Commander Wan originally planned to send someone to deliver a message to Lin Tai after he found out the information he wanted.
But I didn't expect that such a big figure would be found in the trial, so I went to Lin Mansion on Dongguan Street to report the news.
When Lin Tailai heard the name "Xu Lili", he immediately knew who it was.
As the "favorite disciple" of Xu Guo's second assistant, Lin Tailai certainly knew something about his "old mentor's" family situation, otherwise he would not know how to give gifts during the New Year.
Xu Cifu had four sons, but none of them became Jinshi. This may sound unscientific, but it was due to lack of luck, and there was also necessity in chance.
Xu Cifu entered the cabinet in the eleventh year of Wanli, which happened to be a watershed year.
Because in that year's competition, Zhang Jiazheng, the son of Zhang Siwei, the chief assistant at the time, and Shen Yongmao, the son of Ge Lao Shen Shixing, passed the Jinshi examination, which aroused large-scale discussions and doubts in the court.
In the previous imperial examinations, several sons of Zhang Juzheng, the chief minister at the time, Zhang Taizheng, another son of Zhang Siwei, and Lv Xingzhou, son of the great scholar Lu Tiaoyang, all passed the Jinshi examination. They were all cleared up in the 11th year of Wanli.
This time there was a lot of commotion, and the cabinet, which was already weakening, had to compromise with the spokesman.
Therefore, since the eleventh year of Wanli, the imperial court has formed a new default rule. During the reign of Prime Minister Fu, sons cannot participate in the imperial examination.
Xu Ge, the elder of Xu State, entered the cabinet in the eleventh year of Wanli. He did not catch up with the good times ahead, so currently none of his four sons are Jinshi. This is a mysterious fate.
Xu Lili was the youngest son of Mr. Xu Ge, but Lin Tailai had never seen him.
Lin Tailai was also surprised to hear Xu Lili suddenly at this time.
At the beginning, he didn't take Wang family members' attempts to steal Wang Yuanwai's family property seriously at all.
Because there are too many such things among the people, every person without a son will encounter similar situations to some extent.
I really didn't expect that a big shot could be involved in a trivial matter. This is usually the case in novels.
"Wait a moment! I'll be back as soon as I go!"
Lin Tailai seemed to have heard some great inside story, so he confessed to Commander Wan, and then hurriedly walked to the inner courtyard.
When he saw Lin Wangshi, Lin Tailai yelled: "This is bad! A big shot is eyeing your father!"
Mrs. Lin and Wang had never seen her husband look so "out of character", and the young woman who had not received any professional training couldn't help but laugh a few times.
"Husband, I'd better try another trick. It's of little use to scare my father like this." Mrs. Lin Wang wiped Lin Tailai's sweat with a handkerchief.
Lin Tailai tried his best not to laugh, "No, no, haha, it's true this time.
I just got the news that the person supporting the Wang family is the son of Mr. Xu Ge from the same county!
Based on this, it can be analyzed that Mr. Xu Ge’s son is interested in your father’s property, please tell your father the news quickly!”
Mr. Ge's name was indeed very deceptive. Lin Wangshi stopped laughing immediately and asked nervously: "Aren't you joking, husband?"
Lin Tailai replied: "Of course it's true! Hahaha, if you weren't someone like Mr. Ge's son, how could you dare to steal food from me!"
Lin Wang couldn't help but question: "Why can't you hold back your smile, husband?"
Lin Tailai sighed, "It doesn't matter if I laugh here, just don't laugh when you go to report the news to your father."
Commander Wan, who was still staying in the front hall at this time, took advantage of Lin Tailai's temporary absence and asked the Zuo Protector Zhang Wen:
"My eldest brother from the Zhang family, can you answer a question for me?"
Zhang Wen couldn't stand being called a brother by a third-level commander with real power, so he said: "Master Wan is not an outsider. If you have something to say, just say it!"
Commander Wan immediately asked: "Comparing our Bachelor Lin and the Fourth Young Master, who is older and who is younger?"
Zhang Wen smiled disdainfully and replied: "I can't tell who is older and who is younger, but I will only tell you one thing.
The year before last, when I was studying at the Fu School in Suzhou to prepare for the provincial examination, Shen Shoufu's son-in-law and the eldest son of Mr. Wangge of Taicang went to the Fu School to join the class.
The examiner disliked that these two people would occupy examination resources, so in order to ensure the provincial examination, they drove them away together!
And Mr. Shen Shoufu and Mr. Wangge didn't say anything later, they just pretended that it never happened."
Damn it? Commander Wan was stunned and said subconsciously: "Brother Zhang family, can you tell me a few more things?"
Zhang Wen thought for a while and then said: "When we are in the capital, under normal circumstances, the ministers avoid us and sit in the restaurant."
Commander Wan: ""
Forgive him for his limited imagination as a third-grade foreign military attache. He really can't imagine what it would be like for Mr. Ge to hide away.
Zhang Wen admired Commander Wan's shocked expression, and felt a sense of superiority in having the advantage of information.
This is what these local officials from other places are like. Even the top and shrewd Commander Wan is not as good as an ordinary Beijing official in terms of information advantage.
If it were any Beijing official here, he would never ask such stupid questions as "Who is older, Lin Tailai or Mr. Ge?"
No matter how old Mr. Ge is, can he be bigger than Mr. Dongchang?
That is to say, Commander Wan is one of our own, and his performance has been good in the past. Protector Zhang Zuo then gave a few words to remind Commander Wan not to go astray.
If he were someone with whom he had no friendship, even if he was watching him die, Protector Zhang Zuo wouldn't say a word more.
Commander Wan also came to his senses. Looking back, he really wanted to express his gratitude to Brother Zhang.
This is why it is important to make friends with people around important people. Not to mention relying on others' power, such people often hold key information.
In addition, Commander Wan originally felt that Lin Tailai was always scheming against Wang's Salt Industry, which was somewhat unreasonable.
But now Commander Wan has completely changed his perception and feels that Lin Tailai is really a kind person.
Mr. Ge has dared to take action like this, but a person with more energy than Mr. Ge has actually not made any big move yet.
Just boiling frogs in warm water or beating drums, what is this if not kindness?
At this time, Lin Tailai returned to the front hall from the inner courtyard and pretended to sigh, "I didn't expect that Mr. Wang would encounter such a thing. How could this happen?"
Commander Wan spoke with him: "I'm afraid Wang Yuanwai will have a hard time this time when he encounters strong men spying on him."
Lin Tailai stared at Commander Wan suspiciously, who is the strongman you are talking about?
Commander Wan quickly made amends: "I'm talking about Fourth Master Xu! Mr. Wang is being targeted by Fourth Master Xu. He will definitely have a hard time!"
Lin Tailai nodded: "Yes, yes, as a son-in-law, I am very worried about this.
I have already informed Mr. Wang, he will be coming soon, and we will discuss countermeasures when he comes."
Sure enough, less than half an hour later, Wang Qingwang rushed in in a panic, seemingly really frightened.
In the eyes of ordinary people, the power of Mr. Ge's name is so great.
Lin Tailai took the initiative and said to Wang Yuanwai: "I originally wanted to entrust Commander Wan to help you get rid of those relatives. Who would have thought that such a huge background would be involved."
Commander Wan also said: "Originally, Fourth Master Xu could be hiding behind the scenes, but Lao Wang, just pretend you don't know.
But now that the situation has been made clear, Lao Wang, you must face Fourth Master Xu directly."
Wang Yuanwai didn't care what Commander Wan said, and only said to Lin Tailai: "Don't you have a close relationship with the chief assistant?"
Lin Tailai replied: "I am indeed very familiar with the first assistant, but it does not mean that you are familiar with the first assistant!
Between people like you and Xu Cifu, why should the chief assistant favor you?"
Wang Yuanwai questioned again: "Mr. Xu Ge has always been the backer of Huizhou merchants in Yangzhou. When you were struggling in Yangzhou, I didn't see you being afraid of Mr. Xu Ge."
Lin Tailai explained sincerely: "That moment was the same as this moment, and there was no connection between me and Mr. Xu Ge at that time.
But now Mr. Xu Ge has become my grand master, I am Mr. Xu Ge’s disciple, and Fourth Master Xu is equivalent to my brother.
With these shackles, how can I be as unscrupulous now as I was in the past?"
Speaking of words, Wang Yuanwai was no match for him when he was performing normally, and he was speechless for a moment.
At this time, Commander Wan interjected: "Old Wang, I am not telling you. If Wang's Salt Industry and Lin's Salt Industry had been merged earlier, these troubles would not have happened."
Wang Yuanwai: ""
After all, there is no way around this problem, right?
Commander Wan is already very clear about the psychology of all parties and has been helping. At this time, he said to Lin Tai:
"Scholar Lin! Although you may have to pay a price, you can't just ignore it, right?"
Lin Tailai said casually: "The other side is my dear old mentor. My mentor is like a sea of kindness. How can I bear to ruin the good things of my brothers?"
Wang Yuanwai sighed deeply, gritted his teeth and said: "I will rent most of the salt I have to Lin's Salt Industry!"
When Lao Wang finally relented, Lin Tailai declined and said, "Why is this so embarrassing? Relatives should help each other without expecting anything in return.
If others see it, they will think that I am plotting your Wang family's property!"
Wang Yuanwai nodded and said: "My wise son-in-law is right. In order to avoid others misunderstanding, you can ask me to be the boss of Lin's Salt Industry!"
In this way, it is like a joint venture between Lin's Salt Industry and Wang's Salt Industry. You are the big owner, and I am the big shopkeeper and second owner.
In the eyes of others, this will prevent you, Lin's Salt Industry, from having the reputation of embezzling your relatives' property.
And I put on the outer layer of Lin's Salt Industry, which saved me a lot of messy troubles."
"Ah, this" Wang Yuanwai's suggestion caught Lin Tailai off guard, and he couldn't make up his mind for a while.
There is no problem in merging the two companies. Let the experienced Wang Yuanwai come in and take deep control of the entire business. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
It's not that Lin Tailai is suspicious, it's not uncommon for big shopkeepers to seduce the big bosses or hollow out the big bosses throughout the ages, so we have to think more about it.
Seeing Lin Tailai's hesitation, Wang Yuanwai said angrily: "I don't even have a son, what are you worried about?
To put it bluntly, would the emperor be worried about eunuchs usurping the throne?"
Lin Tailai said subconsciously: "That's true."
From this perspective, not having a son becomes an advantage of being a "professional manager".
Commander Wan stood by and helped me for a long time, but I didn't expect that things would turn out like this.
Lin's Salt Industry is known for its internal complexity. Anyway, the rights and interests of Yanyin are so messy that most outsiders can't understand them. There are also a lot of small shareholders who hold on behalf of others.
This time, Wang's Salt Industry came in. Wang Yuanwai leased the salt capital to Lin's Salt Industry, and then went to Lin's Salt Industry to become the shopkeeper. Is this status considered a shareholder or a shopkeeper?
All in all, the internal rights and interests of Lin's Salt Industry will become more complicated in the future.
Wang Yuanwai seemed to be a guest, and urged Lin Tai to say: "You have never been an indecisive person. Just one sentence today, okay?"
Under the surface panic, he finally showed off his resolute style of a self-made businessman.
"Okay!" Lin Tailai also nodded decisively.
Essentially speaking, he is not trying to make money, what he wants is scale, influence, and the power behind wealth!
As long as you can become bigger and stronger, even if you, Mr. Wang, have any selfish intentions, it doesn't matter!
Commander Wan, who had watched the whole process, applauded and congratulated him. He had witnessed a historic moment for Yangzhou Salt Industry.
The Wang family and the Lin family merged and operated, and the scale of Yanyin under their control reached 40,000 Yin.
This means that an unprecedented salt giant has emerged in Yangzhou, and the upper limit of top salt merchants has been raised again.
A hundred years ago, a big salt merchant had 5,000 yin; a few decades ago, a big salt merchant had 10,000 yin; since Longqing, the standard for a top salt merchant was 20,000 yin.
Commander Wan has a premonition that from now on, Yangzhou's big salt merchants will set off another expansion climax.
In the future, if you don’t have 30,000 to 50,000 yuan of salt, don’t call yourself a big salt merchant.
Lin Tailai calmed down and said again: "I care about my family the most. When Mr. Wang encounters a problem, how can I stay out of it?
Although the other party is Cisuke's son, and although he is the son of my old mentor, I still have to stand on the side of truth and family affection."
Wang Yuanwai was thinking about something and suddenly said: "I have a question! In the future, the Salt Industry Association will set up three major general merchants, and Lin's Salt Industry is one of them.
So if it comes time to discuss matters, who will attend on behalf of Lin's Salt Industry?
The person attending at other people's houses may be the boss, but I think that Lin's Salt Industry should have me, the big shopkeeper, attend."
Lin Tailai said dissatisfiedly: "Now we are discussing the issue of foreign enemies, Mr. Wang, don't interrupt randomly!"
Wang Yuanwai Shi Ran replied: "This problem is your problem now, what does it have to do with me?
By the way, the current boss of Lin's Salt Industry is Lu Xiucai, what will be the arrangements for the future?"
Lin Tailai also had a headache. Lu Junbi was definitely not as capable as Wang Yuanwai, but he was the "Conglong Minister" who worked hard in the salt industry.
Removing the position of chief shopkeeper at a moment's notice will definitely hurt people's hearts.
After thinking about it, Lin Tailai said: "In addition to the chief shopkeeper, we will set up a second shopkeeper and general director to be responsible for internal supervision. Let Lu Junbi be the one."
Then he said to Commander Wan: "You should have a good relationship with Lu Junbi, please help me persuade him not to worry too much!
At Wang's age, he can't work for ten years, and he is still young, so the boss will still be his sooner or later."
Commander Wan nodded in agreement, and then finished all the questions that Wang was most concerned about.
Then Lin Tailai asked about another matter, "I heard earlier that other salt merchants support those Wang family relatives?
So do they know about Xu Si? Do they know that Xu Si is supporting the Wang family relatives?"
Neither Wang Yuanwai nor Commander Wan could answer the question. Who can say for sure?