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While Zhao Junchen was discussing with his staff, spies from the major factions in the DPRK and China also informed their respective backers of the detailed information about Zhao Junchen's banquet with Hui and Zhejiang businessmen.
In the Zhou Mansion, after hearing Shi Kesong's report, Zhou Shangjing's old face was full of admiration, and he said slowly: "This Zhao Junchen is really very scheming, good at means, and very ambitious. Although he doesn't know Zhao Junchen yet, All of Junchen's plans can only be understood at a glance. After the United Shipping Company is established, Zhao Junchen's power and influence will soar and become difficult to control. As for Shen Changmao, he will probably be unlucky..."
After hearing Zhou Shangjing's sigh, Shi Kesong said hesitantly: "So, Mr. Zhou Ge, do you think we are going to secretly sabotage Zhao Junchen's plan? If Zhao Junchen is allowed to run too fast, it may be a threat in the future. "
Unlike Xu Changde under Shen Changmao, Shi Kesong was more loyal to Zhou Shangjing. Although the joint shipping company was indeed an opportunity for him, for the sake of Zhou Shangjing's overall situation, Shi Kesong was still willing to reluctantly give up this opportunity! But he is not as wavering as Xu Changde.
However, Zhou Shangjing shook his head slightly and said calmly: "The situation in the temple has not changed significantly for a long time, but it is also very boring. Since Zhao Junchen is willing to break the dull situation, let him just let it go... continue Come down, you don’t have to make trouble secretly, just follow Zhao Junchen’s plan. For the time being, this will only have benefits and no harm..."
After hearing Zhou Shangjing's instructions, Shi Kesong secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that Zhou Shangjing's attitude was more beneficial to him.
At the same time, Shi Kesong saw that Zhou Shangjing was sitting back and watching Zhao Junchen's continuous growth. He was completely unable to guess Zhou Shangjing's true thoughts, but he felt that Zhou Shangjing was even more unfathomable.
*
At the same time, Xu Changde also reported Zhao Junchen's various ideas to Shen Changmao.
At the beginning, after learning that Zhao Junchen wanted to unite thirty-seven powerful Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants to form a joint shipping company, Shen Changmao behaved quite calmly and sneered: "I know that Zhao Junchen's plan is definitely not good. It's so simple. It's just a matter of selecting a shipping company for a pilot, but the so-called "one shipping company" is thirty-seven large-scale shipping companies united in one place! With such an amazing scale, coupled with the policy support of the imperial court , I’m afraid it’s easy to grow big... However, Zhao Junchen is too self-righteous! Thirty-seven Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen are indeed powerful together, but they are also mixed people and have their own desires. As long as they stir up a little secretly, I am afraid that this joint shipping company will soon fall into internal strife, and then fall apart... By then, Zhao Junchen's wishful thinking will inevitably come to nothing!"
On the other side, Xu Changde said quickly: "Chief Assistant, you know everything from a thousand miles away. Naturally, that young boy Zhao Junchen will not be your opponent."
Shen Changmao nodded proudly and continued to ask: "Later, what did Zhao Junchen say?"
After hearing Shen Changmao's inquiry, Xu Changde quickly told in detail the story of Zhao Junchen's promise of huge profits to induce Hui and Zhejiang businessmen to report smuggling crimes.
This time, Shen Changmao's expression changed drastically. After a long time, he slowly said: "This Zhao Junchen is really ignorant and fearless. He is brave enough. He actually wants to deal with all the smugglers at the same time. Isn't he afraid of himself?" Will your actions arouse the hatred of the smugglers, and offend the smugglers’ backers in the DPRK and China? Will you create a big enemy for yourself in vain?”
But after thinking about it, Shen Changmao understood Zhao Junchen's thoughts and said: "That's right. After Zhao Junchen accepted the errand of business tax rectification, he became a serious problem for the smuggling merchants and related court officials. However, Zhao Junchen's plan must not be allowed to proceed, otherwise he will inevitably have evidence of the crimes of countless officials, and his power and influence will be even more difficult to restrain. ”
After listening to Shen Changmao's mumbling, Xu Changde remained silent this time and did not answer.
After all, Xu Changde must not tell Shen Changmao that after the banquet, he first returned to the mansion to collect many evidences of his colleagues, and personally delivered these evidences to Zhao Mansion, and then hurried to Shen Mansion to report to Shen Changmao. The one who reported the news - after all, the benefits promised by Zhao Junchen were so tempting that even Xu Changde could not give up - and Shen Changmao waited most of the night for specific information because of Xu Changde's selfishness. time.
Shen Changmao didn't know Xu Changde's little thoughts, but secretly made up his mind to destroy Zhao Junchen's attempt.
Shen Changmao's gray brows knitted together, and he thought to himself: "Perhaps we can publicize this matter and create some rumors, claiming that Zhao Junchen has obtained evidence of a large number of officials participating in smuggling and covering up smuggling. It puts everyone in the imperial court at risk and arouses their hatred of the same enemy... However, in this way, if the operation is slightly improper, it will severely damage the morale of one's own side, and may even cause some people who are not firm in their stance to defect in battle. ...You must proceed with caution!”
While thinking secretly, Shen Changmao continued to ask: "Besides, is there anything else?"
After hesitating for a moment, Xu Changde shook his head and said, "Other than that, there is nothing else to pay attention to."
After thinking about it secretly, Xu Changde did not tell Shen Changmao about Zhao Junchen's "repaying evil with kindness" to him. After all, this matter could easily arouse Shen Changmao's suspicion, and Shen Changmao would even order himself to reject Zhao Junchen. benefits, but this is absolutely unacceptable to Xu Changde.
However, Xu Changde did not know how much trouble his temporary concealment of selfishness would bring to Shen Changmao and himself in the future!
*
Before that, Zhao Junchen had always believed that among the thirty-seven Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen who attended the banquet, four of them did not really want to cooperate, but were factions in the DPRK other than the "Zhao Party" Spies sent.
Among them, Shi Kesong's backstage was Zhou Shangjing, who was naturally a spy sent by Zhou Shangjing.
Xu Changde's backer behind the scenes is Shen Changmao, who is naturally the spy sent by Shen Changmao.
There was also a Hui-Zhejiang businessman named Zhang Cheng, who was from the palace of Wang Shou, Minister of War, and Wang Shou was a backbone member of the "Emperor Party", so Zhang Cheng was naturally a spy sent by Emperor Deqing.
There was another Huizhe merchant named Li Xiangru, who was distantly related to the crown prince Shaobao Guo Tang, and Guo Tang was a supporter of the crown prince Zhu Heyu, so Li Xiangru was naturally the spy sent by the crown prince Zhu Heyu.
However, Zhao Junchen guessed wrong about one thing. The Huizhou merchant named Li Xiangru was indeed a distant relative of the crown prince Shaobao Guo Tang, and was indeed assigned by Guo Tang to spy on Zhao Junchen's plan, but Guo The reason why Tang did this was not because of the order of Prince Zhu Heyu, but because of the suggestion of Seventh Prince Zhu Hejian!
In fact, since the seventh prince Zhu Hejian began to participate in the "******" incident, the relationship between Guo Tang and the seventh prince Zhu Hejian has become closer and closer.
Many times, compared to the firm stance of Prince Zhu Heyu, Guo Tang actually trusted the strategies of the seventh prince Zhu Hejian more!
Moreover, among the "******", there are now many members like Guo Tang!
…
…(To be continued.)
