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"What does the burning of the warehouse have to do with me? Lu Xin, you bastard, have you colluded with those thieves to harm me?" Hearing the servant's message, Lu Xiu flew into a rage and kept cursing in the house.

Listening to those foul words, Lu Xin didn't want to go in at all. He just said to the people around him: "Take the person to the countryside as soon as possible and hand him over to the clan for care. Don't cause any more trouble."

Although he hadn't made up his mind yet, Lu Xin decided to take action against Lu Xiu. Many people knew about this idiot leading his men to Qingjiang Pavilion to surround Fang Ling. Regardless of whether to pin the blame on the Red Flag Gang, Lu Xiu's involvement was undeniable. It was because of that encounter that he fell for Wu Changming's trick. Someone had to be held accountable for this series of events, and Lu Xin didn't want to take the blame.

He also knew one thing: now that Lu Jian had returned, he would never let his half-brother go. Furthermore, with the current corruption in the officialdom, the Nanyang Chen family was of little use to his family. Add to that the mess with the ocean-going fleet and Panyu, and his brother probably wouldn't tolerate this mother and son's continued mischief.

Given this, he could naturally do something to exonerate himself. However, he hadn't yet decided whether to truly implicate his brother. Lu Jian's other demands were debatable, but allowing his father to "live out his days in peace" was sheer treason. This was a complete power grab, and a coordinated effort from both inside and outside the government would ensure his father could never regain power.

But his brother Lu Yun was in his prime, shrewd in strategy, and had connections in the officialdom. How could he possibly give up power? Lu Jian was a ruthless brat, and his father was not someone to be trifled with. He might stir up civil unrest again, and as a bastard caught in the middle, he had nowhere to go.

Moreover, after handing over the position of clan leader, who knows which branch will take it over? Without the status of clan law, how will the eldest branch survive in the future? Money and grain are so important, will those people really give power to Lu Jian? If things go wrong, all efforts will be in vain.

Because of this, Lu Xin was extremely conflicted at the moment, even hesitating about how to pass on the message to the clan. However, before he could come up with a plan, bad news arrived.

After hearing his confidant's hasty report, Lu Xin's eyes went dark and he nearly fell to the ground. "Lu Jian, are you still a member of the Lu family? Are you going to be satisfied until the Lu family collapses?"

…

When Lu Jian got home, he asked where Cheng Xi was, but she had gone out shopping. He couldn't help but laugh, remembering the time they'd played chess and chatted. In just the past two weeks, she'd put in as much effort as he had, so it was time for her to go out and have some fun.

It's a pity that I can't show up in public yet, otherwise I should go with her. When this thought came to mind, even Lu Jian shook his head. Now is not the time to think about these things. The Lu family has not been resolved yet, and his biological father has not lost his position as the head of the clan. How can he just give up everything and indulge in a private affair?

Therefore, Lu Jian did not inquire about Cheng Xi's whereabouts, but simply handled the various matters at hand as usual. The price of silk had already fallen to eight qian of silver, but it was still slightly short of the agreed price with Gu Sanlang. Once the price of silk had completely dropped, he would purchase another batch to offset the high price offered by Wu. Of course, these were not the main points; how to open a bank and establish the rules were the most important.

However, since the four families had joined forces, some things could not be discussed publicly. The next day, he was the only one who showed up at Gu's house.

"Mingde's approach this time was highly praised by my master, who also scolded me." Facing Lu Jian, Gu Yun laughed very easily and even poured him a glass of wine himself.

"If Sanlang hadn't taken action, the price of silk wouldn't have dropped so quickly. I'm afraid my uncle must be very happy." Lu Jian raised his glass with a smile and joked.

Gu Yunkai laughed heartily, but after finishing his drink, he sighed, "But if we open a bank, at least we can't do this openly. Without rules, I'm afraid others won't dare to come and do business here."

After signing the contract, you set fire to someone else's warehouse. If this matter gets out, not only small families but even wealthy families will not dare to do business with you.

Lu Jian chuckled. "Look at what Brother Gu said. The Panyu trading market has been open for a long time, and there has never been any trouble. Besides, the rise and fall of the market depends on the current situation, and not everyone can predict it with certainty."

Gu Yunkai paused for a moment, "So, the exchange still has to focus on maritime trade? The East China Sea is different from the South China Sea. There's no reason for one company to dominate."

Large-scale transactions do depend on the current situation. Right now, everything is in chaos, and who knows what will happen. Short-term trading is certainly not a safe bet. But the sea isn't much better than the land. There aren't any powerful individuals in the East China Sea who can truly dominate the waters. Instead, the fleets of aristocratic families operate independently, and they're not immune to attacking others.

Coupled with Lu Jian's tactics, how to calm people's hearts is really a troublesome matter.

Lu Jian, however, was not worried at all: "Precisely because the current situation is so chaotic, some people are more anxious to find a way out of their money. Even if they don't trade it, they will consider depositing it in the bank instead of burying it in the ground."

Unlike money houses, banks don't offer interest. During times of chaos, lending isn't the best option. Money originally loaned out is likely to be sucked into the banks, earning interest. This is why the four companies joined forces. Their reputation alone is enough to convince everyone to willingly hand over their money. As for the trading market, over time, as it builds its reputation, it will naturally expand.

This was a mature statement, but Gu Yunkai glanced at Lu Jian and asked, "Why, are you planning to open a workshop in Yuhang too?"

In Panyu, half of the money banks absorbed was used for maritime trade, and the other half was used to open workshops. This was certainly a good way to make money, but it didn't work in Yuhang. All bulk commodities already had established markets, filled with aristocratic families and powerful clans, making it impossible for outsiders to interfere. For example, anyone who dared to open a weaving workshop in Yuhang had to first consult the Gu family for permission.

Lu Jian laughed heartily. "Of course it won't be that troublesome. It's safer to go through sea trade. Now that the South China Sea route is open, a single trip can bring in a year's surplus. Isn't that a great way to make money?"

Gu Yunkai breathed a sigh of relief at this remark, and gained a deeper understanding of banks. It seemed Lu Jian had come prepared. He didn't say anything, but Gu Yunkai knew it all. Once the bank opened, Yuhang and Panyu would be able to use bills to deposit and withdraw cash. This would be a huge convenience for maritime merchants and would also help boost shipping southward.

It seems that what he wants is still more than what he thought, but Gu Yunkai does not reject it. After all, it is a big business, and it is always good to think more.

After discussing the bank, the two men turned to business in Japan. This was the Gu family's largest source of income, and they were reluctant to share it with others. However, the Qingfeng Gang also followed this path, and since the two had different main businesses, they could use the Red Flag Gang to connect with them.

However, as they were talking, a servant suddenly walked in and whispered something to Gu Yunkai. His expression changed immediately and he turned to look at Lu Jian.

What happened? Lu Jian's heart trembled. There was a change in the other party's expression, as if he was on guard.

However, Gu Yunkai didn't say it directly. Instead, he asked vaguely, "By the way, why haven't I seen Fang Ling recently?"

Lu Jian's expression remained unchanged as he casually said, "Let him take care of some chores."

This should have been a normal sentence, but the smile on Gu Yunkai's face completely disappeared. He stared at Lu Jian for a long time before saying, "I know Mingde, you are eager to win, but there are some things that require a sense of propriety."

Did something happen at the Lu family? Lu Jian's heart was filled with alarm, and he had already sensed something was wrong, but he couldn't show it in front of others. He just said a few perfunctory words and stood up to say goodbye. This time, Gu Yunkai did not stand up to see him off.

As soon as he went out, Lu Sanding, who was waiting outside, walked up quickly. Before he could speak, Lu Jian whispered, "Let's talk in the car."

This was the Gu Mansion, and he didn't want anyone to hear anything. Once in the car, Lu Sanding couldn't contain his excitement anymore and said hurriedly, "Master, something terrible has happened! Someone in the Lu family's manor is rebelling!"

Lu Jian's expression changed immediately: "But the refugees rebelled? How many people are there?"

"It's not clear yet, but the commotion has gotten huge. They've already started attacking farms of all sizes, and they seem to be trying to take the city into their own hands." Lu Sanding couldn't sit still any longer. These were typical rebel soldiers, and they rebelled against the Lu family first. If this got out of hand, the whole of Jiangdong would be in chaos!

No wonder Gu Yun had such an expression during the meeting. Lu Jian clenched his fists and suddenly asked, "Does Cheng Xi know about this?"

Lu Sanding opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word. Lu Jian didn't wait for him to answer and said sternly, "Go back to the villa first."

The members of the Red Flag Gang are all outside. We have to ask that person where these chaotic soldiers came from!

The carriage was moving very fast and soon arrived at the courtyard. Lu Jian jumped out and strode in. He knew Cheng Xi had returned and had no intention of notifying anyone, so he just barged in.

However, no one stopped him along the way, and the guards standing outside the door seemed to have not noticed him. In the past, Lu Jian might have been a little pleased with himself, but today, he didn't have the leisure to think about such things.

Pushing open the courtyard door, Lu Jian saw a figure sitting in the yard drinking tea. The woman was dressed like a young lady, even her clothes were green, and she was wearing a Xiangshui skirt, which made her look very elegant and pretty. However, looking at her, Lu Jian felt a lump in his throat, as if the sound was squeezed out of his chest.

"Did you instigate the Lu family's rebellion?"

This didn't sound like a question, but it didn't sound like a rhetorical question either. It was a rare misstep.

Cheng Xi put down the teacup in her hand and gave him a straightforward answer: "That's right."