King Luhuang of the Ming Dynasty: My father, Ming Taizu

Chapter 96 Three strategies: upper, middle and lower! A choice to commit suicide!

Cao Wenlong said bitterly: "If Mr. Wu can't give guidance to the younger generation today, we won't get up!"

Everyone also agreed.

"Don't get up!"

Mr. Wu sighed.

“Your fathers and grandfathers have all done business with me!
  Back then, we were truly united by blood and never betrayed each other!
  No matter whether you encounter risks or huge profits, you will never harm your companions, and you will keep your promise!
  Keeping promises is the root and soul of Shanxi merchants!
  Didn’t your parents and grandparents educate you like this?

Who would have thought that in such a short period of peace, you would forget all of this!

I heard a few days ago that you agreed to keep the price of salt and never cheat each other or harm everyone!
  But what's the result? Cao Wenlong, is your Cao's Salt Store the first to cut prices? After that, the Qi family, the Wang family, the Le family, and the Xu family!
  One by one, all of you have lowered your prices and are secretly selling takeaways. "

talking.

Mr. Wu sneered.

“No one can sell it, doesn’t it deserve it?

But the old man is too lazy to argue with you today.

Just telling you!

Sometimes, you are greedy for small profits and forget the great righteousness. You may not be able to get the small profits, but you will definitely be the one to suffer losses!
  If the old man was leading a bunch of people like you back then, he might as well go it alone!

You are really far behind the previous generation!
  Even if we had no money at that time, we would never do anything to deceive our companions! "

At this point, everyone showed deep regret, and even had tears in their eyes, wondering what they were thinking about.

Seeing everyone finally showing their faces, Wu Lao breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. He seemed to be saying, just repent, there is still a chance to change his ways!
  As the ancestor of Shanxi merchants, how could he ignore these descendants!

Even if they were stupid and stupid, he had to take care of this matter.

Mr. Wu looked at everyone and sighed.

Wipe the tears from your face.

"Let me tell you the truth!
  At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, I led Shanxi merchants to do many great things!
  Whether it was doing business with Yuan Ting or later investing in Emperor Hongwu.

Many of the things he did could even influence the situation of the war at that time!

This also makes His Majesty have a deep fear of me and Shanxi merchants. Therefore, just after the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, I announced my resignation. Even if Your Majesty wanted to grant me an official position and support Shanxi merchants, I refused!
  Not only that, I don’t allow the Wu family to do business because I’m worried that Your Majesty will still keep an eye on me!

To this day, I still don’t think that His Majesty has truly trusted Shanxi merchants and me, and has completely forgotten about it!

So I have always lived in seclusion, doing nothing except doing some good deeds!

Even only children and grandchildren are allowed to cultivate their minds and nature!
  I know that in this Hongwu dynasty, it will be difficult for us businessmen to get ahead!
  Instead of forcing yourself to do something, it’s better to wait for the opportunity!
  I don’t believe that we businessmen, who exchange the world’s wealth and hold a lot of money, will never get ahead in our lives!
  Even if I am gone by then, my descendants will always have a chance to come forward!
  It's nothing more than earlier and later. If you can do it later, you'll have the benefit of later, but if you do it earlier, you'll have the risk of earlier!

But now, since you are asking me for help, I can't just sit back and do nothing no matter what!

After all, if you are gone, what will be left of this Shanxi merchant? All my life's hard work is gone!
  Although I know that doing this is extremely dangerous, I have to do it now. "

Everyone was very moved when they heard this.

They never thought that the truth behind Mr. Wu’s retirement would be so thrilling!
  Cao Wenlong smiled bitterly.

"It's the juniors who have brought trouble to Mr. Wu. If we hadn't encountered such a critical situation this time, we wouldn't have wanted to disturb your peace.
  There is really no other way!
  King Nalu is clearly trying to push everyone to death! "

Mr. Wu smiled lightly.

"If you weren't greedy, why would you be in such a mess now!

Even if you don't listen to me and withdraw from the salt business, there will always be room for change if you encounter danger!

Who would have thought that you would exchange all your silver for salt, and all your salt for salt!
  Money was originally alive, but now it has turned into dead salt. It is unnatural to not sit on wax! "

Seeing everyone bowing their heads again, they were speechless.

Mr. Wu continued to smile and said: "I know that you came to me today just to ask for a plan!
  How can we turn this dead person into living money? Or how can I get you out of trouble! "

Everyone nodded desperately and said: "Yes, Mr. Wu! Save this junior! The inheritance of several generations of our ancestors cannot be ruined like this!"

Mr. Wu smiled.

"You don't have to exaggerate! We Shanxi people always keep our fingers on our toes when doing business!
  No matter how miserable the loss is outside, there is always room for recovery!
  This time it's just a bigger loss and it will hurt your muscles and bones, but it's not really doomed! "

Having said that.

Everyone also laughed bitterly.

In fact.

Mr. Wu is right!
  Even though all the wealth of everyone present was destroyed, they still had a lot of savings when they returned to their hometown in Shanxi.

Although Shanxi merchants are doing business all over the world, their roots and soul are still in Shanxi.

Many Shanxi merchants who made money outside would return home, melt piles of silver into liquid, and pour it into the floors of their homes.

In this way, not only does it not look out of place and leak, it is also easy to prevent theft.

There are also many Shanxi merchants who will buy a large amount of land or gold, silver and jewelry when they return home after doing business and bury them deep underground.

This wealth is their capital to keep their bottom line. Even if they encounter a crisis or the business fails in the future, there will always be a chance to make a comeback!
  Mr. Wu smiled.

Looking at everyone, he said: "Although I am far away from the world, I am fully aware of what happened during this period.

King Nalu is indeed a powerful character, and the salt produced at Changlu Salt Farm is so magical.

It’s as white as snow, as fine as sand, and has an extremely mellow taste!

And the cost is estimated to be extremely low. After all, no matter how you lowered the price before, Lushang Salt Store could follow suit!
  This is enough to prove that his cost of making this salt should be extremely low!

Not to mention this output, the Changlu Saltworks was at its peak back then, and its output only accounted for about 40% of the country's total. But now, there is as much as you want, and you can sell it as you want!
  This Prince Lu is a genius!

I was shocked that I could eliminate so many Japanese pirates before. Now that the Changlu Salt Farm is run so well, I can't help but admire it! "

Cao Wenlong couldn't help but look at Mr. Wu.

I sighed secretly in my heart.

It is said that people become better with age, and this is indeed the case for Mr. Wu!

On the surface, he seems to be indifferent to world affairs and far away from the world, but secretly he knows everything clearly.

Cao Wenlong even suspected that Mr. Wu had already expected that he brought these Shanxi merchants to beg him!
  He is worthy of being a top figure who controlled the major forces in those days.

Mr. Wu said with a smile: "Now I have three strategies for you to choose from, top, middle and bottom. After all, you may not listen to my best strategy! Haha."

Everyone hurriedly said: "Mr. Wu, please speak!"

"Listen! Of course we will listen! At this point, who dares not to listen?"

"Mr. Wu, please stop showing off! If you delay for just a moment longer, this junior will feel like his heart is bleeding. He is losing so much every day that he really can't bear it anymore!"

Mr. Wu said calmly: "The best idea is that you go to His Highness King Lu, confess your mistakes to him sincerely, and beg him to be noble and let you go! Of course, the price you have to pay must be very high. I have found out clearly about the Lu Shang Salt Company. On the surface, It was a grain merchant in Yanzhou Prefecture, run by Wu Shengyan and his daughter, but in fact, they only held half of the shares!

All other shares are in the hands of King Lu. I guess this will be the result if you go and ask him.

You keep half of it and give the rest to King Lu!

The advantage is stability, and you will definitely be accepted. After all, you are all proficient in salt affairs, and the people under you have been working in this industry for so many years!
  King Lu should not refuse your surrender!
  What's more, the price you paid is high enough. "

Everyone looked at Mr. Wu with dull expressions on their faces.

Keep half of it for yourself?

What's the difference between that and going bankrupt?
  Mr. Wu smiled and said: "I know, I'm afraid you won't accept this best idea!

The best strategy is for you to sell the salt from your respective stores to takeaways, no matter how much it costs!

4分卖不掉就3分，3分卖不掉就1分，1分卖不掉，那就10文！
  In short, the salt in your hands will eventually be sold.

In this world, rich people are unwilling to buy these things, but poor people are different!
  As long as the price is cheap enough, they will still buy it.

His Highness King Nalu, I think that although he intends to deal with you, he must not be willing to do a loss-making business. If you pay too much, he will not bother to follow! Of course, the price paid is also huge! "

Everyone laughed bitterly.

What kind of strategy is this? It's nothing more than cutting off flesh and escaping!
  Everyone knows that I am asking you because I don’t want to do this.

Mr. Wu looked at everyone and shook his head.

Sighing, he added: "There is another solution! I really don't want you to choose this path!

This is a bad idea. This is Shanxi merchants’ old profession, integrating government and business!
  Every time we Shanxi merchants go to do business, or every time we enter a profession, the first thing we have to do is to get rid of the responsible officials. I think you have no problem with this. "

Everyone nodded.

There is really no problem with this!

Everyone is out doing business, who hasn’t clicked on the background yet?

Wu Laodao: "Now that King Lu has entered the Salt Industry, what he has done is really overbearing!
  Its Changlu Salt Farm may be making a lot of money, but under the sun, other salt farms are being screwed by him!

No matter who it is, I'm afraid they won't buy salt from other salt farms anymore, right?

What about those salt fields?
  The tasks assigned to the Ministry of Household Affairs at the end of the year will probably be impossible to complete!
  I heard that when King Lu asked Your Majesty for the salt farm, he promised to give the court 100 million taels of silver every year!

And it will increase year by year, with an increase of 10 taels every year until it reaches 230 million taels.

I guess this is what King Lu had in mind. His Changlu Salt Farm and his family stole all the salt tax in the country, but only had to pay 100 million taels of salt tax.

King Lu can leave at least more than 100 million taels of net profit every year!

This is your breakthrough!
  After you go back, you can let the officials of the DPRK and the Chinese government impeach King Lu for eroding the interests of the court, violating national laws, and not selling salt according to the price listed on the salt guide!

Not only did it harm the interests of merchants and kitchen households, it also caused a sharp drop in the court's income, making it unsustainable next year!
  For this reason alone, His Majesty had no choice but to deal with King Lu out of consideration for the overall situation!
  At that time, you will be able to breathe a sigh of relief and slowly sell the salt. If His Majesty becomes furious and even drives King Lu away from the Changlu Salt Field, then you might as well just take over the business of the Changlu Salt Field and you will be a blessing in disguise! "

Hear this.

Everyone was enlightened.

He even had a smile on his face!

What a bad idea, this is obviously the best idea!

Who among you does not have many relatives and friends who are officials in the government?
  As long as they contact each other, there will be dozens of memorials to impeach King Lu together!
  It will be enough for him to drink a pot by then!

just in case
  As Mr. Wu said, if His Majesty really drives King Lu away from Changlu Saltworks, wouldn't everyone get rich?
  The salt from Changlu Salt Farm is of such high quality that it will be sold at sky-high prices even overseas!
  This profit is even higher.

The thought of this.

Everyone suddenly felt that the sea and the sky were vast!

They all cupped their hands and said, "Thank you, Mr. Wu, for your guidance!"

"People say that having an elder in the family is like having a treasure. The ancients are honest and I can't deceive them! Mr. Wu is the treasure of treasures for our Shanxi merchants!"

"Don't worry, Mr. Wu! When this junior gets through this crisis, I will definitely come back to express my gratitude to Mr. Wu with heavy gifts!"

Mr. Wu smiled.

Just waved his hand.

When the housekeeper Lao Wu saw this, he knew it was to see off the guests and immediately left with everyone.

Mr. Wu and others left.

Suddenly a mouthful of blood spurted out.

The old son Wu who was following him was shocked when he saw this!
  He hurriedly got in front of Mr. Wu.

"Dad! What's wrong with you?"

Mr. Wu laughed miserably.

Waved his hand.

He said with difficulty and weakness: "It's nothing! I just feel sorry for you. I'm afraid none of these old brothers will end well! My whole life's hard work will be ruined in one day!"

Mr. Wu's son frowned and looked at Mr. Wu.

"Father and son actually think that the next best option is the best!"

Mr. Wu smiled.

"That's why I don't allow you to go out to do business! This world is now a gambling game!

If we don’t gamble, we won’t lose!
  But those gamblers will definitely lose! "

talking.

Tears suddenly shed from the corners of Wu Lao's eyes.

"It's a pity that Shanxi merchants have been so famous for thousands of years! This time, I'm afraid I'm going to suffer a huge loss! All the savings that your father, I, and my brothers saved will be lost!"

Old son Wu was puzzled.

But seeing Mr. Wu so sad and excited, there was nothing he could do.

He had no choice but to support his old father and look at the peaceful lake scene in front of him, his face full of sadness.

at the same time.

Everyone came back from Mr. Wu's house and started to connect one after another!

All relatives, friends, old friends, former protectors, as long as they are officials in the court, please contact them all!
  Ask them to impeach King Zhu Tan of Lu on the grounds that he harmed the interests of the court, competed with the people, and harmed the people!

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  (End of this chapter)