The last group to make an appearance was the Cantonese merchants, with the Thirteen Trading Houses as the most representative group. Once commanding great influence, they have now been reduced to mere buyers.
The original status of the Thirteen Trading Houses was similar to that of the Jin Shang, relying on their monopoly rights to grow strong and contribute substantial tax revenue to the Qing court.
The arrival of foreigners directly shattered the monopolistic positions of the Cantonese and Jin merchants—the former defeated by British and French Capital, and the latter by Tsarist Russian Capital.
Simply put, the modern Eastern Market was divided among Western capitals, resulting in the later "Perspective Map" of the era.
Zhu Wencong wanted desperately to change history, yet individual power ultimately falls short of altering the grand tides of the world.
