"What?? The court actually protected Xiao Rui and just reprimanded him? No demotion or dismissal? Just let him dominate Anle County?" Facing the news from his family, Cui Baiquan could no longer suppress his anger. He yelled hysterically at his brother Cui Bailing.
Cui Bailing calmly watched the clan brother finish venting, and finally patted him on the shoulder and sighed: "This is probably not because Xiao Rui is favored. He must have something to do when he goes to Anle. The emperor supports it. According to the news from his uncle , he only said that we should stay away for the time being and not to provoke Xiao Rui, but did not say the reason."
There are many people from the Cui family serving as officials in the court. No, it should be said that the five surnames and Qi Wang can directly control the government if they want. Just because Emperor Li Er came from a military background and the Li royal family now has a strong military force, the Five Surnames and Qi Wang didn't want to break up with each other if it was not necessary.
Cui Bailing understood that Anle County was a trivial matter. Whether Xiao Rui was a playboy or not, it didn't matter whether he was messing around or not. There was only one possibility for the top leaders of the clan to compromise, which was what agreement the emperor had reached with the clan.
Unfortunately, due to limited horizons, clan brother Cui Baiquan doesn't know.
In Cui Baiquan's heart, he always remembers the humiliation Xiao Rui gave him that day, waiting for his family's counterattack, and then watching Xiao Rui roll out of Anle County in despair, so that he can show off his power and regain his face. I didn’t expect that after waiting for more than a month, this would be the result.
With anger, Cui Baiquan rolled his sleeves and left the Qinghe tribe.
He is the president of the Anle County Chamber of Commerce. The Cui family in Qinghe used to be the big shopkeeper responsible for the Cui family's business in Anle. Now, luckily, the family has given up the territory of Anle, so he, the big shopkeeper, has nothing to do. I can only go home and study for leisure.
Brother Cui Bailing wanted him to go to other places to help, but he refused decisively because of his grievance.
Cui Baiquan is not the only one who feels dissatisfied? Many of the Cui family in Qinghe who deal in fur goods are confused and dissatisfied.
Not only the Cui family of Qinghe, but also the entire Five Surnames and Qiwang who came out of Anle City were unconvinced. Why were we suppressed? Even if Xiao Rui is lawless in Chang'an City, will he be like this when he leaves Chang'an City? Who among our five surnames and Qiwang have been afraid of? We don’t even give the emperor face, but now we are giving way to a baby?
This is not empty talk, Wu Xing Qi Wang is indeed arrogant, and even the entire world recognizes his status. Many people in the world regard marrying a girl with the fifth surname as the first honor, which is more worthy of bragging than winning the first prize in the imperial examination.
The emperor arranged a marriage for Crown Prince Li Chengqian. He once wanted to arrange a marriage for a girl with the fifth surname, but who could have imagined that she was rejected outright and that the position of crown princess was looked down upon? For this reason, Emperor Lao Li complained a lot.
The powerful status of the gentry is not a good thing for national governance. Therefore, throughout the Tang Dynasty, many of the internal efforts made by the kings were actually to suppress these powerful gentry.
Historical records indicate that in the sixth year of Zhenguan, Emperor Li Er ordered his subordinates to compile the Chronicle of the Gentlemen to rank the gentry in the world. The Cui family was deliberately ranked at the back and ranked lower in the gentry annals. Why? It's not just to suppress other people's influence. As for how useful this booklet was at that time?
Haha, it sounds quite sinister. Li Er’s view is: No matter what the nobles think, as long as the people are willing to believe it.
Back to the topic.
Cui Baiquan was unwilling to admit defeat, so he quietly contacted a group of colleagues from the Anle Chamber of Commerce and turned north to return to Anle.
Since the family doesn't support us, we have to rely on our own methods to get back on our feet. He, Xiao Rui, is a playboy. How many days has it been since he came to Anle? Can you compare with those of us who have been in Anle for more than ten years? Whether it's connections or business methods, nothing like you, Xiao Rui, can compete with.
A few days later, Xiao Rui was meeting with the clan leader of Shiwei in the governor's mansion, and his subordinates came to report that something had happened outside the city.
"What's going on? Are you in a panic? Outside the city? Are the Turkic cavalry coming to attack the grass valley? Just report to General Su to send troops." Xiao Rui scolded with a frown.
The clan leader of Shiwei next to him saw Xiao Rui being so tough and admired him in his heart. He was worthy of being a noble from Chang'an City of the Tang Dynasty. The Turkic cavalry didn't even look down on him and they would fight whenever he wanted. It was awesome! We must make good friends with this person and must not offend him. He is not even afraid of Turks. How many people do we have in Shiwei? Can't afford to offend.
"Chang Shi, it's not the Turks who are attacking. It's someone outside the city who challenged us. The group of people from the Anle Chamber of Commerce actually set up a stall outside and sent people to intercept our merchants. Many big merchants who came over were killed by them. Kidnapped, the goods were purchased before they entered the city.”
Xiao Rui raised his eyebrows, "Hey, didn't you say you want the court to look good on me? Why doesn't the court care? So they want to fight with me? Tell General Su that I have negotiated a deal with the Shiwei clan leader, and then Let's go out of the city with General Su. Don't disturb the people outside the city yet."
"Got the order!"
Looking back, Xiao Rui continued to discuss patiently with Patriarch Shi Wei.
Chief Shiwei heard that Anle County Governor was buying bison on a large scale and was jealous of the Khitan clan's income, so he rushed to make some money. But the Khitan wanted to win this kind of business. After all, Xiao Rui's beef restaurants were limited. There was only one restaurant in every city in the Tang Dynasty, and there were countless cows that could be eaten every day.
If Shi Wei or others are allowed to participate, wouldn't it mean that our Khitan share will be taken away?
Shi Wei didn't want to offend the Khitan clan, so he could only quietly come to inquire with Xiao Rui.
Will Xiao Rui refuse? Of course not. The Khitan believed that these were beef cattle, but Xiao Rui knew that these were pure cattle for farming in the future. Once the iron ring was pierced through the nose of the cattle, the more the better. Therefore, Xiao Rui fully agreed to the secret transaction mentioned by Shiwei, and even very "interestingly" offered to offer it at the same purchase price as Khitan, and he would never treat his partners badly.
Chief Shiwei was so excited that he almost knelt down and kowtow to Xiao Rui. Satisfied, he quietly left the city and went back to arrange for the cattle capture. I thought to myself that next time I see the Khitan patriarch, I won't be dazzled by the jewels he is wearing. After I sold the cow, the first thing I did was to buy a suit accordingly.
Outside the city, Su Lie led a team of people and accompanied Xiao Rui out of the city to investigate.
The people from the Anle Chamber of Commerce quickly stood in a row to block it, and Cui Baiquan shouted with a fierce look: "Xiao Rui, what do you want to do? Dare you attack us?"
Xiao Rui waved his hand: "Don't be excited, why is this? We are just here to take a look. There is a market outside the city. We are just curious to come out and have a look. President Cui, we can't control you setting up a stall outside the city, but you shouldn't Intercept my merchants one by one."
Cui Baiquan snorted coldly: "Huh, your merchants? The merchants are all foreigners. When did it become yours, Xiao Rui's? Before you came, these were all old customers of our Anle Chamber of Commerce. Now they are willing to sell their goods Is there anything wrong with selling it to us?”
Xiao Rui turned around and saw the price sign next to him, and suddenly realized: "No wonder, your purchase price is not the original price, it has been raised so much. Is it intentional? It is exactly 10% higher than ours? Are you trying to follow me? A price war?”
Cui Baiquan said proudly: "How to set the price is our business. If you and General Su have nothing else to do, just look elsewhere. We have to continue doing business."
Seeing that proud expression, Su Lie and others really wanted to go up and smash this gang's stall.
Xiao Rui didn't care, he walked around casually, then turned around and returned to the city.
"Chang Shi, are we just going to put up with this? Without the fur business, we can only rely on the proceeds from the restaurant to buy bison..." Su Lie asked in confusion.
