Chapter 137: Merchants to push the wave and add to the billows

Zhu Zhi pushed the charming woman leaning on his shoulder out and looked at Shen Yiyuan with seriousness, saying, “You did well in this matter. In the future, the Emperor will surely summon you.”

Shen Yiyuan glanced at the woman pushed away by Zhu Zhi, understanding that Zhu Zhi was speaking through this detail. He was telling himself about the importance and attention he received.

Years of observing words and expressions had made Shen Yiyuan more mature and sophisticated.

“To serve the court is Shen’s blessing,” Shen Yiyuan bowed again.

Zhu Zhi waved his hand, saying, “No need for excessive courtesy. The implementation of the new commercial policy in the capital is beneficial to countless merchants. With the various kings entering the capital now, and soon scholars from all over the country gathering in the capital, taking advantage of this opportunity to facilitate commerce in the capital is the best option.”

Shen Yiyuan nodded repeatedly.

If the new commercial policy could be implemented in the capital in May, it would be a carnival for merchants.

“The Emperor said that merchants have power. My brother and I are willing to give up glory and bow to commerce, setting an example. Go, showcase the power of merchants, use your methods to persuade the officials.”

Zhu Zhi said solemnly.

Shen Yiyuan respectfully bowed again, and then left the room. He paused at the door for a moment before turning and leaving.

Zhu Geng raised his head, looked at Zhu Zhi, and said, “Fifteenth Brother, the Emperor’s desire to implement the new commercial policy is just a matter of words. Is it necessary to go to such lengths?”

Zhu Zhi chuckled and said to Zhu Geng, “The Emperor has his considerations for doing so; we just need to do our best.”

Zhu Geng squinted his eyes, puzzled, and asked, “Even so, do we really need to choose Shen Yiyuan? He’s a merchant from Huizhou, and Huizhou merchants are not as influential as Shanxi merchants, right? There are quite a few Shanxi merchants who have connections with officials in the capital.”

Zhu Zhi tasted the wine, closed his eyes in enjoyment, took a sip, and said, “Being too powerful isn’t necessarily easy to control. Choosing someone relatively weaker is beneficial for us.”

“Us?”

Zhu Geng squinted, seemingly realizing something, staring at Zhu Zhi without moving.

However, Zhu Zhi did not say anything more, he just wore a smile and raised his wine cup.

All the unspoken words were conveyed in the wine.

After Shen Yiyuan left the Qingyan Tower, he passed through the Jiangdong Gate and entered Jiangdong Street. He walked to Mo Chou Lake and found a boat, sailing away into the distance.

As the boats crossed paths, Shen Yiyuan’s lips moved slightly, and his voice scattered into the lake, leaving no more sound.

Chen Jizhi purchased a fat fish from the fishmonger at the lakeside and returned home with a smiling face.

These days, the officials surprisingly behaved themselves, and no one opposed the single whip method and national policies. Even the matter of selling garrison land was overlooked.

There was no choice, whoever still didn’t open their eyes, needed to use their heads.

The emperor’s move is truly cunning; whoever opposes him, he paves the way for their downfall.

However, if one is truly facilitated by the emperor, it may not necessarily be a good thing.

Several offices would send people to check each family, and if they found any issues, it was either exile or execution, with no third option.

In these times, who could withstand such scrutiny?

Even the virtuous men who are so poor that only dilapidated houses remain cannot withstand scrutiny.

Who hasn’t uttered words like “ze” and “sheng”? If someone is accused of implying crimes against the founding emperor, they might be executed. Once in the underworld, there’s a possibility of being killed again by old Zhu.

The six ministries are behaving very obediently, and as a Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, Chen Jizhi has little to do. Just as he arrived at the door of his home, before he could knock, a voice came from behind.

“Lord Censor.”

Chen Jizhi turned around and saw the person. His face slightly darkened and said, “Oh, isn’t this Feng Youcai, the shopkeeper of cloth stores? I remember there is still some time before the monthly payment. How come, has business been good recently?”

Feng Youcai smiled flatteringly and said, “Lord censor is joking. The business of Cloth stores is flourishing. My lord, please, let’s talk somewhere else.”

Chen Jizhi hung the fish on the door and followed Feng Youcai to a tree by the street. He said, “Speak.”

Feng Youcai looked around and, seeing no one, spoke cautiously, “My lord, the share of profit for my lord from Feng’s Cloth store is something that won’t change. It’s just that, my lord, would you like to add to this share?’

Chen Jizhi’s gaze was sharp as he looked at Feng Youcai.

Five years ago, Feng’s Cloth store encountered problems. In the winter when the cloth business was booming, Buhang, due to purchasing too much goods and occupying the account money, couldn’t pay the salaries to its employees. Seeing the employees about to leave and the imminent closure of the shop, Chen Jizhi took out some silver to help Feng’s Cloth Store through the difficulties.

Since then, Feng’s Cloth Store has paid a portion of its earnings every month as part of the monthly installment to Chen’s family.

“Add to it? What do you mean?”

Chen Jizhi didn’t quite understand.

Feng Youcai sighed and said, “My lord, the implementation of the new commercial policy in Beiping and Suzhou has brought continuous business for merchants, yielding tremendous profits. However, the situation in the capital is quite the opposite. If the court allows the implementation of the new commercial policy in the capital, the revenue of Feng’s Cloth Shop will not only remain unchanged but will likely increase. At that time, my lord’s share of profit…”

Chen Jizhi squinted slightly. Wasn’t this just a case of a rising tide lifting all boats?

However, the new commercial policy raised the tax rate from 1/30 to 1/15, a typical despotic policy.

In such a situation, why wouldn’t merchants oppose it? Why would they be willing to accept it?

“Are you sure that the new commercial policy is beneficial?”

Chen Jizhi asked, puzzled.

“My lord, in the way of business, it’s not just about looking at the tax rate. With the implementation of the new commercial policy, the goods needed for Cloth store will become more accessible, and there will be no need to pay taxes when entering and leaving the city. Various government offices also won’t be able to demand under other pretexts. If we calculate everything, the new commercial policy is advantageous and harmless.”

Feng Youcai explained carefully.

Chen Jizhi conversed with Feng Youcai for nearly half an hour before returning home. After handing over the fish to his wife, he entered the study and didn’t come out until late at night.

Looking at his complaining wife, Chen Jizhi just smiled lightly and muttered to himself while tasting the cold fish, “It’s a bit late, can only eat a cold fish. However, in the end, the fat fish in my stomach, isn’t it?”

On April 21st, Chen Jizhi, Supervising secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, submitted a memorial, earnestly requesting the emperor to implement the new commercial policy in the capital.

For a moment, everyone echoed in agreement.

The emperor did not comply.

On April 23rd, Lian Zining of the Censorate and the Supervising secretary of six ministers concurrently submitted memorials, clearly stating the benefits of the new commercial policy and pleading with the emperor to allow its implementation in the capital.

The emperor ignored them, asking the court officials, “I initially intended to implement it in the capital, but you all did not agree. Now that I don’t plan to do it in the capital, why are you asking for it again? Inappropriate, very inappropriate.”

On April 25th, the Minister of Revenue Huang Zicheng, Minister of Works Zheng Ci, Lian Zining, Jing Qing, and over forty other officials of the Censorate jointly submitted a memorial, once again requesting the new commercial policy.

The emperor remained indifferent.

On April 26th, during the impromptu court meeting, all officials were unanimous, speaking with one voice, urging the emperor to implement the new commercial policy in the capital.

In the end, Zhu Yunwen conceded, saying to the officials, “The new commercial policy, such as the ‘one whip method’ and the anti-monopoly national policy, is a matter of benefiting the people, merchants, and the country. Since we want to implement it, why only implement it in the capital?”

Thus, the new commercial policy under the merchants to push the wave and add to the billows^[1]Chinese Idiom: encourage something to get bigger, or to add fuel to fire, the officials’ clever schemes, under Zhu Yunwen’s strategic guidance, eventually broke through the constraints and successfully implemented throughout the Ming Empire

However, beneath the tide of the commercial wave, hidden currents were inevitable.

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