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Wu Changming met Fang Ling again, not at the Silk Shop, but at the famous Qingjiang Pavilion in the east of the city.
It's not that he didn't want to be serious, but there were too many eyes staring at Fang Ling. If he invited someone to come to his house, who knows what might happen.
Qingjiang Pavilion only receives distinguished guests and keeps its word tight, but it is a good place to discuss business.
"My dear brother, you have just arrived here and I am afraid you have not seen the scenery of Yuhang yet. If it were not for those annoying mosquitoes and flies, you should choose a pleasure boat to cruise on the lake." Seeing the boy appear at the door, Wu Changming stood up to greet him.
Unexpectedly, this remark caused Fang Ling to shake his head repeatedly: "Brother Wu, you're joking. I've been on the boat for more than half a month. How can I still have the energy to enjoy the scenery on the water? This place is more to my liking."
Wu Changming burst out laughing: "Indeed, young men should sleep with women, and I have accidentally gotten what I wanted."
That being said, they were not here for entertainment after all. After the two of them sat down, there was only the waiter in the pub playing and singing outside. After a few casual chats, they turned the topic to business.
"What Brother Fang said before, I have thought about it carefully when I went back. If silk can really be exchanged for grain, then it is not impossible to do the deal. It just depends on the price of grain and the price of silk." Wu Changming came straight to the point.
Holding a wine cup and leaning against the cushion, the young man smiled leisurely: "If the price of silk does not exceed eight cents, the price of grain can be marked as one ounce for you. How much silk can be exchanged for how much grain, and the rest can be supplemented with silver."
The prices of grain and silk were measured in different ways: silk was sold by the jin (pound), and grain by the shi (stone). However, the price quoted made Wu Tianming frown, "Mr. Fang, are you kidding? Silk has already reached nine qian, and that's before the silk is even sold. It's sure to go up even more once it's released. Besides, one liang (ounce) of grain is way too expensive. This is Yuhang!"
Fang Ling was indeed laughing, but his words were sharp: "Precisely because it's Yuhang, the price of grain has to be higher. Can mulberry fields be transformed into grain fields overnight? As for the price of silk, no matter how high it goes, it still has to be sold. The world is in chaos now. How much silk can Japan take, and how much can merchants of all sizes take? I think in the future, all this silk and satin will drift to the South China Sea to find a way out."
While the same direct approach was taken, the force of this approach was vastly different, hitting Wu Changming's weak spot. Indeed, during periods of turmoil, the uses of raw and cooked silk will shift. Those exquisite silks and satins will gradually lose buyers, with more used for bowstrings and silk armor. This will significantly impact the consumption of silk. Who knows how many workshops will close, and how many businesses will go bankrupt. Yuhang is currently immune to the chaos, but if banditry were to truly erupt, silk prices would plummet. Meanwhile, grain prices would skyrocket, especially in a place like Yuhang where grain fields are scarce. Even if mulberry trees were demolished, reclaiming them would be a long shot.
Therefore, a smooth sales channel became a lifeline. Compared to the war-torn land, the sea could still guarantee transportation as long as there were sufficient troops. Moreover, the Red Flag Gang had truly defeated the Long Whale Gang, and could be said to control the key route to Southeast Asia. Silk was a major component of maritime trade, so it was easy to imagine the direction of raw silk and textiles for some time to come.
Someone had come from afar to transport grain and then spent a large sum of money to buy raw silk. Wu really couldn't afford to miss out on such a big customer.
But the price is still a problem, and Wu really can't afford so much silk. They can't drain all the silk shops and only supply one company, right?
Wu Changming's mind was full of complicated thoughts, but his face showed no sign of it. He simply said, "Mr. Fang, you're joking. Yuhang is safe and sound, and Jiangdong has not suffered any turmoil. With the new emperor on the throne, I believe he will also reorganize the government. How could we end up in such a situation?"
It was as if he hadn't said anything, so the boy opposite just smiled without saying anything, looking even more lazy.
Wu Changming couldn't back down just yet, so he continued, "This is just for this season's spring silkworms, and the price alone would make the Wu family lose money, let alone summer silk and grain. We have to be fair before we can negotiate this deal. Or do you think there are better sellers in the city?"
Fang Ling glanced at him and said with a smile, "Anyway, I'm just a messenger. How can a junior make the decision on these matters? If Brother Wu really doesn't agree, even if the deal fails, our friendship still exists."
Wu Changming choked. Indeed, this matter was not something a young man could decide. It must have been decided long ago, with a reliable steward accompanying him to give him instructions. It would probably be difficult to persuade him.
But such a large deal certainly couldn't be dismissed like this. Wu Changming forced a laugh and said, "Since you've entrusted this matter to me, you must have confidence in your abilities. Why be so modest?"
Fang Ling laughed heartily. "I'm not being modest. After all, I'm just a young boy. Even if I die, it won't affect anything serious. I came out to broaden my horizons and see the scenery of Jiangdong."
If he really didn't care about his life, why would he bring so many close followers? And he had someone check it out. Five ships, there must be hundreds of soldiers capable of fighting. Only then could he dare to be so ostentatious, right?
The smile on Wu Changming's face faded even more, and he chuckled twice: "My dear brother, you are really straightforward. I offer you a toast."
The two men raised their glasses from a distance, their glasses never even clinking. They then called over a dancer and chatted and laughed. However, Wu Changming knew that this boy wasn't a drunkard or a womanizer at all, and his frivolous demeanor was just a deception. Getting someone like him to back down was harder than one might imagine. Perhaps he needed some help. This was Yuhang, after all, not a place where he could act recklessly.
After an hour or so of drinking, Fang Ling didn't seem to have any intention of staying overnight, so he left early. Since he didn't want to be seen, Wu Changming didn't see him off. He stayed inside, pondering his next move. As he was thinking, a sudden commotion erupted outside. He frowned and said to his servant, "Go see what's going on."
Why was there a commotion in a place like Qingjiang Pavilion? Could it be some playboy who got drunk and started something strange? Wu Changming was already unhappy, and now his face was as gloomy as the bottom of a pot. However, a servant quickly came running back, whispering, "Master, this is bad! The Third Young Master of the Lu family has blocked Master Fang's way, and a fight has broken out!"
"What? Why is he here?" Wu Changming jumped up suddenly, nearly breaking into a cold sweat. The third son of the Lu family was none other than Lord Lu's youngest son, Lu Xiu, the son of the second wife. Their lineage's entanglement with the Red Flag Gang was well known. For them to suddenly block the door and start a fight was definitely not a good thing!
Without caring to avoid suspicion, he hurried out.
…
Lu Xiu returned to Yuhang two months ago. He was originally studying at the Imperial College and was planning to take the imperial examination. However, the issue of the crown prince became more and more serious. Seeing that the emperor was about to die, his father asked him to take a long vacation and return home early.
This move allowed Lu Xiu to escape the subsequent twists and turns, but the person supported by his father failed to ascend the throne and was impeached and lost his official position. It would not be so easy for him to enter the officialdom again.
This was devastating news for Lu Xiu. With his father's resignation, he couldn't even obtain a position through imperial influence. With the capital now in such chaos, it was unclear how the imperial examination system could be restored. His plan to inherit his father's legacy was futile. Furthermore, if he couldn't become an official and inherit the network of contacts his father had painstakingly built, all his life's learning would be wasted, let alone becoming the next clan leader.
Therefore, the longer Lu Xiu stayed in Yuhang, the more irritated he became. His mother had previously ruined the clan's ocean-going fleet, and now even his maternal grandparents had lost power. People looked at him differently than before. He knew they were mocking him, waiting to see him embarrass himself and for them to surrender the position of clan leader. But Lu Xiu refused to accept this. This was something he and his mother had cherished so deeply, and at this point, how could he let it go so easily?
Filled with resentment and irritability, Lu Xiu's target of hatred shifted back to his brother, Lu Jian. If it weren't for that bastard's mischief, how could the fleet have been hijacked? If it weren't for that bastard's exposure of the family's affairs, how could his father be so attacked from all sides and forced to act so hastily?
All the misfortunes were brought about by that kid Lu Jian. Mother was right. We should have gotten rid of this big trouble as soon as possible.
Having said that, Lu Xiu couldn't find anyone to vent his anger on. He even had to deny it in front of outsiders out of concern for his family's reputation. One can imagine how angry he was.
Just two days ago, Lu Xiu suddenly heard a story about a young man from Panyu causing a scene at Zhou Zhenglun's poetry gathering. He hadn't attended the gathering, but the name "Panyu" had become etched in his memory. Lu Jian was from Panyu, and rumor had it he had close ties to the Red Flag Gang. Could this sudden appearance of a young man from Panyu have something to do with him?
Having already harbored some resentment, and with the people around him coaxing him, Lu Xiu set his sights on this person. As soon as he heard that he had left the restaurant and gone to Qingjiang Pavilion, Lu Xiu followed him without hesitation, waiting for a long time before he finally saw him.
With a sarcastic look on his face, Lu Xiu sized up the boy in front of him. As the rumors had it, he was a vulgar person who didn't even bother to hide his skin color. However, he wasn't here to judge the other person's background. He simply asked, "Are you from Panyu?"
As if not frightened by the sudden obstruction, the young man simply looked Lu Xiu up and down before saying with a smile, "Excuse me, young man Fang Ling, may I ask who you are?"
"Are you from Panyu connected with the Red Bandits?" Lu Xiu didn't answer, but instead shouted, "How dare you, colluding with bandits, act so recklessly in Yuhang City?!"
Fang Ling raised his eyebrows slightly: "I haven't offended you, have I? Why are you slandering me?"
Lu Xiu didn't intend to waste time talking to him. He waved his hand to his followers and said, "Catch them!"
Regardless of whether this guy is willing to tell the truth or not, we must first capture him and interrogate him to see if he has any connection to that bastard Lu Jian. My father is about to return home, and we can't let the Red Bandits take advantage of this opportunity!
The men following Lu Xiu responded and rushed out, attempting to capture the young man, but he calmly stepped back, releasing his guards. He too had guards, though fewer in number, but he showed no sign of retreating from the few servants and charged head-on.
After a round of punches and kicks, as well as screams of pain, several servants of the Lu family were knocked to the ground in an instant. Some of them had their arms dislocated and were screaming in pain.
Who would have thought that after just one encounter, they would be defeated so decisively? Lu Xiu's face turned pale and he clenched his fists tightly: "You dare to hit someone from my Jiangdong Lu family?"
Young Master Fang on the opposite side laughed out loud: "I won't offend anyone unless they offend me. Master Lu should ask himself why he has to cause trouble for me."
As he spoke, he slowly stepped past several collapsed figures, gradually overtaking Lu Xiu. He was only half a head shorter than him, and his face was full of smiles. However, seeing the young man approaching him, Lu Xiu felt a sense of panic and involuntarily stepped back. He was a scholar, the legitimate son of the Jiangdong Lu family, his father was a high-ranking official in the Ministry, and he had a grandfather who was a cabinet minister. Who would dare to disrespect him? Now that he had lost even his closest confidants, could he really dare to attack him...
Just as Lu Xiu was wondering whether to call for help, a scolding came from the side: "Lu Mingli, what are you trying to do?!"
Lu Xiu suddenly looked up and saw Wu Changming striding towards him. He immediately shouted, "Uncle Wu, this kid injured my servant and tried to disrespect me!"
This preemptive move made the veins on Wu Changming's forehead twitch. How could he not know what kind of character Fang Ling was? Perhaps it wasn't that he was being bullied, but that you wanted to let your slave commit violence but couldn't?
Without hesitation, Wu Changming shouted, "Fighting in public, is that the Lu family motto? Don't you even know where we are? How dare you complain to me!"
Unexpectedly, Wu Changming actually favored this outsider. Lu Xiu's face flushed red, and he wanted to say something. But Fang Ling had already stopped and turned to Wu Changming and said, "Brother Wu, you didn't arrange this person, did you?"
Wu Changming was startled and immediately said, "How is that possible!"
Fang Ling didn't wait for him to explain and chuckled: "If it wasn't you, then who spread the news?"
Wu Changming was startled, his eyes suddenly sharp as he looked at Lu Xiu. He and Fang Ling had been discussing this in confidence, and few people knew about it. Who had instigated this young man to cause trouble? The Gu family? Or the Lu family?
Without waiting for an answer, Fang Ling bowed to the two of them and said, "I won't bother you two from reminiscing about the past. If Brother Wu has thought it through, it's not too late to come find me again."
After saying this, he left with his men in a casual manner.
Looking at the people lying on the ground, and the guests who popped out to watch the fun, Wu Changming's face darkened completely. He said to Lu Xiu, "Come with me into the house first."
No matter who arranged it, he had to smooth over the matter properly. Such a big order couldn't be lost!
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