noffsinger Chapter 1081 Opportunity Waits for No One
Chapter 1081 Opportunity Waits for No One
The atmosphere in the hall froze instantly upon hearing this.
Does being the head of the Imperial Merchants Bureau mean having an official title? Merchants entering officialdom is something that has never happened before in the Great Zhou Dynasty!
The imperial court wants to establish the Imperial Merchants Bureau in Yuzhou; that sounds good...
Wan Qianshan suddenly stood up from his seat, even somewhat losing his composure. His heart was pounding. What do merchants lack most? Not money, but status, the official position that can bring glory to their ancestors and rid them of their "lowly status".
He saw the excitement on everyone's faces, and a fleeting look of anxiety crossed his eyes before he quickly regained his composure. In truth, all the Wan family needed was money; what did it matter whether they held official positions or not?
It's unclear what Prefect Zhang's intentions are, or what the expert behind him is planning. Yuzhou has just suffered a natural disaster, and everyone is struggling to make ends meet. What kind of business can make the people rich quickly?
He suspected there might be a trap involved, but it sounded quite exciting.
Meanwhile, Bai Yuhan silently sipped her tea, glancing at Wan Qianshan and wondering to herself, "Is he interested?"
Why didn't Empress Jiang tell her about this? If the Bai family could enter the Imperial Merchants Bureau and deal with the court, wouldn't their cosmetics be able to enter the palace? In the years when my second uncle and aunt were doing business in Shengjing, they only made friends with some noblewomen. After all, the Bai family's business involved dealing with women.
But if the Empress also uses the Bai family's rouge and face powder, the Bai family will prosper; Empress Jiang is practically a living advertisement.
Bai Yuhan had always wanted to develop the Bai family's business, but she was too embarrassed to ask the Empress for help. She always felt that her little scheme would tarnish their already fragile friendship. Now that the Imperial Merchants Bureau was in place, she could openly recommend the Bai family's rouge to the palace.
At this moment, Bai Yuhan also had a thought in her mind: who can be the first person in charge of the establishment of the Imperial Merchants Bureau in Yuzhou?
Prefect Zhang said, "Of course, we can't just look at the official title."
He paused and continued, "The main purpose of the imperial court in establishing the Imperial Merchants Bureau is to open up trade routes in Yuzhou, directly connecting commerce from all directions. The support of the imperial court is only the first step. The second step depends on whether you all have the confidence to build this trade route. Yuzhou is the first demonstration point. In the future, all prefectures and counties of the Great Zhou will establish Imperial Merchants Bureaus. Those who take charge will not only be confined to Yuzhou, but will more likely go to Shengjing City to serve as officials."
Hearing this, everyone's breathing became rapid. "Your Excellency, is there really such a good thing? Not only can you make money, but you can also become an official."
“It’s an official proclamation issued by the imperial court; how could it be fake?” Zhang Qian said seriously.
He was initially worried, but he dared to do it because the Empress vouched for him. If this plan had not been proposed by the Empress, but by the Emperor himself, it would actually have been a good thing.
The crowd murmured among themselves, not only did they have official positions, but the privileges of being imperial merchants were something that all merchants dreamed of. Most importantly, they also had the right to manage a "golden" trade route.
What a wonderful thing...
Upstairs, Gongsun Ling was also shocked by Prefect Zhang's plan. "Your Majesty is not trying to sell official positions."
Jiang Fenghua said calmly, "The laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty stipulate that buying and selling official positions is illegal. As the Empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty, how can I lead the way in such a business that could cost me my life? However, the court has established the Imperial Merchants Bureau, and officials are selected from among the merchants. This is no longer a business transaction. Of course, who should be given the primary authority depends on how much grain everyone can donate."
"It will get cold soon as we enter the winter months. The weather in the Northwest has already started to get cold. Right now, what the front line needs most is not just food, but also medicine, cotton clothing, horses, etc... These should all be handled by the Imperial Merchants Bureau for procurement."
Gongsun Ling said, "If they make purchases legitimately under the name of the Imperial Merchants Bureau, then they will definitely need to pay money. Your Majesty knows that the national treasury is short of funds!"
Jiang Fenghua said, "Let's owe him for now! Go and bring Wan Qianshan up. I want to talk to him personally."
When Wan Qianshan met Jiang Fenghua, it was as he expected. He said indifferently, "I don't know whether I should call you Brother Ruan or Lord Ruan."
Jiang Fenghua smiled slightly and personally poured him tea. "Please sit down, Young Master Wan. It's just a form of address. In private, you can also call me Brother Ruan."
Wan Qianshan laughed and said, "Since my elder brother has already called you brother, why is Brother Ruan being so formal and calling me Young Master Wan? This is too distant!"
Jiang Fenghua was stunned for a moment, then said, "Brother Wan is a straightforward man, so I will acknowledge you as my elder brother."
Wan Qianshan knew that he was a government official. He was very interested in the Imperial Merchants Bureau that Prefect Zhang had mentioned and said, "Brother Ruan, I'm afraid you didn't call me here just to recognize me as your elder brother! The government's move to establish the Imperial Merchants Bureau is a bit strange."
He took a sip of tea and said, “Brother Ruan is a government official, and you are a merchant. We have a brotherly bond, but business is business, and merchants have a shameful habit of prioritizing profit.”
Jiang Fenghua appreciated his frankness. "I won't beat around the bush with you, Brother Wan. You must be very interested in the Imperial Merchants Bureau! Don't be so quick to deny it. I'll have someone invite you up here to talk about the Imperial Merchants Bureau privately. I know you are a man of high moral character and not just a profit-driven businessman."
Wan Qianshan was a little embarrassed by his praise. "I just want to know the court's true intentions. If there were no profit to be made, the court wouldn't have gone to such lengths to establish the Imperial Merchant Bureau in Yuzhou!"
The first thing business people think of is "profit".
Jiang Fenghua did not respond to his words. What he said was correct, but also wrong.
She said in a deep voice, "The purpose of the imperial court in establishing the Imperial Merchants Bureau may also be for the sake of this devastated Yuzhou City, so that the people of the world can have a stable place to live."
Wan Qianshan was stunned and didn't know how to reply. He couldn't say that it was none of their business, as that would make him seem too profit-driven.
Jiang Fenghua continued, "The imperial court is currently fighting against the Northern Xiao Kingdom in the Northwest and needs military supplies. If the Wan family is willing to help the Northwest this time, I will give you the qualification of the first director of the Imperial Merchants Bureau."
Wan Qianshan knew that a sudden visit was not a good thing.
He said, “I can’t make such a big decision on my own. My father’s consent is also needed. Brother Ruan, you should also understand our difficulties. The disaster in Yuzhou has also caused many families to suffer losses. If we really want to help, it will probably be just a drop in the ocean.”
In the long run, the authority to manage the Imperial Merchants Bureau is indeed very attractive, but the Wan family will not take such a risk.
"The Imperial Merchants Bureau is considered a fifth-rank official position in the court. You've gained both fame and fortune. I don't believe Brother Wan can't persuade your father." Merchants who have money will want power and status.
Wan Qianshan's breathing became rapid. "I...I need to go back and discuss this."
Jiang Fenghua smiled slightly and said, "That's alright. Brother Wan, you can go back and discuss it first. Next, I need to meet with the head of the Bai family. I've known Miss Bai for many years. You should know that, right?"
It means that opportunities don't wait for anyone.
Wan Qianshan said, "Didn't she say that Brother Ruan was her husband? How did they become friends?"
Jiang Fenghua said calmly, "She's just talking to herself. I didn't admit it. However, the court will definitely give Bai Yuhan a great credit for donating grain to Yuzhou for disaster relief. It's not impossible for a woman to run the Imperial Merchants Bureau. The Bai family should also be willing to exchange a fifth-rank official title for the honor of the Bai family!"
Wan Qianshan was getting restless; how could he let the Bai family beat him to it?