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Early in the morning of that day, the bank's trading floor was full of people. The noisy hall in the past was no longer filled with hawking sounds, and the row of water signs were nowhere to be seen. This scene made the regular customers below feel panicked and they couldn't help whispering.
"Is this bank going to close? I heard the Long Whale Gang is coming to attack!" someone whispered.
"Hey, don't mention it. I just made a deal and the delivery is scheduled for next month. If a fight breaks out, won't I have to lose the deposit?"
"What deposit? The Long Whale Gang is a serious gang of thugs. This bank is owned by the Red Flag Gang. What if they're targeting us?"
This statement sent shivers down the spines of many people, with some shouting, "If they were just bandits, it would be fine. But now the Long Whale Gang has become an official army. If they are accused of collaborating with bandits, then everything will be over!"
His voice was a little louder, attracting many people's attention. The agitation grew even more intense, with some even muttering quietly, "General Qiu was unjustly killed, while evil villains like Blackbeard Whale and Ghost Scholar became officials. I'm afraid this world is doomed."
In the past, no one would have listened to this kind of nonsense. The worse the world gets, the more profitable some businesses become. They're all seafarers, so how many good people are there? Now, however, many people's expressions changed. The commotion caused by the Panyu navy had already spread to the city. These officials, neither officials nor thieves, were mutinying against the city's defenders. What else could this be but a sign of corruption in the imperial court?
The inland area is already in a mess. If the South China Sea also becomes chaotic, there will be no way out.
"The imperial court isn't willing to intervene anyway. To put it bluntly, it's just a battle between two powerful maritime figures." Someone broke the deadlock. "What if the Red Flag Gang wins?"
This made many people shake their heads. "How long has the Red Flag Gang been established? How powerful is the Long Whale Gang? They even have official status now. I'm afraid they can't be defeated."
The notorious Dahai Gang, which monopolized the pepper trade, and a new gang, barely two years old and led by a woman, seemed to be a mismatch. Plus, the Changjing Gang was now a government official, not a gang, so who knew how many troops they could mobilize.
"Having said that, it would be better for us if the Red Flag Gang won, right?" Someone said this.
This was the truth. The Red Flag Gang was, after all, General Qiu's legacy, and their conduct was extremely respectable, not much different from that of the government. Conversely, the Long Whale Gang's conduct was well-known to anyone doing business in the South China Sea. Furthermore, if the Long Whale Gang took control, would this bank still be able to survive?
For a moment, everyone's thoughts were mixed, and even the discussion became quieter. At this moment, the door opened wide, and a group of people walked out. It was Lu Jian and the bank's shareholders.
Seeing the host arrive, everyone stood up to greet him. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lu Jian got straight to the point and said, "I've invited you all here today because of an important matter. China Merchants Bank has prepared a new futures contract and specially invites you to subscribe."
The term "futures" is now a household name in the trading world, specifically referring to goods with agreed-upon deadlines. However, in the past, merchants often traded individually, with banks never directly involved. Now, with the situation so pressing, why has this situation suddenly arisen?
There was an uproar below, but Lu Jian did not give them time to react. He had someone hang the plaque on the wall, with only two huge words on it.
"Pepper! It's actually pepper?!"
After seeing the handwriting clearly, many people exclaimed in surprise. It was no wonder that they were making a fuss. There was only one company involved in the pepper trade in the South China Sea, and that was the Changjing Gang!
"Yes, it is pepper that is listed this time, divided into 600 shares, and one share can buy one stone. This is a long-term contract, with a delivery period of five years, and at least three rounds of transactions can be made. The landed price in Panyu is eight taels per catty. As long as you purchase futures, the bank promises that the price will remain unchanged within five years." Lu Jian said loudly.
The noise intensified, everyone stunned by the sheer size of the deal. Eight taels! That's the price for bulk cargo in Hepu. A single dan of this size wouldn't be worth a dime without some connections. If shipped to Panyu, it would fetch at least twelve taels, though if shipped to the capital, twenty-one would be possible. Anyone who'd ever sailed the seas knew the enormous profits. And with a five-year term, three rounds of trading meant a profit of over fourteen hundred taels for just one share. Buying three or five shares would be enough to pass down to your children and grandchildren!
What's even more terrible is that we all work in the trading floor, and everyone knows that the price of futures will change. If the price of pepper continues to rise, there's no telling how much this stock will rise.
However, even with the huge profits in front of them, some people were still cautious: "Mr. Lu, where are you going to get so much pepper? The bank hasn't opened up the pepper channel yet, right?"
It was common knowledge that the pepper trade was controlled by the Long Whale Gang. Even if the Red Flag Gang had the ability to take other routes, they couldn't guarantee the volume. Besides, they were about to go to war, and whether they could win was still uncertain, so why were they dividing up the spoils first?
Lu Jian smiled slightly. "Yes, the Red Flag Gang doesn't have such a method right now, but they will have it after defeating the Long Whale Gang. This is the special feature of this futures trading. These shares need to be exchanged for ships. A sloop can be exchanged for one share, a brig can be exchanged for two shares, and a schooner can be exchanged for three shares. There is no upper limit."
"Boom!" Everyone was shocked. What did this mean? One small boat could be exchanged for one share, and one large boat could be exchanged for two to five shares. Six hundred shares meant at least six hundred small boats that could go to sea. Even if they were all exchanged for brigs, that would still be three hundred!
"Are they asking us to help fight the Changjing Gang?!" someone shouted.
"When a strong enemy attacks, we must fight with all our might. These shares represent the sincerity of the Red Flag Gang, and we are willing to stand with you." Lu Jian said loudly.
Bullshit, we're fighting the Red Flag Gang, what does that have to do with them? Some people were so angry they laughed: "Mr. Lu is so calculating, he wants to buy our lives with just this little money?"
"This isn't about buying your lives, but about buying a more stable sea route." Lu Jian sneered, "Does anyone still think that the Long Whale Gang will allow you to do business in peace and security, just like now?"
Of course not. Many people remember the days of the Great Whale Pirates. Back then, sailing was a life-or-death gamble. With luck, you could pay a ransom to avoid disaster, or face a fate of utter destruction. With bad luck, you'd simply die. More people died at the hands of pirates each year than in shipwrecks. By comparison, the Red Flag Gang was more reliable than the government. After all, business was a thing, and who wouldn't love that?
However, liking something is one thing, but risking your life for it is another. That's the Changjing Gang, so is it really necessary to risk your life and property just for a verbal promise?
Someone whispered, "If we can't defeat them, won't we lose both our lives and our property? The Long Whale Gang is now considered a government army. Would fighting them be considered treason?"
"I think you've all heard about what happened at the navy camp. The imperial court is already busy with its own affairs, so how can it care about such vicious dogs?" Lu Jian sneered, "Besides, only the victors have the right to bargain. If they lose, the bandits are still bandits. Is it difficult to accuse them of being treacherous and causing chaos?"
The meaning of this statement is quite interesting. Some have already realized that the mutiny at the navy camp seems to be related to the Red Flag Gang. The saying "the victors are kings and the losers are bandits" is even more striking. The imperial court wants to drive the tiger to devour the wolf, but if it fails, wouldn't it be disobeying orders and acting recklessly? How difficult would it be to remove the official hat? If they could kill General Qiu, why not a mere bandit leader?
However, getting involved in such a big battle is still risky. Some people are still secretly calculating, and another chip has been put on the table.
"Not everyone has to be at the forefront. The entire sea area from Luoling Island to Doumen can be considered a battlefield. All you have to do is obey orders. You can dock on any island belonging to the Red Flag Gang. If you capture ships and sailors in a naval battle, they will all belong to you." Lu Jian chuckled. "We're all seafarers, and you should all understand the principle that wealth and honor are achieved through risk. It's just a battle, and with the Red Flag Gang and the Green Phoenix Gang at the forefront, what are you afraid of?"
These words were truly heart-warming. Not having to charge at the front, and the battlefield being more spacious than expected, gave some a sense of luck. And those who truly intended to give it a try couldn't help but be tempted when they heard that the spoils would belong to them. Adding and subtracting, this was a deal worth several thousand taels—enough to buy one's life, let alone just supporting the battle.
"I'll take ten shares!" A sturdy man in fine clothes but with a dark face stood up and shouted, "Six sloops and two ketches, is that enough?"
"Of course you can. Please come forward and register your name." This was the first person to respond, but Lu Jian's expression did not change, as if it was a matter of course.
This gesture made more people eager to make a move. People kept standing up and shouting out in groups of five or ten. This lively scene, overlapping with the usual trading scene, also aroused people's desires.
However, a voice spoke out ahead: "Everyone who subscribes, please remember one thing. If you desert the battlefield or disobey orders, your shares will be invalid. If you dare to let your soldiers cause chaos or serve the enemy, the Red Flag Gang will kill you."
Those eyes were colder than ever before, and paired with that "nobleman" demeanor, they were even more frightening. Some hurriedly paused, for those opportunists still remembered the tragic massacre. Others, however, simply paused, then moved even faster.
As long as there are soldiers and they can enforce discipline, the chances of winning are even greater. After all, she is General Qiu's daughter, and she has won many battles and never lost. With the help of Shen Fengchen Sandao, who has an ambiguous relationship with her, the chances of winning are not low.
Watching the chaotic scene, Zhu Ming and the other shareholders felt completely relieved. They had long been tied to this ship, having already spent their money and hoping to double it back. Naturally, they hoped the Red Flag Gang would achieve a resounding victory. Now, with just a piece of paper, they had received so many ships and soldiers in exchange—it was truly astonishing.
The Panyu navy showed no signs of sending out troops. If the two big gangs plus this special force could really defeat the Changjing Gang and seize the sea route to Southeast Asia, they would have all the glory and wealth!
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