Realm of Power

The river surrounded the city, the rain was pouring, the city walls were towering, and there were a few firelights on the towering walls. The outline of the city extended behind, and faintly, the bells of the ancient temple could be heard. The fat man raised his head from the report and stretched out his hand. After being lazy, Li Yuehua cautiously said across from him, "Your Majesty, if Lu Yangyu attacks the Wu family so blatantly, will it alert others? If the people of Aden find out that the empire has taken action, I'm afraid they will be alert!"

"Whether the people of Aden notice it or not, it no longer matters."

The fat man smiled, pressed the report in his hand on the table, stood up and said, "It would be difficult to hide this kind of thing for a long time, not to mention that the people of Aden have many eyes and ears in the Six Cities Port. Since we can't hide it, then Just be more direct. As long as the plan is really implemented, it will be too late even for the people of Aden to notice. "What does your majesty mean?" Li Yuehua's pretty face was confused.

The fat man picked up a secret report from the table and handed it to Li Yuehua, "This is not alarmist. You will know after you look at this. This is a report on the trade volume of six ports in the first three months. It can be seen from the above , in the foreign trade of the six ports, imperial merchants accounted for less than one-tenth, and the goods were mainly cheap northern specialties. The truly profitable commodities were completely monopolized by Aden merchants, even if they knew that Aden Merchant’s goods are more expensive Under such circumstances, Chinese and African businessmen are still willing to trade only with Aden businessmen. After all, it is an old relationship of more than ten or twenty years. In terms of reliability and stability, the imperial businessmen who have just entered the market are undoubtedly far behind. It is difficult for the imperial businessmen to do so. Stepping in, if we just develop according to conventional means, it will take at least ten years for the imperial merchants to compete with the Aden merchants in the six ports. We cannot spend ten years competing with the Aden merchants, so we can only take extraordinary measures. "

"Extraordinary measures?"

Li Yuehua's eyes flickered. She was not good at business matters.

"Do you remember what I told you about why the empire supports Zheng Zhi?" the fat man asked

"It's to let the Central Asians know about the existence of the Imperial Bank!" Li Yuehua knew that the reason why the emperor chose Zheng Zhi was because Zheng Zhi was forced into desperation by the Wu family. This had spread throughout Longchang Port, and this time Zheng Zhi suddenly returned and brought rich The funds and Lu Yangyu of the Lu family not only reversed the Wu family's power in one fell swoop, but also forced the Wu family to a dead end. Such a dramatic reversal has probably spread to the six ports in Central and South Africa by now, which is equivalent to Invisibly, it established a reputation for Imperial Bank in advance.

“A businessman’s business is ultimately about money.”

The fat man nodded, his black pupils flashing brightly, like stars in the dark night, and said with a sneer, "The six city ports, after all, the imperial power has just entered, and the Aden people have been doing business in these six ports for more than 100 years." Over the past few decades, it is not an exaggeration to say that the tree has grown big and has deep roots. This is not surprising. Merchants accept Aden merchants far more than imperial merchants, but now, as long as the Aden merchants are driven out of Longchang, then Zheng Zhi, as a merchant directly subordinate to the eldest princess of Zhongbia, will offer to the Zhongbia merchants in Longchang what he can give How many people do you think can resist the temptation of a loan? "

"The nature of a businessman is to drive away profits. If you can get a loan from the Imperial Bank to expand your business, I'm afraid no one will refuse it."

Li Yuehua's face showed a flash of surprise, and the flash of thought even made her delicate body tremble slightly. No wonder His Majesty showed an expression of admiration for Lu Yangyu. He was indeed a smart man. In order to show his worth, he forced the Wu family to The biggest obstacle to Longchang Port was used to lure the snake out of its hole with thunder, and all this was to drive all the Aden merchants in Longchang out of Longchang Port in the name of thoroughly investigating the Wu family.

This is the core place,

If the Aden merchants in Longchang are expelled, then those merchants in Longchang who used loans to expand their operations will now have only one person left to trade with, the imperial merchants. As long as this monopoly situation can last for a month, the merchants who originally belonged to Aden The merchants' share will be completely snatched away by the empire's merchants. If this is the calculation, the empire's absolute disadvantage in the six city ports will fundamentally change, at least from one-tenth of the original. It has become a monopoly on a port. The importance of this cannot be explained clearly in one sentence.

At least one thing is certain. With the strong infusion of funds from the Imperial Bank, Longchang Port will inevitably rise rapidly, which will inevitably attract the attention of the other five port cities. As long as all Chinese and Libyan businessmen want to get help from the Imperial Bank in the end With loans, the monopoly of Aden merchants will disappear completely, and they may even be The Biya businessmen took the initiative to abandon it. This was a naked commercial war. The people of Aden would never have thought that the amount of money the emperor invested in the six southern ports this time was a terrible amount. Soon these funds would be It will become a huge torrent that impacts everything, smashing Aden merchants into pieces in Liucheng Port.

The Wu family in Longchang disappeared overnight. When the news came out, it shocked the entire Liucheng Port. Overnight, more than 130 members of the Wu family were not spared. The weather had not cleared up the next day. The Wu family had been A series of crimes such as bullying his colleagues, colluding with pirates, and killing six members of a civilian family who saw the Wu family smuggling were already Posted all over the streets and alleys of Longchang, the city guards dispatched by the Longchang Prefecture arrested more than 20 Aden businessmen who were related to the Wu family in one fell swoop. Weeping, everyone is in danger. Although they all knew that the Wu family was going to be in trouble, they never expected that it would turn out like this.

"Longchang Prefecture has driven businessmen from Aden, who should we do business with?"

The faces of the businessmen were all slapped, but they all dared to be angry but dared not speak out. What kind of identity is the Longchang Lu family? Talking about destroying the Wu family is just a joke. Until now, no one has dared to stand up and defend the Wu family. In a word, Zheng Zhi, who had returned earlier, suddenly became stronger. Longchang Mansion confiscated the Wu family's property, but somehow it became the property of the Zheng family. With his business, he acquired nearly half of the shops in Longchang Port. It was not until a businessman boldly inquired into Longchang Mansion that an even more shocking news came out. The Zheng family suddenly became the head of the royal family of China and Biya. Princess Mingyue is a merchant directly under Princess Mingyue, an upright imperial merchant. The Wu family property that Longchang Mansion said was confiscated will naturally be handed over to the imperial merchant for management.

"You don't have to worry, even if you don't do business with the Aden people, you can do business with the empire, and the empire's commodity prices are far lower than those of the Aden people!" Zheng Zhi, who had just become the president of the Longchang Chamber of Commerce, glanced at the person sitting on the bench with burning eyes. The Longchang businessmen sitting on the chairs tapped their fingers on the table in front of them and said in a solemn voice, "Is it financially safe to do business with the empire?"

A businessman asked cautiously, "Not everyone knows much about the empire. After all, it is a foreign race, and it is said that it comes from the far western continent. Unlike the Aden merchants, it has a history of trading with Longchang Port for nearly a hundred years, and even many The Aden businessmen live in Longchang all year round. Everyone knows that in most cases, the reputation of the Aden businessmen is still very good. No one is willing to suddenly change the business partner they are used to doing. "

"In terms of funding, it is definitely not a problem. I am not afraid to tell you the truth. I, Zheng Zhi, are coming with people from the Imperial Bank this time." Zheng Zhi raised his head with excitement and introduced the Imperial Bank to the businessmen. In fact, he Not to mention, other businessmen have also heard some rumors. They know that Zheng Zhi's luck has not only brought down the Wu family, but also the Lu family who came to rely on him. He even became rich overnight. This is the reason for the Imperial Bank.

"I heard that the Imperial Bank can lend us money. Is that true?" A businessman licked his lips and said hesitantly.

"Yes, I, Zheng Zhi, am today only because the Imperial Bank lent me 100,000 imperial gold." Zheng Zhi said unabashedly. His duty was to promote the Imperial Bank to Longchang businessmen. He fled to the north, but unexpectedly found himself there. I elaborated on the support the Imperial Bank received. Not only did it receive 100,000 The astronomical figure of the empire's gold even received the care of Lu Yangyu of the Lu family. Looking at the faces of the Longchang merchants with shining eyes, Zheng Zhi paused and lowered his voice and said, "You may not know yet, even Mr. Lu Yangyu , they are all from the Imperial Bank! Otherwise, how could I come back with Mr. Lu Yangyu?"

"What, Mr. Lu Yangyu is also from the Imperial Bank!"

"I'm just telling you, why would Mr. Lu fight against the Wu family for you?"

As soon as Zheng Zhi finished speaking, the whole hall was already in an uproar. The businessmen looked at each other with expressions of sudden realization. This is no wonder that the Wu family is about to end. Zheng Zhi can be regarded as a nouveau riche at most. But what kind of status is Lu Yangyu? The dignified helmsman of the Lu family, a man whose cough can cause storms in Longchang Port, is actually from the Imperial Bank, so the meaning is completely different. This is the rhythm of changes in Longchang!

"Tomorrow is the opening day of the Mingyue Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. Lu Yangyu will also come in person. Then everyone will understand!"

Zheng Zhi coughed proudly. The properties of the Zheng family and the Wu family have been merged into the Mingyue Chamber of Commerce. The reason why it is called the Mingyue Chamber of Commerce is to tell everyone that the Mingyue Chamber of Commerce is directly affiliated to the eldest princess of China and Belgium, Princess Mingyue.

"If that's the case, I think the Jue family is willing to join the Mingyue Chamber of Commerce."

"My Lu family is also willing."

"Count me in the Ning family," the businessmen said to Zheng Zhi one after another. If it is true as Zheng Zhi said, behind the Mingyue Chamber of Commerce are Her Royal Highness the Princess and the Imperial Bank, and they can also obtain the power of loans, this is simply pie in the sky. How could you miss such a good thing?

At the founding ceremony of the Mingyue Chamber of Commerce the next day, all Longchang merchants gathered together. Lu Yangyu appeared again and bluntly admitted that he was the deacon of the Imperial Bank branch. Then Lu Yangyu announced that the Imperial Bank would invest another 500,000 Imperial dollars in the Mingyue Chamber of Commerce. Gold immediately attracted most of the Longchang merchants to They have joined the Mingyue Chamber of Commerce with extraordinary backgrounds, and have signed more or less capital loans with the Mingyue Chamber of Commerce. However, one of the conditions for the capital loan is that trade with Aden merchants must be cut off, although some merchants have shown hesitation. , but the vast majority of Longchang businessmen still signed this agreement

The power of Aden merchants was completely driven out of Longchang.

The names of the Mingyue Chamber of Commerce and the Imperial Bank were like a strong wind blowing across the entire coast of Central Asia on this day.

"Princess Mingyue? Is this true? Is it really Her Royal Highness Princess Mingyue behind the Mingyue Chamber of Commerce?" There were also discussions in various places.

"Who knows, but the Lu family is sure. It is said that Lu Yangyu personally admitted that he is from the Imperial Bank!"

The heavy rain fell, and the sky was getting darker on the street in the evening. The water fell down the eaves, passed through the ditch, and turned into a turbulent flow in the city's alleys, flooding wantonly. A carriage stopped in the alleys filled with sewage. Some Aden people in guard uniforms supported them from far and near. Holding an umbrella and spreading around, Yagren, the great elder of Aden, got off the carriage and walked into a medium-sized courtyard in front of him.

A subordinate of the "Great Elder" was waiting cautiously at the door. He saw Yaglen coming and saluted quickly.

"Has anyone arrived?" Yagren asked

"It's already been brought," the subordinate replied,

"Bring him here." Elder Yaglen's wrinkled eyes were red and scary. He sat down on a chair in the hall, and immediately four graceful maids in tulle walked by. He came up to be pinched by Elder Yagren. After all, he is also an older person. No matter how strong his body was when he was young, when he reaches the age of Elder Yagren, and it is still on such a rainy day, his body is always more or less. There will be something wrong

Soon, several tall Adenians dragged a man in. It was the nobleman sent by Yaglen to meet the Yola pirates.

"Why didn't the Yola pirates attack Longchang Port? Didn't you run back halfway without seeing Yola?" Elder Yaglen snorted with a heavy nose.

"The Great Elder clearly knows that my subordinates did go to see Yola. As for why Yola did not attack Longchang Port, I really don't know. If this causes losses to the Great Elder, I am willing to pay for it." "Compensate those merchants." The Aden noble who had been sent to meet with the Yola pirates was now kneeling on the ground with a miserable expression on his face, a look of tears on his face, and his whole body was soaked by the rain.

"Compensate?" Upon hearing this nobleman's words, Elder Yaglen's face turned livid, and the hand he held made a rattling sound. When will these nobles from the country know that this is a war, a war without gunpowder? , but the same war that is enough to cause Aden to lose its foundation, the empire, is about to come to the city r