Chapter 32 The power of the government, covering the sky with one hand
This morning, the government issued a decree to strictly investigate all types of prohibited items and tax evasion crimes.
Among the sixteen prefectures in Huai'an, Zhuang's Trading Company, the most powerful one, was naturally the first to bear the brunt.
Inside Qianlong Villa.
Zhuang Ming sat in a wheelchair and closed his eyes slightly.
Next to him are his confidants, people responsible for all levels of Zhuang's Trading Company.
But at this moment, the atmosphere seemed extremely gloomy.
"The tax issue was originally easy to talk about."
Bai Lao paused and said in a deep voice: "Under normal circumstances, we have account books for every account. We only need to let the officials check it and respond with the monthly tax receipts, and then it can be passed. Even with Chen
It was intentionally difficult under the instruction of the prince, but our accountant will be able to cope with it, but if this happens, the matter will be delayed and consumed..."
"The more important thing now is to check for prohibited items." Lu He said: "Fortunately, the Young Master gave the order in time, and we conducted an internal self-examination. Even if there were some prohibited items that we didn't know about, we have cleared them up."
"You still need to be careful and don't be careless." Zhuang Ming said sternly: "We are clean internally, and others may not be able to pour some dirty water on you and stuff you with some prohibited items. That's hard to explain."
"This..." Lu He's expression changed slightly. He had ignored this before.
"Since this king with a different surname has taken action, he will not talk to you about the morality of the world." Zhuang Ming said: "You are a member of the martial arts, with a chivalrous demeanor, and believe that the pure will be pure, but he is fighting openly and secretly in the court.
After many years of unscrupulous tactics, these guys have very dark hearts, and they may not be able to do anything like frame-up."
"I will order people to pay strict attention to it," Lu He said seriously.
"In addition, at present, the government only investigated Zhuang's Trading Company and did not investigate other companies." Bai Lao said: "This is clearly targeting us, and it is also clear that all merchants in the Sixteenth Prefecture of Huai'an should know that he is doing this.
The prince who holds the most power in the Sixteenth House of Huai'an deliberately wants to attack our Zhuang Company."
"As a result, the families that have decided to stand on our side after the disaster of the Song family may no longer dare to stand with us easily." Zhuang Ming nodded and said: "Even if they are not our enemies, they will only
Will watch and watch the changes, isolating Zhuang's Trading Company..."
Zhuang's Trading Company was powerful and had many connections, and had business dealings with various merchants.
And if it is isolated by various companies, on many levels, even the behemoth Zhuang Company will inevitably be unable to support itself.
"In addition, now in the Sixteenth Mansion of Huai'an, no goods can come in or out of the stores and warehouses of our Zhuang's Trading Company that have been inspected. Every day, we have to make expenditures and consume a lot of silver."
Zhuang Ming pondered and said: "As for the business outside Huai'an, it is only preliminary development. Previously, only silver coins were continuously invested, and the harvest has not yet come. The current source of money for our Zhuang Company is based on the Sixteenth Mansion of Huai'an. King Chen
This blow really hits the mark..."
Bai Lao said in a low voice: "As Young Master said, with the current situation of Zhuang's Trading Company, even if the government cannot find any prohibited items, as long as this delay is continued for a period of time, we will suffer countless losses every day. Even though Zhuang's Trading Company has a deep foundation,
It’s so thick, I’m afraid it won’t last long.”
"Besides..." Lu He said: "Manager Sun and others who were sent to the government by us before are now in the hands of the prince, and they have become witnesses. That's why the government is so vigorous and justifiable to investigate.
."
"I'll find a way." Zhuang Ming said: "Let Liu He urge Mr. Zhao to get the prince's true intention of coming to the Sixteenth Mansion in Huai'an before tomorrow."
"Yes." Bai Lao responded.
"Lao Bai, Lu He, you two work hand in hand to handle internal affairs, pay strict attention to make sure you don't make any mistakes. If King Chen's men have done something dirty and framed you, it will not be easy to tell the truth." Zhuang Ming paused for a moment.
He added: "In addition, Lu He, Bai Qing, Liu He, and others, each take their own tokens and deliver them to Yue Yang. Yue Yang will come forward and borrow your connections to invite the forces in the world to find out about this prince."
Every move in the Sixteenth House of Huai'an."
"Okay." Lu He said, "I'll let Yue Yang leave now."
"Be careful with everything." Zhuang Ming said sternly: "The person I offended this time is too powerful, and the situation is much different than before."
——
noon.
Zhuang Ming really felt a headache this time.
"Is this what the young master said, to defeat ten guilds with one force?" Shuang Ling asked.
"Yes, you said that this King Chen is not very resourceful, but he has such huge power." Zhuang Ming sighed: "No matter how I prepared, self-examined and cleaned up, he didn't even have to use any plan.
Just finding an excuse and issuing an order can still cause Zhuang's Trading Company to be in turmoil."
After a pause, he whispered again: "This is breaking the law with force."
As Shuang Ling said, Song Tianyuan was able to find out his crackdown on illegal salt through clues, but this Prince Chen could not find out before. In terms of wisdom, Song Tianyuan may be better.
However, Prince Chen's power was far greater than that of Song Tianyuan.
Previously, Song Tianyuan only relied on the power of the government.
And Prince Chen symbolizes the power of the government!
His power is great enough to cover the sky with one hand, and there is no need to stir up any conspiracies like Song Tianyuan.
All he had to do was use the power of the government and issue an order casually to make Zhuang's trading company unable to stand up.
If it hadn't been for Zhuang Ming's successful management of the Sixteenth Mansion in Huai'an over the years, I'm afraid it would have completely collapsed by now.
After all, over the years, he and officials from the Sixteenth House of Huai'an have had intertwined interests and deep entanglements.
Therefore, these officials, in all likelihood, were still protecting him overtly and covertly, which prevented his Zhuang Ming's property from collapsing overnight.
But this king with a different surname was so ruthless as soon as he attacked, and he didn't give him any chance to breathe.
At present, although Zhuang's Trading Company has a strong foundation, it may not be able to sustain it for long.
After all, merchants and their like are as different as clouds and mud compared to the powerful ministers of the imperial court.
"Young Master seems to have already thought of a countermeasure?" Shuang Ling whispered.
"Since in the Dongsheng Dynasty, businessmen are no match for officials, then we should use the rules of the court to restrict him."
Zhuang Ming said slowly: "The specifics will have to be decided separately, but tonight, maybe it's time to meet this king with a different surname..."
——
at dusk.
Bai Lao sent an invitation.
"Master Zhao has prepared three large-scale boats tonight at Bailing Lake east of Fengcheng. In the name of the government, he is hosting a banquet for senior figures from all walks of life in Fengcheng. There are as many as ten merchants alone.
Six families.”
"But in fact, according to this old slave, I'm afraid it was Prince Chen's instruction."
"Moreover, when Prince Chen came to Fengcheng that day, he said that it was official business and refused Mr. Zhao's invitation. Tonight, he seems to have made up for the invitation banquet."
"This one is for the young master."
Bai Lao placed the invitation on the table.
Zhuang Ming laughed, shook his head, and said: "I sealed all the shops and warehouses under my name this morning, and I'm going to be invited to a banquet tonight. I'm afraid it's not just to show off my power in front of me... Anyway, I'm also... I want to meet him for a while and see how difficult this prince is."
Only by knowing yourself and the enemy can you be victorious in every battle.
Everything he knew about this prince was only seen on paper.
As the saying goes, a sight is worse than a hundred hearings. Instead of talking about it on paper, it is better to meet it in person.
What's more, even out of superficial courtesy, he, the largest businessman in the Sixteenth House of Huai'an, should meet the prince who is in charge of the most powerful power in Huai'an.
"Tonight, I will go with you from Qianyang, Yinming, and Bai Lao."
Zhuang Ming said: "As for Lu He, he will be used in many things next, so it's best not to show up as much as possible."
Shuang Ling hesitated and said: "Sir, at the banquet, you only brought Mr. Bai and the others, but there was no one to serve..."
Zhuang Ming raised his hand and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter, you have to prepare some things for me at home."