Xi Benzhen asked uncertainly: "What the prince said... can you take it seriously?"

Wu Zheng laughed and said, "Don't worry, I am not drunk yet, so I will take it seriously. Not only that, I will also legislate in the future, and everyone's private legal property is inviolable! In this way, your legal private property will be passed on to future generations with peace of mind, and there will be no such tragedy as Chen Wansan of the previous dynasty."

This statement is even more explosive, which is subverting ideas and ethics.

Xi Benzhen asked anxiously: "How to define whether private property is legal? How to ensure that local governments will not use this to frame and embezzle merchants' property?"

Wu Zheng said calmly: "I said before that industry and commerce are all based. Now you have a good start. Although the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce is not affiliated with the government, your protest this time reminds me that in addition to the scholars and students' rights to express their feelings, merchants should also have an organization that can directly make demands... I think the Chamber of Commerce can do it. The Chamber of Commerce will be an organization that the General's Office faces the demands of merchants in various places. The Chamber of Commerce can form a deliberative body and leave this institution to express their feelings to the government, which can not only express their demands, but also achieve the purpose of supervising government officials in various places. Of course, the Chamber of Commerce will not have any power to the government because of this. It only serves as the gentry's advice and the right to advise the government."

Enough. It's really enough.

This has made all merchants ecstatic because it is an equality of status, an equality that the group of merchants has never had since ancient times.

In other words, they no longer have to rely on anyone. They have a place where they can make their own voices and make demands, and that is the Chamber of Commerce.

Xi Benzhen suddenly restrained the smile on his face and asked, "Dare you ask the prince, what do you want me to do?"

These words slowly made the businessman silent.

Exchange. This is their first reaction.

As a businessman, the first thing I remember is that there is no free lunch in the world. If there is, it must be a scam.

The fruit Wu Zheng gave was too big, so big that it was beyond everyone's expectations.

Then, the rewards needed will be greater, and maybe they can't afford them.

Wu Zheng laughed, very satisfied.

There is nothing more comfortable than talking to smart people.

Wu Zheng sorted out his thoughts and said, "I do have two things to rely on you."

Xi Benzhen trembled and said, "Please make it clear."

The merchants swallowed with difficulty, and the sound seemed unusually clear in the quiet field.

Wu Zheng smiled and said, "Don't be so nervous, everyone. What I want to say is indeed a bit risky for you, but it will never be a dead end."

Speaking of this, Wu Zhengzhengrong said: "First of all, I want you to defeat the Northern Merchants, and in every state and county, whether it is salt, iron, spices, medicinal materials, ready-to-wear, silver houses, grain and sugar, etc., completely defeat them and control each industry. This matter sounds difficult, but in fact it is also difficult, but you can do it, because today you are no longer fighting the Northern Merchants alone, but unite into a chamber of commerce, fighting against the North and the North and the individual merchants."

Xi Benzhen and all the merchants were shocked by Wu Zheng's words. This was too big, and they could hardly imagine it.

Yes, in the past, open and secret struggles between the southern merchants and the northern merchants were very common, but it was just a struggle between one family and never rose to the scale of a war. Although it was a war without swords and swords, everyone knew that this was even more terrifying than a war with swords and swords.

Because it comes at the cost of the wealth and life of merchants from the north and south, and it comes at the cost of the livelihood of the people from the north and south.

Wars in any industry will cause people who need these materials to suffer.

The loser may be more painful than death.

The winner may not necessarily gain anything, at least in a short period of time, there will definitely be no gains.

Xi Benzhen said bitterly: "Your Majesty wants me to die without a place to bury me?"

Wu Zheng said: "Mr. Xi can give up family wealth to help the victims, which is benevolence. Cheng's family has a deep roots in his family, which is wisdom. Chen's family abandons his son's career and serves his mother in order to serve his mother. All the wise men gathered in the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, which is righteousness. Benevolence, wisdom, filial piety and righteousness are all there, so why worry about not being able to fight and win?"

Xi Benzhen smiled bitterly and said, "The prince is too arrogant and I wait. The northern merchants have accumulated huge amounts of wealth by betraying the Ming Dynasty and trading materials with the Qing Dynasty. After the Qing army entered the pass, Huang Taiji even reciprocated his favor and conferred the eight imperial merchants with privileges. We are just a little richer than the promoted small civilians... How to fight?"

Looking at these pale and whispering merchants, Wu Zheng said: "Everything that Lord Xi said is true, I can see it. But you should also be clear that there is constant filth between Shanxi merchants (Shenzhen merchants) and Shandong, Shaanxi and other northern merchants, especially after the Shanxi merchants were granted the title of the Eight Great Royal Merchants, they suppressed the rest of the northern merchants. Therefore, the northern merchants cannot form a joint force like the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, and divide with unity and pairs, and be prepared and not prepared. We have seized the opportunity in this battle. Besides, I will naturally not sit idly by. The Shanxi merchants have the support of the Qing court, and you have the support of this king."

Wu Zheng's words swept away the gloom on the faces of the merchants. Xi Benzhen asked, "Do you dare to ask what kind of support the prince can provide?"

Wu Zheng said two words: "Business Road."

Xi Benzhen repeated: "Business Road?"

"Yes, there can be unobstructed business roads." Wu Zheng explained, "Everywhere under the rule of this king, the goods exchanges of Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce will be unobstructed."

The merchants looked at each other.

Cheng Benyuan finally spoke again, "Prince, forgive the common people for being disrespectful... Under the rule of the prince, there are only six palaces."

Wu Zheng said in a deep voice: "Are you so short-sighted?"

The merchants whispered, but Xi Benzhen and Cheng Benyuan and others had already understood Wu Zheng's meaning.

Yes, Wu Zheng took two years to expand into the sixth place, only one year to expand.

Xi Benzhen asked carefully: "What the prince means is that there will be war next year?"

Wu Zheng smiled and said, "Although the truce has been made, this does not mean that the northern expedition will no longer be launched. Everyone, the Zhoushan Navy will protect your caravans and their safety along the Yangtze River. In addition, I will reorganize a navy to protect the safety of your caravans in the near-shore and oceans."

This made everyone stunned, they really couldn't understand it.

But Wu Zheng did not explain.

Xi Benzhen bowed and said, "Please allow us to discuss for a moment."

Wu Zheng nodded.

More than a dozen businessmen formed a circle and started discussing softly.

Chen Wenhuan said: "My dear brothers understand what the prince's last sentence means?"
Chapter completed!