My eunuch godfather

Chapter 82 Xu Fo

Seeing Xu Fo hesitate, the owners or managers of the major tea and rice merchants in Suzhou Prefecture...

Thinking it was a lack of sincerity, they immediately had the servants carry boxes of gifts into the room, the head servant pleading:

"We only beg Mr. Xu to pass on our message, so that we may have a glimmer of hope!"

Seeing the overwhelming sincerity, Xu Fo's breathing immediately became heavier.

After a moment's thought, he finally made up his mind and addressed these wealthy businessmen:

"It is enough for me to deliver just a few words. I am from Suzhou and I will do my best to help with matters concerning my hometown!"

These gifts will be used to smooth things over! Please don't have too high expectations.

The Nanjing Jinyun shipyard was, after all, a business owned by the imperial court, and Commander Zhang wasn't the only one with absolute authority.

These wealthy merchants, desperate for a cure, were overwhelmed with gratitude upon hearing that Xu Fo was willing to help, and they all bowed and expressed their thanks.

Xu Fo was so flattered that he was almost overwhelmed, repeatedly saying that he would do his best.

The British Duke's residence was a separate residence in Nanjing.

Xu Fo told Zhang Kun about this matter and presented the wealthy merchant's sincerity in its entirety, without keeping anything for himself.

"Simply having multiple serial numbers isn't enough, in my opinion."

After listening to Xu Fo's request, Zhang Kun tapped the table with his fingers and made his own demands:

"They must merge into one main branch, while the original individual businesses can remain unchanged."

However, the main branch must hold more than 50% of the shares!

The idea of ​​the major freshwater mushroom merchants in Suzhou was to join forces and secure a single spot under the guise of joint operation.

But Zhang Kun demanded that they be integrated into one company, otherwise they would not be given a chance to be served.

Upon receiving the message from Xu Fo, the major tea and rice merchants in Suzhou, after some discussion, decided to agree to the request.

There's no way around it; the Tembagu Conference has been going on for a while now, and powerful Tembagu companies like Fort Kang are already involved.

Almost all of them chose to stand with the Nanjing Jinyun, reached a ceasefire agreement, and joined the price cartel.

If you cannot join the alliance, you will have to face pressure from the entire alliance in future competition!

Putting aside other things, there are about 150 million catties of raw bamboo shoots in Southern Zhili and Zhejiang, and more than 100 million catties are in the hands of the Alliance!

In addition, Nanjing Jinyunhao also needs to exchange goods for shares and use the stock price to purchase another 200,000 to 300,000 catties.

If we don't join the alliance, we can't even buy raw materials, so what kind of business can we do?

......

Taoye Ferry on the banks of the Qinhuai River.

Zhang Kun did not accept the sincere offers from the major tea merchants in Suzhou, but instead had Xu Fo accept them.

At the same time, Xu Fo was asked to use this sincerity to buy a mansion in Nanjing and move from Zhenze in Suzhou to Nanjing.

Xu Fo understood that this meant she was to repay him with her own body.

She had previously thought that Zhang Kun would target Wang Wei first, since Wang Wei was more famous and only eighteen years old this year.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Kun would target me, who is 28 years old this year, first. Could it be that he prefers someone more mature?

In that case, should we drag Yang Wan into this as well?

Anyway, Yang Wan's husband has more than 30 concubines, and he recently took in a new one.

Not only did he not see Yang Wan for ten days or half a month at a time, he even encouraged Yang Wan to have more contact with Zhang Kun.

It's almost as if he's saying: "Go for it, Madam! My father's and my future depend on you!"

It should be noted that his father, Mao Guojin, was transferred from the Ministry of Works to the Ministry of War and obtained a powerful position simply by relaying a message once.

While lost in thought, Xu Fo instructed his maid to add fragrant herbs such as roses, osmanthus, and cloves to the bath.

With the help of the maid, she thoroughly washed her body and shaved off any excess hair, including facial hair.

She put on a moon-white soft silk waistband and a fitted crotch, combed her hair up, and then put on a light red gauze and a lotus-root-colored jacket.

The makeup was also very simple and elegant, using pearl powder and white magnolia fragrance, a light base makeup, and then adding a few touches of coral red and indigo.

She wore only a pair of pearl earrings, unlike her usual style of wearing gold and silver jewelry.

Xu Fo had redeemed himself from the brothel five years ago, and now that he was to receive Zhang Kun, he was somewhat nervous.

Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Although this guy is exceptionally intelligent, he's just an eighteen-year-old lad when it comes to men and women.

Having mentally bolstered his spirits, Xu Fo instructed his maids to prepare wine and dishes, and quietly awaited Zhang Kun's arrival.

......

As Zhang Kun walked out of the Tampa Gum Conference venue, he smiled at Zhang Zhiyuan, who was standing beside him:

"Brother Zhiyuan, I have business to attend to today and will not be returning to the government office."

Zhang Zhiyuan, who was determined to marry his cousin to Zhang Kun, became alert. "What's wrong? Do you have any underlings who can help?"

"It's about the black tea business."

Zhang Kun smiled at Zhang Zhiyuan and said, half-jokingly:

"If we go out of the city to Taoye Ferry, we'll meet some tea merchants introduced by Master Zheng, and we'll probably chat until very late."

Nanjing also had a curfew, though not as strict as in the capital, but the city gates were not opened at night, and Taoye Ferry was outside Tongji Gate.

In the days after entering Nanjing, Zhang Kun either stayed at the Nanjing Imperial Guard or at the Nanjing villa of the Duke of England.

"Brother Kun, our family also has a stake in this black tea business."

Zhang Zhiyuan, unsuspecting, volunteered to Zhang Kun, saying, "Why don't we go together?"

"Brother Zhiyuan also has something to do tonight."

Zhang Kun reached out and patted Zhang Zhiyuan on the shoulder, "Brother Zhiyuan, we'll have to go and try to persuade Grand Secretary Shen."

Today, of the seven most powerful tea merchants in Southern Zhili and Zhejiang, only Mingzhou is still stubbornly resisting.

Mingzhou is the ancient name of Ningbo. The Mingzhou Company, founded in Ningbo Prefecture, was backed by many large merchants from Zhejiang and Fujian.

Shen Yiguan, who was born in Yin County, Ningbo, is currently visiting relatives and friends in Nanjing.

Zhang Kun suspected there might be some connection behind this, so he sent Zhang Zhiyuan to see Shen Yiguan to sound him out.

......

Taoye Ferry, a courtyard backing onto Egret Island.

Zhang Kun dismounted, and one of his guards led the horse to the stable.

Led by Xu Xin, the other guards searched the courtyard thoroughly to confirm its safety.

"Master Kun,"

As I entered through the hanging flower gate, Xu Fo was already waiting in the courtyard. He quickly approached and respectfully asked, "Have you had dinner yet?"

"No rush to eat,"

Zhang Kun wandered around, admiring the scenery of the courtyard, and praised Xu Fo, saying:

"Although your courtyard is small, this arrangement has a sense of 'seeing the big in the small'."

"They're just some shortcuts."

Xu Fo had visited many gardens in Suzhou and learned several techniques for creating changing scenery with each step, which he humbly told Zhang Kun.

After strolling through the courtyard, Zhang Kun and Xu Fo arrived at the main house and began discussing business:

Zhang Kun said he was going to Taoye Ferry tonight for the black tea business, and he didn't lie to Zhang Zhiyuan about that.

Black tea differs from light basil in that the raw materials and processing must be sourced from the south, because tea could not be grown in the north at that time.

Therefore, Zhang Kun had to establish a branch in Nanjing for his black tea business.

Zheng Zhiyan from Yangzhou and Xu Bengao from Nanjing both have shares in this branch, which can provide a lot of capable manpower.

But Zhang Kun still needs someone of his own to keep an eye on this branch in Nanjing.

Xu Fo was the candidate chosen by Zhang Kun:

During the organization of the Golden Cloud Club, Xu Fo demonstrated considerable business acumen and commercial skills, showing a strong belief in the future of the branch.

Moreover, given Zhang Kun's current power and status, he can easily control Xu Fo, and the latter would not dare to betray him easily.

There's also the newly established Nanjing Jinyunhao Suzhou branch, which Zhang Kun can also influence through Xu Fo.