchants could do.

Don't look at the fact that during the Wanli period, the landowners and merchants in the southeast sometimes resisted the mining tax, and sometimes resisted the loom (loom) tax, which caused great joy, but in fact it was not about how powerful they were, it was entirely about the power of the people who collected their money.

Too Small - On the surface, these tax resistance incidents seem to be caused by profiteers opposing the imperial court. It seems that the profiteers in Jiangnan are so powerful that they have made the imperial court lose their temper. But in fact, it is the eunuch group that Emperor Wanli relies on that is fighting against the outer court.

The scholar-bureaucrat group struggle.

For example, when Zhihu was in trouble in Suzhou, Suzhou prefect Zhu Xieyuan refused to mobilize troops to suppress it. He watched helplessly as the Suzhou people smashed the tax superintendent's office and drowned six or seven members of the tax superintendent Sun Long (eunuch) into the river. That Zhu Xieyuan was there

The ruthless man who suppressed the She'an Rebellion in Sichuan, if he was willing to take action, wouldn't Orihu of Suzhou have to attack every second?

Emperor Wanli was not resolute in the fight against taxes in Jiangnan. Although he sent eunuchs to collect taxes, he did not give the eunuchs any soldiers. If he sent thousands of eunuchs and cavalry to follow, then Orihu of Suzhou

Do you really dare to launch an armed uprising?

In fact, Emperor Wanli didn't really trust the eunuchs in the inner court, nor did he really want to severely crack down on the scholar-bureaucrats in the outer dynasties. Moreover, he was not sure how rich the profiteers in Jiangnan were? Maybe the people in Suzhou were really poor.

Are the people already in dire straits? What if we push too hard and a civil uprising breaks out?

This Wanli Emperor was actually a confused emperor who didn't know anything about military affairs, finances, or the situation in the world...

But now Zhu Youjian is not confused. He knows that Southeast is rich, and he even knows that Zhu Cihong can make money!

And Zhu Cihong, who was sent by him to make money, is not comparable to eunuchs like Sun Long... Now all the military and political power in Huaidong Province is in the hands of Zhu Cihong! If anyone dares to cause trouble, Zhu Cihong doesn't have to go through it at all.

Others can mobilize their own troops to suppress them.

So all these Yangzhou salt merchants can do is pay.

Zhou Fugui stretched out three fingers and said with a smile: "300,000 for a family... Oh, just give 150,000 to the Zheng family. A total of 2.55 million taels of silver, and the father-in-law can always deal with it."

How was it in the past, can you get out?"

"Let's go out!"

"Of course!"

"It's all up to Brother Zhou to make the decision..."

Of course, the eight salt bosses and Zheng Yuanhua did not dare to give up the money, and all of them had their chests slapped on the spot, so...a total of 550,000 taels of silver was wasted the day after Zhu Cixang arrived in Yangzhou.

It was placed in the back garden of the Huaidong Governor's Yamen where he lived.

Why is it 550,000 taels? Shouldn't it be 2.55 million taels? Then you have to ask Zhou Guozhang...

"Great nephew, here are 550,000 taels of silver, which were raised by the eight major salt merchants in Yangzhou and the Zheng Family Salt Company... Do you think this is enough? Can you give grandpa some face and let them go?"

Zhou Kui, who was in his sixties and well-maintained and looked at least fifty years old, was pointing at the open leather boxes that filled the entire yard and talking happily to Zhu Cihong.

Zhu Cixiang looked at the money in front of him, and he really couldn't laugh or cry... Well, they have collected 2.55 million taels, and you just give me 550,000 taels. Doesn't your heart hurt? You have never even been a Jiading uncle in your life.

Even though you were left in Jiangnan by Chongzhen for so many years, you don’t know how to reflect on it?

"Grandpa," Zhu Cixang said with a deadpan smile, "they misunderstood Gu. Gu is the foundation of the country, and the whole world will be Gu in the future. How could Gu be greedy for a mere few hundred thousand taels? Take this money.

Go back and give them back... Gu will not take back his life!"

"Great nephew, you don't even listen to grandpa's face?" Zhou Kui looked very unhappy.

Zhu Cixiang shook his head and said: "How can we abolish public affairs for personal reasons in national affairs? Grandpa should stay less involved in these!"

Zhou Kui's face darkened, "What if it's your mother's intention?"

Zhu Cihong glanced at Zhou Kui, "My mother's queen?"

"That's right!" Zhou Kui nodded, took out an envelope, and handed it to Zhu Cihong with both hands.

Zhu Cihong took the envelope, took out the letter paper inside, and opened it to read. It was indeed a letter written by Zhou Hou. The content of the letter actually had nothing to do with salt politics. It was just that Zhou Hou asked Zhu Cihong to take care of Zhou Kui's grandfather...

.If possible, make arrangements with a few more cousins.

In this life, Zhu Youjian was a bit cold towards Zhou Kui's family. Not only did he not appoint Zhou Kui as Jiadingbo, but he also did not give officials to Zhou Kui and Zhou Kui's sons. Those few are now commoners.
Chapter completed!