Ten years of dormancy: Starting as a martial arts master at the pinnacle

When Li Changqing returned to the Canal Gang.

He then noticed that the high-ranking members of the canal gang were standing obediently to the side, like children who had done something wrong.

Including the gang leader, they all looked as well-behaved as could be.

Li Changsheng sat alone in the main seat, exuding an air of authority.

Beside him, a servant from the Prince of Qin's mansion volunteered to act as his attendant.

He not only brewed tea for Li Changsheng, but also prepared fruit.

"sweet!"

One bite, and the red apple reveals its tender flesh.

Li Changsheng frowned.

He has a strong preference for sweet flavors, and he's the only one in his family who doesn't like sweets.

Li Changqing and Li Baobei are both typical people who can't live without sugar.

The steamed buns dipped in white sugar were so delicious that both of them drooled.

Nan Caocao also loves sweets, and she always makes a special dish with a strong flavor for Li Changsheng when she cooks.

The rest of the dishes were prepared according to the preferences of the three people.

"Big brother seems to be having a great time!"

As soon as Li Changqing entered, the expressions on the faces of the high-ranking members of the Grand Canal Gang became even more reserved.

The gang leader and several elders in charge, in particular, were all prepared to accept their fate.

It would be one thing if it were just Li Changsheng.

Although they had a falling out with Li Changsheng, their previous friendship was genuine. Before the falling out, Li Changsheng was the top talent of the Canal Gang.

Whether it was the gang leader or the elders, they all took good care of him and tried to win him over.

Even if things fall apart later, Li Changsheng might not necessarily take their lives.

But the Prince of Qinghe was different.

These high-ranking royalty never cared about the lives of ordinary people.

Even if we don't wipe them out completely, it's perfectly fine to pick out a few to kill and establish our authority.

Whether others will be dragged into it is uncertain.

The gang leader and the two elders who were in charge of the incident, as the masterminds behind it, will certainly not escape this calamity.

If it weren't for their wives and children, these three men wouldn't have just sat there waiting to die; they would have found a way to escape long ago.

Given their strength, they weren't entirely without a chance to escape.

"Please sit down, everyone. There's no need to be so formal. It was just a small mistake, nothing to be ashamed of. It's also my fault and my brother's for not explaining things clearly to everyone. The Canal Gang is now due for reform. The leader has changed, but everyone's treatment will remain the same, or even be better."

Before Li Changqing even sat down, he painted a rosy picture for all the high-ranking officials present.

Although I know that his promises at this time are not entirely credible.

The members of the canal gang breathed a huge sigh of relief.

The fact that Li Changqing was still willing to win them over at this time shows that he had no intention of giving up on them.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have needed to say so much to them; they could have just had them dragged out and beheaded.

"Your Highness is right!"

"It was our pettiness that prevented us from understanding Your Highness's good intentions. Thank you for not holding a grudge. From now on, I, Ma Xiaolong, will follow Your Highness's lead."

"If Your Highness needs anything in the future, please just let us know."

"I would gladly sacrifice my life for this!"

A bunch of江湖草莽 (jianghu caomang, meaning roughnecks and outlaws) went to great lengths to curry favor with Li Changqing.

Use every good word you can think of, even if it costs nothing.

Li Changqing waved his hand, signaling everyone to stop talking.

"In the past, the brothers in my canal gang were only in charge of two things: the docks and their own cargo ships. It was too monotonous, and they couldn't make much money. I myself was a member of the canal gang for ten years and I deeply understand the hardships of the brothers in the canal gang."

Li Changqing's opening remarks left the roughnecks of the canal gang completely bewildered.

They felt that those who could pass the imperial examination and become scholars were different from them, these roughnecks.

Although they didn't know what Li Changqing was trying to say.

But they are willing to listen.

"Therefore, I intend to merge the entire Canal Gang into the World Commerce Association. Besides the Canal Gang, there are also some disciples of the Beggars' Gang. I have a close relationship with Chen Changfeng, the Beggars' Gang leader, and he is willing to give his full support. With the addition of our Beggars' Gang brothers, our World Commerce Association will surely..."

and many more.

It wasn't until this point that the leader and elders of the Canal Gang realized what was going on.

The Prince of Qinghe wants to establish the number one merchant guild in the world.

The main body of their chamber of commerce was not those big merchants, but the canal gangs and beggar gangs.

What can these two gangs do?

The clever leader of the canal gang quickly came up with a plan.

Their two biggest advantages are that they are both local bigwigs.

As local strongmen, they would certainly know about local specialties, intelligence, and prices...

For the caravan, this was a huge fortune in itself.

What are you after when you do business?

Isn't it just about making a profit from the price difference?

In Qinghe County, such items might only sell for one tael. In Shanhai County, they might sell for ten taels. Once they enter the capital, they might even sell for one hundred taels.

Choose the place with the lowest price, sell it to the place with the highest price, and make the biggest profit.

Thinking of this, the leader of the Cao Gang wished he could slap himself.

What did he do?

If he really leads the canal gang to join the Crown Prince's forces.

Let alone such a big deal, the money that the brothers in the canal gang worked so hard to earn would be squandered by the Crown Prince's mansion.

In the eyes of those important people.

A money bag is meant to be spent, isn't it?

As for how to operate the money bag? How to make more money?

There are definitely no plans for the Crown Prince's residence.

"Your Highness, I deserve to die!"

The gang leader burst into tears and immediately knelt down to apologize to Li Changqing.

Li Changqing quickly helped him up: "Chief Dahai, we're all on the same side. Let's not bring up those unpleasant things from the past. We need to look forward!"

Despite saying this, Li Changqing's gaze was obscure.

It's one thing for others, but this gang leader, Li Changqing, intends to sideline him.

If he didn't know what was good for him, Li Changqing wouldn't hesitate to kill him.

A fool should die a fool.

I never expected him to be so shrewd.

Voluntarily offer your loyalty.

In this way, Li Changqing could no longer completely sideline him.

Otherwise, wouldn't Li Changqing's previous words have been like a fart?

Forget it.

He wanted to do great things, to control the economic lifeline of the world, and to have complete control over all the world's information.

There will definitely be no shortage of such unpleasant people and things.

If Li Changqing didn't even have this much magnanimity, he wouldn't have been able to accomplish the grand ambitions he envisioned.

After thinking it through, Li Changqing's face showed more sincerity.

Previously, those high-ranking members of the gang were desperately trying to curry favor with Li Changqing just to survive.

My thinking has changed now.

"Thank you for your forgiveness, Your Highness. From now on, my life, Wang Ermazi's life, belongs to you."

"If you tell me to go east, I will never go west; if you tell me to chase a dog, I will never chase a chicken."

……

All the high-ranking members of the canal gang appeared to have turned over a new leaf.

"Very well! I, Li Changqing, hereby assure you all that your future dividends will not be less than they are now; they will only be more. I can also help you obtain elixirs..."