Chapter 168 Two-pronged Approach
Fan Zhenxi immediately got busy. His thoughts were very clear. It would not work to go to the Qinglong Gang first. He was looking for the big customers of the Qinglong Gang.
The city's fisheries are now monopolized by the Qinglong Gang, and all merchants in the city's fishery business are subject to the Qinglong Gang's favor. Although the Qinglong Gang's prices are reasonable, it does not mean that they are willing to be held hostage by the Qinglong Gang.
Because of this, the Qinglong Gang has a very transcendent status in Quzhou, and no one dares to offend it.
So Fan Zhenxi visited the merchants in the city one after another and gave them earnest advice.
"It's well known that Lord Lu loves his people like his own children. I won't hide it from you all. Lord Lu is very dissatisfied with the current situation of the fishermen in Quzhou, and he intends to take action. He hasn't taken action yet, giving the Qinglong Gang a chance. But if the Qinglong Gang insists on having their way, do you think Lord Lu will tolerate it?" Fan Zhenxi asked, "Lord Lu doesn't even care about the King of Nanyang, so how could he let himself be coerced by a small martial arts sect?"
The merchants thought what he said made sense, but they were puzzled: "But what's the point of you telling us this? You should go to the Qinglong Gang!"
Fan Zhenxi said meaningfully, "Isn't this giving you a chance to show your abilities? If you go and persuade the Qinglong Gang, will Lord Lu forget your kindness?"
Everyone: “…”
I understand. They are the knife in Lu Chenyang's hand. If they collectively ask the Qinglong Gang for help, will the Qinglong Gang still consider it?
Someone hesitated and said, "But Lord Fan, this isn't quite right, is it?" He spoke cautiously, "The Qinglong Gang is supplying us with goods. How dare we turn against them? Even if we wanted to persuade them, we don't have... the confidence."
If the Qinglong Gang cut off their supply, their business would be thwarted. How on earth did Fan Zhenxi think they could threaten the Qinglong Gang? Fan Zhenxi tapped his fingers on the table. "You're being too self-deprecating. Everything is mutual. If you all unite, I don't think the Qinglong Gang would dare to turn against you, right?" He said to one of them, "Boss Luo's business is so big, he controls more than half of Quzhou's fishery trade. Without your Luo family, those fish will just rot. Shouldn't the Luo family reconsider this?"
Fan Zhenxi's words sounded nice, but his attitude was very firm, making people afraid to refuse easily.
Fan Zhenxi continued, "Think about the Shen and Zhao families in Yanquan County. Perhaps you also have a capable son or nephew who can advise Lord Lu like Mr. Chen. If they don't obey, does this business have to rely on you? You know, the Shen and Zhao families only follow Lord Lu's orders."
If they don't cooperate, Lu Chenyang is fully capable of replacing them with obedient ones.
Fan Zhenxi finally said, "Lord Lu has the final say in Quzhou now."
Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. Of course, they knew which one to choose between Lu Chenyang and the Qinglong Gang. But in reality, not choosing would be best. They didn't want to get involved in the fight between Lu Chenyang and the Qinglong Gang.
Fan Zhenxi finally said, "I won't make it difficult for you. You can consider it. Our Lord Lu has never lacked people to join him."
After saying this, Fan Zhenxi turned around and left.
Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment, and suddenly felt that nothing good would come of Lu Chenyang's arrival.
The merchants were still considering it, but Lu Chenyang immediately issued an official document regardless of whether they cooperated or not.
Quzhou has established a fishermen's union, and all fishermen in Quzhou can join.
The union was established by the Quzhou government, with Lu Chenyang acting as its president. The union's purpose was to protect the fishermen of Quzhou.
Lu Chenyang wrote in the official document that the majority of Quzhou's tax revenue came from fishermen, who were considered the state's meritorious officials. This union was established to ensure that these meritorious officials were treated well and to protect the price of Quzhou's fishery products.
The union primarily protects fishermen from harm. For example, if a hired fisherman is injured or their boat capsizes, the employer is responsible. The union also sets an annual purchase price for fish. If the price falls below the union's minimum, the government will impose penalties. If any fishermen are mistreated or bullied, fishermen can file a complaint with the union, which will then intervene.
How to solve it...The president of this union is Lu Chenyang.
It can be said that there is no thigh as thick as this in the entire Quzhou.
Not to mention Quzhou, even in the whole Dagan, there are not many thighs this thick.
Lu Chenyang's attitude of supporting the fishermen was so obvious that the fishermen did not hesitate at all and rushed directly into the fishermen's union.
Lu Chenyang specially cleared out a house for this purpose - the officials in Quzhou were so rich that they owned several houses, and you could easily find a spacious and bright one by just looking around.
When Lu Chenyang went to choose a location, he felt a pang of sadness. His Yanquan County government office wasn't as grand. Even though he later renovated it, he was very poor at the time (although he has always been poor), so he cut corners and only did simple repairs. How could it be so grand?
That's getting off topic.
This union is right next to the government office. Lu Chenyang always shows his importance to this union and his willingness to support it.
Fishermen flocked in to register. Lu Chenyang called all the students studying at Quzhou Prefecture School to help with the registration, and he used them very smoothly.
It was the first time for the students to encounter such a thing and they were all confused.
Lu Chenyang was somewhat dissatisfied, thinking that these students were too fussy, not competent enough, and not as smart as the students in his Yanquan County.
They were in a panic and looked down on the fishermen.
Lu Chenyang saw it and said, "Write down his name and tell the school to send someone else."
Someone immediately went to the student and said, "Go back. We don't need you anymore." After a moment's thought, the official said to the yamen runner beside him, "Go to the school and find a few more students. If anyone continues to treat the people with contempt, they will be replaced immediately."
The bailiff immediately agreed and took the student away.
The student's face turned pale. It was as if Lu Chenyang had sent him back personally. He had offended Lu Chenyang, and he was afraid that the teacher in the school would also dislike him.
The student immediately pleaded, "Please give me a chance. I will correct my attitude and never look down on you again."
The official looked at Lu Chenyang with embarrassment. Lu Chenyang thought for a moment and said, "These fishermen work hard to support their families. There's nothing you can look down upon about them. You've only read a few books, and that's nothing noble." He paused and snorted, "If everyone is divided into different classes, and those who have read are noble, then what are you in front of me?"
The students were immediately ashamed.
If scholars were divided into noble and humble types, no one would be able to stand up straight in front of Lu Chenyang.
The students responded in unison: "Thank you for your teachings, sir."
The boy was teachable, so Lu Chenyang didn't send him back.
It is not easy to study hard for many years. If this student is sent back, his future life will be difficult. A minor punishment or a severe warning will be enough.
When this news spread, the Qinglong Gang and all the merchants knew that the situation was hopeless.
Lu Chenyang clearly wanted to support the fishermen. They were powerless and it would be impossible for them to exploit the fishermen in the future.
Seeing this, the merchants immediately organized themselves to persuade the leader of the Qinglong Gang. To boost their courage, no one backed down, and all the well-known merchants in Quzhou went.
Just as Fan Zhenxi said, the pressure is mutual. With so many merchants coming to the door, the Qinglong Gang has to think carefully.
And now they have no choice.
The trade union established by Lu Chenyang was a stroke of genius. It was like cutting off the source of the problem and cutting off the Qinglong Gang's retreat.
As expected of Lord Lu, he is ruthless and accurate in his actions. No wonder he can sit in this position today.
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