Most of the businessmen were shaking their heads, but Xi Benzhen said thoughtfully: "Xi remembered something." ”

Cheng Benyuan urged: "Brother Xi is going to say it quickly." ”

"Xi heard that the sea has not been very peaceful in recent months, and in the estuary of the Yangtze River, from Chashan to Chenqian Mountain, there are many fleets going to the north to fight a group of new pirates and plunder."

Chen Wenhuan nodded and said: "I have also heard about this, but fortunately, the fleet to Hangzhou and Wusong has not heard of any robbery...... Could it be that this is what the prince is referring to? ”

Xi Benzhen said: "Come to think of it, only I, the water master, can provide protection." ”

Speaking of this, Xi Benzhen asked, "What do you mean?" ”

Chen Wenhuan said: "I am in favor, let's not talk about the hatred of the family and the country, let's just say that the Qing army is really going south, and then the northern businessmen will suppress us with the power of the Qing army, how can we resist?" ”

Cheng Benyuan nodded and said: "Actually, Cheng Mou doesn't object, I, like you, have a large number of shops in the north, and there are several in the capital, suppressed and bullied by the northern merchants for a long time, this is still the Qing army has not gone south, if it really comes to that time, I'm afraid I won't have a good life." ”

"I don't object to it, I just don't know if I can win, if I lose...... But how is it good? ”

"I also have this idea, if I want to donate some gold and silver, I will naturally agree, but this is ultimately a matter of wealth and life...... It's better to be cautious. ”

"Brother Xi, you are in charge, or you are in charge."

Xi Benzhen pondered for a while and said, "Since the prince has two conditions, why don't you listen to the other one and then make a calculation?" ”

"It's fine."

The merchants returned to their places.

Wu Zheng asked, "Have you discussed?" ”

Xi Benzhen said: "I'll decide after discussion, it's not too late to listen to the prince's other conditions." ”

Wu Zheng said: "It's okay." The second thing that this king depends on you is actually closely related to the first. ”

After a pause, Wu Zheng said: "You are all wealthy businessmen in Jiangnan, so you naturally know the importance of talent. The huge family business, the industry all over the world, and the thirst for talents can be imagined. But what this king wants to say is, what other talent is more suitable for the mind than the one he has cultivated? In the past, talented people in the world took the imperial examination as their lifelong pursuit, so they only had a shallow involvement in business, or even knew nothing, which was obviously inappropriate with the talents you needed. ”

"This is the second thing that this king needs to rely on you, running a school!" Wu Zheng said solemnly, "The so-called champions in the industry, your business skills should be the best in the world, in this industry, I am afraid that no one in Jiangnan can compare with you." This king hopes that you can run a school, send competent people to teach according to their aptitude, and even teach them personally, so as to cultivate a group of business talents who can gallop in the shopping mall for our dynasty. ”

Wu Zheng said a lot, but the problem was that people didn't understand.

In a state of ignorance, Xi Benzhen asked tentatively, "Does the prince want to ...... Let me wait for a donation to help my students? ”

Wu Zheng was a little melancholy, and he patiently explained: "This king has no intention of reaching out to you to ask for silver...... This king wants you to train talents for yourselves. You have a big family business, and you are not young, so you have not thought about the difficulty of passing on your family business? ”

Xi Benzhen saw that Wu Zheng's face was not worried, and he was also a little nervous, and he replied cautiously: "But I'll wait...... They all have private schools, and they don't forget to train their children and nephews on weekdays. ”

Wu Zheng said: "How can it be the same to select and train talents among ten people and select and cultivate talents among tens of millions of people? Don't you understand such a simple truth? What this king means is that the establishment of Jiangnan Business School, the collection of Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, the elite of all business gangs, the heads of all families, teach students according to their aptitude, and cultivate a group of business talents for Jiangnan in 358 years. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a good opportunity, and the war with the Northern Merchant Gang will be a protracted battle that spans five or even ten years, which is enough for this group of students to grow up. At that time, this group of students will become the biggest support for you in the market. ”

Now all the merchants understood, and they whispered.

Xi Benzhen thought for a while and said, "I will understand what the prince meant, but what Xi doesn't understand is ...... Where did the final ownership of these students and the appointment of the students go? ”

Wu Zhengdao: "The king's idea is to set up a general institute of commerce in Songjiang New Town, which is subordinate to the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, and each province will set up branches, with three to five hundred people per period in each province, and one period in two years. The land occupied by the college is provided by the government free of charge, and the teaching, management and other general affairs of the college are all autonomous by the chamber of commerce. After the students have completed their studies, they will all be arranged by the Chamber of Commerce, and the king will not interfere. Of course, if you agree, the Financial Secretary will offer the top 10 trainees every year. ”

These words made the hearts of all the merchants sigh in their hearts, and their greatest fear was to make wedding clothes for them.

According to what Wu Zheng said, there are 500 people in each government, and now there are only 3,000 people in the land of six provinces, and the government provides the college land, which is actually not much, but they all heard it, Wu Zheng wants the business experience of their families, which is the housekeeping ability they rely on to survive.

Teach, yes.

It's okay to teach together.

But the people they have cultivated must be controlled by them, which is what they are most worried about.

Now that Wu Zheng has clarified the belonging of the students, this has cleared their biggest concerns.

Xi Benzhen asked again: "The prince promised before that industry and commerce are all the same. I would like to ask, can the students who have been trained by the business school be admitted? ”

All businessmen held their breath, this is indeed a problem, and it is also related to the greatest interests of businessmen, because once they can enter the government like the Ming Jing Imperial Examination, then in the subsequent imperial examination, the children of businessmen can occupy a place, which will affect the future court, the businessman's right to speak.

Zhang Huangyan finally couldn't help but speak, "Lord Wang, this is ...... I can't do it. ”

Yes, businessmen are the lowest races, and even if they have a lot of money, they can't get rid of a copper smell.

Naturally, it is not possible to set up a court with the high-ranking scholars.

Wu Zheng raised his hand and motioned for Zhang Huangyan to continue.

Looking at those businessmen, Wu Zheng said: "This king has set up the Jiangnan Academy, and the students have entered politics and entered politics. Benwang set up the Jiangnan Military Academy, and the cadets enlisted in the army. Now that Jiangnan Business School is established, students are naturally in business. The king has just promised that every year in the future, ten people with excellent grades can be appointed to the financial secretary, but although the financial secretary has a grade, it is not among the official officials. So, at this point, don't think too much. In the end, this king tells you two words, one is to leave professional things to professional people to do, and the other is that you want too much, and often you can't get anything. ”

This disappointed the merchants.

Xi Benzhen arched his hand and said, "Please wait for me some more time to discuss." ”

Wu Zhengyun.

The merchants went to counsel again.