"According to him, he got this news from a steward of the Qian family, but I think this matter is very likely someone deliberately leaked to him!"
"The person who can know such news must have a high position in the Qian family. Have they confirmed who it is?"
Normally, Cai Jing wouldn't bother with such matters, but now he had no choice but to inquire.
"The Qian family is in Qiantang County, so even by carrier pigeon, it will take a few days to get news..."
Cai Tao scratched his head sheepishly as he said this.
When he heard this news, apart from being shocked, he didn't even think to verify the truth of the information.
"Send the message back as soon as possible, and have them thoroughly investigate what's going on and what the Qian family intends to do!"
Although the Qian family's influence in the imperial court was not great, they held vast amounts of land and wealth. Through overseas trade alone, they had become incredibly wealthy over the years.
If they were now willing to spend lavishly to support Wang Fu, then he would really have to carefully consider how to proceed with future matters.
"If the Qian family truly sides with Wang Fu, should we show them a little bit of what we're capable of..."
Reminded by Cai Jing, a cold glint flashed in Cai Tao's eyes.
If Cai Jing's guess was true, then the Qian family had indeed become too audacious.
"I remember that young master from the Han family, didn't he come up with some new tricks at the Maritime Trade Bureau?"
After a moment of contemplation, Cai Jing slowly asked again.
"Father, you mean we should switch our support to Han Mo?"
Cai Tao was taken aback.
"That's right. Based on the current situation, if this news was deliberately leaked by the Qian family, then the meaning is already very clear, isn't it? Either they are restless and seeking change, or they are in cahoots with Wang Fu! Either way, we should make them aware of our stance at this time!"
"But what if it wasn't deliberately leaked by them? Wouldn't we be destroying our own foundation by doing so? I've also seen the rules that young master Han laid out. This coming and going, all of it cuts into our own flesh!"
When Cai Tao heard that Cai Jing wanted to switch support to Han Mo at this time, he was genuinely unwilling with all his heart.
After all, Cai Jing was already so old, and everything in the Cai family would eventually be left to his brothers.
Who would ever say no to more wealth?
According to Han Mo's methods, between this coming and going, they would have to give up at least thirty percent of their share.
What's more, what made them even more distressed was that from now on, they would lose the power to set prices.
They used to be carefree and enjoy the status of being a patron, but now they had to become subordinates to the Maritime Trade Bureau.
"Don't you see it yet? This young man is essentially amassing wealth for the current Emperor. Whether you yield these shares or not, you have to yield them. Perhaps with my influence, you can still stubbornly refuse, but what happens after I'm gone? At that time, it won't be you yielding, but others coming to take it by force!"
Cai Jing looked at Cai Tao deeply and said slowly.
"But if we do this, what will become of the Cai family's prestige?"
"In a life-or-death situation like this, are you still concerned with prestige? Tell them to prepare that accumulated sum of money. If the situation turns unfavorable, we can only cut off our limbs to survive..."
Cai Jing had been immersed in the world of politics for so many years that the art of power had seeped into his very bones.
Although he didn't have enough information to make more definitive judgments, he had a gut feeling that this matter with Qian Zhuo was far more complicated than it appeared.
However, he couldn't elaborate on these matters to his son.
"Didn't you just say that this is drinking poison to quench thirst? Then we..."
Cai Tao was unwilling to disgorge the meat that was already in his stomach, and would be surprised if he was willing.
"One is to die immediately, the other is to linger on. Which do you choose?"
Giving him a disdainful glance, Cai Jing flicked his sleeve and turned to walk towards his bedroom.
"I was just saying..."
Muttering softly, Cai Tao also stomped out angrily.
"Scholar!"
Seeing Cai Tao emerge, the old steward of the household hurried to greet him.
"I'll write a letter, and you immediately send it back to Mingzhou by carrier pigeon!"
Although unwilling, Cai Tao had to follow the old man's instructions at this time.
Whether to give up the wealth or not was a matter for later, but now, they had to react to the actions taken against the Qian family. Just as Cai Jing had said, regardless of whether the news was deliberately leaked by the Qian family or not, their confrontation with Han Mo should come to an end.
"Yes!"
————————————————————
"Something's wrong, Third Master. Cai Sitong, the chief steward of the Cai family, went to Han Mo's official residence half an hour ago!"
Two days later, as covert struggles were unfolding in Bianliang City, a servant from the Qian family brought Qian Lang some unwelcome news.
"He just went to Han Mo's official residence, what's so alarming about that?"
Seeing his flustered demeanor, Qian Lang frowned.
"No, Third Master, some say the Cai family has yielded. Not only have they accepted all the conditions of the Maritime Trade Bureau, but they are now also lobbying the three major maritime merchants on Han Mo's behalf!"
"What did you say?"
Hearing this, Qian Lang shot up from his seat.
This was no laughing matter. They were united now, and only then could they resist Han Mo.
If the Cai family defected at this time, it would shake the morale of their forces.
And if the Cai family now set an example and persuaded one or two other maritime merchant families to join them, then their alliance would truly be on the verge of collapse.
After all, at their current level of influence, if one family dared to announce their withdrawal, the remaining parties would immediately and unhesitatingly seize their market share.
Han Mo had ships, and the Cai family had sufficient channels.
With just the two of them joining forces, they were already enough to sustain the spice trade.
If, at this time, one or two more families defected to Han Mo, then the Qian family would truly be in a passive position.
The only thing that could defeat magic was magic itself. Similarly, what could defeat noble families was also noble families.
For a family to stand for a hundred years might require the efforts of several generations, but to destroy a century-old noble family sometimes only took one night...
Wasn't the Pu family the best example of this?