In fact, this group of businessmen originated in Henan since ancient times. Wang Hai, the first businessman in China, is a native of Shangqiu, Henan Province, and is known as the ancestor of Chinese businessmen.

It should be said that in ancient times, the ancestors of Chinese businessmen were concentrated in Henan, a historical and geographical unit. But at that time, they did not enjoy the glory of today's businessmen. Under the feudal order of intellectuals, peasants, workers and businessmen, businessmen were always the bottom of society.

These Chinese businessmen all enriched the business think tank of China in feudal times, such as patriotic businessman Gao Xian and Shang Sheng Fan Li, who were revered by later generations as people from Wanwan, Bai Gui and Luoyang, and had the reputation of "Shang Zu". Later, the whole country was divided into Kyushu and Henan was excluded from Yuzhou, only to know that there was Yuzhou.

Compared with the top ten business gangs in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Henan businessmen before the founding of New China were very conservative and did not form a business gang that affected the whole country. Henan became the main activity place of Shanxi merchants and Shaanxi merchants. In Henan, there are many Shanshan Guild Halls, among which Nanyang Sheqi is the best preserved. However, Huai Shang of Gu Huaiqing and Wu 'an merchants originally from Henan are the most famous in China. Huaishang mainly deals in Sihuai medicinal materials produced by Huaiqing Prefecture, forming a strict gang organization. During the prosperous period of Huaishang, it was known as "thirteen gangs, one large area, not as good as one store and Huaishang", and the existing Huaiqing Guild Hall in Yuzhou was the best preserved. Wu' an businessmen also started their business by doing medicinal materials. Businessmen in Wu 'an are called "medicine demons". They teamed up to sell medicinal materials in Guandong and completed the transformation from poor peasants to wealthy businessmen. However, these merchant groups are only part of the image of Henan businessmen. Due to the war and the change of transportation mode, the original drug dealers gradually lost their advantages, and Huai merchants and Wu' an merchants began to fall as a whole.