In the water pavilion.

"This was an order you gave, asking President Weng to take over the weavers who lost their jobs due to the fall of the Xu family for the sake of Songjiang's stability..." Secretary Ma whispered in Zhao Hao's ear in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

Zhao Hao suddenly realized, "Oh, Lord, you mean what Weng Fan did in Songjiang."

"Yes, in just a dozen days, he has already poached 15,000 of the Xu family's 20,000 weavers." Ruan Bi said angrily, "What is he trying to do? Master, you know it, right?"

Zhao Hao burst out laughing.

Unexpectedly, Jiangnan Cotton Mill’s actions in Songjiang put such great pressure on Ruan Bi who was far away in Wuhu.

But it is not difficult to understand. Once Jiangnan Cotton Textile controls the cotton textile industry in Songjiang, it is equivalent to controlling the upstream of the printing and dyeing industry. As long as Weng Fan does not supply goods, the printing and dyeing industry in Wuhu will have to stop.

Although the Xu family also controlled the cotton textile industry in the past, Xu Ying was a half-baked second-generation rich man, and most of his subordinates were greedy for money.

As long as Ruan Bi fed these guys every year, they didn't care where the Songjiang cloth was dyed.

But Weng Fan and Jiangnan Cotton Textile would definitely not agree. Songjiang only provided the raw cloth and earned some hard-earned money, but let Wuhu make the most money after starching and dyeing.

Therefore, it can be imagined that once Jiangnan Cotton Textiles controlled the cotton textile industry in Songjiang, it would soon launch an attack on Wuhu.

With Ruan Bi's experience, he would certainly not sit still and wait for death. If the person in charge of Jiangnan Group was not an old friend, he would have gone to Songjiang long ago to interfere and disrupt Jiangnan Cotton Spinning's wishful thinking.

He might even have already made plans and just wanted to talk to Zhao Hao to see if there is any hope for a peaceful solution.

However, the peace-loving party is always the weaker party.

~~

Although Ruan Bi was smiling and showed no anger at all, the atmosphere in the water pavilion was still somewhat stagnant.

At this moment, the prince felt not angry but more of a sense of powerlessness.

This feeling of powerlessness was not because he owed Zhao Liben a favor, or because he was too old to do anything, but was caused entirely by the young man in front of him and his Jiangnan Group.

Although there were calls in the guild to go to war with Jiangnan Cotton Textiles, Ruan Bi knew that if they did so, they would undoubtedly be defeated.

Because Jiangnan Group is so powerful.

Ruan Bi studied the group carefully and was shocked to find that it had hardly made a penny since its establishment.

He has been spending money non-stop, and the amount of money he has spent must be at least several million taels, right?

How terrifying it is to have a super business with no need to make a profit; to some extent, that means being invincible.

Therefore, this is a business that cannot be judged by common sense or even past experience... No, it's not a business, it's a higher-level entity than a business, like a community that brings together the interests of more and more people.

Its core group is composed of dozens of wealthy families in the Susongchang Town area that rely on industry and commerce. There are also countless large families on the periphery who hold their bonds.

Suzhou, one prefecture, seven counties and one state, were all tied to its chariot. From the prefect Cai Guoxi to the county magistrates, all were willing to escort it and cheer for it.

According to the latest news, Songjiang's Zhong Zhengji also brought two county magistrates to join the "Jiangnan Economic Integration" proposed by the Jiangnan Group, saying that in the future, Jiangsu and Songjiang should learn from each other's strengths and develop in a coordinated manner...

I heard that Changzhou, Huzhou and Jiaxing have also expressed great interest in this plan.

Moreover, the Jiangnan Group also occupies the upstream of the printing and dyeing industry. From any angle, the Wuhu Printing and Dyeing Industry Guild is just a small one compared to it and cannot challenge the other party at all.

But Ruan Bi was convinced.

Jiangnan Group was established less than a year ago! In the blink of an eye, it has grown into a towering tree. If Zhao Hao is given a few more years, how big will Jiangnan Group grow? The prince was very curious. What kind of peak will Jiangnan Group reach in his lifetime?

That must be a level that no businessmen would dare to even think about, right?

So it’s best not to be an enemy.

~~

"Hahaha." After understanding the whole story, Zhao Hao laughed out loud and said, "You are overthinking, my lord. Jiangnan Cotton Mill's actions are not directed at anyone. We were just entrusted by Songjiang Zhong, the prefect, to take over the unemployed weavers."

"You know, Songjiang has been in chaos since the beginning of the year. If there is another large-scale unemployment, I'm afraid it will provoke a civil uprising." Zhao Hao said with emotion: "Since Jiangnan Group has taken root in Jiangnan, we have no choice but to do it reluctantly."

This is true. Lord Xu never expected that Hai Rui would be so "bold and reckless". After the negotiations between the two sides broke down, he immediately took action! He seized three residences of the Xu family and arrested more than 200 people!

Although most of the Xu family members were sent back home after they returned their land.

But the myth of the Xu family's invincibility was completely shattered. The resentment that the people of Songjiang had been pent up for many years finally broke out. Every day, people sued the Xu family for bullying men and women, robbing people's property, colluding with pirates, and smuggling... Even the scandal of Xu Fan asking someone to take the provincial examination in Shuntian Prefecture was exposed.

The Xu family became a complete outcast, and the merchants who used to curry favor with them also cut off their business dealings. The weavers and weavers also left the Xu family's workshop one after another because they participated in the complaint and were worried about being retaliated by the Xu family in the future.

There is no way I can stay here. All the orders have been cancelled and I can’t start work and have no money to get paid!

"So that's how it is. Young Master is kind and virtuous, and the Jiangnan Group is righteous!" Ruan Bi had a look of admiration on his face, as if he didn't know that the Jiangnan Group was behind this.

"Then, sir, please tell me how to do business from now on." It can be said that the old ones are the most experienced. Now that Ruan Bi has given in first, it would be difficult for Zhao Hao to take action against the old senior.

But he was worrying too much. Young Master Zhao came to Wuhu to help it take off, not to cut off the source of Wuhu's pillar industries.

"Of course, we will make it bigger and stronger and create greater glory." Zhao Hao smiled and comforted the eldest prince, "However, considering the relationship between our two families, the eldest prince is still worried, which shows that the relationship between Jiangnan Cotton Spinning and Wuhu Dyeing still needs some adjustments."

Ruan Bi's eyelids twitched slightly, knowing that the main point of the play was about to begin, and he asked calmly, "Excuse me, sir, how should I adjust it?"

"With the wisdom of the eldest prince, he must understand that unity is beneficial to both sides, while separation is detrimental to both sides." Zhao Hao took a sip of tea and said lightly: "The two powerful forces joining forces, dividing the work and cooperating, and each doing their own job is the best choice for everyone."

"That's right." Ruan Bi nodded and said, "How do you combine the two powers?"

"Countries can form alliances through marriage, but we can only exchange shares." Zhao Hao said with a smile.

"Stock exchange?" Ruan Bi knew Jiangnan Group very well, so he knew that this was Zhao Hao's specialty. "Like what happened with Wu Ji and the Shachuan Gang?"

This is how Wu Ji and Shachuan Gang became part of the Jiangnan Group.

"Yes, only when you are in me and I am in you, can we truly become a family." Zhao Hao said lightly.

"How do you change it specifically?" Ruan Bi asked in a deep voice.

"First, the Wuhu Dyeing Industry Association will be reorganized into a joint-stock company." Zhao Hao raised two fingers and said, "Then you have two choices, either exchange shares with Jiangnan Textile Corporation or with Jiangnan Cotton Textile Corporation... Because the former is the parent company of the latter, the shares exchanged are different, and the former will definitely have fewer shares."

"Of course." Ruan Bi nodded. This was easy to understand.

ps. The third update. I will take a day off tomorrow and resume updating the day after tomorrow.