When we came out of Yanshan Garden, it was already dark, so Lin Tailai and his more than 300 troops stayed overnight in Taicang Prefecture City.
Because there was no sense of security here, Lin Tailai moved directly into Zhouya with dozens of servants.
The other three hundred officers and soldiers are scattered in mansions, post stations, and inns near the state government. There are more solutions than difficulties.
Near midnight, Lin Tailai was about to take a rest after exercising, when he suddenly saw Zuo Protector Zhang Wen walking over with a letter.
"It seems that Master Feng sent someone to deliver it." Zhang Wen reported.
Thinking of what he saw and heard during the day, Lin Tailai also said casually: "Senior Feng's behavior today is indeed strange, as if he has something on his mind.
I don’t know if there is anything I can’t say directly, but I have to secretly send someone to deliver the message.”
Zhang Wen said with a smile: "After all, Mr. Feng is a famous and die-hard fan of the retro school, so it is inconvenient for him to openly socialize with me."
After Lin Tailai opened the letter in his hand, he saw that the content inside was very simple, and he agreed to meet secretly after crossing the river tomorrow.
On the next day, Lin Tailai left Taicang Prefecture, but he was not in a hurry. He crossed the river and waited on the other side in Tongzhou.
Half a day later, Feng Shike also crossed the river and met Lin Tailai on his boat.
After Feng Shike sat down, he made a suggestion: "Don't you always want to make trouble in Songjiang Mansion? This literary conference can be held in Songjiang Mansion."
Lin Tailai said righteously: "What do you mean by making trouble? I am building water conservancy projects to benefit Yunjian. You local squires don't be ungrateful.
But why are you thinking of holding a literary conference in Yunjian? This is completely unexpected to me."
Feng Shike's face was grim, "It's more convenient for me, a landlord, to hold a literary conference in Songjiang Mansion. There are always a hundred ways to prevent Zou Diguang from participating in an accident!"
Lin Tailai was slightly surprised, "It's just a game in the literary world, why are you so impatient?"
You don’t really think that the character of “the last lone loyal gravekeeper of the century-old retro sect” has much value, do you?
Feng Shike said sadly: "Because this is my only chance to leave a mark in the history of youth!
Otherwise, what else can I rely on? I will achieve nothing as an official, my literature will be mediocre, and I will have no achievements at all in this life."
Lin Tailai comforted him: "I'm sorry, as a leader of the Nine Yuan Dynasty, a person destined to be famous for centuries, I really can't understand the feelings of an ordinary person like you."
Feng Shike: ""
If you, Lin Tailai, don't know how to say comforting words, you don't have to say anything, thank you.
Lin Tailai quickly asked: "I noticed something wrong today. Could it be that Zou Diguang took away your ecological niche?"
There was no need to hide anything from Lin Tailai. Feng Shike said frankly: "If this continues, I really won't be able to rob him."
After the Feng family split, he was not as rich as Zou Diguang; secondly, he had a relatively upright personality and was not as good at talking as Zou Diguang, and he was not as popular with the old leader Wang.
After Lin Tailai thought for a while, he sincerely advised: "This is a grand event for the literary industry. Don't always think about fighting and killing and using physics to solve problems. It would be a waste of time and money."
Feng Shike: ""
Who relied on fists, whips and guns to work his way up the literary world?
When the status of Jianghu is not high, they use beatings and killings to disrupt order; when the status of Jianghu rises, they start to pay attention to rules?
So Feng Shike said again: "Actually, after you withdrew yesterday, Zou Diguang gave Duke Yanzhou some ideas."
Lin Tailai smiled calmly and said: "The general trend is the general trend, God's way is mine, can I change my destiny with a little struggle?"
Feng Shike continued: "Zou Diguang suggested that when the Duke of Yanzhou revealed his intention to withdraw at the literary conference, he could express his resignation as the leader of the literary circle to Gu Xiancheng."
Lin Tailai: ""
What kind of imagination does this horse rider have? It’s actually bigger than him, a time traveler!
Although it is said that Zou Diguang and Gu Xiancheng are both from Wuxi, in historical data, we have not heard of any relationship between them.
He then heard Feng Shike continue to say: "Gu Xiancheng is currently in mourning and will not be able to come out for activities until three years later.
Therefore, even if Alliance Leader Wang Lao surrenders, he can still maintain his status as Alliance Leader for three years, which is a way to deal with the current crisis!"
Lin Tailai said with disdain: "Has Gu Xiancheng made any achievements in literature? What popular literary works has he published? What qualifications does he have to continue the tradition of the literary world?"
Feng Shike broke another piece of news, "Zou Diguang also suggested that he could invite Shen Li, the former Minister of Rites, and Zhao Yongxian from the Nanjing Ministry of Rites to come to the scene to support Gu Xiancheng!"
Lin Tailai was stunned. If arranged like this, Gu Xiancheng seemed to be somewhat competitive.
Although Gu Xiancheng is not involved in the literary and art circles, he is indeed famous in the academic and political circles, and he belongs to the literary circle in a broad sense.
Moreover, the scholars in Wuxi and even Changzhou Prefecture have been very united in recent years. If they mobilize for the same goal, they must not be underestimated.
Shen Li is the leader of Qingliu and has many disciples and grandsons. Although he has already become an official, he is still very powerful when he ascends to the top.
Zhao Yongxian rebelled against Zhang Juzheng in order to win his love. He was severely beaten with a royal staff and the fallen flesh was made into bacon and preserved. He became famous all over the world for a while.
Moreover, Zhao Yongxian has been the fifth son of two generations and has a high status in the literary circle.
If such people all cheer for Gu Xiancheng, building momentum will be a very simple matter.
Sure enough, there is no simple person who can be recorded twice in historical materials. Zou Diguang, who has only been mentioned a few times, can pull off such a battle.
Bang! Lin Tailai shouted: "If they dare to come and disrupt the literary conference, I have one hundred and one ways to cause them to have an accident!"
Feng Shike was relieved, this was the Lin Tailai he was familiar with.
He continued to light the fire and said: "Zou Diguang also said that Qin Lin Jiuyuan's biggest weakness is that he has too many enemies.
If the campaign for Gu Xiancheng is successful, many people will support Gu Xiancheng even if they want to oppose Lin Jiuyuan."
"This Zou Diguang has evil intentions and is destroying the overall situation of the literary world. He is actually the enemy of the literary world. He must be cut into pieces with a thousand cuts!" Lin Tailai scolded.
Feng Shike was very shocked. You don't need to be so cruel, right? Why do you, Lin Tailai, suddenly hate Zou Diguang more than he, Feng Er?
Lin Tailai did not explain much. He attempted to manipulate the literary world in order to control a channel of public opinion to counter the Qingliu forces and the future Qingliu Party's Qing discussions.
Zou Diguang, however, tried to push Gu Xiancheng into the literary world and combine literary and artistic public opinion with political debate into one.
This will allow Gu Xiancheng to gain greater hegemony of public opinion than ever before in history. What will he do after Lin Tailai comes?
Finally, Lin Tai said: "As the saying goes, people are unpredictable. No one knows what decision Wang Danzhou will make until the last moment.
All in all, I still have to ask Senior Feng to pay more attention to the situation of Duke Yanzhou.
Don’t worry, Senior Feng, the last lone loyalist of the century-old retro sect can only be you!”
After the secret meeting with Feng Shike, Lin Tailai returned to Yangzhou to stay temporarily, finishing some trivial matters and continuing to inject positive energy into the Lin Wang family.
Brother Lin, the nominal legal person of Lin's Salt Industry, said happily: "Huizhou merchants and Western merchants are still fighting over the issue of student status, and they have no energy to join forces and make trouble on the issue of establishing a salt industry office."
Lin Tailai said by the way: "Our Lin's Salt Industry's strategy is to balance the north and the south, and support whichever side is weak."
Immediately afterwards Wu Xiu, the prefect of Yangzhou, came to visit and complained: "Bachelor Jiuyuan raised a good issue, but it made me troubled!
Huizhou merchants and Western merchants came to me every day to ask for an explanation on the issue of student status, and I was in a dilemma!"
Lin Tailai said with a smile: "What is there to be embarrassed about, Mr. Fu? I heard that the Salt Industry Office will be established soon. Just let the Salt Industry Office come up with a resolution on its own.
As for Fu Zun, you should focus on more important matters and not always be distracted by trivial matters.
I remember that when I arrived in Yangzhou several years ago, you were the magistrate. How come three or four years have passed and you are still the magistrate?"
Magistrate Wu: ""
Don’t you know what it means to hit someone without slapping someone in the face, or to scold someone without exposing their shortcomings?
"As a prefect, you usually get involved in politics, but there is nothing to be promoted. It would be better to be a prefect in Yangzhou."
Magistrate Wu explained it this way, his stubbornness was his final stubbornness.
Lin Tailai added: "I heard that during his tenure, the governor did a lot of practical things, such as dredging the rivers in the city, rebuilding the moat, etc., and even built a plum blossom ridge outside the north gate."
Magistrate Wu boasted proudly: "I didn't expect Bachelor Nine Yuan to have heard about it. I have indeed done such practical things and have some experience in political achievement projects."
Lin Tailai suddenly asked: "Then if I ask you to supervise river water conservancy, such as dredging the old Wusong River in the south of the Yangtze River, would you be interested?"
Magistrate Wu: ""
Lin Jiuyuan, please stop making trouble! Can water conservancy projects across river basins be the same thing as urban waterways and moats?
Lin Tailai advised: "Since the prince loves engineering so much, you might as well go to Wusong River and give it a try.
If you do it well, you will be able to register your name in the Ministry of Industry system in the future, and there will be another promotion channel."
Magistrate Wu just wants to say, we were just bragging, don’t take it seriously!
After sending Magistrate Wu away, Lin Tailai had just returned to the inner courtyard to touch his hands. Suddenly, the doorman came to report that Cui Yushi, the salt inspector, was visiting.
So Lin Tailai could only put down his little wife, return to the front hall, and continue to receive guests.
After the greetings, Cui Yushi said: "About the Salt Industry Office, the regulations have basically been finalized."
Lin Tailai suddenly said: "The name Salt Industry Association is too stingy and does not suit the status of the salt industry. I think it can be renamed Salt Industry Association."
"The guild? It is indeed more powerful." Cui Yushi was not obsessed with the name and continued: "The members are tentatively set at 150, and all registered merchants will participate. There is no threshold."
Lin Tailai nodded with satisfaction, so that the dozen or so small merchants split off by Lin's Salt Industry could all sneak into the guild.
I also heard Cui Yushi say: "Then the guild set up three general merchants, who were responsible for handling the daily affairs of the guild, ordering the autonomous salt industry, and cooperating with government affairs.
It is tentatively determined that the three major merchants are the Zheng family of Huizhou merchants, the Sun family of Western merchants, and the Lin family."
Lin Tailai was even more satisfied. He personally came to Yangzhou to control the situation and wanted this effect.
Western merchants have been developing in Yangzhou for more than a hundred years, and Hui merchants have also been emerging for decades. Each of them must be represented.
Lin, a migrant who has only been involved in the salt industry for a few years, has been able to gain widespread support for his compliance with laws and honest management, and has been listed as one of the three major merchants. This is an incredible achievement.
But when he heard this, Lin Tailai had some doubts. Since the establishment of the guild went smoothly, why did Cui Xunyan need to come over and repeat it?
"Does Cui Shiyu have anything else to say?" Lin Tailai couldn't help but ask.
Cui Xunyan sighed deeply and spoke again: "One hundred and fifty merchants have joined the association, and the three general merchants are in charge. This model is already very good.
But now there is indeed a difficult thing to deal with. Wang Qing, a big salt merchant, has been clamoring to join the general merchants, so that the three big ones will become the four big ones.
But the Huizhou merchants are already represented by the more authoritative Zheng family, and there is no need to add another Wang family. How can this be a good thing?"
Originally, in the eyes of the Salt Patrol Censor, Wang Qing's behavior was no different from being unreasonable, and he could be taught how to behave with just one slap.
However, there may be a twist in the matter. Wang Qing's only daughter married Lin Tailai, known as the "equal wife".
Although there are rumors that it was Lin Daguan who plotted against Wang's salt industry and used various means to force Wang Qing to marry his daughter.
But in the eyes of a bureaucrat like Cui Yushi, whether Wang Qing was forced or not, the consequences actually made no difference.
Whether Wang Qing likes it or not, he is now Lin Tailai's father-in-law.
When people of this status make trouble, it's not called unreasonable trouble, it's called legitimate demands.
Beating a dog also depends on the owner. It is difficult for an upright official to deal with household affairs. Cui Yushi didn't know how to deal with it, so he came over and asked Lin Tailai directly.
"This is nonsense! Just refute it!" Lin Tailai said unceremoniously.
At this time, Wang Qing and Wang Wai also appeared in the Lin Mansion, and Cui Yushi said: "Please ask Bachelor Jiuyuan to tell him in person!"
Lin Tailai sighed and said to Wang Yuanwai: "Old man Wang! Can't you live in peace?
When I go to Yangzhou this time, I always hear a lot of messy news about you. Last time it was about your adopted son, and this time you are about to become the general manager."
Wang Yuanwai's emotions suddenly broke out, "Do I not want to live in peace? Since you arrived in Yangzhou, can I still live in peace?"
The old family members came over and advised me to adopt a son from the same clan; all the fellow Huizhou villagers were worried that the Wang family would be annexed by the Lin family, and while laughing at me, they all advised me to adopt a son!
Have you ever thought about sharing these huge pressures with me? But you just want to take advantage of the situation and deliberately use pressure from all sides to force me to rent all the salt to you, the Lin family!
You are a high-ranking big shot, everything in the world is just a chess game in your eyes, and ordinary people are just pawns in your eyes!
It’s understandable that you want to annex my family business! But can you consider my feelings for a moment, I’m a human being too!”
Faced with the violent outburst of emotions, Lin Tailai felt somewhat guilty and could only quibble first:
"You can't blame me for your situation. It's because you didn't give birth to a son and you have such a big family fortune, so you are causing trouble."
"Okay, okay! It turns out it's all my fault, it's all the fault of my family business." Wang Yuanwai gritted his teeth and said, "Then I will donate all my family property to the temple as temple property! I will become a monk! All my worries will go.
Once and for all!”
"Don't, it won't happen! It won't happen!" Lin Tailai quickly stood up and advised: "It's just the clan relatives who are here to make trouble for you, I'll help you deal with it! I'm the chief businessman, you can make arrangements!"
"Really? It's a deal!" Wang Yuanwai said, "Son-in-law, you don't want to see me depressed and have no choice but to become a monk, right?"
Lin Tailai: ""
Damn it! Why do you feel like you're being played?
Cui Yushi was also dumbfounded. He could build a large family business from scratch. Sure enough, there are no simple people.