Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 289 Please Call Me Murong Xi
As the saying goes, one should always act within one's means.

For the previous six months, Madam Zixia was enjoying immense prestige, using various connections to not only monopolize the coal mine but also the wine profits.

The key is to make her tie many interests to herself.

This is why she was able to unite many families not long ago.

This also demonstrates the extent of their ambition.

However, the way of heaven is fair; benefits and risks are always proportional, especially when you don't master the key technologies involved, which is actually a very dangerous operation.

Now she is being devoured by these very benefits.

To make coal mining more convincing, she linked it with alcohol, which attracted more families to get involved.

But in retrospect, this was actually a very wrong strategy.

By spreading rumors that coal is toxic, Wang Xi and his group easily forced her to distance herself from the situation.

If she wants to protect coal, she must firmly refute these arguments, continue to brew wine with coal, and prove with facts that wine brewed with coal is non-toxic.

But no one dared to gamble with him, because the Nameless Academy had absolute authority in this matter. Whether you believe it or not, your body is ultimately your own.

If she wants to preserve the liquor, she must cut ties with the coal. If she abandons the coal herself, doesn't that mean the coal is truly toxic? This would inevitably severely damage her coal mining business.

But she had no choice.

Because she previously monopolized the liquor profits, a large amount of profit was concentrated in the liquor profits. The reason why everyone was willing to invest in coal mining was also closely related to the liquor profits. Compared with liquor, the profits from coal mining were nothing.

There was almost no need to weigh the pros and cons; the only option was to decisively admit the mistake, even though Wang Xi had already told them that they had wronged them.

However, to maintain the overall situation, they decided to cut ties and immediately ordered people to negotiate with major restaurants to ensure that the wine previously brewed with coal had not been sold to them, and that it was all brewed with charcoal.

At the same time, they sent people to explain to the nobles that it was absolutely impossible to sell wine brewed with coal, and that they should take the lead in returning to the tavern to give the customers confidence.

Because the profits involved were so great, the nobles, in order to protect their own interests, actively purchased the "Beauty Wine" after confirming that it was not brewed with coal, thus giving the market confidence.

The liquor market quickly became active again, but this also caused the major families to lose confidence in coal mining. The gunpowder from the Nameless Academy made them feel that they had no motivation to compete.

The coal mining gradually came to a halt.

Without seeing any returns, who would be willing to invest so much? And Lady Zixia's prestige naturally suffered a great blow.

But this was far from over, because she had not yet realized Wang Xi and his group's true purpose.

An unnamed academy.

Li Jie said with a sly grin, "Just as we predicted, your aunt gave up those coal mines in order to protect the profits from the liquor business."

Wang Xi said, "I always said they were a bunch of short-sighted fools, not worth mentioning."

Li Jieman quickly said, "That includes our father too."

Wang Xi chuckled and said, "If all our fathers were so far-sighted, would we need to worry about them?"

Li Jie thought for a long time and nodded: "That's true."

Wang Xi continued, "To be honest, my aunt's strategy is the most correct. Fuel is the key, while the profit from alcohol is just a superficial benefit and not worth mentioning at all. Next, we must take over these coal mines in one fell swoop. Once we take over the coal mines, we will be able to control the overall situation and start counter-encirclement and suppression against them, using their own methods against them."

Li Jieman said, "However, this step is different from our original plan because your aunt had already realized what was going on and forced the Ministry of Works to change the contract. It will be difficult for me to easily get the Ministry of Works to grant us the coal mining rights."

Huangfu Sengnian laughed and said, "Previously, his aunt used public resentment to force the court to change the contract and sign a long-term contract with her. Now we can also use public resentment to create disputes, force the Ministry of Works to get involved, and force them to hand over the coal mines."

"Correct!" Wang Xi snapped his fingers, then asked Huangfu Sengnian, "How are your preparations going?"

Huangfu Sengnian said, "It's all settled. The Anye Bureau also deserves credit for this. Many unemployed people can only stay in the countryside. They all need the Anye Bureau's help now, so they naturally obey our orders. Not to mention there's extra income involved."

Wang Xi chuckled and said, "What makes a good opera? It's one climax after another, you just can't stop! Haha!"

The other three also wore wicked grins.

This included Huangfu Sengnian, and it was also the moment he had been most looking forward to.

Lady Zixia deliberately created public resentment by leveraging her connections with local village leaders, and in one fell swoop, she altered the contract with the imperial court.

This time, Wang Xi wanted to fight fire with fire, so they started creating chaos through those hidden households.

They first expressed that those coal mines are no longer being mined much, and who will ensure that they will continue to pay the imperial court to contribute to the local area?

as predicted.

Their commotion immediately caused concern among the villagers.

Just then, the nameless academy suddenly extended an olive branch, stating that they were willing to pay double the reward if they were to mine these coal mines.

This really got the villagers very excited.

There is such a good thing.

The number of people causing trouble at the coal mine immediately increased dramatically.

Wang Maozhong, of course, sided with the nameless academy and immediately sent someone to inquire with Madam Zixia.

What's going on with your coal mine?

They've stopped mining!

The villagers are very worried; you need to give them an explanation!

Madam Zixia wasn't stupid either; she had already sent people to investigate. Damn it, it was a group of hidden individuals who were the ringleaders.

What is a hidden account?

Those are the people who are about to go home.

Whether the coal mine pays out or not is none of your business.

Don't think about it.

This was all Wang Xi's doing.

They didn't hide this fact, openly expressing their desire to acquire those coal mines. Madam Zixia, however, subtly told the Ministry of Works that the money would definitely be in place, but that the coal mines were absolutely not to be given up.

Because the contract did not specify the mining volume, it only stated that a sum of money would be paid every year.

The Ministry of Works had nothing to say.

However, the nameless academy is going to increase its offer, stating that it will hand over 10% of the coal to nearby villagers for sale, especially those who lack land.

That was so exciting!
Faced with such a huge temptation, the villagers completely refused.

They're starting to find excuses to cause trouble again.

They said no one at the coal mine was paying attention to them, and that the coal dust was blowing all the way to their house when the wind blew. They said if the coal mine didn't take care of it properly, they would have to pay more.

More than a dozen villages!

It's getting bigger and bigger.

The Ministry of Works also took advantage of their disturbance to put pressure on Madam Zixia, saying that it was fine if they didn't want to mine, but they had to send people to clean up every day, and also to water the area. They said that the people were dissatisfied and it was difficult for them to do things.
Not only that, Wang Maozhong also betrayed himself by having his own people file complaints against him, claiming that the coal mines he sold were not being mined, resulting in no improvement in the coal market and thus wasting national resources.

This was due to mishandling by the Ministry of Works.

That person claimed to have a clear mind, but the problem is that many people didn't know the reason and foolishly joined in complaining.

Impeaching Wang Maozhong was something they were very happy to do.

Wang Maozhong used this pressure to put pressure on Madam Zixia.

We really can't do without mining!
Lady Zixia was well aware of Wang Xi and his group's schemes. Although she did not know the specific reasons, she believed that the more the enemy wanted something, the less she should let them have it.

She planned to continue mining.

The problem is, she's just the person in charge; there's a whole bunch of big bosses behind her.

Nowadays, coal mining is not very profitable; otherwise, it wouldn't be their turn. Besides, everyone says your coal is toxic. If you mine it, who will you sell it to?

The more you mine, the more you lose.

Madam Zixia tried her best to explain to them that this was a trap set by the Nameless Academy, and they couldn't fall for it. Handing over the coal mine might put them in a very passive position.

But just as Wang Xi said, they were nothing but a rabble.

When it comes to making money or bullying the weak, they're really united. But if you ask them to lose money and fight back, then you'll have to step aside.

What truly and utterly crushed them was the betrayal of the Dou family.

The Dou family and the Doulu family have a very good relationship.

One was Li Longji's biological mother, and the other was his adoptive mother.

What kind of relationship is this?

But Dou Xiguan didn't care about any of that; making him pay money was out of the question.

Those who understand the times are wise; that is the motto of our Dou family.

Fertilizer factories require such a large investment; what if they end up like coal mines?
Turn around immediately.

Even the Dou family doesn't believe you, so why should we?

In fact, the Yuan, Helan, and Dugu families, these powerful Xianbei clans, all understood Lady Zixia. They were also hesitant at one point, because the facts proved that this was a trick by the Nameless Academy.

However, with Dou Xiguan's defection, they also realized that these were unfamiliar business dealings for them, and that fighting with Wuming Academy in these areas would put them at a significant disadvantage.

With the Yuan family's compromise, Madam Zixia knew she was powerless to reverse the situation, but she still said that since the other party was eager to take over the coal mine, they could take the opportunity to force the other party to compromise and sell the coal mine to them instead of just handing it over.

Otherwise, we will suffer huge losses.

This was also recognized by many families, who had spent a lot of money building the coal mine and couldn't just give it away for free.

Ministry of Industry.

Lady Zixia and Huangfu Sengnian, the representative of the Nameless Academy, had a heated discussion about the cost of relocating the coal mine.

Huangfu Sengnian resolutely refused.

Why.

Your building is ridiculously tall, and we even spent money to demolish it, and now you expect us to pay for it?

Impossible!

But Madam Zixia was very firm in her attitude. She said, "You are talking nonsense. If the coal mine is dug even deeper, are you going to block it up again?"

If they don't pay, we won't give in.

This time, Lady Zixia made the right bet. In the end, the Nameless Academy compromised and agreed to acquire the mining rights from them.

However, the price was set at 60% of what Madam Zixia had asked for.

Even so, Lady Zixia still managed to recover a significant amount of losses.

After the contract was signed, Madam Zixia suddenly asked Huangfu Sengnian, "Why didn't Que'er come?"

Huangfu Sengnian smiled and said, "Because I have something I want to say to Madam."

Lady Zixia looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Huangfu Sengnian smirked and said, "Madam, are you feeling extremely annoyed? That's right. We felt the same way when you treated us like this. This is the price you pay for being arrogant. In the future, when dealing with people, remember not to force them to do things against their will, or you will bear the consequences."

A flash of anger crossed Madam Zixia's eyes as she walked towards the door.

Huangfu Sengnian said, "Doesn't Madam want to know why Brother Que didn't come?"

Lady Zixia paused briefly.

Huangfu Sengnian said, "Because it's not time to settle the score yet."

(End of this chapter)