On the big ship.

After listening to the two kings' stories, Zhao Hao couldn't help but marvel at it. He didn't expect that Xu Bangning would also get involved.

Duke Wei is really partial. Letting his second son hold the sea is like holding the purse. Even if he fails to succeed the throne in the future, he can still live more comfortably than his eldest brother.

Just letting that idiot Xu Bangning get involved in such a complicated situation, isn't Duke Wei afraid that this kid will stir up some trouble?

I can only say that the old man has seen and experienced a lot, so he has a big heart.

"So what's the situation now?" he asked.

"It's terrible. Last year, we had agreed on the market share and everything was fine." Wang Shimao said depressedly, "Since the first half of this year, sales have been almost cut off. In the second half of the year, not a single shipload of goods could be shipped."

"Sir, you know Suzhou and Songjiang so well. You should know that about half of our silk, raw silk, cotton cloth, porcelain, tea...are exported. Now that half of the sales channels are cut off, it is not just the sea merchants who will suffer." Wang Mengxiang also sighed:

"Most weaving households have not been able to open for half a year, countless have gone bankrupt, and hundreds of thousands of weavers have no food or clothing. If this problem is not resolved, unrest is imminent."

"That's right." Zhao Hao nodded. Susong has a tradition of citizen riots. "So what are you going to do?"

"Sir, if you are interested, we can work with the Hua family to nominate you to sit in the vacant seat of the Lu family." Wang Mengxiang gritted his teeth and said, "Even though things are so chaotic now, many families are still vying for this seat."

"They are all big families." Zhao Hao took a sip of tea and said, "I'm afraid our Xiuning Zhao family is not good enough, right?"

"Young Master, there is no need to belittle yourself." Wang Mengxiang laughed and said, "The nine great families do not care about one's background. In the final analysis, it is strength that matters. Think about the Xu family of Huating. Before Lord Xu, they were just a well-off family of small family. They are still second to none, but now they want to take up a quarter of the market."

"That's right. Your grandfather was a minister, and your father was a newly crowned champion. In terms of family background, isn't it much better than the Xu family?" Wang Shimao also advised, "In fact, putting aside other things, just the status of the owner of the Jiangnan Company is enough for them to welcome you with open arms."

"Especially in the current chaotic situation, only a master like you can solve it." Wang Mengxiang continued to flatter: "After you sit on that chair, we will work together with the Hua family to make you the master. You will lead us to set things right and we will definitely create a new world!"

"Yes, brother, in addition to our two families, we can also fight for the Gu family and the Lu family." Wang Shimao said: "The Wuxian Gu family and the Kunshan Gu family are from the same clan, and the Changzhou Lu family is from the same lineage as the Pinghu Lu family... They are very resentful of the Xu family. As long as we persuade them patiently, there is hope that we can win them over."

"Oh? What's the conflict between them?" This was Zhao Hao's blind spot.

"After the Pinghu Lu family got into trouble, they moved all their property to the Xu family before the imperial court confiscated their property." Wang Shimao explained, "I heard that the gold and silver alone exceeded 10 million taels, and there were countless jewels and jades. It took a full half month to transport them all."

"Tsk tsk." Zhao Hao couldn't help but sigh. These wealthy families are getting richer and richer. Compared to them, I am just a little brother.

"After hearing the news, the Changzhou Lu family thought that in-laws were not blood relatives. The Pinghu Lu family must have been deceived, so they sent people to Huating several times, hoping that the Xu family would hand over the property to them for safekeeping."

Wang Shimao sneered and said, "With the blood-sucking behavior of the Xu family, how could they possibly spit out the fat meat in their mouths? As a result, both sides got angry and accused each other of having ulterior motives and being greedy for money. They are still engaged in a war of words until now."

"Interesting." Zhao Hao nodded with a smile.

"What do you think, young master? Are you interested in joining?" the two kings asked in unison.

"..." Zhao Hao pondered for a moment, then slowly shook his head and said, "Forget it. The next stage is the critical stage of Jiangnan Company's layout, and we can't be distracted."

"Brother, please think about it again?" Wang Shimao and Wang Mengxiang looked at each other in surprise. Could it be that we were all wrong?

"Yes, sir. A prosperous and stable Jiangnan is definitely more in line with the interests of our Jiangnan Company. For this reason, sir, you shouldn't just stand by and watch."

"Uncle Shi is right." Zhao Hao touched the straw hat with a red ribbon and said with a wry smile, "But for such a big thing, I have to discuss it with my family."

"..." The two of them choked. Jiangnan Company is such a big matter, but I haven't seen you discuss it with your family.

Are you using Zhao Zhuangyuan as a shield?

"Okay, we'll stay in Kunshan for two more days until you and your father have a discussion."

"I still have to discuss this with my grandfather." Zhao Hao evaded the question again, saying, "He is the real head of the family."

"Uh..." The two of them were now certain that Young Master Zhao was just making excuses.

"Sir, we are family." Wang Mengxiang was almost in tears. "What can't be said openly?"

"Yes, brother." Wang Shimao was also very sad. "Or do you not consider us as your own people?"

"You two are too polite." Seeing that the two were still playing the emotional card with him, Zhao Hao couldn't help but smile bitterly and said, "Okay, I'll tell you the truth. If it were anything else, I could almost make the decision. But this is illegal. Maybe the whole family will be executed. How can I not discuss it with my family?"

"I don't think it's that serious..." Wang Shimao said embarrassedly, "There are special businesses that buy our goods. We don't have direct contact with sea merchants. Even if something goes wrong, it has nothing to do with us."

"You are just trying to cover up your mistake." Zhao Hao shook his head decisively and said, "Otherwise, last year, even the governor of Shuntian Prefecture would help you find the Lu family's account books?"

"That..." Wang Shimao was stunned.

"That account book..." Wang Mengxiang suddenly shuddered and said, "Will it not fall into the hands of the young master?"

Zhao Hao smiled faintly, and a gold seal inlaid with five-colored gems appeared in his hand.

"Ah? The Seal of the King of Pure Sea!" The two of them gasped at the same time and stood up at once.

Wang Mengxiang suppressed the greed in his eyes and said in a trembling voice: "So this seal really fell into the hands of the young master!"

"Haha, I said it was purely an accident. I don't know if you believe it or not." Zhao Hao rubbed the gold seal with his thumb, then casually threw it to Wang Mengxiang.

Wang Mengxiang quickly took it with both hands and examined it carefully. This was his first time to get his hands on the seal of the Pirate King.

"Since it is so important to you, I'll give it to you two." The young man in a red jacket and blue shorts picked up his yellow straw hat, stood up and walked towards the cabin door.

"Sir, please stay!" Wang Mengxiang struggled a little, then quickly chased after him, handed back the golden seal with both hands and said, "Sir, if you don't want to take it, we shouldn't miss it!"

"Yes, sir, since you don't want to join, my Wang family will withdraw." Wang Shimao also quickly expressed his opinion: "In fact, I have long wanted to stop making this kind of bad money, but in the past, my whole family had to rely on this to support them. Now that I have the Jiangnan Company, I don't need it anymore. This is a good opportunity to completely cut off."

After hearing the two's statements, Zhao Hao finally stopped and turned to them and said sternly: "I said the same thing to the Hua family once, and now I will say it again to you two."

"In this world, the more you gain, the more you have to bear. People who are only willing to take advantage but not to take responsibility are usually called 'worms'. The Ming Dynasty is a broken ship that can no longer withstand the ravages of worms. If the ship sinks, everything will end!"

The two of them were scolded so much that their faces turned red and they lowered their heads.

"So from the first day Jiangnan Company was established, I told everyone that we only do things that are not illegal." Then I heard Mr. Zhao slow down his tone and said, "So neither my Zhao family nor Jiangnan Company will participate in smuggling in any form."

"Sir, what should we do about Jiangnan? So many people have lost their land and cannot go back to the countryside." Wang Mengxiang could not help asking, "If you don't give them a way to survive, the people will rebel!"

"If we don't engage in smuggling, can we not engage in maritime trade?" Zhao Hao asked with a smile.

p.s. I’m going to sleep. I hope I won’t cry tomorrow.