Realm of Power

The seawater lapped against the side of the ship, making a rumbling sound. The water spray turned into a circle of scattered white lines under the thick hull. Three huge ships from the north slowly parked into the not-so-large port of Longchang Port, causing people to wonder about the location of the port. The Biya people pointed.

"What a strange giant ship. Why doesn't it even have a flag?"

The Longchang people at the port were already surprised by the Yu Empire merchant ship flying two flags, but this was the first time they saw one without a flag. The flag is like an identity mark for the merchant ship.

"It's an imperial ship."

An imperial merchant who was counting the goods at the port looked over curiously, appearing slightly stunned. These three merchant ships were indeed imperial merchant ships, and according to the convention of imperial merchant ships, they must fly double flags, one representing the Imperial Commercial Alliance and the other Represent this Chamber of Commerce

"It looks like a smuggling ship. These smugglers are too brave to dare to enter the port so openly." There were whispers all around.

"This is Zhongbia, not within the scope of the empire. It's normal for these guys to be bolder." Next to the imperial businessman, a middle-aged imperial businessman's eyes flashed and he murmured in a low voice. There were no double flags. Imperial merchant ships are generally smuggling ships. With the Yelu family being classified as a vassal area of ​​the empire, the empire's trade routes in the north have been completely opened. Imperial merchants from the north are also appearing more and more frequently at the ports and terminals in southern Central and South-Bia, and smuggling ships have also begun to appear in Central and South-Bia. However, ordinary smuggling ships are not too big. Although large smuggling ships have benefits, It is taller, but its huge size also means it is bulky. Once it encounters an Imperial Navy patrol at sea, it will basically be sunk.

It was the first time for this imperial businessman to see three huge smuggling ships like this. Such large ships could not be built casually.

"No need to guess. In my opinion, it shouldn't be a real merchant fleet." His companion withdrew his gaze from a distance and said with a sigh of relief. "Maybe we are overly concerned. It is true that the ships come from the empire, but we dare to do this." It was definitely not a smuggling ship that drove into the dock openly. It just did not fly the flag of the Imperial Business Alliance. "In fact, we have not encountered this kind of situation in the empire," his companion said. Yin paused and continued, "For example, this merchant fleet is not really a merchant fleet, but belongs to certain departments of the empire, such as the Military Department, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other departments, which all have their own transport fleets. As one of the six major ports in southern China, Longchang Port is located just in front of the sea channel to the north. It is the first port for fleets from the north to arrive, so it is reasonable to see these fleets. middle"

‘Department? Maybe it's really... Hey, look, that's...! "Just when the businessman's companion determined that these three merchant ships were ships of a certain department of the empire, he suddenly heard the businessman making a surprised voice. He followed the businessman's gaze and saw that the empire businessman's shoulders trembled slightly. After a moment, I saw three merchant ships docked at the dock, and a flag was slowly raised. It was a silver flag with an eagle with wings soaring into the sky. The silver satin glittered in the sun. with pale white brilliance

"Oh my god, this is the Imperial Bank's ship!"

The businessman's eyes almost bulged out. Anyone who is an empire businessman knows what the Imperial Bank represents, that is, it is the empire's most powerful economic aggression machine. If the Business Alliance is a big tree rooted in the soil of the empire, then The Imperial Bank is a huge river that nourishes the commerce of the entire empire.

Compared with the purely commercial nature of the business alliance, the Imperial Bank is like a financial beast that devours everything, sucking all the materials, minerals, financial and tax land of other countries into the empire. Its scope of influence not only covers all the empire's current The area controlled is the three-quarters of the royal family in the north and south of the Obaron Inland Sea. They are all debtors of the Imperial Bank, and the Imperial Bank also owns There is a paramilitary organization, the Imperial Flag Corps, which ensures that no one will use their power to default on their debts. To put it bluntly, these flag troops are the mercenaries of the Imperial Bank. If the empire launches military operations, it will definitely affect the nerves of all countries, but if military operations are launched, The one who acted was the Imperial Bank Flag Team, and most other countries responded with a gloating attitude. If they didn't pay back the money they owed, they deserved to be beaten!

In the southern part of Obarro, it can be said that the Imperial Bank has already turned a cold shoulder. However, in Central Asia, the Imperial Bank is really inconspicuous. The first business it disbursed was actually just some time ago. To complete the process, the Yelu family was given a loan of three million gold coins, and the Yelu family mortgaged the tax revenue of the Imperial Capital area for ten years. Of course, these were all secret transactions and were not known to the outside world at all.

"Zheng Zhi is back!" This news, as Zheng Zhi stepped off the huge imperial merchant ship, was like a gust of wind blowing through the crowded Long Street Wharf, but in an unnoticeable place, it aroused the excitement of the entire Longchang Port. Big changes

"I didn't expect that this Zheng Zhi would dare to come back. Originally, I just wanted to suppress the Zheng family and scare the monkeys, so that other businessmen in Longchang would be obedient to my Wu family. I didn't expect that the Zheng family would be so open-minded. Then we can't Blame our Wu family for being ruthless." In the Wu family's mansion, Wu Yuan of the Wu family who received the news hit the table with his hand with a gloomy expression.

"Clan Chief Wuyuan, I have no problem with you taking action against the Zheng family, but if it affects our demands, then everything will be null and void."

An old man from Aden sitting opposite the dark clouds picked up the water glass on the table with a calm expression and took a sip. There were a pair of blue eyes in the deep sockets. His appearance was completely different from that of the Central and African people, with a pure white bun on his head. Inlaid with a large red ruby ​​that looks like a flame, she wears a white robe with blue lines. On her exposed fingers, each finger has a ring with a huge gem. It can be said that she is full of jewels.

"The chief of the Yalenger family is too worried. It's just a Zheng family. To suppress them is just a matter of flipping their hands. This is Longchang. If my Wu family says one thing, no one will dare to say anything else in Longchang. As long as The funds of the great elder Yalenger are in place. I can guarantee that from Longchang onwards, only Aden merchant ships can dock. As for the Empire Businessmen, go back wherever you came from!" Hearing the words of the old man from Aden, Wu Yuan said with a flattering face. The old man in front of him is called Aaron Ge. He is one of the leading elders among the merchants in Aden. He is truly as rich as anyone in the country. He approached Wu Yuan for the first time and specifically proposed to fund the Wu family with half a million gold. The condition was to make Longchang Port the exclusive port for Aden merchants.

"It's useless for Patriarch Wuyuan to tell me this. I only accept the results. If even a single Zheng family can't suppress it, how can we talk about controlling the entire Longchang? When all the imperial merchant ships in the port disappeared, why don't you talk to me about follow-up funds? Let's do it." Aaronge put down the water glass in his hand and stood up, with a flash of contempt in his wrinkled eyes.

The so-called Longchang Wu family is nothing more than that.

Having stayed in Central and Bia for more than ten years, he is very aware of the face-saving nature of the Central and Bian people. Behind the Longchang Wu family are important ministers of the second rank of the court. They hold more than half of the trade in Longchang Port. If they stand fully in Aden, On the other hand, it is not a lie to have Longchang Port not accept the docking of imperial merchant ships, but the premise is that no one in Longchang dares to stand up against the Wu family.

After all, cutting off the interests of the empire's merchant ships will inevitably affect other merchants in Longchang, and the only ones who benefit from it are the Aden and the Wu family. Therefore, the Wu family must use thunderous means to deal with this matter. Let’s go. Wu Yuan is really anxious. “If the elder Yalenger is worried, then I will let the elder know now that my Wu family will suppress the Zheng family. It’s just a matter of words.”

Wu Yuan knew that the Aden people wanted to completely block the imperial merchant fleet's southward route because the empire had robbed them of their position as the hegemon in the Southern Sea. This kind of commercial war between countries was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Wu family. The sea It’s so big, whether the Aden people win or the imperial people win, no matter what happens to the Wu family, the right way is to get real money.

In order to prove to the people of Aden the dominance of the Wu family in Longchang Port, a month ago, the Wu family colluded with the Longchang government and forced the Zheng family to pay high prices to buy grain to fill the vacancy. This was so blatant, just to see who dared to stand up. Standing up for the Zheng family made Wu Yuan satisfied with the result. No one in Longchang dared to stand up. If the Zheng family chose to endure it, then even if the matter was over, the Wu family would not kill the Zheng family. At most, they would kill them all. After being squeezed clean, they were driven out of Longchang Port.

After hearing the news of Zheng Zhi's escape, Wu Yuan was still here patting his chest to assure the people of Aden. Just waiting for the money of the people of Aden to fall into his pocket, he had already heard the jingling sound. Unexpectedly, he had already escaped. Zheng Zhi actually came back again, and he came back on an imperial merchant ship. This was not to beat him in front of the people of Aden. What is Wu Yuan's face? This is not a person, but a large amount of money. The people of Aden promised to support him with 100,000 yuan, and 50,000 yuan per year thereafter. Even for a powerful family like the Wu family, The various incomes from the port each year add up to only 20,000 to 30,000 yuan. After excluding the expenses, what is left is not much.

With such huge benefits in front of you, how could you not be tempted!

"Then I'll give Chief Wuyuan a chance. If the Wu family can't settle this matter within one day, then we don't have to talk about it." Aaronge deliberately pretended to be impatient and monopolized the port. If this happened in the old days when Aden merchants were dominant, it would only take one In one sentence, it was enough to make the six commercial ports in China and Libya not dare to take a step further. If the Imperial Navy had not won a decisive victory in the southern sea of ​​China and Libya, Aden's commercial monopoly in China and Libya would still continue. It needs to be like now, and a Wu family needs to be lured and benefited.

But as long as we can monopolize the ports in China and Libya, it will be worthwhile.

You must know that this is the most chaotic time in southern China and Biya. The news of the empire's southward movement has been like a strong wind, making people in southern China panic. The prices of various materials have skyrocketed, and the price of food is already sky-high. And because it is now In the season of May, the food is not yet mature, and the empire is at war with China and Bia. The only way for China and Bia to buy food is to buy it from the port.

If Aden merchants can completely monopolize the port, the huge profits can be imagined.

Moreover, wealthy businessmen from Aden such as Elder Yagren have long received orders from the Aden family, requiring the Aden businessmen of each family in Central Asia to do their best to monopolize the southern market in Central Asia and "use the power of merchants to manipulate "Zhongbia" This is the plan formulated by Aden. Controlling the port is undoubtedly the most critical step. For this, Aden has spent a lot of money.

"Go and capture Zheng Zhi here immediately!" Wu Yuan shouted to the housekeeper at home. Soon the housekeeper left the Wu family with a dozen guards and headed straight for the Zheng family. The Zheng family was just an ordinary family in Longchang Port. The housekeeper was confident that he could capture Zheng Zhi. A dozen guards were already very impressive. The guards were holding wooden sticks in their hands and looked ferocious. Seeing that they were from the Wu family, people on the street scattered.

"It seems that they are going to capture Zheng Zhi!" "Isn't it? Zheng Zhi is also stupid. Why did he come back after running away? Isn't this just walking into a trap!" There was a lot of public opinion on the street. One of the Central Asian youths saw the housekeeper of the Wu family and the guards heading towards the Zheng family. He was panicked and rolled a few times. He stood up and staggered, covered in mud.

"What are you doing back here? What are you doing back here?"

The young man turned into an alley with a pale face. His name was Feng Yue. He was Zheng Zhi's brother-in-law. The Feng family was a small family in Longchang Port and was related to the Zheng family. This time, the Wu family suppressed the Zheng family. Zheng Zhi took his son Zheng Long to the north, and Zheng Zhi's wife hid in the Feng family. When he heard the rumor that Zheng Zhi was back, Feng Yue ran out and wanted to go to the Zheng family to take a look. Unexpectedly, he saw the housekeeper and guards of the Wu family on the way.

"What did you say, Zheng Zhi is back?" In another large courtyard, a white-faced Central Asian businessman suddenly stood up from his seat, his face uncertain. In front of him, there was a panting fat man with a fat body. He kept wiping the sweat with his hands. He looked at the white-faced Central Asian businessman and said in a trembling voice, "It's true. I saw it with my own eyes. This time it's going to be a big deal. Zheng Zhi is back, and the Wu family will definitely not let him go. His, what should we do now? Should we stand up or not? If we just sit and watch Zheng Zhi being arrested by the Wu family, I am afraid that no one in Longchang will dare to resist the Wu family. Once the Wu family does not allow the imperial merchants to dock, the money invested by our two families will be wasted! "

"Zheng Zhi is finished! The Zheng family is finished!" People on the street talked a lot, and their eyes were full of pity when they looked at the Zheng family. The Zheng family is now scattered when the tree falls, and what can they use to fight against the Wu family. At the door of the Zheng family, looking at the closed door, the housekeeper waved his hand with a sneer at the corner of his mouth, "Do you really think that hiding will be fine? Break it open for me"

In a study room in Longchang Mansion, a graceful and heroic man with a heroic look between his eyebrows pressed a secret letter in his hand on the table, raised his head and looked out the window, his hands unconsciously clenched together, Zheng Zhi is back, it seems that His Majesty the Emperor has seen the report! Facing the money offensive of the Aden people, I don’t know what means the emperor of the empire will take to fight back!