For many years, the Ming family had lived and multiplied in the Jiangnan area. After decades of careful management and bold expansion by several generations of masters, they finally became one of the largest families in the world. Later, they climbed onto the Eldest Princess' relationship and became a palace treasury royal merchant. Using the endless flow of silver brought by the palace treasury goods, the Ming family's hands and feet extended even further and deeper. Not only did they own countless businesses in Suzhou and Hangzhou, directly controlling large amounts of ships, carriages, and shops, but the family members also indirectly controlled many unremarkable businesses that were deeply connected to the people of Jiangnan.
For example, grain, oil, meals, brothels. Some people even said that as soon as a Jiangnan person opened their door, they would certainly come into contact with the Ming family's businesses.
For such a large family, the factions within the family were unusually complicated. However, the highest power was still held by the six sons of the two branches of the Ming family. The other, more distant branches were only responsible for managing the middle and lower level businesses.
Because the old Ming matriarch deeply understood the danger of internal divisions in the family, the first arrangement she made after she took sole control of the Ming family was that other than the branch of the eldest branch, Ming Qingda, all of the other five Ming children only had the right to receive dividends. They had no power to make any arrangements or suggestions regarding the Ming family's enormous businesses. They were strictly forbidden from participating in the family business.
This arrangement was, without question, a wise one. At least it used such a powerful method to ensure the Ming family's unity and good cooperation on the surface. It did not produce the same problems as other families. Until now, the family could still be considered to be unified against outsiders.
Although they could not participate in the family business, the other five masters received the large dividends from the family every year. They could not hide so much silver under the blankets and give birth to little silver chicks. They had to use it to invest in the outside world. Naturally, they also did a lot of business in Jiangnan.
The Ming family used this method to stretch their hands further and further. In the end, the businesses of these branches still had to cling onto the Ming family. If the Ming family fell, the businesses of the five masters would also have major problems. Thus, they had to use the power in their hands to protect and escort the eldest branch.
Thus, in Fan Xian's eyes, these businesses that did not belong to the Ming family in name still had the Ming surname. Naturally, the Overwatch Council began to harass these businesses equally.
This time, the five masters could not stand it. They thought to themselves that they did not receive many benefits from the family, and they were still implicated. The more they did business, the more difficult it became. What could they do?
…
…
"Open your dog eyes and look, it's the Fourth Master in front of you!"
The Fourth master of the Ming family was born of a concubine. His position in the family was not high, so he always liked to walk birds for fun to avoid offending the old matriarch and big brother. Each year, he used the silver he earned to do some business. He opened a vegetable and fruit trading business and did some business that the official fingers missed. Naturally, his days passed very smoothly.
But recently, no matter what, he couldn't be happy. The trading company was being investigated every day, and business was slightly declining. Although the results weren't too serious, the bad trend was clear. The officials who usually nodded and bowed in front of him were also rarely willing to drink tea with him.
He understood that the Overwatch Council had been frightened by those officials.
However, it was not up to the person in front of him to provoke him. A glimmer of viciousness flashed across the Fourth master's slightly pale face. He slapped the southern barbarian in front of him until he spun three times in place. A red handprint suddenly appeared on his face, and a trickle of blood flowed from the corner of his lips.
The Fourth master of the Ming family was the largest vegetable and fruit seller in Suzhou. He didn't look like much, but he had a monopoly on 30 percent of the Jiangnan fruit business. Including the matters of income to the Palace, he single-handedly took care of it. There was no problem in calling him the King of Melons. Furthermore, he relied on the Ming family's power to establish his own guild and take care of the entire Jiangnan fruit market. In all these years, there had never been a powerful figure who dared to come to his fields to pick some fruits to eat.
However, a merchant had suddenly come from Lingnan and jumped over the agreement between the Ming and Xiong families. Without going through the Fourth master's hands, he directly sold fruits to Suzhou.
Lingnan's weather was hot and the fruit was beautiful. As long as the problem of long-distance transportation was solved, there would be great profits to be made. If that merchant had understood the rules, he would have first paid his respects to the Fourth master after coming to Suzhou. Perhaps the Fourth master would have nodded his head and given him some shares to do business. Who knew whether this merchant didn't understand the rules or if he had something he could rely on? He relied on the fact that he had a lot of goods and a low price to forcefully lower the price of melons in Suzhou and even Jiangnan by 20 percent within 10 days. This merchant's business also rapidly expanded.
The Fourth master's face was full of a sinister smile as he stared at the Lingnan merchant he had slapped to the ground. He chuckled and said, "Now who dares to bully the Ming family? A mere southern barbarian, where did you get the courage? "
In reality, he knew that when his family's business began to be suppressed by the Overwatch Council, no matter how useful the Overwatch Council could be, once this kind of news spread and the trend took shape, countless merchant powers that had been suppressed by his family in the past would begin to stir. They would want to take advantage of the Ming family being badly battered to take advantage of the opportunity to gain some benefits.
However, the Fourth master could not do anything to imperial envoy Fan Xian. He didn't even have the time to be afraid. How could he allow a southern barbarian to mess around on his territory?
"Use a stick to teach him a lesson." The Fourth master looked at the Lingnan melon merchant crying and begging for mercy on the ground. A glimmer of disdain flashed across the corner of his lips.
As his voice fell, a wretched cry rang out again from the yard. The Fourth master's subordinates held wooden sticks and smashed them viciously toward the Lingnan melon merchant's body. The blows rang out. Who knew how many of the poor merchant's bones had been broken. The wretched cries gradually quieted. His entire body was covered in blood as he was knocked unconscious.
To the side, the trusted accountant's heart trembled as he watched this bloody scene. He moved closer and said, "Fourth master, this person … should be someone from the Xiong family."
"I know," the Fourth master said in a severe voice. "Xiong Bailing, that old bastard, wants to use this melon merchant to test us. If I don't retaliate, he will actually think that the Ming family is easy to bully."
The accountant smiled bitterly and said, "Fourth master, at this time of year, we can't bring trouble to the family."
The Fourth master thought of something and his expression darkened. "The old matriarch is already beginning to suspect me. If I don't act rash right now, what should I do?"
Countless complicated emotions welled up in the accountant's heart. He didn't know what to say.
The Fourth master stood up from his chair and gazed at the blood-covered Lingnan merchant on the ground. In a dark voice, he said, "It's not that I won't let you do business, but doing business is not bullying people. You can't bully me."
The Lingnan merchant had already woken up. Hearing these words, he was quite frightened and quickly nodded his head furiously.
"Hand over 10,000 liang of silver. At the same time, bring the price back down. Let's compete fairly." The Fourth master chuckled. His laughter was incomparably dark and severe. "You won't bully me, so naturally, I won't bully you."
After dealing with this person, the Fourth master called for people to drag the merchant out. Looking at the bloodstains on the floor, he spat and cursed through gritted teeth, "Fan Xian bullied me, and I didn't retaliate. Who the f * ck is the Xiong family?"
Returning to the room, the Fourth master washed his hands and rolled up his sleeves. He took down the birdcage from the side of the corridor and began to play with it. He whistled, but his gaze was distant.
The accountant followed behind him timidly and said in a low voice, "Fourth master, you're saying … the matter of you meeting with Xia Qifei has been found out by the old matriarch?"
The Fourth master's body froze. Suddenly, he cursed angrily, "Isn't it all your rotten idea? You said to have a foot in two boats, that the Seventh Ming master had survived a great disaster, that he was bound to have good fortune in the future, and that he had the imperial envoy's support. The public property would eventually be taken back by him … you wanted me to meet him and speak first! F * ck, the next day, I was called over by the old matriarch to be scolded and almost didn't come out alive! "
He was incomparably angry. With great difficulty, he calmed the emotions in his chest and coldly said, "The Overwatch Council has been targeting our family recently. If I wasn't more vicious today, how would the old matriarch and big brother see me?"
The accountant didn't dare to breathe loudly after being scolded by his master. With a sullen face, he said, "But master Xia wanted to meet with you that day, and you had to refuse. Fourth master … you really don't want to hear what master Xia said?"
"Seventh brother, seventh brother …" The Fourth master thought of his younger brother who had suddenly appeared and felt it was strange. Concerning the matter of Xia Qifei and his mother being harmed by the old Ming matriarch, he had only occasionally heard about it. He and his mother were clean, so he was not afraid of the other party like the eldest branch. Thinking of the words Xia Qifei had conveyed to the imperial envoy that day, a light flashed through his eyes. He sighed helplessly and said, "I'm afraid of the imperial envoy, but I'm even more afraid of the old matriarch … furthermore, the Ming family is, after all, our Ming family. If they really listened to you and joined hands with Xia Qifei, with such a terrifying imperial envoy watching from behind, the Ming family would … become the court's Ming family."
The Fourth master smiled wretchedly and said, "No matter how tyrannical the eldest branch is, we have been brothers for so many years. In the end, my surname is still Ming."
The accountant didn't dare to continue persuading.
…
…
The Fourth master had officially rejected the good intentions Fan Xian had conveyed through Xia Qifei. Thus, the response from Hua Garden quickly arrived at the large manor he had bought in the south of Suzhou.
The Suzhou government bailiffs pushed open the door and entered. Under the watchful gaze of the Ming family thugs, they trembled as they arrived at the Tang family home. They took out the notice and requested that the Fourth master follow them back to the Suzhou government for a hearing.
"Hearing?" The Fourth master had not expected that he would also be taken in for questioning. He yelled at the bailiffs in a stern voice, "Are you confused? Who is reporting me? What are you reporting me for? "
The bailiffs had no choice. Otherwise, under normal circumstances, how would he dare to offend the true Fourth master of the Ming family? Usually, he wished he could kneel on the ground and lick the other's boots … the bailiffs forced a smile and sent a gaze toward the Fourth master, indicating that there was someone behind him. He lowered his voice and pleaded, "It is a Lingnan merchant. He is reporting that the Fourth master of the Ming family is tyrannizing the market, injuring people, and allowing slaves to commit murder."
The Fourth master paused and furrowed his brows. He had not thought that the Lingnan merchant would dare to report him. Furthermore, he had not thought that the Suzhou government would accept this case. It had already been many years. The Ming family was special in Jiangnan. The Suzhou government had such a close relationship with the Ming family. How could they accept the Lingnan merchant's complaint? Although the Overwatch Council had recently been playing with the Ming family, the Overwatch Council's biggest problem was that they could not interfere with local government affairs. They also could not directly interfere with civil affairs. The Overwatch Council could not take the lead in such criminal cases. Thus, when he allowed slaves to commit murder earlier, he had not been too worried.
However, the Suzhou government had actually sent someone.
His gaze passed over the head of the bailiffs and saw an unfamiliar court official standing behind a few officials. Looking at the official's robes, the rank was not high. Furthermore, it did not look like the clothing of the court system. His eyes narrowed and guessed the other party's identity. From the moment the Lingnan merchant entered the courtyard, all of this had been watched by Overwatch Council officials. No wonder the other party had reacted so quickly.
The Fourth master's eyelids twitched. He knew he had miscalculated one thing. Although the Overwatch Council could not directly interrogate him, they could keep an eye on the Suzhou government. If the Suzhou government truly ignored him … the Overwatch Council would probably capture the Suzhou government officials and bring them back for questioning. With such a powerful deterrent here, no wonder the Suzhou government dared to capture him today.
He laughed coldly and gazed at the bailiffs. "So what if I don't go?"
The bailiffs were so anxious he was about to cry. He pleaded, "Fourth master, at least give the Zhizhou some face."
The Ming family servants all began to clamor. Holding wooden sticks in their hands, they surrounded the bailiffs in the middle. Their cold gazes, intentionally or not, stared at the Overwatch Council official at the back of the crowd.
The Fourth Bureau official of the Overwatch Council smiled slightly and said, "Brothers, what exactly are you planning to do? There seems to be someone here … preparing to rebel. "
Beating up officials and not listening to court orders, what was the difference between this and rebellion?
Hearing these words, the Suzhou government official knew that this person had to be captured and brought back today. Otherwise, the Zhizhou would not be able to answer to the Overwatch Council. The Lingnan merchant's wretched state had already been seen by people in the court. Furthermore, people from Hua Garden had also come and were drinking tea in the tea shop opposite the court. None of their actions could be hidden from the imperial envoy's eyes.
The official steeled his heart and looked at the Fourth master and said, "Fourth master, please!"
He used his gaze to endlessly signal to the other party to let him understand that now was not the same as in the past. When it was time to submit, submit first. As for after he was taken into the Suzhou government, naturally, there would be a chance to turn things around.
The Fourth master lowered his head slightly and muttered to himself for a long time, forcefully suppressing the anger in his heart. He also understood what the situation was and nodded his head.
The official let out a big breath and sighed, "Fourth master, pity me."
The young Overwatch Council official of the Fourth Bureau looked at this scene with a cold smile from the back.
The accounts master moved closer to the Fourth master's side and worriedly said, "Fourth master, what do we do?"
The Fourth master laughed sinisterly and smashed the birdcage in his hand onto the ground, shattering it. Bird feathers flew chaotically, and bird blood splattered everywhere. He smiled coldly and said, "So be it. All these years, I've only had tea in the back garden of the Suzhou government. I haven't had the opportunity to see the true appearance of the Suzhou prison. Today, I'll go and open my eyes."
He lowered his voice and hurriedly said, "Immediately send a message back to Ming Garden. Have big brother bail me out … don't worry, the old matriarch will trust me even more because of this matter."
After giving his orders, the Fourth master of the Ming family was, for the first time in his life, invited back to the prison of the Suzhou government.
…
"Looks like fourth brother … doesn't have any other intentions." After the news was sent back to Ming Garden, Ming Qingda sent people to open up the channels while he walked into the quiet courtyard his mother lived in. He reported to the old matriarch sitting on the chair, "I'll go and bring him back right now. Although a Lingnan merchant was injured and the Suzhou government is under pressure from the Overwatch Council to bring him back, the matter is not big. There shouldn't be any future trouble. Sir Fan junior will not be able to use this matter to bite fourth brother to death."
On the chair, the old Ming matriarch sank into silence. Her old and sunken eyes were closed as if she was thinking about something. She still did not reply to Ming Qingda's words.
Ming Qingda felt it was strange. A moment later, a chill surged through him.
The old Ming matriarch slowly opened her listless eyes and said, "The Ming family is already in a precarious situation. Fourth brother first met with Xia Qifei in secret. This is disloyalty. Later, he acted rashly and caused the family to worry about him. This is unfilial. Such a disloyal and unfilial person, why protect him?"
After Ming Qingda's silence, he became sorrowful again. The Ming family's predetermined strategy against Fan Xian's aggressive attacks was to retreat in order to advance and play with sadness. That was why he had knelt in the palace treasury and fallen ill afterward. Presently, the Overwatch Council was threatening fiercely. The Ming family was trembling and appeared very pitiful. However, the old Ming matriarch's intention seemed to be to open an even deeper wound on her family's wound.
He took a deep breath and calmly said, "Presently, the situation is still within our grasp. Sir Fan junior can only walk on the periphery and cannot hold onto our true weakness. At this time, there is no need to sacrifice so much … after all, he is of the Ming family's blood."
The old Ming matriarch glanced at him coldly and emotionlessly. "The imperial envoy will push harder and harder. In the end, we will need to sacrifice someone we can bring out in exchange for the sympathy of the Jiangnan people and the inclination of the gentry under heaven. Now that Fourth brother has been taken into prison, isn't this the best opportunity? If people know that the imperial envoy forced an old master of the Ming family to death for money, the court will be shocked. We will receive a lot of benefits and time … this transaction is worth it. "
Ming Qingda's expression did not change. He thought for a moment and then said, "It's all as mother wishes."
He knew that his fourth brother was, after all, the concubine's son. In his mother's eyes, he was a dispensable figure.
The old Ming matriarch gazed at him coldly and said, "Is the family's cash flow this bad? Why do you often have to transfer money from Zhaoshang recently? "
Ming Qingda smiled coldly in his heart and thought, Taiping money house's seal has always been in your hands. If I want to truly hold the Ming family in my hands, how can I not think of other ways? Although he thought this in his heart, his mouth warmly explained a few things.
The old Ming matriarch nodded and finally slowly said, "Only Fourth brother is probably not enough for the hearts of the people under heaven to lean toward the Ming family … Qingda, you have to be prepared. Perhaps you will be forced to give up the position of Master of the Ming family. Only then will the people under heaven realize the tragic state of the Ming family."
Ming Qingda was slightly startled. He bowed deeply and left the room.
Outside the courtyard, he smiled slightly at his son, Ming Lanshi, who had been waiting for him the entire time. "Did you hear that? I already said … the one she loves the most is only your Sixth Uncle. "
(Yesterday, I wrote Fan Xian's birthday incorrectly. My apologies. I'm not in a good mood, so I don't talk much. I also didn't reply to some of my book friends on QQ. Please forgive me.)
(To be continued, if you want to know what happens next, please log on to WWW. CMFU. COM. More chapters. Support the author. Support original reading!)
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