Cheng Muyun said, "He definitely wouldn't dare to take over the southern route of the eastward journey himself. I'm waiting here to find out who he's found."
Xu Jixin disagreed, "Who would dare to take over the southern route of the East? Not to mention how difficult things are on your side, there are other people eyeing you covetously. Who has such a big guts?"
Chen Hede said, "Fortune and honor are found in danger, and naturally someone will be willing to be the first to step forward."
Xu Jixin said, "But the message my father released was that he was looking for partners, and he didn't say how much power they would be given. These people don't understand the difficulty of managing the Eastbound Southbound Line. They want a share of the pie, but in the end they may only be left with the job of washing dishes."
Even for such a small amount of profit, people would fight tooth and nail to try their luck, let alone the treasure trove that is the Eastbound South Route.
Xu Jixin fell silent. The reason why the Xu family has been able to develop steadily to this point is largely because Cheng Muyun and Chen Hede have been protecting them in secret. Otherwise, the mountain bandits and river pirates on the road would have swallowed up all the goods long ago.
Cheng Muyun's fingertips lightly traced the wood grain of the tabletop, his gaze as deep as a stone in deep water, yet his tone was resolute: "Lan Qingyi's move wasn't particularly meticulous. His connections and informants, though seemingly intricate, are all tied to one thread—money. Once he arrives, I can trace his spending patterns and find out who is backing him and what force is supporting him from behind."
After saying that, he looked up at Xu Jixin across from him, a sharp glint in his eyes: "Finding the person who provided the money is like catching the main rope of a net. No matter how complicated the network of relationships Lan Qingyi has laid out may seem, it's just a knot on the rope. If you follow this rope, you'll see who's running errands, who's delivering messages, and who's really the one pulling the strings behind the scenes. Once you see them all clearly, it'll be much easier to break them down one by one."
Xu Jixin sat opposite him, his hand holding the teacup pausing for a moment.
He looked at Cheng Muyun's confident expression. From Lan Qingyi himself to the source of his funds, and then to the dismantling of the entire network of relationships, everything was interconnected and calculated with precision.
This was no spur-of-the-moment decision; it was clear that they had thoroughly understood the other party's weaknesses and even planned out the subsequent dismantling steps.
He couldn't help but put down his teacup, sighed, and said with genuine admiration, "Honestly, Mu Yun, it's fortunate that you're still considered half a son of the Xu family. I really can't imagine what you would do to my old bones if we were ever on opposing sides."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Muyun's tense lips finally curled into a faint smile.
The furrowed brows that had been furrowed from calculating the situation gradually relaxed after these few jokes. He picked up the cup of tea in front of him, which had long since gone cold, took a sip, and the coldness in his voice lessened considerably: "Even if I weren't half a son of the Xu family, we wouldn't be enemies."
The sunlight streaming in through the window fell on the tea table between the three of them, warming the relaxed atmosphere that had arisen from their jokes.
The tension that had been lingering around Cheng Muyun just moments before gradually relaxed, as if it had been soaked in warm water.
The three waited until dark before Xu Shinong saw Lan Qingyi off. A friendly farewell could be heard outside the door, indicating that both sides were satisfied with the negotiation.
Xu Shih-nong pushed the door open, and the three of them were already lying on their backs on the sofa, looking extremely sleepy.
Startled awake by the sound of the door opening, Cheng Muyun jumped up and asked, "How is it?"
Xu Shilong's eyes gleamed. "The financial backer behind Lan Qingyi is a Shanxi merchant."
The Shanxi merchants, who made their fortunes through coal mining, were all shrewd and quick-witted. Their coal is now a highly sought-after commodity.
Whether it's train transportation or forging military equipment, coal mines are essential. They have coal in hand, and their biggest worry is how to get their goods out.
Xu Jixin slapped his thigh and said, "The Shanxi merchants are a hundred and eight thousand miles away from us. They'll have to wait ten days to half a month to get to Xinhai City."
Cheng Muyun said, "That's precisely why we have more time to deal with Lan Qingyi, to figure out who he has won over and what his plan is."
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