I saw Zhang Mingwei pick up a small horn in his hand, put it to his mouth, and announced loudly: "Your Majesty has a decree, the Eight Great Jin Merchants are Ming people, but they are treason against the enemy, and they are so complicit in rebellion, and the Nine Clans will be punished!" ”

This punishment is basically expected by everyone. However, what Xingguo Gong said next was beyond their expectations.

"The Ming Dynasty is in turmoil today, tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed and injured, and how many people's wives and wives have been separated and their families have been ruined, and the root cause is that Liaodong Jianyu took advantage of the Ming Dynasty to defeat the Japanese and rebelled!"

"Liaodong is a cold place, why is Jianyu getting stronger and stronger the more you fight, just because of these counts who forget their ancestors, turn their backs on the Ming Dynasty, turn their backs on their compatriots, and only have money in their eyes to make trouble!"

In fact, there are many reasons for the chaos at the end of the Ming Dynasty. However, this is not to analyze the root cause of the chaos, but to lead to other things through the matter of the Jin merchants. Therefore, Zhang Mingwei only spoke selectively.

The horn in Zhang Mingwei's hand is actually not a horn, but a horn used for amplification in later generations. However, despite this, the range of sound that can be transmitted is limited. Even if the audience is quiet, it is too far away, and it is still inaudible.

Therefore, after he finished speaking, he paused, and then continued to announce loudly: "For posterity, first, the eight great Jin merchants will be cut with thousands of knives, and then cast into a bronze statue, return to the martyrs' shrine, and repent for the Ming martyrs forever!" ”

As soon as this was said, there was not much of a surprise. After all, there is an example of Qin Hui and his wife. Moreover, the harm of these Jin merchants is so great, the people of Beijing are deeply affected, of course, they can't wait to punish these Jin merchants as seriously as possible!

In the Martyrs' Shrine, there are Lu Xiangsheng, Sun Chengzong, Cao Bianjiao, Yang Guozhu, etc., all of whom died for resisting captivity. It is also reasonable to kneel down and repent to them.

Therefore, after hearing this, I don't know who shouted "Long live my emperor"! When the other people heard this, they didn't know how to express their support for the will of the court, and when they heard this, they shouted "Long live my emperor"!

On this side of the Wumen Square, there were all dense human heads, although the people in the distance couldn't hear what was said. But the people standing in front were shouting "Long live my emperor", and they naturally shouted along.

So, in the sky above the Jingshi, I recalled the deafening shout of "Long live my emperor" that spread almost throughout the city.

With such a big momentum, Emperor Chongzhen, who was sitting behind and watching, although his face did not seem to have changed, he was actually happy in his heart, and he enjoyed this scene of admiration by all the people very much.

Thinking about it, in the past, they all reached the point of making an edict against themselves and admitting their mistakes to the people of the world, but now, the appearance of Mr. has only such a small incident, but in one fell swoop he has reversed his impression in the hearts of the people.

Thinking of this, Emperor Chongzhen couldn't help but look at Zhang Mingwei's back, and was very grateful in his heart!

Zhang Mingwei naturally didn't care what Emperor Chongzhen behind him was thinking at this time, and after the voice of shouting "Long live my emperor" fell, he announced the election: "Second, in order to prevent the insatiable greed of the people's hearts, forget the ancestors for the money and wealth, betray friends, betray compatriots, betray the Ming Dynasty, seek money and kill people, and then produce these eight traitors like Jin merchants, the imperial court will levy additional taxes on the rich merchants!" ”

This is actually the prototype of the stepped taxation of later generations, which in ancient times actually did not have this concept, and generally did not work.

However, this time, with the help of the Jin Shang Tong case, it seems reasonable.

Although the merchant class was already in the upper echelon of the people at the end of the Ming Dynasty, before that, it was the last one in the Shinong industry and commerce. In other words, there is a public opinion basis for cracking down on businessmen.

Businessmen are born to buy low and sell high, chasing profits, which is also a well-known thing. In order to make a lot of money, he will do whatever it takes, and he can do anything, such as this Jin merchant Tong, which is the most typical representative.

In view of this situation, the imperial court wanted to restrict the wealthy businessmen and restrict some people from grabbing more money by unscrupulous means, which was absolutely supported by ordinary people.

To put it mildly, many people have the psychology of hating the rich. Not to mention, in such a context at this time.

For this unheard-of policy of the imperial court, the big businessmen must be opposed. However, at this time, they have no right to speak at all. What can accumulate wealth far beyond others will definitely not be the money earned reasonably and reasonably. Whoever dares to oppose it is tantamount to being a bird and waiting for the factory guard to come to investigate.

The great merchants objected only through their agents in the court; Or, indirectly through public opinion. However, now that there is an example of the eight Jin merchants who are angry with the people and gods, it can be said that facts speak louder than words, at least until the matter of the Jin Shang Tong Capture Case has passed, or until the death of this generation of people who have been harmed by the Jin Shang, any opposition is powerless.

The merchant class cannot do without, but the top rich businessmen cannot have it.

If everyone aims at the wealthy businessmen, chases money, and people's hearts are oriented towards money, the world will deteriorate day by day, and it will be bad not only for the country, but also for the nation.

In addition, when wealthy businessmen realize that money is just a number, they will inevitably turn to other aspects, such as power. They have countless money as their foundation, and they will inevitably make it difficult for others to resist.

Under the control of power, money can make money more, and it will further control power. This is tantamount to putting an end to the upward path of other classes. Not only that, but their interests are absolutely inconsistent with the interests of ordinary people, and this will be the beginning of a people's suffering.

In the words of later generations, when the means of production are highly unbalanced and concentrated in the hands of a very small number of people, it is the beginning of troubled times. This situation at the end of the Ming Dynasty is actually that. An important manifestation of wealth inequality is the very high level of land annexation.

At this time, when they heard Xingguo Gong say that they would levy additional taxes on the wealthy merchants, for most people, they were still immersed in the affairs of the Eight Great Jin Merchants, so they naturally felt that this method was excellent. I don't know who shouted "Long live my emperor" first.

There was no accident, and other people also shouted "Long live my emperor". The sky above the Jingshi reverberated with this deafening sound again.

Emperor Chongzhen was very satisfied, and suddenly decided in his heart, should he come like this a few more times in the future?

And Zhang Mingwei also knew that today's protagonist was not himself, so he retreated to his position after announcing these two things.

In fact, there is nothing to say next, Emperor Chongzhen drove back to the palace, and the eight Jin merchants were cut by a thousand knives outside the noon gate. Those people who hated the capture of the Eight Great Jin Merchants robbed them of their flesh and blood.

………………

In the court, discussions began on how to define the wealthy merchants, how to collect taxes, and how much to collect; And among the people, of course, there is also a heated discussion about today's affairs. Among them, there is this unheard of thing.

Most people didn't hear the announcement of Xingguo on the spot, so many people were asking about the situation. Naturally, places where people gather, such as inns, restaurants, teahouses, restaurants, etc., are all people who are discussing.

No, in the lobby of an inn, it's just as lively as any other place.

"It's a pleasure today, it's so enjoyable!"

"Yes, I finally comforted my father's spirit in the sky!"

"Hey, Brother Wu, why are you so depressed? Oh, I see, are you worried that the imperial court will levy additional taxes on you? ”

"Didn't the imperial court announce what kind of wealthy businessman he was? The younger brother has worked hard for many years, and now life is a little better......"

"Hehehe, what kind of rich businessman are you? The most famous rich merchants in the world, the Jin merchants, the Hui merchants, and those big salt merchants, they are qualified to be sullen, what are you? ”

“……”

Or maybe the people on the side heard the conversation at their table and heard someone start to interject.

"As the saying goes, no business is not treacherous, if I want to say it, you should clean them up fiercely, and it is best to confiscate all their family property!"

"You can't say that, if it weren't for the food we sold from outside, do you think Jingshi can produce grain, what you eat, we just make some hard-earned money! We also paid for the sweat, okay? ”

"I didn't say you, the rich businessman, did you hear it, the rich businessman, you are not qualified enough!"

"Okay, okay, we can still trust Brother Wu's character. In other words, this provision has never been made before, and I don't know who came up with it? ”

"Who else can it be, it must be Xingguo Gong!"

“……”

Hearing this, the people at the table in the corner seemed to be very interested in Xingguo Gong, and one of them quickly interjected and asked, "How do you know that it is Xingguo Gong?" ”

As soon as the person who spoke heard that someone was cheering, he turned his head to look at it, and said with a smile: "It's just from Beijing, right?" That's no wonder. I'll tell you, as long as something new happens here in Jingshi, it must have something to do with Xingguo Gong! ”

As soon as he said this, the people at that table were more interested, and even let Xiao Er add dishes to treat them, and then they heard the detailed deeds of Xingguo as they wished.

In the evening, instead of sleeping, the group returned to the room, but gathered in the same room to talk. Even more strange was the fact that some of them were still watching from the door, apparently unwilling to be heard.

"Judging from what I have heard in the past few days, although it is true that many people are saying that Xingguo Gong is a good official, a clean official, and can make decisions for the people. However, it seems that he only has one means to keep raiding his house. ”

"Those Jin merchants should indeed raid their homes, but no one said it, and only Xingguo Gong can come up with it, and take this opportunity to attack other rich people. If Xingguo Gong is really such a person, it must not be able to last long! ”

"Yes, the eldest brother is also afraid of this, or we should forget it and let the eldest brother rest his mind?"

When these people said this, they all finally looked at one of the more elegant ones.