Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

Both of them have gradually started attending parties and broadening their horizons.

This was in order to cultivate the two's social circles in order to manage the Jiang clan.

After all, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Jiang Zhao will most likely become a very accomplished person and hold a high position in the government.

At that time, just like his grandfather Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhao will not pay any special attention to things in Yangzhou.

In the generation of my grandfather Jiang Zhi, the one who truly managed the Jiang clan was actually my grandfather's younger brother. When my father Jiang Zhong came of age, my grandfather's younger brother became a clan elder, and the management power gradually shifted to my father. The clan elders discussed matters with my father.

If Jiang Zhao becomes successful in the future, it will be the same. First, his two younger brothers will manage the Jiang family. When his son comes of age, his two younger brothers will become elders of the clan and discuss matters together.

To put it bluntly, matters of a mere clan are absolutely not worth the attention of high-ranking officials.

"Big brother." The two stepped forward.

Jiang Zhao instructed, "I have important matters to attend to. You two should spend time with Changbai whenever you have free time, and don't neglect him!"

"Leave it to me." Jiang Xiao nodded with a smile.

He was about the same age as Sheng Changbai.

The two have spent a lot of time together over the years and are very familiar with each other.

The trouble with being famous is that people are always asking you for favors.

First floor.

Individual travelers were everywhere, merchants roamed freely, and the sounds of pushing and urging others to drink were incessant, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

In a secluded booth on the west side, there was a handsome, tall boy of about fourteen or fifteen years old. His hair was soaked with water, and his eyes looked around warily, with a hint of worry flashing in them from time to time.

Gu Tingye was a little flustered.

He was assassinated!

And those people were looking for him.

"The Bai family!" Gu Tingye clenched his fists, his eyes filled with shock and anger.

He wasn't stupid; he naturally knew why he was being hunted down.

It's nothing more than a dispute over inheritance!

His hair was now soaked, a sign that he had been hunted down, but fortunately his personal servant died in his place, allowing him to escape.

Gu Tingye let out a long breath, his eyes darting left and right, filled with both anticipation and worry.

He was very clear about one thing: the Bai family had considerable influence in Yangzhou.

The wealthy salt merchants were involved in many people and industries.

Since his grandfather passed away, those businesses have undoubtedly been in the hands of the Bai family.

From top to bottom, from the Bai family members to a lowly manager, everyone is a beneficiary of the system.

As beneficiaries, those people want stability and to maintain the status quo, not anything that might jeopardize their interests.

And for him, a complete stranger, to suddenly appear and claim the family business was undoubtedly a huge variable.

Those people didn't want him to live.

Gu Tingye's heart sank, and he gritted his teeth.

But there will always be someone who can deal with them!

There are always people with great wealth who don't care about the Bai family's small amount of money.

Moreover, he had no intention of changing anything.

If my maternal grandfather could offer money for protection, so could he.

For those local tyrants, it doesn't matter whose protection money they collect, it's all the same.

Of course, it's easier said than done.

It doesn't matter whose protection money you collect, the question is why they should collect it from you?

If you want to get a different local tyrant to collect protection money, you still need a powerful figure as an intermediary.

As luck would have it, he actually met such an important person!

"Young Master Bai, my master invites you." The gray-robed pageboy, Hesheng, quickly stepped forward and extended his hand to lead the way.

Gu Tingye's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly followed.

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Chapter 30 Gu Tingye! (4k)

On the third floor, by the window, the aroma of tea wafts through the air.

Gu Tingye pushed open the door and entered.

"Zhonghuai, sit down."

Jiang Zhao poured tea from the teapot, smiling faintly.

Gu Tingye nodded, and the two sat facing each other.

"white"

Halfway through his sentence, a hint of hesitation flashed in Gu Tingye's eyes. He stood up and bowed deeply: "Brother Zichuan, please forgive me. My name is not actually Bai Ye. Bai Ye is an alias. I am the son of Marquis Ningyuan, Gu Yankai. My name is Gu Tingye, and my courtesy name is Zhonghuai."

Originally, Gu Tingye wanted to register under the name "Bai Ye," but after hesitating for a moment, he ultimately held back and gave his real name instead.

He and Jiang Zhao had only known each other for a short time, and his request for help was based solely on saving face.

However, he was not a famous person, so where did he get the face?

Gu Tingye was well aware that if it weren't for the title "Marquis of Ningyuan," he would never have been able to gain the respect of the renowned Jiang Lang of Huaizuo, and naturally, he would never have been able to bring up the matter of the will.

Jiang Zhao's hand, which was brewing tea, hovered in mid-air, his eyebrows twitching slightly: "I had long noticed that Zhong Huai had an extraordinary bearing and was not an ordinary person, but I never expected him to be the young marquis?"

"No, no, no." Gu Tingye quickly stopped and earnestly said, "I have an elder brother, and I am actually the second son in the family. I am not worthy of the title 'Young Marquis'."

Jiang Zhao smiled and nodded, saying, "Since he's not the eldest son, I can barely be considered worthy of being the second son of the Marquis's family."

His words carried a touch of just the right amount of teasing.

Marquis Gu Yankai of Ningyuan held a high position and wielded great power, which meant that the eldest sons of powerful families in wealthy prefectures and counties would find it difficult to get along with the eldest sons of the Ningyuan Marquis's family on an equal footing.

However, the famous Jiang Lang of Huaizuo was no less so.

In fact, as long as he showed even the slightest intention to befriend him, the eldest son of the Marquis of Ningyuan's family would have to take the initiative to get close to him.

After all, he was the newly appointed top scholar in the imperial examination, and he was destined to become a high-ranking official.

Moreover, a top scholar is a top scholar, and a Jiang Lang from Huaizuo is a Jiang Lang from Huaizuo!

The only disciple taken in by a high-ranking official during his period of hardship!

A story that has made them famous throughout the world!

A tier of prestige among scholars and officials!

The newly appointed top scholar!

Any two of them stacked together would be a royal flush, and Jiang Zhao had a total of four.

In terms of compatibility, the Jiang family of Huaizuo is not so eye-catching.

Gu Tingye breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "Brother Zichuan, you jest."

For some reason, ever since Jiang Zhao addressed him as "Young Marquis" and gave him a lengthy explanation, the atmosphere between the two of them became much more relaxed.

Jiang Zhao smiled faintly, poured two cups of tea, and moved one cup over.

Gu Tingye picked up his teacup, took a small sip, but a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes.

He had been stubborn since childhood, and this was the first time he had ever asked for a favor; he really didn't know how to bring up the matter of his will.

Fortunately, Jiang Zhao spoke first.

“Zhong Huai and I hit it off immediately. I promised him last time that if you ever had any trouble, you could come to me. Since Zhong Huai is an alias, there must be a reason for it. May I ask if you could tell me? If it is within my power, I will certainly help you.”

Gu Tingye was just wondering how to ask for help when he heard this, and he quickly seized the opportunity to say, "I am my father's second son, and my mother is from the Bai family of Yangzhou. This time, my maternal grandfather passed away, and I came here specifically to attend the funeral, so I used the surname Bai as an alias."

"As for why you used an alias?" Gu Tingye pretended to hesitate for a moment, "That really involves a difficult matter, and I might have to trouble Brother Zichuan."

"Speak freely." Jiang Zhao held his teacup, his expression calm, and waved his hand: "In Yangzhou, my words carry some weight."

Gu Tingye breathed a sigh of relief and said in a clear, unhurried manner, "In his early years, my maternal grandfather was ostracized due to internal strife within the clan. Even his name was removed from the family genealogy. He was heartbroken and left his hometown in anger to run a business. He gradually developed and expanded his business, becoming extremely wealthy."

However, perhaps it was fate, but my maternal grandfather had no sons, only my mother as his only daughter. In his old age, a bunch of shameless cousins ​​reappeared, wanting to exploit his family's lack of offspring.

"I've heard a little about it." Jiang Zhao nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.

Gu Tingye was overjoyed. Since Jiang Zhao had heard some rumors, this matter would be much easier to handle.

He quickly continued, "My grandfather harbored resentment, but he didn't want the business he had painstakingly built up throughout his life to benefit a few shameless cousins. On his serious illness, he left a will, hoping to see me, his grandson, and to let me inherit the family business."

After receiving the will, I traveled to Yangzhou alone, only to find that my grandfather had already passed away by the time I arrived, and the Bai family had already known about the will.

However, even though they knew the will had already determined the inheritance, the Bai family had no intention of letting go and even planned to assassinate me, wanting to kill me.

My personal servant looked seven-tenths like me; he changed clothes and took my place, which is how I escaped with my life.

Gu Tingye's explanation was relatively brief, but he still managed to convey the general information.

"Oh?" Jiang Zhao's face darkened. "Aren't those people from the Bai family far too presumptuous and lawless?"

His expression was half genuine and half feigned.

It was all an act; he knew Gu Tingye wouldn't die.

Those people from the Bai family were indeed too presumptuous.

After all, Marquis Ningyuan, Gu Yankai, was no ordinary marquis. In terms of real power, he was practically the second-in-command among military nobles, second only to the Duke of Yingguo.

He was the envoy of the Northern Court of Xuanhui and concurrently the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, an undisputed high-ranking official, and was greatly trusted by the emperor.

The Bai family dared to assassinate the legitimate son of such a person.

For a moment, it was hard to say whether the Bai family was bold or simply ignorant and fearless.

"So, Zhong Huai specifically sought me out?" Jiang Zhao asked.

"Exactly." Gu Tingye nodded hastily, his tone sincere: "With Brother Zichuan's magnanimity and spirit, he is certainly not afraid of the Bai family. I was really desperate, so I shamelessly asked for your help."

Jiang Zhao understood immediately and smiled, "Zhong Huai certainly knows how to choose people."

Upon hearing this, Gu Tingye knew that the matter was almost certain to be settled. He quickly patted his chest and solemnly promised, "Brother Zichuan, rest assured, I came to Yangzhou to send my grandfather to his funeral. When I inherit the family business, the salt administration will remain the same as before."

This is about protection money.

Throughout history, the most profitable businesses have always been monopolies.

Salt production, mining, border trade, maritime transport, and canal transport were arguably the five most profitable monopolistic businesses in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Among them, the salt industry is the worst, and it is also the industry with the most serious tax evasion.

The reason why Old Master Bai was so wealthy was ultimately due to his several salt estates, as well as the related salt shops, contracted houses, contracted land, estates, and shops.

Among them, the saltworks were the most profitable.

A single salt estate can generate an annual income of nine thousand taels.

Those miscellaneous items are also an astonishing fortune.

Among them, the Jiang, Zhang, and Chen families, who were local strongmen, received three to four thousand taels of silver every year.

Of course, this amount of silver may seem like a lot, but it is actually one of the reasons why Old Master Bai can do business with peace of mind.

For merchants, the three major families of Yangzhou were still quite law-abiding; they only collected protection money and didn't covet what they had.

Once the protection money was collected, the Huainan area was unimpeded, and no one would cause trouble; even pirates and thieves wouldn't give it a second glance.

Yangzhou's wealth and prosperity were due not only to its geographical advantages but also to the strict rules and regulations established by the three major families.

After all, merchants are never afraid of you collecting protection money; what they fear is that you collect protection money but it has no effect, or even that you are greedy and insatiable.

Gu Tingye made a promise, but Jiang Zhao did not immediately agree; instead, she appeared cautious.

"May I see the will? If it's true, I'll take care of it."

Without the slightest hesitation, Gu Tingye took out a sealed letter from his pocket and handed it over, not afraid that Jiang Zhao would destroy the evidence.