Chapter 2001
Ma Zhengping and Yang Chengye's fathers were close friends. They knew that today's situation was hard-won, so they couldn't bear to see the Yang family, which was originally quite prestigious among the Huizhou salt merchants, lose at the hands of Yang Chengye. Yang Chengye did not appear at Daijiazhuang to participate in the discussion today. He had already been singled out by Dai Yingda. Ma Zhengping also knew that Dai Yingda would not just give a verbal warning. If Yang Chengye still did not repent, then the Yang family would be kicked out. The countdown is probably about to begin for the Seven Great Surnames.
If the Yang family loses this special status, the impact will go far beyond the "many businesses that cannot be directly involved" mentioned by Ma Zhengping. Even the existing business will be greatly reduced due to the change in status. The decline is likely to be decided in a few words.
The "Seven Great Surnames" are the upper-class figures among the Huizhou salt merchants. They are rich, powerful and influential, and they have the best market resources. Losing this special status means that they are likely to lose everything they have in hand. Part of the market and sales channels - these excellent resources must be given to subsequent successors to ensure that they can enjoy treatment commensurate with their status.
The composition of the "seven major surnames" is generally decided by the existing seven major families through discussions. As long as more than four families agree, the existing members can be changed. Therefore, although the Yang family has a certain influence among the Huizhou salt merchants, this does not mean that its status will be stable forever. If Dai Yingda takes the lead in proposing to remove the Yang family from the seven major surnames, then other than Ma Zhengping It is very likely that other families will agree with Dai Yingda and kick Yang Chengye out.
Yang Chengye himself, as the party involved, obviously did not realize the seriousness of his situation and the problem, and Ma Zhengping was angry for this.
Yang Chengye said helplessly: "My uncle taught me well, but my nephew was in Yangzhou City today and didn't even know that a Ningbo salt merchant came from outside the city, let alone that Mr. Dai had convened everyone for a discussion. My nephew just couldn't receive it in time. Notice, there is no intention to avoid the discussion.”
Ma Zhengping said: "Even if I believe you, others may not believe you. If you want others to believe you, you have to do something to prove your loyalty and role to the Seven Surnames."
Yang Chengye wondered: "How to prove this?"
Ma Zhengping said: "Let me ask you, who is our biggest opponent?"
Yang Chengye was stunned for a moment, then hesitantly replied: "Of course it's... the Shanshan Salt Merchant across the river."
Ma Zhengping nodded and said: "It's good that you know! You usually have a close relationship with Lu Kangtai. Have you ever thought of using him to attack Shanxi and Shaanxi salt merchants?"
When Yang Chengye heard this, his heartbeat suddenly accelerated a lot, and he quickly excused himself: "Uncle, I was joking. My nephew and the man named Lu are just acquaintances. How can we use him!"
Ma Zhengping sneered and said: "If you don't want others to know, unless you do nothing yourself, you and Lu Kangtai show up in Yangzhou city, do you really pretend that no one sees you?"
Yang Chengye didn't expect Ma Zhengping to say such a thing, so he murmured: "Uncle, don't blame me...it's just an ordinary social interaction, it can't be taken seriously..."
"You don't need to explain. I'm not forcing you now. Master Dai has already ordered your general to take responsibility for Lu Kangtai. If you can do it, then you can forget the blame. If you do it well, there will be more. For example, the Yang family would have priority to enter the salt industry markets of Suzhou Prefecture and Songjiang Prefecture that Lu Kangtai originally controlled. " Seeing that Yang Chengye's attitude had softened, Ma Zhengping further threatened and lured him.
If Yang Chengye was the person who put his interests first, he would not get together with Lu Kangtai, and he himself was not very ambitious. He had not even thought about seizing the market from Lu Kangtai. Hearing Ma Zhengping's suggestion, he was immediately dumbfounded and didn't know how to respond.
During his previous meeting with Lu Kangtai, the other party asked him to inquire about the internal information of Huizhou merchants to determine whether the Ningbo salt merchants outside Yangzhou were related to Huizhou merchants. This has already made Yang Chengye feel very embarrassed. Unexpectedly, when he returned home, there would be Ma Zhengping waiting for him, and the demands he made were even more excessive than Lu Kangtai. Yang Chengye felt that he was now a rat in the bellows. , both sides suffer.
Whether it's betraying fellow villagers or betraying friends, Yang Chengye thinks it is a taboo that cannot be done. Besides, his friendship with Lu Kangtai was not to obtain any actual benefits from him. His objective conditions were even better than Lu Kangtai's. In terms of family property, Lu Kangtai is not necessarily richer than him; in terms of appearance, Yang Chengye can be considered a talented person, far better than Lu Kangtai who weighs more than 200 kilograms; in terms of talent, Yang Chengye is not the "wine bag and rice bag" as Dai Yingda said, he has the reputation of being a scholar. He actually came back from the imperial examination. Lu Kangtai was just a businessman.
Yang Chengye believed that his relationship with Lu Kangtai was free of desires and demands. Most of the time, they were just fair-weather friends. But now both parties have made some excessive demands on him, which made him vaguely aware of this personal relationship. Too many interests have begun to be involved, making him feel uncomfortable.
But he also understands that he cannot escape the current environment. After all, his background as a Huizhou salt merchant has limited the range of choices he can make. Unless he can really give up his current status and the corresponding special treatment, But if he could make such a decision, he wouldn't be in this dilemma.
"Uncle, you also know that my nephew has never been good at fighting. This matter really can't be solved!" After Yang Chengye thought for a moment, he continued to shirk, refusing to comply with Zhengping's request.
Ma Zhengping said angrily: "You don't need to plan this matter yourself. As long as you agree to it, someone will follow up and formulate a plan. Then you just need to cooperate well. The Musketeers under Lu Kangtai are very serious to us." A huge threat, if we don’t get rid of this person, we Hui merchants will have trouble sleeping and eating every day. Don’t you understand this? ”
Yang Chengye fell silent again. He had also heard a little bit about the mysterious armed force under Lu Kangtai. He even knew that several attacks against Ningbo salt merchants in nearby state capitals were caused by this armed force. Its strength was indeed It may be far above our own side. But as of now, he knows that Lu Kangtai has not used this armed force to deal with Huizhou salt merchants, and the two of them have a tacit understanding and have never discussed this issue. After all, if Lu Kangtai kills Yang Chengye's fellow villagers, then The personal relationship between the two can no longer be maintained. Even though Lu Kangtai had previously asked Yang Chengye to provide internal intelligence about Huizhou merchants, he only said that he was worried that these Ningbo salt merchants were a trap set by Huizhou merchants and hoped that he could help him avoid stepping into the pit. He did not completely remove this layer of window paper. Poke through.
Yang Chengye knew that there was no way to persuade Ma Zhengping to accept his idea. After all, the struggle for interests between Huizhou salt merchants and Shanxi salt merchants had lasted for a hundred years. During this period, there were fights and peace, and there were many people like him and Lu Kangtai who made friends across camps. examples, but none of them end well. Now it seems that the relationship between him and Lu Kangtai is heading in this direction.
Yang Chengye sighed and said, "Does Mr. Dai have any specific plans?"
Ma Zhengping heard that he wanted to relent, and quickly said: "You have lured Lu Kangtai to the place where the Ningbo Salt Merchant parked his ship in the past two days. It would be best if you can get him to come forward and talk to the Ningbo Salt Merchant, and then we can find a move. , and then blame the Ningbo salt merchant. This can not only get rid of Lu Kangtai, but also draw the fire to the Ningbo salt merchant. Don’t worry, you will not be asked to do it yourself. Someone steers you away.”
Yang Chengye thought to himself that I had just met Lu Kangtai nearby. If Old Man Dai knew about it, he would be so angry that he would vomit three liters of blood. But this matter must not be publicized. After all, he just claimed to have only a casual acquaintance with Lu Kangtai, and today he did not even participate in the internal discussions of Hui merchants, but went to observe the activities of Ningbo salt merchants with Lu Kangtai. In any case, It doesn't make sense.
However, the plan Ma Zhengping mentioned really made him tremble with fear. Although Lu Kangtai is alert, if Yang Chengye wants to calculate with intention and unintentional, then there is at least a 70% chance that Lu Kangtai will fall into this trap. When the time comes, someone will pretend to be a dock worker and attack Lu Kangtai at the Ningbo Salt Merchant's docking station. , there is indeed a great opportunity to muddy the waters - after all, Lu Kangtai has played the role of the mastermind behind the recent attacks on Ningbo salt merchants. It is reasonable for others to find clues and come to take revenge.
Obviously only the wily Dai Yingda could come up with such a ruthless strategy. Yang Chengye couldn't help but have a thought in his mind. If he was unwilling to obey the arrangement of the council, how would Dai Yingda deal with him? If the Yang family is just eliminated from the seven major surnames, it is probably the lightest level.
Yang Chengye shook his head to drive this idea out of his mind. He really didn't want to think about the worse situation that might happen, but one thing he was sure of was that Dai Yingda would never stop at making threats. To the extent that if he didn't handle the current situation according to his wishes, Dai Yingda would really be ruthless and use some extraordinary means to deal with the Yang family.
"Uncle, if this matter is to be implemented, there are still many details that need to be perfected. Moreover, Lu Kangtai is not a stupid person. Sending an invitation rashly will only make him wary. In my nephew's opinion, this matter should not be rushed." Yang Chengye asked. In this dilemma, we can only try to buy time first.
Ma Zhengping snorted and said, "Don't think that I don't know what your plans are in your mind! If this matter is left unsolved until the Ningbo Salt Merchant leaves Yangzhou, then the best opportunity to take action will be lost. Do you think you can How much time do you have to prepare slowly? It's only a day or two at most! This matter must be resolved quickly, without delay! As for the problem you mentioned, if you can't solve it, it only means that you are not capable, so keep it. What's the use of you in the council?"
Yang Chengye secretly complained in his heart. It seemed that his plan could not be hidden from Ma Zhengping's eyes, but if he really wanted to implement the plan mentioned by the other party, he felt that he could not be ruthless enough to design Lu Kangtai. Judging from Ma Zhengping's attitude, it is obvious that Dai Yingda is going to get rid of Lu Kangtai soon. It is estimated that there will be no room for maneuver in this matter.
If nothing happens to Lu Kangtai, then Yang Chengye will be unlucky. If he wants to protect himself, he will have to drag Lu Kangtai into the water. This seems to be an irresolvable knot.
Unless the group of Ningbo salt merchants at the center of the storm disappeared from Yangzhou immediately, Dai Yingda's plan would not be implemented, and he would not need to provide Lu Kangtai with internal Huizhou merchants' intelligence about Ningbo salt merchants. But will Ningbo Salt Merchant suddenly disappear? The answer is of course no. Yang Chengye doesn't even think that Lu Kangtai or others can drive away these Ningbo salt merchants in a short time. Since they have the courage to come to Yangzhou to cause trouble, they have naturally made corresponding preparations, but the local salt merchants have Due to various scruples, I dare not let go and do things, so I can probably only say harsh words to scare the other party in person.
Yang Chengye finally managed to deal with Ma Zhengping. After sending him away, he still felt a headache. Now this situation is almost a dead end. Both sides want to use him to achieve some of their own goals, and he is very aware of this, but he is still unwilling to offend either party, and of course he is not willing to sacrifice himself for this. interests.
What should we do? Yang Chengye felt like his head was about to burst. To solve this dilemma, did he really have to find a solution from the Ningbo salt merchants?
Yang Chengye recalled some of the news he learned from Lu Kangtai and Ma Zhengping today about this group of Ningbo salt merchants, and suddenly a very bold idea came to his mind. If it can be implemented smoothly, it may be able to temporarily solve the problem that I am currently facing.
But the reason why this idea is bold is that he has to take great risks for it. If he makes a mistake, he may be involved. Moreover, his plan may not be supported by any group of local salt merchants.
But after this idea popped up in his mind, it was like a fire ignited in his heart that could never be extinguished. He locked himself in his study and thought for a long time, and still felt that the only way to resolve the current predicament was to do this. Although the risk was high, the results were worth looking forward to.
"If we don't take the risk quickly, it might be too late tomorrow!" Yang Chengye hesitated again and again, but finally made up his mind. He was actually surprised that he could bear such a big risk, but since the single-plank bridge was already in front of him, he could only give it a try boldly.
Yang Chengye left the study and asked the boy to call his housekeeper. The sleepy butler came to the study and was a little baffled when Yang Chengye asked him to prepare for the river crossing: "Master, at this time... we still need to cross the river? The city gates have been closed long ago!"
"I'm not going into the city... Just get ready as soon as I ask you to do so. Don't ask so many questions!" Yang Chengye waved his hand impatiently, signaling the housekeeper to get started quickly.
(End of chapter)