Chapter 535: Establishing the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce

At this moment, Huang Changzong's gaze toward Cao Bang was filled entirely with expectation.

Huang Changzong truly hoped that Cao Bang could grasp something—at least grasp something under his own prompting.

But in the end, Huang Changzong was disappointed.

Watching Cao Bang hold forth eloquently, Huang Changzong didn't know what to say.

At this moment, Cao Bang was still speaking words of loyalty: "We can't learn from these people. In the future, we must do our work well and serve the Emperor with all our hearts."

Huang Changzong was deeply helpless.

Is this what I asked you to talk about? What use is any of this?

Did I rush you over here just so you could pledge loyalty to the Emperor?

There are plenty of people pledging loyalty to the Emperor these days—human or not, everyone wants to profess their loyalty to the Emperor.

But it doesn't matter, because the current Emperor is extremely wise. He doesn't just look at what you say, but at what you do.

All talk and no action is just a false show—it's completely useless. You must deliver actual results.

But Cao Bang was still somewhat nervous. This Celestial Number One Room had left too deep an impression on him; he even felt that people were watching him from all around, and that the Emperor himself might be in the next room.

Cao Bang was tense and didn't know what to say.

Under such circumstances, getting him to grasp Huang Changzong's hint was simply impossible.

Finally, Huang Changzong looked at Cao Bang helplessly and said: "Brother Cao, I think you should do something. Yangzhou's commercial climate has become what it is, and every one of you bears an inescapable responsibility. To prevent such things from happening again, you, as the leader of Yangzhou's business community, should take action."

Cao Bang was still somewhat bewildered.

How did I become the leader of Yangzhou's business community?

However, Cao Bang quickly realized—he indeed was the leader of Yangzhou's business community now, because all those who could have been leaders had already been beheaded or arrested.

After all the big shots had died, he, the sole surviving big shot, had become the biggest shot of them all.

Cao Bang suddenly had a glimmer of understanding about what Huang Changzong wanted him to grasp.

He raised his head to look at Huang Changzong and said uncertainly: "Should I do something in my capacity as leader?"

"Exactly right!" Huang Changzong clapped his hands excitedly and said: "You should indeed do something."

"Establish a Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce, with you as its chairman, to govern the merchants of Yangzhou in a unified manner. Of course, we can't force anyone—just find those who share the same aspirations." Huang Changzong said hurriedly.

In truth, even Huang Changzong himself didn't believe those words.

Because at this moment, the entire city of Yangzhou could be said to be in a state of panic, and every merchant in Yangzhou felt the same. Especially after they had watched a beheading from the city walls—not being scared to death was already a blessing.

At a time like this, everyone was afraid and looking for a way out.

And Cao Bang was their idol. He had originally possessed a vast family fortune, and though he had handed over all his property, what did it actually amount to?

He had gone and obtained something very important—the Emperor's forgiveness. That was a divine artifact! It could unleash tremendous power.

Not only had Cao Bang escaped severe punishment, he had even joined the Imperial Household Department and gained official status. This showed that Cao Bang had deep foundations and considerable skill.

In recent days, there had actually been many people wanting to contact Cao Bang. It was only because Cao Bang wanted to avoid suspicion that he dared not do anything.

If he raised his voice and called out at this moment, even without prestige he would have prestige. No one dared refuse Cao Bang; who knew what might happen after refusing him?

So there was no such thing as voluntary or involuntary.

And as for Huang Changzong's talk of voluntariness—if you weren't willing, then the Embroidered Uniform Guard would come and have a talk with you.

At this moment, unifying all the merchants of Yangzhou was also something Huang Changzong wanted to accomplish.

Cao Bang continued: "When the time comes, we can establish a Yangzhou Merchant Self-Discipline Code. What must we do to avoid incidents like today's from happening again? What must we do to better serve Your Majesty with loyalty?"

"Now that the four classes are equal, although you are a merchant, you are still a subject of the Great Ming, a citizen of His Majesty. So you must do what you ought to do."

"Upholding the Great Ming and being loyal to His Majesty—these are things we must do. In our daily conduct, we must pay taxes in good conscience, neither evading nor dodging them, neither bullying the good nor hoarding goods for profit, neither swindling nor deceiving—doing business steadily and earning money that ought to be earned."

As Cao Bang listened to Huang Changzong's words, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

In fact, Cao Bang now roughly understood what Huang Changzong wanted him to do.

This so-called Yangzhou Merchant Self-Discipline Code—to put it plainly, it wasn't something they wanted to create, but something the Emperor wanted them to create. Moreover, it was a new set of rules, and also the capital for getting on board.

Only if you agreed, only if you consented, only if you signed this code—then you would possess the qualification to earn money, the qualification to become a merchant of the Great Ming.

To put it bluntly, this was actually a simplified version of the new commercial law.

If Zhu Youxiao had promoted it himself, then there would be problems inherent in that; but if it was advocated by Cao Bang and supported by all the merchants of Yangzhou, then it represented public will, leaving plenty of room for maneuvering at the top.

When the time came, this code would be sent to Zhu Youxiao, who would inevitably praise and reward it, then promote it outward.

And when the Imperial Household Department selected business partners, it would certainly prioritize these people. When the time came for establishment, their rules wouldn't be unified, so they would need to be standardized.

It would be most appropriate for us to unify them—of course, under the court, under the Emperor.

That would be the moment to promulgate new commercial regulations. Under such circumstances, this kind of matter would proceed very smoothly, and what Huang Changzong wanted Cao Bang to do was simply to make a start.

Seeing that Cao Bang had finally understood, Huang Changzong finally breathed a sigh of relief.

In truth, he had already spoken quite plainly.

Cao Bang glanced at Huang Changzong helplessly—can't we discuss this somewhere else?

If you had taken me somewhere else to talk, I would have understood this matter, and I would have figured out your hints.

But Huang Changzong didn't think that way. Speaking in the Celestial Number One Room was deliberately meant to be overheard, meant to be reported to His Majesty. After all, he had previously saved Cao Bang, which still carried some disadvantages.

If Cao Bang could propose this on his own initiative at this moment, it would be a turnaround for both of them. Cao Bang would demonstrate his ability, and he himself would demonstrate his loyalty.

Unfortunately, the plan had still failed, and he had ended up saying it himself—Cao Bang simply couldn't grasp it.

"Once I return, I'll immediately gather people and discuss it with them to get it done as soon as possible." Cao Bang stood up and looked at Huang Changzong, saying: "Brother Huang, you can rest assured—there will be absolutely no problem with this matter."

Though these words were spoken to Huang Changzong, in reality they were also spoken to Zhu Youxiao.

Huang Changzong also stood up, smiling and nodding.

The matter was now clear, Cao Bang had understood, and all that remained was to get it done.

"Then let's leave together." Huang Changzong nodded and said.

The two left the Lichun Courtyard, and news of the matter was immediately delivered to the Yangzhou Prefect's office, placed into Zhu Youxiao's hands.

Watching the exchange between the two, Zhu Youxiao smiled and casually tossed the record aside.

Clearly, Huang Changzong wanted to show off a bit and reverse the impression he had made.

But Cao Bang was, after all, only a merchant. Although he had bribed quite a few officials, he had never really mixed in official circles for long—in fact, he had never mixed in them at all. Cao Bang had no idea about all these messy intricacies of officialdom. It seemed he would still need some time to be tempered.

Still, this proposal was not a bad one. Once they got things rolling, he could naturally make good use of it. When the time came, he could also promote it further—have all merchants comply, then reform and shape it into a new commercial law.

The commercial laws of the Great Ming were far too chaotic. Not having a proper, dedicated commercial law simply would not do. Once he returned, he could set them to work drafting commercial legislation.

"Alright, no need to bother with them anymore." Zhu Youxiao turned to look at Chen Hong and said, "Let them handle it themselves."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong promptly acknowledged.

At the same time, he understood that the matter of Huang Changzong should be considered settled.

Clearly, this Huang Changzong was a man of real ability. Someone like that stepping slightly out of line now and then—His Majesty could still tolerate it.

At the same time, Cao Bang had also proven his worth. Keeping him around was indeed useful.

And this news quickly spread throughout Yangzhou—Cao Bang was going to gather all the merchants of Yangzhou to establish a Yangzhou Merchant Guild.

In fact, this kind of organization had always existed, only previously it had been the Huizhou Merchant Guild. The name may not have been the same, but private connections and coordination had never ceased.

This time, the name was brought out into the open, and for a moment, the entire city of Yangzhou was abuzz.

After all, Cao Bang had successfully dodged a calamity—was he trying to help everyone else dodge one too? Or was this something the Emperor wanted them to do?

No one could guess, but no one would refuse to participate.

Meanwhile, within the guild, various regulations were being hastily drafted.

One clause in particular was repeatedly brought up—the fees. To join the Yangzhou Merchant Guild, one naturally had to pay a substantial membership fee.

With this fee paid, the guild would then provide certain protections to let you do business.

For a time, another wave of speculation swept through Yangzhou once again, leaving all those watching the city bewildered.

But no one was managing this matter—the yamen did not inquire, the Embroidered Uniform Guard seemed to know nothing, and the Emperor appeared not to care. This made people sense something unusual in the air.

At this moment, Zhu Youxiao was also keeping an eye on the matter, wanting to see what kind of progress would unfold.

He was also monitoring the entirety of Jiangnan, with countless reports being rapidly delivered to Yangzhou.

Everyone was waiting, wanting to know what His Majesty intended to do.

Meanwhile, merchants in other places were gripped by anxiety.

The Emperor had indeed unleashed a massacre. He arrived in Yangzhou and immediately began killing. What about other places?