205

Since the plan to open a bank was decided, people in Panyu started buying houses and land, and renovating and building the house.

Once all the deals were negotiated and the shareholders were determined, the new bank was basically completed and was just waiting to open.

As agreed, Lu Jian sent someone to Luoling Island to deliver the message, but the reply he received shocked him.

This wasn't just a matter of attending the opening banquet, but appearing openly in public! Such provocation would truly bring disaster! However, the more shocked Lu Jian was, the more he realized the importance of this matter. The Red Flag Gang had gained a reputation, but Cheng Xi, the leader, hadn't. The purpose of this action was self-evident.

Knowing that the matter was of great importance, Lu Jian no longer hesitated and began to prepare. In addition to several shareholders, he also invited many guests to create a huge fanfare.

Such an action naturally attracted the attention of the Panyu business community.

The news that the Red Flag Gang was going to open a new bank had been circulating for a long time, and it was even more surprising that it was going to open so soon.

Banks were a new thing, and the stock exchange was unprecedented. No one knew what the Red Flag Gang was planning.

However, with so many wealthy people investing and Lu's eldest son in charge, his ambition is obvious. Who would dare to disrespect him?

Therefore, those who received invitations all went to the appointment with joy, and those who were not invited also made up their minds to come and join in the fun. So when the auspicious day of the opening came, it was really lively and full of guests.

"Today's arrangements are quite unique." As one of the major shareholders, Zhu Ming naturally had to be present. When he saw the layout of the venue, he couldn't help but smile and said to Lu Jian.

His words really came from the heart. Most of the guests were drinking tea in the courtyard, while in front of the door there were loud gongs and drums, bursts of firecrackers, and various Taipingle acrobatics, making the place extremely lively.

However, a red silk ribbon was hung in front of the bank's door, sealing it.

If the signboard is covered with red cloth, it is not surprising at all, but why is the door sealed with red silk?

Lu Jian smiled and said, "If it were just one business, we could just unveil it and open it. However, with so many of us running this business together, how can we have just one person presiding over it? It would be better if we all stood in front of the red silk and cut the ribbon together to open the business. This would also be a good omen for a successful start."

After he said this, everyone understood that there were a total of five companies investing in China Merchants Bank this time. Except for Zhu's ten shares, the other four companies each held five shares.

Five thousand taels is not a small amount, but it is far less than what Lu and Zhu can give them. This is a bit embarrassing. I always feel like I am losing out if I don't go on stage, but I am not qualified to go on stage.

Now that the "ribbon-cutting" ceremony has been arranged, no one will be left behind, and everyone will gain face.

Zhu Ming laughed heartily upon hearing this: "That's a unique idea. A good start is good, as it means a steady flow of money."

Who doesn't love good words when doing business? With such thoroughness and meticulousness, it's no wonder this Lu guy was able to hook up with the Red Flag Gang and do such a big business.

Lei Chunsheng on the side said with a smile: "We have all invested, so Brother Lu should also help to speak up and exempt us from the flag-hanging fee."

This resonated deeply with everyone. They were all involved in maritime trade, with numerous fleets under their command. The Red Flag Gang's insistence on them paying a flag-hanging fee was truly aggrieved. They considered this an opportunity to bargain.

Lu Jian smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Brother Lei, this is difficult for me. I am just the head of the bank. How can I be qualified to take care of these things? I am afraid I have to discuss this with the gang."

Given Lu Jian's personality, it seems he's truly incapable of intervening. Could it be that he hasn't yet become part of the Red Flag Gang's inner circle? How could such a large bank deal be handed over to him? And why didn't the Red Flag Gang send anyone on such a significant day?

However, despite muttering these thoughts in their hearts, as people who were all in the business world, no one would say it out loud. On such a festive day, time always flew by. Seeing that the auspicious time was approaching, several people had made their preparations and were waiting to cut the ribbon.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, a group of people walked into the yard. Lu Jian stood up first and went to greet them.

Who is this person? Before anyone could ask, Lu Jian came over with his men and said with a smile, "This is the big boss of the Red Flag Gang. He came here specially for the bank's opening today."

In Panyu, no one would misunderstand the meaning of "boss." Isn't the Red Flag Gang's big boss the gang leader himself?! Upon hearing this, everyone in the crowd jumped to their feet. Even someone of Zhu Ming's status and position couldn't help but change their expression slightly as they looked at the newcomer.

She was a very young woman with a pretty face, wearing a red dress. She did not wear any jewelry except a long golden hairpin in her long bun.

She was Qiu Sheng's daughter? So young? Wait, she actually dared to come to Panyu openly. Wasn't she afraid of being arrested by the imperial court?

Countless people were surprised, and there were endless prying glances. But the woman said calmly, "My name is Cheng Xi. You are welcome. It is a great honor for China Merchants Bank to have your help. Please join me in cutting the ribbon."

She didn't use a questioning tone, but gave the order directly.

If an ordinary girl dared to talk to them like this, I wonder how many people would be furious.

However, facing those clear and sharp eyes, and the group of guards behind her who looked not to be trifled with, all objections were swallowed back.

Cheng Xi had no intention of being polite with them and walked in front with confidence. Lu Jian smiled and added, "Please come in, everyone."

This sentence woke everyone up from their shock. Several shareholders looked at each other and followed.

However, the more he calmed down, the more frightened he felt. They were going to the bank's gate to cut the ribbon for the opening ceremony. There were so many people gathered outside. Was this woman going to show up in front of everyone?

Unfortunately, there was no time for them to hesitate.

At this moment, outside the bank, there were crowds of people and endless cheers. There was no telling how many people came to watch the fun, and the invited guests were lined up on both sides, just waiting to watch the ceremony.

With a creaky sound, the tightly closed door was pushed open and a group of people walked out.

Are these the bank's shareholders? Those with sharp eyes have already recognized several of them: the Zhu, Lei, Jin, and Zhang families... These are the people whose mere stomping of their feet can cause a huge stir in Panyu City. The Red Flag Gang truly has connections!

However, as everyone took their places, someone noticed something was amiss. Why was a woman standing in the center seat? Even if she was serving, she should have stood properly to the side. How could she have surpassed these wealthy merchants and taken the center seat?

The next moment, there was a sudden buzz of discussion in the crowd, and those who knew the inside story realized that there was indeed a famous woman in the Red Flag Gang. She was the daughter of General Qiu and the leader of the Red Flag Gang.

Could this be Miss Qiu? She, she actually came to Panyu?!

There was a gong sound, and the whole place fell silent. Then the woman spoke.

"Panyu is the largest seaport in the country, handling vast sums of money annually. However, the sea routes are treacherous, and gains and losses are unpredictable. Countless merchants have worried about this. We established the China Merchants Bank to alleviate the urgent needs of merchants traveling north and south. They can deposit money and earn interest, trade goods, and do so in a fair and reliable manner with guaranteed credibility. I am grateful for your support at the bank's opening today. I wish you all good fortune and smooth sailing."

In just two sentences, she explained the benefits of banks clearly and concisely, with good intentions. No one cared who this woman was, and there was a burst of applause from the audience.

The master of ceremonies saw the time and shouted, "The auspicious time has arrived. Cut the ribbon and open the business."

The sounds of gongs, drums and firecrackers began again. Several shareholders took the scissors and cut the red silk together. There was no longer any obstruction in front of the gate.

This concluded the ceremony. Several shareholders bowed to each other and congratulated each other, then followed each other into the inner hall and sat down to have a banquet.

Without the clamor of gongs and drums, the atmosphere in the room felt awkward. Who had ever seen such a young woman sitting at the head of the table? Even though everyone knew she was the leader of the Red Flag Gang, wasn't it Qiu Sheng's reputation that mattered?

The woman was unfazed. She raised her glass and said with a smile, "I haven't discussed this with you all in detail before, which is quite rude. But since Mingde has chosen this, I think he must have some outstanding qualities. I hope everyone will work together to run this bank well."

As she spoke, she was the first to drink it all in one gulp.

As the host and the woman, she drank it all. No one could be left behind, so they drank a whole cup together.

After putting down his wine glass, Zhu Ming spoke up, "I invested in the bank because of the fantastic idea of ​​this exchange, but I have a lingering doubt. I wonder what Mr. Fu thinks of maritime trade, and whether he shares the same view as your father?"

This is too straightforward. Everyone knows how General Qiu treats maritime merchants.

Everyone perked up, but Cheng Xi sneered, "My father was devoted to his duties, but what did he get in return? Those ridiculous prohibitions are nothing but waste paper in my eyes. You can rest assured about that."

This shows that she has no intention of obeying the court at all. It seems that the previous battle had no effect at all, and instead made this woman even more arrogant and domineering.

What Zhu Ming cared about was not her answer, but what was revealed from the other person.

He used to work on a ship in his early years, and had many desperate criminals under his command. In terms of momentum, this woman is really not inferior to others.

It seems that his previous guess was wrong. The ones who truly control the Red Flag Gang may not be Qiu Sheng's subordinates. Miss Qiu probably relies on more than just her social skills.

Zhu Ming was able to hold back, but some people couldn't help themselves: "Boss Fu, by implementing the flag-hanging fee, isn't that exploiting the maritime merchants? Isn't that a bit too harsh?"

Cheng Xi just glanced at him and said: "If we don't do anything, who knows who will come out to cause trouble. I don't want to suffer the same loss as my father did. Someone should be held accountable for the hardship my father endured."

The implications of this statement were profound. How had Qiu Sheng died? On the surface, he died at the hands of a tyrant emperor, but in reality, it was a conspiracy orchestrated by high-ranking officials and wealthy businessmen whose interests were compromised. It was hard to say who was involved.

Now this "settling of accounts" is not just about collecting money, it also contains threats.

Her voice, her accent, and the expression on her face were definitely not those of an ordinary woman. The murderous aura she exuded sent chills down one's spine.

The person who spoke suddenly fell silent, and the others were also secretly worried. Only Zhu Ming frowned.

He did not participate in the siege of Qiu Sheng. It can even be said that the people in this room probably had nothing to do with Qiu Sheng's death. This was probably not a coincidence.

Lu Jian sighed in his heart. She actually said it out loud.

No matter how private the party is, once words are spoken, they are bound to reach the ears of others.

This wasn't just a threat; it was likely to make some people sleepless. Cheng Xi was currently in Panyu, without a large army to rely on. This was like placing a sweet bait before a pack of wolves and tigers.

This was too risky, and it was a real danger, not just some trick he had played before. If we were to talk about madness, this woman was even crazier than him.

The atmosphere was a little tense for a moment, and Lei Chunsheng laughed heartily: "Boss Fu is really very magnanimous! But we are all in the same boat now, shouldn't you give us some discounts and waive the flag-hanging fee?"

This statement seemed to be a joke, but the emphasis was on the phrase "people on the same boat." The Lei family was a major tea merchant, relying heavily on the sea for their livelihood. Their military force was not particularly strong, and they had to rely on people on the sea to recruit them.

Cheng Xi naturally understood what he meant and smiled slightly: "Since we are all friends, then let's waive the cost of one brig. It's not that I'm greedy, but there are rules that should not be violated easily."

Lei Chunsheng was secretly astonished. This concession was really cleverly made. One share for one ship. Those who invested five shares could be exempted from the cost of five ships, which was exactly the number of the fleet they had.

Zhu was a big grain merchant, and being able to spare ten ships was enough to allow his fleet to move unhindered.

This was indeed a concession, but it also blocked their possibility of expanding their fleet.

Trying to use their name to evade the flag fee is a fantasy. Is this really just for the money? Perhaps they are also monitoring the fleets to prevent the emergence of powerful people who could threaten the Red Flag Gang.

It's really thoughtful and flawless.

This method alone is much stronger than what Qiu Sheng used back then.

Everyone had their own thoughts, but Cheng Xi didn't intend to give them the chance to test the waters. He raised his glass again and said, "Since I'm willing to open this bank and invite everyone to invest, I'm not aiming to dominate it. Let's make money together and make fortunes together. I hope you can all work together to control the financial resources of Panyu Port."

These words were quite arrogant, but everyone was cheered up.

Isn't this the reason they joined the bank? If the Red Flag Gang controls the sea routes, then China Merchants Bank controls the trade routes. This is not something that ordinary merchants can achieve. Only by joining forces with such a powerful maritime gang can it be achieved.

The meal was delicious, and the wine was fragrant, but no one could taste it.

When the banquet was over and everyone was going home, Zhu Ming called over his personal attendants and whispered, "Send someone to keep an eye on the movements of the other families. Also, tell Master Lu that Boss Fu's trip was too ostentatious, so he should be careful when he leaves."

This has to be said. If someone really has bad intentions and he doesn't inform him in advance, it would be bad to be suspected.

Alas, Miss Qiu is truly an extraordinary woman, but she is too bold and acts too rashly.

There are many powerful forces in Panyu City, so how can you show up so carelessly? Even if the government doesn't arrest you, I'm afraid others will have thoughts about you.

After seeing off all the guests, Lu Jian returned to the house and brought back news: "Three families have already sent people to warn you. I'm afraid someone will harm you."

"That's really thoughtful." Cheng Xi was sitting leisurely at the table, eating slowly, not looking nervous at all.

Lu Jian also sat down, poured himself a glass of wine, and sighed: "I know what you are thinking, but a gentleman does not stand on a dangerous wall..."

Cheng Xi laughed out loud: "Who said I'm a gentleman?"

Lu Jian frowned: "This is not the time to joke."

"I'm not kidding." Cheng Xi put down his chopsticks and leaned back in his chair. "You don't need to use all the tricks to show your power. Who would take me seriously? Didn't you see that those people were here to give you a warning?"

Lu Jian was speechless for a moment. This was the common thought of everyone in the world. No one would really value a woman. It was no wonder that those cunning guys would overlook this detail.

Pursing his lips, Lu Jian said, "How about letting me be the bait this time?"

It’s not that he is really bold, but he had used her in the past, so he should show some appreciation.

Cheng Xi smiled: "This time's opponent is no joke."

Without waiting for the other party to say anything, she stretched lightly and stood up: "I haven't moved for a long time, I can stretch my muscles. I just hope that the person who comes here will not let me down."

In the previous war, she was the commander of an army and could not easily go to the front line.

However, for a special operation like this, the situation is different. A thundering strike must be steady, accurate and ruthless. Who can be more experienced than her?

Seeing Cheng Xi like this, Lu Jian knew that he could not persuade her anymore. He sighed and drank the wine in the glass.

I just hope she can do as she said, turn danger into safety, and win another battle.

…

The grand opening ceremony of China Merchants Bank attracted countless people's attention. The woman in red who appeared at the ribbon-cutting ceremony naturally became known to everyone through gossip.

Those who knew the inside story were all shocked by Miss Qiu's arrogance, but some people secretly planned to kill her.

The banquet officially ended, and the courtyard where the bank was located fell silent. How many people could possibly come to deposit money on the first day? As the sun set and the city gates were about to be locked, a carriage drove out of the back door of the courtyard, followed by guards in front and behind, and headed quickly towards the dock.

Such a team is actually not eye-catching. After all, when the rich people in the city travel, they will most likely have the same pomp and ceremony.

Moreover, the curtains of the carriage were tightly closed, and it was impossible to see who was sitting in the car.

Logically, they should have arrived at their destination safely, but unfortunately they chose a path they shouldn't have taken.

There are three main roads and one small road leading to the pier. This group of people did not take the main road, but instead chose the small road that was rarely traveled.

This road is closest to the dock, and because the road is narrow, there are no places where ambushes or heavy troops are set up. It is indeed a good choice. But if they can think of it, can't others?

When they had only walked halfway, a burst of hurried horse hooves suddenly came from behind.

“Stop!”

"Hold the reins!"

The guards immediately shouted in agreement, but the carriage showed no sign of stopping. The horse driving it was blindfolded and rushed straight towards them.

What else is there to say? It must be an enemy attack!

The guards immediately took off the short spears at their waists and threw them out without mercy.

Throwing a spear was a standard battlefield skill; how could a blindfolded horse dodge it? Hit several times, the horse neighed and fell to the side. Just before the vehicle lost control, several figures swooped down and lunged towards the carriage ahead.

The sound arrived before the person arrived. Three muffled "thump, thump, thump" sounds were heard, and the crossbow arrow had penetrated the car window and was firmly nailed into the car.

If there were anyone in the car, they would have been seriously injured and screamed. Unfortunately, no sound was heard, and no blood splattered.

The coachman in front turned around and stared at the enemy with cold eyes. She also had a crossbow in her hand, a standard battle crossbow.

Long swords were unsheathed and crossbow strings were ringing. No one uttered a war cry or a howl. Everything was cold and peaceful.

Not good! The assassins realized they had fallen into a trap, but it was too late to escape!

His vision went dark as an assassin was hacked to the ground. He instinctively tried to bite his tongue, but the guard beside him was quicker, twisting his arm with one hand and then, with the other, grabbing his jaw. Like a fish out of water, his mouth agape, unable to move, he could only watch as the young man in the rags of a groom, a smile on his lips, slowly approached.

"Who is your master?" Squatting in front of the assassin, Cheng Xi casually raised the crossbow in his hand and aimed the re-strung arrow at his soft chin.

The assassin's eyes were wide open, and he wanted to curse, but he couldn't open his mouth at all.

The other party didn't seem to want to wait for him to speak. He lightly pressed the trigger, and the entire crossbow arrow pierced through his head, bursting red on the top of his head.

Ignoring the blood staining her body, she smiled and stood up, saying to the other assassins who were restrained but still alive, "It's a pity that you won't have such a good life. If you want a quick death, you might as well confess early."

No matter how angry and hateful their eyes were, they had no real killing power. A group of people were tied up and thrown into the carriage.

Cheng Xi returned to his original position and patted the horse beside him: "Let's go, the best is yet to come."