Wang Zhenyu had just arrived in Hongjiang, and didn't even have a servant to order around, so it was natural that there wouldn't be any polite offers of tea from underlings to entertain these merchants. Everyone also didn't bother with these superficialities, standing respectfully on both sides. Even if Wang Zhenyu were an idiot, he would understand that this group of old veterans were standing here not to admire his good looks, but to see what attitude he would take towards them!

  Wang Zhenyu knew he was young, and at this time, he must not fall behind. Why did Jiao Dafeng die in Changsha? It was because he was too young, so young that he lacked confidence, asking about everything, and as a result, he was suppressed by the gentry officials of the Advisory Council, with one person telling him what to do for his own good on this side, and another person telling him what to think on that side. In the end, he became like a puppet, played until he didn't even have the power to protect himself.

  Wang Zhenyu also clearly understood what this group of people meant to him. If he could control them, they would be a help and source of wealth for his future development. If he couldn't control them, he would be counterattacked by this group of people. If that was the case, it would be better to eliminate them while his army was still here.

  So Wang Zhenyu decided to take the initiative, he had to overwhelm them with his momentum, making it clear that they could feel his overbearing aura (what does this thing look like?)

  "Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed elders and fellow villagers, bosses, Wang is delighted to meet you all here. This Hongjiang is a shining pearl of Hunan, and you, the bosses, are the backbone of Hongjiang's prosperity, which Wang knows very well." After coughing twice, he continued in an official tone: "Wang also hopes that your businesses will flourish together with Hongjiang's prosperity, but without rules, there can be no harmony. Today, Wang has invited everyone here to establish some rules."

  Here it comes, here it comes! All the big merchants know that the main event is about to begin. Will they be making a payment, donation or contribution? How much will it be?

  Wang Zhenyu stood up, first smiling and nodding at the heads of the four major families, then continued: "Scholars, farmers, workers, and merchants, with merchants being the last. This is a tradition that has been passed down for thousands of years. Wang is not capable, wanting to change this tradition still doesn't have the power, but in Hongjiang, Wang wants to make some changes, wants to change this rule. For the long-term development and prosperity of Hongjiang, merchants cannot be at the bottom. This is not just empty talk, Wang has already started implementing it in Jingzhou, so Hongjiang will also do the same in the future. Therefore, the prosperity and flourishing of the place will depend on everyone's efforts with Wang."

  This is the Republic, if placed in the Qing dynasty, Wang Zhenyu's words would be considered destructive to etiquette and morals, a heinous crime, and the emperor would personally bestow on him a plaque with the title of "Renowned Educated Criminal".

  Even now, saying this has caused a stir, and the merchants are staring at the young man in his early twenties with their eyes wide open. They still don't know what kind of person the new master of Hongjiang is, but they vaguely feel a sense of freshness and change, and some people who know about the political reform of Jingzhou even have a hint of expectation.

  "Wang Mou has made some decisions and will inform everyone today." Wang Zhenyu walked with his hands behind his back in the main hall.

  "The first item is shipping. Mr. Wang plans to clear the entire You River waterway within a year and establish the You River Steamship Company, purchasing a large number of coal-fired cargo ships to specialize in cargo transportation on the You River. All of you can invest in it. This will at least double the output of goods for all of your companies."

  Each merchant's eyes lit up at once, the entire Yuanjiang River was full of hidden reefs, often resulting in shipwrecks and loss of life and property. Merchants feared this kind of risk the most.

  "Article 2: All roads under Wang's jurisdiction in various counties must be rebuilt and paved with bluestone slabs. Ten commercial towns will be established at equal intervals along the roads of each county, where troops will be stationed to guard the roads. The right to govern these towns will be handed over to the local chamber of commerce, and only one-tenth of the tax revenue will be collected. To maintain safety, each town should also allocate half of its income to the villages under its jurisdiction, in order to prevent robbery by impoverished villagers."

  "Article 3 is the reform of the zhèngfǔ, each county will set up a county council. My opinion is that the members should be the village heads, clan heads and local well-known merchants and gentry from each village. The county magistrate will no longer be appointed by me, but directly elected by the council. For all major and minor matters in the county, the county magistrate and various departments under the zhèngfǔ only have the right to propose and execute, while the decision-making power belongs to the council."

  "Article 4, regarding business operations, is about trade. From today onwards, the Hongtong Oil and Opium will undergo reforms. The Zhang, Zhu, and Liang families will take the lead in establishing the Hongtong Oil Trading Company, with all major oil companies merging into it. This company will be responsible for controlling the output and price of Hongtong Oil, ensuring fairness, with each family's share being equal, totaling 60%. Excess transactions must be reported to the company and subject to heavy taxes.

  Opium will be banned in the territory within three years, starting immediately, and a anti-opium campaign will be launched. Military personnel and government officials are strictly prohibited from smoking opium, and those found doing so will be dismissed from their posts. Local fields are not allowed to cultivate opium, and those found doing so will be shot.

  At the same time, an Anti-Opium Bureau will be established, taxing opium passing through the territory at a standard rate of 200 yuan per dan. As for the head of this bureau, I think Mr. Liu Qishan should take on this role.

  Other industries remain unchanged, while the timber industry will establish a Forestry Bureau, with Mr. Chen Hongji as its head, responsible for regulating logging and strictly prohibiting excessive felling. Let's discuss the details later at tonight's dinner party."

  Liu Qishan's face turned yellow when he heard the first half of the fourth item, and Wang Zhenyu actually excluded him from the tung oil business. What can be done about this? Before he could figure it out, he heard that Wang Zhenyu had appointed himself as the director of the Opium Suppression Bureau, and Liu, an old hand, immediately understood that this was a lucrative position, equivalent to indirectly controlling the entire Xiangxi opium trade under his family's control. He rubbed his hands excitedly.

  "Article 5, Hongjiang established a prefecture, under which are set up Fenghuang, Mayang, Luyang, Qiancheng, Anjiang, Chenzhou, Yuanzhou, Xinhua, Yongxi, Baojing, Guzhang and Longshan, twelve counties. In addition, three large docks will be built at the confluence of the Yuan River and Wu River, and a port management bureau will be established to manage them uniformly. The first dock is located in Furong Building, named Qianzhen, where all goods transported by Chen Water, Tong Water and Wu Water are collected; the second dock is located in Hongjiang Town's existing dock, where goods transported by Yuan River are collected; the third dock is located in Anjiang Town, where I will live in the future, so as not to affect the governance of Hongjiang Prefecture. By the way, after tonight's banquet, six bosses Xu Dongfu, Liu Songxiu, Chen Kunshan, Yang Zhuqiu, Zhou Zhijun and Yang Jingsheng will also stay behind, have some tea, and don't rush off."

  Anjiang was chosen as a result of a conversation last night, Ye Zuowen told his son-in-law based on his years of experience that Anjiang is a place that can be used as a foundation. This place is easy to defend and difficult to attack militarily, politically located in the central part of Xiangxi, economically adjacent to Yuanjiang River, with convenient water transportation, it's simply a natural base. Wang Zhenyu hadn't seen the actual location, but after hearing this, he basically agreed.

  The five orders issued by Wang Zhenyu, the new official, shocked the big and small merchants of Hongjiang Merchant Group, and they could not digest so much information for a while. On the one hand, they were surprised at the new king's familiarity with the Hongjiang area; on the other hand, they sensed different flavors from these five orders.

  After dinner, everyone hastily bid farewell to Wang Zhenyu, and it was clear that they were going back to discuss and make decisions with others.

  However, no matter how much discussion there is, no one will have any objections to Wang Zhenyu's five orders. Now even fools know that the new five articles will bring huge benefits to everyone's business. To mention just one thing, the smooth traffic alone will make it clear what benefits everyone can get. As for the political status of members of parliament, this was unthinkable in the previous dynasty! What everyone is really worried about is how much benefit they can get from this great change, and who can keep up with the trend to continue developing.

  Xiangxi Development Company caused a sensation in Hongjiang like a thunderclap on a clear day.

  After the dinner, Liu Qishan was the first to enter Wang Zhenyu's study room. Wang Zhenyu and He Jian were already waiting for him there. On the other side, Ye Zuwen was accompanying Zhu Zhida, Liang Xiangfan, Zhang Jingkun, and the six people that Wang Zhenyu had specifically mentioned earlier in the adjacent main hall drinking tea. Everyone listened attentively as Ye Zuwen's son, Ye Guoxuan, explained what the so-called Xiangxi Development Company was all about. Almost everyone listened very seriously and carefully.

  For Xiangxi Development Company, Liu Qishan still didn't have a clear concept, but he knew that he was now on a path to take off. If Wang Zhenyu really handed over the opium business in Hongjiang to him, the future prospects and status of the Liu family would be unimaginable. Thinking of this, Liu Qishan's legs even trembled with excitement, looking at the bookcase window lit by the oil lamp, he took a deep breath and stepped forward.

  Wang Zhenyu changed his earlier domineering attitude and stood up with great warmth to welcome Liu Qishan's arrival, asking him to take a seat.

  After Wang Hu brought up the tea, he cautiously retreated outside the study room to keep watch.

  Wang Zhenyu chatted casually with Liu Qishan about family matters, while He Jian sat on the side and listened silently with a smile.

  Actually, He Jian didn't know why Wang Zhenyu wanted him to sit here. Was it because he had dealings with Liu Qishan? As for this superior who was younger than himself, He Jian felt that he couldn't see through him, couldn't figure him out, and even felt a little intimidated. But none of this mattered, as he would soon find out why he had been summoned here.

  "Director Liu, please sit down!" This voice made Liu Qishan feel that his whole life was different. In the past, there were people who called him "Liu Boss", and some who called him "Mr. Liu", but Director, this is an official title! Moreover, it's the director of the Tobacco Monopoly Bureau, a real and substantial position with a fat salary. He felt secretly pleased, and his gratitude to Wang Zhenyu for promoting him was beyond words.

  "In front of the commander, where is there a place for subordinates to sit?" Liu Qishan actually replied with a tone, which made He Jian's eyes almost fall to the ground after seeing his arrogance.

  Wang Zhenyu stood up, grasped Liu Qishan's hand and pressed it onto the seat before sitting down himself. "What belongs to subordinates or not, in the future, the great cause of Xiangxi's development will still require the joint efforts of Director Liu and other colleagues. Please come over, mainly I want to make a statement about the smoking ban, so that you can do it more clearly and easily."

  Liu Qishan hastily stood up and bowed, saying: "Whatever Commander Wang orders, Liu will do his utmost to carry out, and will not hesitate to risk his life."

  Liu Qishan's sensible appearance made Wang Zhenyu very satisfied. He said in a low voice, "That's right, my idea is that from now on, Lieutenant Colonel He Jian will serve as the deputy director of the Tobacco Prohibition Bureau, but he won't interfere with specific bureau affairs. The establishment of the Tobacco Prohibition Corps will be arranged by someone I appoint, but command and dispatch will still be the responsibility of Director Liu. In addition, there's the issue of tobacco tax every year. My intention is that 70% of annual tax revenue will be submitted to the Ministry of Finance (Command Center), 10% will be allocated for use by the Tobacco Prohibition Bureau, and 20% will be used by Deputy Director He. Director Liu, do you have any supplementary opinions on this plan?"

  Liu Qishan's eyes spun around in his eye sockets, and he quickly calculated the account. At a minimum of 10 million yuan per year, he could get at least 1 million yuan for himself. Moreover, as the director of this bureau, all kinds of expenses such as "reporting to superiors" and "entertainment" would be exempted. If transportation really improved as Commander Wang said, his business scale could be even larger, and profits could be higher.

  He immediately knelt down, ready to kowtow and thank him, but Lei De Wang Zhenyu hurriedly helped these old rivers and lakes up: "This is not the way now. It's not the Qing dynasty anymore, you're not a slave, you're the head of the Smoking Prohibition Bureau now, this etiquette should keep up with the times, it needs to be changed."

  Liu Qi Shan smiled awkwardly and thanked him repeatedly. But the most excited person was not him, but He Jian who sat beside him.