What Tina said was not entirely true. Wu Lai did go out of town to the Old River Valley, but he was not going out to play. He was going to attend a Kiwanis League field meeting.
Of course, calling it an outdoor gathering seems a bit too formal. To be more precise, Wu Lai organized and hosted the Tongji Alliance's first outdoor barbecue event. But it was not just for the sake of barbecue. People had fun while barbecued, bonded with each other, and did some business at the same time. For example, today's theme is - to develop collective strength.
If the Tongji Alliance composed of 18 middle-class nobles wants to be impregnable and seek more interests and voice, they must unite to charge and harass the old interest structure of the Seneca city-state, capture cities and territories until the opponent is defeated and surrenders.
This is the consensus between Wu Lai and all the members, and it is also their common ideal. The members of the Tongji League, like their president Wu Lai, are ambitious guys who dare to gamble.
The butler and the slaves were naturally busy with the barbecue and cocktail making. Wu Lai and the members sat together on a grassy beach in a sheltered and sunny corner of the old river valley, chatting animatedly.
"The Seneca city-state is not comparable to other large city-states. It is located in a remote area with few resources. For so many years, everyone's basic income has relied on the output of the manor. No matter how big the manor is or how many crops there are, it can only feed a few more people. In order to prevent famine, food must be stored. Making money from the manor, especially making a lot of money, is undoubtedly a luxury. The bulk of commercial trade is in the hands of those 'old brands'. They control the source and sales channels, so that many of you have to rely on them in order to make a meager profit, or even let them control you." Wu Lai waved his fist, "Now, it's time to change the situation."
"Yes! It's time!" the members echoed loudly.
"The land of the manor cannot be left idle, it is the foundation of survival. Therefore, we have to focus on trade. In the next three to six months, the alliance's information collection and liaison stations in other city-states will cover all of Assyria. As long as it operates normally, we can grasp the price changes in all of Assyrian city-states in the fastest time, and buy low and sell high, without having to rely on luck when buying and selling goods as before." Wu Lai said.
The members nodded.
"For this kind of cross-city-state buying low and selling high, my suggestion is that the alliance establish an exclusive caravan, with full participation and profit sharing. Although on the surface it seems that the benefits are diluted, in fact it is not the case. Everyone will understand the reason once they think about it, so I won't waste my breath here." Wu Lai took the wine glass handed to him by Neptune with a smile, took a sip, and moistened his dry throat.
"President, let's set up a caravan now. You decide what you want us to do!" a member said loudly.
"This is not something that can be done just by saying it. It's easy to arrange for manpower and transportation, but the actual implementation will have to wait until the information liaison station is almost built." Wu Lai said with a smile, "However, there is one thing we can start doing."
"What is it? President?"
Wu Lai cleared his throat and continued, "There are many citizens in the Seneca city-state, and there are also many families with a strong foundation. If we add up the people present here, I am afraid that in terms of strength, it is less than 25%. In terms of influence, it has reached half. Why is it so? Because everyone is energetic and daring. In this case, we might as well expand the influence of the Tongji Alliance in the Seneca city-state a little bit, expand it to the extent that we can check and restrict the old families, and expand it to the extent that we can have absolute say in Seneca. At that time, in the commercial activities of the Seneca city-state, those who do not join or depend on us will have to make a living according to our mood."
Although Wu Lai's words were spoken lightly, they were undoubtedly an impassioned declaration of war to the members. Wu Lai provoked these ambitious guys, and their desire to dominate was immediately revealed...
"President, since you said so, let's do it!"
"Listen to the president. I have been bullied by those old-timers for many years. Now it's time for me to be proud of myself."
"President, just make the arrangements. We will all listen to you."
Wu Lai nodded with a smile: "Thank you for your kindness, then let's do it right away. While they are still confused and unprepared, let them try what it feels like to crush with ease. I have a plan here. First..."
When cheers and applause came to Wu Lai like a tide, Wu Lai smiled, glanced at everyone one by one, and clenched his left fist lightly...
"You want benefits, and so do I. In addition to benefits, I also want the Seneca city-state. I have the final say!" Wu Lai said in his heart.
Wine, barbecue, barbecue, and Wu Lai's impassioned speech firmly united the hearts of the Tongji Alliance members. Although they inevitably had their own plans, everyone had the same goal and naturally the same actions...
The next day, the alliance members took action at the same time. According to the list prepared yesterday, they separately lobbied those idle small nobles to become their vassals. These idle small nobles were either small families that had emerged recently in the past hundred years, or side branches of medium-sized families. Their current situation could basically be summarized in one sentence - few people, little land, little money, and few connections.
Such small nobles accounted for 35% of the citizens of the Seneca city-state. Their total strength was less than 5% of the financial resources of the Seneca city-state nobles, but half of them had voting rights in the Seneca city-state noble assembly. Therefore, Wu Lai first chose to win over this seemingly weak force which was actually not to be underestimated.
All personnel mobilized, carried out in a cross-cutting manner, using intimidation and inducement, and being determined to win; this was the battle strategy formulated by Wu Lai. In order to demonstrate that Bai Shi Lou and the alliance members would advance and retreat together, Wu Lai's three stewards, Siban Oak, Gauguin, and Neptune, all went out, holding the bags of condolence money and vassal contracts, and headed towards their respective goals.
Wu Lai stayed in Bai Shi Building, not because he was acting like the president, but because he really couldn't get away - after returning from the picnic yesterday afternoon, the alliance members spread the news that Wu Lai was a special attendee of the Assyrian Supreme Noble Council. From dusk until late at night, at least twenty medium and small families sent invitations to Bai Shi Building requesting a meeting.
Wu Lai would naturally not refuse these people's help. Of course, he had no intention of accepting them as members of the Tongji Alliance. Appropriately showing goodwill and treating them differently could not only highlight his status, but also serve as a warning to these opportunists...
Therefore, when the representatives of small and medium-sized families who entered the White Stone Building with great expectations walked out of the door of the White Stone Building, they all felt a little regretful. Of course, they still held on to hope because Wu Lai said something very important - "My habit is to only cooperate with people who share the same position as me."
The meaning is of course very clear. If you want to cooperate or depend on me, just come over here and let me observe for a while.
As a result, many families regretted not joining Wu Lai when he first called out. Although the benefits are not yet visible, the spirited attitude of the Tongji Alliance members is enviable.
Two days later, Wu Lai's promotion plan was successfully completed. With the concerted efforts of the alliance members, the 35% of small nobles fell into his hands without exception. In addition to the 35%, Baishilou gained the support of seven more small nobles.
In addition, an old noble family extended an olive branch to Wu Lai, and four middle-class nobles chose to approach Wu Lai.
Therefore, everyone who got the news was shocked without exception. The strength of a family is often reflected in three aspects: power, wealth and number of vassals. It has only been a short time since then. Not to mention Wu Lai's wealth, his status as a special attendee of the Supreme Noble Council and his eleven small noble vassals are enough to make him one of the top five nobles in the Seneca city-state. This is without taking into account the impression of the Tongji Alliance.
In other words, Wu Lai now not only has to be the master of Baishi Building and Tongji Alliance, but also has to be the head of the eleven small noble families. He has no control over what these eleven small noble families eat and drink, but whether these eleven small noble families can enjoy the good life depends on Wu Lai.
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Wu Lai's high-profile actions and the Tongji League's unscrupulous behavior naturally aroused dissatisfaction among some people, not to mention Dayi and Ivan. The consul Anthony, who was in the same boat with them, was even more annoyed. However, there were no rules that prevented Wu Lai from doing so.
"Doggie, it's really unkind of Wu Lai to do this. What does he want to do? Replace me?" Anthony said to Doggie with a frown.
Doji smiled but said nothing. It was he who strongly recommended Wu Lai to enter the Assyrian Citizens' College. Although he had his own little thoughts at the time, Wu Lai achieved such a great success in Assyria. Doji did not think that he was not qualified to take advantage of it. But Anthony did not know that on the night when the Tongji Alliance was established, Doji, who had heard the news, had already visited Baishi Building and congratulated Wu Lai. Then, he happily became Wu Lai's partner behind the table.
"This won't do. I can't let him continue like this. He's just a special attendee at the Supreme Noble Council. I'm still a member of the Supreme Noble Council. Who does he think he is?" Anthony slammed the table hard.
Doji curled his lips quietly, thinking that you are a member, which is good, all the city-state consuls are, but how old is Wu Lai, and how old are you? Wu Lai is now staying next to the Supreme Noble Council and the Senate, and there may be a few surprises one day, what about you? Seneca, who has been staying in this remote place, has not made any progress. His political achievements have been mediocre for so many years, and the benefits he has gained from following you are not as much as what Wu Lai has slipped through his fingers.
"Doggie, I have a plan..." Anthony put his arm around Doggie's shoulders. Doggie listened attentively and nodded from time to time. He was very happy.
After nightfall, a tightly covered carriage drove into Baishilou. In the carriage sat Doji, who looked very proud.
The next morning, the steward of Consul Antony led a large group of his men and set out, copying Woolley's plot and handing out invitations all over the street, sending them to every noble in the Seneca city-state.
As Anthony watched his men leave from the window, a hint of pride appeared on his face: "Woole, Woole Grindo, I want to show you who is the man whose words are kept by Seneca."
In the afternoon, several large interconnected awnings were set up in the front and back yards of Anthony's residence. Dozens of slaves came and went to move tables and chairs. In the kitchen, more slaves were busy. Anthony was chatting with several nobles with whom he had a close personal relationship in the living room.
"I estimate that there will be more than 300 guests tonight. The last time so many people gathered was when I first took office in Seneca." Anthony smiled and said with a double meaning, "Seneca has been a little restless recently. I thought of gathering everyone together for a chat. Fortunately, as soon as we received the invitation, everyone said they would come."
"Of course. The consul has been in Seneca for so many years, so naturally everyone follows your lead. Hahahaha." A noble said with a flattering smile.
"Yes, yes, this is what Consul Anthony did in Seneca." Another noble raised his thumb.