Chapter 72 Shocking News

  Li Zhen smiled and said: "Gulina, you actually dare to cheat me in business, interesting."

  Gulina smiled and said, "Ari Country once said that there are people in the court who are good at being officials. This sentence makes sense. However, having someone in the officialdom is also beneficial for doing business. As long as the general is willing to help me, everyone can make money."

  "Collusion between government and business!"

  Li Zhenlang smiled coldly twice and knew Gulina's intention.

  However, Li Zhen patiently thought for a moment and asked: "What does Miss Guliina plan to do?"

  Gulina sat up straight and replied, "I want to make a big purchase of tea leaves, silk, ceramics and other goods, but the channels in Shanghai are controlled by big businessmen, making it difficult for me to get involved. Ali Guo and Ai Tang are also participating, even Yang Fang, a big businessman from Shanghai who is already a representative of England and France in Shanghai."

  After a pause, Gulina said in a low voice: "I need the general's assistance. I hope the general will suppress Yang Fang and control the other merchants. As long as I monopolize Shanghai's tea and silk business, the general can also share part of the profit."

  "Hiss!"

  Li Zhen took a deep breath and secretly praised Guli's good temper.

  This woman is no ordinary person.

  Yang Fang's situation was already investigated by Li Zhen, who had sent someone to gather information. This person was the richest man in Shanghai and had the support of Ali Guo and Ai Tang. Not only did he engage in the sale of silk, tea leaves, and other goods, but also participated in the smuggling of opium, thereby making a huge profit.

  Gulina wants to replace him, and Li Zhen is Gulina's gun.

  Once Li Zhen takes action, he will inevitably offend all the businessmen in Shanghai. Especially since Yang Fang is the leader of the Shanghai merchants and is also supported by Ali Guo and Ai Tang, Li Zhen's attempt to overthrow Yang Fang and control Shanghai will encounter enormous resistance. If handled improperly, the backlash could be enough to bring down Li Zhen, making it an extremely dangerous move.

  Li Zhen seemed to understand, but was also somewhat perplexed.

  Gulina knew the difficulty of this matter, and yet she dared to speak out, what backing did she have? Li Zhen's gaze was extremely invasive, sweeping back and forth over Gulina, making her very uncomfortable. Li Zhen said, "You want to monopolize Shanghai's tea, silk and other markets, it's too difficult, I'm afraid I won't be able to help."

  Gulina smiled and said, "General, I've heard an old saying that goes 'for the sake of a beauty, one can throw away their crown and get angry'. I'm asking for your help, General. Can't you just throw away your crown and get angry for me? I hope you'll stand up for justice and help me."

  Li Zhen sneered twice and said, "Gulina, you really are self-righteous. Have you fallen in love again?" When it came to Gulina's coquettishness, Li Zhen counterattacked without mercy, being sharp-tongued and venomous, with no intention of showing tender loving care.

  "You, you, you shameless!"

  Gulina was so angry that her body trembled with rage, and she shot Li Zhen a vicious glare.

  However, as she looked at Li Zhen's robust body and listened to his provocative words, she was slightly moved. But Gulina was not a lustful woman after all, but a career-driven female elite. Gulina quickly calmed down and said: "General, I have received some very important information that is crucial to you. As long as you agree to my request, I will tell you."

  Li Zhenhao said indifferently: "Don't be mysterious, just say what you have to say."

  Gulina said: "General promised me, I will tell you frankly."

  Li Zhenqin smiled and said, "Who knows what your message is? What if it's your private matter? I'm not interested." The two seemed to be chatting, but they were actually negotiating. Li Zhen was absolutely unwilling to give in.

  Gulina was furious and shouted: "I came to see the general to achieve cooperation, not to argue with the general. Please be serious, General, and don't talk nonsense."

  Li Zhen retorted: "Am I not serious enough?"

  Pausing for a moment, Li Zhen continued: "On the contrary, it's you, madam. After entering the house, you swayed your hips and tempted me, saying that I should give you the reward from last time. You're being flirtatious everywhere, has Mrs. Guliina become serious?"

  Gulina knew that Li Zhen was doing it on purpose, and changed the subject, saying: "To show my sincerity, I'll reveal a bit of information. The news is related to Ali Guo and Ai Tang, they have already started preparing to deal with you."

  Li Zhen smiled and said: "My relationship with them is not good, in Shanghai, only they can deal with me."

  Gulina asked again: "Doesn't the general want to know what they are going to do?"

  Li Zhen said: "I'd like to hear more about it!"

  Gulina saw that she had aroused Li Zhen's interest, and immediately avoided talking about it, saying: "As long as the general is willing to help, I will tell the general the detailed situation, how about it?"

  Li Zhen shook his head and said, "You first tell me what's going on."

  Gulina frowned and said: "General, don't you want to know what Ariya and Aitang are planning?"

  Li Zhen waved his hand and said impatiently, "Miss Guliina, if you don't plan to speak, then please leave. However, I still thank you for reminding me that Ali Guo and Ai Tang have a sinister plot."

  Gulina felt a wave of frustration, Li Zhen was indeed someone who could withstand water and fire!

  Gulina was silent for a moment, then said: "In order to show my sincerity, I will inform the general of this news. I hope the general will not go back on his word. Ali and Ai Tang have already prepared to escort the opium into Shanghai, where it will be sold."

  After a pause, Guliina continued: "Ari Country wants to use this to probe the General. If the General turns a blind eye to the opium matter and doesn't intervene, Ari Country won't quarrel with the General and will try to win him over. But if the General discovers the opium and confiscates it like Lin Zexu did, Ari Country and Ai Tang will definitely target the General and won't maintain the current status quo."

  Li Zhen took a deep breath and revealed a solemn expression.

  Ariya and Ai Tong did this, forcing Li Zhen to make a statement, he must have a clear stance.

  Li Zhen was thinking and considering ways to deal with Ari Country.

  Li Zhen is the newly appointed supervisor of Jianghai Customs, responsible for tariffs in Shanghai and has the right to inspect goods on British merchant ships. Since Britain and France have brought opium, Li Zhen cannot ignore it and allow opium to flow into China from Shanghai.

  Gulina said: "General, I told you confidential news, what about the previous conditions?"

  Li Zhen didn't ask Gulina about her channel, but instead asked: "Do you do opium business?"

  Gulina shook her head, a bitter smile on her face, and said in a low voice: "My husband died of illness due to excessive opium smoking. I do business with silk, tea leaves, etc., and also deal with military supplies."

  Li Zhen's eyes suddenly lit up, and he became interested.

  Arms deal!

  This thing is his current urgent need.

  Li Zhen said, "To be honest with you, Miss Gulina, I have made a few thousand guns and nearly a million rounds of ammunition in my dealings with Ai Tang and Ali Guo. There are still many stocks in the warehouse now. But once the war comes, the ammunition will definitely be consumed. If you sell arms, we can indeed cooperate. I'll open up the Shanghai market for you, and you can purchase silk, tea, and other goods from Shanghai, then resell them to me as weapons, how about that?"

  Gulina's eyes sparkled and her face was radiant with a crystal-like glow.

  Buying tea leaves, silk and ceramics at a low price and selling them to British businessmen at a high price, Gulina can make a lot of money just by doing this. Moreover, Gulina can also resell weapons and sell them to Li Zhen at a high price.

  One comes and one goes, Guliina absolutely makes a big profit.

  Postscript: one of three watches