To Li Ling, everyone in Cao Gang was both close and grateful, and had some respect. But even so, after listening to his persuasion to his gang leader give up the original incorporation of gang making money, everyone changed color one after another. Finally, the deputy gang leader Zeng Xiannan said after coughing softly, "Brother Li, we understand what you think of for us, but I'm afraid that you can't agree to this matter."

Yang Qinghou nodded, "Yes, Wen Zhong, it's not your brother who refuses to listen to your advice. This is really related to the welfare of hundreds of thousands of brothers in our gang. If you are not in charge of the family, you don't know how expensive it is to rely on the canal transportation for hundreds of thousands of brothers and their families."

What he said was indeed true. The Cao Gang seemed to be famous and powerful. Tens of thousands of gangs were waiting to be dispatched at any time. There were so many ships of all sizes. Sometimes, with a command, the Cao River waterway, which was related to the fate of the whole world, could be cut off.

But in fact, these people have a hard time. Except for a few people such as the gang leader, they all work hard and suffer. To put it bluntly, there is no difference from ordinary boatmen and boatmen. This class is the bottom of the people of Dayue today. They still support themselves and their families when they have time. Once they have nothing to do, food and clothing will be a problem, and they can only rely on the brothers in the gang to help them.

Generally speaking, Cao Gang earns more benefits by bringing some private goods or even prohibited items with the ship. But now, Li Ling actually wants to persuade them to stop. This is something that no brother of Cao Gang can agree to, and he will never be able to get close to him.

Li Ling smiled at the few people without caring about it, and then looked at Yang Qinghou: "Brother, brothers and brothers should have misunderstood my meaning. I know that the Caobang has been having a hard time over the years, and I also know that you rely on these means of not seeing the light to support hundreds of thousands of people. I said this, not to cut off your financial path. On the contrary, I want to find a better way out for you so that you can earn more money without taking risks, and always worry about being searched by the government..."

After hearing his explanation, everyone showed surprise again. Is there such a good thing?

Yang Qinghou was also a little stunned, then took a sip of wine and stared at Li Ling again: "What you said seriously?"

"We are all our own family. You are my elder brother, and the entire Cao Gang is my brothers and sisters. How could I use such an important matter to deceive you?"

"Then tell me, but how can we make more money than we can carry?" Yang Qinghou asked directly, while everyone around him stared at Li Ling and waited for him to give the answer.

Li Ling smiled and took a sip of wine, then said slowly: "Of course, it is to give full play to your strengths and fully utilize the functions of shipping."

"How to say this, aren't we doing enough to give full play to our strengths?" Yang Qinghou frowned. Over the years, the Cao Gang has made a living by relying on the Cao River, and most of the business of transporting customers and commercial goods. In addition, the fiber-pulling business in some areas of smooth flow, I really can't tell what other formal business can be found.

Li Ling smiled: "Brother, brothers, I'll say, I'm so brave. Your vision is still too shallow and I can't notice the real profit points in the canal transportation. I really have the helplessness of defending the Jinshan but robbing it. It's a waste of resources."

Without waiting for everyone to refute, Li Ling quickly continued: "I have checked what business you usually receive. Which big business has bulk goods to be transported from north to south, and then you will send a ship to help transport it. Or if the government has any money and grain transportation that cannot be taken, you will also help transport it, and then do some entrapment during this period, right?"

"Yes." Yang Qinghou nodded. Is there any problem with this? Hasn't the Cao Gang been like this for hundreds of years?

"This naturally has little income. How many bulk goods can you get in the end of the year? But how many large and small ships are there on the Caohe River every day? Haven't you ever thought about starting from these small boats?" Li Ling really felt angry, "Brother Yang, since there are small boats constantly coming and going, it means there is a demand. Our Caogang can take over all these businesses. After you take over the transportation of bulk goods, will the ship be completely full? It's impossible. Can some small merchants also make a convenience in the empty place?

"They don't give much, but the cabins they occupy are small. Even if the big customers don't let their goods go along with other families, you can still pack the goods of several or dozens of small merchants into a ship and then deliver them along the way. Whether it's far or near, you can be the customers of my Cao Gang, gathering sand to form towers, gathering armpits to form furs, and no matter how small the legs of fly, it's still meat.

"These transactions seem small, but as long as they are gathered together, the income will definitely exceed that of the bulk of goods. If the big ship is not enough, small boats can still be used. With my brothers in Caobang's boating skills, they are not better than ordinary boatmen? Also, ordinary small boats and other things are worried about being robbed by water bandits on the road, but our Caobang's family has a great business and a big reputation. Who would dare to attack our ships if ordinary water thieves? As long as we charge fairly, those small merchants will naturally know how to choose and ask us to check in.

"As long as we open up our business and have a good reputation, how can we worry about having no business to do? We still have to do things that will cause endless troubles to make the brothers in the gang worry and make your reputation suffer?"

After Li Ling said this, not only Yang Qinghou, but also all the people in the Cao Gang were surprised. Then they all felt enlightened. After savoring the meaning, they nodded frequently and said yes.

Yes, according to Li Ling's words, it seems that they did something wrong before. They actually ignored such a large market and only focused on the bulk transactions of big merchants who seemed large but were actually just that.

After pondering, Yang Qinghou stood up and saluted Li Ling solemnly, and bowed to the ground: "Wen Zhong, your words are really a wake-up call, which has benefited us a lot. I am ashamed, as the leader of the Cao Gang, I can't even understand this thing. This time it's thanks to you who pointed out the key."

"What the gang leader said? We are the same. We lived so much in vain, but we couldn't even see through this truth. We really responded to Brother Li's words and guarded the Kings Mountain to rob!" The others quickly came forward to save some face for their gang leader.

Li Ling also bowed and returned the gift: "Brother, you don't have to do this. They are all family members. Isn't it supposed to help? Moreover, it's not too late to know now. With this income, I think the situation of the Cao Gang can improve."

"Of course!" Without really doing actual investigation, Yang Qinghou dared to say that these small transactions can bring huge profits to the Cao Gang, even far beyond the previous ones. In the past, they were just used to neglecting this, so they did not think about doing these seemingly small transactions. Now it's different. Once Li Ling pointed it out, many things will naturally be understood.

Thinking of this, his smile became even more intense, and he raised his glass to Li Ling and said, "Wen Zhong, you have really helped us Cao this time. I would like to give you a cup and I won't say anything thanks. Everything is in our hearts."

At this time, Zeng Xiannan and the others raised their glasses: "We will also respect Brother Li. In the future, if you have a choice, our brothers from the Cao Gang will obey the orders and go through fire and water without hesitation!" After that, these heroes did not wait for Li Ling to raise their glasses, so they each sipped the wine first.

Seeing this, Li Ling quickly raised his glass and drank the wine, and then said modestly: "Brother, brothers, everyone is so polite. I just came up with an idea, but I can't afford to thank you so much."

After pausing, he smiled and said, "And brother, I have thought of some ways to make you more money."

"Oh? But what is it, come and listen."

"For this kind of shipping, we can completely divide the freight rate into several levels. For example, one hundred cigarettes can be delivered to Huainan within half a month. If three hundred cigarettes are given, the time can be reduced to ten days. If it is five hundred cigarettes, it will be eight days. Of course, this is just my personal foolish opinion. For example, the changes can be determined by the brothers in the gang themselves. Anyway, it is just one thing. If you pay more money, you can have better transportation services, faster and safer." Li Ling used some of the business methods of the express delivery industry in the later generations to the Caobang business.

Yang Qinghou temporarily fell into deep thought, but the men next to him frowned and raised questions: "Brother Li, can this really happen? Will those businessmen be willing to spend so much money?"

"Yes, and, aren't you afraid of being criticized by others and we will lose our reputation as a Cao Gang, but it will be a waste of money..."

"How could it be?" Li Ling said with a smile, "When we divide the freight rates, we can give the lowest and slowest prices lower than before. This will attract more small merchants to take care of our Cao Gang's business, and secondly, we can gain a good reputation. However, this speed can be slower than before. If you want to speed up, you can pay more money. And I believe that for some merchants who are eager to send goods to other places to sell them at a good price, they will be happy to add some money to make their goods arrive earlier. Especially for some fresh fruits and vegetables, they are eager to increase the price and speed up."

Yang Qinghou had some doubts in his heart, but after listening to Li Ling's explanation, he was completely moved: "Wen Zhong, you are right. This is indeed a good way to attract business and increase my Caogang's income. I will try it then..."

On the side, Yang Qingxiao, who didn't speak much, watched her husband constantly give advice to the Cao Gang. All the uncles and brothers were conquered by his strategy. Although she had not spoken, she felt a burst of pride and sweetness in her heart, and she smiled so much that she couldn't even close her mouth.

This time, whether the Cao Gang was really stunning, it solved the income problem that had plagued them for many years. And it no longer had to do illegal activities as before, making the brothers worried and always guard against the government to capture them.
Chapter completed!