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In the afternoon, he took people to visit the hospital and chatted with doctors such as Zhang Jimin. In the evening, he called over the subordinates from both sides and had another meal. The next day, as soon as Cheng Xi arrived at the study, Tian Yu angrily rushed in in his wheelchair.
"Boss, the Qingfeng Gang has started to spread rumors and cause trouble! What they say is extremely despicable!" The veins on Tian Yu's forehead popped out. He had always felt that Shen Sandao was not a good person, and now he really started to do these despicable things!
Cheng Xi didn't take it seriously and asked casually, "What did you say?"
This made Tian Yu choke. Some words were too harsh to hear, and he didn't know how to say it. After hesitating for a moment, he said bitterly: "Anyway, it's not a good thing. There are also rumors that you, Shen, fell in love at first sight and want to marry her."
Cheng Xi raised an eyebrow: "They can make up stories, but you can't? For example, Shen Feng is so in love with me that she even gave up the agreed boat just to please me."
Tian Yu was completely upset: "Isn't this the same as what they said?!"
Cheng Xi said seriously, "Of course they are different. I built the Red Flag Gang, but is the Green Phoenix Gang Shen Feng's own?"
Tian Yu was startled, then suddenly realized that this was quite different. Of the three original fishing villages of the Red Flag Gang, two had been saved by Cheng Xi, whose development and growth were entirely controlled by her. Even the soldiers' martial arts and formations were taught by her personally. Add to that Yan Yuan and him, former subordinates of General Qiu, and their influence and prestige were unmatched, so naturally, they could make the final decision.
The Qingfeng Gang was different. Shen Feng was originally an "adopted son" and relied on winning people's hearts and seeking power. This inevitably involved a complex network of factions and numerous conflicts of interest. Under such circumstances, he even used the promised spoils of war to show his favor to others. His reputation was predictable. If he wasn't careful, he would attract criticism from the gang, which was indeed difficult to deal with.
Even so, Tian Yu was still a little unwilling: "Shen Sandao has a very bad reputation. Even if he is slandered a little, it is not a big deal. If the gang leader is dragged down by him, won't his reputation be ruined?"
This time Cheng Xi got serious: "You don't think only the Qingfeng Gang members are gossiping, do you? Shen Feng is nothing. I'm sure there will be many people saying that all of you leaders and staff members are my slaves, and that the leader of the Red Flag Gang is a whore who sleeps with anyone. And these rumors will spread more and more, and they will be so vivid that no one can stop them."
Tian Yu's face flushed crimson, and his teeth chattered as if he'd been slapped. Would these rumors surface? Of course they would, even General Qiu's reputation couldn't suppress them. Simply because she was a woman, and because she'd revealed her identity and stood in public, she was bound to be gossiped about, slandered, and defamed.
But the next moment, that voice, as calm as ever, interrupted his regret. Cheng Xi said calmly, "What outsiders think is none of my business. If they slander me, look down on me, and treat me as a slut only interested in showing off, they naturally won't be able to properly assess my strength. Whether in the business world or on the battlefield, I will tear them to pieces and devour them alive. Showing weakness to the enemy, attacking them when they're unprepared, and taking them by surprise—this is the essence of military strategy."
Not only in ancient times, but even in modern times, a woman in the workplace faces a lot of gossip and even foul language. If she takes it all to heart, she will find it difficult to live. On the battlefield, the enemy's contempt and stereotypes often become a fatal weakness. If she can confuse the enemy, why not?
Tian Yu was startled, then frowned tightly: "But gossip can melt gold. If the rumor spreads too widely, it will also damage the reputation of the gang leader."
The Red Flag Gang's foothold in the South China Sea rests on its reputation for invincibility, a reputation built through battle after battle. If the gang leader's reputation were damaged, not only would the Red Flag Gang itself be harmed, but even General Qiu's reputation would suffer, significantly impacting military morale.
Cheng Xi nodded. "I've considered this as well. I plan to build two temples for General Qiu first. My father was known as 'Zhenhai' during his lifetime. He dedicated his life to punishing evil and protecting the country and its people. I believe he will also protect this land after his death."
Tian Yu immediately realized: "Are you going to establish a deity? This method is brilliant, it will surely help the leader win over the people!"
This wasn't uncommon. Renowned civil and military officials often attracted ancestral halls and temples for worship, some even being deified by later imperial courts. General Qiu's title was "General of the Sea," so if a temple were built, the main deity would surely be blessing ships safe at sea. The gang leader had also ably led his fleet through a hurricane, a testament to General Qiu's protection. With this deity, no one in the Red Flag Gang would dare to speak nonsense or disrespect the leader, only to risk the lives of those who trouble them.
Wait, the next moment, Tian Yu thought of something else: "Could it be that when you rejected Wang Ling, you also had a plan in mind?"
Tian Yu himself wanted to kill all the pigs and dogs in the court, so he naturally praised Cheng Xi's reluctance to surrender. However, the refusal made Tian Yu feel a little bit upset, because it was too vague and seemed to hint at something, which always made him feel uneasy.
Now, Tian Yu understood. This was probably their backup plan. As long as the imperial court felt they could still recruit the Red Flag Gang, they would turn a blind eye to General Qiu's temple. They might even, when a new emperor came to power, rehabilitate General Qiu and bestow upon him a noble title and a beautiful posthumous title, simply to appease Miss Qiu and persuade her to lead her army to join the imperial court. This would buy them considerable time and allow the Red Flag Gang to grow and develop peacefully, without having to worry about imperial intervention in the short term. It was just a specious statement, but it was truly a bargain.
Seeing his sudden realization, Cheng Xi smiled and said, "Now you know, don't do anything impulsively. If a few specious words can bring huge benefits, you should use them quickly. As long as we can stabilize the hearts of the gang members and establish a foothold on the seashore, a few rumors will not matter."
Isn't it common for a group that holds high the banner of justice and stands in fundamental opposition to the ruling class to be vilified and ostracized? If they become afraid, angry, or even resigned to nothing, then what's the point of fighting? The war of public opinion must be fought, and the more difficult it is, the more we must remain calm and explore every possible means. We need to publicize, educate, make more friends, and continuously expand our living space. She has read all this in history books and learned it in textbooks; she is simply applying what she has learned.
Unfortunately, Tian Yu is a typical gentleman, and he is inevitably helpless when faced with such a situation. If it were that old man Fang Tianxi, he would have played so many tricks by now.
However, talents on the propaganda front are hard to come by, especially in such troubled times, so we can only come slowly.
After solving this problem, Cheng Xi continued, "I plan to buy some girls from Fujian, mainly between the ages of three and ten, but I can also take in some of other ages. I've also told Shen Feng about this, and he agreed to help us connect."
Tian Yu frowned slightly: "Why did the gang leader suddenly think of this?"
If a child of this age is a boy, he can be trained to become a warrior in the future. But if a girl is a girl, it is not worth the effort. She can't do much work, but the cost is not small, so it is not particularly cost-effective.
Cheng Xi was very calm: "I heard that drowning girls is a common practice in Fujian. I want to help, but our influence cannot be expanded there now. I have to find another way."
Tian Yu had also been a local official. He knew the evil practice of drowning girls and could understand Cheng Xi's feelings. He sighed softly and said, "It's good that the gang leader has such kindness, but this is just a drop in the bucket and may not be able to stop the popular custom."
Cheng Xi said, "Of course I know this, let's give it a try."
Folk customs are largely driven by profit, and gender selection is no exception. Breaking these chains is incredibly difficult. The most fundamental solution is to free women from the daunting burden of domestic labor. Only through a large number of stable, paid jobs outside the home can women escape the shackles of family life, achieve economic independence, and ultimately improve their social status. The most typical examples are the ancient weaver girls of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and the working women in heavy industrial cities after the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Her purchase of these girls wasn't simply a charitable act; she also intended to use it as an opportunity to establish more cotton and linen weaving, silk weaving, and other factories that could accommodate women. When these factories began to generate significant profits, they naturally attracted capital, further expanding production and driving a surge in demand for female workers. While these women would inevitably face exploitation by the capitalists, they would gradually establish their own social status and gain a slight escape from their predicament.
Panyu is a major global trading port, and once its industry develops, its scale is bound to be staggering. Fujian, with its poor mountains and arid waters, is not conducive to farming, but it also has a good port, making it a good model for emulation. Women can also work outside the home, earning money to support their families. Even if it's driven by profit, the incidence of drowning will gradually decrease. Changing customs and mindsets takes time, but someone must take the first step.
As a woman who holds power, she can naturally let go and do something.
With the gang leader's warning, the new rumor quickly spread. As a result, within two days, Shen Feng came to say goodbye.
Still wearing the same gorgeous brocade clothes, Shen Feng looked a little aggrieved: "Giving away the boat is a big deal between the two gangs, but who would have thought it would give rise to slander from some villains. Alas, Gang Leader Cheng, please help me speak a fair word."
Still wearing the same red clothes, Cheng Xi smiled calmly: "Look at what Brother Chen said, we are brothers, how could anyone gossip? In the future, the Red Flag Gang will have to rely on your gang."
Then why do you let people spread it?
It wasn't me who started it.
The two exchanged glances, and it was a draw. Shen Feng laughed, "My friendship with Gang Leader Cheng is so fleeting. I regret that the days are so short. If you have time in the future, please come visit me."
"I'm still curious about the scenery of Fujian. Once the gang is ready, I will come to visit you." Cheng Xi answered readily, but such words as "I will definitely have dinner with you another day" are probably not to be believed.
If possible, Shen Feng really wanted to stay here for a few more days, but unfortunately the Qingfeng Gang had also fought two major battles and had a lot of spoils waiting to be distributed, so he really didn't have time to stay here.
Although he didn't understand the relationship between Cheng Xi and Lu Jian until the end, he would pry open the corner without mercy. Thinking of this, Shen Feng's smile became brighter: "As long as Boss Cheng is willing to come, I will definitely open the bed to welcome you."
The words "clear the bed to welcome you" caused several people from the Red Flag Gang to glare at him angrily, but Cheng Xi did not show any shame or anger. He just smiled and said, "Then Brother Shen should drink less. I can't explain what else you will send me."
Shen Feng was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. Without saying anything more, he bowed to her in a cool manner and turned away with a group of people.
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