69novels Chapter 1121 begins with transactions, entering the year-end phase.
Chapter 1121 begins with transactions, entering the year-end phase.
Zhang Juzheng handed over a detailed price list: "I have ordered people to investigate the prices of private transactions on the border. A bolt of Shu brocade is worth fifty taels of silver in our Great Qin, but it can sell for at least three hundred taels in the underworld; Jingdezhen porcelain is even more priceless, a set of blue and white tea set is worth twenty taels of silver here, but can reach two hundred taels there. The profit of tea is slightly lower, but it is still five times the profit."
“The profits are considerable, but the key is to open up the market through these goods,” Xiao He pondered. “However, these luxury goods alone are not enough. To penetrate deeper, we must involve people’s daily needs.”
"Prime Minister Xiao's insight is brilliant." Zhang Juzheng pointed to another batch of goods. "Over there is the second batch of supplies: five hundred dan of refined iron ingots, one thousand shi of refined salt, three hundred shi of high-quality grain seeds, as well as various medicinal herbs, dyes, paper, and so on. Although these items are not as profitable as luxury goods, they are daily necessities for people in various countries, which will allow us to integrate into the city more quickly."
Xiao He, with his keen insight, said: "Ironware and salt are strategic resources in any country. Wouldn't selling these prematurely arouse the official's suspicion?"
Zhang Juzheng had made preparations: "Therefore, these goods will not be sold directly under the name of our company. Ironware will be disguised as scrap ironware to be recast, and salt will be mixed into the goods of local salt merchants and sold in small quantities. Grain seeds will be distributed to poor farmers free of charge through charitable donations in order to win the hearts of the people."
Just then, the Vice Minister of Works led a group of craftsmen carrying several large boxes over: "Prime Minister Xiao, Lord Zhang, according to the strategist Zhuge's design, the new type of textile machine and the improved agricultural tools have been completed."
Open the box, and inside are an ingeniously designed spinning wheel and lightweight, durable iron farm implements.
Xiao He examined them carefully: "These things..."
“These machines and agricultural implements are 30% more efficient than the tools currently available in the world, but not so advanced as to raise suspicion,” Zhang Juzheng explained. “We will sell them in small quantities under the guise of ‘exotic overseas inventions’ to test the market reaction. If they are popular, we will gradually expand the scale. This is both a business opportunity and a way to understand the technological level of the world today.”
Xiao He nodded approvingly: "Lord Zhang's consideration is thorough. Remember, the initial goal is not to make a profit, but to establish a foothold. If necessary, we can even sell at a loss to open up the market."
"Understood, Your Excellency." Zhang Juzheng put away the list. "Three days from now, the first batch of goods will depart with the advance team of the Qingyi Society. Subsequent supplies will be adjusted and replenished as needed based on intelligence sent back from the front."
At the military training ground, Han Xin and Lü Bu stood side by side, watching three hundred elite guards drill. These soldiers were all chosen from various armies, possessing not only superb martial arts skills but also intelligence and loyalty.
"Halt!" Lu Bu suddenly shouted, striding up to a young soldier. "You, step forward!"
The soldiers stepped forward as instructed, their posture upright like pine trees.
Lü Bu looked him up and down: "State your name and which unit you originally belonged to."
"Reporting to the general, I am Li Gan, formerly of the Third Battalion of the Imperial Guard of the Northern Army."
“During the demonstration just now, your swordsmanship was too forceful,” Lu Bu said in a deep voice. “Martial arts in the younger world emphasize ‘using softness to overcome hardness’ in combat. With your fighting style, you would expose your identity as soon as you make a move.”
Han Xin walked over and added, "General Lü is absolutely right. You must remember that in the Nianxia World, you must not take action unless absolutely necessary. Even if you do take action, you must imitate the styles of the local martial artists. In these three months, in addition to continuing to practice martial arts, you must also learn the characteristics of the martial arts of various schools and sects in the Nianxia World."
He waved his hand, and several instructors carried over dozens of humanoid puppets, their bodies covered with red dots.
“These red dots correspond to the main acupoints of martial artists from the younger world,” an instructor explained. “Their internal energy circulation system is fundamentally different from that of our Qin martial arts. Our Qin martial arts emphasize external skills and the strength of muscles and bones; their martial arts emphasize internal energy and the circulation of true qi. When fighting, attacking their acupoints and blocking their internal energy is often more effective than brute force.”
Elsewhere, a group of soldiers are learning camouflage techniques.
"Your official identities are caravan guards."
The instructor said sternly, "Therefore, your speech and behavior should be like that of a real bodyguard, not a soldier. Bodyguards travel all over the country and are very knowledgeable, but they are not as disciplined as soldiers; bodyguards value money, but they value their reputation even more; bodyguards will weigh the pros and cons when faced with a situation and will not fight to the death blindly."
A soldier asked, "Instructor, if we really encounter robbers, to what extent should we demonstrate our strength?"
This question piqued everyone's interest.
Han Xin and Lü Bu exchanged glances, and Han Xin finally answered: "There are three scenarios. First, if the opponent is just an ordinary bandit, showing 30% of our strength is enough to repel them; there's no need to kill them. Second, if the opponent is a local gang or a powerful force, showing 50% of our strength is mainly for intimidation; ideally, we could 'become friends without fighting,' or even form an alliance. Third..."
He paused, his gaze sharp: "If the other side is an official force or a disciple of a major sect, flee if you can, surrender if you can't, and never fight head-on. Remember, your primary task is to protect the caravan and gather intelligence, not to fight fiercely."
Lu Bu added, "But if lives are at stake, go all out and leave no survivors. The Tsing Yi Society has prepared false evidence of an accidental death for you to ensure that it does not implicate the entire plan."
Training continued day after day, and these soldiers gradually shed their military rigidity, gaining a more casual and shrewd air reminiscent of江湖人 (jianghu people, people of the martial arts world). They learned the local dialect, understood the customs and traditions of different places, and even practiced how to extract information at drinking parties and how to gather intelligence in casinos.
Late at night, the study in the Minister's residence was brightly lit. Before Zhuge Liang lay three enormous maps: detailed city defenses and spheres of influence for Nanqing, Beiqi, and Dongyi. His feather fan gently swayed as his gaze slowly moved across the maps, his mind contemplating countless possibilities.
"Liang, it's late at night." A servant pushed open the door and entered, carrying a bowl of ginseng soup.
Zhuge Liang took the ginseng soup but did not drink it: "Come and see. This is a power map of the world under the new year. I am currently analyzing the chain reaction that the Green Robe Society may trigger after it enters the world."
The attendant approached for a closer look: "Kongming, are you worried that the plan might change?"
“No plan can go exactly as expected.” Zhuge Liang pointed to the map. “The conflict between the Southern Qing royal family and the powerful clans is deepening. If the Qingyi Society’s shops are managed well, they will inevitably attract the attention of various forces. At that time, should we take advantage of the situation to sow discord, or should we try to please both sides?”
“The situation in Northern Qi is more complicated.” He moved to the map of Northern Qi. “The military, the royal family, and the martial arts sects are in a three-way balance. If our caravan wants to establish itself here, we must choose one side to align with. If we align with the royal family, we will receive official protection, but we will offend the military and the martial arts sects; if we align with the military, we will be safe, but we will be suspected by the royal family; if we align with the martial arts sects, we will have freedom of action, but we will lack official protection.”
Zhuge Jin pondered, "Could we make acquaintances with all three parties, but not with any of them?"