Chapter 2935 White dew grows on the jade steps, Zigong has a legacy
When Pang Shanmin and Huang Zhong took action, the first thing they noticed was not the spies from various places, but the businessmen in Wancheng.
For example, Zhang Shiping.
The three-character name, in the current customs of the Han Dynasty, represents the origin of an untouchable.
Unlike Pang Shanmin, Huang Chengyan and other noble families who could have one-character names but didn't use them, Zhang Shiping wanted to use one-character names, but it didn't work.
Just like when many children in later generations are born, they also want to use one word as their name, but basically they are not allowed. Although there is no law that explicitly says not allowed, when registering for household registration, it is "in principle" not allowed.
The untouchables are the untouchables, the nobles are the nobles, and the parents' officials are the parents' officials.
The hierarchy is strict and does not tolerate any transgression.
Are you still thinking about fish and water?
Want to eat peaches?
Businessmen themselves are lowly in the eyes of the Han people.
It goes just right with the two-letter nickname.
The status of merchants in the Han Dynasty has never been very high. Merchants, sons-in-law, and prisoners are on the same level. If cannon fodder is needed at any time, those of this level will be captured first and sent to death. Not only in the Han Dynasty, but also in the emphasis on small farmers
In the feudal dynasties that followed the economy, the concept that everyone was equal and that there was no distinction between high and low occupations was simply a dream.
Zhang Shiping was born into an ordinary farmer's family. His brother inherited a few acres of farmland from his father, so he could not inherit anything. If one piece of land was divided into two parts, no one would be able to survive.
Zhang Shiping could only start his journey as a merchant with a little money that his parents had saved for more than ten years.
From selling needles, thread, brains, rags and wooden basins, to lacquer boxes, bronze mirrors and jewelry, to grain, cloth and war horses...
Along the way, he had seen many businessmen like him die in obscurity.
Like Zhang Shiping, most of these businessmen traveled far and wide because their families were poor.
Because he was poor, he had no inheritance to inherit and no way to earn a living at home, so he had no choice but to go out and fight for his life.
The children of a noble family with a big surname have declined, but they can still hang out in the clan, receive a share of money and food, and when they grow up, they will become the lackeys of a certain master, or they may be followers, waving flags, shouting, advocating, kneeling, and licking.
Can be mixed with a bowl of rice.
Ordinary families do not have such good treatment. If the eldest son is left to inherit the land, the second son often takes the copper coins saved by the family for several years or even more than ten years, kowtows in front of his parents, and then goes away.
A foreign country.
Most of these people died. I don’t know whether they died in the mountains and forests and were eaten by wild beasts. It is also possible that they were arrested in a certain town by the government officials who could not catch the murderer and took the blame. Anyway, the level is the same, and the county
The master doesn't care what the truth is, he just wants to smooth things over on the surface.
Therefore, from a certain point of view, if you can survive in business in the Han Dynasty, grow bigger and bigger, and eventually become a good businessman, you have a lot of luck and means.
Zhang Shiping felt that he was lucky, at least when he came out to drink soup and breakfast, he smelled some ominous smell.
Wancheng is almost a city outside the traditional territory of the Han Dynasty.
It is more like a city formed by commerce and merchants, rather than a town formed by agriculture and handicrafts in the traditional sense.
This resulted in the majority of people in Wancheng being merchants.
Cities in a region always have their own eating habits.
For example, in cities around Yunnan and Guizhou, people like to eat all kinds of white umbrellas, and then lie down on them, while in Guangdong and Guangxi, they like to eat Hu Jianren, pickled raw and crispy...
The current living habits in Wancheng start with a bowl of soup. Every morning, you get up, drink a bowl of mutton soup, and then eat a pancake to start your day. This is how most businessmen in Wancheng live.
pattern, but on this day, something different seemed to be spreading.
Zhang Shiping, after getting up early every morning, would first drink a bowl of mutton soup to warm his stomach, and then eat a piece of bread. It was a small satisfaction every day, and then he started his busy day. But today's soup was...
Make him unable to drink...
Because Pang Shanmin and Huang Zhong locked up the four gates of Wancheng, they began a large-scale search for "rats" in the city. All those who had no identity or were suspected were arrested. If anyone resisted, they were killed on the spot.
Of course, there were not many people who really had the guts to resist, so the smell of blood was not too strong at the beginning, but I didn’t know whether it was because Zhang Shiping’s nose was too easy to use, or because a gust of wind just happened to hit Zhang Shiping.
He smelled blood.
The smell of human blood.
Wancheng can be said to be an exception among the large Han towns.
Because of Wancheng's unique geographical location and the background of its creation, Wancheng has become the most tolerant place for merchants among all the cities in the Han Dynasty.
However, this kind of tolerance did not win the "loyalty" of the businessmen.
Although businessmen themselves have no concept of loyalty and only have a relationship of interest, for most businessmen, being able to enjoy the same treatment as ordinary people in Wancheng is enough to make these people praise them.
That's right, it's just a "word-of-mouth compliment".
After all, in the minds of many businessmen, Wancheng is a good person, while elsewhere he is a bad person, so the attitude towards good people and evil people is of course different. Giving false praise to good people and giving actual benefits to evil people is not exactly the best way to treat good people and evil people.
Is it the right way to survive? And sometimes, selling news or some special goods can make a lot of profits, which makes these businessmen not abide by the rules of Wancheng as much as they seem.
Now these merchants who feel no need to abide by the rules are beginning to be unlucky...
The smell of death that permeates everywhere makes many people uneasy. Especially the merchants with low status in the Han Dynasty. Once a war breaks out, these merchants, who are equivalent to the status of prisoners of the son-in-law, can be killed at any time even if they have not made any mistakes.
Their property may be confiscated, a knife or a stick may be stuffed into their hands, and they may die in the front row of the battle formation.
Not to mention that there are businessmen who are doing something secretly. Being caught is basically the end of the game.
Zhang Shiping was silent for a long time after learning that Pang Shanmin and Huang Zhong had started taking action.
It's true that Pang Shanmin and Huang Zhong have cleaned up "rats" before, but they didn't have such a big battle like now. In other words, before, it was like rats running into the streets without looking around, and of course they were killed, but now
It's like lifting the lid of the sewer and then cleaning it section by section.
These are two completely different concepts.
Zhang Shiping wandered around for a few times. Before Pang Shanmin and Huang Zhong could find him, he arrived at the Wancheng Mansion Office first and knelt down in front of Pang Shanmin with a thud. "I am willing to make you obey me. I just want a way to survive!"
Pangshan people were unconvinced.
Zhang Shiping kowtowed repeatedly and continued: "The common people are still willing to advise the envoy to establish Wancheng's business regulations and prevent the current disadvantages from happening again in the future!"
Only then did Pang Shanmin become slightly interested. He focused his attention on Zhang Shiping, pondered for a while, and ordered people to watch.
"What did you commit?" Pang Shanmin asked.
Zhang Shiping lowered his head and said respectfully, "The common people have not done anything illegal."
"Huh?" Pang Shanmin frowned slightly.
Zhang Shiping took out a piece of slightly old silk cloth from his arms, handed it to the guard, and forwarded it to Pang Shanmin.
Pang Shanmin's eyes condensed slightly and his waist straightened a little. He recognized the thing Zhang Shiping took out.
In order to commend some people who have done good deeds, this is a piece of silk cloth that is similar to the certificate of later generations specially issued by Hussar. It is woven into the cloth with colorful silk threads, and then uses lacquer as ink, red and black, to describe the people who have been commended.
With the example, he named it "Zilubu".
"Is this yours?" Pang Shanmin glanced at Zhang Shiping.
Although the official has not recognized "Zi Lu Bu", nor has it been specifically promoted, civilians who can produce such certificates can receive certain preferential treatment under the Husband, but they can only be used once. Just like ordinary people
The military merits of soldiers, soldiers, and generals are the same. They can be exchanged for money, land, or accumulated to seek greater benefits. However, once the exchange is completed, the merits will be calculated from scratch.
So some people jokingly call it a life-saving cloth for the common people...
Therefore, some Pangshan people asked him with a straight face.
"This is not owned by the grassroots people..." Zhang Shiping's voice was a little low, "It was left by a friend of the grassroots people, Su's name..."
"Su Shuang..." Pang Shanmin unfolded the Zilu cloth and saw the name on the silk cloth, "There are more than a thousand living refugees...ah, it's not easy..."
The silk cloth roughly tells the story of Su Shuang's time in Heluo and Chang'an during the turbulent times. When many nobles and powerful families in those areas were fleeing or becoming cowards, Su Shuang stood up as a businessman and took in the refugees.
, organized production to help themselves, and distributed money to these refugees, until they met Ma Chao...
Then his friend Su Shuang died.
He died in the hands of Ma Chao.
Because at that time Ma Chao heard that there were refugees on Su Shuang's side, and more importantly, Su Shuang actually had some horses.
Ma Chao was about to start a big business at that time. Whether it was refugees or horses, both were good. So he found Su Shuang and asked Su Shuang to be an angel investor.
Historically, when Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang met the three brothers Liu Bei, it is difficult to say whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. But at least one thing is certain, the angel investors in Han Dynasty must really go to the "
Heaven's enlightenment.
In troubled times, there are many people who have no rice to cook with. They gather together and are led by a few leaders with strong martial arts skills. But those who have rice to cook with just next to them can pretend that nothing is wrong and there is no problem.
Wouldn't this happen? Only by obediently giving away all the rice, showing that one's sleeves are empty, would one get the words "Sir, you are so righteous, don't give it away" and barely survive.
Moreover, it is still necessary to take the initiative to give money first without the other party taking action. Only angel investors can do this safely. Otherwise, they will not be angel investors, but will give away money thousands of miles away.
Su Shuang was almost like giving away his life a thousand miles away. Ma Chao accepted Su Shuang's horse with a smile, and also took away Su Shuang's head.
Later, Fei Qian defeated Ma Chao and comforted the people in the Sanfu area of Chang'an, not only to comfort the soldiers who died in the battle, but also to commend ordinary people.
Although Fei Qian said that this move was also used to win people's hearts, after all, Fei Qian gave commendations and memorials to these strangers. Including Su Shuang, at that time, he made a stable place in the Heluo area of Chang'an to accommodate the refugees.
, all have such a Zilubu, and Su Shuang obviously did not leave any family members when he died, but because Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang were doing business in partnership at that time, Zhang Shiping also had a share of the war horse, so Su Shuang often used it at that time.
He said that he wanted to send it to Zhang Shiping, so Su Shuang's Zilubu came into Zhang Shiping's hands.
After hearing the news of Su Shuang's death, Zhang Shiping sat alone in silence for a long time. He was very sad. He thought he would cry bitterly, but found that he could not shed a single tear. It seemed that he had long realized that he and Su
The final fate of such a person is to die in an inexplicable chaos, so after hearing such news, he only felt sadness but no tears.
Su Shuang was a better man than Zhang Shiping, so he died earlier than Zhang Shiping.
Historically, Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang became the angel investors of the three Liu Bei brothers, and this is still recorded in history to some extent. However, in the current historical torrent, Fei Qian, a big stone that suddenly appeared in the river,
, causing many subsequent water flows to quietly change.
"Your Majesty, the common people are bold enough to ask for permission with this cloth, for no other reason than to be like your Majesty," Zhang Shiping lowered his head and said, "There are good and bad people in this world. This is common sense, and businessmen are also people in this world."
, so there are good and bad... However, it is the same as the world, good people often die first, because good people rarely guard against bad people... It is a good thing for you to close the four doors and track down spies, but... it is slightly inappropriate...
…』
Pang Shanmin frowned, looked at Zhang Shiping, was silent for a while and then said, "What's wrong?"
"There are rewards and punishments, that's the rule." Zhang Shiping still lowered his head and said, "The common people walk in the wilderness and through the grass. They know that most people in this world seek advantages and avoid disadvantages... so
There is nothing wrong with the king's use of thunderbolts, but... it is better to imitate the methods of the hussar, and also use the methods of spring breeze and rain, with rewards and punishments, as the rules."
"It means..." Pang Shanmin couldn't help but think about it.
In the feudal dynasty, those in power rarely reward those at the lower level, because in the minds of many people in power, the authority given is already the biggest reward. But the question is, how many people can authority be given to? And authority Is this kind of thing really given by a superior? If there are no lower-class people in a city, how can one just have authority to change the left pocket into the right pocket, and then inexplicably a lot of supplies appear that cannot be used up?
All wealth is created by the lower class people, and the upper class officials are all tax collectors. But because the upper class officials are vested interests, they will naturally use various means to protect their status and interests.
The characteristic of the feudal dynasty is that there are many punishments and few rewards. Giving more rewards to the lower class people is like taking a piece of flesh off the upper class officials. In the mouths of these officials, the lower class people seem to always be unruly people and untouchables, and human nature The most common truth is that no matter what class you are in, there will be good and bad things, but it seems that these officials can turn a blind eye.
Pang Shanmin looked at Zhang Shiping, and then looked down at Zhang Zilubu. After pondering for a long time, Fang nodded and said: "You are right, but...there are many people in this world who are just trying to gain fame..."
Zhang Shiping raised his hand and said: "Even if you are seeking fame, at least on the surface you have done something good and got a good result... just like Zilu's cattle... If more cattle are sent, won't it save more effort in farming?"
Pang Shanmin pondered and remained silent for a while. It’s not that he didn’t understand the truth, but as the prefect of Wancheng, his butt was naturally in a different position from Zhang Shiping. Although Pang Shanmin had farmed at the foot of Lushan Mountain before, he farmed more at that time. Most of them are for recreation, just like the hermits on Zhongnan Mountain. They don't really make a living from farming, so the people of Pangshan cannot be regarded as real grassroots people.
Zhang Shiping looked at Pang Shanmin and continued: "Your Majesty, this Wancheng... is located in the north, south, east and west of the Han Dynasty. It is naturally equipped with all kinds of conveniences for merchants to come and go... This merchant business is most profitable..."
"Hmm..." Pang Shanmin's eyes fell on the zilu cloth on the table. He thought for a long time and finally nodded and said, "That makes sense. Since you are proposing this strategy, you must have thought about it, so why not speak frankly."
Zhang Shiping bowed again, and then said: "We can follow the example of the Chang'an Chamber of Commerce and form the Wancheng Chamber of Commerce. The chamber of commerce can control merchants and formulate industry rules so that good people will be rewarded and evil people will be punished. Naturally, it will be better than the current situation where everyone does their own thing and does not know the rules." Better..."
There are chambers of commerce that use real names to do practical things, and there are also chambers of commerce that are trying to sell things like sheep. Is it the Wancheng Chamber of Commerce? I can’t say it’s the latter, but it hasn’t done much.
Pang Shanmin stared at Zhang Shiping and suddenly smiled, "Do you have spies under you?"
Zhang Shiping left the table and knelt down, "I dare not hide anything from the envoy... It is true. The common people have a humble status and cannot refuse... Most of the merchants in the city are like this, so the common people know the importance of this rule. If the envoy can establish These Wancheng business regulations can naturally gather the merchants who are now wandering around..."
Zhang Shiping lowered his head deeply and said, "Grassmen live in all directions, knowing that merchants walking in the wild are no better than dogs... If Wancheng suffers a loss, the ruler will not be the only one who suffers, but also the common people. I hope that I can be there again."
I have settled down in Wancheng and am no longer a wandering merchant..."
The big man has no shortage of people.
In other words, under the small-scale peasant economic system, the population will always be surplus. After all, there are only so many acres of land in the family, how many people can be fed?
Therefore, China's feudal society will inevitably maintain a certain number of unemployed people, and this will form an invisible involution, forcing lower-class workers to accept lower returns, and they will have no extra energy and time to look up and look into the distance.
Merchants are an unstable factor in the small-scale peasant economy, so they are not recognized by the powerful Shandong traditional gentry. In the eyes of these Shandong gentry, merchants are like their own dogs. When things go well, they reward them with food, and when things go wrong, they directly kill them.
Just get another dog.
Therefore, Zhang Shiping's words can be said to be full of blood and tears.
When government officials only take money and do not work, do not formulate regulations that should be formulated by the government, or do not even abide by the rules themselves, naturally there will be other underground parties to supplement the rules, and this supplement is often
Chaotic, disordered, and even hindering normal development.
Pang Shanmin pondered for a long time, and finally nodded in agreement. Perhaps he just felt that Zhang Shiping's suggestion could better manage the businessmen in Wancheng, but what he didn't know was that Wancheng was also starting from an agricultural city at this moment, and it seemed that it had been a matter of course for many years.
Moving towards an urban route that focuses on commerce...