On the largest restaurant in Fanjiazhuang, "Juxian Building", this day was full of friends.

Hua Kefang, the largest agricultural machinery manufacturer in Fanjiazhuang, stood at the door of the restaurant, wearing a decent Lu silk round neck, welcoming the businessmen who came to the banquet one by one. This Hua Kefang is very springy, and she knows almost every businessman who comes to the banquet, and she is smiling when she talks to everyone.

"Boss Yuan, don't come unharmed! Inside please! Inside please! “

"Shopkeeper Duan, I haven't seen you for a long time, how is the cotton market recently?"

"You Yuanwai, sure enough, you Yuanwai, I saw you from a distance just now, is You Yuanwai's son's typhoid fever cured?"

"Okay? I knew that you would definitely turn evil into good fortune! “

With the arrival of merchants one by one, Juxian Mansion gradually filled. The guests in the restaurant were a little excited today, sitting at the banquet and discussing, with a look of expectation between their eyebrows and eyes.

The people who came to the banquet were all big businessmen in Fanjiazhuang, all of them had thousands of dollars in their pockets, and the banquet was full of shark fin, abalone and other sumptuous wine and food. The banquet soon began, and Hua Kefang went over to toast one by one. Everywhere he went, he was greeted with applause from a full table of people.

After the toast, the banquet entered the main topic.

Hua Kefang stood in the middle of the banquet hall, raised his wine glass and said, "Everyone! Everyone, be quiet! “

When everyone heard this, they all stopped the feast and looked up at Hua Kefang.

This Hua Kefang is a capable person, he is not only good at running enterprises, but also opened the largest enterprise in one town and nine provinces, "Hua's Agricultural Machinery Factory", employing more than 3,000 workers, and is good at dancing with long sleeves, and is a recognized leader of Fanjiazhuang businessmen.

This time, the establishment of the Fanjiazhuang General Chamber of Commerce was initiated and planned by him.

Hua Kefang said: "Ladies and gentlemen, today is the day of the establishment of our Fanjiazhuang General Chamber of Commerce. Those who came to participate in the meeting are all our businesses and factories in Fanjiazhuang! “

"To put it mildly, Fanjiazhuang and Tianjin Acropolis have a total of 700,000 people, and at least 150,000 people rely on our house for food."

Hearing Hua Kefang's words, the merchants below let out a proud laugh.

Hua Kefang is right, this room can be said to have gathered the most successful businessmen in Fanjiazhuang. More than 300 people came to the banquet, representing more than 300 factories and firms. These private enterprises employ a large number of workers in Fanjiazhuang and Tianjin Acropolis, and at least 70,000 or 80,000 people are directly employed by these factories and firms. There are about 70,000 or 80,000 service personnel who indirectly depend on these factories and firms. It is not an exaggeration to say that 150,000 people depend on these enterprises for their food.

Not only the large number of people, but also the production capacity and profitability of these enterprises are equally terrible.

Under Li Zhi's advocacy, these enterprises generally used steam engines as power and widely used assembly line operations. In this era of the mid-seventeenth century, such factories were dozens of times more productive than handicraft workers. These private entrepreneurs employ 70,000 or 80,000 people, and their production capacity even exceeds that of several million traditional handicraftsmen.

Thanks to this high level of productivity, the profitability of these companies is extraordinary. In addition to handing over a small amount of profits to Li Zhi as royalties, most of the gains from efficiency gains went into the business owner's personal account in the form of profits. Taken together, the profitability of these more than 300 people even exceeds that of Li Zhi's state-run industry.

Hua Kefang said: "The production capacity managed by our house is probably stronger than that of all the handicraft craftsmen in Beizhili, Shanxi, and Shaanxi provinces managed by the Son of Heaven combined!" “

The businessmen in the banquet hall laughed and looked at Hua Kefang with anticipation.

Hua Kefang nodded and said loudly: "Indeed, we can have today's success thanks to the business environment provided by the prince. If there is no court to maintain a fair and just environment in society, our business will not be able to grow at all, and any ruffian can make it difficult for us to die! “

"Although it is impossible for the prince to come to the banquet of our chamber of commerce, we should also drink water and think of the source, and thank the prince for his kindness."

"So I Hua Kefang proposed, today, on the day of the establishment of our Fanjiazhuang General Chamber of Commerce, we must first stand up and salute His Royal Highness King Qi and the prince for a cup."

When they heard this, they stood up with a bang. Everyone held their wine glasses and raised them in the direction of the palace to the west, and then drank the golden wine.

After everyone finished drinking, Hua Kefang said again: "But having said this, I, Hua Kefang, have to say that the prince has neglected us factory owners and big businessmen. “

When the businessmen below heard this, they all held their breath and listened to Hua Kefang's words.

Hua Kefang said: "In the prince's state-owned factory, the general managers and chief managers who manage state-owned enterprises are all officials! They all have their own ranks. Today, he is in charge of workers in the factory, and tomorrow he may be transferred to other places to be the prefect of the county. The managers of some state-owned enterprises are even military attaches themselves in the princely system, and they are often fifth, fourth, or even third or second! “

"Wherever these state-owned business owners go, they are all embraced and respected. When the common people speak to these officials, they must bow and be respectful. “

"In comparison, private business owners like us are really gray sparrows, and no one pays attention to them."

"I, Hua Kefang, employ more than 3,000 people of all kinds, and the factory is like a small town in the eastern suburbs of Fanjiazhuang, and there are hundreds of restaurants and shops outside the factory. According to my scale, in the prince's state-owned factory, at least he is the chief officer of the three products! “

"But what about the reality?"

"The actual situation is that private business owners like us are not even a hundred households with seven products. An eighteen-year-old tax collector came to the prince's government to check the taxes, and I, Hua Kefang, were so nervous that I went to receive it in person, and turned the room of account books in the account room to the sky for him to check at will. “

When everyone heard this, they couldn't help but sigh.

Hua Kefang said the grievances in the hearts of the merchants.

In one town and nine provinces, although there is a perfect legal system and a friendly business environment, talented people can quickly make a fortune. But in Fanjiazhuang, the wealthy businessmen and entrepreneurs did not have a matching social status.

The officials of one town and nine provinces have a clean and honest style, and Li Zhi is very strict in grasping them, and it is impossible to obtain privileges by bribing officials. The private merchants of Fanjiazhuang are subject to the same laws as the ordinary people. Although the merchants had enormous economic resources, they did not gain power because of these resources.

Hua Kefang said loudly: "The prosperity of one town and nine provinces is, of course, established by the prince. But to get to the bottom of the question, those of us who do business, do business, hire so many workers to help the idle, and send so much money every month, don't we have a contribution? “

"I think the prince has neglected us businessmen!"

"The prince didn't expect us, we have to remind the prince. We set up this Fanjiazhuang General Chamber of Commerce today to run for our companies and firms, to shout for the status of factory owners and business owners. ”

Before Hua Kefang's words fell, a huge cheer sounded below.

One by one, the merchants all stood up and applauded violently, as if they had finally waited for a leader.