Wang Xin picked up the bowl and took a sip of tea.
Sun Yi, who was standing aside, said softly: "If we don't have the support of the entire general, we can win over General Zhang of Datong. As long as we get the support of General Zhang, it will not be that easy for the governor to suppress you, sir."
"That being said, is there any way to get Zhang Huai to agree to stand with me?" Wang Xinyi asked.
Sun Yi did not answer the question, but said: "The student just found out from Fan Yongdou that General Zhang got a share of the profits from the Tiger Flag smuggling business, and several generals in the border forts also got a share of the profits."
"Hmph, it is because of the secret support of these border generals that there are businessmen who smuggled with the Northerners." Wang Xinyi snorted coldly and said, "These people should be killed."
In his eyes, smuggling in border towns was undoubtedly the result of some unscrupulous businessmen colluding with border generals to sell out the interests of the Ming Dynasty and seek personal gain.
Sun Yi advised: "Sir, smuggling in border towns has been around since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. It cannot be eradicated at all. Almost all Shanxi merchants who are slightly famous are related to the smuggling business."
"Stop talking about this, tell me how you plan to help me win over Zhang Huai's support." Wang Xinyi asked.
Regarding smuggling, he knew that his small patrol could not stop it at all, and not even the big shots in the court could stop it. Jiangmen's interests were involved.
No one in the court is willing to make enemies of the entire general because of this trivial matter.
Sun Yi said: "If you want to gain the support of General Zhang, you must first remove the tiger-character flag, and this tiger-character flag is also the link between the governor and General Zhang. As long as the tiger-character flag is removed, General Zhang will Naturally, the relationship with the governor is not that close."
"The Tiger-Character Banner colluded with Zhang Huai for smuggling, and they also collaborated with the governor's Wei Zhongxian. It's not that easy to get rid of the Tiger-Character Banner." Wang Xin frowned.
He knew that if he tried to move the tiger-shaped flag, he would inevitably lead to a joint counterattack from the governor of Datong and the commander-in-chief.
Sun Yi said: "Your Majesty is right, it is not easy to get rid of the Tiger Flag, but with Fan Yongdou, this problem can be easily solved."
"How do you say this?" Wang Xinyi asked.
Sun Yi said with a smile: "Fan Yongdou is a well-known Shanxi merchant in the Xuanfu, and naturally he is also involved in smuggling. As long as the Fan family can replace Tiger Flag's smuggling status, Mr. Zhang will no longer be able to profit from smuggling. Naturally, The Tiger Flag will be abandoned, and then you can use the Fan family’s smuggling business to win over General Zhang.”
"Hmph, if the Fan family can replace the Tiger Flag, why would Fan Yongdou come to me?" Wang Xinyi snorted coldly.
Sun Yi smiled and said: "It is precisely because of this that the Fan family can be better controlled by you, sir. Even in the future, you will be able to benefit from smuggling. Students heard that the tiger-character flag is involved in smuggling. The benefit is at least hundreds of thousands or even millions of taels of silver every year.”
"You can get so much money from smuggling!" Wang Xinyi paused and breathed quickly.
The amount of silver that can be earned from smuggling with Beilu is already comparable to the money earned from sea trade.
However, sea trade is very dangerous, and sometimes ships are destroyed and people are killed. It is not as safe as smuggling with northern captives. More importantly, sea trade in the south is controlled by the nobles of Nanjing, making it difficult for ordinary people to interfere.
The Wang family can be regarded as a scholarly family, and there have been several successful candidates in the family. In his generation, he was a Jinshi, but even so, he was not qualified to intervene in the maritime trade business.
Sun Yi said: "If your Excellency can get involved in the smuggling business, the one-year patrol will be much better than the patrols in other places."
The Censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate is considered a noble official, but after serving as an official in the capital for several years, with the Censor's salary, his family will inevitably borrow money to maintain their livelihood. In the future, they will only seek to be released to repay the debt, and every year they are released to the outside. Going on inspection tours in various places was an opportunity for the censors to earn money to supplement their families.
Wang Xin tapped the wall of the bowl with one finger, looking thoughtful.
Sun Yi continued to persuade: "Sir, this is a good opportunity. Not only can you win over General Zhang, but you can also cut off Wei Zhongxian's financial path. Maybe you can also take this opportunity to dig out evidence of Wei Zhongxian's collusion with the Northern Bandits. When the time comes, Your Excellency will not only benefit from smuggling, but you will also be valued by several big bosses in the Donglin Party. In the future, your Excellency will be able to rise to prominence, just around the corner."
"Is this Fan Yongdou trustworthy?" Wang Xinyi suddenly asked.
After hearing this, Sun Yi knew that the matter was done and said hurriedly: "Don't worry, sir. The Fan family has been operating in Zhangjiakou for several generations and has connections with many tribes in the Beilu. Even Su Nangtaiji of Tumute is related to Fan Dongzhu from Zhangjiakou also has contacts."
"Is this what Fan Yongdou told you?" Wang Xinyi asked.
Sun Yi said: "Don't worry, sir, these are all the students found out from Fan Yongdou's mouth. Even if there is some moisture in it, it won't be too much. The Fan family has been able to stand in Zhangjiakou for so many years. How can it be better than the Tiger Flag, which has just risen a few years ago?" Years of business names have more foundation."
"What you said makes some sense." Wang Xinyi nodded slightly.
Sun Yi struck while the iron was hot: "If your Excellency agrees, the student will take Fan Yongdou back to the study."
"No." Wang Xinyi raised his hand to stop him and said, "I can't come forward in this matter, and I can't directly intervene in the smuggling matter, so I won't see you again."
"Students understand." Sun Yi said, "It is up to students to come forward in this matter. Adults can just pretend that they don't know. If anything happens, students will be responsible for it."
Wang Xinyi nodded with satisfaction and said, "As long as you understand, as long as this is done, you will benefit from it in the future."
"Don't worry, sir. The students will do their best to complete this matter for you." Sun Yi bowed and saluted.
He had already expected that his master would not directly intervene in the smuggling matter.
Based on his understanding of Wang Xinyi, he knew that Wang Xinyi loved fame and money. He must be worried that the smuggling matter would be leaked, which would harm his reputation. In the end, the smuggling matter could only be left to his staff.
Wang Xinyi said: "Go and tell Fan Yongdou that as long as he can cut off Huzi Banner's business outside, I will make the decision for him regarding his grievances."
"Students must bring the words to the adults." Sun Yi bowed and replied.
Wang Xin nodded and said: "Okay, you go and replace Mr. Chen. From now on, you will be in contact with Fan Yongdou. It is best for such a businessman not to come to my government office."
He despises businessmen from the bottom of his heart and does not want to have more contact with them and be gossiped about.
"Yes, student. Resign." Sun Yi bowed and left the study.
Chen Tong waited with Fan Yongdou in front of the courtyard gate outside the study.
Seeing Sun Yi coming out of the study, Chen Tong came up to him and said with a smile: "What did you and your Excellency say? It's so secretive that you want to drive me and Dongzhu Fan out."
"It's not a big deal. You'll know it later." Sun Yi replied with a smile, and then said, "My lord calls you in. Fan Dongzhu will leave this place to me."
"Okay, I'll go in and see you first." Chen Tong walked towards the study.
Wait until Chen Tong leaves.
Fan Yongdou asked hurriedly: "Mr. Sun, what did the Inspector say?"
"Don't worry." Sun Yi said in relief, and then said, "Your Excellency will not intervene in the smuggling matter. Leave everything to me. However, Your Majesty asked you to find a way to cut off the smuggling business between Tiger Character Banner and Beilu."
Hearing this, Fan Yongdou frowned.
