"Something else?" Xu Tong raised his eyebrows and asked, "You came to see me, what do you mean?"
"Returning to your lord," Fan Yongcheng said, "In addition to Kankantada Taiji, my Fan family has also contacted Suang Taiji from Bansheng City. The other party is willing to trade with Xu Ji, and this Taiji is a San The lady's lineage is also the strongest in Tumut, even the King of Shunyi is inferior."
"So, this is a good thing." Xu Tong twirled his beard.
Fan Yongcheng continued: "As long as Xu Ji's company comes into contact with Su Nang Tai Ji and gets the support of Su Nang Tai Ji, Xu Ji can use Su Nang Tai Ji's relationship to gradually erode Tiger Flag's business in Tumote. , without the business roads on the grassland, the Tiger Flag is like a tiger with its teeth pulled out, no longer any threat."
Xu Tong looked thoughtful.
The reason why he has been unable to touch Liu Heng is because the other party has established a large network based on the smuggling business. Many officials in Datong are involved in the smuggling of the Tiger Flag, which makes him helpless to deal with the Tiger Flag.
Zhang Wenhe, who was standing next to him, said: "Beilu and Huziqi have been cooperating for so long, how could they easily change their tune and choose to cooperate with Xu Ji?"
Hearing this, Fan Yongcheng smiled and said: "How can Beilu have any faith? As long as Xu Ji is willing to give up part of the profits to them, Beilu will definitely abandon the tiger flag and cooperate with Xu Ji."
Zhang Wenhe looked at Fan Yongcheng and said: "If it is so simple, with the strength of the Fan family, they can cooperate with the Su Nang Tai Ji you mentioned, why would they give such a good thing to Xu Ji?"
Hearing this, Fan Yongcheng smiled bitterly and said: "It's not because my brother doesn't want to, but it's because the tiger-character flag has gone too far to deceive others. Now it's difficult for our Fan family to get goods from the Xuanfu. Even with the relationship of Su Nang Taiji, it's very difficult." It’s hard to get enough goods to send to the grassland.”
"Your Fan family is a well-known large business in Xuanfu. No matter how powerful the tiger-character flag is, it can't be enough to prevent your Fan family from even getting the goods!" Zhang Wenhe showed disbelief.
Having served as Xu Tong's staff for many years, he knew very well that even moderately famous businesses were inextricably linked to the local government.
The Fan family's business is so big that everyone in the government knows about it, and the government naturally needs help. Tiger Flag is just a business in Datong, and it has only been established for a few years. It is even more rootless in Xuanfu. It is difficult to say that it can suppress the Fan family. Make people believe.
Fan Yongcheng looked bitter and said: "Sir, you don't know, but Liu Heng established a chamber of commerce in Xuanfu. Now all the merchants of Xuanfu, large and small, have joined his chamber of commerce. My Fan family is really struggling to support itself."
Zhang Wenhe took a deep look at Fan Yongcheng.
From his feeling, Fan Yongcheng didn't seem to be telling lies, and he also heard that the Fan family was having a hard time nowadays. Several shops in Datong had been closed and transferred to others.
Fan Yongcheng looked at Xu Tong, bowed and said, "If you agree, the Fan family is willing to pay 10,000 taels of silver to buy a share in Xu Ji."
"Ten thousand taels!" Zhang Wenhe repeated, and immediately looked at Xu Tong.
Xu Tong stroked his beard and said: "Xu Ji is a business opened in Datong by the cousin of my third wife. I have never asked about it, but with the reputation of your Fan family, I would like to take a share in Xu Ji." , I think it’s not a big problem, I’ll ask Mr. Zhang to accompany you to Xu Ji later.”
"Thank you, sir." Fan Yongcheng saluted.
Xu Tong frowned and said with dissatisfaction: "I have already said that this matter has nothing to do with me, so you don't need to thank me."
"Please forgive me, sir. The student is speechless." Fan Yongcheng apologized quickly.
Only then did he remember that the scholar-bureaucrats of the Ming Dynasty had always looked down on businessmen. It was just that his Fan family was a family of businessmen, so he didn't feel much about this aspect, and he didn't react for a while.
Zhang Wenhe, who was standing next to him, said with a smile: "Whenever Mr. Fan is free, let's go to Xu Ji together and take the money from investing in Xu Ji with us."
"I need Mr. Zhang to help guide the way." Fan Yongcheng clasped his fists towards Zhang Wenhe.
"Easy to say, easy to say." Zhang Wenhe said politely with a smile on his face.
Both of them knew that the ten thousand taels of silver were said to be for buying shares in Xu Ji, but were actually given to Governor Xu Tong.
Xu Tong raised his hand and pointed to the seat next to him, and said to Fan Yongcheng, "Sit down."
"The student has thanked you, sir." Fan Yongcheng thanked him quickly.
Ten thousand taels of silver were exchanged for such an opportunity to sit down.
Zhang Wenhe beside him said with a smile: "Although the Fan family is about to buy shares in Xu Ji, Xu Ji was bandited on the grassland before and lost more than 5,000 taels of goods. If it is the Kankantada mentioned by Mr. Fan, If Taiwan and Kyrgyzstan could have sent troops to respond in advance, such a thing would not have happened, which is really a pity."
As he spoke, he shook his head and sighed.
When Fan Yongcheng, who had just sat down, heard this, he immediately understood what was going on and realized that the ten thousand taels of silver were not enough to satisfy the other party. The goods lost by Xu Ji to the bandits were also counted on the Fan family.
Of course, he didn't think that this was what Staff Zhang in front of him meant. If Staff Zhang really wanted money, he wouldn't say it in front of Governor Xu Tong. It was obvious that Xu Tong wanted the money.
Before Lenovo arrived, his eldest brother Fan Yongdou repeatedly told him to try his best to meet Xu Tong's requirements and obtain cooperation with Xu Tong, and said: "The Fan family is willing to spend five thousand taels of silver to compensate Xu Ji for this loss."
"That's so embarrassing!" Zhang Wenhe said, "Five thousand taels of silver is not a small amount."
Fan Yongcheng thought in his heart that if the other party really didn't want the five thousand taels of silver, he would refuse directly. Since he didn't mention it, the Fan family would have to make up for the five thousand taels of silver.
Thinking of this, he said: "If the Fan family hadn't made it clear to Kankantada Taiji, Xu Ji would not have been robbed this time. The Fan family should have come up with the money."
"Hmm... that's fine." Zhang Wenhe agreed with a smile, and then added, "These five thousand taels of silver are compensation for Xu Ji. After the Fan family buys shares in Xu Ji, it will be equivalent to the return of the five thousand taels of silver to the Fan family." There is no loss to the Fan family."
"Mr. Zhang is right." Fan Yongcheng agreed.
But he knew that even if the Fan family bought shares in Xu Ji, don't expect to see this money again. I'm afraid the money would have already fallen into the governor's pocket.
"Come here, Mr. Fan, serve tea." Xu Tong ordered the servants in the study.
The servant excused himself and left the study.
Ten thousand taels of silver were exchanged for a seat, and five thousand taels of silver were exchanged for a cup of tea.
Fan Yongcheng sighed in his heart, I am afraid that there is no place in the entire Ming Dynasty that is more expensive than this governor's place.
However, he did not feel that the money was wasted. As long as he could establish a relationship with the governor of Datong in front of him and take back the trade route from Hu Ziqi, the Fan family would be able to earn back no matter how much money they had in the future.
Soon, the servant brought a cup of hot tea and placed it in Fan Yongcheng's hand.
Fan Yongcheng picked up the tea bowl and did not rush to drink the tea worth 5,000 taels. Instead, he said: "When the students dared to come, Mr. Zhang mentioned that Xu Ji was kidnapped. I don't know which band of horse bandits on the grassland did it." of."
Zhang Wenhe shook his head slightly and said: "According to those who escaped, it was not Xu Ji's convoy that was robbed by horse bandits on the grassland, but a group of bandits from Daliang Mountain, and it seems that they have something to do with the Tiger Flag."
"Students are sure that Tiger Character Flag must have done this." Fan Yongcheng affirmed with a firm tone.
