Chapter 328 Using Merchants to Deal with Wei Shuyu
These three days.
Li Ke lived in the palace and served Li Shimin and his mother.
As a prince, he was very concerned about his reputation.
If he spends all his time outside the palace with Chen Shuozhen, what's the point of coming back?
He would be impeached by his ministers and would be disliked by Li Shimin.
It wasn't until three days later that he had a chance to leave the palace.
"These past few days..."
Li Ke hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
Chen Shuozhen said she wanted to deal with Wei Shuyu, but three days have passed and the other side hasn't made any move.
"Your Highness, there are too many people and too much chatter here."
Chen Shuozhen kept everyone in suspense for a moment, then pointed to Cuiyunju and said, "Zhen'er thinks this restaurant is quite nice. Why don't you join me for a few drinks, Your Highness?"
"good."
Li Ke nodded, and then the two entered Cuiyun Residence.
After the food and wine were served, Li Ke ordered that no one was allowed to enter the private room.
"Your Highness, please have a drink first..."
Chen Shuozhen poured Li Ke a glass of wine before slowly speaking...
"A pro-commerce policy has many loopholes."
“In the past, people were afraid of the imperial court and the Wei family, so they dared not say anything.”
"But just by opening a crack, we can remove Wei Shuyu from his position as a physician."
"His Highness will step in and turn the tide."
"The Ministry of Commerce is yours for the taking..."
Li Ke did not disturb him, but instead drank the wine in one gulp.
It means...
Keep pouring the wine, keep talking!
Seeing this, Chen Shuozhen filled Li Ke's cup again.
"The first hurdle that brought Wei Shuyu down was... merchants!"
Hu County.
Wei Shuyu sat idly in the county government office, utterly bored.
My youngest son was born.
The eldest son is unimportant!
The day after his son was born, Wei Shuyu was sent to Hu County by his father, Lao Wei, to take up his post.
at this time.
Wei Shuyu was watching Magistrate Wang adjudicate a case.
Don't be fooled by Wang Gui's blatant flattery in front of Li Shimin.
But when it comes to handling cases, they are extremely domineering and authoritative!
"Guards, take this flower thief to jail and exile him to the frontier soon."
With a slam of the gavel, Wang Gui delivered his domineering verdict.
The onlookers at the entrance clapped and cheered.
"You are a just and upright official."
"Magistrate Wang is truly a rare and excellent official."
"Not only that, Magistrate Wang is honest and upright, a truly incorruptible official."
Wang Gui remained stern and did not succumb to the flattery of the common people.
Your Majesty, wait for me!
Your subject will certainly live up to your expectations...
I strive to reach the fifth rank as soon as possible and work with you!
"Court adjourned."
The gavel slammed down.
Just as Wang Gui was about to leave gracefully, a commotion arose at the entrance of the yamen.
A group of merchants rushed in together.
"Dare to cause trouble in the yamen?"
Wang Gui's brow furrowed: "Men, drag them away and give them forty strokes of the cane!"
"Magistrate Wang, please forgive me."
The leader of the merchants suddenly stepped forward: "We are not here to report a crime, but to see Doctor Wei."
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Wang immediately deflated.
The authority that had been painstakingly established suddenly felt somewhat underwhelming.
snort.
With a flick of his sleeve, Wang Gui strode away.
After leaving everyone's sight, he secretly lay down to eavesdrop.
"What is it?"
Wei Shuyu stepped forward and asked.
"Dr. Wei, something terrible has happened."
The leading merchant said anxiously, "Some merchants have rebelled..."
Um?
A ruthless glint flashed in Wei Shuyu's eyes.
"Tell me..."
As the other party recounted the events, Wei Shuyu gradually understood what had happened.
Policies that favor commerce may seem to be aimed at benefiting merchants.
However, every policy change inevitably affects the interests of some people!
Merchants too!
at first……
The wealthy merchants paid no attention.
First, Hu County is just a small county town destroyed by an earthquake.
Second, Wei Shuyu was just a little kid.
Those truly powerful merchants didn't take this matter to heart at all.
But with the establishment of the Ministry of Commerce!
After a large group of officials entered Hu County...
They knew that the imperial court was serious!
Merchants traveling between markets rely on routes, goods, relationships, and connections.
These are resources that their ancestors have painstakingly accumulated over generations.
However, with the establishment of the Ministry of Commerce, these resources gradually became shared.
Their interests will naturally be impacted.
Moreover, as the number of merchants increases, large merchants will be unable to achieve a monopoly... and may even start to lower prices and engage in price wars!
Therefore, merchants are now divided into two camps.
First, merchants who supported pro-commerce policies.
Second, the super-merchants who opposed commerce.
Where are they now?
Wei Shuyu lowered his voice and asked.
"They stood guard at the gate of Huxian County, preventing merchants from entering or leaving."
The merchant wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Walk!"
Wei Shuyu led the way.
Wang Gui looked...
Another opportunity to speak up for the people has arrived; we must seize it!
But this matter is related to Xiao Wei...
Hmm, never mind.
Working with Xiao Wei is too much for my heart.
Wang Gui walked away with his hands behind his back.
But after only a few steps, a county constable caught up with them...
"Magistrate Wang, Physician Wei wants you to go to the city gate together."
"..."
Go to hell.
You still remember me at a time like this?
Should I be happy, or should I be happy? Or should I be happy?
At the city gate.
Wei Shuyu arrived with a cold expression.
As far as the eye could see, a number of vendors had gathered together and were causing trouble.
Some merchants even started fighting each other.
Time is money.
The journey from one place to another is always meticulously calculated.
If they don't arrive before dark, they may have to spend the night in the wild.
There were no streetlights or concrete roads at that time.
If you're traveling in the dark and the goods fall into a ditch or river, you'll suffer a huge loss.
"Make way, everyone! Doctor Wei is here!"
As Wei Shuyu arrived, everyone instinctively made way for him.
Outside the city.
Many luxurious carriages lined up side by side.
Several merchants stood on the carriage, watching this scene with mocking expressions.
"Oh? You finally decided to come out?"
A middle-aged man dressed in fine clothes was fiddling with a thumb ring.
"you do not say……"
An old man, his face ruddy, twirled a walnut in his hand: "Letting such a little brat watch over us, isn't that a joke?"
"I feel like I could kill him with one punch!"
A burly man carrying a machete took a big bite out of an apple.
These men were wealthy merchants from the prefectures and counties near Chang'an.
Without exception, they all had a resounding reputation in their own territories...
The richest man!
Just then, a languid woman suddenly spoke...
"Gentlemen, who will go and meet him?"
In an instant, all was silent!
The group, who had been full of confidence, suddenly deflated.
You can doubt the Wei family's talent, martial prowess, and wealth...
But we must never question their ability to criticize!
Damn it...
Despite pressure from both civil and military officials, they were able to forcefully pass bills that favored commerce.
Is that mouth that an ordinary person could withstand?
"Giggle..."
The languid woman couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh: "You all brag so much, but you chicken out when you actually face a problem?"
"If you're so good, then you do it!"
The burly man with the knife couldn't help but provoke him.
"I can't do that. These kinds of playful squabbles are for you men to handle," the woman said, her eyes filled with seductive allure.
"Slut!"
The burly man spat out the apple peel and cursed disdainfully.
"Say that again!"
The languid woman's face suddenly turned cold, and she glared at the other person.
"What? You want to hit me?"
The burly man laughed wildly: "You might be able to beat me in bed, but don't even dream about anything else... Haha!"
"Stop arguing!"
Just then, another young man in his twenties appeared.
Zhang Shuyin.
Chen Shuozhen's relative.
"By order of Miss, who can ruin Wei Shuyu's reputation?"
"From now on, he can choose any business he wants in Hu County!"
Upon hearing this, the others immediately fell silent.
They opposed pro-merchant policies!
But if you can gain a good reputation without affecting your ability to make money, who wouldn't love that?
"Alright."
A burly man stepped forward, sword in hand…
"You're all such cowards, I really don't know how you make any money!"
"I'll clear the way for you first!"
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