The most reckless man in the Ming Dynasty

Tang Hao led his army back to Qinghe Shipyard.

Returning with him were hundreds of blacksmiths.

These blacksmiths all brought their families with them and voluntarily followed the Marquis of Zhongshan.

To be honest, at first the blacksmiths thought that the dog officer was just a blind guy who gave random orders, but who would have thought that not only did he do what he said, he would be given a lot of money, but he also greatly improved his skills. The iron smelting output of Laiwu Iron Works is simply beyond what ordinary people can achieve.

Therefore, before Tang Hao left, he asked if any craftsmen were willing to go with him to settle down in Qinghe Shipyard. All of these craftsmen were immediately moved.

There is no way, the Marquis of Zhongshan gave too much.

As long as he is willing to come to Qinghe Shipyard with him, the treatment of the craftsmen can be said to be ridiculously good.

They only need to use these fine steels to make firearms, and they can get wages per piece. The more work they do, the more they work. If the things in the drawings are built, there will be rewards ranging from one hundred taels to one thousand taels, which are all real money!

At this moment, Tang Hao summoned the most experienced craftsmen among these craftsmen, headed by the burly Li Daniu.

"Li Daniu, these drawings will be handed over to you for safekeeping from now on."

Tang Hao handed the drawings to Li Daniu and said in a deep voice: "As a reward task, all craftsmen can borrow them and try to build them in their free time. However, the drawings must not be leaked or damaged, otherwise don't blame me for being ruthless. ,have you understood?"

Li Daniu and the other ten craftsmen nodded repeatedly.

It wasn't until they came to the Qinghe Shipyard that they finally understood the value of the three words "Zhongshan Hou". It was no exaggeration to say that he was the most powerful person in the dynasty!

After all, the person standing behind the Marquis of Zhongshan is the Emperor of Ming Dynasty!

"Your task at this stage is to build a firearms workshop as soon as possible, and then use these fine steels to build military-standard firearms, so that the firearms workshop can get on the right track. Then you can try to build the things in these drawings."

"In the future, every blacksmith will have a number, and every firearm must have a corresponding number on it. Whoever produces it will leave a name. If something goes wrong in the end, there will be an accountability system. Shoddy manufacturing and fraud are absolutely unacceptable. Allow it to happen!”

Hearing Tang Hao's words, the blacksmiths suddenly felt shocked.

Li Daniu said bravely: "Master Hou, is this too... harsh?"

"Is it harsh?" Tang Hao chuckled and said, "I don't think so."

"I paid such a high price to invite you here, and also asked you to make firearms out of fine steel. Under such excellent conditions, if there is another incident of crudely made firearms exploding the chamber, then I can only assume that you are Some of you think this is natural, and think that I don’t dare to kill anyone?”

"Since you enjoy the benefits, you must assume obligations, so this matter is not negotiable and must be implemented."

After a pause, Tang Hao simply added fire.

"Let's do this. From now on, the ten of you will be the stewards of the firearms workshop. Li Daniu will be the chief and will be directly responsible to me. All the blacksmiths in the firearms workshops will be equally divided between the ten of you. You will be responsible for the production and life of these blacksmiths. "

"Whoever has a problem, I will find you and sit down directly. Not only will the person who caused the problem be punished, but the corresponding manager will also be punished. Deductions from wages and bonuses will be implemented simultaneously. Please understand. Yet?"

Following the order from the Marquis of Zhongshan, Li Daniu and the other ten people could only bow and accept the order.

Only at this moment did they finally understand that the treatment given by the Marquis of Zhongshan was good, but the money was really hard to get!

However, as long as the blacksmiths under them are making firearms honestly and doing their jobs in a down-to-earth manner, then naturally this will not happen.

To put it bluntly, the Shanhou did not spend money to support idle people.

"In addition, those drawings have bonuses marked on them. Li Daniu can let the news out and stimulate the enthusiasm of the blacksmiths. Whoever builds these things first will definitely get a huge bonus. Come on down and get busy!"

After the blacksmiths left, Tang Hao set off to enter the Qinghe Shipyard.

At this moment, this long-abandoned super shipyard is already bustling with people.

Within a month, Qinghe Shipyard regained new vitality thanks to the efforts of the craftsmen, and shipbuilding was gradually put on the right track.

These craftsmen were involved in all aspects of shipbuilding, from carpenters to blacksmiths to painters. They themselves were shipbuilding professionals transferred from Nanjing Longjiang Shipyard and Huainan Qingjiang Shipyard. They immediately entered work under the command of Yu Mu.

Tang Hao inspected the shipyard while listening to Tang Mu's report.

"Master Marquis, all the craftsmen have been arranged."

"In addition, the shipbuilding timber and building materials have also arrived successfully, and construction can officially start soon."

"Have any craftsmen caused trouble during this period?" Tang Hao asked subconsciously.

"No." Tang Mu chuckled, "The heads of those two unlucky guys are still hanging on the school grounds. No one dares to provoke the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty anymore!"

"Furthermore, we all distribute the money and food that should be distributed one by one from house to house, even the Ryukyu craftsmen are no exception, so now the craftsmen are still in awe of us."

Tang Hao hummed and didn't pay much attention.

Zhu Houzhao ordered the transportation of timber and building materials in advance, so they could arrive in a short time. The purpose was to build a fleet as soon as possible and then officially start ocean trade.

"By the way, Lord Marquis, not long after you left, a group of businessmen came to visit. They are all famous wealthy businessmen from the south of the Yangtze River!"

Hearing this, Tang Hao's eyes suddenly lit up.

He almost forgot about this matter. Before leaving Beijing, he did ask Zhu Houzhao to summon some merchants from the south of the Yangtze River. The purpose was naturally to prepare goods for sea.

This time I went to sea for trade, so I naturally had to prepare enough goods.

To put it bluntly, it means exchanging what is available and what is not, and then the middleman makes the difference.

At that time, the fleet has exchanged some foreign goods, and it also needs the help of a group of merchants.

"Well, let's meet!"

“Tell these guys to meet me in the lobby!”

After receiving the order, Tang Mu immediately went to make arrangements.

Half an hour later, Tang Hao walked into the lobby, and all the merchants stood up and saluted with the utmost respect.

Even though they are all wealthy businessmen, these guys are still far from enough in front of the Marquis of Zhongshan of the Ming Dynasty.

After all, they are merchants!

In the past dynasties of China, most of the tax revenue came from agricultural taxes, so they have always advocated the basic national policy of establishing an agricultural country. Paying attention to agriculture and mulberry trees is a national policy that emperors of all dynasties must adhere to.

For this reason, in the eyes of the emperor, the business of bartering for goods and earning price differences, as well as those merchants who were full of money and pursued money and profits, were always dangerous factors that interfered with the stability of the country.

Therefore, since Shang Yang, China has vigorously promoted the basic national policy of focusing on agriculture and suppressing commerce, and the same was true for the Ming Dynasty.

Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang tried every means to confine the people to the fields and farm in peace and order. For example, the "road guide" system is an obvious example.

Not only must a series of things such as name, age, place of origin, appearance, reason for travel, and return time be marked on the road guide, but the distribution is also extremely strict. Basically, the government will not approve it unless there is something important!

To put it bluntly, if there is no road guide, they will be regarded as refugees and cannot even enter the city.

The world is so big. I want to see it. It is absolutely impossible in Ming Dynasty. Your legs will be broken!

In this harsh environment, merchants who were doing business everywhere and seeking profits naturally became a thorn in the side of the government and the most unstable and dangerous elements.

Faced with the Japanese invasion of the southeastern coastal areas, Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang decided to implement a maritime ban to put an end to all overseas trade among the people and prevent the merchant community from becoming too large.

The benefits of this are two-fold. First, it can weaken the adverse impact of Japanese pirates on coastal residents and promote the normal life of coastal residents.

The second is to restrict commercial development, allow more people to develop agriculture together, and prevent a group of merchants with excessive mobility from taking a dominant position.

At the same time, Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang also implemented a policy of focusing on agriculture and suppressing business, restricting the status of businessmen, and not allowing businessmen and their descendants to participate in the imperial examinations and enter official careers.

It can be said that in the early days of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, in order to stabilize social order, Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang first adopted a very strict system to crack down on wealthy businessmen in the south, and also implemented a very strict policy of focusing on agriculture and suppressing business across the country, lowering the status of businessmen.

At this point, the commodity economy that had gradually prospered since the Song Dynasty was suppressed and fell to the ground. Even parts of the south that were originally commercially developed also showed a decline.

Until Emperor Yongle rebuilt the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, connected the north and the south, promoted economic and cultural exchanges between the north and the south, and sent Zheng He to the West, industry and commerce became increasingly prosperous, and weavers abounded, and even large-scale handicraft workshops appeared, which led to the development of the Ming Dynasty. The development of commodity economy.

After Yongle, the two sects of Ren and Xuan went on a truce and went all out to develop people's livelihood, which also provided conditions for the development of the Ming Dynasty's commodity economy. Until after the Civil War, civil servants and gentry controlled the government, and collusion between officials and businessmen abounded, which further promoted the status of merchants. promote.

Scholars, farmers, industry, and merchants may seem to be hierarchies, but scholars and merchants have been an indivisible community of interests since ancient times.

After all, these civil servants have a good face. They want to make money, but they don't want to lower their status and be criticized by others. Therefore, most of them will support one or two businessmen to help them take care of their properties and do business for profit. They are truly responsible and established. If you become a bitch, you still have to erect a memorial arch.

Then, during the Longqing period, private overseas trade was opened up, a large amount of silver poured into China, the development of the commodity economy reached its peak, the hierarchy of scholars, farmers, industry and commerce was broken, and the gentry class even embarked on the road of doing business. Materially satisfied merchants in order to compensate for the cultural In order to overcome his shortcomings, he began to dabble in culture and had close relationships with scholar-bureaucrats.

Then, the ban on merchants' children not being allowed to take scientific examinations and serve as officials was immediately broken. Shen Shixing, the chief minister during the Wanli period, was the son of Shen Shizhang, a wealthy merchant in Jiangnan.

However, now in the Zhengde period, scholars and merchants did not dare to do this. The gentry and Jin gentry still maintained part of their dignity, while the merchants were still merchants with a low status.

For example, these wealthy businessmen and businessmen in front of them were all dressed in coarse linen clothes. Even though Tang Hao noticed with sharp eyes that the linings hidden in the coarse linen clothes were all made of silk, these wealthy businessmen and magnates outside could still only wear coarse linen clothes. It is the rule set by Emperor Taizu Gao!

"Everyone, please sit down. There's no need to be so polite."

Tang Hao chuckled and waved his hand, gesturing for the merchants to take their seats.

"I'm calling you here today. I think you all know what's going on."

"Under His Majesty's order, I am about to form a fleet to start ocean trade, so I cannot avoid preparing and selling goods."

"Since all of you have been screened by Jiangnan Weaving, I think your abilities and skills have been recognized, so I won't ask any more questions."

After hearing this, everyone was excited and their eyes were blazing.

Ocean trade!

This is a real huge profit!

Even if they have no experience, they still know the benefits of sea trade in the former Song Dynasty.

"I dare to ask Zhongshan Hou, what will we... pay for?"

A businessman with a tough face stood up and asked, like a bucket of cold water poured on everyone's heads.

Yes, what do they have to pay?

His Majesty the Emperor and the Marquis of Zhongshan are not good people, so why do you want to make money with them for no reason?

Tang Hao glanced at this person in surprise, and asked in a warm voice: "This is..."

"Here you go, wengshen!"

Wengshen!

Tang Hao's eyes lit up.

Liangxu, courtesy name, was born in Dongshan, Suzhou.

One of the representatives of Suzhou merchants in the middle and late Ming Dynasty.

He has a good way of making money, his family is wealthy, he is engaged in business, he is loyal and willing to help others.

During the Jiajing period, Japanese pirates invaded Dongshan. After Weng Shen took out a large amount of goods and sold them, he recruited and trained local warriors, and finally repelled the Japanese pirates and saved Dongshan. Because of this, the people were grateful to him, and the court commended him and built a temple for him. residential.

Among the merchants in Jiangsu, the "Dongting Merchant Gang" was the most powerful. People from the two mountains were good at cultivating goods. They went from all directions to work as merchants and merchants. Therefore, there was a slogan in the world called "Zhuan Tian Dongting".

There are emblems everywhere in the Dongting Palace!

One day and one place equally share the autumn colors of the south of the Yangtze River!

This is the Dongting Business Gang!

When Tang Hao went on a killing spree in Linqing, Weng Shen also sent his brother Weng Xiong to help Tang Hao, and showed his willingness to follow Tang Hao, only hoping that Tang Hao could lead his army to destroy him in one go. To the Japanese country!

"Are you Weng Shen?" A smile appeared on Tang Hao's face.

Weng Shen is still a middle-aged man in his thirties or forties at this moment, and he looks very energetic.

"Weng met the Marquis!"

This is tantamount to a direct statement of attitude.

Tang Hao smiled and nodded.

"There is only one thing you have to do, form a large chamber of commerce, stockpile tea, silk, porcelain and other specialty goods as much as possible, and then send them here for overseas trade. Your Majesty will collect 30% of the commercial tax from the trade income, and 70% will belong to you. But you are also responsible for selling foreign goods, or bartering.”

Form a large chamber of commerce!

Hearing this, all the merchants were shocked by Tang Hao's generosity.

The twenty-odd merchants present are all wealthy businessmen with good business ethics. Their industries are spread across all fields in Jiangnan, otherwise they would not be sitting here in peace and harmony.

As a result, Zhongshan Marquis now wants them to form a large-scale chamber of commerce. How bold is this?

"No need to question it!"

"Although our current trading partners are only the three countries of Ryukyu, Japan and Korea."

"But it won't be long before I lead my fleet to sail to the Western Ocean again. By then, the objects of trade will be the countries in Southeast Asia. You can imagine the profits!"

Tang Hao directly promised that he would recreate Zheng He's feat of sailing to the West!

Everyone was shocked when they heard it, and their blood was tingling!

"But, there is a premise!"

Tang Hao said coldly: "No matter if it is any of you, it is best not to fall in favor of the gentry, otherwise I will make you regret coming to this world!"

"The profits can be given to you, and the Chamber of Commerce also has great autonomy, but I will only warn you once. Keep what should be kept secret, and don't say anything that should not be revealed!"

"Did you hear everything clearly?"

Weng Shen and others trembled, and they all responded.

In fact, this is a very common thing, because these wealthy businessmen will more or less deal with the local gentry, and they are even said to be the tools of these gentry to seize the people's interests.

After all, merchants had a humble status. Facing the gentry who held power, they either chose to become dependent and become tool men, or they could only keep bribing and befriending them in order to keep the family fortune they had earned throughout their lives.

If a wealthy businessman had no connections behind him, they would have been carved up and swallowed up by the noble clans long ago!

The words of Marquis Zhongshan were undoubtedly forcing the merchants in front of him to express their stance.

Should we side with the Marquis of Zhongshan and His Majesty the Emperor, or should we side with the gentry and gentry?

This choice is not difficult to make, after all, His Majesty the Emperor is the real master of the Ming Dynasty!

"As long as you serve His Majesty honestly, you can all think of the benefits without me having to say more."

"For example, His Majesty will provide several quotas for the Imperial College to be donated to the Imperial College and reward those businessmen with outstanding performance."

As soon as these words came out, the whole place was in an uproar.

All the merchants' breathing suddenly became rapid.

Imperial College donates students!

This means that their children can take the scientific examination!

After all, all students of the Imperial College have the right to take the scientific examination, but the prerequisite is that you have entered the Imperial College!

And as long as they can participate in the scientific examination, they can change the fate of their family's business for generations!

It is also very sad to say that these businessmen are all wealthy, but even if they are looked down upon by others, they have to lower their profile to flatter those officials. When it is time to bribe, they must not be less, otherwise the business will not be done. Down!

This is the normal state of businessmen!

Because they have money but no power!

Moreover, in order to restrict their access to power, Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang also strictly ordered the children of merchants to participate in scientific examinations. This was equivalent to completely cutting off their access to power. It also directly resulted in the merchants never having the confidence to resist in front of the scholars, and they could only rely on the scholars. Become a tool for their benefit!

It is true that they have a lot of wealth, but this also brings them disaster.

Unless, you can control... power!

Weng Shen suppressed the throbbing in his heart and expressed his position directly: "Please also ask the Marquis to name the Chamber of Commerce!"

Immediately afterwards, all the merchants present expressed their stance in unison.

"Please also ask the Marquis to name the Chamber of Commerce!"

Tang Hao smiled and nodded.

"In this case, Weng Shen will serve as the president, and you will all serve as directors of the Chamber of Commerce. All major events will be voted on, and the president has a veto power."

"As for the name of the Chamber of Commerce... let's call it "The Sun Never Sets Chamber of Commerce"!"