In the middle of the jungle,

The two men were panting and scurrying in the woods, not daring to stay even though they were pierced by the sealed thorns, and the original personal guards were all shot and killed in the process of fleeing.

"Whew, whew, whew......"

Although he was originally from a merchant family, and he has good physical strength all year round, where can he compare to those elite horsemen of Jinyi who are dedicated to hunting down and killing people.

The two of them finally couldn't hold back and stopped, and at the moment they were hunched over and gasping for air.

"Brother, you can rest for a while."

The older man was helped by the latter and sat down against the edge of a tree.

"Look at it like this, I'm afraid we two brothers won't be able to escape today......"

The older man looked at his brother in front of him and said gloomily, turned his head to look, and the mountain road below was full of brocade guards riding tall horses, and in the cottage where the grain was stored above, the wailing also stopped, and there was obviously no one alive.

"Originally, my brother thought that when he entered Beijing this time, he would be able to do something to the sky, so that my Shen family would be completely imprisoned in the position of the owner of the Chao business, and he would always become the leader of the Chao businessman."

"I am also thinking about it, by shorting the price of grain in Shangjing, I will see if I can get acquainted with a new official in Shangjing, who is a very popular minister, and use this matter and countless silver to bind it tightly together, and build a road to heaven for my Shen family in the future!"

"But it still didn't work out in the end,"

"Brother is ashamed of my Shen family this time."

The older man sighed and said, this person's name is Shen Congshang, and he is the person in charge of the Chaoshang now, and the Shang Gang is originally formed by many family businessmen, among which the head of the family with the most wealth and power is naturally the person in charge.

It is not a fixed one, so there are many internal disputes, and it is also necessary to make achievements to show each family, and shorting the price of grain in Beijing is one of the reasons.

"Brother, you have done well enough, and when my father was alive, he often sighed, you are a natural businessman, you took over all the business in the family at the age of the crown, and also pushed my Shen family to the position of the main family."

"It's only been more than ten years since you sat in that position, and you have even transformed the business of my Chao Gang from the coastal generation to the inland states and counties, and the accumulated wealth of our Chao merchants seems to be above the other three major business gangs."

Shen Congwen looked at his depressed brother and said with relief,

"What about being rich?"

"After all, it can't withstand the power ......"

Shen Congshang laughed at himself.

"Do you know why your father named Congwen after giving birth to you?

"Because he also knows that the businessmen and the family can do the ultimate together, although they can be rich and rival the country, but in the end, they are just the moon in the mirror, the flowers in the water, and under the monstrous power, it is difficult to escape the end of destruction, so he has always been unwilling to give some of the family's business to you to take care ......of."

"It's just to let you study with peace of mind, and when you have a way in the future, I can send you to the court as an official."

Shen Congshang looked at the young and bookish Shen Congwen beside him and muttered, Originally, when his father was alive, he had already set the trajectory of the two brothers, one was in business and the other was in politics.

What outsiders don't understand is that in my father's heart, my father's expectations for this young man are better than myself, just like the family gatekeeper, who will always be a descendant to study and engage in politics, and a side line to do business and support.

In the end, he has nothing to say, Shang Jia, he can barely be regarded as the extreme, the Shen family is not said to be rich, but it is not too much, and the cash in the family is more generous than many old family valves.

The same young brother is also very competitive, since he was a child, he has been familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics, the eight strands are neat, and the articles are also very well written, no matter where he goes or who he meets, he is taken with him, and under the influence of his ears and eyes, he is also very aware of the rules of officialdom.

In addition, over the years, as he and the caravan have traveled north and south, he has a deep understanding of business, and he also has a deep understanding of the people in various places.

However, it was originally a family of merchants, although now the imperial examination of the imperial court has continued to this day, and it has been liberalized a lot, and the imperial examination of merchants is also allowed, but it is also based on the merchant's attachment or consignment.

My father also thought about taking his household registration out of the Shen family alone, but he was also stared at by the yamen and couldn't move.

In the early years, I had also calculated that when the time was ripe, the Shen family would have something to do with many gate lords and the local government lords, and they could follow their relationships and paths to enter the court as officials, but when it came to the step of recommendation, they couldn't spend any money, and they all passed the buck.

In the coastal area, all the gate valve officials are willing to make the Shen family rich and noble, and they are willing to befriend them, but none of them are willing to see someone from the Shen family enter the court as officials.

After all, even if you put aside the view of opening the door, no one wants to have an extra hand to cover the originally open money bag.

"Everyone in the world knows that my four major merchant gangs are rich and rival the country, but who knows how aggrieved these more than ten generations have been?"

Shen Congshang smiled bitterly.

"The family gate valve, the official yamen has been knocking on the bamboo for a long time, not to mention, there are a few people in the world who can afford our businessmen who are full of copper smell, although they live a rich life in the house on weekdays, but when they go out, they are dressed, and there are many requirements and restrictions on riding in the car, this day is very unpleasant, what is the use of my Shen family earning more silver?"

Shen Congshang pointed to the silk silk on his body and said with a bitter smile: "Even for my brother, this dress can only be worn in private, and I still have to change into cloth clothes when I enter the capital, just like this time I went to Beijing, and I made friends with the prince behind my back, but when I saw a nine-grade sesame official on the surface, he still knelt down to greet him......

"Although the court attaches great importance to agriculture and suppresses business, although the imperial court attaches great importance to agricultural taxes and the commercial tax is extremely low, so I have taken advantage of many loopholes and accumulated thousands of family businesses, but my identity is too cheap......"

"Without the protection of power, the more silver you accumulate, the more dangerous it is, just like in the middle of the city, there are naughty boys holding a piece of beautiful jade to swagger through the market, which will inevitably attract many eyes of cows, ghosts, snakes and gods."

"Our ancestors have been rooted in the coastal area for generations, and the imperial court does not attach much importance to that side, and we can still cover up with the local government, but if we want to grow, we will inevitably attract the attention of the imperial court, which is an inevitable situation."

"There is a way to be guilty, even if there is no shorting of the price of grain in Beijing, as long as the Northern Expedition loses several times, or drags on for a period of time, the imperial court can't come up with follow-up money and grain, and it may also open a knife to businessmen like us."

"In the final analysis, in the face of such a behemoth as the imperial court, we are just fish on the chopping board......"

"Therefore, until this time, Brother Wei has never broken off the idea of sending you to the court as an official, and only looks forward to the family of businessmen to be able to enter the ranks of the gatekeepers."

Shen Congshang patted his brother's shoulder and said.

"But now, my life is almost gone......"

Shen Congwen said helplessly.

"Not necessarily."

Shen Congshang looked at the young man in a python robe on the official road below and said resolutely: "Fang Cai, when they were pursuing, they only shot our guards, but avoided us, and they must have captured our two brothers alive." ”

"So that means we still have a way to live?"

"Maybe you still have a way to live."

"But, how can you live as a brother?"

Shen Congshang laughed at himself.

"Since he can directly lead the troops here, the matter of wanting to be a brother must have been known by the emperor, and most of the Prince Shuo is also difficult to protect himself, and regardless of whether the prince lives or dies, the people who plan it are definitely not alive."

"His emperor wants to save face, and he didn't disdain to compete for profit from our merchants when he bought grain earlier, but now that something has happened, he naturally doesn't mind using our lowly businessmen to save the face of the heavenly family, and give the people an explanation, the person who is the head of the brother and each family is already a mortal situation, so there is no need to think about it."

Shen Congshang is transparent.

"But there is another point, whether it is the high Son of Heaven or his murderous dog-legged Jinyi Guard, there is no way to kill us and others."

"When I and the other people in charge of the major merchant gangs die, I think that both the imperial court and the thief need to support a person again, and use the past to connect and communicate with the businessman."

"It seems to be an opportunity for danger, but why isn't it the time when my Shen family takes off?"

Shen Congshang said loudly.

"Big brother, what do you mean?"

Shen Congwen asked with his mouth open, he was a smart person who had already guessed his plan in his heart, but he still didn't want to say it.

"For brother, I want you to be that link, the only link between the imperial court and the four major merchant gangs, with an official identity!"

"Does he really like my background?"

"Would you like to let me, a businessman, do it?"

"Congwen, you don't have to care about these things, he can sweep away the Xie family of Qinghe County without hesitation, just from this point, you know that he will definitely not be a person with a good opinion."

"In his eyes, there is no difference between officials, nobles and businessmen......

Shen Congshang said firmly.

"In addition, there are two boxes of accounts in the dark pavilion of the shop in the Middle East City of Shangjing, in addition to collecting the business accounts of various Chaoshang families in my Chaoshang for my brother who has been the head of the Chaoshang business for many years."

"There are also some records of some of the other three major merchant gangs, whether it is smuggling salt, iron, or human trafficking and other side businesses, although they are not very complete, but it is enough to use them to take their lives in his hands."

"So brother, you ......"

Shen Congwen was shocked when he heard this.

"Don't forget, our four major business gangs, although they are kind on the surface, and behind the scenes, they are eager to beat each other's brains out, after all, there are so many businesses that can be done in this world, every one is less, and the other few can swallow a lot more, how can my brother have no means of restraint."

"It's just that I didn't have the opportunity to use it before, after all, my own home is not clean, so I don't want to die and the net will be broken, but now it seems to have become the evidence of the crime of clearing all families."

"Now you just have to hand over these things to him, don't leave us tide merchants, give them all to him, have the handle in his hands, you can live better."

Shen Congshang said lightly.

"Let's talk about it together, let our Shen family go to the top."

"It looks like I can't see that day as a brother."

Shen Congshang listened to the sound of rustling in the dense forest behind him, looked at the brocade guard who was walking dozens of feet away, and sighed.

"Let my brother take my life."

"As a little brother, your greetings......"

Speaking of which,

Shen Congshang took off a long knife from his waist and forcibly stuffed it into Shen Congwen's hand.

"Big brother, I'm ......"

Shen Congwen subconsciously wanted to throw it away.

But Shen Congshang did hold Shen Congwen's hand tightly.

"Remember!"

"Give it all,"

"In exchange for the way to heaven!"

"My Shen family can't be the lamb to be slaughtered forever!"

Shen Congshang said,

Suddenly twisted his head and neck and slammed into the knife edge.

"Poof......

Only the sound of a knife entering the flesh and blood was heard, and at such a close distance, the blood that spurted out fell on Shen Congwen's white face, who felt that the warm blood on his face was still a little sluggish.

"Take off your brother's head and give it to him!"

"Don't let your brother die in vain."

Shen Congshang felt the blood flowing out of his body, and the Jinyi Guard, who was getting closer and closer, used his last strength to speak.

"Bang ......"

It was originally a downhill slope, and after the head hit the ground, it rolled out on the ground for a long time, and when Shen Congwen picked it up, it was already covered with mud.

"Don't worry."

Shen Congwen silently closed his brother's head and eyes, and then resolutely ran to the top of the mountain road, where there was a figure riding a tall horse wearing a python robe.

"The head of the Chaoshang is dead."

"The grass people ask to see Commander Luo!"

Shen Congwen rushed out of the dense forest, and suddenly ran to the top of the mountain road and shouted, and at the same time, his brother's head was also raised high.

"Which play is this?"

Luo Congee looked at the young man who was kneeling on the ground a few feet away, and said in surprise, his eyes stayed on the head in his hand, and a trace of suspicion flashed, and he rode over.

"Grass people Shen Congwen has seen Lord Luo!"

Shen Congwen saw Luo Congwen coming and suddenly knelt down in the tunnel.

"Oh?"

"Who is he?"

Luo Congwen looked at the white-faced Shen Congwen and asked, he recognized the identity of the head, after all, the spy department had been staring at them for so long, and the portraits of the heads of each family had already been gathered.

"Little brother."

Shen Congwen smiled miserably.

"The villain knew that his brother was deeply guilty, so he deliberately killed his relatives in righteousness, took his head, and handed it over to the adult."

What a righteous annihilation!

Luo Congwen stared at Shen Congwen and didn't reply, the backstab of the head of the guard earlier was enough to surprise him, but now there is another righteous killing of relatives, this person from the Chaoshang Gang is really interesting.

There was unusual silence in the field,

With a long silence,

Shen Congwen's back was already soaked with cold sweat, but he had to touch his head to the ground, not daring to have the slightest transgression and disrespect.

"What do you want to do such a righteous deed?"

"Or what do you want?"

Luo Congee was silent for a long time and then asked out loud, if you really want to control the four major merchant gangs, maybe this person in front of you is also a good choice, compared to the strength of the tide merchants.

Another point is that they are ruthless enough, it is unrealistic for the four major merchant gangs to be entrenched in various places and kill their own families one by one, so it is better to let their own people go dog-eat-dog.

"The grass people want to work for Lord Luo!"

Shen Congwen raised his head when he heard the sound and said.

"Do you want to work for this officer?"

"But this head is not qualified."

Luo Congwen didn't have the slightest surprise when he heard this, looked at Shen Congwen who was kneeling on the ground, and continued.

"Lord Luo, what do you mean?"

Shen Congwen listened to his ear.

"In the manor outside the city of Shangjing,"

"There are three other families with more than 1,000 people ......"

Luo Congee looked in the direction of Shangjing City and said softly.

(End of chapter)