Hidden Dragon in Qing Dynasty

The Chinese merchant class had been a repressed group since ancient times. In the traditional Confucian morality, merchants only produced goods from the east to the west, and the goods from the south to the north could be exchanged for food and clothing.

The food was not produced by them, and the goods were also made by the craftsmen. Why would they make so many times the profit just on empty hands?

No one was willing to study the positive effects of merchants on human history, and no one was willing to study the benefits of having goods in the world for the common people. In any case, in the eyes of the Confucian Scholars, merchants were a bunch of swindlers.

Faced with the suppression of the whole society on the business class, the merchants had to lower their heads in order to integrate into the value system advocated by the Confucians.

Don't you admire the idyllic scenery of the Nanshan under the fences of the chrysanthemum gathering east? Then we will follow suit and buy land to build a house.

Don't you literati think that wealth is a thing? Then I will dig a cellar and hide all the gold and silver. Even if I die, I will not let this wealth flow.

Didn't you say that only low-grade books are good at reading? If that's the case, then I won't let my son study business anymore and let him take the Imperial Examinations, regardless of whether it's the material or not, at most there's still a shortcut to becoming a donor.

In China, the business class had already reached a compromise with the bureaucratic class. Even Hu Xueyan, such an influential merchant, had to rely on the Xiang Army in order to survive and develop.

Just how much bitterness were there in the merchants' hearts? They really weren't worth mentioning to outsiders, thus when they saw the olive branch thrown over by the emperor today, Hu Xueyan immediately started to cry.

The old man was in his forties and still crying. It had to be said that he was the most powerful monarch in the Qing Dynasty. For thousands of years, the people had been in awe of the imperial power.

The thought of the Jun Quan Tian Shi had already entered Hu Xueyan's heart, the little worry that he had just now was completely replaced by fanaticism. Even if the emperor took away all his belongings, he would not say a word no.

The little emperor really did gain experience, and perhaps because he was young enough to easily accept new ideas, he could actually see what Hu Xueyan was thinking at a glance.

"Do you think that I just want to ask you for money?" Do you think I want to kill the chicken for the eggs? "You're wrong. What I want is not for you to send your wealth up. What I want is to shield you from the winds and rain, to let you earn a lot of money, and to support me in training an iron army …"

"See how the Prime Minister's new army is formed? Isn't it the first time Letian Firm was established?

"My beloved, you must know that I am the lord of the Great Qing in name, but I have pitifully little power in my hands. Before I lost my power, I didn't even have the right to transfer several thousand taels of silver …" Furthermore, even if I were to become a future government official, do you think that all the officials in this world would listen to me? "

"You are the Jiangnan God of Finance, you should know more about the government than me. There are many dirty things that I can't see, you can all see that. Are those officials really loyal to me?" "Wrong, their loyalty is silver, their rights are those small groups!"

Zai Chun let out a long sigh, "Oh my dear friend, it was all thanks to Master saving me from that four-sided sky. Only today did I find out that my past ten years were simply spent in prison, and I was simply tied up and unable to move!"

"That's why I have to stand on my own two feet. You saw how I myself walked into the training camp to personally experience the new army training. I want to become a person who can rule the army on my own and become the Lord of the Reformation under the command of the people of Ma An Min …"

A few days ago, I received a special award from the Prime Minister. As my eunuchs were rushing towards the Beijing, my army had already begun to gather at the Ryukyu, Master has taught me to never hide anything, Master can bring out a new army that is invincible in battle, can't I train an entire army while I sit at Daqing?

"But the army did not touch the food first. You, Hu Xueyan, understand this logic, so no matter what, I can only rely on you …"

Zai Chun said with a wry smile, "Expect eight flags and a Green Camp? We were completely disappointed after a few big battles. We were counting on those Chinese Officer Scholars? They will only let us die in the Forbidden City to learn all kinds of rules … "The industry, industry, and even the city's agricultural workers can no longer be counted on. Right now, I can only borrow the strength of you merchants …"

Hu Xueyan was already shocked when he heard it, he was so excited that his entire body was trembling, the words that Tongzhi said were exactly what he wanted to say, that he wanted to give a huge boost.

The little emperor had the cleanest and most pure inheritance right out of all the emperors in the Qing Dynasty. He didn't have a brother or brother, he was the only son of the emperor Xian Feng.

No one could say anything about the righteous reputation. The dignity of the emperor was firmly grasped in his hands. What the young emperor wanted now was money. He wanted true power. Wasn't that what the heavens should and the earth do?

"Your Majesty!" Hu Xueyan kowtowed and said, "This subject dares not use my life, this subject will fulfill Your Majesty's wish no matter what!"

Zai Chun stood up and reached out to support Hu Xueyan, "Good, good, good. "I am definitely not the sort of monarch who would only give my subordinate problems. Actually, I've already formulated a plan for you …"

At this time, Da Sixi and Xiao Sixi had already come over from the cafeteria, and even ordered a meal for Hu Xueyan.

"Lord Hu, just make do with a meal. Rough food doesn't enter your eyes, but this is His Majesty's daily meal …"

Hu Xueyan looked at the two trays that the eunuch placed on the table. The food on them was so simple and crude that it shocked him: a chicken leg, a Herbal Tea Egg, a spoonful of fried eggplant, a small portion of pineapple old meat, a portion of rice, and a bowl of seaweed egg soup … Your Majesty, do you eat these things every day? "

Zai Chun pushed Hu Xueyan's share over, then took a sip of the soup. "It's a pity that there's no wine, so I won't be able to entertain you, but old shopkeeper will definitely treat you to a banquet tonight.

"Do you mean to say that you despise these simple foods? You, Hu Xueyan, are also from a poor family, and you can eat this kind of food everyday when you were young? I have not seen the common folk suffer in the Forbidden City before, so it is reasonable to say that they don't eat meat.

Hu Xueyan never thought that he would actually be lectured by the eleven year old Little Emperor. He sweated profusely, "No, this subject means that this kind of food is too simple and crude for your majesty. This subject … My heart aches! "

The Emperor didn't say anything, but Great Xiao Sixi and the two eunuchs started crying. In the past, even when they served the Emperor, they would serve him over a hundred dishes.

But today, the emperor had the same food as the soldiers, and he was not allowed to eat leftovers. You can ask for less, but you absolutely can't waste it. After wasting two taels of food, you will starve for a meal and run ten laps.

"Your Majesty, you've had a hard time …" "Wuu!" The two eunuchs cried.

The little emperor had really grown up. When he was growing up, he could already eat them. In addition to the high intensity exercise every day, he could even taste the deliciousness of salted vegetables and rice.

"Snow Rock!" Even if we are rich, we are poor. All of the people who went to war in the past few years have suffered greatly, and we can sell our sons and daughters. Now is not the time to waste our money. "

"There are many people in the Imperial Court who indulge in debauchery, but I don't make people like that. I eat over a hundred dishes and several hundred taels of silver. Do you know which silver is enough to arm many recruits?"

"Let me tell you, the Prime Minister armed a new army. From military uniforms to weapons, in addition to random pieces of equipment, there's only two hundred hawks in total. I'll eat a new soldier in the future with just a meal. Don't feel sorry for me …"

"Even if I eat two recruits' equipment in a single day, in a year I'll have seven hundred recruit's equipment. A strengthened battalion will be eaten by me …"

At this time, the little Emperor became excited, "Did you know? When the Prime Minister went on an expedition to Europa, he only brought three hundred people, only three hundred people! "

Zai Chun's shout shook Hu Xueyan, he finally understood that the Emperor was serious. To be able to say such professional words, it could only mean that the Emperor was truly pulling himself together.

"Holy Lord!" "Your Majesty, it is the fortune of all the people in the world to think like this. This subject is willing to destroy our home to support Your Majesty in his military training …" Hu Xueyan was so excited that tears filled her face.

Hu Xueyan did not believe that the little Emperor was acting. If a child who was eleven years old could perform so skillfully and deceive him, then the little Emperor would be even more worthy of him.

Looking at the cute and sweet way the little Emperor ate brown rice, Hu Xueyan knew that it was definitely not a show.

"My beloved one!" I have nothing I can help you with. I've begged Master many times, and in the end, the Prime Minister ordered Jiang Nan's silver coins exchange business to be contracted with you. In the future, Letian Firm will only exchange it for silver coins with you … "

"You also know how popular Ying Yang, who is contracted by the Letian Firm, is in the market. Beautiful design, weight, and durability. From now on, you can exchange your business bag for silver coins and give it to your Fukang Bank.

"If you want to take this money and earn more money for us, how big our business will be in the future will depend on how skilled you are …"

Without waiting for Hu Xueyan's endless thanks, Zai Chun took out a bright yellow jade ring from his bosom. "Hu Xueyan, this is the ring that Emperor Gao Zu left behind, I'm giving it to you today, it can save your life when you are in danger … "Furthermore, with this treasure, it means that you are doing things for me …"

"Unless you are guilty of conspiracy and five great crimes, no one is allowed to interrogate you!"

"Your Majesty …" Hu Xueyan kneeled on the ground, choking on his emotions. He was already at a loss of what to do today, being able to sell Ying Yang's rights to exchange funds in Jiangnan was already an unfounded big deal.

And now, even Gao Zu's bright yellow thumb ring was given to him, wasn't this the Gold Medal of Immunity? How could a merchant have such a political status? With the protection of the imperial power, what do I, Hu Xueyan, have to fear.

From that day onwards, Hu Xueyan became the most loyal dog to the emperor of Tongzhi and became a member of his secret little imperial court.

Cunning Chueh-hsin. Zai Chun wanted to establish his own base in a hidden place that others couldn't see. He wanted to establish his own hidden little imperial court.

One day, he would lift up the banner of righteousness and bring tens of thousands of Iron Army back to the Forbidden City. He would use his own strength to ascend to the throne of power, and he would use a steel rod to reform this fallen dynasty.

"What Master can do, I, Zai Chun can also do!"