Fan Yunsheng, who was sitting on the left side, had completely forgotten the discomfort of the increasingly hot sun shining on his body at this moment, and listened to Zhang Pu's persuasion to the board members with high spirits for a while.

In his opinion, the better Zhang Pu's performance today, the more he will be able to have a say in the board of directors in the future as the person in charge who recommended him to meet with the board members.

For a businessman like Fan Yunsheng who is in the prime of life, it is the right time to chase wealth and power. As an outstanding businessman who led his family from a wealthy local businessman to a place on the board of directors of the 19-member Sihai Trading Company, Fan Yunsheng did not lack desire and talent, but there were still too many restrictions on businessmen in this era, so he could only hope to open a gap in a scholar like Zhang Pu.

Judging from today's meeting, Zhang Pu's talent is not only higher than that of his brother and Xu Xinsu in the letter, but also breaks through the upper limit of his estimate, which is of course a good thing.

As for Zhang Pu, who was standing in the middle of the hall, the directors of the Four Seas Trading Company were speechless after listening to his analysis, which allowed him to catch the rhythm of convincing these directors. Sure enough, just as he imagined, in the face of sufficient interests, the businessman could not withstand the temptation after all.

Although the real power of the Four Seas Trading Company is held by the directors who have not yet appeared here, even those directors cannot take all the power into their own hands, so some of the day-to-day and unimportant power naturally falls on these thirteen directors.

There may indeed be people in this world who are indifferent to fame and fortune, but most of them who flaunt themselves like this are either selling their fame or have not tasted the taste of real power.

For example, when Zhang Pu himself was famous all over the world in the past, and when he summoned celebrities from all over the south to form the Fuhui Society, the scholars in various places who had never even met him in person ran around for a word or a letter because of it, and never said a word. And the wealthy businessman waited outside the door with gold and silver in his hand, just for fear that he would not accept it, and if he could ask his name, he was already ecstatic and ran around to tell each other.

Xia Yunyi, who is admired by scholars all over the world today and praised by the emperor as the pillar of the country in the future, was just a foil for a scholar beside him in the past. It is precisely because Zhang Pu has tasted such a taste of power that he can't bear to end his life in silence overseas.

Treating others with oneself, a righteous gentleman like him cannot tolerate being an outsider who is ostracized by the center of power. How could these profit-seeking businessmen let go of the power they now hold in their hands? The reason why the Four Seas Trading Company enjoys great power today is that the huge industries and huge wealth controlled by the company are all due to the fact that the shareholders of the company willingly invest their wealth in this company.

The reason these shareholders do this is, of course, because the company is able to return their ultra-high dividends. If the company's returns fail to meet the expectations of shareholders, these shareholders will naturally withdraw their principal. And without the support of shareholders, can Sihai Trading Company maintain the current good situation? Once the company's business conditions began to deteriorate, the directors of the company naturally lost their current hot position.

If these merchants had not enjoyed their former status, they might have accepted to return to the status of ordinary merchants, a life to which a mere servant could be called upon and drunk. But since they had already enjoyed the status of being able to talk to the princes and nobles on an equal footing, how could they go back to live like that.

Therefore, Zhang Pu concluded that these ordinary directors are more concerned about the company's business conditions than the board representatives sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, because it is directly related to whether their position can be maintained. And once he grasps the psychology of these directors, then the next thing is not that he has a request for these directors, but that these directors have a request for himself.

In today's Ming Dynasty, even if more than ten years of reform have been carried out and the status of businessmen has improved, if these businessmen with huge wealth want to interfere in politics, they still want to attack them for all levels of society, even if they have the support of the emperor, it is useless.

Therefore, if the merchants wanted to have a voice in politics, they had to obtain the approval of the emperor and the support of the scholars. And Zhang Pu's meeting with these directors today is to give them a chance to bet on themselves. It's just that Zhang Pu didn't put down his posture and pleaded with them, but let these directors see their predicament clearly, so they asked him for help.

To be able to stand out from thousands of shareholders and become one of the 19 directors is clearly not a stupid person here. Therefore, after listening to Zhang Pu's analysis and the way forward for the future of Sihai Company, everyone quickly reacted after being shocked, and what was the main topic that the other party was going to talk about with them.

It is not impossible to invest the resources in their hands in an elite scholar like Zhang Pu, and it can even be said that if they succeed in the future, the rate of return will not be low. However, the posture of the other party is too tough, which makes many directors feel that they may not be able to control the other party in the future, so their investment may be wasted.

After the directors made eye contact with each other for a while, a rather experienced director finally came forward and said to Zhang Pu: "Ahem, cough, Mr. Zhang, there are some things we want to know first, can you ask Mr. to go next door for a cup of tea?" ”

Zhang Pu looked around and saw that everyone had avoided his gaze, so he couldn't help but smile and said, "It just so happens that Yu is a little dry, so Yu will go to the side to rest first, please discuss slowly." ”

After Zhang Pu finished speaking, he hugged his fists and arched, and then turned around and left briskly. Watching his back disappear into the courtyard, the directors in the hall finally breathed a sigh of relief, and some people said disapprerovitically: "This Zhang Tianru is too arrogant, is he begging us today, or are we begging him." ”

At the bottom of the board of directors, Fan Yunsheng, who had always been silent in the past, suddenly said loudly: "Mr. Tianru is not an ordinary scholar, and what we are going to do next is not an ordinary thing. If he is submissive in front of us, I have to worry about whether I will be able to return to my original cost by investing resources in him. ”

With Fan Yunsheng's interjection, a director suddenly said in approval: "Director Fan is right, if you really want to invest in one person to help him ascend to the position of cabinet minister, so that the imperial court policy is biased towards the company, at least we have to find someone who can make things happen, you must know that our money is not blown by the wind." ”

The dissatisfied director finally softened his attitude, but he still refused to admit defeat and said: "Even if what Zhang Tianru said is right, supporting the company's overseas trade with the power of the state can get the greatest return." But don't we have His Majesty's thighs to hug, so why do we have to do another set? Do you think that Your Majesty is not as concerned about the company as Zhang Tianru? ”

Such a question was quite damning, and the room was quiet for a while. But soon Fan Yunsheng spoke again: "Your Majesty naturally cares more about the company than others, after all, the company also has His Majesty's shares. But after all, His Majesty is a great tomorrow, and compared with this Ming Dynasty, the company's interests are a little insignificant.

What's more, His Majesty has a lot of opportunities, and it is impossible to keep an eye on the interests of the company at all times. If there is such an important minister in the court who is inclined to us businessmen, at least there will be one more channel to convey our voice to His Majesty, and there will be no need to report everything to His Majesty through the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Don't you think so? ”

Hearing this, the directors immediately stopped talking. Yes, isn't the reason why the Ministry of Internal Affairs is able to control the dominance of the company now is because only the Ministry of Internal Affairs can communicate with the emperor, but if the opinions of the directors who disagree with the internal affairs government cannot reach His Majesty's ears at all, the other six directors will naturally have the final say on the company's major affairs.

If the authority of the Internal Affairs Office can be shaken a little bit and the powers of some other directors can be increased, how can the directors present not support it? However, after skipping this question a little more, an old director said worriedly: "But hasn't Your Majesty always supported free trade?" If we support Zhang Tianru's interference in trade with state power, will it be reprimanded by His Majesty? ”

As soon as he said this, some directors suddenly flinched a little, and Fan Yunsheng couldn't help but say desperately when he saw this: "The so-called free trade should be the state to protect our free buying and free selling, not to protect the free buying and free selling of our trade opponents."

Otherwise, we pay so much tax to the imperial court in a year, and the warships and cannons used for construction are placed in the harbor for viewing? I firmly believe that Your Majesty should think the same way.

I think we'll vote directly..."

Under Fan Yunsheng's quick voting suggestion, he finally abstained with 2 votes and 11 votes in favor, and passed the decision to support Zhang Pu. After seeing the voting results, Fan Yunsheng took the initiative to ask Ying to go to the next wing room for the directors to invite Zhang Pu back.

In the west wing, Fan Yunsheng said to Zhang Pu with a happy face: "Congratulations to Mr. Tianru, the directors hope to continue to discuss the next topics with Mr. ”

Seeing Fan Yunsheng's expression, Zhang Pu was relieved and knew that things were harmonious. However, he still replied to the other party very calmly: "It seems that the directors have made an excellent choice, let's go together..."

When Zhang Pu returned to the hall again, there was no suspense about the so-called topic, just everyone discussed how to meet Zhang Pu's requirements. For Zhang Pu, this day is the real beginning of returning to China.

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