In order to avoid the fourth watch day to get up and go on the road, before noon, rushed to the thirty miles, away from Longxi City, there are only thirty miles left.

Looking at the scorching sun in the sky, whether it was Feng Congyi, who was in the lead, or Cheng Xuan, Liu Guanghan and several other principals from several major businesses in Qinzhou, they all decided to rest here for two hours.

The shop is a place where the post in the army rests. Because it is not a serious post station, you can't change horses, so only the foot soldiers will stop here.

Thirty Mile Pu was just a shed to protect from the wind and rain, and after the merchants came in, they crowded this long shed with more than 20 guards. Seeing that it was not crowded, the guards consciously squatted under the shade of the tree and left the shed to the master.

More than a dozen cars and dozens of horses were parked outside the shop, and Feng Congyi was instructing his subordinates under the sun to take care of the horses.

Sitting in the shade, watching Feng Congyi busy outside. Liu Ji's young proprietor, Liu Guanghan, shook the folding fan vigorously, the sweat on his forehead was dripping down, and he complained in a low voice: "Last time, the concubine we didn't bring to see each other. Now in a word, I want to run over again. According to me, it's better to start anew! ”

The rich middle-aged Cheng Xuan, who was sitting next to him, was the big shopkeeper of the Jardine Matheson, he shook his head, knowing that Liu Guanghan was just trying to be happy. However, for the sake of the relationship between the two families, he still persuaded in a low voice: "Say a few words." can't get rid of it, and don't look at the Han family's power in Longxi. ”

Yihe and Liu Ji are both big businesses in Qinzhou, and the families behind them are also officials from generation to generation, and they also have in-laws with each other. The relationship is close, and there are not too many scruples when it comes to talking.

"The Han family has only been rooted in Longxi for three years......"

"It's the same for a year, the group of traitors in the Guangrui Army, and the people in the Qingtang Department, which one of them has no weight in what he says?"

"The Guangrui Army is a traitor, how can there be a Tibetan people who can't buy it with money?"

Cheng Xuan shook his head, he knew that Liu Guanghan was hard-mouthed, and the Tibetan people were the most difficult to deal with, and if he couldn't say a word, he would turn his face. Guang Ruijun wants to inherit Han Gang's favor, don't the people of Fan want it?! In the past few years, the Tibetan nobles have not been sent to the sanatorium when they are sick, which is a life-saving kindness. If any merchant house offended Han Gang, his words could make it difficult for that caravan to move in the Fan District.

"Don't forget, cotton picking consumes the most manpower, and no one supports it, and there is no way to take the cotton in the field, not to mention, most of the cotton fields are in the hands of the Han family. And even if there is a way to harvest the cotton, what if there is a fire in the warehouse? Do you think he doesn't dare to do it? ”

After being reminded, Liu Guanghan remembered Han Gang's dreaded bandit, but he was still unconvinced, "Do you want to say anything about SF Express, what will we do?!" ”

"So I'm going to take a look." Cheng Xuan sat up straight and looked west, "Look at the mind of Han Guanren, people who are too greedy can't go far." When you eat meat yourself, you have to understand that bones should be left for the people around you. If he doesn't even divide the soup, who will follow him? There will be no future either. ”

"Is it just a soup to gnaw bones?"

"If you can make a long stream, it doesn't matter if you make a little less, how can the silver mountain be like silver water?" Cheng Xuan said with a smile: "Take your time first, it's a long time, and no one knows what will happen in a few years." ”

Feng Congyi settled outside at this time and walked in. glanced at Cheng Xuan and Liu Guanghan, who were sitting in a corner and talking in a low voice, and then looked at the principals of several other firms. This time in the cotton spinning negotiations, several companies have their own thoughts. It's just that the most critical planting and picking, most of which are controlled in their own hands, even spinning, is really not good, and you can even directly change the partner. If it weren't for his third cousin who wanted to promote cotton cloth as soon as possible, there would be no opportunity for these firms.

After resting for two hours, a group of people chatted about the sky. Watching the sun move westward, the sun is no longer so blazing, ready to continue the journey. But listening to the sound of hooves coming from the east, the guards of several trading houses immediately became nervous, and they picked up their knives and rods one after another.

It's just that when a team of Tibetan riders came closer, they were all relieved. Rabbits, foxes, and pheasants were tethered to the horses, and a leopard was tied to an empty horse that no one was riding. There were also two falcons standing on the rider's shoulders and looking left and right. As far as I know, this is a team returning from hunting.

Since they don't do their own business, they all relax. But when this group of riders crossed the thirty-mile shop, they stopped. I saw the leading rider turn his horse and turn around, speaking in an official dialect with a thick accent: "Isn't this the Feng proprietor of SF Express?!" ”

The person who spoke was in his twenties, tall and broad-shouldered, with a bit of a heroic air. As soon as Feng Congyi saw it, he hurriedly stepped forward and talked to him in Tubo dialect - after Han Gang left the negotiation work with the Tibetan Ministry to Feng Congyi, it only took him two months to learn the correct and round words, without any stumbling at all.

After talking for a while, Feng Congyi turned around and asked his companion to bring two high-grade silk horses from the car, while the rider returned the leopard salute, learned the etiquette of the Han people and arched his hand, and then re-embarked on the road, running away with a gust of wind.

Feng Congyi asked the leopard to be carried into the car, and came back to the curious crowd: "That is Ali Gu, the son of Dong Yu in Huangzhou, who is now studying in Fan. ”

"It's a cheap son, right?" Liu Guanghan smiled, looked at the gradually decreasing dust and smoke, and narrowed his eyes, "This person can be of great use when necessary." ”

Cheap sons are also sons, Dong Yu's own two sons are all young, if there is external support. Ali Gu can also sit in the position of Tubo Zampu. What to do depends on the situation. However, everyone knows about this matter, and it is not a smart move to say it proudly.

In the evening, before the city gate was locked, Feng Congyi and his party finally entered Longxi City. Feng Congyi did not go directly to the Han Mansion, but took them to his home and settled down.

After some freshening up, let the housekeeper entertain the guests, Feng Congyi went to Han's house to meet his uncle and aunt first, and of course, more importantly, to see Han Gang.

The Han family is now happy. Han Gang's eldest daughter was already able to speak, and she was calling her father and mother vaguely.

Han Gang hugged his daughter and coaxed her to keep calling herself, and there was no frightening sharpness in officialdom in her smile. Bai Juyi can know nothing in six months. But that's a rare exception. At 10 months, it's good to be able to speak.

"It's been a long time to go to Tokyo. Jin Niang can speak. ”

Feng Congyi took out two Buddha pendants from his arms. The mutton fat white jade from Hotan was carved and chiseled exquisitely by the famous craftsmen in the capital. The pendant is the size of the knuckle of the little finger, and even the lotus petals on the lotus seat below are clearly recognizable.

Zhou Nansheng's daughter looked like Yuxue was cute, and her eyes were dark looking at the small jade Buddha statue that Feng Congyi took out. But the son of the Han family, who was born in Su Xin, is honest, does not cry or make trouble, and sleeps on the side.

After Feng Congyi saluted his parents, Han Gang led his cousin to the study.

After sitting down and greeting each other, Han Gang asked directly: "Do they all support the idea of setting up a cotton guild?" ”

There are cattle dealers, horses and horses, meat sellers, and even dung collectors, three hundred and sixty trades, and there are guilds, and as long as they do business, they all belong to one guild. Each guild basically controls the trade of a state or even several surrounding states, and the largest guilds in all walks of life are all in the city of Tokyo.

These guilds control not only the shops on the streets of Tokyo, but in many cases the entire industrial chain. From production, to transportation, to sales, it is all integrated. For example, cloth shops, from the purchase of silkworm cocoons, silk reeling, weaving, printing and dyeing, and other workshops, are closely linked, and the relationship between them is intricate.

Although the leaders of the commercial circulation in Tokyo were strongly suppressed by the municipal affairs and seized control of the distribution channels by administrative means, the power of the guilds was still very large. Cotton cloth from Longxi can only be sold in small quantities in cloth shops in the city of Tokyo, and if you want to expand the scope of sales, it is not only difficult to get the support of the cloth shopkeepers, but also because it occupies the market space of the old high-quality silk and is suppressed by the cloth shops, which has actually been confirmed.

Tokyo is the center of the world, and popular trends spread from Tokyo to the whole country. If you can't get the market in Tokyo, you won't be able to spread to the whole country. Relying on this advantage, the Tokyo cloth company wanted to put its hands on cotton planting and weaving. This is something that Han Gang can't agree. To break the control of this industrial chain on the cloth market, the only way to be independent is to form a system of its own.

It's just that Feng Congyi came back from Tokyo, and after a few considerations, he had another idea: "Actually, Jibeibu is the name of the Li people for cotton, and only cotton cloth from Qiongya can be called Jibeibu." With the younger brother's idea, it is better to say that cotton cloth is a specialty of the Tibetan people, and set up a guild specializing in Tibetan goods, which does not conflict with the old cloth shop. ”

"Does harmony make money?" Han Gang said with a smile, seeing through Feng Congyi's thoughts.

He was originally going to get rid of the cloth shop and set up a cotton cloth guild on his own, and the intention of fighting with the old cloth shop was very obvious. Feng Congyi wanted to replace it with the Fan Goods Guild, in fact, to alleviate this contradiction. But although the skin on the outside can be changed, the essential conflict of interests will not change.

"But does it work?" Han Gang asked.

"At least it won't be too-for-tat, if they deal with us like this, they will be at a loss." Feng Congyi thought about this a lot: "And you can also include other Fan goods, and hang the brand of the Fan people together, which will also save a lot of trouble." ”

Everyone in the world knows that it is difficult to deal with the people of Ludao, even if they fancy the profits, they will not snatch too much, and they can indeed save some trouble.

"Okay, just do as you say." Han Gang nodded. Feng Congyi can have his own opinions, instead of blindly obeying, which is what he is happy to see. As long as you make a request yourself, you can give an answer, and this is a qualified subordinate.

Seeing that his opinion had finally been approved by Han Gang, Feng Congyi was very happy. After a pause, he asked, "...... Third brother, do you want to take the time to meet them? ”

"Nope!" Han Gang vetoed it. I won't see them, the merchants. Making friends with others is not good for your reputation. Using Feng Congyi as an intermediary is the right thing to do. It is enough to discuss the affairs of the guild and let Feng Congyi deal with it, and there is no need to get involved in the bargaining matter.

"Let them go to see the cotton fields, and someone has been arranged to entertain them."