Chapter 104: Where to Find the Fulcrum?

Seeing the scene in front of him, Tang Cheng thought to himself in his heart, it seems that this Lin Ming has already contacted these people, and with his identity, he is indeed the best leader of the tung oil merchants in Shannan Dongdao. Joining forces with tung oil merchants to bargain with the seafood merchants who were oiling was a common but extremely effective commercial method in later generations.

Thinking of this, when Tang Cheng turned his head to look at Wu Yujun, he saw him come over with a wry smile, yes! If he is ironclad here, the more successful this business is, the more difficult it will be to "insert" his feet.

As Lin Ming coughed lightly twice and began to speak, the vague information that Tang Chengyuan saw in the newspaper gradually became clear, the first thing that can be determined is that the loss of the maritime merchants is far greater than the information vaguely recorded in the newspaper, since the beginning of spring this year, no, in fact, since the end of last year, the pirate gang led by the Shen family in Chunzhou, Lingnan has become extremely active. For a while, the Maritime Silk Road, which was originally a golden waterway, became a daunting road, and the Hubo maritime merchants represented by Persian Hu suffered heavy losses.

What especially makes these Fanhu maritime merchants resentful is that these pirates have changed the rules and morality of grabbing goods and not grabbing ships in the past, and after robbing the goods, even those ocean-going giant ships have been burned, and the goods can be done again when they are gone, after all, these rich maritime merchants in the world have accumulated a thick foundation for many years, and they can resist for a while, but if the ship burns, it will be fatal, after all, these ocean-going giant ships that are often six or seven zhang deep are not those short-distance transport ships, and they can be built well.

Although the Feng family set up strict family rules and never robbed Tang ships, and the pirates of the surrounding small Fan countries did not dare to attack Tang ships for fear of the power of the Celestial Empire, but they really couldn't withstand the storms and chaotic currents on the sea, so that the Tang merchants also suffered a lot of losses.

These two creations add up. It makes the original sails stand in a forest, and the sea ships gather outside the Yangzhou port to add a bit of gloomy atmosphere, so that there are now tung oil merchants gather in Yangzhou scene, listen to Lin Ming's introduction, not only tung oil merchants, or even the famous big timber merchants in the Quartet and the shipbuilding craftsmen in the southeast half of the wall are gathered in Yangzhou like a market, and now the sound of jingling in the large and small docks on Hu Tuzhou at the mouth of the Huai River is night and day.

When Lin Ming said this, the tung oil merchants present were all in high spirits. But what puzzled Tang Cheng was that Lin Ming, who was the largest tung oil merchant in Shannan Dongdao, did not have much joy on his face.

Tang Cheng touched Wu Yujun with his arm, and then gestured to Lin Ming with the corner of his eye, and after a while, Wu Yujun came back with a puzzled look, obviously he didn't understand what was going on.

If Lin Ming's performance was abnormal, then the charter he proposed later made Tang Cheng even more inexplicable, the head of this tung oil merchant actually meant to bring the tung oil merchants of Shannan East Road together, and then write to the Yangzhou City Shipping Department to take over the tung oil transaction with the maritime merchants.

As soon as he said this, everyone was really shocked, why did these tung oil merchants come to Yangzhou. It's not like Tang Cheng and the others who came to listen to the news, in addition to listening to the market, the most important thing to inquire about is the attitude of the city.

Yangzhou City Bosi is a special yamen, special in that it is not under the control of any yamen in the various temples of the imperial city, but directly under the palace city. In short, it was like the Jiangning weaving yamen of Cao Xueqin's family in later generations, which was originally specialized in supplying overseas treasures and treasures to the royal family, and then developed to register the goods carried by ocean-going merchant ships and collect customs duties. It also forbade the Tang Dynasty to export goods, and the income of the city department was not in the treasury of the Ministry of Household Affairs but directly into the imperial treasury of Miyagi.

It is true that the city has no right to interfere in local affairs except for the management of the maritime merchants, but the special "nature" of this yamen determines that its influence is very huge, which is why the tung oil merchants are so concerned about the attitude of the city shipping company, as long as it "intervenes", it is needless to say that it wants to protect the maritime merchants, and no one will want to bargain with the maritime merchants at that time. Of course, this is also the reason why the maritime merchants jointly wrote to the city to preside over the tung oil transaction.

The richest group of people in the Tang Dynasty were undoubtedly these maritime merchants who did ocean trade. What they sent out and brought back was not goods, they were all money, and Huang Chengcheng was money! A few years ago, Yangzhou Kaiyuan Temple Xiurui Pavilion, the maritime merchants donated incense to at least 1,000 yuan, one of the country's maritime merchants "touched" the situation and donated 200 yuan, and they couldn't raise their heads with laughter. Even more outrageous was the Persian maritime trade in jewelry. The tax loss alone is as high as 10,000 yuan. The wealth of the maritime merchants can be seen from this.

It is rare to encounter an opportunity to slaughter those maritime merchants who are extremely rich, and the tung oil merchants who have got the news from everywhere are all gearing up. I am afraid that this good opportunity will be ruined by the intervention of the city and the city, but fortunately from the current situation, the city and the city do not seem to have this intention, of course, this is also related to the fact that the Yangzhou city envoy has just been replaced. But to the surprise of the businessmen present, the city has not moved, but Lin Ming has proposed such a charter.

If you don't make money, what is this for? After Lin Ming's charter was laid out, the house was full of needles, and the businessmen were both puzzled and worried, Lin Ming's identity was unusual after all!

No one spoke, and after Lin Ming proposed such a charter, the lively room that had just been said fell silent, until the whole banquet was over.

Walking out of the wine shop in silence with the other tung oil merchants, Wu Yujun followed Tang Cheng into his house, and immediately slammed the door with his backhand, "A snake came out of Wang Bawo, Lin Ming was stunned to shed his shell and become a spirit, this shop business can't be done", after a pause, he said again: "Ah Cheng, you have a good brain, think about what kind of moth Lin Ming is?" Could it be that he is afraid that he will bite his hand if he has too much money? ”。

"Those tung oil merchants in various states are not angry, what are you anxious about?" , Tang Cheng casually poured two cups of tea and sat down, "Things must be strange when things are abnormal, but the cats in this are not so easy to guess." No matter what kind of moth Lin Ming is, the more "chaotic" the situation is, the better it is for us, as for whether this shop business can still be done, let's see if it will be said, don't worry."

"That makes sense", Wu Yujun carefully tasted Tang Cheng's words, "Hey." No wonder when I left, my sister repeatedly told me to think more with you when I was in trouble, so I didn't say anything else, just your quiet kung fu is better than me."

"I'm anxious in my heart, I won't hide it from you, I also point out that this shop business can make a lot of money, so that I can set up a good house for the second elder in the family", Tang Cheng smiled when he heard this, "But in this big business of the shop." Compared with others, we are barefoot, and barefoot are afraid of wearing shoes? ”。

"This sounds fresh, but what it says is true", Wu Yujun, who smiled hehe, got up from the couch lying crookedly, "I don't want to, let's go, my brother will take you to the back of the hook bar to open your eyes."

"The good intentions are received, and there is no shortage of boat rides along the way. I want to sleep first to recuperate, if it's still early to get up, I would like to let the boat go to the docks in Hu Tuzhou, after all, seeing is good on the ground", Tang Cheng said as he pushed Wu Yujun out. "Go toss by yourself, remember to cherish your body and bones."

"Ah Cheng, you are good at everything, it's boring, it's too boring. That's okay, I'll go to the back to explore the way first, and I'll give you two good preparations first", it was still grinding in the house, but as soon as Wu Yujun got out of the room, he suddenly slipped and slipped, and before he finished speaking, he was already in a hurry to go south.

Tang Cheng had already been mentally prepared for this, and he didn't expect Wu Yujun to inquire about these things.

After waking up from a good night's sleep. Tang Cheng took a look at the sky, then left the inn and hired a fast boat to release it out of the city through the canal and waterway in the city, and after entering the Huai River, he went all the way east to Hu Tuzhou.

Hu Tu Chau is a peninsula surrounded by water on three sides, its topography of the Huai River on the left and the East China Sea on the right, it is really the ideal dock location, the mountains of wood, the busy craftsmen, the sound of clanging hammers and the smell of wood flowers floating in the air all show the busyness of Hu Tu Chau.

Looking at these mountains of wood, Tang Cheng thought that the ground was not a boat. It's tung oil! How much tung oil does it take to build so many ocean-going giants at one time? That's a lot of money!

After seeing is believing, Tang Cheng didn't stay here longer. Rao is like this, and the speed is slow under the boat. By the time he rushed back to the inn in Yangzhou City, the sky was already dark, it was already so late, Wu Yujun hadn't come back yet, and he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to come back tonight.

Tang Cheng's guess was indeed correct, and Wu Yujun hadn't returned until he got up the next morning.

Seeing this, Tang Cheng didn't wait for him, and went out after breakfast, looking for tung oil shops in the city to inquire about the current market, and visiting this famous city scenery "color", which can be regarded as killing two birds with one stone.

After coming back at noon, Tang Chengsuo didn't go to Wu Yu's military room again, but in the middle of the lunch break, he came and knocked on the door.

Tang Cheng, who was disturbed during his lunch break, opened the door angrily, and saw that there was a thin man with a body like a bamboo pole who came in with Wu Yujun, at first glance, this person really looked like Ma Sanli, a cross talk master in later generations.

"This is my cousin Tang Cheng, Ah Cheng, this is my old friend Ma Yi who made friends in Xiangzhou that day."

"Luck, luck!" , Ma Yi didn't say much, after nodding to Tang Cheng, he said something to Wu Yujun not to forget the appointment in the evening, and then got up and left.

"I heard Xiao Er say that Ah Cheng didn't come back until dark last night, and I went out early this morning, and I worked hard", although he tossed all night, Wu Yujun's spirit was very good, "One piece and one relaxation, the way of civil and martial arts, or my brother will lead you to Songfan Songfan now, and a batch of chicks have just arrived in the back of the hook bar, Fusang Land, Silla, and Wutianzhu."

Tang Cheng didn't answer his words at all, according to his experience, as long as he answered the phone now, Wu Yujun would be finished, "What did Ma Yi do with you just now?" ”。

"What else can he do, help people match! said that there was a merchant from the north who wanted to be introduced", Wu Yujun, who was originally about to go out, sat down with Tang Cheng, "This person is an interesting person, he can't study, and he can't make an economic living, there is a benefit, remember that "sex" is a good person, and he made a living from this after he did the economic livelihood in Xiangzhou that day, I haven't seen him for a few years, but I didn't expect him to go to the north."

"North? Where to the north? ”。

"Emperor Chang'an", Wu Yujun smiled and said: "There is a lot of precious time at night!" I wasn't willing to go, Ah Cheng, since you are interested, then let's take a look, and see if it is the big businessman who is so spreading posts to invite people to the banquet."

"Scattering posts?" , Tang Cheng, who originally just asked casually to change the topic, really took it to heart this time.

"Well, I just talked to him a few words, and those tung oil merchants from Shannan Dongdao basically took the post. It seems that this person who has a treat tonight is also thinking about the tung oil business."

Hearing this, Tang Cheng followed up and asked, "Ma Yike also sent a post to Lin Ming?" ”。

"The time to talk is short, I didn't ask about this", Wu Yujun hesitated: "It should be sent, right?" No one can be without him."

Wu Yujun guessed wrong!

In the evening, the northern wealthy businessman was a fat man named Zhou Lirong, compared to Wu Yujun, this person was fatter and better maintained, of course, the style of his gestures was much greater than Wu Yujun, and the place where he feasted was not chosen in the front hall wine shop. It's in the back of the box.

This is the largest flower hall in the main room, the room is lit with three incense burners, plus a group of warblers and swallows "prostitutes" on the smell of incense powder, the whole room is simply overflowing with fat incense, fortunately there are six large ice basins in the room, otherwise it will be really hot and can't stay stupid.

Zhou Lirong didn't say anything after he came, but just ordered the girl to serve flowers and wine, and Tang Shi Goulan was an important place for interpersonal communication. The invited merchants have long been accustomed to it, you pick one, I will choose one, and soon there will be companions around him, Tang Chengyuan didn't have this mind, but since he arrived at such a field, he couldn't be too stiff.

At this moment, the 'prostitute' family sitting next to him is similar in age to him, and he can be arranged by Sister Bustard to come to such a wealthy court. The appearance of this "prostitute" is naturally good, but it is a pity that her body is longer than graceful and not plump enough, so it is a little inconsistent with the aesthetics of the times, because it is inevitable that she will be neglected. Seeing that the sisters who came with her were picked up one after another and they were hung up, this "prostitute" girl inevitably felt a little embarrassed on her face.

Her embarrassed look was just seen by Tang Cheng, since she must choose, who is not the choice? What's more, this "prostitute" girl is unique and graceful in a group of plump, which is actually in line with the aesthetics he cultivated in later life, so he immediately stepped forward to choose this "prostitute" girl, which can be regarded as relieving her embarrassment.

"Thank you, Childe!" , the 'prostitute' family avoided Tang Cheng's hand and held the wine cup to his mouth. The whole body also snuggled into Tang Cheng's arms with the movement of holding the wine, the sister loves to be pretty, not to mention that the little Langjun in front of her is still the one who relieved her embarrassment, and the watery eyes of the "prostitute" family rarely "revealed" a little bit of true affection.

Seeing that Tang Cheng was about to reach out to pick up the wine cup again, the 'prostitute' family immediately became coquettish, and her body shook more and more closely to Tang Cheng's body.

"This is how the flower wine of the Tang Dynasty was originally drunk?" Seeing that this is the case left and right, Tang Cheng is no longer obsessed. With the hands of the "prostitute", he drank all the wine in the cup. "What's your name".

"Close!" , wait for Tang Cheng to finish drinking. Guan Guan held the wine cup and wrapped his hand around the man's neck, "Guan Guan Ju Dove, in the river island." My Fair Lady, a gentleman's good pass".

"Guanguan? Good name", Tang Cheng's hand wrapped around Guan Guan's slender waist, controlling it to prevent her from making further affectionate moves, "It's really my fair lady."

"The concubine is slender, but I don't know if the son is a good gentleman?" , Because Tang Cheng's hand was holding her waist, Guan Guandi's body couldn't be too tight, and after glancing at Tang Cheng with disgust, Guan Guan actually stretched out the tip of his tongue and gently licked it on the man's ear chakra, and said vaguely: "A good night is rare, how about Guan Guan accompany the son tonight?" ”。

"I've been tired from traveling for days......", Tang Chenggang said this, but Guan Guan misunderstood what he meant, and said softly: "The concubine is just looking thin!" After a pause, Guan Guan saw that Tang Cheng didn't answer, so he lowered his voice a little and said, "If the son is interested...... It's the backyard that blooms."

Hearing this, Tang Cheng was stunned!

Fortunately, at this time, Zhou Lirong coughed and began to speak, and the whole room was quiet, and Tang Cheng also turned his mind to listen to Zhou Lirong.

What Zhou Lirong said is very different from Lin Ming, this fat man has a big appetite, and what he said is to buy the tung oil in the hands of the businessmen here, which not only refers to the existing inventory in their hands, but also points out that the new tung oil this year will be purchased together.

There are not only Shannan Dongdao in this flower hall, but even some tung oil merchants from Shannan West Road are among them, how much tung oil do they control in their hands? This breath...... It's too big, when Tang Cheng and Wu Yujun were exchanging eyes, they heard Zhou Lirong laugh and said: "A certain 'operation' has been an economic business for decades, and it has always been true to his word. Regardless of whether the market is "intervening" or "interfering" in this matter, it can be guaranteed that the oil price will be at least 20% higher than this year."

As soon as he said this, suddenly the whole flower hall came like a nest that was blown up and it was difficult to keep quiet, according to this year's market tung oil price plus two percent is indeed not much, what caused the tung oil merchants to be restless is the sentence that does not stick to the market and does not "insert" the words, what are the tung oil merchants who come from afar are most afraid of? Zhou Lirong's words can be said to have directly relieved their worries, although the two-percent price increase is not high in this year's market, but after all, it is not risk-taking, right?

For a while, the tung oil merchants from Shannan West Road in the flower hall had a lively face, beckoning the businessmen who belonged to the same party on the left and right to start discussing, but the tung oil merchants of Shannan East Road, who accounted for the majority in the flower hall, were embarrassed, to say that they were not tempted by such conditions, it was fake, but the question was what Lin Ming should do? After all, standing behind him was Lin Baiyu, the observer of this way, who offended this person, even if he could make a shop in front of him, should he do business in the future?

To say that the most relaxed in the house is Wu Yujun, anyway, he came to explore the movement of the city this time, there is not much pressure in his heart, seeing the expressions of the people in the hall who are happy or frustrated, Wu Yujun smiled in a low voice and said to Tang Chengdao: "There is another moth?" Hearing this, Zhou Lirong was not afraid of the city's 'interference'."

Although the attitude of the city is unclear now, once they decide to take over this matter, there is no doubt that they will stand on the side of the maritime merchants, and the price set by the public can be imagined.

In this context, what is Zhou Lirong trying to toss such a big quilt? Tang Cheng's mind was spinning rapidly, or did Zhou Lirong simply know that the City Ship Division would not take over this matter, so he wanted to stock up on Juqi and make a lot of money from it?

Tang Cheng thought about it, this is the most likely reason at present. Judging by this, if you can get such confidential inside information, Zhou Lirong's origin is really a little scary, after all, he is from the imperial capital of Chang'an.

The more he thought about it, the more Tang Cheng thought of Lin Ming's abnormality at noon yesterday from the matter in front of him, and then naturally thought of the shadow behind Lin Ming and Zhou Lirong, and the more he thought about it, the more his face sank.

After all, it was too simple to think before, this shop business seems to be impossible to do, in the face of such a deep background, judging from the resources that Tang Cheng currently has, he really doesn't even have the qualifications to speak, regardless of the fact that Jinzhou itself has a strong tung oil merchant competitor, and then knows that he can't use this shop business to obtain high profits, Sun Yuanjun is still willing to fight with Zhongzhen for the sake of a two-percent profitable business? If even Sun Zhijun has withdrawn, then what will happen to him Tang Cheng coming to Yangzhou this time, what kind of money will he make, and what house will he buy?

In such a thought, Tang Cheng naturally had no interest in perfunctory Guanguan, after coming out of the flower hall, he and Wu Yujun looked at each other with a wry smile, it seems that this trip to Yangzhou was in vain.

When this tung oil business involved the struggle of the first-level officials, there was no room for "interference" in this situation, and although Tang Cheng was unwilling, he could only accept the reality. Now he wants to get a piece of the pie in this shop unless he can find a fulcrum to get involved, but this matter is just a thought.

With his small Yunxi County knife and pen officer, how easy is it to get such a fulcrum?