Xi Benzhen said straight to the point, "Lord Fang, you are dumping a large amount of new silk in Suzhou Mansion, this is to force the Weng family to a dead end?!" ”

Fang Yuan was worried about the construction of the military base, and he didn't want to entangle the Weng family's with them at all, "In business, if the Weng family loses, it loses, and it has nothing to do with others." ”

Xi Benzhen said unhappily, "Lord Fang, you will not only defeat the Weng family, but also the textile industry of the entire Suzhou Mansion!" ”

Shen Xiang also said, "The Weng family's big workshop has 3,000 weavers and 1,000 dyers, and if you defeat the Weng family, these 4,000 people will have no livelihood." In addition to the Weng family, there are at least 10,000 people involved in the textile industry in the entire Suzhou Prefecture, and you want to make them lose their livelihood? ”

The two are also worried, as the textile industry in Suzhou supports at least tens of thousands of people. If the textile industry in Suzhou Prefecture is defeated, this group of unemployed people will immediately become a potential unstable factor and collectively rise up to confront Fang Yuan.

Maybe there will be a second civil unrest in Suzhou.

Defeating the Weng family, Fang Yuan is by no means acting blindly, the livelihood of these people has long been in his consideration, "The two of you can rest assured, our original actions are like chess, take one step and see three steps." I have arranged for the livelihood of these people. ”

Xi Benzhen was stunned and asked, "Lord Fang, I would like to hear about it." ”

Fang Yuan used the most fashionable term of economic reform before the crossing, "One is to carry out supply-side reform. ”

Xi Benzhen was unheard of for this new term, and hurriedly asked him, "Dare to ask Lord Fang, what is supply-side reform?" ”

"In short, it is to carry out industrial upgrading, improve the technical content of the textile industry, enhance the added value of products, and enter the high-end market."

Fang Yuan saw that the two of them still didn't know much about it, so he patiently explained, "For example, female workers who have no livelihood can change careers to become embroiderers and goldsmiths to improve the value of silk products in the unit; Or vigorously develop the derivative brand of silk products and play a brand effect. These are all ways to increase the added value of products! ”

Shen Xiang nodded as if he didn't understand, and Xi Benzhen asked again, "Female workers can also embroider and carve gold threads, and there are not many of them, what about a large number of male workers?" ”

Fang Yuan said in a deep voice, "What do men do all day long in weaving, printing and dyeing? Male workers can go to build military bases, build ships, and engage in military production. What I lack most now is labor, and I want as much labor as I want. ”

Fang Yuan wanted to forcibly carry out the transformation of the industry through the means of market adjustment, and drive all the labor of the textile industry in Suzhou to the military industry.

Shen Xiang said straight ahead, "Lord Fang, this is in the name of the government, competing with the people for profit!" ”

Xi Benzhen's tone was a little more tactful, but it was in one sentence, "Is Lord Fang's hand too long, not only to draw silver from the hands of the government officials, but also to get a piece of the people's silver?" ”

Fang Yuan knew that the two of them were not dying to support the Weng family, but they were worried about the death of their lips and teeth, if they didn't save the Weng family, the Dongting Shang Gang would most likely be broken by Fang Yuan one by one.

He threatened unhurriedly, "My grievance with the Weng family is to the death, and the Xi and Shen families must not interfere." I can destroy the silk industry of the Weng family, and I can destroy the mining and tea industry of the Xi family; The Shen family's salt industry and wood lacquer industry. It's a big deal to reshuffle the business gang in the entire Suzhou Prefecture, destroy the Dongting Business Gang, and rebuild a business gang set up by my agent, and reintegrate the business district of Suzhou Prefecture. ”

If he had said these words two months ago, the Xi family and the Shen family would definitely have scoffed. But in the past two months, Fang Yuan's slight move dealt a heavy blow to the Weng family, a century-old business family in Suzhou Mansion, and the Weng family was already struggling at this time.

In order to increase the deterrent effect of his words, Fang Yuan asked Jin Yiwei to take out a bag of refined salt bought from Taobao, a bag of Biluochun tea leaves packaged with modern technology, and a table with artificial particleboard, which Xi and Shen watched.

Xi Benzhen and Shen Xiang identified the refined salt, Biluochun tea, and the particle board table one by one, in terms of quality and appearance, it has far surpassed the sea salt, tea, and furniture operated by the second artificial workshop. In particular, refined salt and Biluochun tea have reached the level of tribute.

Fang Yuan said leisurely, "If I put these into the Suzhou market, how long will the two of you have a salt farm, a roasted tea workshop, and a carpenter's workshop?" ”

Xi Benzhen and the others witnessed the high quality of the refined salt and Biluochun provided by Fang Yuan, and the Xi family and the Shen family no longer dared to doubt that Fang Yuan had the ability to destroy the Xi family and the Shen family.

Xu Hua and other wealthy businessmen in Suzhou have long coveted several profiteering industries controlled by the Dongting Merchant Gang, and there are not a few grievances on weekdays. If Fang Yuan really destroyed the entire Dongting Merchant Gang, short-term turmoil was inevitable, but it was still possible to rebuild a new order of the Merchant Gang.

The two were silent for a while, Xi Benzhen had already relented and admitted defeat, and sighed, "Why doesn't Lord Fang do it yet?" ”

Fang Yuan's pulling the tiger skin to make a banner had shocked the two of them, and he was secretly amused in his heart, the quality of refined salt and Biluochun he provided was indeed far better than the salt and tea of Xi Shen's second family.

However, the price of refined salt and tea, which is not a modern industrial product, is really not low, and the cost is ten times higher than the price of salt and tea in the Ming Dynasty. If it is put into the market, it is a special offering, and it can only pay tribute to the royal family, and only the powerful and wealthy merchants can afford it, and there is no price advantage in the market, and it belongs to the category of high quality and high price.

Without the basic commodities of the people, it is difficult to defeat the industries of the Xi family and the Shen family.

Fang Yuan was actually pretending to be deep and scaring the two of them, he saw that Xi Benzhen had already softened and the deterrence had seen the effect, so he coughed and said, "Because my original intention is not to defeat the Dongting merchant gang, but sincerely hope that when the national disaster is imminent, the Xi and Shen families can take a long-term strategic view, twist into a force, first resist the foreign enemies Manchu Qing and Liukou, and then talk about the amount of wealth." ”

He finally talked about military and political affairs, and hoped that Xi Shen's two families could make a windfall while also taking into account the righteousness of the family and the country.

Xi Benzhen looked straight at him and asked, "Lord Fang obviously wants to use the financial and material resources of Suzhou Mansion to prevent disasters for the north!" ”

Xi Benzhen's attitude is the general idea of the gentry and wealthy businessmen in Jiangnan, the war has not yet burned to Jiangnan, why should Jiangnan fight against the Manchus and Liukou together with the north.

Not only the Jiangnan gentry and wealthy merchants of the Ming Dynasty were subject to this idea, but the Southern Song Dynasty, which was in a corner of the south of the Yangtze River, was actually subject to this idea. Using the financial and material resources of Jiangnan to go to the Central Plains in the north and recover their homeland, the gentry and wealthy businessmen in Jiangnan will never agree, and the righteousness of any family and country is vulnerable in the face of practical interests.

Fang Yuan Zhengrong said, "The head of the Xi family, Shen Gongzi, this is not to prevent disasters for the north, but to save themselves in the south of the Yangtze River." Before we came, Zhang Xianzhong, a rogue, had invaded Jiangnan; When the Manchu Qing invaded Shandong, they also went to Huai'an Mansion. The wealthy businessmen of Suzhou Mansion are all covering their ears and stealing bells, and the Manchu Qing Dynasty will not bring the flames of war?! The reason why Suzhou Mansion was not involved in the war, and the reason why your family wealth can be preserved, is only because the north has not yet fallen, and once the north falls, it will be Jiangnan's turn immediately. ”

"If the skin does not have hair, will it be attached? In troubled times, human life is not as good as a dog, and it can't resist the invasion of the Manchu Qing Dynasty and the Liukou, and the more wealth you have, it's just a fat sheep to be slaughtered, right! If the north collapses within a year, the Manchu Qing Dynasty and the Liukou will be able to hit the door immediately, and the Suzhou Mansion and even the wealthy merchants in the south of the Yangtze River will end up better than King Fu and King Xiang? ”

Fang Yuan's words were already bitter, according to the time node, it was December of the fifteenth year of Chongzhen at this time, and it was only a little more than a year before the collapse of the Ming Dynasty.

According to the battle report just now, Li Zicheng and the Qin army have already started a war, how long Shaanxi and the King of Qin can hold on, Fang Yuan actually has no bottom in his heart.

Shen Xiang asked, "Anyone can say empty words, Lord Fang has only two thousand soldiers under his command, so he can suppress and suppress unarmed officials and wealthy businessmen, and can resist the invasion of Jiangnan by the Manchus and Liukou?" ”

Fang Yuan said truthfully, "Shen Gongzi asked well, my strength is indeed a little thin at the moment, so I have to build a military base to recruit and train troops." ”

Shen Xiang smiled sarcastically and said, "The eight prefectures of Nanjing can actually unite to protect themselves, and there are many Donglin Party members who have served in the capital, which is enough to build another military and political system, why should I trust you as a governor from the north?" ”

Fang Yuan asked coldly, "The Donglin Party only dares to build the city wall and pile up cannons, which can resist the Manchu Qing Dynasty and the Liukou, is Shen Gongzi telling a joke?" Except for our Yuan, who dares to face the Manchu Iron Cavalry, who can defeat the Liangshan Liukou?! ”

His eyes patrolled around the two of them, and these wealthy businessmen in the south of the Yangtze River still had doubts and distrust of an outsider, so they said, "Although we were originally from the north, we were the first to patrol Suzhou Mansion and build a military base in Suzhou Mansion to train troops, not to exhaust the financial, material, and human resources of Suzhou Mansion, but to truly regard Suzhou Mansion as my home." ”

Xi Benzhen and Shen Xiang glanced at each other, and Xi Benzhen asked again, "Lord Fang wants to build a military village in Taihu Lake to train the army and navy, how much land has been expropriated?" ”

Fang Yuan said truthfully, "It is estimated that 200,000 mu will be expropriated, of which 50,000 mu of cultivated land and 150,000 mu of forest land will be occupied." ”

Shen Xiang said, "There are only the Xi family and the Shen family on the edge of Taihu Lake, and the Weng family can have so much land, Lord Fang is here for our land!" ”

Fang Yuan said lightly, "If the Xi and Shen families want to build this military base, they can negotiate with land acquisition and packaging!" ”

Xi Benzhen and Shen Xiang whispered a few words, then suddenly got up and said, "Lord Fang, we have already calculated the cost of building this military base before we came, and the quotation of our Dongting Merchant Gang is 1.5 million taels of silver. ”

He suddenly made an offer that was lower than that of other wealthy merchants, and with full sincerity, Fang Yuan was overjoyed when he heard it, and hurriedly asked, "What about the land expropriation of the Xi and Shen families?" ”

Xi Benzhen exchanged glances with Shen Xiang, and said to Fang Yuan, "If the land expropriation and the construction of the military base are discussed together, we can also go to the land of other farmers and fishermen on behalf of Lord Fang, and Lord Fang needs to pay a total of 2 million taels of silver." ”

Fang Yuan's previous estimate was that the construction of the military base and the acquisition of the land of Xi Shen's family alone amounted to 2.3 million taels of silver. If you add the expropriation of the land of farmers and fishermen, it will cost at least 2.7 million taels of silver.

Xi Benzhen actually quoted a lower price of 700,000 taels, which was the concession of Dongting merchants to help the other party, and the land of the two families was half sold and half given to Fang Yuan to build a military base.

Shen Xiang said loudly, "Lord Fang, I spoke more straightforwardly before, but I had already discussed it with the head of the Xi family before I came, and Jiangnan could only sit and wait for destruction if such a group of dragons and no leader continued. After the observation and consideration of the Xi family and me, Lord Fang is the only person who can save the crisis in Jiangnan, and the Xi and Shen families are willing to fully support Lord Fang in rebuilding the military and political system in Suzhou Mansion. ”

Fang Yuan realized that before the two of them came, they had already decided to give their full support, and this trip was just the last test for Fang Yuan.

They chose Fang Yuan as the military and political head of Suzhou Prefecture, and the gentry of Jiangnan chose Zhao to establish the Southern Song Dynasty, if there was no unified central government, how could they resist the invasion from the north?

Fang Yuan hurriedly got up and bowed deeply to the two of them gratefully, "Fang Yuan is here to thank Xi and Shen Erjia for their profound righteousness!" ”