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On this day, the good news spread to the city of Taiyuan, Shanxi.

For a time, the jubilant scene in Taiyuan City was not inferior to Chang'an, Pingyang and other places.

does not mention the joy of the people of Taiyuan, nor does it mention the rush of the scholars to tell each other, but it is said that several rich Jin merchants in Taiyuan City also acted quickly after receiving the news.

Now even Liu Chengxu, an old talent who has failed many times, can see that Zhao Junchen's good news will definitely not be fake, such as the first Zhang Wenhua of Guanzhong Academy, a clear-eyed person can see that Zhao Junchen is already a military heart, popularity, power, and merits after this war, not only the rise of the trend is difficult to stop, but the status in the temple will become stable for a long time, and most of the Jin merchants are "official businessmen" identity, and the relationship between the temple is close, and the political situation has always been the most sensitive. And how can you not understand these things?

In fact, these shrewd and scheming Jin businessmen saw more, farther, and deeper things in their eyes than Liu Chengxu and Zhang Wenhua.

Guo Linxiang is the largest money bank in the Ming Dynasty "Tongrui Ticket Number" of the big shopkeeper, and the most senior and prestige, is the leader of today's Jin merchants, after receiving the good news, soon spontaneously gathered in Guo Linxiang's house to discuss.

In less than half an hour, the influential Jin merchants in Taiyuan City had already arrived.

In the main hall of Guo's mansion, after all the Jin merchants gathered, Guo Linxiang said slowly: "Since everyone has arrived, let's start the discussion...... You must have received the news, Zhao Junchen, the minister of the Qin Mission, has completely annihilated a total of 100,000 soldiers and horses of the Mongol coalition army invading Shaanxi and Gansu on the south bank of Weishui, which is really an earth-shattering feat, not only the government is hyping and publicizing it, but the people are also spontaneously celebrating and jubilant. ”

He once controlled nearly forty percent of the boats, carriages and horses, and camel gangs in the eight northern provinces, and was the most well-informed and well-informed, nodding and saying: "That's natural, the Mongol coalition army that invaded the three sides of Shaanxi and Gansu is the main force of this year's fire screening, and now after being wiped out by Lord Zhao in one fell swoop, the Mongolian Tatars who are invading Shanxi, Zhili and other places must soon withdraw their troops, and this year's war disaster is simply over, and the people can even catch up with the autumn planting season, of course, it is a great thing." ”

Chen Gongxing is the most powerful salt merchant in the north, because Zhao Junchen has joined forces with the Jin merchants to develop Sichuan salt in recent years, so Chen Gongxing has the strongest good impression of Zhao Junchen among all the Jin merchants, nodded and praised: "At the beginning, Lord Zhao said that he was going to Shaanxi and Gansu to preside over the defense, to be honest, I was really worried that he would plant a big heel, but I didn't expect that he not only really blocked the main force of the Mongolian Tatars, but also completely annihilated the 100,000 soldiers and horses of the Mongolian coalition army...... Thinking of the great things he has done over the years, he really can be called a legend! ”

Guo Linxiang raised his hand to interrupt the discussion of the Jin merchants, and said slowly: "What Boss Chen said is good, Lord Zhao's deeds and achievements in recent years can indeed be called a generation of legends, such a figure is just a few people in the Ming Dynasty for hundreds of years...... But what I'm most concerned about right now is...... How long can the legend of this Lord Zhao continue? Is it worth it for our Jin merchants to invest more principal in him? ”

Seeing that Guo Linxiang talked about the topic, all the Jin businessmen present also stopped chatting, and their expressions became serious.

A younger Jin merchant wondered, "Senior Guo, what do you mean by this?" Don't you think our relationship with Zhao Junchen is not close enough? Let's not talk about the fact that the two sides have been cooperating in the development of Sichuan salt in recent years, this year's fire screening into Kou We also sprinkled a lot of silver in order to support Zhao Junchen, Zhao Junchen privately raised the two military towns in Shanxi a few days ago after the military merit reward, the deficit is also we responsible for filling, before and after has invested hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, it is not an exaggeration to say that it is a great help, is it necessary to invest more? ”

Guo Linxiang glanced around at all the Jin merchants, and after a smile, he said: "Our Jin merchants are different from those Hui merchants and Zhejiang merchants who started by smuggling, nine times out of ten they started by relying on officialdom connections, and the relationship with the temple has always been the closest, the old man's Tongrui ticket number will be distributed to Zhou Ge Lao Yicheng dividends every year, such as Boss He's carriage and horse shop and camel gang, remember that there are also Shen Shoufu's dry shares, and Boss Chen's firm is on the road of the inner court, these are all open secrets, and there is no need to hide anything ......"

After all the Jin merchants nodded in agreement, Guo Linxiang continued: "However, although we have a close relationship with the temple, we also maintain independence from each other, although we will distribute many dividends to the princes in the temple every year, but the princes in the temple cannot interfere with the operation of our business, and it is difficult for us to use the princes in the temple to interfere with the policy changes of the imperial court...... But you are younger, and you have not seen the situation of the previous dynasty as much as I did...... Hehe, our relationship with the temple was not like this in the past! ”

Hearing Guo Linxiang's words, many Jin merchants present seemed to think of something, and their eyes lit up.

He Zeng's breathing was a little shorter, and he said: "I have also heard my father say this, since Emperor Zhengde, our Jin merchants have begun to try to buy the powerful ministers in the temple, let them become our spokesmen in the temple, and gradually interfere in the policy trend of the temple, to the Wanli period, our Jin Shang's interference in the temple policy can not be ignored, in the heyday of our influence, even the appointment and removal of the first assistant of the cabinet can not bypass us, At that time, it was no longer our Jin merchants who served the imperial court, but our Jin merchants who used the hands of the imperial court to do things......"

Then, Chen Gongxing also said: "Yes, that period of time can be said to be the most glorious time for our Jin merchants, although after the merchants of Huizhou and Zhejiang saw the benefits, they also quickly supported the ministers of the temple and interfered in the political situation, which became a major problem for us, and the personnel changes in the cabinet were largely the result of our wrestling with the merchants of Huizhou and Zhejiang...... But until Emperor Chongzhen, our interference in the political situation of the temple is still not to be underestimated, and the policy of the imperial court is generally extremely beneficial to us, but it is not like now, we have no power to interfere with the policy of the imperial court at all, only bow our heads and accept fate! ”

Guo Linxiang sighed, but his expression became a little excited, and said: "It's a pity, after Emperor Chongzhen ascends the throne, our good days will come to an end...... This Emperor Chongzhen is indeed extraordinary, first using various means to continuously deepen the contradictions and hostility between us and the merchants of Huizhen and Zhejiang, and then taking advantage of the opportunity of the death fight between the two sides and the defeat of both sides, the influence of our Jin merchants and Huizhen merchants on the center of the temple was swept away by thunderous means...... Since then, our Jin merchants are no longer as beautiful as before! ”

He Zeng showed an unwilling face, and said again: "Yes, today's Emperor Deqing, although his courage and vision are not as good as Emperor Chongzhen, but the emperor's mental skills are not inferior, and over the years, he has been guarding against the influence of our Jin merchants and Hui and Zhejiang merchants from infiltrating the temple again, so there will be such a situation now, we have to give a large amount of dividends to several powerful ministers in the temple every year, but these temple ministers only provide us with some shelter and convenience, but they never dare to speak out for us in the temple. Even if the policies of the central court are not good for us, we can only endure it! After these powerful ministers retire, our years of investment will be in vain! ”

As Guo Linxiang, He Zeng, and Chen Gongxing, the three most powerful Jin businessmen, spoke one after another, the mood of the rest of the Jin businessmen also changed, sometimes yearning, sometimes regretful.

Obviously, all the Jin merchants yearn for the glory days when they could control the government.

At this time, Guo Linxiang's expression flashed a trace of ambition, and he said: "However, now, with the gradual rise of Zhao Junchen and his complete foothold in the temple through this year's war, our Jin merchants have been accumulating strength over the years...... The old man thinks that we may be able to try to re-infiltrate the center of the temple, and Zhao Junchen is our best spokesperson! Therefore, the old man will propose, should we deepen the cooperation with Zhao Junchen, invest more principal in Zhao Junchen, and make the two sides become real allies! ”

Hearing Guo Linxiang's words, all the Jin merchants were shocked!

Zhao Junchen...... A true candidate for the best! He Zeng said: "We have been in contact with Zhao Junchen many times, and we have some understanding of him, this person is very similar to the ideas of our Jin merchants, whether it is Sichuan salt development, commercial tax reform, agricultural rectification, the means and methods are similar to the style of our Jin merchants, the most important thing is that this person does not have any prejudice against our businessmen, and even has a bit of a mercantile meaning, every time we are urged to do things is not to oppress people, but to guide by the situation, even if we are doing things for him, we can also leave a lot of benefits!" ”

Chen Gongxing also echoed: "Yes, whether it is Yuerongfang's pancreatic business or Sichuan salt development, we have all received a lot of benefits, we have been eyeing the 'United Shipping Company' for this time, but I think Lord Zhao means, in the future, the commercial tax rectification of the northern trade route will also choose to cooperate with us, and our income will not be less than that of the United Shipping Company!" …… After so many things, our relationship with this Lord Zhao is already extremely close, even if the relationship is closer and becomes a real ally, it will be a matter of time! ”

Things have developed to this point, and many Jin businessmen have seen that since the beginning of the gathering of people, Guo Linxiang, He Zeng, and Chen Gongxing, the three most powerful Jin businessmen, have been cooperating with acting, constantly emphasizing the benefits of forming an alliance with Zhao Junchen, and obviously have a tacit understanding in their hearts.

However, the prospect proposed by Guo Linxiang and others, while tempting, still makes many people hesitate.

After Emperor Chongzhen drove the influence of the Jin merchants out of the center of the temple, the Jin merchants suffered heavy losses, and many century-old Jin merchants collapsed.

Now, if the Jin merchants' plan to infiltrate the temple fails again, I am afraid that everyone present will end up extremely unbearable.

In any case, the desperate bet on Zhao Junchen seems to be a bit risky, not only does it require the Jin merchants to invest more resources, but also Zhao Junchen is not the kind of person who is easy to control, if the relationship between the two sides is closer, it is more likely that the Jin merchants will be controlled by Zhao Junchen.

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