A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 344 Students Strike, Merchants Strike
Fan Sanba made a bow to everyone, and said with a smile: "Sanba has met all the shopkeepers."

The merchants below all returned the courtesy, and many of them couldn't help being surprised, and whispered to each other.

I have heard the name of Fan's family in Jiexiu, Shanxi for a long time. He started trading in the frontier fortress in the early Ming Dynasty.He was also one of the earliest merchants who traded with the Manchurians. According to historical records, he "communicated with Liaozuo and kept faith for a long time". He was also one of the eight imperial merchants granted by Shunzhi in the early Qing Dynasty.

It is rumored that the Fan family has millions of assets, and they are all engaged in grain, cotton, salt, cloth, coal, tea, and medicinal materials, especially grain and cotton.There are a lot of talents in the clan, and there are shops in Jincheng, Changzhi, Qixian, Taiyuan, Datong, Zhangjiakou and other places.

Their family is proficient in calculation skills such as mathematics, abacus, and accounting, and has a large number of language geniuses. Many people in the family are proficient in the dialects of Ming Dynasty and Manchurian languages ​​outside the Great Wall. Even after the trade with Russia in later generations, a large number of them are proficient in Russian. Talents.Finally, after the trade developed to Europe, many people in the clan were proficient in Western languages.

This kind of ability was actually common among businessmen from all over Shanxi at that time.

Fan Yongdou was getting old, and most of the business in the clan was managed by his son Fan Sanba. Although Fan Yongdou's grandson, Fan Yu, was young at this time, he also showed extraordinary business acumen.

The names of the Eight Great Merchants on the right side of the mountain are heard by all the merchants on the East Road. The typical integration of officials and merchants in the late Ming Dynasty, the officials are the merchants, and the clansmen of the merchants are the officials.Among the merchants present, there were gentry families, official families, and many general families, but everyone respected Fan Sanba's arrival.

Not to mention the deep background of the Eight Great Merchants, on the right side of the mountain, there are countless officials and generals in Xuanda, even in the cabinet.For Daming at this time, as long as you have money, what is so difficult about donating an official body?Just like Wang Pu, the commander-in-chief of Datong Town, his official position was donated.The Wang family of the Eight Great Merchants also has a close relationship with it.

Fan Sanba greeted everyone in a friendly manner, his arrogance was in his bones, and he didn't put on airs in front of everyone.

After introducing Fan Sanba, Zhang Wanshan laughed again, and asked everyone to sit down, and Fan Sanba sat at the head of the guest seats.

After everyone was seated, Zhang Wanshan's sharp eyes scanned everyone slowly, and said: "Today's high meeting, I think everyone understands the purpose of coming. General Dingguo will collect business taxes, and the old man called everyone here to discuss countermeasures..."

He even smiled and glanced at Fan Sanba: "It's a great honor, the old man invited Master Fan Da to visit him, to make his momentum stronger."

Hearing Zhang Wanshan mention his name, Fan Sanba leaned up again and greeted everyone around him.In fact, the Fan family doesn’t have many shops on East Road, but after Zhang Wanshan’s invitation, Fan Yongdou summoned his son for a discussion, and Fan Sanba came to Yanqing Prefecture in person. "

"It's related to everyone's business, and all shopkeepers can talk about how to deal with it."

After speaking, Zhang Wanshan sat firmly on his seat and drank tea, his eyes seemed to be closed but not closed, just spying on everyone's expressions.

The businessmen below whispered to each other for a while, Wang Dou wanted to collect business tax, of course none of them were willing.Although they make a lot of money every day, no one is willing to take out a tael of silver from their pockets.

In fact, their worry about Wang Dou is not only the collection of commercial taxes, but also Wang Dou's decision to strictly check the border and prohibit private trade.To everyone, this is worse than a commercial tax.It's just that it's not good to openly oppose it.

After all, since the seventh year of the reign of Emperor Chongzhen, after the Ida Ministry surrendered to Houjin, the Ming court ordered the closure of the mutual market and strictly prohibited border trade.Despite the dead letter of the ban, smuggling is still rampant in the towns.But Wang Dou used this banner, and it was not easy for everyone to object to it.

However, this commercial tax is different. Both the scholar class and the business class can strongly resist it under the banner of competing for profits with the people.If Wang Dou can be suppressed, perhaps Wang Dou will not only dare not collect taxes, but even if the border is strictly prohibited, he will not let it go.

After the businessmen below exchanged glances with each other, a rather elegant businessman stood up, but it was Wu Yue, a member of Wu Zhi's tribe in Yanqing Prefecture.After Wu Zhizhou took office in Yanqing Prefecture, he immediately ascended to heaven, and the children of the family rushed to buy fields, open shops and shop, and they were not far behind in many "trends" of making money.

Wu Yue shook his head and said, "General Dingguo's move is to compete with the people for profit. Don't you hear about the disaster of commercial taxation in the Wanli Dynasty? The envoys for questioning are eager to find sparks, and the orders for searching and enclosing are as dense as a cow's hair. The scoundrels are desperate and have wings. The East Road is already poor, and it is not easy for shopkeepers to do some business. If General Dingguo imposes a commercial tax, I am afraid that I will be in Longwangshu. I will levy ten coins today, a hundred coins tomorrow, and a hundred taels the next day. , this is absolutely impossible.”

The merchants below all agreed, and seeing everyone's affirmation, Wu Yue stopped in a humble manner, signaled to everyone, and then a gloomy look flashed in his eyes: "After all, General Dingguo is young and energetic, and he is not thoughtful about things. Boiling action. I heard that the East Road scholars are filled with righteous indignation at the imminent levy of commercial tax, they will join hands to speak to the Military Constitution, and contact Confucianism everywhere in the East Road, collectively strike and denounce, in order to show their intention of attacking!"

Like a thunderclap, all the merchants at the scene whispered excitedly, the scholars took action, this is a good thing, as members of their family, they should also show something.

Fan Sanba sat upright on his seat, observing everyone's expressions. At this moment, he stood up with a smile, cupped his hands at Zhang Wanshan, and then said to the crowd: "Everyone, I have something to say, I don't know if I should say it or not."

Seeing that he was so polite, all the merchants hurriedly said: "Shopkeeper Fan Da, please tell me, I will listen with all my ears."

Fan Sanba smiled and said: "The name of General Dingguo, the younger generation has also heard of it on the right side of the mountain. It is a good thing that he sits on the east road and suppresses bandits and farms. The common people approve, and everyone can buy and sell with peace of mind. It may be that the villain instigated Dingguo The general was confused for a while, and did such an outrageous thing!"

He said: "The educated scholars have already acted, and merchants such as us must not lag behind. For the sake of peace on the East Road in the future, the younger generation proposed that all merchants collectively strike the market to show our indignation and condemnation. Seeing the turbulent public sentiment, General Dingguo decided If you wake up, all shopkeepers will be able to operate with peace of mind in the future.”

Everyone applauded one after another, saying that shopkeeper Fan Da is indeed sophisticated and strategic. To them, the joint strike of merchants is a big killer.

During the Jiajing period, the government banned the casting of private money everywhere. As a result, merchants from all over the place jointly went on strike, and the goods soared. The government had no choice but to abolish the ban.In the Wanli Year and the current Chongzhen Year, whenever the government wanted to collect taxes from the merchants, the government would have nothing to do if the merchants went on strike.

The industrial and commercial class in the late Ming Dynasty was already extremely arrogant, the local economy was completely out of the control of the central government, and the government was full of spokespersons for their interests.It can be explained that the late central government no longer has the slightest financial control over the local economy.

Especially the border towns relied more on these merchants. After the defeat of the "Kaizhongfa" in the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the government switched to using colored silver to recruit soldiers and pay military salaries.

Having money does not mean that you can eat and drink. You also need to buy a large amount of food and fodder.The transportation of relevant grain and fodder is monopolized by merchants everywhere. If the merchants go on strike, the armies will lack of grain and fodder, which will cause extremely huge turmoil.

In May of the eighth year of Chongzhen, when Zu Kuan and others joined the reinforcements and horses were stationed in Chadao, Yulin, Huailong Xiguan and other places on the East Road according to the imperial decree.At that time, the governor of Xuanda, Yang Sichang, especially strictly ordered the soldiers not to harass and the residents not to strike the market, otherwise they must all be strictly ordered. This is the prestige of the merchants' strike.

After the students went on strike and the merchants went on strike, after such a huge momentum was created, Wang Dou would definitely be overwhelmed and regretted the idea of ​​levying business taxes in the first place.

Zhang Wanshan stood up and said: "Okay, what the shopkeeper Fan Da said is very reasonable, we will choose a time to strike collectively, and all merchants need to work together to tide over the difficulties. No one is allowed to operate privately during this period, otherwise they will be severely punished by the guild .I hope General Dingguo will listen to the voice of the people after the market strike, and he will be able to turn around and turn back."

"There is General Dingguo guarding the east road. We and other merchants still welcome it. The old man also admires his troops to fight against the Tartars..."

……

Not to mention how Zhang Wanshan and others planned to strike the market, and how to implement it specifically, at this time there were bursts of indignant voices from Guanshan Academy in Yanqing Prefecture: "The harm of commercial taxation was clearly evident when the emperor appeared. There are taxes, and the ointment is terrible, and the husband and the people can't bear their lives..."

"In the land on the east road, the land is barren and the people are poor. How can we accept such a bone-sucking exploitation? If this is the case, the business will be poor and the people will be sparse, the people's livelihood will be withered, and the disaster of Wanli is right in front of us!"

The person who spoke was a young man dressed as a scholar, dressed in a Confucian shirt and wearing a square flat scarf. He looked quite handsome, but he was Wu Lue, the son of Wu Zhizhou in Yanqing Prefecture who had conflicts with Wang Dou in Chongzhen for ten years.His demeanor remained unchanged, but the original arrogance on his face disappeared a lot, replaced by an expression that seemed extremely resentful.

In the past two years, Wu Lue has been hit hard. Xie Yuan, who was in high school in the foreign country examination, was full of ambitions. He may have been influenced by Ji Junjiao's love for Wang Dou, but he failed in the Chunwei test every two years. It was a heavy blow to him who was talented and arrogant.

The family's disappointment, the "rival in love" Wang Dou's promotion step by step, smooth sailing, from the mere integrity of the past to the current position of the general guard, how can Wu Lue not be worried and jealous?The beauty Ji Xiaoniang fell into Wang Dou's arms, which made him even more heartbroken.

Wu Lue is also married, but his current wife is far from Ji Junjiao in terms of talent and appearance.Whenever he thinks of the person he admires tactfully and happily under Mr. Wang Dou, Wu Lue feels angry and resentful.

Now Wu Lue is very unsatisfactory. With his father's blessing, he seeks a position as an instructor in Confucianism in Yanqing Prefecture. In fact, as a Juren, he can be released as a magistrate of a certain place.However, Daming is currently lacking, and there are many officials, how can it be so easy to find a real shortage?

His father tried his best to make Wu Lue wait patiently.Frustrated both in officialdom and in love, Wu Lue was full of complaints.He is proud of his talents, and he is not very happy to get along with his colleagues in Confucianism. Everyone treats him politely for his father's sake.

But no matter how you say it, Wu Lue is the son of Zhizhou Wu Zhi, with outstanding literary talents, he is still very appealing among the scholars of Donglu, and the same "crisis" recently brought them together.

Scholars gathered at the scene, besides the principals, instructors and students of Guanshan Academy, there were also scholars from other places on the East Road, the instructors and students of the city health schools, there were almost hundreds of people gathered.

Only Baoanzhou Confucianist Zheng Fu Mingqi and others are missing. According to Wu Lue and others, Fu Mingqi is willing to be a "running dog" of a warrior. "Holy" meeting deliberations.

Zeng Youxian, the schoolmaster of Guanshan Academy in Yanqing Prefecture, was born as an old supervisor. He has been in Guanshan Academy for decades, and he is regarded as "highly respected".His family worked hard, lived frugally, and finally bought several fertile fields and dozens of related shops.

Zeng Jian treated himself harshly in his daily life and tried his best to live frugally. Although his family fortune was accumulating more and more, he was reluctant to spend a little extravagance.A person like him is harsh on himself and his family, and he is even more unwilling to spend money. When he heard that General Dingguo was going to collect business taxes, he was immediately filled with anger.

As soon as Wu Lue made a proposal, it was exactly what he wanted, and with his reputation, he easily gathered scholars from all over the East Road to jointly discuss countermeasures.

After Wu Lue was impassioned, he also sighed tremblingly: "The scourge of commercial taxation during the Wanli Dynasty is still fresh in my memory. The war spreads and the disaster spreads all over the world. It is not the merchants who are impoverished, but the people are also impoverished. The sage has something to say, Seizing the wealth of the people is not the way to make money. The way to make money is to make money, save it, and just two ends. The harm of increasing distribution is nothing more than tax calculation, but the harm of commercial tax is measured in days. Levying commercial tax is to seize the people This move will anger the heavens and the people, and the sky will be darkened, and the east road will be destroyed and withered!"

Having said that, he coughed again and again.

Everyone present is also you and me, and the words are heartbroken. Among the scholars and students present, which one has not opened a shop?Among the merchants all over the East Road, which one is not a relative of their clan?Wang Dou wants to collect business tax, just to steal food from them, and he will never agree.

Of course, there are also many poor scholars among them. There are no shops in their homes, and Wang Dou set up a fort on the East Road. They have nothing to do.

But at this moment, "all the people are outraged", how dare they speak up for Wang Dou?If so, the evaluation of a gentle scum is definitely inevitable, and they don't want to mix among scholars in the future.So they made up their minds not to help each other, Wu Lue suggested that all the scholars in the East Road go on strike, and they just follow behind, and they must not be the first birds.

Finally, everyone came to the conclusion that Wang Dou's move was an outrageous and unpopular bad thing. They, scholars and scholars who have read sage books and talents of the court, must take practical actions to persuade Wang Dou and strike out !
This will be a massive action. Students strike, merchants strike, and all walks of life respond one after another. They put pressure on Dingguo General Wang Dou.In the end, let him take back his wrong actions, suddenly wake up, and turn around.

(End of this chapter)