How likely is the success of horse trafficking? Xiao Wei has asked himself this question countless times. The answer is simple, just two words: No way - horse trafficking was the idea of Fatty Tang.
The guy was very talkative, and he also produced some evidence, and said eloquently that Liu Xiaoquan of Yanxi had personally written a letter to Tang Xiaotian, inviting the Tang family firm to discuss the sale of horses through business, and
This is the reason why Fatty Tang was sent back to the capital. It's just that Tang Xiaotian said that he was going to discuss the possibility, but when it came to Fatty Tang's mouth, it became absolutely no problem. Regarding the truth or falsehood of this matter, Xiao Wei
I'm really not sure. The reason why I'm so excited about it is that it's not all nonsense. Xiao Wei has his own considerations about this.
The topic of Liu Xiaoquan in Yanxi was a taboo in Prince Xiang's Mansion. Even Xiao Wei's mother Liu Yuan never mentioned this matter to Xiao Wei. There were several times when Xiao Wei couldn't help but test it with words.
Not only did he not get a reply, but he was scolded by Liu Yuan. After a few times, Xiao Wei learned the lesson and kept silent about his grandfather, but he was still very confused in his heart.
Guess, according to Xiao Wei's estimation, the reason for this must be related to the "Rebellion" of the Six Domains that year, and it may even be related to his father being forced to retire. Of course, everything is Xiao Wei's guess.
Let's just start with research, but one thing Xiao Wei is clear about is that Tang Xiaotian is an absolute confidant of Xiao Rui. Tang Xiaotian abandoned his official position and went into business, most likely on Xiao Rui's orders, and it was very likely that Tang Xiaotian was not in trouble.
The big boss behind the company is Xiao Rui. This explains why Fatty Tang is stationed in Prince Xiang's Mansion. In other words, Xiao and Tang are members of the same family. Liu Xiaoquan's letter to Tang Xiaotian was actually written to Xiao Rui.
As for Fatty Tang, he is actually just a chess piece and an errand boy.
Regardless of Liu Xiaoquan's real purpose in writing this letter, he finally extended an olive branch. The problem is that this olive branch is really difficult to accept. After all, Xiao Wei is the only one suitable for Prince Manxiang's palace. Does that make sense?
, it’s very simple, Xiao Wei is just a big dude, no matter how much he messes around, others will not make a fuss about it. According to Xiao Wei’s analysis, this is most likely the reason why Fatty Tang encouraged him to sell horses. Of course
Well, according to Xiao Wei's judgment, Fatty Tang is actually just a chess piece being used. Maybe at this moment, Fatty Tang is still in the dark. As for the mastermind behind it, it is most likely his own son Xiang.
Wang Xiaorui, otherwise, would not be able to explain why Prince Xiang did not step in to interfere when the pair of live treasures, Xiao Wei and Tang Dafa, had caused such a turmoil in the trading company.
Xiao Wei actually didn't care at all whether he could get the horse back or how many horses he could get back. There were only two things that Xiao Wei valued - one was to see if Liu Xiaoquan, the grandfather's power, could be brought in as foreign aid;
Second, that is to leave the capital, take a walk outside, take a look, and recruit some talents to form a team. As for whether he can make money from the trading company, Xiao Wei is not worried at all. The reason is very simple.
Since the Taiping and Zhong Dynasties, the trade routes leading to the Western Regions from the Dayin Dynasty have become increasingly sluggish. This is not because the business opportunities have disappeared, but because the imperial court was afraid that Yan would be powerful in the west, so it consciously controlled the size of the caravans and the goods traded, artificially creating a trade war.
The road is not smooth. In fact, the caravans that can get the passes to the Western Regions are all the powerful people in the capital. This monopoly trade road has limited business opportunities. It is not too difficult to make money. Of course,
These things are not common sense to outsiders. It is impossible to say them in court. Although Xiao Wei has never been to court, he still has this basic common sense. At this time, facing Hongxuan
Xiao Wei was not flustered by the emperor's inquiry. He took the time to shake his sleeves, walked slowly to the imperial chariot, bowed and said: "When I talk to the emperor's uncle, my nephew must explain. If anyone doesn't believe it, you can talk to your nephew."
Take a gamble."[
As soon as Xiao Wei said these words, everyone in the civil and military dynasties was dumbfounded - in the nearly five hundred years since the founding of the Dayin Dynasty, I have heard of people scolding the emperor, and there have been cases of fights in front of the emperor due to political disagreements.
Yes, but no one has ever seen someone like Xiao Wei who wants to start gambling. Everyone saw that Xiao Wei had been a good boy for a long time, and they couldn't help but feel guilty. They couldn't understand this kid.
Has he changed his sex? But as soon as these words of gambling came out, Xiao Wei's true character as a playboy was immediately exposed. All the courtiers were stunned at first, and then burst into laughter.
With a sudden explosion, even the stern-faced Emperor Hongxuan couldn't help but smile at Xiao Wei's sensible words. The original solemn atmosphere in the court was now gone.
Xiao Wei didn't care whether others were laughing or not. He stood there with a nonchalant expression on his face, looking relaxed and calm. Emperor Hongxuan couldn't laugh or cry, but he couldn't say anything to reprimand the emperor for his rudeness.
Then, he could only shake his head with a wry smile, raised his hand to signal the noisy ministers to quiet down, pondered for a moment, looked at Xiao Wei and said: "Since my nephew is willing to bet, then I will bet with you."
The last round was good."
"Your Majesty, this is absolutely impossible!"
"Your Majesty, how can the important affairs of the imperial court be treated as such?"
"Your Majesty, Xiao Wei's etiquette is illegal and he has lost his way as a minister. He should be severely punished!"
Well, this time it was good, even Emperor Hongxuan took the gamble. The courtiers who had just calmed down immediately started making noise again. Countless people gave advice, but everyone refused. What's more, they were already in court.
When the gift of impeaching Xiao Wei came, the whole court was as chaotic as a vegetable market.
"Yes." Emperor Hongxuan saw that the commotion in the hall was really unseemly. He immediately said something with a straight face, pressed his hand to calm down the commotion of the ministers in the hall, and looked at Xiao Wei with interest.
After a while, he smiled and said: "How is it? My dear nephew, do you dare to bet with me?"
"So I wish, but I don't dare to ask you, but I don't know what your Majesty wants to see, and what kind of gambling method, please make it clear to your Majesty." Xiao Wei responded nonchalantly, as if he was confident.
"Oh? Hahaha..." Emperor Hongxuan was amused by Xiao Wei's words and burst into laughter. After laughing for a long time, he continued: "I haven't been so happy in a long time. That's all. I don't think so."
The big bullies the small ones. If my nephew can really sell the horses back, I will entrust the Horse Administration Office to you to take charge of it. But if it doesn't work, what is my nephew's bet?"
"Father, this matter..." The Horse Administration Department is the most important department of Taipu Temple, and it is also the biggest way for the prince to make money. Now when he heard that Emperor Hongxuan actually took out the Horse Administration Department as a bet, he could
Xiao Ruhai was so anxious that he didn't care much, so he stood up from the side and wanted to give some words of advice, but unexpectedly, he was swept away by Emperor Hongxuan's cold eyes. He couldn't continue in the middle of the sentence and had to retreat in a dignified manner.
go.
Xiao Wei pondered for a while and replied calmly: "Returning to the emperor's uncle, my nephew doesn't have much to offer. After all the calculations, the shop to be built in Xicheng is worth more.
It’s not a lot of silver, it’s about 200,000 taels, so let’s use this as a bet. I wonder if Uncle Huang thinks it’s feasible?”
A prodigal, an absolute prodigal! When the courtiers heard that Xiao Wei actually invested 200,000 taels of silver to buy land and build a shop, and they all bet on it in one go, they all cursed Xiao Wei in their hearts.
He was a super prodigal son, but there was a precedent of the prince being forced to retreat after speaking out to persuade him. Although all the courtiers disdained Xiao Wei's promiscuous behavior, no one dared to speak out again, and the atmosphere in the hall suddenly changed.
It's very weird.
"Okay, but since it is a bet, there must be some rules. If my nephew can sell a hundred good horses, he will be considered a winner. If not, then it will be considered a loss. Do you agree?" Emperor Hongxuan ignored it.
The courtiers looked at Xiao Wei with strange expressions, but looked at Xiao Wei with smiles and asked a question.
"Everything is at your Majesty's command." Xiao Wei doesn't care about winning or losing at all. Anyway, the two hundred thousand taels have been spent on the land, and he can't get it back. If he can't sell the horses, Xiao Wei really has no intention of increasing the size of the business.
It was so exaggerated. Besides, the money was originally stolen. If you lose, you lose. At worst, you can get it by cheating some of your brothers. It’s not a big deal, so I agreed without hesitation.
"There's no doubt about it, my dear nephew. Well, this bet is between me and you. No one else is allowed to participate in it, Feng'er, Tao'er." Emperor Hongxuan nodded and suddenly raised his voice.
The names of the two princes, Da and Er.
"My son is here." As soon as the Xiao Rufeng brothers heard their father's name being called, they both stood up and promised each other.
Emperor Hongxuan glanced at the two princes with an expression on his face, and said calmly: "I have told you that this is a bet between me and Xiao Wei, so you two don't have to participate, just withdraw your shares.
"
"My sons and ministers, please obey your father's will." Xiao Rutao agreed quickly because he wanted to participate or not. However, Xiao Rufeng was very unhappy. After all, war horses were like his lifeblood for him.
Of course, he didn't want the sold horse to fall into the hands of others, but since Emperor Hongxuan had already spoken, he did not dare to object, so he could only respectfully accept the promise.
"Your Majesty, please wait." Xiao Wei stopped when he heard that Emperor Hongxuan wanted the Xiao Rufeng brothers to withdraw their shares - Xiao Rufeng's 60,000 taels of silver was a small matter, and although it hurt a little to withdraw, it was not too painful.
It would be great to find an opportunity in the future to deceive the general from Xiao Rufeng, but the 260,000 taels of silver on Xiao Rutao's end was won by Xiao Wei, how could he ever give it back? Besides, if he really paid it back,
Xiao Wei immediately felt that he was short of money and was naturally unwilling to agree to the two princes withdrawing their shares.[
"Do you have any different opinions?" As soon as he heard Xiao Wei's interruption, Emperor Hongxuan's face immediately dropped. He didn't even call him "nephew" and directly replaced it with the word "er", and his voice was even more sinister.
It's terrible - the reason why Emperor Hongxuan asked the two princes to withdraw their shares was naturally not only to ensure the fairness of the gambling, but also to prevent the two princes from colluding. How could such an emperor's thoughts allow Xiao Wei to destroy them at will?
.
"Uncle Huang is aware that my nephew's money is tight. If my two brothers help me, how can I sell this horse? This bet is bound to be lost even if I don't have to make a bet. I hope Uncle Huang can be considerate." Xiao Wei
Instead of thinking carefully about Emperor Hongxuan's hidden thoughts, he felt sorry for the money on hand and bluntly complained that he was poor.
Xiao Wei may not have money, but how could Emperor Hongxuan know the details of Prince Xiang's Mansion? However, these words cannot be brought to the table. Facing Xiao Wei's aggrieved look, Emperor Hongxuan shook his head helplessly.
He shook his head and said: "I understand what my nephew said. The shares will be withdrawn first, and you can keep the money for use."
"I thank you for your kindness, long live my emperor! Long live, long live, long live!" Hearing that he didn't have to pay back the money, Xiao Wei was so happy that he hurriedly thanked him. He looked anxious, as if he was worried about Hongxuan.
Seeing the emperor's remorse, Emperor Hongxuan shook his head secretly.
Xiao Wei was happy, but the Xiao Rufeng brothers were dizzy, and their faces changed color. However, since my father had already spoken, there was no reason for them to object, so they could only turn a blind eye.
Xiao Wei looked at Xiao Wei taking another big advantage in vain, but there was nothing he could do. Seeing that a stormy court meeting was about to end with such a dramatic ending, all the ministers suddenly flashed.
An official wearing a bright red official robe came out. When he saw the official hurrying to the palace, he raised his neck and shouted: "Your Majesty, how can we be so hasty in state affairs? I forgive you for not agreeing with me."
As soon as he came out, the whole hall was in an uproar again...