After finally getting rid of Wang Yuanwai, who was not sure whether he was acting for real or fake, Lin Tailai remembered something.
When a system develops to a certain level, the main contradiction it faces begins to gradually shift from the outside to the inside - if nothing else, it should be what Zhou Shuren said.
Emperor Taizu Gao killed the heroes after killing the enemies, probably because of this rule.
Although the Lin Group still has a lot of room for expansion, and the pie can continue to be expanded, and it is far from the stage of involution, Wang Yuanwai's performance can be regarded as a small sign.
So Lin Tailai decided to pay more attention to Wang Yuanwai, and called Lu Junbi, the chief manager of Lin's Salt Industry, over.
Lu Junbi was originally an academic scholar and a distant relative of Wang Yuanwai. Later he got involved with Lin Tailai and became the second-in-command shopkeeper of Lin's Salt Industry. Now he is also a powerful person in Yangzhou City.
"What happened to Mr. Wang's relatives?" Lin Tailai asked directly.
Lu Junbi was a little surprised. Lin Zuiguan didn't care about this matter at all before, and even had the intention of adding insult to injury. Why did he mention it again today?
He replied in detail: "There is nothing special about the matter itself. In essence, it is just a group of relatives who want to exterminate the family.
But in Yangzhou city, there are particularly many of them from Huizhou, and all of them support these Wang family relatives.
In this public opinion environment, Wang Yuanwai may be under greater psychological pressure."
Lin Tailai can also understand this. Today is a clan society, and a person's most basic social circle is his fellow clansmen and fellow villagers.
It was already troublesome to have a group of "malicious" relatives, but it turned out that the fellow villagers supported these relatives, which made it even more depressing.
Once again, I sympathize with Mr. Wang. If he doesn’t have a son, he will be bullied like this.
Lu Junbi took the initiative to explain: "In the final analysis, it is still a word of profit. Other Huizhou fellows besides member Wang all believe that Wang's industry will be taken away by you sooner or later.
By that time, the merger of Wang's and Lin's salt industries will immediately become the largest salt industry in Yangzhou City, and it will be far ahead of the second place in scale.
This is a situation that all Yangzhou salt merchants do not want to see, so if there is an opportunity to block this trend, they will certainly be happy to see it happen.
Supporting the Wang family's adoption of Wang's family's property is currently the easiest and cheapest way to do it, and it is legal, reasonable and reasonable."
Lin Tailai didn't fully think it through and frowned: "I don't pay much attention to your business matters, so I'm still a little confused.
Even if Lin's Salt Industry annexes Wang's, what impact will it have on other families? As for such resistance?
Whether the salt is in the Wang family or the Lin family, what difference does it make to them?"
Lu Junbi sighed: "The people sitting in the pavilion are like dragons and phoenixes. They see great things and may not pay much attention to the activities in the local industry.
Today's businessmen form cliques based on regions, which is why there are terms such as Huizhou merchants and Western merchants. Most of the Yangzhou salt industry currently belongs to these two gangs.
In their eyes, if the scale of Lin's Salt Industry was just average, it would still be considered an exception.
However, when the scale of Lin's Salt Industry reaches a certain level, there will be a driving effect, that is, a large number of Suzhou people will be driven into Yangzhou Salt Industry, snatching the shares of the two gangs, and completely changing the existing structure.
So from a business perspective, Hui merchants and Western merchants are very resistant to Lin's salt industry annexing Wang's salt industry."
Lin Tailai suddenly realized that there was such a profound business logic behind the Wang family's troubles.
He calculated in his mind that if the salt industry controlled by Lin's and Wang's salt industries were added up, they would account for almost 6% of Yangzhou's salt industry.
If you win over a group of salt merchants and control a share of more than ten percent, it can be called a salt trust.
In the contemporary era when the ownership of Shiobei is still relatively dispersed, this is already a very high proportion. It is enough to at least serve as a leader and lead a large number of fellow villagers.
Thinking of this, Lin Tailai couldn't help but sigh: "It's true that a dojo is built in a snail shell, but your business district is also a temple with small demons, strong winds, and shallow water with many tortoises!"
The bastard in the shallow water? Lin Zuiguan sighed and made Lu Junbi fall into silence.
Lin Zuiguan concluded: "The relatives of Mr. Wang have ulterior motives. We cannot sit idly by and ignore it. We must help Mr. Wang tide over the difficulties. Don't abandon, don't give up!"
Then he ordered: "Go and inform Commander Wan of the Yangzhou Guard to arrest those members of the Wang family who covet the Wang family's salt industry. He will think of the reasons himself!"
The most high-end business competition methods are so simple and unpretentious, and they directly point to people's hearts.
Lu Junbi couldn't help but remind him: "Those people are, after all, close relatives of Wang Yuanwai. They are either cousins or nephews. Even if their bones are broken and their tendons are connected, they still have to take Wang Yuanwai's face into consideration."
This means that your methods should not be too ruthless and you should not treat them completely as enemies.
If Wang Yuanwai's close relatives are put into bamboo baskets and drowned in the river, Wang Yuanwai's reputation will be completely ruined and he will be unable to live in the future.
Lin Tailai shook his head and said, "No, you have not grasped the key to the problem at all."
Lu Junbi was puzzled. This matter was essentially an extermination incident. What other key could there be?
Lin Tailai sighed: "When it comes to business, you may know a little better than me, but when it comes to people's hearts, I know better than you.
I've been to Yangzhou several times. Isn't the thing I did sensational enough? Isn't the reputation I created not loud enough? Isn't the brand name I established strong enough? Isn't my coveting of the salt industry obvious enough?"
Lu Junbi replied sincerely: "Of course not."
Nowadays, in Yangzhou's official circles and shopping malls, who doesn't know about Lin Zuoguan?
Lin Tailai continued to ask: "Then why did the Wang family come to Yangzhou to seek a living and try to get involved in the Wang family's salt industry, but they didn't show enough fear of me?
In other words, why are they not afraid of me? Why don't they care about my existence?
This is the real doubt and the crux of the problem!"
Lu Junbi: ""
That being said, it does seem a bit weird?
The Lin Group can care about Wang Yuanwai's family ties and not sink those Wang family relatives into the Yangtze River, but why are they not afraid of being drowned in the Yangtze River?
There are indeed people who dare to take risks because of the power that makes them stupid, but there are really not many people who can still be confused even if they know that they will be in danger.
It is risky for a person to act as a robber and rob someone, but to rush into a government office in broad daylight and rob someone is to risk death.
Lin Zuoguan criticized again: "You people in charge don't realize this. You are so insensitive and careless, which makes me very disappointed."
Lu Junbi wanted to retort and said that he didn't think of this when Lin Siguan didn't pay much attention to it.
"All in all, there must be a powerful force behind the Wang family members to support them, and this force feels that it is no less than mine!
The most important thing for you and Commander Wan now is to find this powerful force and let him reveal himself!"
It is definitely necessary to force the opponent to reveal himself, but the more important thing is still to come, so Lu Junbi asked: "What will happen after the opponent reveals himself? Then we will have a deal with this powerful force?"
Lin Tailai replied: "No, then tell Mr. Wang the truth! Tell him that it is not a few relatives who are targeting him, but another powerful force that is not inferior to me!"
If he still doesn't understand current affairs, he will be killed by this other powerful force! Not everyone is as easy to talk to as I am!"
Lu Junbi: ""
Going around and around, or returning to the old way of intimidating Mr. Wang?
Forget it, it’s a no-brainer, just do whatever you want while sitting in the restaurant.
In fact, if you think about it carefully, what I said is not unreasonable. If there is really a "big power" who wants to take over the whole family, Wang Yuanwai himself can't stop it.
Lin Tailai repeated this again: "It's the same thing, go find Commander Wan and arrest the extra Wang family members first!"
A few years ago, Yangzhou Guards had no civil law enforcement power. It was difficult to handle this kind of thing, and they would be killed by unknown civil servants.
But the year before last, Lin Tailai helped Yangzhou Wei replace the Yansi Salt Ding and won the power to investigate smuggled salt. Many things became easier.
After hearing Lin Tailai's instructions, Commander Wan was very motivated.
However, Commander Wan was much more careful than ordinary military attachés, otherwise he would not have been able to gain Lin Tailai's trust in the first place.
So Commander Wan asked again: "Arresting people is easy to handle, but are you sure Mr. Lin isn't worried about the impact on his reputation?
After all, Mr. Lin is now the number one scholar in the Hanlin Academy, and he is also a decent person.
According to me, rather than arresting people and disturbing the world, it would be more dignified to just let them disappear quietly."
Lu Junbi said: "According to the purpose of sitting in the hall, the main purpose is to find out the people behind them, how can we directly make people disappear?
But we think about the reasons for arresting people ourselves, and we must be able to get through it and not give others an excuse."
After all, the Wang family members should have the backing of a "powerful person". If they casually frame up someone, it is easy for that "powerful person" to take advantage of him.
Commander Wan thought for a moment and then replied: "What other reason can we have for arresting people? It's nothing more than personal acquaintance."
Lu Junbi said casually: "It's still a bit too obvious and blunt, saying that others are smuggling for no reason, and framed at a glance.
If there is really a powerful person behind the opponent, it is easy to make the opponent passive."
Commander Wan smiled and said: "Don't worry, I'll do the work! The reason is still the same, but it can be done in a different way."
Lu Junbi gave his last instructions: "After you catch the person, interrogate him directly. If you can find out anything, report it to the police station."
After the two met, Commander Wan took action immediately.
By noon the next day, all the Wang family members who had just come to Yangzhou to seek life were arrested, six in total.
Among these six people, the oldest one is already sixty. His name is Wang Kang. He is the cousin of Wang Yuanwai and the direct eldest son of the Wang family. His status is equivalent to that of the patriarch.
Since the Yangzhou Guard obtained the anti-smuggling power, they set up an anti-smuggling department in Nanguanli, responsible for investigating smuggling of salt and taking charge of the anti-smuggling officers and troops.
This wave of six members of the Wang clan were caught and brought to the Anti-Smuggling Department for interrogation.
In order to show that he attached great importance to the matter and was worried that others would mess it up, Commander Wan took action personally this time.
With the shrewdness of Commander Wan, he could tell the clues with just a glance.
These people entered the anti-smuggling department. Although they were a little nervous, they did not panic. They indeed had a "truck card".
Immediately, Commander Wan brought the old man in front of the public case and asked: "The old man's name should be Wang Kang? I have something to ask you, and I hope you will answer truthfully!"
But Old Man Wang asked back: "I have obeyed the laws and regulations since I arrived in Yangzhou. Why did the chief arrest us for no reason?"
Commander Wan seemed to reply casually: "The reason I entered here must be related to the transportation of smuggled salt."
Old Man Wang added: "We have no grievances against the superior, and we have no evidence, so we are framed like this. Could it be that someone else instigated or slandered us?"
Commander Wan said with a smile: "Who do you think may have instigated or slandered you?"
Old Man Wang replied: "Recently, I have had some unpleasantness with my cousin Wang Qing. He is rich and powerful in Yangzhou and he is old and untrustworthy. There is no place for reasoning in Yangzhou City. Even if he leaves Yangzhou, he can still appeal."
Bang! Commander Wan suddenly took a picture of the public case and interrupted Old Man Wang, "Let me tell you now, the cousin Wang Qing you mentioned has been suspected of smuggling recently, and I am investigating him!
You are all relatives of Wang Qing, and you happened to go to Yangzhou together recently. I think you are very suspicious!
That’s why I arrested you for interrogation. There was no instigation from others, nor was there Wang Qing slandering you!"
Old Man Wang, who had been chattering all the time, was stunned and speechless. All the lines he had prepared were stuck in his throat and he could no longer speak.
In my original plan, I was already mentally prepared to suffer retaliation and even be arrested in the Yamen.
But you can’t be caught like this!
Commander Wan sneered: "What I am investigating is Wang Qing, one of the largest salt merchants in Yangzhou. Who dares to say that I am acting for personal gain?
As members of Wang Qing's clan, you happened to have arrived in Yangzhou recently, so of course you are suspected of having a major connection, and no one can say that what I did was wrong!"
Old Man Wang came to his senses and shouted quickly: "We have nothing to do with Wang Qing's smuggling! I waited in Yangzhou mainly to discuss the adoption matter with Wang Qing!"
Commander Wan refused to listen to the explanation, put on a surrendering posture, and shouted sternly: "Why are you staying in Yangzhou if it's not for smuggling? Do you want to eat, drink, and have sex for free?"
I advise you to recruit honestly, otherwise the king will be ruthless and I will not care about your preferential treatment due to your old age!"
Old Man Wang had no other choice but to shout again: "A fellow countryman led us to Yangzhou. This fellow countryman can testify for us!"
"Who is this fellow countryman you are talking about?" Commander Wan immediately asked.
Old Man Wang was helpless and proud at the same time and said: "He is a high-ranking official in this county. His name is Xu Lili. He is the youngest son of Mr. Xu Ge in the court."
Upon hearing this information, Commander Wan was stunned on the spot.
I guessed that there was great power behind these Wang family members, but I didn't expect it to be so powerful.
Mr. Xu Ge is a bachelor of secondary auxiliary affairs and the second-ranking figure among the ministers.
Dear mother, what is going on here? Why did Mr. Xu Ge's young son appear in this matter? He couldn't be inadvertently involved in the struggle at the highest level, right?
Old Man Wang asked: "This witness should be of sufficient weight, right?"
Commander Wan calmed down and said in a deep voice: "The witness only looks at the testimony, not the identity! We will make a decision after I verify it!"
In any case, please inform Lin Tailai of the situation quickly.
No matter how old Xu Ge is, he is still on the horizon, but Lin Tailai is right next to him.