"May I ask Your Highness..." Finally, a man who was not afraid of death had the courage to go out and asked: "What is the price of this protection, Your Highness hopes?"
Liu Che glanced at him.
This man was about thirty or forty years old. He was wearing silk and satin and looked pretty decent. He was obviously a member of a certain family in Guanzhong or someone closely related to that family.
In this era, of course there are loyal people.
In the previous life, during the Wu-Chu Rebellion, countless loyal and trustworthy people were willing to give up their own lives and even the lives of their families just for a promise!
For example, Liu Che remembered that King Zhao Liu Sui rebelled, and all his prime ministers and internal officials died for the country.
King Liu Wu of Chu rebelled, and his palace was filled with blood.
Even King Wu Liu Bi had loyal ministers.
Zhou Qiu, Liu Bi's diner, just to repay Liu Bi for taking him in, single-handedly captured Xia Pi County for Liu Bi, pulled out an army of 30,000 people, and then marched north to Jianghuai, plundering several counties, and fought all the way to
The Chengyang Kingdom had a fierce battle with the Chengyang Kingdom's army. They were defeated and the troops besieged Chengyang. They almost turned the whole situation upside down.
Wrong, at that time, after hearing about the crisis in Chengyang, the Han army stationed in Hengshan for disaster relief and the soldiers of the Hengshan Kingdom came to the rescue. In addition, the Wu and Chu army had been destroyed in the decisive battle and were defeated.
Seeing that the situation was over, Zhou Qiu was disheartened and joined forces at Xia Pi. Halfway there, he suffered from back gangrene and died.
Just such an insignificant diner almost opened the way between Wu Chu and Qi Zhao.
but……
Are there any loyal people among businessmen?
Be funny!
Isn't the essence of businessmen deception, blackmail, greed and insidiousness?
Maybe there is?
But Liu Che can be sure that at least there is no such person among the big businessmen in Guanzhong.
For a group of businessmen who regard profits as currency and have used any means for decades, what is loyalty? Can it make money?
Therefore, Liu Che put this person on the blacklist of "Li Ling Zhi Fa" without even thinking about it.
the reason is simple.
Liu Che is the prince.
High above, below one person, above ten thousand people, this is the home of the nine states and all directions, the barbarians from all over the world, and the future emperor.
A small tyrant actually dares to stand up and ask the question, "What is the price of protection?"
Did he think that the aloof royal family, the ruler of the world, would discuss and negotiate with a group of businessmen who were not even officials?
If this is really the reason, then he is a fool!
Obviously, Liu Che didn't think that an elite among businessmen of this era who was in charge of a powerful market would be a fool.
Then there is no doubt that he was so confused that he actually had hallucinations!
Throughout the ages, when did the imperial court need to consult and negotiate with businessmen when doing things?
Thunder, rain, and dew are all your grace.
The royal family spoke, and the merchants just listened.
Especially now that Liu Che has definitely eliminated most of the arrogant powers and most people have been united to his side.
Well, perhaps, the eighty-five powers present and the families behind them could unite and pose some threat to Liu Che.
Now...hehe...
Now Liu Che's attention has shifted from how to win over these powerful people for his own use, to how to establish authority, and how to make these powerful people who have now wavered and come to his side realize that only obedience and obedience are the conditions for survival.
Every time there is a war, the generals will grab a few examples from the army and kill them for sacrifice.
This is what the ancients called killing the chicken to scare the monkey.
Liu Che chuckled, looked at him, and said lightly: "Well, this is still a secret of the court for the time being, and documents will be delivered to you by then..." Liu Che looked at him and asked: "Sir, do you have any opinions?"
The man's soul almost flew away when Liu Che laughed.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but unfortunately his teeth were chattering.
Liu Che shook his head and said: "All of you are the pillars of the market in each county. I am here to let you know. It will be the end of the year soon. I plan to report to my father and add one to the market in each county in Guanzhong."
The rule, this rule is called "the last one is eliminated", is the same as the performance appraisal in the current officialdom. There will be Shaofu officials, together with the Yushi Dafu Yamen, to evaluate the order, experience and law-abiding status of all Guanzhong markets, and those who are ranked last
All the top ten powers must be re-elected, and those who have been deposed cannot stand for election again within three years! Of course, if there is a punishment, there will be a reward. The powers who are in the top three in performance evaluation will be heavily rewarded. As for how to reward,
I still need to ask the Pope, but I can guarantee that I will at least have a place as a Marquis of Guannei!"
As soon as Liu Che said these words, the powerful people immediately felt that their eyes were darkened and they felt like the world was spinning.
The rank of military meritorious lord in the Han Dynasty was the same as that in the Qin Dynasty.
There are twenty levels in total.
The pinnacle is Chehou.
But what is different from the Qin Dynasty is that the Qin Dynasty’s military meritorious service was implemented in conjunction with the famous land and house system.
Therefore, in the Qin Dynasty, each level of title had corresponding restrictions.
For example, the land limit that can be owned and the size of the house are completely different between the first level and the second level.
In other words, in the Qin Dynasty, even if you had money, you could not own land or houses if you did not have a title.
But in the Han Dynasty and after Emperor Hui, the Mingtianzhai system basically existed in name only.
When the late emperor was in power, he made even more drastic changes, causing the Mingtianzhai system to completely disappear.
So at this time, among the people, even if you are a person with only a first-class title, as long as you are rich and willful, you can buy as much land as you want and build as big a house as you want, even in a remote wilderness.
Ling, even if you build a palace and call yourself "I", as long as no one finds out or reports, that's fine.
However, these are only low-level titles.
In fact, high nobility of level 17 or above will begin to have some political privileges.
The Marquis of Guannei is the twentieth-level title, second only to the Marquis of Che.
Has many political privileges.
For example, if the Marquis of Guannei commits a crime, a lower-ranking local official or the like cannot try him. He must be tried and convicted by a high-ranking official at the level of two thousand shi, and then the crime must be approved by the Tingwei.
In addition, the Marquis of Guannei also had a settlement, although it was basically between one hundred and five hundred households, and it was not a fixed place. The court just paid money to the Marquis of Guannei every year according to the number of households in the settlement. Unlike the Marquis of Che,
The fiefdom was fixed. In the fiefdom, Chehou was the local emperor and could even appoint some local low-level officials.
However, this is enough!
At this time, there was no merchant-born Guanneihou in the entire world!
There are even very few people who regard commoners as Guanneihou.
Most of the marquises within the Guan Nei Kingdom are knighted for military merit.
Liu Che looked at these businessmen with a smile on his face.
Facts have proved that the only people who can really deal with businessmen are businessmen.
In the previous life, Xiaozhu's salt and iron government-run policy was established with the help of businessmen.
Kong Yu, Guo Xianyang, and Sang Hongyang took over and completed the work.
Even the Chinese dynasty of later generations would not give businessmen the title of CPPCC member or something like that.
You can't ask the horse to run and not eat grass, right?
"My carrot is not bad..." Liu Che proudly observed the expressions on the faces of these powerful people, feeling proud in his heart.
As for giving a businessman the title of Marquis in Guannei, can Dad approve it?
Haha, the Han Dynasty has always been a pragmatic regime.
In the previous life, Xiaozhu dared to give officials to businessmen.
Da Si Nong, one of the dignified Nine Ministers, has been a businessman for three consecutive terms!
National economic policy comes from the hands of businessmen.
As long as it was beneficial, Liu Che didn't think his father would be reluctant to give up the title of Marquis of Guannei and the tens of thousands of dollars in food money every year.
"Okay, today's business is finished, please help yourself..." Liu Che said with a smile: "I have prepared fine wine and delicacies for you in this Sixian Garden. As for me... I still have something to do, so I will excuse myself for a while...
…”
"Wang Dao..." Liu Che turned around and told Wang Dao: "I'll leave this to you!"
"promise!"
"Mr. Cheng Zheng, please come with me..." Liu Che ordered Cheng Zhengying again.
………………………………
Liu Che took Cheng Zhengying to his palace in Sixian Garden.
After letting it sit down.
Liu Che was straightforward and ordered in an unquestionable tone: "Mr. Cheng Zheng, please stay here first and prepare yourself. In two days, Emperor Gu's father may summon you!"
"Ah..." Cheng Zhengying was startled: "The Emperor..."
In the world today, the person Cheng Zhengying fears most is the Emperor of the Han Dynasty.
After all, a large part of his wealth was obtained by poaching Deng Tong.
Today, the emperor issued an order two years ago to confiscate all of Deng Tong's wealth.
This means that, in fact, he is poaching the emperor's foundation.
Meeting the emperor is like a mouse meeting a cat. Those who are not afraid are lunatics!
Liu Che smiled and comforted him: "Sir, don't be anxious. As long as we can dig out the praise ramp, I promise that my emperor's father will not punish you!"
Liu Che deliberately left out Zhuo Wangsun.
There is of course a reason for this.
Zhuo Wangsun has a delicate and beautiful daughter Zhuo Wenjun.
Although Zhuo Wenjun is still a pink and tender little lolita, Liu Che decided to collect the little lolita just in case.
Liu Che was not afraid at all that Zhuo Wangsun and Cheng Zhengying would not come up with the money or that they would make false promises or anything like that.
The answer is simple.
They can escape but the monk cannot escape from the temple.
How could they be willing to abandon such a huge family fortune and just wander around the world?
What's more, businessmen in the Han Dynasty have been tirelessly looking for ways to become officials.
In his previous life, didn't Xiaozhu recruit two great businessmen, Kong Yuan and Guo Xianyang, who were no less important than Cheng Zhengying?
Of course, benefits still have to be given.
Otherwise, why would Cheng Zhengying and Zhuo Wangsun work for Liu Che?
So Liu Che said: "When will your daughter come to Chang'an?"
When Cheng Zhengying heard this, his eyes were in a trance. He couldn't understand why Liu Che's attitude changed again.
but……
Cheng Zhengying knew very well that as long as his daughter could enter the palace and fulfill the prophecy of being 'indescribably precious', then it would be worth it no matter how much wealth she paid!
Because Cheng Zhengying's thirty years of business career told him.
No amount of money can match the sharpness of a sword.
Only becoming a relative of the emperor is the long-term way for the family and his wealth.
Thinking like this, Cheng Zhengying kowtowed and said, "The daughter of a commoner will probably come to Chang'an in the first month of next year..."
Liu Che closed his eyes and said: "I know, sir, please stay here first. I will send someone to take care of your daily life!"
………………………………
Exit of Shanglinyuan.
By this time, it was almost dusk.
There were twos and threes of powerful people from various counties in Guanzhong. Some were in high spirits, calling friends, planning to go home to continue drinking and discussing. They were all very excited.
Because these people saw the dawn of their rise and the hope of reshuffling the cards in Guanzhong.
As for the food price protection, will it harm their interests?
They have no profit at all yet!
Anyway, let's first defeat those guys who are riding on their heads or blocking their way.
What's more, if the communication between Guanzhong and Shu County is no longer bound by the high mountains, goods from the two places can move freely between the two places without any obstacles. If there is more market in Shu County, they may not be at a disadvantage!
Of course, there are also some people who are despondent and gray-faced.
These people were not many in number, probably only a dozen or so.
They gathered together, frowning.
Because they know very well that everything they have is dependent on and parasitic on Chang'an and the noble ministers of Chang'an.
And once the Han prince becomes ruthless, not to mention their family, even their backers may be in trouble.
"What should I do?" Someone sighed worriedly.
"Let's go back quickly and report to our respective masters..." One person said: "I hope the masters can ask those ministers of Chehou and even the nobles in the palace to speak for us in front of the emperor and the queen mother. The prince is too ridiculous.
Got it!"
"Yes, yes!" Shan Quan, who personally came forward to question Liu Che, clenched his fists and looked pale. Apparently he had not recovered from the blow that the prince had just dealt to him and had been in fear. At this moment, he was like a caught
A life-saving straw for the drowning man.
These people were still discussing. At this time, a group of fully armed officials with flags and banners came from the official road in the distance.
One of the leading officials glanced at these people and asked: "Where is Du Chun, the man who has the power in Chongquan County?"
"The villain is..." The pale-faced Shan Quan came out tremblingly, raised his hands and asked: "Why do you want to find a villain?"
"I, the official Feng Nei Shi, will prepare the orders of the Thieves, Du Wei, and Du Wei. If you have something to do, please ask Du Shanquan to come to the Nei Shi Yamen..."
The official took out an official document, threw it to Du Chun, and said: "It has been found that Du Shanquan is related to several night robbery and murder cases in Chongquan County two years ago. In addition, the robber Du Wei's Yamen received reports from the people, and Du Shanquan was
He was also involved in seven or eight cases of colluding with the rangers to bully and dominate the market!"
When Du Chun heard this, he collapsed on the ground.
He had obviously erased all these things, so how could someone still uncover them?
At this time, Du Chun saw a familiar figure among the officials who came to arrest him.
"Is that Zhang Dalang from Chongquan County..." He became completely desperate. Isn't that Zhang Dalang the most famous ranger in Chongquan County before? Wasn't he the one who once drank and talked with him and called him brother-in-law?
"Zhang Dalang..." Du Chun swallowed his saliva and tried to build relationships.
In fact, Zhang Dalang did walk towards him.
However, they were carrying shackles and instruments of torture.
With the shackles on his body, Du Chun looked at all this in a daze. He didn't know why.
Why would those things about him that people thought were unnoticed be revealed?
Why would the ranger leader who was usually his brother-in-law become an official?
"Brother..." Du Chun only heard Zhang Dalang sighing in a low voice: "No wonder I'm so ruthless. It's true that now that I've eaten the imperial food from the imperial court, I've received the favor of my elder brother. We,
Youxia, you always listen to your elder brother!"
So, these officials escorted Du Chun into the prison car and then drove away.
Those few who were left with authority looked at me and I looked at you. A chill rising from the depths of their souls instantly swept through their entire bodies and minds.
Who doesn’t have shit under their butt?
Faced with this obvious warning and revenge from the prince.
Each of these arrogances brings a sense of despair from the bottom of his heart.
In fact, they are still holding on till now and still have their pillars supporting them.
It’s nothing more than two points.
First, the family has a large number of stakeholders in the government and the public, and some families even have deep 'friendships' with nobles in the palace.
Secondly, the prince is only a little over sixteen years old this year, and he is just a young boy. No matter how powerful he is, how powerful can he be?
But now I saw Du Chun's fate.
These people couldn't help but think of the rumors in the market.
"Prince Che is the successor designated by Emperor Taizong Xiaowen..."
"Prince Che has been wise and martial since he was a child, and is different from ordinary people. Taizong often said to the Queen Mother: This son is like me and should rule the world!"
Emperor Taizong Xiaowen passed away only two years ago, but his methods, his prestige, and his power have not faded yet.
These people finally began to fear and waver.
"Although the family behind me and I are large and know many people, how can we fight against a prince who has been recognized by Emperor Taizong Xiaowen?" one person thought fearfully.
At that time, Emperor Taizong Xiaowen defeated Chen Ping and Zhou Bo with his bare hands, and single-handedly subdued the ambitious people in the world. Not only the common people still remembered this benevolent emperor and considered him a saint.
The powerful and noble people in Guanzhong are extremely afraid of him.
Everyone will break into a cold sweat just thinking about the late emperor's skills.
"In any case, let's go back and report to our respective masters first..." One person said: "This matter is no longer something we can intervene in. Let the big shots judge it. If the big shots can convince the prince,
Then we will still obey the master’s orders, otherwise..."
The man looked at the others and said: "No big shot can shake the prince. Why should we, like ants, hit the prince? Even if we break him to pieces, we won't be able to harm a single hair of the prince!"
…………………………………………
That night.
In a house in Renli, Chang'an, the lights are brightly lit.
More than a dozen big figures from Guanzhong gathered together.
These people appear here obviously for one thing only.
That is, how should they respond to the prince's protective price?
"Gentlemen!" As the main convener, Du Mao stood up and cupped his hands and said: "I think all the gentlemen already know it...Prince, it is true that I am here. My unworthy nephew Du Chun has been imprisoned...
...Although I, the Du family, are the only ones suffering from the disaster, gentlemen...it is sad for a fox to die when a rabbit dies, let alone a human being?"
"If the prince makes a protective price today and stabilizes the price of grain in Guanzhong, my death will not be far away!" Du Mao made an impassioned speech with deep feeling.
"We Wuyan clan don't care about this..." As soon as Du Mao finished speaking, a young man sitting next to Du Mao stood up, bowed to Du Mao and said: "I'm sorry, before I came here, my father gave instructions
My nephew, if Shibo talks about any topic about the prince, I must leave immediately...I'm sorry..."
The young man left his seat politely, bowed again and again, and then said to the others: "As a junior, my nephew has no intention to comment on your behavior today. I just want to remind you elders that the Han Dynasty is not responsible for any conspiracy against the prince or even talking about the prince."
His actions are always outrageous, and my nephew believes that an ant cannot pity a big tree! That’s all!”
After saying that, he left happily.
"Coward!" Someone looked at the young man from the Wuyan clan and cursed.
But the mature people said nothing.
"The Wuyan clan's backer is Nanpihou. Nanpihou has spoken out about this matter!" Some older people who knew the background immediately began to make calculations in their minds.
Nanpi Marquis Dou Changjun was the eldest brother of the Queen Mother. Basically, Nanpi Marquis's statement was equal to that of the Queen Mother.
So, two more people stood up and said, "I'm sorry, Brother Du, there's nothing we can do to help..."
The families of these two people are engaged in aristocratic business, such as cockfighting and lackeys, and pimps running a parlor in Huajie and Liuxiang. Therefore, food prices and the like have no impact on them.
It's nothing to do with yourself, let alone a bright light, Wuyan, who has taken the lead. If you stay here, if you are not careful, your family and life will be risked. It's not worth it!
As soon as the two people left, another person hesitated for a while, then stood up and said: "Brother Du, I'm sorry, our Tian family doesn't dare to get involved in this matter!"
This person is Tian Guang, the head of the Tian family. Tian Guang has a close relationship with Du Mao. Therefore, he couldn't help but remind him: "Brother Du, please think about it carefully. My arms have never been able to hold my thighs. Tell the truth to Brother Du, we
Mrs. Tian is very welcome to the prince’s plan to build a pavilion tunnel..."
When Du Mao heard this, he almost cursed.
Of course, everyone in the Tian family welcomes the construction of the Baoxian Road!
Because, as soon as the Baoxie Road was opened, more than 10,000 acres of land where Tian's family was located immediately became fertile farmland.
In comparison, the food losses are acceptable.
What's more, who knows that the Tian family has invested heavily in Zhang Tang, who is supported by Tian Jia, hoping that Zhang Tang can recreate the miracle of Chao Cuo.
As soon as Tian Guang left, An Ling, who had the same background, followed closely behind.
As a result, this huge house became empty all of a sudden.
Less than half of the attendees were left.
Moreover, many of these people are wavering and hesitant.
Du Mao knew that everyone could surrender or retreat, but he, Du, could not retreat!
Who says that four of the ten rice shops in Chang'an belong to his family?
More importantly, his tribesman Du Chun was arrested. With Liu's vengeful character, if he surrendered like this, then what would be waiting for Du when the prince ascended the throne?
At least... let the prince know that we are not easy to mess with!
Let him know that we must respect our interests!
With this idea in mind, Du Mao looked at the leaders of the major merchant families present and said: "Those cowards can just leave. Next, let's discuss..." r1152
