"No! I object! "The middle-aged man surnamed Ding had fair skin.
He had an elegant long beard and dressed like a young master of an aristocratic family.
He looked like a person who lived like a prince all year round. When he heard Li Yulang's words,
His original calm attitude was lost.
He stood up in shock. "How can you have such a ridiculous idea! It's crazy! Those are rebels! Cooperating with them,
How is that different from rebelling? "
In this empty house, there was no one around.
It was now filled with all kinds of people from the local Chamber of Commerce.
As long as they were famous, they were all here.
The middle-aged man surnamed Ding was called Ding Shihao.
He was known as "Yunnan Ding." He was a famous businessman in the local area.
Not only did he have thousands of acres of fertile land, but he also had dozens of traditional trading companies.
There were also seven or eight large-scale factories, which accounted for half of the income of the business.
Moreover, he could build a relationship with the provincial government of Yunnan.
It was said that his family had a noble title.
They also had connections with the imperial merchants. He was the head of the Yunnan Chamber of Commerce.
The few people around him were also powerful and had close ties with the government.
They were the representatives of the industry and commerce.
One of them, surnamed Duan,
Echoed Ding Shihao. "We are businessmen.
We have always paid attention to harmony. What good is it for us when the world is in chaos? "
Ah Shen stood up. Last year, because he refused to be extorted in the factory, his leg was broken by the children of the rich and powerful. Now, he was still limping.
"You cowardly weaklings are too short-sighted! If you want to do business peacefully, will those vermin let you go? Look at the movements during this period of time! The Central Plains is suffering from drought, the south is suffering from floods, and the people are rebelling. In the north, the imperial court is fighting the barbarians and losing one battle after another. The emperor wants to build a mausoleum, and the nobles want to eat, drink, and play. Where does it not cost money? The imperial court is now a bottomless pit. Where does the money come from? "
The man surnamed Duan was silent for a moment.
Ah Shen's face darkened as he pressed on. "The people have rebelled, and the land can't be scraped. Isn't that why they have their eyes on us? Usually, the officials dare to extort us at will. In such a situation, several noble families who do business in the capital have been turned upside down. Let alone people like you and me? Why aren't you making plans now? You're only crying now that your assets have been confiscated? "
"You ate and drank military funds and corrupted the national treasury. Now that you can't pay for the war, you're blackmailing us!" A small merchant heard Ah Kun's words and raised his fist and slammed it on the table. He was also very angry.
Many of them were enraged. Clearly, they were reminded of their usual encounters.
"Even so, we can't get involved with those traitors. Although there are some things today that have caused us to suffer some grievances. But we have a family and a business, and our roots are deep. Although he owned property, he had always been a law-abiding citizen and had never participated in those wars. How could they be compared to those traitors? The reason why the rebels dared to rebel was because each of them had enough to eat and the whole family didn't have to starve. Even if he loses, it's just a cheap life. What about us? Do you still want your family businesses? "
Ding Shihao stroked his beard and said earnestly, "Why don't we just sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight? If the imperial court wants money and food, we'll just give it to them. If the rebels want money or food, we will just give it to them. Protecting yourself is the most important thing. "
After he spoke, everyone looked at each other and whispered to each other.
Indeed, the lives of those rebels were cheap. What about them?
"Bah!" Li Qingqing quickly walked in from outside the courtyard. As soon as she heard these words, she rolled her eyes and said sarcastically, "Your Ding Family is a big family and business, but you're willing to compromise. You've been a slave to two families and lost half of your family business, but you can still make a comeback. Is there anyone here who has your 'courage'? "
The bodyguard behind Ding Shihao immediately shouted, "Woman, you're talking nonsense!"
One of Ding Shihao's people scolded, "Where did this unreasonable woman come from? How is this a place where you little girls can come from? Why aren't you leaving? "
Chen Yudao pulled Li Qingqing behind them. Li Yulang stood up and said sincerely, "What's the difference between a man and a woman with penetrating insight? You don't have to be like those rotten scholars. Qingqing has a straightforward personality, but what she said might not be without reason. Let's not talk about how none of us have the financial resources of President Ding, who can lose so much money and still act as if nothing happened. Even if we clench our teeth and cut off this piece of meat. Betting on both sides, there are very few who will have a good ending. The current Emperor has always been suspicious and stubborn, and the rebel army is not easy to deal with. The imperial court lacks money, but the rebel army doesn't. If the imperial court repels the enemy and the war is over, the treasury will be empty, and the people will be poor. Where will the money come from? If the rebel army succeeds in changing the dynasty, there will be many things waiting to be done. Rebuilding the country will also require money. Where will the money come from? When the time comes, I'm afraid that no matter which side wins, they can use the excuse of supporting the enemy to send us to the guillotine. "
"Yes, that's right!" A bearded salt merchant who was familiar with Fatty A Shen stood up and said to Ding Shihao and the others, "Old Ding, you're also an educated person. Don't you know Lu Buwei? What business is better than scheming for the country? It's not just ten times or a hundred times the profit. Don't cherish yourself for the sake of doing big things and waste such a good opportunity for nothing. "
Li Qingqing stood behind Li Yulang. Seeing that these people in front of her were still uncertain and hesitant, she couldn't help but sneer when she thought of the increasingly difficult situation of the factory, the female workers in the factory who were harmed by the etiquette, and the officials who took advantage of the opportunity every day. She walked a few steps at a time and circled to the center of the courtyard.
Under everyone's sudden gaze, she raised her voice, and her eyes were blazing with fire, "You're all men in vain. You're not as courageous as me! Usually, the officials treat us as fat sheep and wantonly exploit us. After a year of hard work, the influential officials rely on land rent and lie down to share half of our hard-earned money. We rely on our own hands to obtain wealth, and we're still scolded as' villains' by those fake Daoists. Scholars, farmers, businessmen, and businessmen are at the bottom. There are rules for clothing, food, housing, and transportation, and we can't enjoy. In business, we have to abide by those Daoist restrictions everywhere. We're not allowed to sell in the east, and we're not allowed to open in the west. Are you all willing to do all this? "
"People are born free and equal. Relying on hard work in industry and commerce to obtain wealth is a matter of heaven and earth, a gift from God! Why do you still have to suffer the anger of those officials who don't touch the sun and spring water? Everything has to be obeyed by their rules and regulations! "
She gritted her teeth, and her eyes swept across everyone's face.
A few people were moved. They were entranced by her words, and their faces were agitated.
Some people were shaken, but they were still hesitant.
There were also some people who saw that she was a woman. Her words went in one ear and out the other, and their faces showed contempt.
Even more people looked at each other in dismay, not knowing what to do.
Li Qingqing suddenly felt an intense anger that she had never felt before.
She disregarded everything and was almost buried by her passion. Full of heat, she spat out each word:
"People are born free!"
"In front of freedom, I'm willing to be a servant. You don't deserve to be born free! "
Then, with an extremely disappointed expression, she looked at everyone present with disdain, and left with a flick of her sleeves.
Chen Yudao and Li Yulang shouted at her from behind, but they couldn't call her back.
For a moment, the courtyard was so quiet that even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard.
After a while, Ding Shihao stroked his beard, "Mr. Li, your daughter is too unruly. As a woman, she doesn't know the slightest bit about being gentle and virtuous. You need to teach her well. "
"Oh? Who doesn't know how to be gentle and virtuous? "An elegant male voice with a smile sounded. A middle-aged man with a jade-like face walked in first.
When Li Yulang saw him, a trace of uncontrollable joy appeared on his face, "Ruoshan, you're here."
Lin Ruoshan knew that he wasn't waiting for him. Therefore, he stepped aside and said with a smile, "I've already sent that guest away. The guest gave me this before he left. "
Behind him was a handsome young man holding a wooden box.
Everyone present looked at each other. Let me see you.
"Gentlemen, do you know who the guest I sent away is?"
Ding Shihao had a bad feeling. He gave a look, and the merchant surnamed Duan asked bluntly, "May I ask who can be the guest of Second Master Lin?"
Lin Ruoshan waved his hand, and the handsome young man behind him stepped forward and bowed, "The leader ordered me to send his greetings to all of you gentlemen. Before the emissary left last night, we've already made an agreement. There are two copies of this agreement. This one will be kept with all of you gentlemen. "
Suddenly, the Ding Family's guard cried out, "Master! Master! "
Ding Shihao almost fainted. After a while, his philtrum was grabbed, and he stood up shakily. He pointed at Lin Ruoshan's nose, and then at Li Yulang's nose, "You … You can't expect me to acknowledge this agreement!"
"My Ding Family has been a merchant for generations. We've never had a rebellious descendant!"
"Brother Ding, that's a mistake. It's not a rebellion. "A man stepped into the courtyard after Lin Ruoshan.
He had a beautiful beard and a long face. He was dressed in ordinary Confucian robes, but his eyes were fierce and triangular, and he looked dignified without being angry.
"How are we trying to rebel? Scholars, farmers, merchants, and merchants. Since merchants and merchants can bring great wealth to the imperial court, they can open up new sources of income. The rules set by the Old Ancestor should be changed. It's just that the current emperor is headstrong and opinionated, and he's unwilling to admit it. So, we're just asking them to admit that the rules should be changed. "
Ding Shihao's eyes turned to the man's face. He couldn't catch his breath, and his fingers froze. He suddenly understood and looked around, "Good! You, you've already made up your mind! "
"Cough. Brother, I was the one who contacted the volunteer army and Brother Lin first. "
The man was the governor of Yunnan, Duan Rong.
Ding Shihao was so angry that he almost laughed. Fortunately, his usual cautiousness came into play.
"Brother Duan, we've known each other for decades. What are you doing? "
Duan Rong shook his head, "This is not my decision alone. Many of my colleagues in Jiangnan also have the same plan. Little brother, we had no other choice. We also have a large number of family businesses that involve overseas and factories. A large number of our children are engaged in business. You don't know the Saint's plan. We have no choice. We also want to serve the Saint well. However, only a monarch can be a minister. "
Indeed. Ding Shihao thought. In the current imperial court, there were actually a large number of nobles and officials whose families relied on business for a living. Gradually, those lands, and even some imperial estates, were bought by them as factories.
However, he still stared at him, trying to find out his true thoughts, "You're rebelling."
"Brother. You're wrong. Rebelling is a disgraceful act. We just want to ask the Saint to be more rational. What's wrong with valuing business and restricting our land a little less? The money earned in a year by merchants is equivalent to exploiting those poor old farmers for ten years. This way, there won't be a mass uprising. On this point, the volunteer army and we have reached a consensus. Most of you, like us, should have a common understanding of the situation. That's why I'm the one who introduced you. "
Duan Rong was very sincere.
Ding Shihao sat down on the chair dejectedly. After a long while, he sighed, "I've mistakenly entered the den of thieves!"
When the meeting ended, it was already midnight.
Although they had reached a consensus. Everyone present was experienced in the business world. None of them was not shrewd.
Duan Rong and the others were also old foxes who had been in the business of officialdom for a long time.
Although the three sides had decided to cooperate, there was still a lot of wrangling.
Ding Shihao and the others, Li Yulang, Ah Kun, and the others, as well as some merchants who were inferior to the best, each had their own ideas. After wrangling for a long time, they finally settled on a few common rules.
Li Yulang and the others talked until their mouths and tongues were dry. Only the baby-faced Chen Yudao still had the strength to complain, "Why did Ding Shihao and the others become our leaders in the end? Heh, he was clearly the most cowardly in the beginning! "
Lin Ruoshan smiled faintly, but he didn't seem to care much.
At the entrance of the house sat two young people in nondescript men's clothes.
The people who passed by after the meeting couldn't help but take a few more glances at them. It was just that these two tomboys were far too beautiful for their own good.
Li Qingqing's anger had subsided, but she still felt ashamed of those people's weakness. Seeing her father come out, she curled her lips, "It's done?"
Li Yulang touched her head, "It's been hard on you. It'll be better in the future. "
"Hmph. That depends on the future. Uncle Yudao and I worked together with Master Duan's plan to secretly reach an agreement with Sister Yuan. We can't let them ruin our plan. "
Lin Ruoshan asked, "Yu'er, why are you here?"
Lin Daiyu said in a low voice, "I'm really worried. I tossed and turned and couldn't sleep. It's better to wait here with Qingqing."
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