Chapter 0009 focuses on the core of persuasion, which lies in winning the hearts and minds.
Jiang Biehe's complexion was pale; he had always had a feeling that something was about to happen, and indeed, something has happened
Wang Xiao picked up a piece of sour bamboo shoot and bit into it, making a crisp sound "Your current situation is just like this, your wife and child have also suffered harm. If you were a foolishly loyal idiot, I wouldn't have come at all. But I know you are a smart person, so..."
Jiang Biehe, with his injured arm in a sling, raised his wine glass and drank it all in one go, holding a deep disdain for Wang Xiao's temptation to surrender
How have you been, Brother Jiang?
The fire ship attack is set to completely ruin the rhythm of this private salt dock
The people beside him were also relatives of the Jiang family, and upon hearing this, they all smiled and reassured him that this was in the territory of Yangzhou, where nothing could possibly go wrong
The fire ship, filled with hay, sulfur, and kerosene, crashed into the dock, igniting cargo ships laden with contraband salt into torches
Jiang Biehe looked at the rushing river before him, took a deep breath, and called out to the people around him, "Everyone, put in some extra effort! Once the work is done, each person will receive a reward of five taels of silver!"
Is it you
Jiang Biehe smiled sadly and said, "Dear brother, you are quite the schemer; I have nothing to say. I have encountered countless people, yet I misjudged you, dear brother, and I deserve this calamity."
In the prison of the Salt Administration, Wang Xiao set up a banquet in the single room of Jiang Biehe to invite him for a drink
Lifting the wine jug, he slowly poured wine for Jiang Biehe, while Wang Xiao asked each word with emphasis, "Are you willing?"
Five taels of silver, based on the grain prices in Jiangnan, is sufficient to purchase seven to eight shi of grain, enough for a family of three for a year's consumption.
This operation did not involve the salt officials from the Salt Administration, but rather utilized the enemies and competitors of the Jiang family, thus there was not the slightest leak of information
The torches flickering all around cast a cold light, and suddenly a sharp dagger appeared in Jiang Biehe's hand, thrusting directly towards Wang Xiao's chest
Wang Xiao looked at him with an encouraging gaze
Jiang Biehe's body trembled slightly, and his uninjured hand gripped the wine glass tightly, crushing it. Crimson blood slowly dripped from between his fingers
Numerous small boats on the river flowed downstream at a rapid speed, and in no time at all, they had already rushed past.
Brother Jiang, what is the purpose of this again
A pile of flames quickly ignited on the small boat, and the flickering light illuminated the figures jumping into the river.
A few days ago, a righteous person came to the salt administration office to report that someone was selling illicit salt. Wang Xiao gestured to the numerous illicit salt vendors beside him, stating, "Such acts that violate the laws of the court cannot be overlooked by Lord Lin. He has specifically ordered me to come and investigate. Who would have thought, who would have thought, that the handsome Jiang would also be involved in selling illicit salt? My heart is deeply pained by this. At this moment, with both the person and the evidence in hand, what else can Brother Jiang say?"
Many of the impoverished in this era have never even seen what silver looks like in their entire lives. This gives a glimpse into the wealth of the Jiang family.
Wang Xiao once again took out a new wine glass and placed it in front of Jiang Biehe. "Previously, I mentioned that the breakthrough point for the Jiang family lies with you, but He Meng and the others all said I was crazy. They argued that as a core member of the Jiang family, how could you possibly betray them? They believe that those managers who were captured are the best breakthrough points."
Jiang Biehe possesses outstanding abilities, standing out remarkably among the many sons of Jiang Chun
The next step is to make these individuals speak, delivering a devastating blow to the Jiang family
Wang Xiao on horseback smiled joyfully, as if he had encountered an old friend he had not seen for many years
It is quite common for various violent conflicts to occur during the smuggling of salt, but an assault of this scale is unprecedented, especially within the territory of Yangzhou. The sense of crisis in Jiang Biehe's heart grew increasingly heavy
Unfortunately, there are far too many foolish and incompetent individuals within the Jiang family
Jiang Biehe gritted his teeth and downed the wine in his cup in one go, then slammed the cup heavily on the ground, glaring at Wang Xiao with red eyes, "Can you spare me from death?"
My eyelids have been twitching all day, which is quite irritating
At the Jiang family's private salt dock, the elegant Jiang Biehe stood with his hands behind his back, watching the numerous laborers carrying salt bags onto the ship, while expressing his inner frustrations to the person beside him
The current emperor is diligent and resolute in governance, executing tasks with great efficiency. Those lacking ability are absolutely unlikely to be favored by the emperor. Lin Ruhai has been valued by the emperor for so many years as the Inspector of Salt Circulation; to suggest that he lacks the means to counterattack would truly be a notion only a fool would entertain
The crisp sound of breaking bones mingled with the tragic cries of Jiang Biehe, echoing in the night sky ablaze with flames
Thank you very much, dear brother
Even if Lin Ruhai were to appear this time, he would not behave so ungraciously. However, what stands before him is Wang Xiao, who is widely recognized as a prodigal son and a typical wastrel. This truly exceeds all his expectations.
This matter is fundamentally unsolvable, as both the person and the goods have been apprehended on the spot. Even if the former emperor were to intervene, it would not be able to save him, and it would also implicate the entire Jiang family.
Among the people surrounding him, there were quite a few whom Jiang Biehe recognized; they were all competitors of the Jiang family. He did not expect that these individuals would actually join forces to attack him
Do not panic
The Jiang family has hosted the retired emperor on several occasions during his southern tours, and this connection alone is sufficient for them to walk with pride in the streets of Yangzhou
Wang Xiao waved his hand and said, "The term 'having seen countless people' should not be used lightly. Brother Jiang, is it time for you to leave? The prison of the Salt Administration has been thoroughly cleaned and is awaiting your esteemed presence."
The reason his elder brother dared to take action is clearly that the Jiang family has reached a consensus to place the entire blame for this incident on Jiang Biehe. By sacrificing him, they aim to preserve the entire Jiang family
A heart-wrenching roar and the sight of a book attracted everyone's attention. As eyes turned, numerous small boats appeared upstream in the river, a dark mass rushing towards the dock with the flow of the water
The so-called "external institution" refers to a place where people are raised outside.
Although the people on the dock fought desperately, they were overwhelmingly outnumbered by the attackers. The resistance here was quickly crushed, and the remaining dozens were cornered in a part of the dock, fiercely guarding Jiang Biehe.
Beneath the cold moon, flames soared into the sky behind me
Jiang Biehe shouted in disbelief.
Jiang Biehe scoffed disdainfully, and Wang Xiao immediately clapped and laughed, "I knew you were as clever as I am. Those who have worked for the Jiang family for decades, with their family members and relatives under the Jiang family's control, lack sufficient loyalty. It is impossible for them to be responsible for such an important matter as smuggling private salt. In fact, they are the most difficult to break through."
As the wine glass was about to be filled to the brim, Jiang Biehe, whose expression changed as unpredictably as the face-changing art of Sichuan opera, finally reached out to lift the glass.
Compared to those brothers who clamored to directly kill Lin Ruhai, Jiang Biehe understood that Lin Ruhai was by no means a simple character
Under the circumstances of being both intentional and unintentional, Jiang Biehe's loss is not unjust.
The scheme of sowing discord has been used against me. There is no point in saying more; only death remains.
Jiang Biehe squinted his eyes as he surveyed the scene, not believing that this rabble could possess such precise intelligence and such remarkable skill in bringing themselves together to act. There must certainly be a mastermind behind these individuals.
Wang Xiao stated that he stopped playing such petty tricks of showing weakness to the enemy during his school days
The crowd surrounding slowly parted, revealing a pathway. With the sound of clattering hooves, a group of riders gradually approached on horseback.
It is always wise to be cautious
Boat! Boat! So many boats!
Are you the Jade-faced Flying Dragon Supreme Treasure
Wang Xiao leisurely took out a new wine cup and placed it in front of Jiang Biehe to pour him wine. "Normally, the next step would be to silence you. Jiang Chun indeed values you greatly, but unfortunately, you are not his only son. As a formidable leader, the ability to make decisive choices at critical moments is an essential quality."
Wealth stirs the heart
Jiang Chun has many sons, but at this moment, Jiang Biehe only has one son, who is being raised in his outer courtyard. Now that he has fallen into the hands of his elder brother, who would love nothing more than to tear him apart, one can hardly bear to imagine the tragic fate that awaits him
With a pained forehead and sweat dripping down, Jiang Biehe knelt on the ground, his gaze fixed intently on Wang Xiao
Jiang Biehe was in low spirits, as his plans against Lin Ruhai were thwarted by a fellow named Zhi Zun Bao. He intended to take out his frustrations on Lin Ruhai's daughter, but unexpectedly, he failed once again.
The crowd on the dock burst into cheers as they energetically loaded bag after bag of contraband salt onto the ship
Wang Xiao nodded in satisfaction and turned over to greet him, saying, "Brother Jiang, there is no need to be troubled. Victory and defeat are common occurrences in warfare. Before I came, I had someone clean the prison and prepare fresh bedding. I would never let you be wronged, Brother Jiang."
Silver and jiaozi are different; its purchasing power is quite strong
Meanwhile, the air around the dock was filled with the resounding sounds of battle cries, as countless men roared and charged forward with their blades raised.
Individuals like Jiang Biehe are bound to engage in marriages of alliance. However, he also has someone he truly loves, whom he has kept in the outer courtyard. Yet now, both the person and the courtyard have been taken over by his elder brother
You are so clever, guess what will come next
A tree that stands out in the forest is bound to be destroyed by the wind. The other sons of Jiang Chun have long harbored deep resentment towards Jiang Biehe, who holds the reins of power, especially the eldest brother, who occupies the position of the firstborn.
In Jiang Biehe's view, even if he himself were in Jiang Chun's position, he would not hesitate to sacrifice him as a pawn.
Brother Jiang, do you think you can escape this time
Jiang Biehe shouted angrily, striving to maintain order at the chaotic dock, "Grab your weapons and push them back!"
The recent raid on the Jiang family's private salt wharf was highly successful. Excluding the salt destroyed on the ship, over 8,000 stones of private salt were seized at the wharf alone. This quantity is sufficient to warrant execution a hundred times over
I just received a message before I came here; someone has occupied the outer courtyard of Wu Family Lane in the west of the city, and the person who has taken over the courtyard is named Jiang Qin. How coincidental, it seems that your elder brother is also named this.
Wang Xiao leaned to the side and reached out to grasp Jiang Biehe's wrist, applying force to twist and turn it.
Wang Xiao humbly waved his hand and said, "A mere empty title, what is there to be concerned about? Brother Jiang, let us go."
Jiang Biehe approached Wang Xiao, smiling broadly as he reached out, seemingly wanting to embrace Wang Xiao
This is precisely why, despite knowing that selling illicit salt could lead to execution, countless individuals still risk their lives to engage in this trade
Wang Xiao was not anxious, smilingly pouring wine for him
The intelligent person thinks a lot, having contributed so much to the family, yet ultimately ending up with such a tragic outcome. How could Jiang Biehe possibly accept this fate
Wang Xiao stared at Jiang Biehe, whose expression had changed dramatically, as the wine glass in his hand fell to the ground. "You have only just entered, and your elder brother is already eager to take action. You know without me saying that the Jiang family is prepared to sacrifice the pawn to protect the king"
It is what it is, this time the loss is not unjustified
Jiang Biehe threw down the sword in his hand, approaching with a苦 face
In addition, Jiang Biehe and important managers from the Jiang family were also present at the scene and were apprehended, which constitutes a clear case of both the person and the stolen goods being caught together
Jiang Biehe originally intended to abduct Wang Xiao to break through the encirclement; as long as he could escape, the subsequent matters would be handled smoothly. However, what he did not expect was that Wang Xiao's skills were surprisingly formidable