Fu Song

Chapter 378
Tian Chou picked up a pair of small scissors, and gently cut off a section of the candle wick, and the room suddenly became brighter.On the opposite side of him, Yang Qing, the prefect of Bozhou, folded his hands in front of his chest, his eyes were deep in thought, his expression on his face changed from time to time, obviously, he hadn't made up his mind about some things until now.

The other members of the Chamber of Commerce gathered here this time to express their power, and at the same time to divide up the interests of various aspects in the next few years.And they, on top of this party, have to face a major choice.

Whether this choice will allow the two families to embark on another glorious journey, or whether they will stumble and gradually sink, no one can say for sure now.

This made the two Patriarchs dare not easily put down the chips in their hands.

No regrets.

This is not a game of chess on the black and white chessboard. If you really want to play tricks, you can still regret a few moves.

But as a game of chess, every move will bring about corresponding changes, and different choices will lead to different endings, which basically won't give you much chance to regret it.

Even if you give it, the price you will pay will hurt your vitality.

Sinking is only the lightest punishment, because it is just a chronic self-injury.

Those who are more severe will probably die.

There are too many such things in the vast history, and you can pick out a few with your eyes closed.

"Maybe you can look again and think again!" Yang Qing opened his eyes and looked at Tian Chou opposite.

Tian Chou laughed and said: "It's not impossible, but I'm worried that Xiao Erlang won't give us too many chances. Right now, his wings are hardened, so hard that even if we are thrown off, he can still spread his wings and soar. "

"I don't think Xiao Erlang is the kind of person who crosses rivers and destroys bridges, right?" Yang Qing spread his hands, "At the beginning of the game, without the help of our two families, how could he have come to where he is today?"

"In the past, he has already paid back!" Tian Chou said lightly: "In the future, he also gave us the right to choose. Whether to choose or not is just a matter of our own thoughts. It's just Yang Gong, the early election and the late election. The difference in choice is too big."

Looking at the thick stack of files in front of him, Yang Qing also fell silent.

There is indeed a big difference between the early election and the late election. What makes him even more unwilling is that in this season, if he does not invest more in it, he may be marginalized or even kicked out. If this is really the case, the previous Wouldn't it be a waste of hard work to invest?
The returns in the past two years are indeed fruitful, but if you take a longer-term view, the huge benefits that the federation can bring will be even more difficult for people to part with.

However, if you want to get a bigger return, you have to give more things.

Even, autonomy.

And this is exactly the reason why the Yang family and the Tian family are unwilling, unwilling, and unwilling.

The door was knocked lightly, Tian Chou took a step forward and opened the door, Xiao Cheng in plain clothes stood outside the door with sweat on his face, looking at them with a smile.

"Duke Yang, Brother Tian, ​​I've been tired of waiting for a long time, and I didn't expect to be delayed for two days to go to Guanling this time!" Xiao Cheng apologized with his hands clasped.

Neither Tian Chou nor Yang Qing thought that Xiao Cheng would come to them right after he came back. Seeing Xiao Cheng's appearance, it was clear that he had just stepped into the house, and he probably hadn't even had a sip of water yet.

Obviously, Xiao Cheng attached great importance to them, which made the two of them quite happy.

"How about the Guanling army?" Xiao Cheng was invited to sit down, Yang Qing poured a cup of tea himself, and pushed it to Xiao Cheng who was opposite.

"It was beyond my expectation!" Xiao Cheng said with a smile, "Luo Yuting and Wang Zhu really cooperated with each other in terms of literature and military affairs. Now, in less than half a year, the bandits in Luodian territory have been wiped out. Life will return to normal after the end, the government has begun regular management, and Wang Zhu has also reorganized an entire army of [-] people there. Originally thought that this newly formed army would not be too big When something really happens, they can also help maintain law and order and do hard work of running errands. I don't think that Wang Zhu's ability to govern the army is not inferior to Yang Wanfu. I saw the shadow of the Hebei Frontier Army in this army. "

Of course, Wang Zhu's background was clear to the few people present.

And this also means that Xiao Cheng's strength is in the process of further growth.

The two Patriarchs still used to measure a person's strength by military strength.

"Mr. Yang, Brother Tian!" Xiao Cheng glanced at the thick file on the table. For such things, every guest who comes to the village will receive a copy. down planning.

This is the first general meeting of the Qianzhou Chamber of Commerce since its establishment.

Even Xiao Cheng didn't expect that all the staff would be present, and those who came were basically people who could be the masters of their own affairs.

This also shows from another aspect that the strength of the business federation today is far from its prospects in the past.

Speaking of these people, who is not a thousand-year-old fox who has become a fine person, if it is not profitable and the future is promising, who of them will burrow into the ravine?

"The two of you must have read this plan carefully, and there are some things that are not clearly stated in it, and you must be able to understand it!" Xiao Cheng said with a smile: "So, you need to make a decision. I will never force you to make a decision." I will not take any means to influence your decision, because Xiao will not forget the help you gave me at the beginning. Therefore, no matter what choice you two make, Xiao Chongwen will respect it, no matter what choice you make No matter what choice we make, we will still be friends, or comrades-in-arms.”

Xiao Cheng got straight to the point, without any pretense, straight to the point.

"Don't go around in circles, go straight to the point, I think, this is my greatest respect for the two Patriarchs!"

The Qianzhou Chamber of Commerce is now very powerful, whether in business or military.But within the Chamber of Commerce, apart from those big businessmen, the three most influential and powerful forces are not a single entity, but at best a temporary union of interests.

Xiao Cheng, Bozhou Yang, Sizhou Tian.

Such a pattern will inevitably pose a great obstacle to the further development of the federation.

Therefore, Xiao Cheng wanted to unify the authority.

Bozhou and Sizhou are dominated by the officials of the Song Dynasty, but in the local area, they have absolute rights and implement complete autonomy.Officials are appointed by themselves and have their own army.As far as the imperial court is concerned, they listen to the tune but not to the announcement.

To put it bluntly, as long as they don't rebel, the court doesn't care what they want to do in their own territory.

For many years, the imperial court had some ideas about them. The result of the game between the two parties basically ended with the imperial court quieting down, and the officials who presided over the matter also stepped down because of this.

Because Bozhou and Sizhou are very accurate in one thing, that is, the court absolutely does not want chaos in the southwest.

And they definitely have the capital to corrupt the entire Southwest.

When the imperial court was facing the great enemy of the Liao Kingdom, it was really hard to do anything to them.

It's not that you can't use troops, but once you use troops against them, the entire Southwest will be in chaos. Once the Southwest is in chaos, the Liao Kingdom will take advantage of it.After all the calculations, letting them self-government is still a good deal.

Of course, if the court doesn't come hard, it doesn't mean it won't come soft.

Sometimes soft knives kill people, although it takes a long time and the speed is slow, it makes people more helpless, makes people feel powerless, and has nowhere to use their energy.

In this regard, the imperial court still has experts.

Bozhou and Sizhou are actually facing such a situation.The imperial court started from various aspects such as culture and economy, and has been digging their corners persistently for many years. Water drops through stone!As long as he worked hard enough, even an iron rod could be ground into a needle for him.

A large number of talents in Bozhou and Sizhou began to flow out, but anyone with a little ability would go to serve the king.Zhao Song's century-old cultivation of scholars is still very effective, coupled with the vigorous promotion of caring people, Bozhou Sizhou can hardly retain talents.

Then there is the encirclement and suppression of the economy. Compared with the behemoth of the Song Dynasty, Bozhou Sizhou can only be regarded as a small loach. In fact, when Xiao Yu was the third envoy, he also did this kind of thing.

It is precisely because the days are getting harder and harder every day, the Tian family and the Yang family are thinking of finding a way out.

Otherwise, one day the imperial court will reveal his ferocious face, but when that day comes, I am afraid that the descendants of Tian Yang's family will rarely die well.

When Xiao Cheng entered Guizhou, the two hit it off.

It's just that these two families wanted to break the situation, but they never expected that Xiao Cheng would have a day when he would turn against the guests in the southwest.

Up to now, compared to them, Xiao Cheng has become a force that can manipulate them.

"Chongwen, there must be a win-win solution." Tian Chou said: "Otherwise, even if I am the head of the family, this matter still cannot be done."

Yang Qing nodded and said: "Yes, yes, Chongwen, after the unification of powers, officials must be appointed in a unified way, wealth must be controlled in a unified way, and the army must be commanded in a unified way. What are we left with? Are we left with voting rights in the federation?" In this way, I am afraid that the family will turn their faces immediately."

Xiao Cheng smiled and said: "This is exactly what I want to explain to the two of you. Although the matter is indeed like this, it will take a long time to transition if we really want to fully achieve this. .And I think, the two of you are most concerned about the command of the army, right?"

Tian Chou smiled.

They are in the southwest, and they have always believed that it is more reasonable to have bigger fists.

"In terms of strategy, the army must of course be under the unified command of the Federation, but in terms of tactics, that is, the leaders, it doesn't matter." Xiao Cheng said with a smile: "It doesn't matter whether the Yang family or the Tian family Well, naturally you can lead the army.”

"But the federation has the right to replace them." Yang Qing emphasized.

"Don't forget, you are also high-level executives of the Federation, and high-level executives with decisive power." Xiao Cheng patted the thick file on the desktop, "Mr. Yang, Brother Tian, ​​haven't you looked at the organizational structure?"

"I haven't looked carefully yet." Tian Chou said honestly: "It's too thick, and after Jia Gui talked to us about your thoughts yesterday, Mr. Yang and I have been tossing and turning, unable to sleep."

"As the original initiators of the Chamber of Commerce, we, as the most powerful ones, naturally have special powers that others do not possess!" Xiao Cheng said with a smile: "So, on top of the power structure of the Federation , there is a standing committee. Now, this committee has only three seats, that is me, you, him!"

Xiao Cheng's finger moved from his body to Yang Qing, and then pointed to Tian Chou.

"Where is the special power of the Standing Committee?"

"The standing committee can veto the federation's proposal. In other words, any proposal of the federation must be approved by the standing committee before it can be formally implemented. Otherwise, they have to take it back and revise it." Xiao Cheng laughed. "So, you will still be you. What you have will not decrease, but will only increase step by step with the expansion of the Federation's power. Two, if you two go all out to join the Federation In this process, the strength of the federation will increase exponentially, and we will be able to invest in the great cause of going south earlier."

"Will the membership of this standing committee increase?" Tian Chou asked after carefully reading some terms.

"If there is an increase, it must be approved by all permanent members. If there is one who disagrees, then it will not work." Xiao Cheng replied with a smile.

Tian Chou breathed a sigh of relief. Also, according to this design, the actual power of the federation is actually in the hands of this standing committee. The more people in the committee, the power will naturally be diluted. Even Xiao Cheng, You don't want to see this happen, do you?

Naturally, the more power you hold in your hands, the better.

"This time Guangnan West Road recruitment envoy Cen Zhong is also here. If he wants to join, I'm afraid he will be one of the standing committee members?" Yang Qing said.

"My elder brother got wind and came here uninvited!" Xiao Cheng said helplessly: "But two, if he really wants to join our small group, don't you think it is a good thing? He really wants to Join, are we still stingy with a standing committee seat for him?"

Tian Chou and Yang Qing nodded frequently.

Indeed, Cen Zhong really wanted to join, and the two of them agreed with both hands and feet.This person's influence in the Song Dynasty's officialdom and his current position will be of great help to their future development plans.

"We have to study it carefully, Chongwen won't laugh at us?" Tian Chou said: "It must be related to the family's century-old plan, so it can't be sloppy."

"Naturally, naturally." Xiao Cheng stood up and said with a smile, "It's just right, I'm going to have a good talk with my elder brother."

After walking out of the residence of these two, Xiao Cheng couldn't help laughing.

The tempting bait has been thrown out, and I am not afraid that these two will not take the bait.

Did he tell a lie?

Not at all.

But one thing is that Xiao Cheng didn't finish what he said. In the plan, in the frank conversation between Xiao Cheng and the two, there was a lot of blank space, and this is the key.

(End of this chapter)