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Just as the officials of the Ministry of Rites reported, people from all walks of life in Yangzhou gathered at the Yangzhou wharf at this time, waiting for the arrival of Emperor Deqing.

The Son of Heaven came to Yangzhou, this is not only a big event, but also contains countless opportunities, whether it is officials, people, or businessmen, scholars, if they can seize the opportunity and get the favor of the emperor, maybe they can carp jump into the dragon gate, and the benefits are enough to withstand decades of hard work.

Of course, the identity of Emperor Deqing is too noble, and it is difficult for ordinary people to approach, but in addition to Emperor Deqing, there are many important people accompanying him on this southern tour, such as Shoufu Zhou Shangjing, Pavilion Elder Shen Changmao, Hubu Shangshu Zhao Junchen, etc., in the eyes of many speculators, these people are also good choices.

Therefore, for the arrival of Emperor Deqing, all walks of life in Yangzhou are a little excited, and while waiting, they are also talking about it, probing the thoughts and plans of the people around them.

However, when everyone was discussing, the most mentioned person, in addition to Emperor Deqing, was not the first assistant Zhou Shangjing, nor the pavilion elder Shen Changmao, but Zhao Junchen, the household servant!

In addition to Zhao Junchen himself being a person from Yangzhou, it is also because Zhao Junchen presided over the "Sichuan Salt Reform" some time ago, and introduced Jin merchants into Sichuan and developed Sichuan salt.

In Huizhejiang and other places in the south of Zhili, most of the wealthy merchants were trafficking in illicit salt as the main means of making profits, because the price of illicit salt was only half of the official salt, and most of the people in the Ming Dynasty were mainly buying illicit salt. Therefore, the salt merchants of Huizhou and Zhejiang are also making a lot of money.

However, once the salt gets opened. Then the production of official salt will inevitably increase significantly, and the price is likely to decrease a lot. At that time, not to mention other things, the salt merchants of Huizhou and Zhejiang will at least lose the markets in Yunnan, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Gansu, Shanxi and other places, and even the sales of Huguang, Liangguang and other places will be greatly affected, and profits are expected to drop by about one-third.

From this point of view, the salt merchants in Huizhou and Zhejiang are very resentful of Zhao Junchen, but Zhao Junchen's status has always been as stable as Mount Tai. and got the full support of the Jin merchants, so that the Hui and Zhejiang salt merchants had no way to influence Zhao Junchen, and Zhao Junchen did not have to worry about the resentment and revenge of the Hui and Zhejiang salt merchants.

Since the "Sichuan Salt Reform" is irretrievable, then participate in it, and perhaps recover some losses -- this is the final decision of the salt merchants in Huizhou and Zhejiang.

Of course. In addition to Zhao Junchen, the salt merchants of Huizhou and Zhejiang will also try their best to win the support of Emperor Deqing, Shoufu Zhou Shangjing, Pavilion Lao Shen Changmao and others, but Zhao Junchen is the head of the household, and the matter of "Sichuan Salt Reform" has always been Zhao Junchen in charge. Therefore, for the merchants of Hui and Zhejiang, Zhao Junchen's preservation zài cannot be avoided no matter what.

So, this time since. The salt merchants of Huizhou and Zhejiang have been discussing this matter, considering how to curry favor with Zhao Junchen and obtain Zhao Junchen's support next. Let the businessmen of Huizhou and Zhejiang also participate in the affairs of the "Sichuan Salt Reform", and finally get a share of the Sichuan Salt pie. It also recovered some losses somewhat.

This is about what Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen are most concerned about at present.

In Yangzhou, people from all walks of life are more or less related to the salt merchants of Huizhou and Zhejiang, and they see that the salt merchants are discussing Zhao Junchen's affairs, so they are all following the trend, talking about all kinds of rumors about Zhao Junchen, so that Zhao Junchen has not yet appeared, but the limelight has already overwhelmed the first assistant Zhou Shangjing and the elder Shen Changmao and others.

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As the representative of the squire of Yangzhou, Zhao Deqing, the head of the Zhao family in Yangzhou, also stood in the welcoming team at this time, quietly waiting for the arrival of Emperor Deqing.

Because of the relationship between Zhao Junchen and Zhao Deqing, the Yangzhou government also attached great importance to Zhao Deqing when arranging the driving matters.

At this time, Zhao Deqing's position in the welcoming team is quite high, ranking in the middle of the fourth row, in addition to the court officials, there are only a few old ministers who have returned to their hometowns, three well-known Confucians in Yangzhou, and two old nobles, which shows that Zhao Deqing's status in Yangzhou has risen rapidly during this time.

You must know that if there was no Zhao Junchen, it would not be Zhao Deqing's turn to serve as the representative of the squire in Yangzhou, let alone stand so high.

At this time, Zhao Deqing stood in the welcoming team, feeling the attention and respect of the people around him, and couldn't help but be a little proud.

However, in addition to being proud, Zhao Deqing also had some hesitation and annoyance in his heart.

What annoyed Zhao Deqing was not anyone else, it was the two masters sent by Zhao Junchen to Yangzhou to "assist" him - Su Xiqing and Xiao Wenxuan!

Since these two people came to Yangzhou, relying on the support of Zhao Junchen, they were mainly anti-guest, and they did not give Zhao Deqing any face at all, pointing fingers and repeatedly interfering, not only forcing the Zhao family in Yangzhou to donate a large sum of money to repair bridges and pave roads, and relieve the poor, but also forced the clansmen of the Zhao family in Yangzhou to return all the fields that were "bought cheaply" in recent times to their owners, and for a time the Zhao family in Yangzhou was full of dissatisfied voices.

If that's just the case, that's it, Zhao Deqing can also understand, after all, Emperor Deqing is coming soon, some façade work is always done, the donated silver can always be earned, and the land returned will also have a way to get it again after Emperor Deqing leaves Yangzhou, for the sake of Zhao Junchen's face, Zhao Deqing will not say anything, just endure it.

However, Su Xiqing and Xiao Wenxuan interfered in too many things, and even asked about the selection of the children of the Zhao family to enter the Guozijian, and personally interviewed every child of the Zhao family of appropriate age, completely ignoring the opinions of Zhao Deqing and the elders of the Zhao family - during this period, Zhao Deqing wanted to arrange his youngest son to enter the Guozijian and take the opportunity to seek a good future, but after interviewing Zhao Deqing's youngest son, Su Xiqing and Xiao Wenxuan actually said that Zhao Deqing's youngest son "is lacking in talent and conduct". It shouldn't take up the quota of the national eunuch at all!

In this way, not only the interests of the family, but also his own vital interests have been lost, how can Zhao Deqing tolerate it?

In Zhao Deqing's view, Su Xiqing and Xiao Wenxuan are people with foreign surnames after all, even if they are Zhao Junchen's cronies, even if Zhao Junchen actually doesn't treat the Zhao family in Yangzhou very much, but the internal affairs of the Zhao family should never be dictated by these two people with foreign surnames!

Therefore, at this time, Zhao Deqing was a little uncertain in his heart, and he didn't know if he should sue Su Xiqing and Xiao Wenxuan in front of Zhao Junchen after Zhao Junchen appeared.

And just when Zhao Deqing hesitated, a person suddenly came behind Zhao Deqing and said to Zhao Deqing: "Brother Zhao, what did you think about my mention a few days ago?" ”

Hearing the inquiry, Zhao Deqing couldn't help but be stunned, turned his head to look, but saw a rich old man in brocade standing behind him, a pair of shrewd and sophisticated eyes couldn't help but look at him.

This old man in brocade clothes is named Lin Yunpu, the president of the Yangzhou Salt Merchants Association, not only a wealthy person, but also the leader of Yangzhou salt merchants, and Nanzhili officialdom is also inextricably linked, with great energy.

Although the Zhao family is also a big family in Yangzhou, before Zhao Junchen appeared, Zhao Deqing's status in Yangzhou could not be compared with Lin Yunpu at all, both in terms of financial resources and connections, they were very far apart.

However, the Zhao family in Yangzhou now has Zhao Junchen as a backer, and Zhao Deqing can finally be on an equal footing with Lin Yunpu.

In fact, just two days ago, Lin Yunpu suddenly visited Zhao Deqing and proposed a very tempting proposal - Lin Yunpu invited Zhao Deqing to join the Yangzhou Salt Merchants Association and help the Yangzhou Zhao family participate in the private salt business, and the price Zhao Deqing paid was just to introduce Lin Yunpu to Zhao Junchen.

Zhao Deqing naturally knew very well how much oil and water there was in the private salt business, and wanted to agree on the spot, but was stopped by Su Xiqing, according to Su Xiqing, there is no free lunch in the world, so Zhao Deqing should consult Zhao Junchen before making a decision.

Because Su Xiqing moved out of Zhao Junchen, Zhao Deqing couldn't help but hesitate, and he couldn't respond to Lin Yunpu's "kindness and support" - this is another reason why Zhao Deqing hates Su Xiqing and Xiao Wenxuan!

At this time, hearing Lin Yunpu's inquiry, Zhao Deqing was still a little undecided, but he found a good reason and said: "Zhao is very grateful for Boss Lin's invitation, but Zhao also knows that the salt merchant business needs a lot of principal and a lot of channels, but these Zhao are not ready, so he ......"

Hearing Zhao Deqing's pushing, Lin Yunpu was very arrogant, and said: "Regarding these, Brother Zhao doesn't have to worry at all, Lin still has some spare money in his hands, if Brother Zhao lacks the principal, with our friendship, we can turn around one or two, as for the way...... Haha, there is no need for Brother Zhao to bother, Lin's door is Brother Zhao's door, let's do business together, why worry about anything? ”

The benefits given by Lin Yunpu are getting bigger and bigger, and Zhao Deqing's originally unfirm mind is becoming more and more shaken.

In the end, Zhao Deqing gritted his teeth and nodded: "Since this is the case, Zhao will thank Boss Lin for his support!" Please rest assured, Boss Lin, when Zhao Shangshu comes to Yangzhou, I will definitely introduce you to you! ”

At the same time, Zhao Deqing finally made up his mind - after Zhao Junchen came to Yangzhou, he took the first step to complain to Zhao Junchen, and made a small report to Su Xiqing and Xiao Wenxuan in front of Zhao Junchen - the affairs of the Zhao family, after all, the Zhao family has to make their own decisions, otherwise the benefits of Nuoda will be handed over!

And just as Zhao Deqing made up his mind, there was a sudden commotion in the welcoming procession, and someone shouted loudly: "Your Majesty's dragon boat has arrived!" The dragon boat of Majesty Xià has arrived! ”

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…… (To be continued......)