After traveling day and night for three consecutive days, even the accompanying war horses were exhausted. Finally, Shen Ao and his party entered the city before the city gate was closed.
At the north city gate, spies from various forces have been distributed here for a long time. They seemed to have known that Shen Ao would come back for a long time, and they had been sending people here to keep an eye on him, but they did not expect that he would come back so soon.
After entering the city, Shen Ao went straight to Duke Zhong's mansion without stopping, which disappointed many people. I originally thought that Duke Zhong would go to Daman Posthouse first when he came back.
In fact, Shen Ao was not so anxious after running all the way back, especially when he entered the city gate and saw Zeng Tong waiting for him, and learned that his uncle was still in the Daman Posthouse and was safe. Very well, he was no longer in a hurry.
After returning to the Duke Zhong's Mansion, Bai Qiutong and others naturally came forward to greet him. "They are all members of our family, so there is no need to be so polite. Who will tell me now what is going on?"
The news I had seen before was only a few words. Shen Ao really didn't know what was going on. But thinking about it, as Marquis Zhongcheng, you must have enough reasons to deal with him openly, otherwise a marquis said to clean up. Just clean it up when it's over, wouldn't it lead to chaos?
Zeng Tong, who was following him, naturally understood the matter very clearly and had already expected that Shen Ao would ask, so he opened his mouth and told everything he knew.
After Zeng Tong, Bai Qiutong also spoke. She had met Shen Yunyi many times in the post house, and she naturally had a more detailed understanding of what happened that night, so she also told him.
"That's it." After listening to the two men's stories, Shen Ao finally understood what happened. Now it seems that Wu Yonghou and others should have taken action and bribed Cai Yang, the captain of his uncle's personal army, to frame the fault.
The idea can be said to be very clear and the logic can be explained. But the key to the problem lies in whether Cai Yang can be found. This person is the key.
"It's difficult. A lot of manpower has been mobilized, but unfortunately there has been no news." Zeng Tong shook his head and answered the question proactively.
Now not only Zeng Tong is looking for it, but Wu Yonghou and others are also looking for it. After all, according to their plan, Cai Yang should be silenced afterwards, but who would have thought that the sudden appearance of Princess Daman would disrupt this plan. The plan allowed him to escape.
"Well, in that case, everyone is looking for him, so the inspections at the city entrances should be very strict, so that he can't escape out of the city, and he should still be in the city?" Shen Ao nodded after hearing this, as if thinking. .
"Young master is right, Cai Yang should be in Daliang City. But the city is so big, with a population of hundreds of thousands. Finding someone who is deliberately hiding here is like looking for a needle in a haystack." Zeng Tong sighed as he spoke. He felt that he was still too incompetent. Five days had passed since the incident happened, but he had no clue at all.
"It doesn't matter. Since Cai Yang is hiding, it will certainly not be easy to find him. But even so, we still have to look for him. In this way, we will find a few people who know Cai Yang and draw a portrait of him. I want the whole city to be plastered with his portraits, and we will see where he can hide when the time comes." Shen Ao said firmly and as if he was confident.
With Shen Ao's painting skills, as long as the descriptions of the people below are correct, they can naturally be restored. Zeng Tong, who knows his ability, also believes in this. But when the problem is like this, it is difficult for Cai Yang Even if he hides, it will become much easier for Wu Yonghou and others to find him.
Zeng Tong really wanted to tell Shen Ao about this result, but when he thought about it, there seemed to be no other better way besides taking a gamble, so he stopped talking and could only hope that he would be lucky enough. , you can find Cai Yang.
Zeng Tong quickly went to find someone to make arrangements. Shen Ao looked at the hall and his eyes fell on Chang Hong, "Come on, come closer."
...
The night when Shen Ao returned to Daliang City was peaceful. From the outside, it seemed that he had not done anything, which puzzled many people. The relationship between this man and Marquis Zhongcheng, and the relationship between him and Madam Shen With his character, shouldn’t he go to Wu Yonghou and others to ask for an explanation when he comes back?
For this reason, Marquis Wu Yong and others had already communicated with Dali Temple and the Silver Armored Guards, and were prepared for Shen Ao to come looking for trouble, and then they used this as an excuse to cause trouble for Shen Ao.
It's a pity that Shen Ao seemed to be a different person this time. He didn't do anything and just spent the night peacefully.
Even until the next morning, Bai Qiutong went to Daman Posthouse as usual, but Shen Ao, citing physical discomfort, stayed behind closed doors and refused to see guests.
Some people once thought that Shen Ao entered the Daman Post House under the cover of Bai Qiutong, but when the silver-armored guards guarding the outside carefully searched the carriage, they did not see even a single human hair, so they gave up. Everyone's doubts.
Just when everyone's eyes were still fixed on the Zhongguo Palace, thinking that Shen Ao would not do anything. As soon as Daqian Bank opened its doors in the morning, news came out. From now on, all interactions with the Fan family and Baili will be stopped. In all business dealings with the family, if the other party needs to borrow money, the review will be very strict.
Zhao Yuanji announced that he would stop business cooperation with the Fan family, including the customization of ironware. Even for previous orders, he would rather lose the deposit than return the goods.
At the same time, Xu Tu, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, also announced that the previously agreed cooperation with the Baili family in the cloth business was also declared invalid. Not only that, the Baili family will be regarded as an unfriendly businessman in the future, and raw fabrics will also be imported from silk and satin in the future. It will also become extremely strict.
Since the establishment of the Chamber of Commerce, it was not favored by others at first, then all four members of the Chamber of Commerce made money, and then it became favored by everyone, so much so that many people wanted to join the Chamber of Commerce and become the second batch of members.
In order to cooperate with the Chamber of Commerce, Emperor Qianwen also ordered Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment to jointly handle the case and investigate non-member merchants. Once they are found to have committed tax evasion or defrauded consumers, they will be punished with serious crimes without mercy.
As soon as the imperial court's policy came out, businessmen were even more attracted to the chamber of commerce, so much so that even the Baili family, the Fan family, and the Su family began to consider whether to join the negotiation.
It was only because Shen Ao, as the decision-maker, was in the barbarian land at the time that the matter was entrusted to him again and again. After Shen Ao returned to the barbarian land, he soon received an invitation from King Zhong, and he left the capital again to allow the Chamber of Commerce to The matter has remained unresolved.
Now that Shen Ao was finally free, he took out his hand, and then issued such an announcement, which immediately attracted the attention of countless businessmen and powerful people.
Chang Hong also said on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce that in the near future, other businessmen who apply for membership will be investigated and evaluated, and each new member of the Chamber of Commerce needs to be supported and recommended by at least half of the Chamber of Commerce members before they can join. That is,
He said that there are only four members in the Chamber of Commerce now, so the consent of at least two people is needed.
Later, rumors spread that it was not difficult to get a recommendation spot. One of the first steps was to cut off business ties with the Fan family and the Baili family. If you can't do this, it won't matter how good you are in other aspects.
It's also useless.
News came out one after another, and everyone who paid attention to the Chamber of Commerce knew that it was Duke Zhongguo who took action.
But it was not a rampage like everyone imagined, but the commercial attack method was used first, and the Fan family and Baili family were dealt a heavy blow first.
As soon as the incident came out, Fan Shixi and Bai Lixiang could no longer sit still, and each went to their elder brothers to find a solution to the problem.
...
Fan Mansion.
Fan Shixi sat rudely opposite Zuopushe Fan Shitong, and said with a questioning tone, "Brother, are you satisfied with the results now?"
"You are so presumptuous, why are you talking to your brother?" Fan Shitong was originally in a bad mood. The matter concerning Marquis Zhongcheng has not come to a conclusion yet, and he could not find a better solution. Even Duke Zhongguo rushed back, and the matter was just
There will be more difficulties. At this time, the family industry is also being suppressed and attacked. It is really a wave of ups and downs.
Fan Shitong didn't think about it, if he hadn't taken the initiative to join forces with Bailigui to deal with Marquis Zhongcheng, how could he have the troubles he was having now.
Fan Shitong got angry. Fan Shixi, who always followed his brother's lead in everything, changed his mind this time, "What? Does it mean that my brother only has Prince Qing in his eyes and not the Fan family? Let me tell you, if the Fan family is hit, what will happen in the future?"
I can't spare any money to support Prince Qing, so please don't talk too much about me when the time comes."
Over the years, the Fan family has spent a lot of money to support Prince Qing. Every time it was Fan Shitong's suggestion. In principle, Fan Shixi, the head of the Fan family, was unwilling. After all, this investment was too risky. But he was the elder brother.
, now that he has said this, it is not easy for him to openly sing the opposite.
The ability of a large family to grow stronger cannot always be achieved through the efforts of one person. What is needed is the unity of all core members of the family.
But he could bear it before, but now Fan Shixi can't bear it no matter what. Not for any other reason, but because with the rise of the Zhao family in the blacksmithing industry, the Fan family's advantage is getting smaller and smaller, and if he is completely offended
According to Shen Ao, or the Chamber of Commerce, the Fan family will face unprecedented difficulties. This is definitely not what Fan Shixi, who is devoted to his family, wants to see.
"Why is there no money? Could it be that our dignified Fan family is afraid that a trading company with only four members will fail?" Fan Shitong looked at his younger brother, his eyes full of doubts, and more of incomprehension and suspicion.
Seeing the look in his brother's eyes, Fan Shixi had to sigh and said, "Brother, you have put all your energy into helping Prince Qing these days. You have no idea how fast the Zhao family is rising.
.Not only are most of the ironware purchased by the Zhongguo Government now supplied by the Zhao family, but even half of the ironware required by the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Industry is now purchased from the Zhao family."