Chapter 46 The general trend of royal power, breaking the law with force
The scene was quite quiet.
After a long speech, King Chen finally revealed his true intention!
The so-called fundraising is actually to take out a sum of money from everyone's pockets!
Even Zhuang Ming didn't care to pay attention to the slightly weird scholar. He looked at King Chen in front of him, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he vaguely sensed something of the meaning of Tuqiongdeng in his heart.
"Your Majesty is so condescending that the people can live and work in peace and contentment. How can we remain indifferent?"
At that moment, another person responded at the right time: "I am willing to use ten thousand taels of silver to help the victims."
If there is one person taking the lead, no matter what other people's thoughts are, they cannot fail to show any expression in this scene.
No one wants to offend King Chen, the most powerful person in the Sixteenth House of Huai'an.
No one wants to be known as rich and unkind.
"My family is not rich, but I am willing to donate six thousand taels to help the victims in Huaibei."
"A natural disaster has struck the world and the people are in dire straits. I, Yuan Ji Trading Company, took eight thousand taels to use my meager resources."
"I can get three thousand taels from here, old man."
Gradually, some people spoke out one after another, echoing what King Chen said.
The highest person is willing to pay ten thousand taels of silver, but the time for this person to speak out is always at the most critical moment. He speaks at the right time and takes over the subsequent progress for King Chen.
This made Zhuang Ming suspicious that this person might have been secretly attached to King Chen.
In addition to this person, the people in Fengcheng also spend a lot of money. Even the lowest one is two thousand silver.
Two thousand silver is an unimaginable huge amount of money for ordinary people.
The guests that King Chen is hosting this banquet are all well-known people in Fengcheng. They have good family backgrounds and strong financial resources. At least the amount quoted at this time is pretty good.
"You have great kindness in your heart, and the people will be grateful for your kindness."
King Chen saluted again and said: "I am here to thank you all for your generosity..."
After finishing speaking, he stood up slowly, but his eyes fell on Zhuang Ming, and said calmly: "Among the people present, when it comes to business, the largest one is Zhuang's Trading Company. In terms of foundation and financial resources, no one can match it.
, why did brother Zhuang Ming say nothing?"
Following these words, everyone's eyes moved to Zhuang Ming.
Facing countless complicated looks, ordinary people may inevitably panic.
Zhuang Ming only laughed and said: "Your Majesty, our Zhuang's Trading Company has started preparations today. We will have about fifty thousand taels of silver tomorrow. Let's just do our best as Zhuang."
Fifty thousand taels of silver!
Looking at Fengcheng, at this moment, the amount of silver collected from various companies is comparable to that of Zhuang's Trading Company!
Zhuang Ming's handiwork is not insignificant.
Among the people present, there were also some hidden expressions of emotion.
However, King Chen laughed and said: "Zhuang's Trading Company is spread across the 16 prefectures and 87 cities in Huai'an. One Fengcheng donated 50,000 taels? Zhuang's Trading Company is so generous that it wants to take millions of silver taels to help the victims.
Huh? I think Zhuang's Trading Company may not be able to raise such a huge amount of money at the moment, and the relief work for the victims of the disaster in the Northern Territory cannot be entirely dependent on you, Zhuang's Trading Company. In my opinion, Brother Zhuang Ming should not be angry for a moment.
, invest all your wealth... Disaster relief is not only done by you, but also by us, and also by the court. You only need to do your best, that is, you have a heart. Brother Zhuang Ming also needs to give some thought to his own business, and don't go bankrupt in one fell swoop.
."
After a pause, King Chen showed concern and said: "In my opinion, how about donating 50,000 taels in the name of the four prefectures, so that the sixteen prefectures total 200,000 taels?"
Zhuang Ming's face was expressionless, and the palms in his sleeves suddenly clenched tightly, resisting the thought of overturning the table in front of him.
The dignified Wang with a different surname, in public, could distort his meaning so much, which was simply beyond his expectation.
But he didn't respond immediately, and his thoughts began to change rapidly.
Is King Chen forcing himself to fall out?
Or do you think that since the Zhennan Army has been mobilized, everything has been arranged, and the places that need to be protected have been protected, you will no longer be afraid of him, a local snake?
He even wants to force himself and send people to ambush him. By then, he will be captured by the Zhennan Army, and all the personal and material evidence will be in his hands?
It stands to reason that since King Chen had not confirmed that his family had packed up its tail, it was not time to take action against him.
Or maybe it could be said that King Chen, who was extremely resentful, had expected that the two hundred thousand taels would not be enough to touch his bottom line, so he would not force himself to completely fall out because of it? So he took revenge on this matter to vent his hatred?
In addition, he had mentioned to Shuang Ling before that the donation for disaster relief this time must be moderate and must not be excessive, otherwise it will cause unnecessary trouble.
The source of the disaster may even come from the emperor of the Dongsheng Dynasty.
Could it be that King Chen wanted to trap him and kill him?
Logically speaking, it shouldn't be so difficult.
But King Chen did just that.
"Mr. Thirteen, based on the current disaster situation in the Northern Territory, it is not necessary to ask your family to spend millions of taels." The man from before said at the right time: "Although you have a big family and a big business and a kind heart, after all, you are so big.
Zhuang's Trading Company still needs to take care of it, and millions of taels of silver are too huge... Your Majesty, for your consideration, you can save a lot, why not agree to it, Your Majesty?"
"Yes, Mr. Thirteen, although you are kind-hearted, you must not be reckless. You must also listen to the prince's advice and do what you can to help the victims." Someone else responded.
——
The scholar in the corner looked surprised and murmured.
"This prince is really ruthless in taking action. He also found two people to support him. Are you ready to catch the duck?"
"Fifty thousand taels of silver were already considered generous, but King Chen raised it to several million taels, and then reduced it to two hundred thousand taels, which reflects King Chen's concern for the Zhuang Company."
"If Mr. Thirteen emphasizes fifty thousand taels, the gap will be too big and he will appear petty. Furthermore, it will seem like he is deliberately slapping King Chen in the face in public. How can a private business firm dare to offend him like this?"
"The most important thing is that the court's disaster relief silver seems to be only 200,000 taels. If he takes another 200,000 taels, doesn't he think he is rich and can rival the country? In this way, where will the court's face be put?"
"From the emperor to the powerful ministers in the court, to the common people, they all regard him as a piece of fat meat. When they are short of money, they come and cut him off."
"This King Chen is so shameless and ruthless."
"Compared to me, he is not inferior."
——
Under the gaze of everyone, Zhuang Ming looked calm and said nothing.
But at this moment, he seemed to have figured something out.
King Chen may not have thought too much.
It's just that I want to embarrass him in public and show my attitude.
Some people are upright and think that Zhuang Ming is really generous and that King Chen really cares about him.
But the vast majority of the people present are not good people. They have equally deep thoughts and are all human beings.
Many people have seen it clearly.
King Chen's move was to embarrass Zhuang Ming.
I thought that the government had lifted the seal of Zhuang's trading company, and that the feud between Prince Chen and Zhuang Ming had turned into friendship.
But at this moment, it seems that although King Chen has unblocked Zhuang's trading company, there is still no harmony between him and Zhuang Ming.
Is this causing trouble?
Those who chose to wait and see or even cut off cooperation with Zhuang's Trading Company when Zhuang's Trading Company was sealed were originally preparing to resume cooperation with Zhuang's Trading Company after the situation changed after Zhuang's Trading Company was unsealed.
Now seeing this situation, it is inevitable to feel hesitant again.
After all, although Zhuang's Trading Company was powerful, compared to the government, it was still the fat on the chopping block.
As far as the royal power is concerned, private merchants are nothing more than ants.
Zhuang's Trading Company is, at best, a bigger ant.
——
"It's revenge, and it's also a show of attitude. It shows that he, Prince Chen, and I, Zhuang Ming, still have some discord."
"Those who originally intended to resume cooperation will definitely choose to wait and see again."
"Although Zhuang's Trading Company has been unblocked, most of its business connections and connections will be cut off by what he said today."
"It is said that those who are cultivators and those who are powerful follow their words. This King Chen is in charge of the power in the mortal world. He really has a sense of 'words are like blades'."
Zhuang Ming sighed softly in his heart, slowly raised his head and faced King Chen.
There was a teasing look in King Chen's eyes.
All eyes were on Zhuang Ming.
Zhuang Ming paused, chuckled and said, "Just follow what the prince said."
The king's power is great, and he uses force to defeat the law!
The identity between the prince and the businessman is like the difference between immortals and mortals, the difference between cloud and mud.
Even though he was conceited and thoughtful, he never expected that with his position as King Chen, he would be so shameless and persecuted in public.
Zhuang Ming doesn't want to have a fight here.
He admitted defeat.
Because there is no need to fight at this time.
According to his plan, there is still one step missing.
"Soon……"
Before raising two hundred thousand taels, King Chen could no longer secure his position in Huai'an.