March.

The weather is getting warmer and the earth is recovering.

March and April every year are the default truce period for all countries in the entire Central Plains region.

Because March and April are the spring planting period, the essence of war is to plunder resources. If a war starts during the spring planting period, even if the war is won in the end, both sides will suffer.

After entering March, most of the projects in Hanzhong have been temporarily suspended. After all, although Hanzhong is now the "commercial capital", the overall environment of the Qin State is still a small-scale peasant economy. No matter how Hanzhong develops, food is still fundamental. .

Of course.

These are only targeted at the local civilians in Hanzhong today.

For those merchants who come from other places to do business, what they care about is not spring planting, but that after winter has passed, they can continue to do business again.

As the news of Hanzhong’s ‘free trading market’ spread, the number of merchants coming to Hanzhong exploded as soon as the early spring of this year arrived.

Even some foreign businessmen gradually began to appear in Hanzhong.

This also caused [Shengping Town] to be forced to expand again, quickly surpassing the town and developing towards the size of a county...

And in this lively scene, no one noticed that thirty businessmen were quietly invited to the Hanzhong County Sheriff's Mansion.

"This... Shopkeeper Huang, do you know why the Sheriff invited us here today?"

"To be honest, I still don't have any clue." Among the thirty businessmen invited, one of them was Huang Huan, who had been with Ying Zheng before.

At this moment, he was sitting in the middle of the crowd, facing a question from a businessman who had cooperated with him before, and shook his head in confusion.

"Oh~~ I finally have a way to survive. I hope nothing will happen!" The inquiring businessman couldn't help but sigh when he heard this and said with a worried look on his face.

The situation of Qin's merchants has always been not very good. Except for a very small number of merchants who were manipulated by high-ranking officials and nobles, in the past, they were basically like rats in the cracks.

Now that they have finally found a place to live in Hanzhong, they don't want any accidents to happen.

It's a pity that the more these retail merchants think about it, the less confidence they have in the upper-class nobles of Qin State.

"There shouldn't be any accidents!"

Although there was a bit of worry in Huang Huan's eyes, he was generally calm and said: "Don't forget, who opened the 'free trading market' in Hanzhong now, who is sitting on top, who dares to come to Hanzhong now?" I’m afraid there won’t be many people reaching out.”

Hearing Huang Huan mention 'that one', the worries on the faces of several businessmen around him eased a little.

However, although there was some relief, it did not completely dissipate.

After all, the reputation of 'that one' is indeed very intimidating, but it will inevitably make people worry about another thing, that is, what if the accident itself was caused by 'that one'?

Just when the thirty businessmen were feeling uneasy, they saw a figure slowly walking in outside the lobby door of the Sheriff's Mansion.

Meet this person.

The thirty businessmen present stood up one after another, bowed their hands and said, "We will pay homage to the Governor."

"Everyone is polite, please take a seat!"

Chen Jinghui returned the salute with a kind face, then came to the main seat and sat down, and slowly said: "During this period, Hanzhong County has been able to develop to this stage thanks to your care. I would like to thank you in advance." Pass."

With that said, Chen Jinghui bowed his hands towards the thirty businessmen again.

When the merchants present saw Chen Jinghui's behavior, they immediately responded in a hurry.

"Your Majesty, you're welcome."

"I'm just a mere businessman, and I can't deserve such a gift from the county governor."

"Speaking of which, we also rely on Lord Shengping."

······

Everyone was talking in a hurry.

See this.

Chen Jinghui also laughed and continued: "You don't have to be so humble. During this period of time, there are countless merchants who have come to Hanzhong to do business, but you are the three merchants who pay the most taxes and have the best reputation. Ten businessmen. That’s why I specially invite you all to come today.”

In fact, to be precise, the thirty businessmen invited by Chen Jinghui this time should be the thirty most reputable among the retail merchants and the ones who pay the most taxes.

The thirty businessmen heard this and looked at each other for a few times.

Then an older businessman hesitated for a while, then came out, saluted Chen Jinghui and said: "Master Sheriff, we and other scattered merchants rely on the convenience of Lord Shengping and Hanzhong. He has been able to develop to this day. Therefore, Hanzhong County can be regarded as a 'benevolent place' for us, so if the county governor has difficulties, you may as well speak up and we will definitely not shirk it."

"Yes! Lord Sheriff, just speak up if you have something to say."

"We are able to survive today only because of the kindness of Lord Shengping and Hanzhong County. Therefore, if there is trouble in Hanzhong, we will not stand idly by."

Seeing that the businessmen in front of him looked more anxious than himself, Chen Jinghui couldn't help but smile, and then simply said: "Since everyone has said so, I won't let it go."

"The thing is like this. Now Hanzhong is about to build several new academies, but the initial construction funds are still slightly lacking..."

Hearing this, the thirty businessmen present felt a little helpless, but also felt a little relieved.

Unfortunately, they did not expect that they would not be able to escape the tricks of the nobles.

He breathed a sigh of relief because, fortunately, this time Chen Jinghui just asked for money and didn't ask for anything.

Adhering to the principle of doing more is worse than doing less.

The thirty businessmen present did not hesitate, and soon someone stood up and said: "Building an academy is a great thing that benefits the country and the people. If the governor does not mind it, then I would like to donate three thousand gold coins to Hanzhong." For the purpose of repairing the academy.”

"I can also donate two thousand gold coins. I hope the governor will not dislike it."

"I would like to donate four thousand gold coins as a small token of my gratitude."

······

As the first person stood up, after a while, the thirty businessmen behind him all expressed their attitudes one after another.

Seeing that he had raised a large amount of 'charity' for no reason without even speaking, Chen Jinghui was a little bit dumbfounded.

"Don't worry, everyone. I think you may have misunderstood what I mean."

"Um?"

After Chen Jinghui said these words, many businessmen present were stunned.

Then I saw a businessman who couldn't help but test it: "Didn't Lord Sheriff mean to use it because of 'lack of money'?"

Perhaps because he has been following Mo Jun for a long time, Chen Jinghui has now developed a good habit of being honest. When faced with the businessman's inquiry, Chen Jinghui said directly: "Of course not, my officer. If there is a 'lack of money', with the current income of Hanzhong County, where can I not get the money?"

"Ah this!"

The businessman below was stunned by Chen Jing's "sincere" words.

But after thinking about it, it seems that this is really the case.

Today's Hanzhong is no longer what it used to be. With the current level of wealth in Hanzhong County, if Chen Jinghui, the governor of Hanzhong County, is really 'short of money', no matter where he gets some money, it seems that he will get more money than from a few of them. There is oil and water.

"Then the Sheriff means..."

"I invite you here this time not to ask you to 'donate' money, but to make a deal with you."

"Deal? What deal?"

"The academy was built in Hanzhong this time. Because you are the thirty most reputable businessmen in Hanzhong today, someone has specially asked you to give you an opportunity. You can spend money in this new academy and buy several Admission quota.”

After hearing what Chen Jinghui said, the businessmen present were immediately confused again.

Ah this!

Spend money to buy a place in school.

Is this different from ‘donation’?

Although these businessmen have a low status, it should not be a big problem to find a few private schools for their descendants to study in!

It seems that he can see the doubts and confusion of these businessmen.

Chen Jinghui took a sip of tea calmly and suddenly said something else.

"By the way, we can't reveal too much about this matter for the time being, so I can only remind you a little bit. The eldest son of Qin will also enroll in the academy to be built in Hanzhong."

Grand Duke······

Damn it!

When Chen Jinghui finished these words, many people did not react at first.

When everyone came to their senses, their eyes suddenly widened in shock.

Some people were even so shocked that they even found it difficult to speak:

"Jian... Mr. County Sheriff, do you... really mean what you said?"

"Don't you think that I am qualified to build such an academy?"

Chen Jinghui didn't mention much, he just glanced at the man and said calmly.

This time.

The crowd below was completely shocked.

As businessmen, of course they wouldn't care if it was just an ordinary private school, but an academy that even the eldest son of the Qin State would enroll in, how could it be an 'ordinary academy'.

To put it bluntly, once such an academy is built, the threshold of the academy will represent a layer of 'class'.

For the current Qin businessmen, this seemingly simple "one level" is often a barrier that they may not be able to overcome after several generations.

Businessmen are humble.

These five short words may not sound like much, but only these retail traders themselves can experience the cruelty these five words represent.

The word "low status" never affects just one person at the moment, but several generations may be affected by it.

Officials were engaged in business and came from merchant families.

Both of them seem to be 'big businessmen', but in fact, their status levels are not at the same level at all.

In the past, these merchants have been unable to cross the threshold after generations of hard work. Now they only need to spend money to buy it. How can this not make them excited?

······

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like