Chapter 40: Business Corporation

  The soldier continued to read: "In accordance with the spirit of being responsible to the public and to the empire, the Governor's Office of Xiniya has decided to issue Order No. 73: From today on, the Xiniya Commercial Corporation will be established. Anyone who has not undergone examination is strictly prohibited from engaging in any business activities in Xiniya from now on. Those who violate this order will have their entire property confiscated and be sentenced to one hundred years of hard labor."

  The merchants all looked down and, regardless of etiquette, they whispered to each other in hushed tones.

  A merchant could not help but stand up and asked loudly: "Lord Ye, I don't know what this business corporation is used for?"

  Ye Feng let out a yawn, rubbing his sore lower back - no choice, after Aphrodite brought the first batch of gold coins, he spread them all over the bed and happily lay on top. He just didn't think that would be physically demanding too, really too tired.

  He coughed, stood up, and pressed his hands together twice. Seeing the businessmen below quiet down, he said: "This business corporation is like this: I see that when you're all doing business, you often encounter such situations where you clearly see some goods can make a profit, especially big profits, but because of lack of funds, you can't buy them and just have to sigh in regret."

  He said with a look of regret for everyone, shaking his head repeatedly, "And when the money is finally gathered, the goods have been bought by others. You can only buy some not-so-profitable things back, and as a result, you may still lose money when you get back."

  The businessmen listened and thought of their own experiences, nodding in agreement one after another.

  Ye Feng smiled secretly in his heart, and suddenly changed the subject, saying: "So after becoming this company, everyone doesn't have to worry about money problems anymore. If there's no money, you can borrow from the company."

  The businessmen suddenly realized and thought: It turned out to be just a usurer.

  Ye Feng saw the expressions on their faces, slapped the table and said with a heavy heart: "If you think it's a usury, then you're absolutely wrong. We were established solely for the convenience of everyone, and the interest will never exceed half of what is currently available in the market. Even after becoming our member, it will be reduced again."

  With a loud bang, like a bomb thrown into the crowd. These businessmen have all gone through the hardships of usury and know the importance of what Ye Feng said. Not to mention half, even two-thirds would be enough for these businessmen to burn incense and worship.

  The merchant thought for a moment and said cautiously: "Is it that from now on, everyone can only borrow money in this commercial joint-stock company?"

  The scene fell silent immediately, quietly listening to Ye Feng's response.

  Ye Feng smiled and said, "Of course."

  The crowd was in an uproar again.

  The merchant sneered and said: "If we say so, won't you have no way to deal with it when you raise the interest rate later?"

  Ye Feng let out a long sigh, his hands clasped behind his back as he gazed upwards, seemingly piercing through the roof to look at the blue sky. With an air of noble elegance, like a snow lotus on a snowy mountain, he spoke in a desolate tone: "Why is it so difficult to do something for the country and its people? I wonder how you would like to be addressed?"

  The merchant bowed and said: "I am Morse, just a humble and insignificant small businessman."

  Ye Feng stared into his eyes and said: "The interest rate of a commercial company is determined jointly by the major shareholders."

  "Shareholders?" Mo Er asked calmly.

  Ye Feng nodded and said, "Yes, shareholders. To be clear, the company was not established solely by the Governor of Xiniya's household. It only holds 51% of the shares. And it will also take out 100,000 gold coins, while the remaining 49% of the shares can be jointly undertaken by everyone present. Of course, this is based on the principle of voluntary participation and will not be forced."

  Afro, who was sitting in the back and listening, suddenly felt dizzy and almost fainted. This guy had given advance notice, but hadn't explained it in detail, and she really hadn't expected him to be so bold as to wipe out two-thirds of his own money at once.

  Everyone present couldn't help but take a cold breath. He thought to himself: This Lord Long is indeed famous for nothing, one mouthful and he's already swallowed 100,000 gold coins. However, in his heart, he felt somewhat relieved. If this company really could let merchants participate in the discussion, then as far as interest rates go, it would be guaranteed, absolutely not excessive.

  Ye Feng's sharp eyes scanned the faces of the crowd, as if seeing through their inner thoughts. He continued, "This money is not going into my pocket, but rather as company funds, managed by the Governor's Office of Xiniya. In return, shareholders who invested will have priority rights in the auction for trade monopolies."

  The crowd was in an uproar once again, with many people deeply moved.

  Monopoly on trade! What a huge piece of fat. To know that Sienia is so important, enough to radiate half of the Norman Empire, with hundreds of ships entering and leaving the port every day, the cargo throughput is the largest in the empire, even in the Di'an Sea, it is also one of the largest cities.

  The profit in this is simply like flowing gold and silver rivers. As long as you can monopolize one of the businesses, no matter how insignificant it is, you won't have to do anything for ten generations, and you'll be eating and drinking without end.

  Ye Feng saw everyone's noisy appearance, clapped his hands and said loudly: "Quiet down, everyone quiet down. I think you may want to discuss it. Let's take a temporary recess. We'll continue the discussion this afternoon."

  He then led Oola offstage.

  Before he could even get off the stage, the businessmen had already swarmed around him like flies, their faces plastered with fawning smiles, looking at Ye Feng as if they were seeing their own father.

  Ye Feng and Oola didn't stop at all, directly pushing through the crowd and walking out. The merchants wanted to chase after them but were blocked by the guards.

  After leaving the hall, Oola asked Ye Feng: "Is it okay to just post a notice and say nothing?"

  Ye Feng smiled and said to Oola, "There are still too few people here today, and there aren't many heavyweight figures. They won't be of much help to my plan. I'll spread the news through them first, and naturally, some fat sheep will come looking for us. There's a proverb in my hometown - clever people use straight hooks when fishing."

  "Hook up?" Oola asked in confusion: "What does this sentence mean?"

  "Naturally, there will be fish willing to bite the hook, and they'll be big ones too." Ye Feng said mysteriously.

  "What about this afternoon? Are we coming here to wait for the big fish you mentioned?" Oola asked.

  "No, we'll dry them for two days, and then the fish will jump into the basket by themselves."

  Oola still didn't understand, but he gave up trying to figure it out. Yefeng's actions wouldn't make sense until you saw the results.

  In the afternoon, when the merchants were anxiously waiting in the hall, Ye Feng only sent a guard to tell them: The young duke and Lord Ye have something to attend to, everyone please come early tomorrow.

  The businessmen suddenly became noisy, but some clever people nodded as if they had understood something.

  That night, the Duke's mansion suddenly became lively. Many dark shadows were lurking outside the Duke's mansion, and from time to time, someone would go to knock on the door. What was strange to the doorman was that all those who came to visit today were carrying large and small packages, seeking an audience with Lord Ye Feng.

  The maid also made a strange discovery that night, Ye Feng and Oola were secretly closing the door to count. Oola, who didn't like math and couldn't even do addition, was actually doing division, and very accurately too. In the end, she even heard the young duke roar: We agreed to split it in half! I'm going to tell my sister and Diana.

  The next day, the merchants were still anxiously waiting in the hall, but it wasn't until the sun was high that Ye Feng and Oola arrived leisurely.

  Everyone saw Ye Feng and was about to rush over, but Ye Feng waved his hand at them and said, "The weather is nice today, suitable for fishing."

  Ola is massaging her wrist, she was too tired from working overtime last night.

  He smiled and nodded repeatedly, saying: "Yes, yes."

  Before anyone could speak, Ye Feng and Oola turned back leisurely once again, leaving everyone stunned on the spot.

  Ou La said in a low voice to Ye Feng, "Alright, I'll take half of the collection tonight. If not, I'll expose this and we'll both end up with nothing."

  Ye Feng furrowed his brow and said: "You really are not harmonious at all."

  Ouyang smiled and said, "This is all thanks to your teaching."

  "This is indeed teaching disciples and starving the master to death!!!"

  The next day, the hall was packed with even more people than the previous two days, and some heavyweight figures took to the stage. They sat in their respective chairs, surrounded by their entourage of younger men. As a result, many others had to stand. Even someone like Morse only managed to grab a stool and sit in a corner against the wall.

  Some small businessmen who arrived on the first day were filled with regret, if only they had settled things at that time. As a result, they ended up in this situation where they could barely get a sip of soup from the bowls of these wealthy merchants. Even so, they still didn't want to leave, foolishly thinking they could get a share of the profits.

  Everyone was whispering to each other, the hall was buzzing with noise, and the air was becoming increasingly stifling. Even those wealthy merchants were getting anxious, unconsciously pulling out their handkerchiefs to wipe away the fine sweat that had broken out on their foreheads.

  In the midst of everyone's anxious waiting, Ye Feng finally arrived, and this time he also brought Afu Luo along. Afu Luo wore a veil to cover her face, dressed in a large long gown that completely concealed herself inside.

  Before Ye Feng could finish saying "the weather is nice today", the crowd pulled and pushed him and his group into the venue.

  Ye Feng and Oola, Aphrodite sat down on the stage, the crowd below began to shout loudly. "Sir, hurry up, let's get started."

  Ye Feng stood up and waved his hand, and immediately below became quiet.

  "Regarding the business company, I don't know how you all discussed it these past two days. Now, let me first tell everyone about the rules so that no one regrets it later." He said slowly and calmly with his hands behind his back as he paced on the stage, "Firstly, after investing, you can enjoy annual dividends. Secondly, you can enjoy Xiniya's tax benefits. Thirdly, in each year's trade monopoly auction, you can automatically obtain priority rights, that is to say if two people bid the same price, then the company shareholder will win the bid."

  Someone from below shouted: "Sir, I heard that Xiniya's finances have always been poor. You're not cheating us out of our money, are you?"