Eighth year of Chongzhen

Chapter 289 Banquet
In a large courtyard in the east city of Yangzhou, there is a Jiangnan garden called Shangfang Garden. In the garden, there are rockery and rocks, winding paths leading to secluded places, and various exotic flowers and plants can be seen everywhere.

This mansion is the mansion of Xu Qiming, a large merchant specializing in timber in Yangzhou City, and it is also his main place for socializing and banqueting.

In the middle of the afternoon that day, the sky was still very bright, and all the lanterns in the halls and courtyards of Shangfang Garden had been lit. More than ten servants in Tsing Yi and caps from the Xu family brought all kinds of delicacies to the moon in a courtyard. At the door, hand it over to two rows of beautiful maids waiting outside the door, and then these maids will deliver the dishes to a flower hall in the courtyard.

The spacious flower hall was brightly lit, and the two Eight Immortals tables not far apart, made of rosewood, were already filled with food and wine. Xu Qiming, the owner of Shangfang Garden, was chatting with the first few guests on one of the tables.

"Old Huang, I heard that you plan to open a car and horse shop in the near future, specializing in transporting goods to people over short distances. Is this true? Do you plan to start your cotton cloth business? If you want to say that in the Nanzhili area, you But why did such a large cotton cloth company suddenly change their business?”

Xu Qiming took a sip of the tea, put down the teacup and asked a skinny middle-aged man in his fifties.

"Hey! It's true that there are no cronies in Thirty Li! Although this matter is true, it is not used for transporting goods with others, but only for my own transport!"

The businessman surnamed Huang replied with a look of disapproval.

"Oh? Hasn't your cotton cloth been transported to the north by water? Why did you change it to land? It takes time, effort and money to deliver goods by horses and horses. I really don't know why your million-dollar Huang Yuanwai, who has always been extremely shrewd, would do such a clumsy thing. !"

Another fat businessman at the table sneered.

"Didn't I come up with this method out of desperation? Who doesn't know the benefits of going by water? But once the imperial court levy merchant taxes, why should I go by water when the goods arrive at Linqing, Xuzhou, etc.? But no matter where you ship the goods to, you only know that the tax is calculated according to the amount, and a penny is indispensable, so it is not worthwhile to go to the counties south of Shandong and then go by water!"

"Hey! Old Huang, you are really good! The nickname of this iron abacus is not in vain! Why do you think I have never thought of such a clever trick? If this is accumulated, it will save a lot of money in a year, right? No! I have to Learn from you, and when I go back, I will also set up a car dealership!"

Fat businessman Wang Zuohai slapped his thigh and sighed.

"This method is good, but the consumption of this man's horse chewing is not small. Calculated, he can save a few thousand taels of silver a year, which is just enough to buy a few Yangzhou lean horses. After all, the largest commodity To sell to the north of Shandong, it needs to be transported by water, and it would not be cost-effective to replace it with horses and horses! It is said that the tax was ruthless in the time of Lord Wanli, but now it is even more ruthless than in the Wanli period, and it is almost the same as the robbery in Ming Dynasty!"

There was resentment in Huang Zhi's tone, and he didn't seem very happy because of Wang Zuohai's flattery.

"There are treacherous ministers in the court! I wonder if that treacherous villain came up with such a bad idea. Isn't this a fight for the interests of the people? If the court lacks money, it should levy more on those mud legs. How many households do we have in the gentry's family? This There are hundreds of millions of peasant households in the world, and each household is levied a few dollars a year, and the silver in Taicang will flow out! This matter needs someone to speak up for me! This emperor wants to share the world with the gentry, not with the gentry. Those muddy legs! Your Majesty has been deceived by traitors!"

Xu Qiming sighed.

While the few people were talking, another guest came outside the flower hall. As the host, Xu Qiming snubbed at Wang and Huang, then got up and went to the door to welcome the guests.

At the right time of You, the sky was gradually getting dark, and the two tables in the flower hall were already full of guests, and all the guests invited by Xu Qiming had arrived.

"All of you here are my old friends, and most of them are familiar with each other. Today, all of you are able to take time out of your busy schedule to come to my mansion. I am very honored! Come, come, Xu respects all of you. Beauté as a token of thanks, do it!"

With a happy face, Xu Qiming stood up and raised his wine glass to gesture to the guests on the two tables with a smile.

Including Xu Qiming, there were a total of 16 people on the two Eight Immortals tables, all of whom were wealthy businessmen from Yangzhou, Huai'an, Changzhou and other prefectures.These people are also engaged in a variety of businesses, but there are no entanglements or conflicts of interest between them. Many people have met on different occasions, and some of them have heard of each other's fame even though they don't know each other. After chatting a few words, they quickly became acquainted.

After most of the guests drank the wine from their glasses, Xu Qiming said loudly with a smile: "The guest rooms have been arranged properly, and there are two famous Yangzhou skinny horses per person! Please have fun tonight, everyone!"

Although the wine on the table is incomparably beautiful, all the people present here are wealthy households with hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. In the middle, the atmosphere on the field instantly heated up.

After drinking for three rounds, Xu Qiming toasted a glass of wine one by one and returned to the main table. He winked at the steward of the inner house at the door, and waved after the steward understood. Several beautiful maids in the flower hall came out After leaving the flower hall, they left quietly, leaving only 16 people in the hall in the entire courtyard.

"Everyone, have a cup of tea and sit down for a while. Member Liu of Liu's Commercial Bank has something to share with you!"

Seeing that everyone was a little drunk, Xu Qiming got up and said loudly.

A person at the guest seat at the main table stood up slowly, and bowed his hands at everyone. It was Liu Zuo's cousin——Liu Xingwen.

The protagonists of today's banquet are Liu Xingwen and Xu Qiming.

Since the secret business with Liu Zuo and Li Junshan nearly a month ago, Liu Xingwen has taken on the responsibility of contacting the big households in several neighboring states to jointly strike the market.

The first thing Liu Xingwen thought of was Xu Qiming who was also in Yangzhou City.

The reason why Xu Qiming has earned such a huge net worth is that his second uncle, Xu Wenyuan, who is now the servant of the Ministry of Civil Affairs in Nanjing, is behind him.

But Xu Qiming knows that the county magistrate is not as good as the current one. Although the backing is strong, he still shows enough respect for Liu Xingwen, who has the background of the prefect of Yangzhou. An irresistible acquaintance.

Liu Xingwen approached Xu Qiming the next day, and told him that the official ship dealer was detained for smuggling, and that he had secretly traded with his cousin after returning. Xu Qiming, who had this intention, immediately expressed his support.After the two hit it off, Xu Qiming immediately started to invite people to Yangzhou for a banquet.

Xu Qiming couldn't help but be enthusiastic about this matter, because his timber business cannot be separated from water transportation, and water transportation cannot bypass canals, and commercial taxes cannot be avoided at all.

Xu Qiming is very optimistic about the strategy of striking the market against the imperial court and forcing the imperial court to withdraw the tax.From the mouths of the big merchants he befriended, Xu Qiming heard the extreme dissatisfaction and resentment towards the imperial court without exception. He believed that as long as someone took the lead, there must be a gathering of responders, and the Northland was likely to face a long-term shortage of supplies. Under such circumstances, the court could not help but bow its head.

After months of communication and contact, today's banquet went smoothly.

"Your Majesty, Liu Xingwen, is the owner of Liu's Commercial Firm in Yangzhou. Some of you are familiar with Liu, and some of you are new acquaintances. Regardless of whether you are acquainted or not, we are all merchants, and we are considered a decent family. I will meet with you today. The purpose of this, I think everyone has roughly understood it, that is to join hands and fight against the evil government of the court, and return my businessmen a fair place! As long as we work together, there will be many officials with righteous hearts The gentry and the common people support this matter, and this matter can be achieved in nineteen! Liu also asks you to show a little courage and seek justice for the people of the world! If you have any suggestions on this matter, feel free to say it, and I will discuss it tonight It’s best to discuss this matter properly!”

Just as Liu Xingwen and Xu Qiming were feasting on the guests and discussing major issues, there was a soft "pop" sound in the darkness not far from Shangfang Garden.

"Oh, it killed me! These bastards are enjoying delicious food inside, but they want me to wait here to be bitten by mosquitoes! Grandma! When this matter is known, I will take off their clothes and drive them into the wild Stay overnight and taste this kind of taste!"

"Zongqi, most of these guys came from other places, and they will definitely live in Xu's house tonight. Why do we suffer here? Why don't we come here after dawn tomorrow, and then we can split up and follow them when they leave!"

"Forget it, the gates of the city have long been closed, and they can't leave the city. Let's go back and rest, and come over to watch before [-] o'clock tomorrow! Damn it, it's so itchy! Let's go!"

　Thanks to book friend Lin Lingsu for the reward in 2018.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)