Xie Ming

Chapter 347 Shen Chaozong

Shen Chaozong's original wife, Jia, was originally deeply in love with him, but something unexpected happened early on.

Many years ago, when Shen Chaozong crossed the river to the north to sell tea, he came up with the idea of ​​entering Yangzhou to expand the salt and tea business.

So, he sent a letter home, asking Jia's wife and son Hongpan to come together!

But at that time, the situation was under control and there were many bandits and robbers in the southern border.

Jia's wife led a team of carriages and horses to the north, but they were robbed on the way. Not only did they lose a lot of money, but Jia herself also suffered a disaster and was kidnapped by the bandits. Since then, there has been no news from her and her life or death is unknown!

Shen Chaozong felt guilty towards his wife and children, so over the past ten years, he never had any intention of remarrying!

If he hadn't met Liu Wanyun a few years ago, and they had fallen in love at first sight and got along well with each other, there wouldn't have been such a story!
"Haha, alright, you're almost there!"

"These two girls have just arrived, why are you bringing up all that?!"

Hearing Liu muttering about her infertility, Shen Chaozong frowned and said something annoyed, just to remind her.

Upon hearing this, Aunt Liu quickly came to her senses, realized that what she had said was inappropriate, and hurriedly tried to make amends with a smile.

"Oh, yes, yes!"

"Look at me! I've lost my way when I saw those two little cuties!"

"A nice face, a good appearance, this kind of appearance is enough for her to enter the palace and become a concubine!"

"I just got along well with him for a while!"

"Come, sit with me!"

"I just made some Yangzhou fruit snacks. You two can try them too."

"Tsui Er, where's the tea?!"

"Come up quickly! These two girls have come all the way here, they must be thirsty!"

Aunt Liu was exceptionally warm and friendly. While she was talking, she grabbed Yuzhen and Xiao'e and dragged them to the table and chairs nearby.

Yuzhen was caught off guard and was a little stunned. She then took two steps forward and suddenly remembered that she had not yet greeted the two elders.

Then he hurriedly stopped halfway, glanced at Xiao'e, and the two of them greeted each other quickly.

"Ah, Auntie, Auntie Liu is safe and sound!"

Hearing what the eldest sister said, the little girl beside her also hurriedly followed suit.

"Aunt Liu, all is well!"

Suddenly hearing and seeing that the two sisters were so polite and tactful, Aunt Liu liked them even more.

"Oh, okay, okay, get up, get up!"

"From now on, we are a family. There is no need to be so restrained, ok?!"

"Come on!" Aunt Liu kneaded the dough with an even wider smile.

After the ceremony, Yuzhen and Xiao'e stood up and without waiting to be called, they hurried to the host Shen Chaozong.

"Long live Mr. Shen!"

"Greetings, Mr. Shen!" Yuzhen and Yu'e came to pay their respects.

Hearing this, Shen Chaozong also smiled kindly, stretched out his hands in the air, and made a gesture to call the two sisters to get up quickly.

"Haha, good, great!"

"Two girls, hurry up and follow your Aunt Liu's wishes. Go sit down and rest your feet. Have something to eat! Ah!"

"We are a business family, we don't care about those complicated rules!"

"It's done as long as the intention is there, it's done as long as the intention is there!"

Shen Chaozong had a kind and smiling face, and seeing that Yuzhen and Xiao'e were well-mannered and polite, he could not hide his joy and was very happy. Seeing this, Yuzhen and Xiao'e stood up and followed Liu to the side.

In fact, long before the ferry came to Yangzhou, Yuzhen had learned about the general situation of the Shen family from her elder brother Zhengwen!

Know about Aunt Liu Wanyun's family background, old illness and temperament.

Of course, I also know about the deeds of Shen Chaozong!

Now that she has been able to enter the Shen residence and see with her own eyes what a peaceful and harmonious family scene it is, Yuzhen feels a little relieved.

At the moment, the head of the family, Mr. Shen Chaozong, looks mature and upright, and his eyes are surprisingly refined and bright!
Although he is forty-seven or forty-eight years old, he is full of energy and vigor. He does not seem to be comparable to ordinary merchants and gentry!

Yuzhen was thinking about what her brother Zhengwen had told her a few days ago, and she couldn't help but feel a little more respect for Mr. Shen.

Shen Zhengwen once said that Shen Chaozong was a man of extraordinary intelligence and insight. For a businessman to achieve what he has, he would not only gain fame and fortune, but also fulfill his duties as a businessman!

Let’s not talk about anything else, let’s just talk about what happened two years ago.

At that time, the political situation in the north was worrying, smoke of war was everywhere, and the military unpaid wages were getting worse!
A few days ago, the court again had the idea of ​​asking merchants in the southern border to donate, and the amount they wanted was very large.

Emperor Chongzhen was at a loss. After agreeing to the proposal, he sent an imperial edict to Nanjing, Yangzhou and other places.

Shen Chaozong was in Yangzhou at the time and had just taken up the position of Chairman of the Huizhou Merchants Association. As soon as he raised his head, he saw the imperial edict coming down on him!

I think there were many business rivals who were waiting to see him make a fool of himself.

But what about Shen Chaozong? He actually just gritted his teeth and agreed!

As the saying goes, nothing can be established without destruction!
In order to withstand this humiliation, the Shen family can also continue to gain a firm foothold in the business war in Yangzhou!
Shen Chaozong decided to take a gamble!
Therefore, he took advantage of the opportunity to go to Jiangxi to sell salt and bought the official salt. After selling it, he hurriedly used the silver to exchange for local unsaleable medicinal materials, and then sold the large amount of medicine to the military supply areas on the front line.

At that time, bandits were wreaking havoc in Henan area and fierce fighting continued!
Epidemics broke out in many states and counties.

Shen Chaozong used these medicines to save the army and the people from danger and made a fortune!

Not only was the silver donated by the imperial court sent to the northern border according to the quota, it also helped medicinal farmers and cured the plague. At the same time, many relationships were established, truly bringing the role of merchants to the extreme.

Later, seeing that other members of the association were hostile to the negotiation and that the required donations had nowhere to go, they were still able to repay kindness with ingratitude!
In order to help others out of their urgent need, they even mortgaged their own land deeds and properties to help others out of their short-term difficulties!
This move to consolidate the overall situation not only made Shen Chaozong instantly win unprecedented reputation in the Yangzhou business community!

It also helped the Huizhou Merchants Association to gain a firm foothold in Yangzhou.

They are now competing against the Shanxi Salt Association, an old-established salt association of Shanxi merchants!
The Huizhou merchants are based in Yangzhou and their power has greatly increased!

Shen Chaozong is a businessman, fighting against businessmen!

After joining the salt industry, she also had official fights in business!
But no matter how they fight, they can always keep the bottom line principles of righteousness in their hearts!

This way of dealing with the world is his greatest outstanding quality!
[The donation system (also known as donation) can also be commonly known as buying official positions and selling titles! ]

[People often regard this phenomenon as the root cause of corruption and chaos in the government! It is really unacceptable! ]

[But in fact, this system has a much longer history than China's imperial examination system! ]

[Donations already existed during the Warring States Period! ]

[Until the fall of the Qing Dynasty, for thousands of years, it had always been considered an important auxiliary means of the court's finances! ]

[The earliest trace back to the pre-Qin period, in 243 BC, due to a locust plague, the then Qin Shi Huangdi Ying Zheng issued an order that "the people would be awarded a rank of nobility if they paid dan of millet." ]

[Later, during the reign of Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty, Chao Cuo's suggestion was adopted, and the emperor issued an edict, "Anyone who plants grain on the border will be granted the title of Shangzao, Wudafu, etc."]

【Zhang Shizhi, Sima Xiangru and others were also promoted to court officials through this path. 】

[During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, the title of military merit was established, attracting a large number of salt and iron merchants. ]

【After the chaos and mourning, the treasury of the Later Wei Dynasty was empty, so he implemented the system of selling titles in exchange for grain to ease the financial problem.】

[During the Tang and Song dynasties, whenever there was a disaster, the imperial court implemented a policy of providing official positions with grain in order to reduce the financial burden on the country.]

(End of this chapter)