There was no need for Ouyang Bo to remind Huo Zhengyuan that his staff and bodyguards had just encountered an unreasonable disaster.
But watching these confidants who had been following him for many years die unexpectedly in just two or three days still made Huo Zhengyuan furious.
This anger was so intense that it obviously overwhelmed the instinctive fear in his heart.
At the same time, Huo Zhengyuan also wanted to use this incident as an excuse to once again put pressure on Qian Lai, the Nanjing boss of "United Shipping Company", and force "United Shipping Company" to fully support him.
As the head of the Nanjing "United Shipping Company", Qian Lai himself was also a wealthy businessman in southern Zhili, and behind the scenes was Xi Cheng, the eunuch in charge of Nanjing.
After the establishment of "United Shipping Company", Qian Lai quickly understood the general trend and immediately chose to actively respond and openly join the company. Therefore, Zhao Junchen reciprocated the favor and made him fully responsible for all commercial activities of "United Shipping Company" in Nanjing.
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Since then, Qian Lai's business activities have become increasingly smooth. In just less than two years, his wealth has increased by 35%.
It can be said that Qian Lai is a smart man with both vision and determination.
But this time, Qian Lai has been hesitant. Even in the face of repeated pressure from Huo Zhengyuan, he still has not made a decision.
After a moment of silence, Qian Lai smiled bitterly and said: "Master Huo, I have always been loyal to Zhao Gechen, and of course I am willing to support all your actions in South Zhili. However, there are some things that I really cannot make the decision! Don't look at me.
He is the Nanjing boss of "United Shipping Company", but "United Shipping Company" is jointly established by hundreds of wealthy businessmen. Some small things are fine, but if big things happen, all shareholders must work together.
Decision-making matters...
Let me tell you the unpleasant truth. If Zhao Gechen shows up in person, then anything can be said. With Zhao Gechen's reputation and influence, most shareholders would not dare to question his decision. And you, Bachelor Huo... are of course...
He is Zhao Gechen's spokesperson, but he is not Zhao Gechen himself after all. Now he wants the United Shipping Company to take huge risks and do something outrageous. How can I dare to agree so easily?"
Seeing Huo Zhengyuan's expression becoming increasingly unhappy, Qian Lai quickly added: "Master Huo, you also know that my official backer is the Nanjing garrison eunuch Xi Cheng. I also rely on eunuch Xi for all my business in Nanjing.
Although your plan is obviously detrimental to Eunuch Huangzhuang, I never thought of reporting the news to Eunuch Xi. This alone is enough to prove my sincerity!
The main reason is that this plan of yours is really too risky, and will make the United Shipping Company, the wealthy gentry, and the eunuchs of the Imperial Palace become enemies at the same time... If your plan was a little less risky, I would never dare to shirk it.
!"
Seeing that Qian Lai did not succumb to his intimidation and pressure, Huo Zhengyuan's face remained stern, but he also quietly changed his negotiation skills. He no longer just applied pressure and intimidation blindly, but began to reason with Qian Lai and analyze
Pros and Cons.
"These remarks made by Mr. Qian may seem to make some sense, but they are actually ridiculous! You said that when "United Shipping Lines" encounters major events, it requires joint decision-making by all shareholders. Then let me ask you, in "United Shipping Lines"
'Among the many shareholders, who have the greatest influence? They are Lin Yunpu, Dai Fengfu, and Bai Mingyu, right? In the past two or three months, the situation in Nanjing has been extremely complicated, but why are these people so completely
Don’t you plan to come to Nanjing in person to take charge of the overall situation? Or even turn a blind eye to the changes in the situation in Nanjing?”
After hearing this, Qian Lai's expression changed, and he had roughly guessed what Huo Zhengyuan meant.
After Huo Zhengyuan snorted coldly, he asked and answered: "It's very simple! It's because the situation in Nanjing is too complicated. All forces in the temple are involved in it, and Lin Yunpu, Dai Fengfu, and Bai Mingyu all have different backgrounds.
, their ideas and positions are also completely different. Dai Fengfu obviously wants to support Zhou Shoufu, while Bai Mingyu supports the seventh prince, and Lin Yunpu is relatively neutral...
Under such circumstances, they are restraining each other, and no one can take control of the situation, and no one can unify their opinions, so they simply stop interfering in the situation in Nanjing and let you, the boss Qian, take the final decision! If the final result is not good for the 'United Shipping Company'
If it is beneficial, then your boss Qian will be considered as having made a meritorious service. If the final result is not good for United Shipping Company, then your boss Qian will also take the blame!"
Having said this, Huo Zhengyuan stared at Qian Lai coldly and said in a condensed voice: "So, when the shopkeeper Qian said that he can't make the decision, it is just an excuse. Under the current situation, it is the time when you have the greatest independent power! And at this time, you have the greatest autonomy.
, Shopkeeper Qian, you actually only need to consider one thing, that is, what should you do that is most beneficial to United Shipping Company!
In my opinion, the answer is very simple, that is, maintaining close cooperation with the "Zhao Party" is the most beneficial to the "United Shipping Company"! If the "Zhao Party" finally wins, your "United Shipping Company" will also benefit.
If the 'Zhao Party' does not win in the end, but as long as Zhao Gechen is still in power in the temple, your 'United Shipping Company' will still be as stable as a mountain! It can be said that you will make a sure profit without losing anything!
Shopkeeper Qian, you should also understand this, but you are still unable to decide, just because you dare not offend your official backer, the Nanjing garrison eunuch Xicheng! Right? "
"This this……"
Being exposed directly by Huo Zhengyuan, Qian Lai immediately knew how he should respond and couldn't help but be speechless.
Huo Zhengyuan sneered and then said: "As the shopkeeper Qian said, all your business in Nanjing relies on the strong support of Nanjing's guarding eunuch Xi Cheng. If you lose the protection of Xi Cheng, it will even cause Xi Cheng to
With such hostility, you will no longer have a foothold in Nanjing... so you dare not offend Xicheng at all! After all, Xicheng is the eunuch guarding Nanjing, and his power is enough to compete with the six departments of Nanjing!
But I can tell you clearly that Xi Cheng will lose his power soon! Not only will he no longer be able to protect you, he will also no longer be able to suppress you! If nothing happens, the position of Nanjing’s guarding eunuch will soon be over.
It will be reduced to a useless position and revoked by His Majesty's decree!"
After Qian Lai heard this, his expression changed drastically, and he quickly asked: "Nanjing's guarding eunuch will soon be reduced to a useless job? Or even be completely withdrawn? This, how is this possible?"
The smile on Huo Zhengyuan's face became colder and he explained: "In the past, the reason why the Nanjing garrison eunuch had great power was mainly to check and balance the Nanjing Six Ministries. If the Nanjing Six Ministries lost their power, then the existence of the Nanjing garrison eunuch would be particularly annoying!
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Shopkeeper Qian, you also know that all the chaos in the Six Ministries in Nanjing during this period of time is due to the planning of the Imperial Central Committee, but what you don’t know is that the reason why the Imperial Central Committee deliberately allowed the Six Ministries in Nanjing to breed chaos is,
Not only do they want to beat and punish the Six Ministries of Nanjing, but they want to take the opportunity to take back all the authority of the Six Ministries of Nanjing! Now, as all walks of life in South Zhili have jointly impeached the Six Ministries of Nanjing to the imperial court, the imperial central committee will soon issue a decree,
Take back all authority from Nanjing Sixth Department!
As the saying goes, the rabbit will die and the dog will cook, and the bridge will be burned... When the six departments of Nanjing lost their authority, the Nanjing garrison eunuchs will naturally lose their authority at the same time. This is a matter of course, and it is also one of the agreements reached by His Majesty and several cabinet elders! "
The imperial court's desire to take back power from the Six Ministries of Nanjing is still top-secret information. Huo Zhengyuan should not have leaked the relevant information to anyone before Emperor Deqing officially promulgated the relevant decree.
But at this time, in order to persuade money to support him, Huo Zhengyuan no longer cares about keeping secrets.
After a pause, Huo Zhengyuan asked: "So, Shopkeeper Qian, who do you think should be your new backer when the eunuch guarding Nanjing loses his power?"
The answer is simple. Qian Lai's best choice is to switch to Zhao Junchen and become the white glove of the "Zhao Party". With the relationship of "United Shipping Company", it is not difficult for him to switch to Zhao Junchen.
.
But if Qian Lai is still unwilling to cooperate with Huo Zhengyuan's plan and destroy the layout of the "Zhao Party" in South Zhili, then it will not be easy for him to switch to Zhao Junchen, at least Huo Zhengyuan
The core figures of the "Zhao Party" will definitely oppose it with all their strength.
Qian Lai was a smart man, and he quickly figured this out.
Therefore, after his expression changed for a long time, Qian Lai finally made up his mind and gritted his teeth and said: "Since Academician Huo has already said this, he has not hesitated to leak the court secrets to me. It would be very disrespectful if I still resist.
Knowledge is lifted up!”
Afterwards, Qian Lai took a deep breath and assured loudly: "I will risk my life and fully support the follow-up plan of Academician Huo Da! Starting from tomorrow, the 'United Shipping Company' will follow the instructions of Academician Huo and declare to the outside world that the wealthy gentry and the
This conflict between the eunuchs of Huangzhuang has seriously affected the normal order of all parties. Then they led the merchants to go on strike, organized the river workers to strike, and called on the students to go on strike to urge His Highness the Seventh Prince and Zhou Shoufu to resolve the matter immediately!"
After hearing Qian Lai's response, Huo Zhengyuan finally nodded with satisfaction.
At the same time, Ouyang Bo, Qian Bodao, and Guo Min had just met Huo Zhengyuan. They were still unclear about Huo Zhengyuan's thoughts and specific plans, but after hearing this, their expressions changed drastically!
Businessmen's strike, river workers' strike, students' strike... When these series of things are combined, the situation in Nanjing will quickly get out of control, and the impact will be no less than a civil uprising!
And once this happens, the seventh prince Zhu Hejian and the chief minister Zhou Shangjing will have no way out! If they cannot quickly calm down the conflict between the wealthy Jin gentry and the eunuchs of Huangzhuang, their reputations in the government and the public will be seriously damaged.
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However, the seventh prince Zhu Hejian will definitely support the Huangzhuang eunuchs, and the first assistant Zhou Shangjing's position of supporting the Jin gentry wealthy family cannot be shaken. Therefore, if the two of them want to quickly calm down the conflict between the Huangzhuang eunuchs and the Jin gentry wealthy family, they can only use all their strength
Criticizing the other party and completely overpowering the other party will further intensify the conflict between the two parties.
At the same time, if "United Shipping Company" does such a thing, it will definitely be pushed to the forefront, arousing the common hostility of the seventh prince Zhu Hejian and the chief minister Zhou Shangjing. Therefore, it is no wonder that Qian Lai has been hesitant just now and has been late.
It's too late to make up my mind.
At this time, although Qian Lai had decided to fully support Huo Zhengyuan's plan, his worries were still undiminished. He couldn't help but add: "However, if I suffer retaliation from all parties afterwards, then you, University Master Huo, must
Come forward in time to support me."
Huo Zhengyuan assured with a firm attitude: "Don't worry, I will definitely come forward to support you in time! Moreover, shopkeeper Qian, don't underestimate yourself, you are the Nanjing shopkeeper of the United Shipping Company. Whether it is His Highness the Seventh Prince,
It’s still Chief Minister Zhou, they don’t dare to make things difficult for you at will!
Not only because the "United Shipping Company" is supported by Zhao Gechen, but also because since the establishment of the "United Shipping Company", it has become one of the main tax sources for the imperial court. If they dare to touch the "United Shipping Company", the imperial court's tax revenue will be directly reduced by at least
10%...the imperial court’s expenses are getting bigger and bigger, and no one except Zhao Cabinet Minister can make up for this hole, and no one can afford such a responsibility!”
*
After discussing some details with Huo Zhengyuan, Qian Lai quickly said goodbye and left.
Why does Qian Lai still have many things to prepare in order to cooperate with Huo Zhengyuan's follow-up plan?
After Qian Lai left, Huo Zhengyuan finally explained his real plan in detail to the three Zhao family aides.
Huo Zhengyuan's personality has changed significantly, and his attitude has become tougher. He is not as easy to talk to as before. However, Ouyang Bo, Qian Bodao, and Guo Min all came from the Zhao family and also represent Zhao Junchen, so Huo Zhengyuan must try his best to win
their understanding and support.
"You don't have to worry about the United Shipping Company making things big, leading merchants to go on strike, organizing river workers' strikes, calling on students to strike classes... These things are just the introduction. As long as my plan goes well, it will soon lead to a series of even bigger troubles.
, completely diverting the attention of all parties!
In fact, I have prepared two knives and am going to hand them to the Seventh Prince and Zhou Shoufu respectively, asking them to use these two knives to stab each other into the body! But these two knives are too sharp and will hurt people once used.
I was worried that the two of them could not make up their minds, so I drove the United Shipping Company to deliberately make things worse, leaving them with no choice but to use the two knives I handed them to stab each other in the body.
Blood dripping... Then, when they both lose, we can reap the benefits!
Our 'Zhao Party' has two main tasks within the territory of Nanjing Zhili. The first is to prevent the Seventh Prince from successfully securing his throne, and the second is to seize the opportunity to seize control of several important yamen in Nanjing's official circles, such as the Nanjing Inspectorate and the
Nanjing Imperial College and so on, the former will make us the enemy of the Seventh Prince, and the latter will make us the enemy of Zhou Shangfu, so this conflict will break out sooner or later, there is no need to worry about the hostility between the Seventh Prince and Zhou Shangjing..."
After hearing this, Ouyang Bo couldn't help but ask: "I don't know, what are the two 'knives' you prepared, Master Huo?"
Huo Zhengyuan sneered and said: "The knife I am going to hand to the Seventh Prince is called 'Thoroughly Investigate the Jin Gentry's Concealed Land Property'; and the knife I am going to hand to Zhou Shangjing is called 'Fabricating the Imperial Edict'... The Seventh Prince sent me a
A famous post invited me to Zhanyuan for a banquet this evening, and I plan to use the opportunity of this dinner to hand these two knives to them!"
