Chapter Five Hundred and Thirty-Six: The Loss of Five Surnames and Seven Hopes
After hearing Lu Yong's words, everyone suddenly became curious.
This Lu Yong is considered the most ruthless person in the family.
He is also famous for his ruthlessness.
The last plan to destroy the railway was proposed by him and the family passed it together.
Of course, the family suffered heavy losses because of this plan.
I still don't understand why one thousand of their people happened to encounter a pack of wolves and were brutally eaten by the pack, leaving only rags and bones on the ground.
Although that plan failed and the family suffered heavy losses.
But it is undeniable that the plan was indeed an insidious and sinister plan to kill everyone.
Once successful, the King of Shu will immediately fall into a situation of eternal disaster.
Moreover, they actually had suspicions about the failure of that plan, and suspected that there was a traitor among them.
Their main target of suspicion is Cui Shiniang of the Cui family.
After a series of her plans failed, this young lady ran to Yizhou University to study.
Less than a year later, I returned from Yizhou University.
Moreover, the timing of her return was too coincidental.
It happened to be the moment when their plan was about to be implemented.
Moreover, this young lady did not return to her master's house after leaving Yizhou University.
Instead, he lived in a Cui family farm over in Yizhou.
Such a situation cannot but make them suspicious.
Of course, they don't have enough evidence to prove this.
This matter has become an unsolved case for the time being.
What they are interested in now is Lu Yong's strategy.
Lu Yong cannot compare with Cui Shiniang in terms of intelligence, but in terms of viciousness, he is even worse.
So, Cui Zhiji couldn't help but ask: "Lu Yong, tell me quickly, what are your plans?"
Lu Yong glanced at Cui Zhiji, and then chuckled: "My plan is good, but I'm afraid that after I say it, someone will tell Li Min immediately. No matter how good the plan is, what's the use?
?”
Hearing Lu Yong's words, Cui Zhiji couldn't help but said angrily: "Lu Yong, don't be so arrogant, who are you talking about? I'm warning you, don't talk nonsense without evidence!"
Lu Yong said gloomily: "Humph! Is it right for you brothers and sisters to talk about others? Wasn't it your brothers and sisters who leaked the secret of the last plan?"
Cui Zhiji said angrily: "Lu, don't you dare to slander anyone! Not only did you insult me, but you also insulted Shiniang. I will fight you!"
After saying that, Cui Zhiji grabbed Lu Yong's collar and punched him.
Not to be outdone, Lu Yong immediately kicked back, and the two of them were immediately torn together.
The people next to them quickly started a fight and managed to pull the two apart.
After being pulled away, Cui Zhiji still looked furious, but he thought with a guilty conscience: There is nothing wrong with my performance, right? I haven't performed before, right? I won't let my flaws be seen, right?
In fact, even Cui Zhiji himself suspected that his younger sister Shiniang had leaked the secret.
Because of this secret, I revealed it to Shiniang, and Shiniang’s behavior afterwards was really abnormal.
Now other companies are doubting Shiniang. If they don't act stronger, Shiniang may end up badly.
This fight with Lu Yong was also done intentionally by Cui Zhiji.
The two were persuaded to leave.
In the end, Lu Yong expressed his strategy with dissatisfaction: "My strategy is that now that Li Min's son has established a firm foothold in Jiannan Road, the entire Jiannan Road has become his back garden, and it will be difficult for us to expand in the
Go in."
"If that's the case, why do we use our shortcomings to attack other people's strengths? What are the strengths of our family? It lies in our profound heritage and our monopoly on channels."
"So, my suggestion is to run away all the branches of China Commercial Bank outside Yizhou. It will make it impossible for them to gain a foothold outside Jiannan Road. At that time, they will have to rely on us.
channels.”
This strategy does make some sense.
But is it really possible?
"Lu Yong, your plan sounds good, but it is too difficult to implement. The products sold by China Commercial Bank are of better quality and more affordable than ours. At the same time, China Commercial Bank also has very strong funds.
.”
"If we adopt normal business competition, it will be difficult for us to crowd out their shops! Even if we can finally squeeze them out, we will suffer heavy losses. Doing so will not be worth the gain."
Lu Yong smiled and said: "Who asked you to engage in normal business competition with China Commercial Bank? Don't you know how to play dirty tricks?"
"I think we can start from their restaurants and clothing business in the early stage. We can secretly send those gangsters to injure the clerks in their stores. Of course, we will do it when they are off work."
"In this way, even if we are caught by the government, it is just an ordinary fight. We only need to compensate some money. But, if there are no waiters in their shop, how can they open a business?"
"As for the important roles of shopkeepers and chefs in the shop, we will not move them. In this way, they will not be able to find them even if they use the excuse. But as long as they are the clerks in their shop, they will all be beaten. I don't think anyone will dare to go to their shop.
Do something here!"
After listening to Lu Yong's plan, the faces of the people from the aristocratic families present couldn't help but look thoughtful.
There is a saying that a strong dragon will not suppress a local snake, which means that local snakes are very annoying and they have all kinds of underhanded methods.
What should you do if we can’t do it?
Then we'll beat your guys, and we'll do it when we're off work. You won't even have any guys until we beat you. It'll be up to you how you continue to do it.
At worst, both the attacker and the one being beaten can just pay some money.
Anyway, their aristocratic family does not lack this kind of money, and even if they don’t do it themselves, they can’t find it.
When it comes to the government, it's just an ordinary fight.
I have to say that this strategy is indeed too damaging to Taiyin.
However, the family likes it very much!
"High! This strategy is really high!"
"Hmph! No matter how powerful the King of Shu is, what's the use? Can he still reach out to the entire Tang Dynasty?"
"Yes, let him know how powerful our family is, let him know that our family is not something to be trifled with!"
"His channels are gone. When the time comes, won't he have to use our family's channels? Will he still have to be manipulated by us?"
Hearing the unanimous praise from everyone, Lu Yong was extremely proud.
Then, Lu Yong glanced at Cui Zhiji and said: "This strategy is good, but I am afraid that some people will leak the secret!"
Cui Zhiji took a deep breath and ignored this lunatic.
…
Li Min was in the field, watching the test of the first generation steam plow.
Soon, Li Min witnessed the true appearance of the first generation steam plow.
The setup of the steam plow is relatively simple, even crude, but the most basic functions are already complete.
The plow at the back is very wide, a full three meters long. This type of plow is best suited for growing land. If the land is several hundred meters long, one or two acres of land can be harvested in one pass.
The plow is at the back, and in front are two tires holding a steam engine. The steam engine can drive the tires forward.
But what puzzled Li Min was that he didn't see the steering wheel, which made Li Min feel curious.
Huh? How should he turn when he reaches the end of the field?
Soon, experiments with steam plows began.
This time the test was conducted outside and attracted a large number of people to come and watch.
Seeing the monster steam plow, they couldn't help but marveled.
What made Li Min curious was that the person in charge of the experiment this time was actually Li Yuanfang.
By the way, isn't Li Yuanfang training the Huya Special Forces?
How could he be free to come over and be responsible for testing steam plows?
Um, by the way, today is a holiday. I guess he was curious about the steam plow and wanted to operate it himself, right?
Li Min knew that Li Yuanfang was very curious about new things.
However, I always feel very curious when I see Di Renjie and Li Yuanfang working together in this life.
Li Yuanfang began to add water to the steam engine in front of the steam plow, and then lit it.
After the water began to boil and the power was sufficient, Li Yuanfang pressed the start switch.
The steam plow immediately began to move.
The plow at the back went into the soil a foot and a half deep.
As the plow passes by, the fertile soil is turned up.
The steam plow was very fast, and Li Yuanfang had to trot to keep up.
However, Li Yuanfang has excellent physical fitness, strong steps, and is very easy to maneuver.
However, Li Min saw hidden dangers in it.
This speed would definitely be difficult for ordinary people to control.
A device that can control the speed should be installed, and a place for people to stand behind should be installed. In this way, the person operating the machine does not have to run behind, and can save a lot of energy.
The land was quite long, nearly a hundred feet long, but the steam plow was able to plow it to the end in just a short time.
This speed really amazed the people who were watching.
"Hey, boom, boom, boom, this plow is so good, is it so fast?"
"That's right, this plow can run as fast as three to five oxen!"
"With this plow, cultivating two hundred acres of land by one person is just like playing."
"We'll go over and ask His Highness how much a plow like this costs in a minute. If it's cheap, let's buy one too."
Just as he was talking, the steam plow had reached its end, and Li Yuanfang decisively pressed the stop button.
After the steam plow stopped, Li Yuanfang called to three soldiers, and the four men quickly lifted the steam plow down, and then continued to light the fire.
Wait for it to heat up before plowing again.
I have to say that although it took a little time to turn around and ignite, the speed was still very fast.
However, there are not many strong young men who really can't play this.
After the experiment was completed, Di Renjie and others were very excited and couldn't help but clapped their hands in celebration.
"Great, the steam plow has finally been developed, it's done!"
"Yes, it was not easy, but fortunately, it was finally made!"
"To celebrate our victory, I suggest that we stay drunk tonight!"
I'm dizzy, what, you succeeded?
Li Min couldn't help but come over and said: "Haven't you noticed the shortcomings of the steam plow?"
After listening to Li Min's words, Di Renjie and others couldn't help but look blank on their faces.
Let me go, can’t you all see such an obvious shortcoming? Are you blind monks?
Well, well, they had never seen what the advanced plows of later generations looked like.
The steam plow was indeed very advanced in the Tang Dynasty.
It is actually normal for them not to realize their shortcomings.
Li Min couldn't help but said to them: "First, the steam plow moves too fast, and ordinary people simply can't keep up. Once they can't keep up, it is likely to cause an accident."
"So, my suggestion for this is to install a device that can regulate the speed and also have a braking device."
"Second, when the steam plow reaches the edge of the field, it needs to be lifted by people to turn. So, why can't a direction control rod be installed? Holding the control rod in your hand, you can turn at will without the trouble of having to lift it."
"Third, if there is a place for people to stand at the back so that people can stand and control the steam plow, will it be more labor-saving?"
After listening to Li Min's words, Di Renjie and other members of the research team suddenly showed thoughtful expressions on their faces.
Yes, their thinking is still not thorough enough.
The several questions raised by His Highness are all real problems currently existing.
If it can be corrected, it will definitely be a huge improvement for steam plows.
Thinking of this, the five-person research team hurried back excitedly and modified the steam plow based on Li Min's suggestions.
Seeing this scene, Li Min couldn't help but smile and shook his head.
Even if such changes are made, the steam plow will inevitably have some shortcomings.
But at least in terms of efficiency, it is several times faster than an ordinary plow.
But the price of steam plows is probably beyond the reach of ordinary people.
And no one knows how to operate it at the beginning. At the beginning, I'm afraid it won't be sold at all.
But Li Min is not worried, he has already thought of a countermeasure.
At that time, a group of people can be trained to drive steam plows to plow the land, and the price of an acre of land can be negotiated.
First let the people see the speed of the steam plow and let them feel the benefits before they can take the initiative to pay for it.
…
At this moment, Wu Meiniang came to look for Li Min.
Li Min saw that Wu Meiniang's face didn't look good.
Seeing Li Min, Wu Meiniang couldn't help but said in frustration: "Your Highness, something happened to China Commercial Bank."
Li Min patted Wu Meiniang's shoulder, then took her hand and said softly: "Don't be anxious, tell me slowly, what happened?"
Li Min's calmness also infected Wu Meiniang, and soon Wu Meiniang also calmed down.
"Your Highness, it's like this. Among the shops set up by Zhonghua Commercial Bank outside Jiannan Road, hotels and cloth shops are all subject to malicious competition from them. Now, all hotels and cloth shops outside Jiannan Road are unable to operate.
.”
After hearing the news, Li Min couldn't help but feel dissatisfied and murderous intent on his face.
"No need to ask, this must be what the noble family did, provoking me again and again. They have never died, right?"
Wu Meiniang said worriedly: "Your Highness, their methods are so confusing."
Since it is malicious competition, how can we not grasp the handle?
Li Min couldn't help but asked curiously: "So, what methods did they use?"
Wu Meiniang couldn't help but sigh and said: "Our shop assistants, as soon as they finish work, gangsters will come and beat them."
"After reporting it to the government, the best we can do is arrest those gangsters and fine them some money, and then pay some compensation to the shop assistants."
"But I can't stand up to all the clerks in the store. They will be beaten after work. After two or three days, these clerks will all run away. If they are beaten every day, they will not be able to stay any longer!"
"These people from aristocratic families are really scoundrels! They can't compete with us, but they resort to such despicable methods. It's really deceiving!"
Hearing Wu Meiniang's words, Li Min couldn't help but frown.
This is indeed a dirty trick, but it has to be said that it is indeed very effective.
Tian is a local snake, and if you want to punish someone, there aren't many ways to do it.
And this method is really difficult to resolve.
You can't just send people to protect all the clerks in the store, right?
In that case, they don't need to open a store.
But if it is not protected, no one will dare to work in their shop.
If you don’t have a little buddy, what’s the point of playing?
Unless, dispatch clerks to various stores on Jiannan Road?
This is a solution, but it also requires them to send a lot of people.
Besides, wouldn’t these guys have any accidents?
Just beating him up is the lightest method. They can even kill people, or even set fire to him and other extreme measures.
Li Min was sure that they could prevent anyone from finding out that he was related to the aristocratic family.
This is the saying that a strong dragon cannot overwhelm a local snake.
You are powerful, but they don't play with you openly at all.
The key is that it's not within the borders of Jiannan Road, and Li Min can't reach it no matter how long his hand is.
It would be a taboo if you extend your hand.
Faced with this situation, Li Min had no good solution for a while.
Wu Meiniang was so anxious that she almost shed tears.
Over the past few years, she has been going smoothly, and her self-confidence has begun to expand.
I always feel that there is no problem in this world that she cannot solve.
But now that she really met the aristocratic family, Wu Meiniang discovered that she was actually just relying on the King of Shu.
Without King Shu, she really is nothing.
With tears in Wu Meiniang's eyes, she couldn't help but asked anxiously: "Your Highness, what should we do?"
After thinking for a long time, Li Min couldn't help but said: "If it doesn't work, let's withdraw those stores."
Hearing Li Min's words, Wu Meiniang couldn't help but said anxiously: "However, we have finally built those shops. If we withdraw all of them, our losses will be too great! Furthermore, if we withdraw, wouldn't it be equivalent to opening up those shops?"
Has the family bowed its head?"
Li Min smiled and said: "The fact is that on the territory of the aristocratic family, it is indeed difficult for us to compete with the aristocratic family. This is just a small trick on their part. They should have more tricks that they have not used. So, bear with me for a while.
When the weather is calm and the sea is calm, the sea and sky will be brighter when you take a step back."
Wu Meiniang said anxiously: "But, can we just abandon all the channels we finally laid out?"
Li Min took a deep breath and said: "My opinion is that we don't need these channels. Then we will open up other channels and strive to cover the entire Tang Dynasty at once."
After hearing Li Min's words, Wu Meiniang couldn't help but have a look of confusion on her face.
The problem now is that even these existing channels can no longer be maintained, so how can we open up channels for the entire Datang?
Wu Meiniang couldn't help but asked in confusion: "But, Your Highness, how can we spread the channels throughout the Tang Dynasty?"
Li Min couldn't help but smile and said: "Mei Niang, let me ask you, in the entire Tang Dynasty, are there only a few aristocratic families with the five surnames and Qi Wang?"
Wu Meiniang said puzzledly: "Of course not. There are many aristocratic families in the Tang Dynasty. In some places, the energy of these aristocratic families is no less than that of the Five Surnames and Qiwang. However, in terms of comprehensive strength, they are far inferior to the Five Surnames.
My surname is Qiwang."
Li Min nodded and said: "My husband's method is to unite these aristocratic families, and then jointly fight against the five surnames, Qiwang and other aristocratic families."
Hearing Li Min calling himself her husband, Wu Meiniang couldn't help but blush, but her heart felt sweet.
Then Wu Meiniang couldn't help but ask: "Then, Your Highness, what are you going to do?"
Li Min couldn't help but said to Wu Meiniang: "During this period, these stores will be closed for rectification first. Then I will publish the news in Yizhou Monthly and open chain stores throughout Datang."
"Chain chain?"
"Yes, as long as you can prove your power, you can join. The brand will still be ours, and we will send people to provide guidance. The stores and specifications are the same across the country, and the prices are also the same."
"In each region, depending on the development situation and the size of the region, one or two franchise stores will be opened. Then we will give the profits to them. I believe that with the strength of our Zhonghua Commercial Bank, many aristocratic families will join in."
After hearing Li Min's words, Wu Meiniang couldn't help but her eyes lit up, looking thoughtful.
After a long while, he said: "Your Highness, this method is not bad. It can indeed unite the local aristocratic families to jointly resist the Five Surnames and Qi Wang. But, similarly, the Five Surnames and Qi Wangs can also join?"
Li Min smiled and said: "Not everyone can join. They need to apply first, and we still need to review. Only after passing our review and paying a franchise fee can they join. Five Surnames and Seven Hopes
We don’t want any of them from aristocratic families.”
If this is the case, it is indeed a perfect solution and saves them the trouble of setting up branches themselves.
In this way, except for the home of Wu Xing Qi Wang, there are actually aristocratic families in other places.
These aristocratic families can compete with the Five Surnames and Seven Hopes in their own territory.
Therefore, the methods of the Five Surnames, Qiwang and other aristocratic families will definitely not be effective when used on them.
And for the sake of profit, with the King of Shu and the Chinese Commercial Bank as their backing, they must be willing to compete with the Five Surnames and Seven Hopes.
In fact, they have endured the aristocratic family with five surnames and seven hopes for a long time.
Now that they have the opportunity to compete with the Five Surnames and Seven Hopes, and even weaken or even replace them, these aristocratic families are very happy.
However, Wu Meiniang still said worriedly: "Your Highness, our hotel also has the task of collecting intelligence. If it is closed, the losses will be too great!"