At the banquet, compared to Liu Bei and Yun Yi's carefree and unrestrained manner, the few Family Heads were naturally nervous.
To them, Liu Bei was like a dragon that had crossed the river and suddenly descended upon River East.
In just a month, they had seized Wu County.
They were doing well in Wu County, so why did Liu Bei suddenly invite them to a banquet?
Everyone knew that there was no such thing as a good feast!
Zhu Yu took advantage of the gap in the banquet to raise his goblet and said with a smile,
"Before Envoy Liu came, there were bandits everywhere in the land of River East. Just the prefect of Wu County had changed hands several times.”
"Now that you're here, the rebel soldiers have fled in all directions. Even a bandit like Yan Baihu has willingly submitted.”
"We congratulate you!"
When everyone heard this, they all raised their goblets to congratulate Liu Bei.
Seeing this, Liu Bei smiled and drank another cup.
Seeing that the time was almost right, Zhang Xiu smiled and said,"
"We were favored by the envoy and came to the banquet. We were overjoyed.”
"However, I wonder why you summoned us here?”
He was here!
When the other clan heads heard this, their expressions turned solemn as they looked at Liu Bei.
Beside Liu Bei, Yun Yi looked at the expressions of the four clan heads and could not help but laugh.
"Since everyone has asked, I will speak on behalf of my lord.”
"As you all know, the lord was originally the Prefecture Overseer of Xu Prefecture. He didn't want Xu Prefecture to be seized by Lu Bu and come here.”
"Although we have occupied all the counties in Wu County, we still lack officials.”
"I heard that all of you are from well-known families and have many disciples. I wonder if any of you are willing to help our army stabilize Wu County?”
Before he finished speaking, the faces of the four clan heads darkened.
Lu Yi's young face carried a bitter smile as he said,"
"I'm young, and all of you are elders. I shouldn't say much, but now that my family has been caught in a war, hundreds of my relatives have died, and I really can't help.”
As Lu Yi spoke, everyone nodded slightly.
They knew about the situation in Lu Yi's family!
It could be said to be extremely miserable.
There was nothing wrong with saying that now.
Yun Yi hurriedly said,
"It's fine. Even if Boyan doesn't say it, I know about it.”
After saying that, he looked at the other family heads.
Seeing this, Zhang Xiu and Zhu Yu hurriedly said,"
"Regarding this matter, we are also unable to help. The family is filled with juniors who do not cultivate virtue. It is fine to cultivate at home, but if we go out to be an official, I'm afraid it will delay your great affairs.”
Yun Yi saw that the three family heads had directly rejected him, and he immediately looked at Gu Yong, who was directly opposite him.
From the beginning of the banquet, Gu Yong had been silent and did not drink. He just smiled lightly and behaved calmly.
At this moment, seeing Yun Yi's gaze, Gu Yong said indifferently,
"There are some disciples in the Yong Family, but I don't know if they are willing.”
Seeing Gu Yong say so, the other three clan heads all smiled.
If they really wanted their descendants to become officials, as the family heads, they could make the decision.
Gu Yong's actions were equivalent to a disguised rejection.
Facing the rejection of the four clan heads, Yun Yi still smiled slightly without the slightest displeasure. Then, he smiled and said,
"Since that's the case, we won't force you.”
When the four family heads heard this, they were all at ease. However, Yun Yi changed the topic and said,
"In the past few days, my lord and I have seen that all of you have merchant ships and businesses.”
"However, there are rebel soldiers everywhere in Jiangdong, making it difficult to move freely.”
"Therefore, we want to establish a Chamber of Commerce. I wonder if any of you are interested?”
"Chamber of Commerce?"
The family heads were stunned when they heard this.
For these aristocratic families, on one hand, they had to be officials and maintain their family status. On the other hand, they had to manage their family businesses.
Most of these industries were farmland, and a small portion were businesses.
Currently, the Han Dynasty also valued agriculture and suppressed commerce. Therefore, when they heard that Yun Yi, this "official" person, wanted to establish some kind of chamber of commerce, everyone became interested.
The taciturn Gu Yong was the first to ask,
"I wonder what this merchant association is?"
"What do I need to join the Chamber of Commerce?”
The three clan heads also looked at Yun Yi at the same time.
Yun Yi smiled and said,
"The Chamber of Commerce is a system unique to our army. If you join the Chamber of Commerce and do business within our army's territory in the future, you will be able to reduce taxes at the checkpoints.”
"In addition, if you are also a member of the Chamber of Commerce, you can exchange what you need at a discounted price.”
"In the future, when the Chamber of Commerce grows stronger, we can also form a guard team to protect the safety of the Chamber of Commerce.”
"Everyone, think about it. If we form a merchant association, in the future, all ships will be protected by military ships. Wouldn't that be much safer?”
"Of course, as members of the Chamber of Commerce, we must coordinate and protect everyone's interests.”
Hearing Yun Yi's words, the few family heads frowned.
This Chamber of Commerce was indeed a new thing. It sounded good now, but they did not dare to make a rash decision.
When Yun Yi saw this, he waved his hand and said,
"This matter is not urgent. Everyone can slowly consider it. If you are interested, you can send a letter to me!”
At this moment, Liu Bei smiled and said,"
"We have invited you all today for these things. I think it's getting late. I believe that everyone is quite tired.”
The two family heads of the Zhang and Zhu families were confused, and Lu Yi frowned.
Even Gu Yong was puzzled.
The banquet ended just like that?
However, since Liu Bei had spoken, they could only obey.
After everyone left, Liu Bei looked at Yun Yi and said,"
"What do you think, Zhuo Qun?"
Yun Yi smiled and said,
"Lu Yi is a little fox. The rest are all old foxes.”
Liu Bei sighed,"
"People from such aristocratic families only care about their own interests. What kind of strategy was Zhuo Qun referring to earlier?”
Yun Yi smiled and said,
"The so-called 'pull one batch and beat another batch' is actually very simple. It is to rope in those who are in line with our interests and suppress those who are not in line with our interests.”
Liu Bei frowned and said,"
"But now that the four families are clearly in cahoots, how can we see through their respective thoughts?”
Yun Yi shook his head and smiled.
"Now that we've just arrived and aren't from this place, the four clans naturally have to watch.”
"However, if one of them slackens and gains benefits from our army, the other three will definitely rush over!”
Liu Bei hurriedly said,"
"Then which one should we start with?”
Yun Yi smiled and said,
"Among these four families, Gu Yong of the Gu family was Cai Yong and Cai Zhonglang's teacher when he was young. Although he was young, he was more alert than the other three.”
"Therefore, once one family relents, the Gu family will naturally obey.”
"As for the Zhang and Zhu families, they are deeply rooted and have a thriving family. I'm afraid they won't let go easily!”
"Therefore, we can start with the Lu family!”
Hearing this, Liu Bei nodded his head and said,"
"In that case, I'll have to trouble Zhuo Qun!”
Yun Yi smiled and said,
"It's a small matter. I'll go to the Lu family tomorrow.”
Liu Bei continued,"
"Oh right, what is that merchant association?”
"Why haven't I heard Zhuo Qun mention it before?”
The Chamber of Commerce was actually something Yun Yi thought of on a whim today.
In this era, agriculture was valued and merchants were not valued.
If they were to establish a Chamber of Commerce, whether it was to expand their businesses or engage in economic wars, it would be a huge blow to the other dukes!
He smiled and said,
"The matter of the Chamber of Commerce is simple.”
"Let me give you a simple example.”
"My lord, do you know about the scheme of Mount Heng?"
He had thought that Liu Bei would nod his head and tell him about the scheme at Mount Heng.
However, Liu Bei shook his head in confusion and said,"
"Zhuo Qun, you can tell me in detail."
Seeing this, Yun Yi found it funny.
Only then did he remember that when Old Liu was young, he loved fancy clothes and all kinds of entertainment. Later on, he became a chivalrous man and did not like to study at all.
If he went to modern times, he would most likely be a delinquent youth.
It was really difficult for Old Liu to know these allusions at his fingertips.
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