Sometimes when people reach a consensus, the truth or falsehood of that judgment, its correctness or incorrectness, no longer matters.
"Doing business is different from other things, and also the same. When everyone thinks you're finished, you truly are finished."
The old man reclined in his recliner, speaking slowly: "Confidence, confidence is very important. One's own confidence, and the confidence others have in you."
Qing Xi was already very old.
The deep wrinkles on his face, the scattered age spots, all told of the passage of time. That might be history, or perhaps also stories.
In recent years, the Four Seas Trading Alliance seemed to be as declining as he was, sinking like the setting sun.
But this day never fully set, and the night never arrived.
Many people thought the Four Seas Trading Alliance was outdated, decrepit; it had a long history, of course, and also carried the scent of the past.
The era belonging to Qing Xi should have passed, but he still truly existed in the present.
How long had he been the leader of the Four Seas Trading Alliance?
If you asked many people, even those within the Four Seas Trading Alliance itself, many would not have an answer.
Because it had been too long.
When many people first learned of the Four Seas Trading Alliance, Qing Xi was already its master.
"Qing Xi, like the Four Seas Trading Alliance, is already in the twilight, and the long night approaches." This was Su She's past evaluation.
The second part of the statement was that the Treasure Gathering Trading Company was like the rising sun, and would eventually shine across the sky after the long night.
But this twilight had lingered far too long.
The greatest crisis the Four Seas Trading Alliance faced in recent years was none other than in the State of Yang.
Benxin monopolized the reconstruction business in the Yang region, bleeding its people to nourish itself.
But unexpectedly, a misstep occurred—the War of Qi and Yang broke out contrary to the Alliance's expectations. The Treasure Gathering Trading Company was targeted by Chong Xuan Chuliang, who led this war, while the Treasure Gathering Trading Company had bet on the Chong Xuan family and won handsomely.
The massive investment in the Yang region went down the drain, causing extremely heavy losses. Even when First-rank Steward Fu Miao personally went to the military camp to negotiate, he couldn't recover the losses; instead, he had his ear cut off, his dignity shattered, his face completely lost.
Facing the Chong Xuan family, which now had two marquises and was as powerful as the midday sun after the war, the Four Seas Trading Alliance maintained silence. They crushed their teeth and swallowed them with their blood, forcing themselves to endure the losses.
Originally, the Four Seas Trading Alliance was a loose alliance of eighteen trading companies, and the steward system was a result of the power structure continued from that time.
By now, the twelve First-rank Stewards still represented the highest will of the Four Seas Trading Alliance, but the names of those early companies had gradually been forgotten by everyone.
All along, Qing Xi's control over the Four Seas Trading Alliance was unquestionable, but in recent years, things had indeed changed, and people's hearts were restless.
Perhaps he was no longer so dedicated to Alliance matters, or perhaps Qing Xi was no longer able to keep up... In any case, the Four Seas Trading Alliance had in fact gained many internal voices.
At that time, facing the massive losses in the Yang region, the mainstream opinion within the Four Seas Trading Alliance was to retaliate at any cost; the Alliance's position in the business world could not be challenged. It was Qing Xi who forcefully suppressed this, and the matter was swallowed down.
It was precisely because of this decision that many people saw that Qing Xi still held decision-making power within the Alliance.
And precisely because of the correctness of this decision, the Four Seas Trading Alliance smoothly passed through the crisis, and thus waited for Chong Xuan Sheng to turn against the Treasure Gathering Trading Company, waited for the Treasure Gathering Trading Company to suffer heavy losses, and the Four Seas Trading Alliance in turn ate its fill.
Qing Xi's prestige was once again established.
For many years, the Four Seas Trading Alliance had risen and fallen like this, yet always remained the top trading company in the State of Qi.
Fu Miao stood respectfully to the side, the loss of his ear now making him more able to listen: "At a time like this, who is undermining the confidence in the Treasure Gathering?"
"Chong Xuan Sheng, Wang Yiwu, those small trading companies that have been conspiring recently... there are too many possibilities." Qing Xi said slowly: "Of course, it could also be us."
"Wang Yiwu?"
Behind this matter, whether it was Chong Xuan Sheng or the Four Seas Trading Alliance itself, Fu Miao could understand. Even those small trading companies were possible, after all, the market had been stable for so long, and only when the giant within fell could they squeeze in.
But... Wang Yiwu?
Qing Xi raised his hand slightly, offering no explanation. "The Four Seas Trading Alliance is like me, old, with bad teeth, not sharp anymore. I let them eat freely, yet they still couldn't eat much."
He sighed: "Whether in vision or execution ability, they are far behind Chong Xuan Sheng."
"You are still strong in your old age," Fu Miao flattered. "If you were to step forward, the situation would certainly be different."
But in his heart, he did not think so.
The Alliance's actions in the Yang region were ugly, rotten, and unbearable... Although he, Fu Miao, was also part of it, he knew clearly. Those actions had completely deviated from the Four Seas Trading Alliance's past. Not that the Alliance had ever been particularly righteous, kind, or compassionate. Rather, the previous Four Seas Trading Alliance would never have acted so blatantly, so uglily.
He saw it clearly, and the other stewards were not fools; who couldn't see it? They simply didn't want to see, or didn't care. They only cared about themselves, only about the immediate present.
The current Four Seas Trading Alliance was indeed bloated, with rotting flesh growing everywhere.
Although Qing Xi was at the helm, in specific matters, it was hard to say he could still command as smoothly as before. Perhaps... Qing Xi had only made the decision to cooperate with Chong Xuan Sheng, but did not personally handle the specific matters, precisely to disguise this point.
Of course, these thoughts Fu Miao dared only to ponder in his heart, and absolutely dared not speak aloud.
Qing Xi remained noncommittal, seemingly not seeing through his insincerity, and simply slowly closed his eyes, instructing: "Go do your work."
What he was asked to do was naturally to cooperate with the news that had now emerged, further making the "desperate situation" of the Treasure Gathering Trading Company known to everyone.
Fu Miao understood tacitly, gently tucking the velvet blanket for the old Alliance Master, and then quietly withdrawing.
This small courtyard was very old, with the scent of time floating in the air.
When he reached the door, he suddenly felt his joints somewhat stiff, almost unable to lift his legs... but soon recovered.
Recently, too tense, he thought.
...
The Marshal's Grand Commandery.
When Wang Yiwu walked in, Wen Lianmu was still idly fiddling with chess pieces. Leaning closer to look, he saw that on the chessboard, black and white pieces had been arranged into the characters "Wen Lian," and the character "Mu" was halfway arranged.
Wang Yiwu couldn't help but say: "Even three-year-old children don't play like this anymore."
Wen Lianmu pouted: "I'm not your senior brother; playing chess by oneself is no fun. Have the conflicts in the army been resolved?"
"A small matter." Wang Yiwu downplayed it, then asked: "Has the news been released?"
Wen Lianmu knew he was referring to the Seven Star Tower, and stopped arranging the characters, looking up at him: "This news wasn't 'released' by us; it was Chong Xuan Sheng himself who spent effort to 'find.' The timing is for him to decide."
Wang Yiwu nodded in agreement: "And the Treasure Gathering Trading Company?"
Wen Lianmu remained noncommittal: "Has Su She sought you out?"
"Yes."
"What do you think?"
"The cooperation with the Treasure Gathering Trading Company was decided by A Zun. Although we cannot reach him now, this is his undertaking, so of course I must respect his opinion."
"Step forward to help Su She?"
Wang Yiwu nodded: "Yes."
"Maintain the cooperative relationship, thwart Chong Xuan Sheng's schemes, consolidate the market..." Wen Lianmu nodded: "Hmm, very reasonable."
Wang Yiwu remained silent, waiting for what came next.
"Then go."
Wang Yiwu paused, clearly surprised that Wen Lianmu did not stop him.
After thinking for a moment, he asked: "And you? What will you do?"
"You go help Su She support the facade and establish confidence. Anyway, help where you can; where you can't, don't force it."
Wen Lianmu smiled: "As for me..."
He picked up a chess piece and continued arranging the incomplete character "Mu."
"I'll help bury him."