Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

Du Heng's arrival was like dropping a huge rock into a calm lake, sending ripples ripple by swiftly. Despite Zhang Jingwei's efforts to suppress the news, rumors of a potential change of ownership at the military bank spread like wildfire within his inner circle, causing immense shock and panic. The military bank wasn't solely owned by Zhang Jingwei; it drew on contributions from local Yunzhou gentry, pensions from meritorious officers, and even shares from some officials, forming a community of shared interests. Now, the core of this community was about to be forcibly replaced—how could this not be cause for alarm?

Under the covert instigation of Yuan Liang and Huang Liang, several shareholders with significant holdings and considerable influence in Yunzhou were secretly colluded. Deeply concerned, they all agreed that they must speak with Zhang Jingwei as soon as possible, clarify their stance, and stop this transaction that could ruin everyone's hard work.

The pressure eventually converged into an unavoidable meeting: the military bank's shareholders' meeting. It took place not at the county government office, nor at the publicly visible military bank headquarters, but rather at a relatively secluded estate outside the city that belonged to a shareholder. There were only a dozen or so people in attendance, but they were all core members of the military bank, and their attitudes would directly impact its future.

……

The atmosphere in the manor's meeting room was so heavy it felt like water dripping from its surface. Zhang Jingwei sat at the head table, his face calm, but deep within his eyes lay an unconcealed trace of fatigue and stress. Yuan Liang and Huang Liang sat on either side, their expressions solemn. Below, the shareholders, some sitting and some standing, their faces etched with anxiety, confusion, and even anger.

The first to take action were the He family of Yunzhou. They held a significant stake in the military bank and were one of the earliest supporters of Zhang Jingwei. He stood up tremblingly, his voice hoarse with excitement.

"Master Zhang! I am too arrogant to call you my nephew! This military operation was founded by you. You led a group of us old guys to build it from nothing, from small to large. You have suffered so much and endured so much hardship to achieve the situation today! It is not only your hard work, but also the hope of all of us. It is the way of life for many people in Yunzhou! Now, you...how can you just hand it over? And hand it over to the prince who is far away in Jinzhou! Why...why is this happening?!" When it came to the emotional part, Mr. He could not help but slam his crutch to the ground, tears streaming down his face.

As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately attracted the agreement of the crowd.

"Yes, Lord Zhang! The army is running smoothly and making a fortune. Why are you suddenly bringing in an outsider? And the Prince of Jin!"

"Prince Jin is overreaching! Why should our Yunzhou's assets be handed over to the Jin vassal state?"

"Is it the Prince of Jin who is forcing you? Sir Zhang, if you have any difficulties, please tell us and we can all work together to find a solution! Yunzhou is not a soft persimmon that can be manipulated by anyone!"

The crowd was furious, their voices rising higher and higher. Luo Sihai, another major shareholder in charge of the military's cloth business, was relatively calm, but his tone was equally firm: "Master Zhang, it's not that I, Luo, don't trust you. It's just that this is too strange. The military is the goose that lays the golden eggs. It would never be easily transferred without a compelling reason. You must give us a clear explanation today! Otherwise, we will never sign the equity transfer document!"

Everyone's eyes were focused on Zhang Jingwei, waiting for his explanation.

Zhang Jingwei slowly stood up, his eyes sweeping over every face present, some excited, some worried, and some questioning. He knew that if he couldn't come up with an explanation that was at least superficially reasonable today, people's hearts would immediately disperse.

He took a deep breath and spoke in a steady voice, with a deliberately constructed air of helplessness and long-term consideration: "My fellow uncles, my fellow colleagues, please be patient. Jingwei knows that the military's success today is inseparable from the strong support and hard work of everyone present. I, Zhang Jingwei, will never be ungrateful or self-destructive!"

He first set the tone and calmed everyone's emotions before getting to the point: "Bringing in the King of Jin this time was not my wish, but was forced by the situation, and it is for the long-term future of the army!"

He paused, noticing the puzzled looks on everyone's faces, and continued, "As you all know, the military's development so far may seem prosperous, but in reality, it's reaching a bottleneck. The Yunzhou market is becoming increasingly saturated, and expansion outward faces numerous obstacles from local tyrants and government officials. This is especially true for trade routes to the capital and even Jiangnan, which are extremely difficult. With our own strength, further progress would be as difficult as ascending to heaven!"

"And the Prince of Jin," Zhang Jingwei changed the subject, "controls the wealthy land of Hedong, his influence radiating across much of the north, and he also has connections within the imperial court. If we can leverage the Prince of Jin's influence to open up new connections and expand the military's business to a wider realm, the prospects we'll have will be far greater than if we were confined to a corner of Yunzhou."

He tried to package this forced transaction as a strategic "investment attraction" and "taking advantage of the situation."

However, no one present was a fool. Mr. He immediately retorted, "My dear nephew! That being said, inviting a wolf into the house is even more risky! Who is the Prince of Jin? He's a vassal king appointed by the imperial court! Cooperating with him is like trying to get the skin of a tiger! By then, I'm afraid the military operations will no longer be under your control, but will become the Prince of Jin's private treasury. I'm afraid we won't even get a sip of soup, and may even be devoured to the bone!"

Luo Sihai also calmly analyzed: "Master Zhang, taking advantage of the situation is good, but the initiative must be in our own hands. Now, from what I hear, you are actually saying that you want to hand over control? This is definitely not cooperation, but annexation! We simply cannot accept it!"

"That's right! We must never hand over power!"

"The military march belongs to us Yunzhou people. We can't let outsiders take advantage of it!"

"Master Zhang, does the Prince of Jin have any evidence against you? Tell us, and we'll all take the blame together!"

The situation spiraled out of control once again, with shareholders' opposition intensifying. They cared less about grand ambitions than their own tangible interests and control of the industry. The Prince of Jin's reputation for brutality and his status as a vassal king filled them with distrust and fear.

Upon seeing this, Yuan Liang quickly stood up to smooth things over: "Everyone, everyone! Please listen to me. Your Excellency's actions must have deep meaning, and he will certainly strive for the greatest protection for everyone..."

But his voice was quickly drowned out. Zhang Jingwei watched silently from the sidelines, knowing that "inducement" and "pie-in-the-sky" alone would not be enough to convince these shrewd and panicked shareholders.

Zhang Jingwei looked at the excited crowd below, feeling a surge of helplessness. He couldn't reveal the truth about the "Qilin Blood," as that would only complicate matters and put Huangfu Ling in the spotlight. He also couldn't speak openly about the Prince of Jin's coercion, as that would cause even greater panic and might even cause some to side with the Prince of Jin to protect themselves.

Just when the situation was at a stalemate and the atmosphere was about to explode, Yuan Liang quietly pulled Zhang Jingwei's sleeve, gave him a look, then stood up and cleared his throat.

His voice was not loud, but it had a strange penetrating power, which gradually quieted the noisy meeting room.

"My Lords," Yuan Liang bowed, his tone calm but undeniable, "I share your concerns, and I have weighed them over and over again. Today's discussion is not a final decision, but rather a discussion of countermeasures with you all."

He changed the subject, a sharp glint in his eyes. "The King of Jin's power is indeed as overwhelming as Mount Tai. However, the army is not a fish that can be slaughtered at will. The reason why you have summoned everyone is to pool your wisdom and find a win-win strategy that can temporarily overcome the difficulties while preserving our foundation!"

He looked around at everyone and said slowly, "To resist will likely result in a thunderbolt strike, destroying both sides. This is unwise. Completely complying will lead to eternal destruction, as you all fear. So, can we set up numerous checkpoints during the 'handover' and retain the core, so that even if the Prince of Jin obtains the title, he will not be able to truly control the lifeblood of the army?"

Yuan Liang's words were like a light in the darkness, guiding everyone's thoughts from simple "opposition" to a deeper level of "game." The shareholders began to whisper and discuss among themselves.

Zhang Jingwei interjected at the perfect moment, his voice regaining its former confidence and strength. "Mr. Yuan, what you said is exactly what I mean! I invited you all here today, not to inform you, but to discuss! We need to work together to figure out how to sow the seeds of a counterattack amidst a seemingly compromise situation. How can we utilize the rules, our connections, and our unparalleled understanding of military operations to contain the Prince of Jin, and perhaps even... make him lose more than he gains!"

He said in a resounding voice, "The Junxing will always be our Junxing! I, Zhang Jingwei, swear hereby that I will never allow it to become a tool for others to wreak havoc on the world! I will never let your hard work go to waste!"

These words finally reassured shareholders to a certain extent. While their doubts weren't completely dispelled, they at least saw Zhang Jingwei's resolve and concrete direction of resistance. The focus of the meeting shifted from whether to hand over power to how to best protect themselves in this unequal transaction.

The meeting dragged on deep into the night, and within the brightly lit conference room, debates, plotting, and calculations continued. This was the prelude to a war without the smoke of gunpowder, and every detail could influence the ultimate outcome. And Zhang Jingwei knew he must rally everyone's strength to secure a glimmer of hope for Junxing, Ling'er, and himself in this turbulent sea. Outside the window, the night deepened, seeming to foreshadow the dangers and uncertainties ahead.