1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 2209
After a few days of contact with Jin Dun and his group, Dai Yingfan discovered that they were not supernatural soldiers and generals, but Han Chinese just like himself. The difference was that they had all received extremely systematic military training, and many of them With different levels of actual combat experience, coupled with advanced weapons and equipment, its combat effectiveness is indeed far beyond that of ordinary martial arts bodyguards.

How these people were trained, of course Dai Yingfan didn't expect to steal a teacher from Yuan Tao, otherwise he wouldn't have to spend a lot of money to send people to Zhoushan for training.But being able to observe how Yuan Tao assigns tasks, deploys defenses, and directs operations up close, he feels that he has learned something from it, and his admiration for Yuan Tao is also increasing day by day.

"Treasurer Yuan, after this matter is over, are you willing to stay in Yangzhou? I discussed it with my brother, and I would like to pay 2 taels of silver every year to hire Treasurer Yuan as the head coach of the seven surnames. A house, as the local residence of Yuan Treasurer."

After finally finding an opening, Dai Yingfan took the initiative to mention his plan to continue hiring Yuan Tao.This is different from the current employment method. Dai Yingfan hopes to hire Yuan Tao for his own use, instead of simply continuing the deal with Golden Shield. Not only will he provide a position with a good salary, but he will also give away a house. The conditions proposed are different. It's not good.

The reason why the Dai family is willing to offer such a high condition is mainly because of Yuan Tao's ability. The Dai brothers are convinced that Yuan Tao's ability is enough to train a strong armed force for the seven surnames, so that they don't have to spend a lot of money in the future Sending people to Zhoushan for training, you can train as many people as you want. The conditions offered to Yuan Tao seem to be expensive, but considering the actual results, it is actually a very cost-effective deal.

Of course, the Dai brothers also know that Yuan Tao's status in Jindun is not low, and he is also a person who is highly valued by Haihan's senior management. Yuan Tao.

Yuan Tao was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Thanks to Boss Dai's love, Yuan doesn't have such a great ability, he just tries his best to complete the task. Yuan can't bear the position of the head coach of this team, so I'd better hire someone else." !"

Yuan Tao's reaction did not exceed Dai Yingfan's expectations. He didn't think that this kind of thing could be done immediately. If Yuan Tao was such a reckless person, he might not be able to sit in his current position.

Dai Yingfan continued to persuade: "Treasurer Yuan doesn't need to give an answer immediately, you might as well think about it slowly. If there are any conditions, you can also bring them up for discussion. Please believe that Shopkeeper Yuan, we are fully sincere about this matter."

Yuan Tao declined and said: "I don't doubt Boss Dai's sincerity, but I'm afraid there is no need to discuss this matter. When your people return from Zhoushan, you can form and train the militia by yourself. If you still feel powerless at that time If you don’t get caught, then just send someone to Zhoushan for training.”

The terms Dai Yingfan offered were of course very generous, and the remuneration far exceeded Yuan Tao's current income level.But the question is, is it worth giving up your great future for the money?Yuan Tao obviously didn't think it was a good deal.

He is now the branch manager of Golden Shield, and if he takes another crucial step up, he will be able to pierce the ceiling and become a real high-level figure.At that time, maybe there will be a chance to win a wife and a son, and to be a descendant, and the threshold for one's own children to become an official will be relatively much lower in the future.Even from an economic point of view, as long as one level is raised, the income may not be worse than the price offered by the salt merchant.

And what can you get if you give up your future in Haihan to work for a salt merchant?In the short term, the income will indeed increase a lot, but if I want to return to Haihan in the future, I'm afraid I have to start all over again.Yuan Tao has now stepped into the privileged class of Haihan Kingdom. As long as he stays in Jindun, he will have the opportunity to go up. How could he be so short-sighted that he gave up his bright future for money.

Dai Yingfan couldn't help but feel a little disappointed after hearing this answer, but he also knew that this kind of thing could not be forced, so he left a message here first, in case Yuan Tao's thoughts changed in the future, there might be room for discussion.

Yuan Tao didn't pay attention to these messy things at all. He was very clear about his tasks and responsibilities when he came to Yangzhou, and he also knew that the current situation was far from being optimistic.Although he successfully repelled an opponent's night attack, he didn't think that the opponent would give up at this point, and would definitely plan the next attack against the seven major surnames.

Now that he is in the clear and the enemy is in the dark, it is difficult for Yuan Tao to take the initiative to prevent the opponent from launching an offensive. He can only try to make the fence as firm as possible, so as not to leave too many opportunities for the opponent to take advantage of.

As long as the people in charge of protection don't leave Daijiazhuang, Yuan Tao is still very confident that he can protect them well.Even if there is an army to attack this place, as long as the number of troops on the battlefield does not reach the scale of a thousand, he will be sure to repel the opponent and gain buffer time for the evacuation of Yangzhou.

The battle at Daijiazhuang didn't cause much noise in Yangzhou, and there wasn't even any news about it in the market. It was obvious that the other party was unwilling to publicize the matter after suffering such a dull loss, so it seemed calm.This also reassured the salt merchants of the seven surnames a little, thinking that after making the other party suffer this time, they might be able to calm down for a while.As long as the last few months are delayed, the situation is expected to switch from offense to defense, and then there will be no need to be so passive as it is now.

But the direction of things seems not to be so satisfactory. The tree wants to be quiet but the wind keeps on, and a new storm is brewing.

The business of Qingfeng Building in Yangzhou City suddenly improved a little, which made Shopkeeper Ge no longer frown like he was a few days ago.Although Hui nationality salt merchants still did not appear in Yangzhou City, the number of banquets hosted by other salt merchants for local officials has inexplicably increased.

"Duan San, see how many private rooms are reserved for tonight!"

Shopkeeper Ge leaned on the bamboo chair behind the counter, crossed Erlang's legs and asked leisurely.He actually knew the situation, but he always wanted to hear the news that made him happy.

"Shopkeeper, all the private rooms are fully booked today!" Duan San reported with a happy face: "He, Wang, and Lu have booked all the three most expensive private rooms, and they said they are going to invite the official Let’s eat. There are also several tables with reservations, saying that they want to come to listen to the news.”

"Listen to the news? What news are you listening to?" Shopkeeper Ge didn't react for a moment.

"It's what Lord He and the others want to talk about when they entertain the officials!" Duan San lowered his voice and said, "I heard that it has something to do with those people who haven't shown up in Yangzhou City recently!"

Shopkeeper Ge suddenly said: "You're talking about the seven surnames? It's about the future trend. These small salt merchants have to find a way to find out the news."

Duan San was slightly surprised and said: "Shopkeeper, it seems that you have heard the news this time?"

Shopkeeper Ge snorted and said, "Do you really think that I guard this place every day, so I don't know what's going on outside? The seven surnames have not shown up recently, and I heard that they have committed serious crimes! In recent days, other salt merchants have been The banquet for various officials must be to inquire about the inside story... From my point of view, these seven surnames are about to be unlucky!"

Duan San asked: "How can this be seen?"

"Why don't you say you are still too young!" Shopkeeper Ge said earnestly: "Look at the customers who have held banquets in our restaurant these days, they are all at odds with the seven surnames on weekdays. They are so anxious to give gifts to all the gods. The incense money is obviously related to the seven surnames, and it is probably digging a hole for the opponent!"

Duan San hesitated: "Shopkeeper, you know so well, could it be that you overheard their conversation in the private room these few days?"

Shopkeeper Ge stared and said: "I am the shopkeeper of Qingfenglou, can I do that kind of low-level work? Don't talk nonsense outside, you will cause trouble for Qingfenglou, and no one can protect you then!"

Duan San knew that he had made a slip of the tongue, and quickly responded, but he felt that this was probably the truth.Whenever someone entertained local officials in Qingfeng Building, shopkeeper Ge would always find an opportunity to go in to say hello and toast, and it was normal to hear some news in the meantime.

"Go away, go and see the preparations in the kitchen, don't delay the evening banquet!" Shopkeeper Ge waved his hand impatiently, driving Duan San away from his eyes.

Shopkeeper Ge will pay special attention to some rumors in the market, not because he loves gossip, but because he wants to feed back valuable information to the behind-the-scenes boss of Qingfenglou, the magistrate of Yangzhou Prefecture.The competition among salt merchants is just a daily routine in Yangzhou, but officials from all walks of life are involved so frequently. In his opinion, it is obviously a sign of trouble, so he pays special attention to it.

The seven surnames hired Haihan people to come to Yangzhou as bodyguards, and now the Shanxi salt merchants have moved out all their contacts in the officialdom. This probably means that the two sides are about to start a battle of wits.But shopkeeper Ge believes that no matter what, the seven surnames are just common people after all, and it is impossible to compete with the Shanshan salt merchants with more official connections, so he insists that the seven surnames are going to be unlucky.

However, shopkeeper Ge did not dare to express his views publicly, because his attitude might be interpreted as the meaning of the magistrate from the outside world.This is very dangerous, and his remarks are very likely to be used by those who want to use them. That's why shopkeeper Ge warned Duan San not to publicize this.

As for what kind of hole the Shanxi Salt Chamber of Commerce will dig for the seven surnames, shopkeeper Ge even guessed a little bit. After all, the most officials of the Shanxi Salt Merchant banquet these days are people from the Salt Industry Yamen. Let's do it.

Shanshan salt merchants have spent thousands of taels of silver in Qingfeng Building these days, but the silver they sent out in the private room is probably several times as much as this amount.And people from all walks of life who heard the news also brought a lot of business to Qingfenglou.Therefore, despite the absence of the main consumption force of Huizhou salt merchants in recent days, the business of Qingfenglou has recovered to a relatively good state.

This night, an unidentified and unconfirmed news came out from the Qingfeng Building. The envoy of the transfer of salt transportation from the Huaihe River and the Huaihe River has found evidence of the seven surnames selling illegal salt, and will investigate and deal with these large salt merchants in the near future.

As soon as the news came out, the price of private salt on the black market in Yangzhou immediately rose by three points.There are even gambling stalls that immediately open a handicap, asking gamblers to bet which of the seven surnames the Yanzheng Yamen will start to investigate.Of course, those who dare to open such a handicap without fear of offending others must be gambling stalls that are closely related to Shanxi salt merchants.

However, most of the small salt merchants in charge of distribution still took a wait-and-see attitude after getting the news. After all, the two major salt merchant groups have been fighting for not a year or two, and neither of them can do anything to each other.If the seven major surnames were downcast today and stood in line to the side of the Shanshan salt merchants, then in a few days the Shanxi salt merchants would be devastated, and if they wanted to stand on the opposite side again, they would have to shed a layer of skin.So everyone's idea is the same, wait to see the situation first, and then decide whether to stand in line.

It took only one day for this rumor to become a fact.The Department of Salt Transportation of the Huaihe River and Huaihe River issued an official document, saying that some local salt merchants were found to be suspected of selling illegal salt, so they temporarily stopped exchanging salt quotations for these salt merchants, and will seize the shops and stores under the names of these salt merchants. Warehouse to facilitate forensic investigations.

This official document is not just a formality. The two Huaihe Rivers are transferred to the three sub-divisions under the jurisdiction of the Salt Transport Envoy, eleven inspection departments, and thirty saltworks, all of which must participate in the operation.This also means that the business under the names of the salt merchants listed in the official document will be completely suspended until the case is clarified.

How big the specific impact will be can be seen from the supply area of ​​Huai salt.At this time, the areas that Huaiyan passed through included Yingtian, Ningguo, Taiping, Yangzhou, Fengyang, Luzhou, Anqing, Chizhou, Huai'an nine prefectures, as well as Chuzhou and Hezhou, as well as the two chief secretaries of Jiangxi and Huguang. Some jurisdictions, several state capitals in Henan, etc.

Every day the business stops, it will cause great losses to these big salt merchants.Even a wealthy country cannot afford this kind of shutdown without a deadline.

As for whether to investigate these salt merchants, that is actually not the point. After all, no salt merchant has a completely clean buttocks, and the benefits the salt government has received from salt merchants over the years are not small The number, no one has a good life after tearing their faces.Therefore, the effectiveness of this official document is not fully implemented according to its content. It only temporarily closes the shops and warehouses of Huizhou salt merchants, and prohibits them from transporting and selling salt in any way during the investigation period.

The news spread back to Daijiazhuang shortly after the Yanzheng Yamen posted an official notice in Yangzhou City.Rao Dai Yingda was calm in handling things, and he didn't dare to neglect this time, so he immediately called a meeting of the seven patriarchs currently in Daijiazhuang to discuss countermeasures.Of course, I didn't forget to invite Yuan Tao, a foreign aid, as well. Yuan Tao's opinion is also needed on how the seven surnames should deal with it next.

"Everyone should have heard, right? The enemy didn't intend to leave any room for us this time, and moved out all the salt transport envoys. If we don't deal with it carefully this time, I'm afraid we won't even be able to keep our jobs Already!" Dai Yingda said this and slapped the table hard, as if to vent his grievances.

(End of this chapter)