Ming Dynasty: Evolution from snake to national guardian beast

Chapter 31 Exploiting Strengths and Avoiding Weaknesses
  When the news about Zhao's Charcoal reopening spread throughout the palace, everyone's nerves became tense.

Zhu Di immediately summoned everyone to discuss countermeasures.

Bai Chu came here with a group of people, and Zhu Di also looked sad.

"It seems that the Zhao family is really going crazy."

"You've already lost hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, and you're still persisting. Isn't this outrageous?"

Zhu Di has been secretly watching every move of the Zhao family.

The loss of Zhao's charcoal fire was clearly known to Prince Yan's Mansion.

According to Bai Chu's calculations, the Zhao family now has at least a deficit of more than 300,000 taels of silver. Bai Chu feels that the most that the Zhao family can afford is this much.

This was also the reason why Bai Chu showed his trump card from the beginning and challenged the Zhao family at the lowest price, because he saw that the Zhao family was at the end of its rope.

He fought to the death with the Zhao family at the lowest price, but in the end he gave them a gentle push and made them unable to stand up forever.

But looking at it like this, Zhao Yan is really a gambler, and he won't give up until his family is ruined.

Just when everyone was guessing why Zhao Yan did this, Zhu Gaochi suddenly rushed in from outside the door.

"Father, Mr. Bai, something seems wrong about this matter."

"The shops opposite seem to have changed owners. I went there today and didn't see Zhao Yan."

"Instead, they were two middle-aged men. They looked a little unfamiliar, but they spoke authentic Fengyang Mandarin."

As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked, especially Chu Guang. An idea flashed in his mind, and something suddenly occurred to him.

The capital city in the south. This is someone's idea of ​​​​them.

Zhu Di seemed to realize something, his face suddenly darkened, and he said in a deep voice:
  "Could it be the Zhao family? Are they going to fight us to the death?"

What the old monk is best at is calculating, he said slowly:
  "Maybe he is the mastermind behind the Zhao family."

Zhu Di's eyes fell on the old monk, waiting for his answer.

"The Zhao family is in business, and the most important thing for business people is profits."

"Even the Zhao family in Beijing will not continue to sell charcoal at such a low price if there is no profit."

"Now that our whereabouts have been discovered, our resources will not be lacking. If they still want to start a war with us here, there is only one outcome."

"They don't want us to make that much money."

"They would rather lose money themselves than let us walk around without food."

Zhu Di heard the overtones of the old monk's words and gritted his teeth and said:

"Zhu Yunwen!" A loud shout came.

Among all the civil and military officials in the dynasty, only Zhu Yunwen could hate King Yan deeply.

But although King Yan was angry, there was nothing he could do.

Since the other party used such despicable means, both sides would suffer, and there was nothing he could do.

Princess Yan was not discouraged, but suggested:

"If that's the case, why are there multiple lines of flowers blooming?"

"Their supply of goods is not as good as ours, and it is not easy to make charcoal, let alone mass production."

"Since they can do this kind of thing in Peiping, can they also do this kind of thing in other cities in the north?"

"If it doesn't work, we will transport coal to places like Daning, Chengde, Jinzhou, and Shenyang."

"I don't believe that they can be the only one in the family."

It has to be said that as the second empress of the Ming Dynasty, Xu Miaoyun was also a rare and virtuous wife, no less than Empress Ma.

This move can be said to hit the Zhao family's key point. Even if the Zhao family is rich, given the advantages of low cost and large output of coal, they will still be exploited for their weaknesses.

And sometimes, in the shopping mall, as long as you make a small mistake, you will be caught by the other party, and then you will be devastated.

Bai Chu also nodded in agreement.

"What the princess said is absolutely true, charcoal is inherently expensive."

"Since they want to deal with us, let's show them how powerful we are."

"We can still make a profit for two pennies a share, but they will lose at least ten cents for a three cent share."

"If one goes against the other, we can expand this war to the entire north, and even the entire Ming Dynasty."

"In this case, they will be in a dilemma, and the Zhao family's property will become less and less, and eventually they will go bankrupt."

"When the time comes, everything in the Zhao family will be in our pocket."

The old monk continued:

"King Yan, you can take this opportunity to report this matter to the Emperor."

"What we have to do is to provide every home with coal for heating."

"But someone is doing something secretly. I hope the emperor will investigate the matter thoroughly."

"With such a multi-pronged approach, it won't be long before the Zhao family can no longer support themselves."

"If the emperor knows that it is the Zhao family who is causing trouble, no matter how strong the Zhao family's backstage is, they will only become a scapegoat in the end."

After listening to the advice of his staff, Zhu Di's eyes lit up and he said loudly:
  "Okay, you are really my son-in-law, Xiao He."

"Starting from today, the old monk will continue to recruit troops. I will report this matter to my father later."

"The princess continues to send people to various places in the north to find businessmen who can cooperate."

"Gao Chi and Mr. Bai continue to recruit refugee miners, and coal production will continue to expand."

"The snow hasn't fallen this year yet. Once it stops, I'm afraid it will be even colder, and there may not be enough coal by then."

"Increase production to ensure that people in the north can have a warm New Year this year."

After everyone heard this, they dispersed.

In the blink of an eye, another few days passed.

As more and more caravans left Xishan, the first batch of merchants in the North were also found, and the Yan Palace also began to transport coal there.

The first batch of supplies are for: Tongzhou, Jizhou, Jinzhou, Zhending, and more than thirty cities around Beiping.

The charcoal blocks in these places were all taken away by Zhao Yan a few days ago. Now is a good time for coal to take advantage of the opportunity and quickly fill the vacancy in the market.

At the same time, Zhao Chengyun, Zhao Chengbi and others also received a batch of charcoal from the south.

A new "bloody battle" started between the coal shop of Prince Yan's Mansion and Zhao's Charcoal in Beiping Mansion.

This winter is indeed a happy thing for the people of Beiping Prefecture.

In the past few years, many people froze to death because they could not afford charcoal.

Those who have money to buy charcoal must live frugally to make ends meet.

But this year is different, because Yanwangfu's coal has entered the market strongly, causing the two major forces to fall into a fierce price war at the beginning of November.

People have already stocked up on enough heating materials in their homes, including charcoal and, of course, coal.

After all, everyone has discovered that cooking with a stove is indeed very convenient, but to use the stove you must use briquettes. This is the viscosity of the product.

It can be said that from the beginning of the price war, it has been decided that coal will become more popular. Zhao's charcoal's persistence will only make it die faster.

(End of this chapter)