Today, the governor of Jiangdi has ordered your Excellency to host a banquet for all the merchants in Jiangdi to discuss the new policies of the imperial court and discuss important matters, which are related to the business lifeline of each company in the second half of the year.
"Zheng Yuanshan is here."
"Where is the young man who will replace Old Ghost Fu?"
"He hasn't arrived yet."
"What a big rack."
The gentleman in charge of the order was already over sixty years old, but his eyes were bright and he said slowly: "Most of the others are here, right?"
The person next to him responded: "80% of us are here, but there are still a few people who haven't arrived yet."
He is about fifty years old, has a bright look, and has an order hanging on his waist. He is clearly the deputy commander of Jiangdi.
Jiang Dizheng ordered him to exhale slowly and said: "A quarter of an hour ago, I received a piece of news. It is on the table. Please take a closer look."
The man with the deputy order hanging on his waist was immediately stunned. He took the letter and his expression suddenly changed.
"this……"
"My immediate superior has been replaced."
——
Zhengzun Tower looks very lively.
In fact, the merchants who can be invited here already have large-scale businesses under their names.
Either a local family, or a large trading house like Zhuang's Trading Company, which spreads all over the country.
And their information is actually very well-informed.
"Zheng Yuanshan is here, from the 'He' land."
"I heard that our Lord, Jiangdi Zhengling, sent out two invitations?"
"Yes, it seems that the young man who came from overseas to replace Fu Laogui is not of high status. At least if Zheng Yuanshan dares to accept the invitation, he is not lower than him."
"That's not necessarily the case. Zheng Yuanshan and Fu Laogui have not been very friendly this year. Maybe... it's time to break up."
"Just wait and see what happens. There will probably be something good to watch tonight."
"That's true."
——
Zheng Yuanshan presented a gift and took his seat.
Yuan Tao followed behind, looking solemn.
"Young master hasn't arrived yet."
"Not his style."
Zheng Yuanshan muttered: "Although he is arrogant and arrogant, he always shows gentleness and even humility in front of outsiders, and seeks cooperation and benefits. This Jiangdi is ordering your Excellency to hold a banquet and place it in the Dongsheng Dynasty.
It’s more grand than the banquet held by the tall people in Guangfu. He wants to gain a foothold in Jiangdi, so there is no reason to be pretentious..."
Yuan Tao hesitated and said: "Then..."
Zheng Yuanshan exhaled and said, "Wait."
Zhuang Ming came late, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
If he were to face Zhuang Ming directly at this moment, he would not know how to confront him.
Now that you are quiet, you can think about it carefully.
In the final analysis, it was just because I worked under him, Zhuang Ming, that I had such a strong sense of awe that I still can't shake it off.
In practical terms, he, Zhuang Ming, was just a merchant from a remote area of the Dongsheng Dynasty.
"The power of our three places is not inferior to the power of the three places left by Old Ghost Fu."
"There is no reason for me to be lower than him!"
"Besides, I have an advantage over him."
——
Outside Zhengzun Building.
Zhuang Ming looked forward and smiled slightly.
The lights in front are brightly lit and it looks extremely lively.
However, the etiquette, customs, clothing, etc. are really different, and I am still a little uncomfortable at the moment.
"Sir, we're here."
"Let's go."
Zhuang Ming took the lead.
Beside him were two masters, Yue Ting and Lu He.
As for Bai Qing and Liu He, they stayed in the trading house, communicated with Fu Lao, and continued to become familiar with the Dongyuan realm.
——
"The people from Zhuang's Trading Company are here."
"Yue Ting is on his right and behind him. Is this young man really of higher status than Yue Ting?"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, it's rare that someone as unruly as Yue Ting can actually bow his head?"
"What's even more rare is that this person looks younger than Yue Ting."
"Let's first find out whether the young man who is about to succeed Fu Laogui is a real talent, or is he a mediocre person with a lot of talent but a lot of failures?"
"It's not busy. Someone came to explore before us."
Many people's eyes fell on the visitor.
But Zhuang Ming looked as usual and turned a blind eye.
He tilted his head slightly and looked at Yue Ting.
Yue Ting took the gift, put it in front, and said immediately: "This is the meeting gift given to Lord Zhengling by the head of my Zhuang's Trading Company. Please write it down... where is the location of our Zhuang's Trading Company?"
The man who received the gift quickly stood up and said, "When you enter the building, someone will guide you."
Yue Ting nodded slightly, stepped back, and stopped half a step beside Zhuang Ming.
Zhuang Ming walked forward, a smile gradually appeared on the corner of his mouth.
Because right in front of him, there was a familiar figure.
Zheng Yuanshan, who is over sixty years old, is dressed in fine clothes and looks dignified.
Yuan Tao, who was in his prime, was condensed like an oven.
The eyes of both of them were extremely complex.
"Being apart for several years feels like a lifetime apart."
Zhuang Ming stopped and said with a smile: "How are you two?"
The lively conversations among the principals in the venue suddenly became quiet.
The whole scene seemed very silent.
All eyes were looking over there.
While calm, there seemed to be a burst of cold air.
"I've met the young master."
They both stood up and saluted each other.
——
On the second floor.
"Did you see it?"
"I saw it."
"The identity of the visitor is indeed higher than Zheng Yuanshan in their hometown."
"But now it seems that Zheng Yuanshan is determined to be independent."
"Keep watching."
"Do you want to recruit guards? Don't start a fight on the spot..."
"The two of them are just merchants after all. How dare they disturb my official's banquet?"
The Lord was ordering a little contempt and said: "You go out in person and calm down the situation with deputy orders. If there is any rash action, whoever dares to take action will be arrested and imprisoned. The law is enforced impartially."
The deputy commander muttered: "Who will arrest whom first?"
Just then, the master turned his head and said, "Whoever dares to arrest anyone!"
The deputy commander hesitated and said: "What if the other party takes action first and the remaining party has to protect itself?"
Lord Zhengling said calmly: "According to the laws of Dachu, whoever dares to take action will be arrested!"
The deputy commander said solemnly: "I understand."
No matter who strikes first, as long as he dares to strike, even if it is to protect himself, he will still be arrested!
Let’s play fifty big boards each first!
——
The banquet has not started yet.
But the atmosphere was extremely tense.
Zhuang Ming didn't seem to notice the gazes around him, he just looked at the two old friends in front of him.
Once a confidant, now a traitor.
The human heart is complex and unpredictable.
The broadening of horizons changes the loyalty of people's hearts.
To be honest, it is really hard to ignore how vicious and evil these two people are, but...why can't they maintain their original aspirations like Fu Lao and Yue Ting?
"What are your thoughts now?"
Zhuang Ming stood with his hands behind his hands and suddenly asked.
The atmosphere in the venue became increasingly silent.
Zheng Yuanshan thought about how to confront this former master, but he never thought that in the past, the master who was deep in the city and unpredictable in his words and deeds would be so straightforward this time. The first sentence pointed to the problem.
location.
With just one sentence, he was forced to choose a stance!
Still a companion?
Or has become an enemy?
"Master..."
Zheng Yuanshan saluted and said in a low voice: "This is the last time I call you Young Master."
Yuan Tao also saluted and said: "Well, sir."
Zheng Yuanshan raised his head, with a solemn expression, held his head high, and said in a deep voice: "Zhuang Ming, I personally won this overseas business, and I can't give it away to you... If you are willing, you can never touch the river again."
Zhuang Ming sighed softly.
Yue Ting's face was gloomy.
Lu He remained silent and just stretched out his hand to hold the handle of the knife.
"The water from the well does not interfere with the water from the river?"
Zhuang Ming said calmly: "I gave you your family background, and I gave you your foundation."
Zheng Yuanshan said in a low voice: "I borrowed your foundation back then to stand firm in the Great Chu Dongyuan Realm, and I will repay you ten times."
Zhuang Ming suddenly laughed and said: "You worked hard in the three places to do business. You originally took the most credit, but it's a pity..."
He patted the hem of his clothes, his expression grew colder, and said: "From the beginning, I told you that you came overseas to open a business for me... and now you want to betray me and split the overseas business with me?"
Zheng Yuanshan stepped back slightly and said: "I admit that you are unparalleled in wit and resourcefulness, and this is the only one I have seen in Zheng's life, but this is not the Dongsheng Dynasty. You have just arrived, and you may not be able to stand firm in Jiangdi. You want to clean up my place...
I’m afraid you’ll be completely defeated!”
At this point, I heard Zheng Yuanshan say: "If you agree and make a poisonous oath not to embarrass me, then I will not cause any trouble for you in the recent events in the three places."
Zhuang Ming laughed and said, "You value yourself too much."
After finishing speaking, he glanced at all the businessmen present with a calm expression.
Not only did Zheng Yuanshan value himself too much, he also thought highly of the Jiangdi businessmen.
In other words... Zheng Yuanshan underestimated him, Zhuang Ming.
——
"Okay, now that you have decided on your stance today, let's take care of ourselves from now on."
Zhuang Ming withdrew his gaze and said this.
Lu He looked at the two companions he had worked with before, his face gradually turned cold, and he held the handle of the knife in his hand.
He has the spirit of a master and is extremely powerful.
His grandmaster is stronger than Yue Ting and Yuan Tao's grandmasters.
He was in the Dongsheng Dynasty, relied on his own strength to gather the general trend, traveled through life and death, and became a master.
After that, with the help of the divine blood bath, I went one step further, almost reaching the peak!
Looking at the entire Chu Dynasty, within the upper level of Daoyin and among the third level of martial arts, Zhuang Ming also said that he was already at the top!
At this moment, he was furious in his heart, and the power and murderous intent emanating from him were almost condensed.
Yuan Tao's heart trembled, and a warrior's instinct made him unsheath his sword and hold it in front of him!
"you dare!"
When Lu He saw this, he suddenly shouted coldly and took out his sword!
Suddenly a cold light flashed!
A murderous confrontation!
Everyone present could not help but be shocked by it.
The scene was frozen for a moment.
——
"Be bold!"
I saw a man walking up, with a deputy order hanging on his waist, and shouted: "This is within the territory of Jiangdi. You dare to use the knife at Master Zhengling's banquet. Where will you put Master Zhengling?"
He walked slowly over, clearly just a scholar-like civil servant, but his majestic momentum was breathtaking.
Zhuang Ming's eyes narrowed slightly, he looked over, and his eyes fell on his waist again.
That is one of the two orders of Jiangdi, the deputy order?
It really is a magic weapon!
This person is just an ordinary person. After receiving this magic weapon, he can speak and act with dignity and be able to convince people in public.
In the dark level, it can also drive away ghosts and ghosts.
"Lu He, don't be reckless."
Zhuang Ming said: "Put away the knife."
Lu He nodded slightly and prepared to put the sword into its sheath.
But just now!
Yuan Tao felt his whole body stiffen!
As if frozen!
His Qi and blood are stagnant!
His back seemed to have been hit!
Then he rushed toward Lu He with a knife!
"you dare?"
The deputy commander shouted angrily!
Everyone exclaimed!
No one would have thought that Yuan Tao would dare to take action in the presence of the deputy commander, at the banquet of the chief minister?
At this moment, Lu He, who was attacked by surprise, had a cold look on his face. His half-sheathed sword was unsheathed again, flashing a cold light.