Master Shuo took out a match and helped Liu Ziguang light the cigarette in a flattering manner, but he couldn't bear to smoke it. He pinched it above his ear with a smile. Liu Ziguang smiled lightly and pushed the whole box of cigarettes over: "You're welcome, please feel free to do so."
Master Shuo was so frightened that he took out a cigarette from the box and lit it himself. He took a deep puff and enjoyed the sky-high price of cigarettes worth dozens of taels of silver per box. Of course, he didn't know that such smuggled goods cost only a dozen copper coins.
The boss behind the scenes is actually this mysterious young man in front of me.
"I didn't realize that Mr. Shuo is a master of sweat-mongering medicine. Could it be that all this big fuss is just because of the expense of my brother? In fact, there is no need to trouble Mr. Shuo. As long as you agree to hang out with me, a lot of money will be sent to you." Liu Ziguang
road.
Mr. Shuo secretly cried out that he was wronged. He thought that someone of my level is still a master of sweat medicine. Everyone under his command was paralyzed and he didn't know when he did it. However, Liu Ziguang's next words touched him even more,
After living in Caishikou for so many years, he is still just a stubborn man with no reputation. The idea of finding a big backer has been in Wang Shuo's mind for a long time. However, in this huge capital, the most powerful people are the bannermen, and Wang Shuo
He has always had a grudge against the bannermen, and he would never give in to his enemies. Now that a seemingly tyrannical character is actively recruiting him, Master Shuo's heart is touched immediately. However, it is related to the well-being of dozens of his brothers.
It's better to be a little more cautious.
"Thanks to Master Xu, I, Wang Shuo, have been lucky in my entire life. However, when it comes to the future of my brothers, I have to take the long term... I wonder what kind of business Master Xu is doing?" Wang Shuo asked cautiously.
"That's what I do." Liu Ziguang said as he picked up the Chinese cigarette box on the table.
"Smuggling!" Mr. Shuo shouted in a low voice. Although the Qing Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty were at war, the private trade between the two countries had never stopped. Especially various luxury goods from the south would always try their best to circulate to the north to make money.
Taking a huge price difference, the rulers of the Manchu Qing Dynasty also had a headache for this secret smuggling activity. The wise Empress Dowager knew that what the Qing Dynasty needed at present was not silk, satin, tobacco, wine, and glassware, but machinery, equipment, and advanced technology, so
We have been making great efforts to crack down on smuggling activities. The more we crack down, the more rampant the smuggling activities will be, because it is precisely the crackdown that causes the price of smuggled goods to rise. More than half of the risk cost of smuggled goods is added to the smuggled goods out of thin air, and the prices in Beijing skyrocket.
Bannermen want to save face, and the more expensive things are, the more they can show their status, so they produce Chinese cigarettes that cost dozens of taels of silver per pack, and you may not be able to buy them even if you have money, because Liu Ziguang stipulates that every month
Shipments to the north are not allowed to exceed a fixed number. Things are rarer and more valuable. These two unintentional combinations have driven up the price of cigarettes. Nowadays, if anyone in Beijing can produce Chinese cigarettes, they will be rich enough.
Regarding the matter of face, now that the big smugglers are right in front of you, how can this not make Wang Shuo tempted? He will follow Master Xu in the future, and his future will be bright.
However, Wang Shuo also knew that the smuggling business was not easy to do. Not only did he have to face arrests by officers and soldiers, but he also had to fight with his colleagues frequently. After all, there was more than one channel in the south. There were at least three or four companies in Beijing doing the tobacco business in the south. If you wanted to
To get a piece of their pie, you have to pay the price with blood, but it is worth it. After all, you and your gang will be on the right track in the future, and you can openly say that you are selling smuggled cigarettes in the underworld.
He is a good man, and there will be a lot of money pouring in. This is much more sophisticated than collecting protection fees and lending money at the market entrance. Wang Shuo's mind quickly turned around a few times, and then he answered: "Master Xu
, I will be yours from now on, just a word in the wind and fire!"
"Okay, this is half a carton of cigarettes. You can give it to the brothers to improve their lives. I will contact you later."
After Liu Ziguang finished speaking, he walked away with his men, leaving behind only the sleeping Ropi and Master Shuo with a surprised look on his face.
Returning to Da Wenxi's residence, Liu Ziguang sat on the Grand Master's chair to accept Da Wenxi's formal visit. Da Wenxi had behaved as wretchedly as ever in the Ershi Shop just now, but Liu Ziguang knew that it was Da Wenxi who took action at the critical moment to change the situation.
, Wang Shuo's conspiracy did not succeed, and Liu Ziguang did not see the specific actions, which further shows that Da Wenxi's level is unpredictable.
"Wen Baihu, what did you do in Dongchang before coming to Beijing?" Liu Ziguang asked.
"Sir, my humble position is that of the manager of Dongchang Pharmacy. I was sent to Beijing because of a disagreement with my boss. All the brothers who came with me were transferred. Dongchang's operations in Beijing have also fallen into a dormant state. I am the only one who is still here.
I look forward to the imperial court re-establishing its position one day." Dawen replied respectfully.
Liu Ziguang naturally knew that the so-called Dongchang Pharmacy was by no means a medicine shop that saved lives and healed the wounded, but a poison preparation workshop specializing in killing people and silencing people. Naturally, those who could be in charge were masters of medicine. Back then, Dongchang was full of people and no one was honest.
Officials like Da Wenxi, who were not good at speaking and did not know how to work, were of course excluded from the job and sent to a dangerous and unprofitable place in the north to be station chiefs. Moreover,
He also had to shave his hair into a humiliating money rat tail. Those Dongchang fans who came during the same period tried their best to transfer back. Only Da Wenxi stayed here alone, not to mention doing business, just eating and drinking by himself.
Everything was difficult. If the factory hadn't bought this house, he might not even have a place to live. But even in this difficult environment, Da Wenxi still maintained his superb skills.
In the middle of the wine, he knew with a slight sniff that the wine was laced with Mongolian sweat medicine. Mongolian sweat medicine is the simplest Jianghu drug. Da Wenxi brought a lot of it with him, and there were also corresponding antidotes. He took advantage of others' unpreparedness and went there.
The drugged wine jar contained some antidote, and the gangsters' jars were filled with some intoxicating drugs, thus creating the situation just now.
After hearing this explanation, Liu Ziguang nodded with satisfaction. In any case, Da Wenxi can be regarded as a talent. Dongchang's site in Beijing exists in name only, so let Nanchang completely take over it from this dilapidated small courtyard.
start.
"Wen Xi, you have been in Beijing for many years, and you have worked hard without any merit. I have promoted you to the rank of Nanchang Qianhu, and you have been given additional salary over the years. What do you think?" Liu Ziguang asked.