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Zhao Pu shuddered and immediately said, "I am already a member of the Red Flag Gang. I will obey the leader's orders."

When he was trying to recruit people to join the Red Flag Gang, although he boasted that they were all "one family", in fact, only the Zhao family joined the gang.

They had sworn an oath with blood, and were completely tied to the Red Flag Gang.

Therefore, although they divided up the largest salt fields, they did not dare to swallow them all immediately like other salt merchants. They had to see how the gang would arrange it.

Of course, Zhao Pu was also worried. If the Red Flag Gang took away all their salt fields, they would suffer terribly.

However, Li Niu had promised repeatedly before, saying that as long as the matter was accomplished, the Zhao family would help manage the salt fields, and he could also become the leader of the gang. He would not go back on his word, right?

Cheng Xi nodded when he heard this: "The salt fields in the gang will be renovated in the future. If your fields are also included, as long as you take good care of the salt fields, I can give your Zhao family 20% of the profits."

Zhao Pu swallowed his saliva. The number of stoves in their salt fields could not compare to that of the Ling family. If they were combined together, it would not be impossible to share 20% of the profits, but what exactly was the transformation about?

After hesitating for a moment, Zhao Pu asked carefully, "Boss, may I ask how we should modify the salt fields?"

"Build ridges into the shape of fields, divert water into canals, and use the sun to dry the salt." Cheng Xi said bluntly.

Zhao Pu was almost stunned: "Is this a bit too far-fetched..."

He knew about drying salt, of course. Some places in the north with less rain used wooden boards to dry salt, but that wasn't possible in Dongmen! After the start of summer, it rained heavily and then drizzled, and the salt had to be boiled inside. How could he dry the salt?

"This won't happen overnight. We'll have to wait until the salt pond built on the island produces results and then select a piece of land for trial operation. If it really works, the salt fields won't need so many people. We'll focus on drying salt and boiling it as a supplement, and the output will increase dramatically." Seeing that he didn't believe it, Cheng Xi explained in detail.

It is unknown how effective the several salt ponds used for experiments on the island are now, but no matter how difficult it is, it must be pushed forward. After all, technological innovation is the best way to liberate productivity, and she does not want to waste so much manpower and resources on boiling salt.

Could it be that there really was such a method? Just now, Zhao Pu thought that this young gang leader was crazy, but now he was half-believing and half-doubting.

After all, the talk is well-organized, and maybe someone will actually start researching it. If it succeeds, it will truly be a family business!

Gritting his teeth, Zhao Pu said, "Since the gang leader thinks this is feasible, I'm willing to give it a try!"

This was exactly what Cheng Xi wanted. If she really wanted to rebuild the salt fields, she still needed professionals. Having an old hand like Zhao Pu to work with her would definitely be better than her trying to figure it out on her own. However, she had to say something beforehand. Cheng Xi added, "This matter must be kept confidential. If it's really built, we can negotiate terms with other salt merchants and let them invest in the salt fields, which we can then distribute."

Zhao Pu's eyes lit up immediately. As long as they could control the majority of the output, it would only be a matter of time before other companies were squeezed out. Once they swallowed up those scattered salt fields, wouldn't they have the final say in Dongmen?

Nodding vigorously, Zhao Pu said, "Don't worry, boss. I know the importance of this."

Cheng Xi smiled slightly: "But we can't stop making salt recently. When new salt is produced, I will ask the Suoyi Gang to help sell the salt to Jinghu."

The Straw Clothes Gang? The Red Flag Gang was also connected to the largest gang in Jinghu? Zhao Pu felt that breathing was a little difficult. He was just a small salt merchant before, and could only wander around in the province. He had no ability to expand other channels.

Now that we have such a big gang backing us up, the situation is really different!

Zhao Pu was so excited that he was speechless for a moment. Cheng Xi suddenly said, "But you must remember not to be too harsh on the salt farmers. At least they should have enough food to eat and enough clothes to wear. If you cause trouble due to improper management, I will definitely hold you accountable!"

Zhao Pu was startled and said quickly, "My Zhao family is not the Ling family. We have never treated salt farmers harshly. From now on, I will ask Chief Li more about the rules of the gang..."

Before he could finish his words, Li Niu suddenly glared at him and said, "Brother Zhao, what you said is wrong. I am just a rough guy, and I don't know anything about boiling or drying salt. All matters of the gang, big or small, still need to be ordered by the gang leader."

Zhao Pu almost choked to death. Didn’t this man act as if he was protecting him before? How could he change his attitude so quickly?

Cheng Xi glanced at Zhao Pu calmly and said, "Chief Li will be returning to the island with me this time. Mr. Tian will be in charge of the salt fields. If you have any questions, just ask him."

Zhao Pu's back was practically breaking into a cold sweat. Previously, Li Niu had always been in charge of the main camp. Why was he changing the commander this time? Was it to prevent them from forming cliques? He had just said the wrong thing. What if the clique leader became suspicious? Wait, was Chief Li really unaware of this? Or was he deliberately pulling and beating him up, using him as a pretext?

Zhao Pu was in a mess and dared not be smart anymore. He could only agree.

Cheng Xi didn't say much. He walked around his own territory again, selected the salt fields for pilot transformation, and then left the east gate and returned to the camp.

…

"This is the bank's account book. There are nine depositors, totaling 3,160 taels of silver."

As soon as he returned to the camp, an account book was thrown in front of him. Tian Yu raised his chin slightly, with a hint of sarcasm on his face: "Only one family named Tang has saved 1,200 taels. The others are just fools. I'm afraid your plan will fail."

Cheng Xi raised an eyebrow in surprise: "There's actually a company willing to invest more money? What's their business? Have they contacted us yet?"

Tian Yu snorted, "He's just a tea vendor, yet he's acting so arrogantly. He's either waiting to see what happens or waiting for us to come knocking on his door. It's better to leave it alone."

Cheng Xi did not object to Tian Yu's "suggestion". She had not originally planned to cooperate with these big customers immediately.

When you are penniless and "join forces" with others, you are just opening yourself up to exploitation. The most urgent thing is to build your own foundation first.

Without hesitation, Cheng Xi said, "The original plan remains unchanged. The cement workshop must be built first. Once the salt fields are under construction, these will be indispensable. Glass is more troublesome. If there is no suitable workshop nearby, we can look for one in Panyu. Shipbuilding and cannonmaking are also indispensable. See if the guards have any connections. If we can build them ourselves, that would be the best. If not, we should also make contact."

If you want to set up a bank to raise funds and make money, the easiest way is to engage in bulk maritime trade.

The Red Flag Gang is now the largest shipping gang in the South China Sea. They basically control the route from Panyu to Hepu. As long as there is no typhoon, they will definitely make a profit.

But Cheng Xi didn't plan to invest all his money in this.

She still had too few channels at her disposal, and if she rashly engaged in large-scale transactions of other commodities, she would likely be involved in interest disputes between businesses. Therefore, "building a factory" became the best option.

Once salt drying is successful, it will definitely bring huge profits, but the initial investment is not small at all. Not to mention the excavation of salt fields, cement and red bricks used to build salt ponds are also indispensable. "From nothing to something" is a bottomless pit of burning money. At this time, it is of course safer to open a factory by burning other people's money.

Therefore, in Cheng Xi's plan, the deposits of those big investors will be used here.

Once the factory is built and put into operation, it will be able to supply more than just salt fields.

Cement and red bricks are good building materials, and Dongning is an area with frequent rain and typhoons. If these materials appear, will we still have trouble buying them?

At this time, those who invest a lot of money in the bank are no longer just tools for making money, but potential partners.

When the time comes, you can convert debt into equity, and maybe you won’t even have to pay back the money. It will also provide you with an additional sales channel. Why not do it?

Tian Yu knew Cheng Xi's plan, but Li Niu didn't. Now when he suddenly heard this series of workshops, he almost couldn't control the expression on his face.

This is quite a big deal! No wonder the gang leader spent so much effort to pacify Dongning. It turns out he wants to start a large-scale construction project. But they don't have the people or the money. Can this thing be accomplished?

Tian Yu sneered, "Three thousand taels is not enough for what you said."

It would be fine to set up a cement workshop, but it is not so easy to get involved in glass firing, let alone building ships and cannons.

The little money the bank gets is not even enough to make a difference.

Cheng Xi also smiled: "So it's time to go back. There's a big fish waiting there."

Li Niu immediately became excited. This was a plan to rob Lu's ocean-going ship! If they really took it, they would probably earn tens of thousands of taels. Then, wouldn't they be able to build whatever they wanted?

Tian Yu also understood what Cheng Xi was trying to do. He pursed his lips and said, "A thousand-ton treasure ship is not something you can deal with easily. Don't try to steal the chicken but end up losing the rice."

Li Niu almost burst out laughing. How could he curse people like that right from the start?

Cheng Xi smiled and nodded: "Dan Hui is right. I'll have to trouble you to take care of the camp. This will be our economic lifeline in the future and we can't afford to lose it."

This is also one of Cheng Xi's goals. In the future, the camp on the shore will be gradually whitewashed and turned into an industrial base and financial center, while Luoling Island will be a military stronghold and a maritime trade market. In this way, the land and the island can support each other and avoid a situation where all will suffer losses.

The word "economy" was a bit strange, but Tian Yu understood what she meant and knew how shocking Cheng Xi's plan was.

So this time he did not act strangely, but just bowed his hands in response.

Although the two men said it simply, Li Niu already understood in his heart that it would be difficult for this camp to return to his hands.

Just like Sun Erlang, once Luoling Island was on the right track, he was transferred back to Dongning.

On the one hand, it is suitable for watching the county magistrate deal with the wealthy. On the other hand, the gang leader may also intend to transfer them to prevent them from staying in one place for a long time and developing inappropriate thoughts.

After all, he and Sun Erlang are veterans, and they have ships and people. If they have second thoughts, the Red Flag Gang will immediately fall apart.

Li Niu certainly would not have any second thoughts and was quite shrewd in this regard.

Just like with Zhao Pu, it didn't matter if they were close in private or made promises, but they had to draw a clear line in public.

After all, he had made a great contribution to the conquest of the salt fields, so it was only natural for him to avoid suspicion at this moment.

But now that he thought about it, he was still too far away from the leader. How could anyone trust him if he always stayed at the main camp? He wasn't as loyal as Lin Meng, who could offer his entire clan to him, nor was he as close as Yan Yuan and Tian Yu, who had the status of "old friends." He was even the last to know about the important news that the leader was a woman.

He can't be so careless in the future. It seems that this time when he returns to the island, he needs to get closer to the gang leader and work harder on naval battles.

No one knows whether Cheng Xi guessed Li Niu's little thoughts.

But before boarding the ship the next day, she smiled and said to Tian Yu, "Danhui, don't overwork yourself and tire yourself out. If there's anything important, just send someone to find me. And the yard you live in should have been renovated and will be almost the same as the one on the island..."

Tian Yu looked a little embarrassed and scolded, "I'm not a three-year-old child, do you even need to tell me that?"

Cheng Xi, however, didn't care at all and said with a smile: "Don't handle everything alone. You are my think tank, so take care of yourself."

After saying that, she waved goodbye gracefully without waiting for Tian Yu to answer.

Tian Yu opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word. He just sat in his wheelchair, staring blankly at the big ship as it left the port and disappeared from his sight.