To Han Yunxi and the rest, this news was even more surprising than Chu Qingge's early delivery. Cloud Realm Trade Consortium was openly supporting the Chu Clan and providing them with large amounts of grain and weapons.
"It has to be them! The Di Clan has to be them! "Tang Li was very excited.
"Definitely! Master, Chu Tianyin is lying. The Chu Clan long knew of the Di Clan's whereabouts, and they're on good terms with them! " Chu Xifeng chimed in. His Highness Duke of Qin had told him to investigate Cloud Realm Trade Consortium for a long time. Long before Ouyang Ningnuo had colluded with Jun Yi Xie to fish on Fishery Island, His Highness Duke of Qin had been paying close attention to Cloud Realm Trade Consortium.
He'd done so precisely because he had his suspicions.
Cloud Realm Trade Consortium had started out by trading at the border regions. Within a few short years, they'd spread their businesses throughout Tianning and Western Zhou, and even Northern Li. They'd developed into one of Cloud Realm Continent's wealthiest groups.
How could such a business be possible without solid foundations? Which self-made person didn't have investors behind them?
The Duke of Qin had once suspected that Cloud Realm Trade Consortium was either part of the Di Clan itself, or they were controlling it from behind the scenes. Now the truth had come to light.
"Ouyang Ningnuo, looks like his surname isn't Ouyang, but Ning!" Tang Li mused. "And that Ouyang Ning Jing? Her surname is Ning, but her first name is Jing?"
Han Yunxi remained silent. She really had misunderstood before. Eastern and Western Qin had been destroyed so long ago. Why would the descendants of the Seven Noble Families talk about loyalty and loyalty now?
The Nether Clan's Chu Clan was the executioner who'd killed the last imperial prince of Western Qin. They were once loyal merchants of Western Qin, but now they were colluding with the Nether Clan as well!
What future prospects did merchants have if they didn't work with officials and military officials?
Once they gained the support of Cloud Realm Trade Consortium and Empress Xue, it looked like the Chu Clan was determined to conquer the three eastern prefectures of Western Zhou!
"Cloud Realm Trade Consortium …" Long Fei Ye grew interested. "Chu Xifeng, send a letter back to the commander-in-chief's estate in the south regions. Just say that your lordship wants to reduce taxes on the land and increase taxes on merchants. Also, Cloud Realm Trade Consortium is involved in politics. All grain crops in the south central regions are prohibited from being sold to them! "
Not long ago, the Commander-In-Chief's Office in South Central wanted to reform the tax system for the coming year. He had specially sent a letter to ask for Long Fei Ye's opinion, but Long Fei Ye had not replied. Now was an opportunity.
At this critical juncture, he replied, "Reduce the land tax, give the business tax". Although it seemed simple, it actually had a profound meaning. The trade between the south central regions was the most developed in all of Cloud Realm Continent. The taxes there were high to begin with, but if they were raised even higher, the merchants would be earning money for the imperial court.
This was a huge blow to Cloud Realm Trade Consortium!
As for banning the sale of grain, his reason could be said to be perfectly justified. Once this news was out, it would definitely win the hearts of the people. How could the common people know about so many complicated relationships? They only cared about food, clothing, and peace.
Would the South Central Commander-In-Chief's Office take Long Fei Ye's opinion seriously? No, they will just take it as an order and carry it out immediately.
"Xu Donglin, send a message to Medicine City's Council of Elders. Just say that this wangfei is reminding them not to forget their promise of a year," Han Yunxi said.
Medicine City had agreed to cut off all trade with Cloud Realm Trade Consortium within a year. All of Cloud Realm Continent's medicinal ingredients had to fall into Pill Fiend Pharmacy's hands.
Although only a few months had passed, Han Yunxi still wanted to remind Medicine City at this critical juncture. Once war broke out, both grain and medicine would run short!
Two days later, the Duke of Qin's words reached the South Central Commander-In-Chief's Office. That group of people didn't even wait until the new year to implement the policy of "reduce the land tax, give the business tax" that very month. Moreover, they used extremely forceful methods to ban all grain sales from Cloud Realm Trade Consortium in the south central regions!
Both Long Fei Ye and Han Yunxi were surprised by the news. Those people in the south central regions really wanted nothing more than for the world to be in chaos. They wanted nothing more than for the Duke of Qin to start a war and conquer the lands!
Meanwhile, Cloud Realm Trade Consortium heard the news and held an emergency meeting at Tianning's borders.
In the past, Cloud Realm Trade Consortium's meetings would be held in the main hall, but this time it was held in a secret room in a luxurious mansion!
It was for no other reason than the Di Clan Head himself! That's right, Cloud Realm Trade Consortium was under the Di Clan's control. Even the head of the consortium, Ouyang Ning Jing, had rushed back from Medicine City.
The secret room was large and spacious, but very dim. Aside from a rectangular table and chairs in the center of the room, there was nothing else.
The table was very long, but only a single chair was attached to it. It was the seat of honor at the very front.
It wasn't time for the meeting yet, but there was already a man sitting there. He was dressed in black robes that hid himself in the shadows, emanating an incomparably mysterious aura from head to toe.
He wasn't sitting upright, but casually crossed his legs and leaned against the chair's armrest with his left hand propped against it.
In the darkness, he was kissing the ring on his thumb, which glowed with a faint white light. Anyone who knew what it was would know that it was the most expensive item in Cloud Realm Continent, Violet Jade Ice Crystal.
His face was covered with a bronze mask, which only covered his mouth and nose like a mask. He looked quite young, with a pair of thick brows and large eyes. It was unclear what he was staring at in the shadows, but he was currently lost in thought.
His gaze was extremely arrogant!
Very soon, people began to trickle into the room. Soon enough, everyone was gathered on either side of the table. The first person to stand on his left was none other than Ouyang Ning Nuo.
Although he had been stripped of his position as head of the consortium, he was still a respected member of the Di Clan. As the fourth son of the first wife, he would be fine as long as his eldest brother didn't punish him, no matter how big of a mistake he made.
The first seat on the man's right was empty, while the second seat was occupied by Ouyang Ning Jing, who had rushed back from Medicine City. She was the second young Miss of the first wife of the Di Clan. Unlike other women, she always wore men's clothes. Her hair was all tied up, not to hide her identity as a woman, but because she disliked women who got in the way. She preferred men's clothes to be straightforward and nimble.
It had to be said that her looks were too striking. She was of average height and had a thin figure. Moreover, she never bothered to hide her name, so everyone knew she was a woman and had gotten used to her men's clothes.
Although she was young, her gaze was calm and steady, making her look especially capable and experienced.
The empty seat next to her naturally belonged to the eldest young Miss. She never attended Cloud Realm Trade Consortium's meetings, so this time was no exception.
The man sitting at the table was the eldest son of the first wife of the Di Clan and the current head of the clan. His name was Ouyang Ning Cheng, or more accurately, he should be called Ning Cheng. The word "Cheng" and Ouyang Ning Nuo's "Nuo" combined to form the word "Promise." There had to be a deeper meaning to the name, but only they knew what it meant.
"Big bro, everyone's here!" Ouyang Ning Nuo said.
Ouyang Ning Cheng ignored him, lost in his own thoughts. Ouyang Ning Nuo was about to speak up when he saw Ouyang Ning Jing glaring at him. He shrugged his shoulders and fell silent.
Just like that, everyone remained standing for a full two hours. Finally, Ouyang Ning Cheng stood up and tossed back, "You're all dismissed."
Just like that, Cloud Realm Trade Consortium's most secretive meeting ended without a single word being discussed.
Everyone shot questioning looks at Ouyang Ning Jing. She was now the head of the consortium, so she had to give them an explanation.
Ouyang Ning Jing's sharp gaze swept over them before she said Cold, "What's the rush? The clan head naturally has his own plans! "
"President Jing, then Medicine City's side …" someone couldn't help but speak up.
Medicine City had already stopped supplying them with a number of medicinal ingredients, all of which were popular. Once they stopped supplying them for a long time, the merchants on the next floor would definitely have complaints.
Ouyang Ning Jing said without hesitation, "Pass down my orders to stop all business with Medicine City. Medicine City broke the agreement first, so they should compensate us! Before the settlement is settled, all of Cloud Realm Trade Consortium's income from medicinal ingredients will be shared with Medicine City! "
Everyone grew alarmed at her words.
"President Jing, think thrice!"
"President Jing, we'll be the ones to suffer losses if we stop selling medicinal ingredients!"
"President Jing, now's not the time to be angry. You've been in Medicine City for so long? Have you been there all this time for nothing?
… …
The clamor in the room almost drowned out Ouyang Ning Jing, but she remained unmoved. She stood there with her chin raised and a cold gaze at the crowd, allowing them to shout as they wished. Her courage, aura, and charisma were no less inferior to any man's.
Seeing that Ouyang Ning Jing didn't make a sound, the people who were shouting gradually shut their mouths. Ouyang Ning Jing sat down on the table with her arms crossed before she spoke. "Those who object, please step forward. This president will give you one year to negotiate with Medicine City. If you can reach an agreement, the position of president will be yours! Is anyone willing? Step forward! "
The crowd grew even quieter at her words. No one dared to step forward.
Although they weren't clear on the relationship between the Wang Clan and the Duke of Qin, they were clear that Han Yunxi was the King Of Medicine's disciple. Medicine City revered the King Of Medicine, so they didn't dare to offend Han Yunxi. The only way to avoid offending Han Yunxi was to end their cooperation with Cloud Realm Trade Consortium and give all their medicinal ingredients to Pill Fiend Pharmacy.
Even Ouyang Ning Jing had failed to reach an agreement after months of negotiations, so who else could do it? Not to mention one year, even if he was given ten years, it would still be impossible!
After waiting for a while, seeing that no one stood up, Ouyang Ning Jing asked coldly, "Since you all know it's impossible, why are you still wasting time here?"
At this, someone spoke up timidly, "President Jing, although we can't reach an agreement, you can't just cut off all our cooperation just like that. Although we won't lose money, in the long run …"
Before he could finish, Ouyang Ning Jing Coldly cut him off. "In the long run? How long can it last? Do you know how many branches Pill Fiend Pharmacy has opened now? "
"Fifty-three …" the person replied honestly.
"Wrong! Yesterday, they opened another branch in a coastal city in Tian An Country, making it a total of 54 branches! How many branches do you think Pill Fiend Pharmacy needs to open before it can control Cloud Realm Continent's medicinal ingredients market? "Ouyang Ning Jing asked next.
"At least 300 branches, big and small," the person replied.
"Wrong! 100 is enough, because Pill Fiend Pharmacy started selling its ingredients to small and medium pharmacies last month! Moreover, they're selling them at very low prices. Not only do they not make any money, they even have to pay for the shipping costs out of their own pockets. "
Everyone was stunned by Ouyang Ning Jing's words. Even the silent Ouyang Ning Nuo was taken aback.
Pill Fiend Pharmacy's move was too smart. With this method, they'd monopolize the entire medicinal ingredients market within half a year!
"Rather than wasting time with Medicine City without any results, we might as well accuse them of breaking the agreement early and keep all of their profits!" Ouyang Ning Jing added.
Cloud Realm Trade Consortium and Medicine City had a year-end bonus agreement. Cloud Realm Trade Consortium would deduct the shipping costs and costs, then split the profits with Medicine City. Thus, all of the profits for this year would still belong to Cloud Realm Trade Consortium!
Compared to Ouyang Ning Nuo, Ouyang Ning Jing was more cunning and decisive!
Everyone was convinced, but Ouyang Ning Jing said something even more admirable. She said …
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