Hua Kefang and two big businessmen knelt respectfully in front of the third hall of Prince Qi's Mansion. When he saw Li Zhi walking in, he knelt on the ground and saluted.
"The common people have seen the prince! The prince is a thousand years old, a thousand years old, a thousand years old!"
Li Zhi sat on the throne and said calmly: "Everyone, get up."
Hua Kefang and the two businessmen heard Li Zhi's words and slowly got up from the ground. Hua Kefang took a step back after getting up, and then stood respectfully. His action forced the two big businessmen behind him to
They had to take a step back, which made the three of them look very humble.
Li Zhi looked at Hua Kefang.
This is a middle-aged man in his forties, with a black goatee. He is quite tall, with a slightly fat face. His belly is somewhat protruding due to obesity, and it projects an arc on the Lu silk round collar.
Probably because the middle-aged Dezhi's business is getting bigger and bigger, he looks very confident. If you compare him with the other two middle-aged businessmen, you will feel that Hua Kefang is full of energy and seems to be able to do big things at any time.
Li Zhi asked: "Are you Hua Kefang, who recently established the Chamber of Commerce?"
Hua Kefang cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the common people are Hua Kefang. The common people took the lead in setting up the Fanjiazhuang General Chamber of Commerce."
Li Zhi said calmly: "I heard that you established this chamber of commerce to gain status for businessmen? To find a way out?"
Li Zhi's words were a bit rude.
The two businessmen behind Hua Kefang took a breath when they heard this. They looked at each other and secretly thought something was wrong.
However, Hua Kefang didn't take it seriously.
Hua Kefang was not surprised at all when she heard Li Zhi's question.
With the energy and power of the King of Qi, Hua Kefang boldly said that he wanted to seek political status for businessmen. The King of Qi would definitely know about this. However, Hua Kefang handled the matter in a measured manner and would not provoke the King of Qi to suppress him.
And Hua Kefang is also confident that she is doing the right thing.
Judging from the overall energy of private businessmen in Fanjiazhuang and Tianjin Aicheng, these private forces have reached a critical point. It can be said that even if they do not come out to organize the chamber of commerce, this private force will participate in one way or another.
In the political life of one town and nine provinces.
Maybe businessmen will choose to support a certain local official to achieve political achievements, or use financial resources to influence local people's hearts. In short, since entrepreneurs and businessmen have the current strength, this strength will eventually be displayed.
Hua Kefang understands this, and Hua Kefang believes that King Qi Li Zhi also understands this.
It is precisely because the King of Qi must have understood this that Hua Kefang dared to stand up and seek status for the businessmen, because Hua Kefang was just following the trend and actually moving with the trend. He believed that he would not be affected by such a situation.
The punishment of King Qi.
Hearing Li Zhi's words, Hua Kefang raised her hands and said, "My lord, I know that Mr. Hua does have the idea of looking for a future as a businessman."
Li Zhi looked at Hua Kefang but said nothing.
Hua Kefang cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, the Ming Dynasty has always looked down upon merchants. According to the rules of the Ming Dynasty, there is an order of precedence for scholars, farmers, industry and merchants. In this order, merchants are the lowest and lowest people. In the heart of Emperor Taizu Gao, I am afraid that
What I hope most is that there will be no businessmen or entrepreneurial talents in the world!"
"However, even the Ming Dynasty gave merchants a clear path. If merchants made money, they could donate money to the prison. As long as they paid enough money, they would be prison students from then on, and they would be considered well-dressed people and have social reputation!"
Hearing Hua Kefang's words, Li Zhi said nothing.
Hua Kefang paused and looked up at Li Zhi's face. Seeing that Li Zhi was not angry, Hua Kefang continued: "The King of Qi rose on the shores of the Haihe River. Industry and commerce are the foundation of the country, and industry is the most important thing."
His Highness built roads, built ports, opened courts, and established stock markets, so market vendors like us were able to do some things with the support of King Qi, and now each of us has become a businessman and business owner."
"In the Fanjiazhuang General Chamber of Commerce, there are 172 business owners listed on the stock exchange alone."
"According to recent detailed statistics, the number of people employed by us members of the Chamber of Commerce is 116,000 in total. This number is more than I originally estimated. And these 110,000 people are scattered in various factory areas outside Fanjiazhuang. I am afraid there will be more
It has created employment for hundreds of thousands of vendors and service workers.”
"Your Majesty, to be honest, the people do feel that I, the businessman of Fanjiazhuang, have indeed done something for the people."
Hearing Hua Kefang's statistics, the guards around Li Zhi were a little surprised. They didn't expect that a private enterprise with little political status and never listed above the court could employ so many people. Speaking of which, Fanjiazhuang and Tianjin
Less than half of the citizens of the Acropolis depended on the business of private merchants.
Hua Kefang continued: "Not to mention other places in one town and nine provinces. You must know that there are no state-owned factories in other places. All local industry and commerce are run by private businessmen."
"But Your Majesty, at today's level, we businessmen still have no say at all. Our business has benefited hundreds of thousands of people, or more, but we don't get the honor we deserve. We encounter naughty children playing on the road, idle
Any lazy person who doesn't work may be pointed out and insulted by them."
"Your Majesty, this situation is probably not good. I think His Majesty should give us a background and a way out. Whether he lets us donate money or contribute to His cause, in the end he should give us a way forward.
, a hope that we can get an official status and achieve a respected position."
Hua Kefang said a lot, and finally looked up at Li Zhi.
Hearing Hua Kefang speak out his request in one breath, neither humble nor arrogant, the two big businessmen behind him were also a little excited. They also raised their heads and looked at Li Zhi hopefully.
Li Zhi tapped his fingers on the armrest of the throne.
After a long while, he said: "What you are saying is that you want to open a channel for me to buy an official position with money, right?"
Hearing Li Zhi's words, Hua Kefang and the two people behind him had a look on their faces, and their faces suddenly turned pale.
King Qi said such unpleasant words, obviously he was not prepared to agree to them.
Li Zhi smiled and said: "It is best to get privileges by buying an official, so that the business can be bigger and more profitable. In this way, after making more money, you can buy a bigger official. This virtuous circle will make the world
All business is done by you, and all policies in the world are controlled and influenced by you."
Hua Kefang frowned and said, "Your Majesty, what we want now is just an official position."
Li Zhi said unhappily: "I don't think it's that simple. As business owners and big businessmen, wherever you go, you are not wearing bright clothes and angry horses? You are already glamorous enough." "I think the official status you want, to put it bluntly, is to override
Privileges above the law. What you want is for the court to favor you when you have a conflict with the people, and what you want is for the police to spare you lightly after breaking the law. What you want is not simply an official position, but this official position.
The privilege of representing oneself.”
"Going a step further, you still want to spend money to become an official and control policies, right?"
Seeing that King Qi spoke so frankly, Hua Kefang did not dare to answer.
Li Zhi shook his head and said: "Your business is big and you have made enough profits. Your money can buy you three wives and four concubines. I think this is enough."
"If you want to spend money to buy an official position, or to go further, if you want to spend money to become a real official, don't mention it again in the future."
