Chapter 1085: The Power of Capital

Jinghua.

A certain Post House.

In Jinghua, there are many Post Houses with high-end, elegant environments.

Here, there is luxurious decor, here there is an exquisite environment, and here there is service, as well as attendants and servants, that makes one incredibly envious.

Only.

Although it looks luxurious, in reality, most people do not have any deep-seated respect for this place.

Because everyone knows.

Such Post Houses serve those merchants and wealthy tycoons traveling to and from Jinghua.

And in Jinghua.

Who isn't somewhat related to the imperial family? In their eyes, what are these merchants? Just errand runners, one and all!

At this moment.

In this Post House.

Several wealthy merchants dressed in brocade robes gathered together, drinking while discussing the current situation in Longyan.

"Do you guess... has the Emperor really passed away?"

A wealthy merchant in his forties asked cautiously.

This news was released by Xie Ping, plunging the entire Longyan into a state of panic.

For an imperial dynasty, the passing of an Emperor means that the court is about to become unstable, or even fall into chaos. When that time comes, it is naturally the common people who will suffer! Therefore, once this news from Xie Ping came out, people across the entire country began to repeat the rumors, and a layer of gloom inevitably appeared over the Longyan Dynasty.

A wealthy merchant in green robes nearby gave a self-deprecating laugh: "We merchants, who are never looked upon with respect, should not discuss politics, let us not discuss politics!"

Everyone also gave a helpless smile.

That is correct.

Although they have money, although they wear brocade robes, and although they can have all sorts of attendants and guards following them when they go out, in a place like Jinghua, even if they encounter a destitute descendant of the imperial family, they must kneel. This is class, this is hierarchy, this is the gap!

"Pah!"

Another merchant spat and muttered in a low voice: "Those government officials, aren't they just trying every possible way to swindle gold and silver from our hands? The world is unfair, the world is unfair!"

Everyone shook their heads and sighed again.

Fairness?

Where would fairness come from in Longyan?

"Actually, recently, I have been pondering a question..."

The green-robed wealthy merchant said calmly.

The group looked over in confusion.

The green-robed wealthy merchant lowered his head and whispered: "If the country remains in this environment, I have already begun to consider wanting to transfer my industries to Australia!"

"What?"

The group was shocked, then looked at each other in dismay.

Australia?

That is correct.

The news that the Liangzhou navy had just captured a piece of the New World spread back to Longyan, making the Longyan populace very excited. Following closely, a "document" for "attracting investment" was sent back from Australia! In the document, there were naturally many loose investment environments for merchants willing to go and invest, as well as tax benefits and some improvements in status.

It was impossible not to be tempted.

Only...

Because Longyan people have had a concept of home and country since ancient times, this made some of those who truly had capital hesitate. However, it is said that many people who enjoy adventure have already boarded ships bound for Australia under the arrangements of Liangzhou...

"This..."

"Master Liang, is this matter true?"

The wealthy merchant chuckled: "Still considering, still deliberating..."

However, although still deliberating, it still gave this group a new direction! What is a merchant? Merchants are profit-seekers! But at the same time, they also need dignity! If one can both seek profit and have dignity, why not do it? Which of these merchants hasn't spent years running about just for those few taels of silver?

What home and country, what native land.

How many times a year can they even go back?

The group of wealthy merchants immediately fell into deep thought.

More importantly, Australia had already promised to protect them. They would not face the "requisitioning" and "plundering" of their property for various reasons at any time, as happens in Longyan! This is the greatest tragedy for Longyan merchants in this era! As long as those government officials want their property, they can easily fabricate all sorts of reasons! They have never had any dignity to speak of in Longyan!

However, just at this moment.

Suddenly, a servant ran in like a madman: "Master, Master, big news, big news!"

This servant was the houseboy of the green-robed Master Liang.

Seeing his servant so frantic, he immediately frowned: "What are you rushing about for? Do you have no manners at all!"

But the servant, unable to even wipe the sweat from his forehead, gasped for air and held up a public notice: "Master, big news, great news!"

Only then did he struggle to stand straight and unfold the notice in his hand to show everyone.

"What?"

"This is..."

"This..."

Upon seeing the content on the notice, everyone was shocked.

There were many densely packed words on the notice, but the content regarding the Confirmation of Rights and Private Ownership caught everyone's eyes.

Private Ownership...

Private Ownership!

Regarding this issue, Liu Zheng did not provide too much explanation, only mentioning that the imperial court was discussing the implementation of Private Ownership, which would, to a great extent, protect the interests and wealth of domestic merchants. It would also help merchants improve their political status to the level they desired. Merchants could participate in politics, and merchants could use any means to protect their private property!

The Longyan imperial court, as well as all Feudatory Kings, Prefects, and Inspectors of the territories, are not permitted to carry out any illegal seizure of any private property.

Regarding this, the imperial court will formally legislate it in a few days!

This includes, but is not limited to, merchants being able to use force, as well as the method of litigation, to protect their own property! On this item, merchants and any officials, as well as the Noble class, are kept on an equal footing!

Furthermore!

The method of combining Public Ownership and Private Ownership will protect the interests of merchants, as well as their investments and income, through Confirmation of Rights.

This will also be reflected through various detailed regulations in the future.

These wealthy merchants, upon seeing this, already had their eyes widened and their breathing stopped.

Their whole bodies, however, were trembling!

This...

Unbelievable!

Too unbelievable!

Vice Minister Liu, this is to vindicate the merchants!

The final few articles.

Any merchant has the opportunity to participate in competition and develop commercial cooperation with the imperial court.

Any merchant, when cooperating with a Public Ownership commercial entity, possesses special treatment in taxes and dividends.

Any merchant, if they go abroad to invest in colonies, will receive the protection of armed forces and the law...

Silence!

The entire venue, deathly silent!

At this moment, no one could speak. Because this announcement truly shocked them.

That Member Liang in green clothes was even weeping with joy, his hands trembling as he took this announcement, because he dared not believe all this was real. He dared not believe that merchants, who had been trampled on by others for thousands of years, could actually turn their lives around! Of course, in the history of Longyan, there had appeared some great tycoons who could influence things behind the scenes, but this was always behind the scenes and could not be brought to the table...

But now.

They could rightfully and justifiably hold their heads high!

"Good!"

"Too good!"

"Quick, quick, quick, print a thousand copies of this announcement and send them to the Chambers of Commerce nationwide!"

"Heaven has opened its eyes!"

No one would doubt the authenticity of this announcement, and no one would doubt that Vice Minister Liu would go back on his word. Because his reputation is here; he is never the same as those hypocritical politicians! He is a man who keeps his word!

All the wealthy merchants were eager to embrace one another.

Because they had waited for this day for too long!

The final article of the announcement.

It is naturally an appeal to merchants nationwide to actively participate in the war of resistance. Whoever makes a contribution in terms of manpower or financial resources during this war of resistance will be regarded as being in the process of cooperating with the imperial court! The imperial court will record it in the register, and after the war ends, will grant honorary awards and support in various aspects.

"This..."

"Good!"

Member Liang in green clothes said fiercely: "Vice Minister Liu is pleading for us; how could we let him down! Our Chamber of Commerce will dispatch three thousand guards and provide grain and military supplies to support Liaodong!"

"We will too! I will provide two thousand!"

"I will provide three thousand!"

"Our escort agency will mobilize everyone, five thousand people!"

"Fight! Beat these hairy ones back!"

A group of people became excited.

They naturally knew that Liu Zheng issuing this policy at this time was certainly for the purpose of the final article. But they were willing! Because even if they did not actively support it, when the time came for Tsarist Russia to truly invade Longyan and bring disaster to the people, they would be forcibly conscripted anyway!

Forcible conscription would still be the better outcome!

When the country is in distress, how could they, these merchants, remain intact?

They would be finished all the same!

Therefore...

When the country is in trouble, they are willing to provide money! Willing to provide men!

Because all of this will be transformed into an investment in Longyan; they will not lose out!

Very quickly.

This policy spread throughout the country within a single day.

At first, people did not know how powerful this move by Liu Zheng was. They thought that even for these Chambers of Commerce, how many guards could they have? Longyan has regulations; no matter how large, a Chamber of Commerce with business across the country cannot have more than three thousand guards, and special industries, such as escort agencies, can have at most five thousand; this is still the largest scale.

Therefore, people initially waited to see a joke.

These people were naturally mostly scholars who had always felt superior and looked down upon the stench of copper on merchants.

But...

Very quickly, these people who intended to watch a joke shut their mouths.

Yes.

These Chamber of Commerce guards are not enough, but don't forget, they have money!

They have gold and silver!

They can spend money to recruit soldiers! They can throw money at it!

One must know, Vice Minister Liu said that whoever gains the most merit in this war of resistance might even be granted official titles and positions! What a great temptation this is for these merchants!

Very quickly.

On the very day this policy was issued, the Chief Manager of the Pingzhou Chamber of Commerce, which was closest to the Western Regions, used gold and silver to recruit ten thousand brave men and was the first to set out on the journey!

Everyone was stunned.

Although it was hasty, the Weaponry and Equipment were purchased from Yintan City and simultaneously dispatched toward Balkhash Lake... along the way, they could still conduct some basic military training every day.

Also on that same day.

The Chambers of Commerce and heroes active in Liaodong likewise assembled a force of twenty thousand men and marched toward Fuyuan!

The entire country began to move!

Those scholars who had initially scoffed at it were suddenly bewildered.

Perhaps they still cannot understand it now.

This is the power of capital.

When the news reached the Han Wang Fu, these Nobles were also stunned. Pop-ups have been frequent lately, you can click to download to avoid pop-ups.