Hong Chengchou's face was gloomy, his expression was a little dazed, and from Yan Zhenghai's expression, it was not difficult to see that the muddy water in Fucheng was far deeper and mudier than he imagined.

Yan Zhenghai also noticed the change in Hong Chengchou's face, but he did not stop telling: "As for the four major merchant gangs, although they are not as prestigious as the three major families, they have a reputation in the local area. However, they controlled the trade lifeline of the entire Fucheng, which had a population of 600,000 but nearly 200,000 porters, and these porters were all members of the four major merchant gangs. Once their interests are moved, they unite against us, and it is enough for us to drink a pot, and if one is not careful, it is not impossible to cause chaos. ”

"And the two major shipping gangs have little to do with each other, and most of their power is spread across the sea. But we can't underestimate them, these people run boats on the sea all year round, all of them come and go in the wind and rain, and they are easy to provoke. Once they also join the three major families and the four major merchant gangs, and unite with them to fight against us, our current strength alone will not be enough. ”

After a few words, he explained the ins and outs of several major forces in detail, and Yan Zhenghai poured a pot of tea, his face full of bitterness. Hong Seungchou's expression had confirmed that what he had been fearing had happened.

Originally, if Mao Wenlong was in charge here, Yan Zhenghai could have completely avoided so many scruples, let go of his hands and feet, and continue to work hard. In the event of any accident, Mao Wenlong can support him, but now he has been replaced by Hong Chengchou, if Hong Chengchou has concerns, the smoking ban will inevitably not be carried out truly and effectively.

Hong Chengchou failed to give Yan Zhenghai any advice in the end, and he had to weigh it carefully. Yan Zhenghai was quite helpless, he also understood that this matter was not urgent, and Hong Chengchou had to be given some time to think.

At the same time, in an inconspicuous dilapidated courtyard on South Street in Fucheng, it was heavily guarded. The big-shouldered man with a round waist stared at everyone who passed in front of them.

"Gang Leader Li, here!" A loud shout came from the doorway, which immediately attracted the attention of everyone in the courtyard.

Li Yi, dressed in a green suit, with a white face and no beard, strode over with a paper fan in his hand. As the leader of the No. 1 Shipping Gang in Fucheng, his arrival is quite eye-catching.

In the midst of all the attention, Li Yi walked forward generously and walked straight into the hall in the courtyard. Outside the courtyard were obviously all the subordinates of the various forces of this gathering, but there were only eight people in the hall, sitting around a table.

When Li Yi entered the hall, the eight people immediately paid attention to him, and the three old men in the first place had a sharp glint in their eyes.

"Gang Leader Li, why did you come at this time, it's too rude to be so rude." The black-faced old man in the middle snorted coldly.

The three old men were the patriarchs of the three major families, and the black-faced old man who had just spoken was the patriarch of Ouyang Xiu. And the thin old man on his right hand was Zhao Keju, the patriarch of the Zhao family. On the right is the patriarch of the Xiao family, Xiao Bin.

This time, the eight major forces of the prefecture and city gathered together to discuss the government's promulgation of a smoking ban. The three families are the organizers and the callers, and the rest of the people are all on time for the agreed time. Li Yi was the only one who was late, and this was not for a while, but for nearly an hour.

This made the people who had been waiting for a long time very angry, and before Li Yi arrived, everyone was already very dissatisfied. It will be difficult to wait for Li Yi, but I don't see him look a little humble or embarrassed. Therefore, the patriarchs of the three major families had to stand up and criticize Li Yi.

"Brother Ouyang, Brother Xiao Bin and Brother Zhao Keju, don't be angry and listen to the little brother's explanation, and then you won't be slow to get angry again." Li Yi was very indifferent, and he didn't mean to back down.

Such a reply was obviously unexpected by the people present, and Ouyang Xiu snorted directly: "Li Yi, no matter what, you must give us a satisfactory answer today." Otherwise, don't blame us for not remembering the old love! ”

The threat of this is very threatening, but Li Yi is completely inappropriate, and said with a smile: "Brother Ouyang, if you don't welcome Li's arrival, you can say it bluntly, Li will turn around and leave." Needless to say, these threats are the general trend of the government to ban smoking, and this time I heard that Mao Wenlong personally urged it. Don't think you can really stop the smoking ban from being enforced. ”

The words are not shocking and do not stop, Li Yi's words can be regarded as completely offending the people present. The eight people got up, and then glared at Li Yi angrily.

The latter is not afraid at all, Li Yi himself is begging for a living at sea, and his sphere of influence is not on this land. And at sea, he is not afraid of any forces, only the Dongjiang Army is the object of his scruples.

"It seems that everyone really doesn't welcome Li's arrival, so Li will leave!" Li Yi let out a sneer and clenched his fists.

"Wait!" Xiao Bin shouted suddenly.

Li Yi had already turned around, raised his feet and was about to step out of the door, but after hearing the words, he slowly turned to look at Xiao Bin, who spoke up.

"Gang Leader Li, don't worry, there is something we should sit down to discuss, instead of fighting each other. This smoking ban involves the interests of all of our families, and if we do not work together to resist it, we will inevitably be laughed at by the government. In the end, it's also us who lose, don't you say? Xiao Bin was talking to Li Yi on his face, but the meaning of his words couldn't be more obvious. That's what he wanted to say to those present.

As a member of the three major families, Xiao Bin's words obviously still carry a lot of weight. The crowd, who had just been filled with anger, calmed down after his words. The tense atmosphere in the hall has dissipated.

Li Yi sneered in his heart when he saw this, and he also looked at Xiao Bin for being able to say this, and looked at it differently. The meeting was to discuss the response to the smoking ban, but Li Yi did not see the need to contend with the government. The people don't fight with the officials, not to mention that none of the people present have some murders in their hands.

The officials really want to investigate it, and who of the people present can be innocent. It was clear that the big tobacco trade could not continue, and Li Yi clearly recognized this, so he did not have much hope for this gathering. If he could, he hoped he wouldn't have to join in the fun.

"Sit down, everybody, and have something to say. Harmony and wealth are our goals, and when our own people are in chaos, it is always the official family who is happy, and we have no benefit at all. ”

Xiao Bin obviously began to be a peacemaker, and he persuaded everyone to calm down with a smile on his face. Then he said to Li Yiyan: "Brother Li is too late this time, and he is indeed lacking in consideration, I hope Brother Li can put down the shelf and say a few good words to everyone." ”

Li Yi frowned after hearing this, although he felt that there was no need to listen to Xiao Bin's words. But he didn't disobey in the end, but bowed to the people present: "Li couldn't stand everyone just now, I hope everyone is not strange." ”