The ruthless emperor in the late Ming Dynasty forced Chongzhen to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 188 Vice President of the Royal Chamber of Commerce and Industry

As Zhejiang, which is actually one with Nanzhili, is the most concerned about the New Deal, and it also knows the best.

With the issuance of the imperial edict to open the sea ban, important ports such as Ningbo have been renovated and expanded under the leadership of the imperial court. Although no officials have been dispatched to set up a shipping department, almost all maritime merchants in Zhejiang know that it will be a matter of time before the imperial court collects tariffs. , is something that cannot be avoided.

Compared with other maritime merchants who worry about how to avoid and evade taxes in the future, the Zhou family, the largest maritime merchant in Ningbo, is worrying about survival.

Zhou's family was originally a big family in Ningbo, and their ancestors also had high-ranking officials. It was only after the family fell into decline that they turned to business. After making money, they thought about entering the imperial examination and becoming an official.

Because in the south of the Yangtze River, if there are no Jinshi for three generations, it can't be regarded as a family of officials and eunuchs, and no matter how big the family is, it doesn't have much say.

And if there is not even a Juren in the family for three generations, then it is not even considered a scholarly family, and it really becomes a mermaid existence.

The Zhou family didn't know if the feng shui of the ancestral grave had been corrupted by others. Since the Wanli period, the family had never had a successor, so they had no choice but to rely on the powerful to survive.

Unlike most families in the south of the Yangtze River who chose to attach themselves to official families, the Zhou family chose to attach themselves to the nobles of Nanjing City.

As for eunuchs and eunuchs, no family will choose to attach them unless it is a last resort, because once attached to eunuchs, the family's reputation will be ruined.

Since the Zhou family chose to attach themselves to Wei Guogong in Nanjing, although the imperial examinations were still unsatisfactory, the family business has grown bigger and bigger.

At its most glorious time, the family owned more than [-] mu of mulberry fields, hundreds of workshops, produced more than [-] pieces of silk every year, dozens of large and small seagoing ships, and earned millions of taels from sea trade every year.

But what the Zhou family never expected was that Wei Guogong, who had been hereditary for more than 200 years, would be ruined in one fell swoop and uprooted by the imperial concubine, causing the Zhou family to lose their support completely.

A big family with an annual income of several million, without even a member of the family, and not much voice in the official circles, is almost a big piece of fat, and everyone wants to bite it.

Almost as soon as Wei Guogong was finished, all the maritime merchants in Zhejiang united and wanted to carve up the Zhou family. Officials in Hangzhou and Ningbo also tried to extort money from time to time.

The situation of the Zhou family can no longer be solved by money. Similarly, with the current business and wealth of the Zhou family, they can no longer rely on other official families.

If it was before, he could have put all his eggs in one basket and joined the guarding eunuch in Nanjing, or went directly to the capital to join the chief eunuch.

But today is different from the past, the eunuch group in Nanjing city has been wiped out, and the eunuchs in Beijing city can no longer meddle in the affairs of the south.

The familiar rules in the past seemed to have suddenly become unfamiliar, which made the Zhou family feel a little overwhelmed.

Fortunately, the other forces in the south of the Yangtze River, after all, took into account the queen mother and imperial concubine, and did not dare to annex them blatantly and recklessly. However, the business of the Zhou family still suffered a huge blow after a year.

Especially dozens of sea-going ships, most of which were detained by the Zheng family, was a fatal blow.

There is no way, the Zheng family is also here to see people, such as the situation of the Zhou family, obviously has lost the qualification to be a maritime merchant.

As soon as the other sea merchants exerted a little pressure, Zheng Zhilong also ignored his old friendship, so he could only join the team to carve up the Zhou family.

"Father, at this point, our Zhou family has no other way out except to join the Royal Chamber of Commerce and Industry."

"Hey, why do you think Wen'er is so unbelievable? As a father, I don't expect her to be a queen, but it's fine to be a concubine, or at worst a talented person!"

"Father, what's the use of saying this now?"

"Forget it, let's treat a dead horse as a living horse doctor, and go to Nanjing tomorrow for my father."

In the study room of the Zhou family, although the head of the family, Zhou Xing, felt unwilling, he had no choice but to say in the end.

It turned out that the Zhou family pinned their hopes on this draft, selected dozens of girls from the clan to participate in the draft, and spent more than [-] taels of silver up and down.

Although dozens of young girls were sent to Nanjing, they were sent back one after another, and finally even the daughter whom he placed high hopes on was eliminated.

Although he was not returned and stayed in the palace, he didn't even have a talented person, which didn't play much role in the family, and instead took his daughter in.

"Father, it is said that the queen mother has spoken this time. Except for the top ten show girls, if the other show girls don't want to enter the palace, they can take them back."

"Forget it, let Wen'er stay in the palace. After all, the emperor is young, and Wen'er's appearance and temperament are excellent. As long as she stays in the palace, she will have a chance."

Zhou Xing waved his hand, apparently still harboring the last glimmer of fantasy.

The road to the draft was over, and the Zhou family didn't hesitate any longer. After all, once the new policy was implemented in Zhejiang, no one could tell what the Zhou family would encounter. The next day, Zhou Xing quietly rushed to Nanjing.

Six days later, they arrived in Nanjing City, and went directly to the former Duke Wei's mansion, which is now the Royal Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhou Xing used to come to Duke Wei's mansion almost every year.

At this moment, standing in front of the gate, looking at the majestic gate and the golden dragon pattern plaque above it, I am filled with emotion.

"This member is so polite, what can I do?"

The two guys at the door saw Zhou Xing standing in front of the door in a daze, and after waiting for a while, they stepped forward to ask.

"My brother is very polite. Next week, Xing is a businessman from Ningbo. I came here this time to apply to join the Royal Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Please pass it on to me, my heart..."

Zhou Xing hurriedly clasped his fists in return, keeping his posture very low. As he spoke, he took out a hundred-liang silver note from his cuff, and prepared to hand it to the clerk.

Although he didn't want to call himself a businessman, but he came this time to apply for membership in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, so he could only call himself a businessman.

"What? You came here to apply to join the Chamber of Commerce and Industry?"

The man exclaimed, forgetting the bank note in his hand.

"Exactly. Please trouble me to pass it on for you. I would be very grateful." Zhou Xing said respectfully again.

"No, there is no need to communicate. Her Royal Highness has ordered that all those who come to join the Chamber of Commerce and Industry go directly to the lobby. Member Zhou, please!"

The clerk was overjoyed, and while putting the banknotes in his arms, he made a gesture of invitation.

Until he stepped through the gate, Zhou Xing still couldn't believe that one day he would be able to enter directly from the main entrance of Wei Guogong's mansion, and he couldn't believe that he was directly brought into the luxurious hall to sit down.

Seeing the beautiful maid serving tea, Zhou Xing was flattered and felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

"Sit down for a while, Mr. Zhou, I have already asked someone to report to the vice president of my family."

"It's time to take care of Liu."

Accompanied by a middle-aged steward, the two of them just chatted for a while, then Chen Yuanyuan walked into the hall from the back, and the two got up quickly.

"Mr. Zhou, this is Chen Yuanyuan, Mrs. Chen, the vice president of the Royal Chamber of Commerce and Industry."

"The villain Zhou Xing has seen his wife."

Zhou Xing had naturally heard of Chen Yuanyuan's name, but he didn't expect her to be the vice-chairman of the Royal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, so he was flattered and rude.

"You don't have to be polite, Mr. Zhou, please sit down!"

Chen Yuanyuan said after coming to the main seat.

Now Chen Yuanyuan's demeanor has undergone earth-shaking changes, every word and deed reveals a kind of grace and luxury, and she is no longer as soft and weak as before.

"Mrs. Xie."

After Chen Yuanyuan sat down, Zhou Xing sat down carefully.

"I heard that Yuanwai Zhou wants to apply to join the Royal Chamber of Commerce and Industry?"

Chen Yuanyuan was not too polite, but asked directly.

Although his tone was flat, his heart was already filled with excitement.

Because she had heard about this Zhou family in Ningbo, and she had a general understanding of it. It was definitely one of the best big merchants in Zhejiang. Even if it was in decline, it was still eligible to become a gold member.

"Back to Mrs. Chen, my Zhou family really wants to apply to join the Royal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and wants to become a gold member. This is a detailed list of all the businesses and wealth of my Zhou family. Please have a look, Madam."

Zhou Xing also bluntly took out the declaration list booklet that he had prepared a long time ago from his arms.

Chen Yuanyuan took the brochure handed over by the maid, and instead of flipping through it directly, she looked at Zhou Xing and said, "Besides Zhou, you must also know the rules of the Royal Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Wealth can be concealed. Gold members only need to deposit it in the Royal Bank." It is enough to enter 100 million silver, but all businesses under the Zhou family must not hide anything. Once there is any concealment, they will be directly expelled from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and they will not be able to join in the future.

And there is a new rule, that is, the Royal Chamber of Commerce and Industry will set up ten vice presidents, who will be elected every two years, and the highest-ranking member will be the member. That is to say, as long as your application is passed, you will automatically become a vice president of the Royal Chamber of Commerce and Industry long. "

"what?"

Zhou Xing stood up immediately after being hit by this huge surprise.

Even if he doesn't understand, he still understands the difference between the vice president and a member.

"This was decided by Her Royal Highness three days ago. The announcement will be officially issued tomorrow. Member Zhou, are you sure there is no need to modify this list? Once I read it, it will be too late to modify it."

Chen Yuanyuan picked up the list and kindly reminded him that he obviously cherished this first member, who was still a gold member, and didn't want to be rejected in a daze because he didn't understand the situation.

Sure enough, seeing what Chen Yuanyuan said, Zhou Xing also came to his senses, and said with some embarrassment: "The villain came in a hurry, and there may be some omissions in this list. Please give me some time, Madam, so that the villain can check and sort it out carefully."

"It turns out that Zhou Yuanwai can stay at the head office first." Chen Yuanyuan said, then handed the brochure to the waitress, and then ordered someone to take him down.

Wei Guogong's mansion is very large, and it is also luxuriously built. The princess usually lives in the palace, and Chen Yuanyuan also lives in his own mansion next door, so the huge mansion is full of staff. Zhou Xing, a quasi-gold member, has instead become a The most distinguished guest in the mansion was taken to the upper room to stay.

This really made Zhou Xing feel valued, and he was also full of expectations for joining the Royal Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Originally, he only planned to declare a business that could earn 100 million taels a year, but now he dared not hide it anymore.

The next day, Zhou Xing resubmitted the application list. After Chen Yuanyuan read it, he ordered someone to file it, and then dispatched a large-scale inspection mission to various places in Zhejiang to check one by one according to the list, and finally made an assessment.

As for the Ningbo Zhou family's application to join the Royal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, under the deliberate publicity, it became known throughout Nanzhili and Zhejiang in just a few days.

Coupled with the new regulations of the Royal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Royal Chamber of Commerce and Industry once again became the hottest topic in Jiangnan.

Countless businessmen focused their attention on the Zhou family.

(End of this chapter)