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Those smugglers who were unwilling to join the "United Shipping Line" naturally did not participate in the founding ceremony of the "United Shipping Line". Tianlai's novel ww'w. 』⒉But what happened at the founding ceremony of the "United Shipping Line" still reached their ears.
After discovering that "betrayers" such as Lin Yunpu, Bai Mingyu, and Dai Fengfu planned to use the power of the court to deal with them, the reactions of these smugglers varied. Some began to panic, some were fearless, some were secretly on guard, and some People are ready to fight back...
On this day, several of the most powerful smugglers met secretly in an inconspicuous teahouse in Yangzhou City to discuss countermeasures.
They are Feng Wenzhang, the big boss of the "Jiuzhou Commercial Bank", Jiang Xiaoquan, the president of the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce, Kong Huayan, the president of the Huizhou Chamber of Commerce, Zhang Jingyu, the boss of the "Datong Shipping Company", and Xie Bingde, the eldest son of the Xie family, a prominent business family in Suzhou.
These smugglers are all powerful and wealthy people. The scale of their business is no less than that of Lin Yunpu, Dai Fengfu, Bai Mingyu and others. For various reasons, they did not join " "United Shipping Company" was also full of hostility towards the existence of "United Shipping Company". During this period, various conflicts between the smuggling merchant group and "United Shipping Company" were mainly caused by these people.
Among them, the Suzhou Xie family is the most prestigious merchant family in South Zhili. It has been passed down for five generations. It has been operating steadily and the family business is prosperous. The influence of influence can be said to be intricate. Although it is not visible on weekdays, the scale of the business is not particularly large. But the accumulated wealth should not be underestimated. Today’s secret conversation was also started by the Xie family.
In the tea room, after seeing everyone gathered, Xie Bingde, the eldest son of the Xie family, spoke first.
Xie Bingde is now in his thirties. He has good features and a steady personality. When he speaks, he is also unhurried and clear. He has a convincing temperament. He said slowly: "Since everyone is here, let's Then we can talk about business..."
However, just as Xie Bingde opened his mouth and before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Feng Wenzhang, the domineering owner of "Jiuzhou Trading Company": "Are they all here? Not necessarily? Qian Xianru of the Eight Kings Shipping Company did not come. ! Humph! It seems that Qian Xianru is confident and looks down on us!"
Feng Wenzhang is a newly rising smuggling businessman. He is now about fifty years old and has a rough appearance. He was originally a soldier. It is said that he often colluded with pirates. His methods are extremely disgraceful, and he does not respect Xie Bingde as much as others. .
Kong Huayan, the president of the Huizhou Chamber of Commerce, flashed a trace of envy on his face and said: "That's different. What is the background of 'Eight Kings Shipbuilding'? The shareholders behind it are all the vassal kings of our dynasty! They are King Lu, King Su, King Liao, King Zhou, King Dai, King Ji, King Ding, and King Yong! With such a background, there are no taboos and no one dares to touch them. Today's crisis is a matter of life and death for us, but it is a matter of life and death for others. It's irrelevant, Qian Xianru will naturally not be interested in today's party."
Huizhou is one of the origins of Huizhou merchants, and half of the men in the territory are regulars. Although most of them are just petty and insignificant, together they are still a force that cannot be underestimated! Kong Huayan's wealth, power and business scale are the weakest among everyone, but as the president of the Huizhou Chamber of Commerce, his influence is the largest among everyone. At the same time, the power of the Huizhou Chamber of Commerce is scattered and it has never had a strong backer. Now when it comes to the "Eight Kings Shipping Company", it is natural to be full of envy.
Zhang Jingyu, the boss of "Datong Boat Company", is now at the age where he knows his destiny, and his personality is the calmest. He said slowly in a hoarse voice: "I have long expected that Qian Xianru will not participate, and I didn't have any expectations at all." , everyone should stop talking about him and continue discussing business matters."
Jiang Xiaoquan, president of the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce, glanced at Feng Wenzhang with a slightly disdainful expression, and then said to Xie Bingde with a respectful expression: "Mr. Xie, please continue talking."
Jiang Xiaoquan received support from the Xie family when he was in decline, so his attitude towards Xie Bingde was the most respectful.
After seeing that everyone stopped talking, Xie Bingde nodded lightly. Although he was interrupted, he did not show any displeasure. He just continued unhurriedly: "You must have heard that Lin Yunpu, Bai Mingyu, Dai Fengfu and the others At the founding ceremony of the 'United Shipping Company', we were sued in public to the imperial envoy Huang Yourong. Now Huang Yourong has planned to intervene in the conflict between us and the 'United Shipping Company'...
This Huang Yourong is not an easy character to deal with. He is a famous smiling tiger in the temple. He was once a cabinet minister. After he came to South Zhili, he defeated Su Changjin in less than a month. He and his cronies were wiped out in one fell swoop, and his methods were extremely decisive and sharp. Now that he has set his sights on us, our situation is very dangerous. If we don’t take any precautions, or if everyone is trying to clear the door, then we will have no choice but to be captured and be chased one by one. Broken..."
Having said this, Xie Bingde raised his eyes and glanced, and said: "So, I called everyone here to gather and talk secretly, firstly to discuss countermeasures together, and secondly to form an offensive and defensive alliance. As long as we work together, maybe we can Get through this crisis!"
After Xie Bingde, president of the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce, finished speaking, Jiang Xiaoquan immediately expressed his support and said: "What Mr. Xie said is reasonable. If we can join hands, businessmen from Huizhou and Zhejiang will definitely gather in response. By that time, even the imperial court will If you want to deal with us, you need to think carefully!"
On the side, Kong Huayan, president of the Huizhou Chamber of Commerce, also nodded repeatedly and expressed deep agreement, saying: "That's right. If we had joined forces two months earlier, I'm afraid we would have messed up the 'United Shipping Lines' matter! Now, too, It's not too late. Once our financial resources are combined, we can buy most of Jiangnan. Our respective backers are not just for show. As long as we can work together and advance together, no matter how big the difficulty is, we can survive it safely. Pass!"
Compared with the excited expressions of Jiang Xiaoquan and Kong Huayan, Zhang Jingyu, the boss of "Datong Shipping", still had a calm expression and just said slowly: "It is good to form an alliance and join forces, but at the current moment, we still have to deal with The current crisis! After all, Lin Yunpu, Bai Mingyu, and Dai Fengfu were our former colleagues and have always known our affairs. Now they have handed over all the evidence of our smuggling and tax evasion over the years to Huang Yourong. I am afraid that Huang Yourong will soon accuse us. Let’s do it! So let’s figure out how to get through this difficulty first.”
Xie Bingde nodded in agreement, and then asked Zhang Jingyu: "I heard that Senior Zhang's backstage is the Nanjing Sixth Department. Although the Nanjing Sixth Department is not as powerful as the Capital Sixth Department, it still cannot be underestimated. In South Zhili, It’s even more important, can’t Nanjing Sixth Department help us?”
Zhang Jingyu turned his head and glanced at Xie Bingde, with a slightly helpless expression on his face, and said: "People in the officialdom are all heartless and unscrupulous people who act according to the prevailing circumstances. Now the imperial court has made it clear that it will support the 'United Shipping Company' to monopolize shipping and kill us all." , then when Huang Yourong is at the height of his popularity, how dare the Nanjing Sixth Department dare to take risks to do things for us? The most they can do is report the news to us secretly, but they will never go against Huang Yourong directly. "
After Kong Huayan pondered for a moment, he suggested: "If the six departments in Nanjing fail, then we will go to the capital. At worst, we can scrape together a million taels of silver and throw it directly to the capital! Such a large sum of money, Even if you smash it, you can find a way out! As long as the capital takes back its orders and no longer supports the 'United Shipping Line', then Huang Yourong will have no reason to deal with us!"
Xie Bingde shook his head and said: "In the past, this was still a solution, but now that time is running out, I'm afraid it's too late! What's more, it's not just Huang Yourong who wants to deal with us, there is also Zhao Junchen behind Huang Yourong, this Although he is young, he is more difficult to deal with than Huang Yourong! As long as he is still the Minister of Household Affairs, the imperial court will not change its mind at will."
After hearing the conversation between several people, Feng Wenzhang, the big boss of "Jiuzhou Trading Company", was a little impatient and said: "This won't work, that won't work either! Is it possible that we just have to sit back and wait for death?"
After saying that, Feng Wenzhang suddenly turned to Kong Huayan and asked, "President Kong, I heard that you have been secretly selling off your property these past few days and preparing to flee to Nanyang?"
Hearing Feng Wenzhang's inquiry, Kong Huayan looked a little embarrassed and said hesitantly: "How could such a thing happen? It must be misinformation, misinformation!"
Then, Feng Wenzhang turned to Zhang Jingyu on the other side and asked: "Boss Zhang, I heard that you secretly sent several of your grandchildren to your hometown in the countryside yesterday?"
Zhang Jingyu narrowed his eyes, stared at Feng Wenzhang and asked: "Shopkeeper Feng is well-informed, but I don't know what you mean by suddenly saying these?"
Feng Wenzhang sneered: "We are gathered here to resist the threat of the United Shipping Company and the suppression of the imperial court, but you all say nice things, but before you take action to fight, you have already surrendered in private. We are ready to retreat. If this is the case, we will not have to struggle and resist. Those who should run away will run away, and those who should admit defeat will admit defeat. Why gather here and waste time? If we don’t have the consciousness to risk our lives and fight to the death, how can we merchants resist? The imperial court?”
Zhang Jingyu said slowly: "It's just a precaution to leave a way out for myself. The imperial court is powerful and the situation is critical. Is it possible that Master Feng intends to go forward and fight the imperial court to the end without leaving any way out?" ?”
Feng Wenzhang's face turned serious and he said slowly: "I've always been straightforward, so I won't go around in circles with you! Fortunately, you have worked hard for so many years and finally achieved the wealth you have today. Now, Huang Yourong's plan to deal with us is certainly a crisis, but are you willing to give up your lifelong foundation and run away like a lost dog? At this point, instead of surrendering, running away and admitting defeat, it is better to give it a try before the situation is determined. , maybe there is still a glimmer of hope!"
Xie Bingde, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly interrupted and asked: "I wonder... what does Shopkeeper Feng's 'give it a try' mean?"
Feng Wenzhang's eyes were cold and stern. After looking around at everyone, he said in a low voice: "I will never stop doing anything! After all, Huang Yourong, the imperial envoy, is old, and he has been working hard and laboriously during this period. He must be He is physically and mentally exhausted. Under such circumstances, even if he suddenly dies of illness one day, it would not be a strange thing... Do you think this is true?"
Hearing Feng Wenzhang's words, everyone present trembled and looked at Feng Wenzhang in front of them in shock!
Could it be that Feng Wenzhang wanted to kill Huang Yourong? Huang Yourong is an imperial envoy!
Feng Wenzhang's next words also confirmed their suspicions.
Just listen to Feng Wenzhang say in a gloomy tone: "There is a kind of poison in my hand. It is colorless and odorless. If you take it, you will die suddenly that night. It will look like death from overwork. As long as we are more concealed, we will never It will let anyone catch you!"
After a pause, Feng Wenzhang continued: "I can do this alone. I just need to bribe Huang Yourong's cook. But after Huang Yourong's sudden death, if you want to handle all the funeral affairs, you have to ask everyone." Let's work together! If Huang Yourong dies, it will be good for us all! Even if the imperial court sends a new imperial envoy, the new imperial envoy may not be our enemy like Huang Yourong. We still have time to go to the capital to find connections, even if things are impossible. , before the court reacts, we don’t need to be too hasty when we sell off our property and run away, which can reduce a lot of unnecessary losses! All in all, this matter will be beneficial to us without any harm, we just need to take some risks... …Everyone, do you want to do this together?”
As he said that, Feng Wenzhang looked at Xie Bingde. He also knew that Xie Bingde had the greatest influence among several people. As long as he was willing to express his support for him, the other people would definitely follow suit.
However, Xie Bingde did not respond to Feng Wenzhang, but just looked at several other people.
In the end, after Zhang Jingyu thought about his family business and children and grandchildren, his expression changed for a long time, and he finally gritted his teeth and said: "What Shopkeeper Feng said is right. Instead of sitting back and waiting for death, it is better to take a risk! This matter is my fault!"
With Zhang Jingyu taking the lead, Jiang Xiaoquan and Kong Huayan also made up their minds, and Lu continued to express their support.
After all, they didn't have much power to resist in the face of Huang Yourong's hard work. If they were asked to give up the business they had worked hard for all their lives and flee from South Zhili, they would not be willing to accept it. Finally, under Feng Wenzhang's seduction, These people have made up their minds and decided to take the risk!
In this way, everyone's eyes were focused on Xie Bingde, waiting for Xie Bingde to express his stance.
However, Xie Bingde still did not respond to everyone's waiting. He just raised his head and looked towards the door of the tea room.
Seeing Xie Bingde like this, everyone present felt confused and turned their heads to look in the direction of the door.
Then, under the attention of everyone, the door of the tea room was slowly pushed open, and an old man with a seemingly warm smile but sinister eyes slowly entered the tea room.
Behind the old man, there is a group of soldiers holding weapons and staring eagerly!
After seeing the old man, Xie Bingde stood up immediately. His originally calm and calm expression suddenly changed, full of awe and fawning. He bowed and saluted: "Xie Bingde, I have met the imperial envoy! Your imperial envoy, you have finally met." coming!"
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First update!
Also, thank you for your support and encouragement!
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