A few hours later, Qin Mubai and his party stood in front of a large store.
"Yongye Salt Factory, the name is well received." Qin Mubai said.
"Teacher, my disciple has learned everything." Pang Fei said in a low voice, "This Yongye Salt House is the official salt name of Xiangzhou City, and this shop is their main store. In addition, under the jurisdiction of Xiangzhou, In other counties and towns, they also have semicolons.”
Qin Mubai nodded, turned around and looked at another large business across the street from Yongye Salt House, and couldn't help but smile: "Zhengchang Grain House, judging from the situation, this must be an officially authorized grain selling merchant? It’s interesting to see these two big shops facing each other.”
Pang Fei said casually: "This street specializes in firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea. It also has a vegetable market, cloth shop, clothing store, and miscellaneous goods from the north and south. I didn't expect that this small Xiangzhou can be so prosperous and prosperous."
"You have been in Chang'an for a long time, so you are used to looking down on the local states and counties!" Qin Mubai smiled, waved to everyone, "Let's go and take a look at the Zhengchang Lianghao. Remember not to show off your feet, we Now he’s a businessman.”
"Yes, General!"
"Um?"
"Yes, boss!"
…
Zhengchang Lianghao is a large trading house, like a farmyard. When you enter the door, you are greeted by a large open terrace with many horse-drawn carriages parked around it. There are many people coming in and out, some are ordinary residents who come to buy rice, and some are businessmen who come to discuss business. Several other carriages have been dragged to the entrance of the large warehouse on the left, and many porters are loading grain into the carriages.
Qin Mubai looked around first, then walked to the grain truck majestically, picked up a few grains of white rice scattered on the shaft of the truck, crushed it in his hands, licked it in his mouth, and said to himself: “This rice is of good quality!”
Someone immediately came up to have a conversation. A man of about forty years old, with affection and shrewdness written all over his face, raised his hands and said with a smile: "This gentleman is an expert businessman!"
"Oh, I can't talk to an expert. He travels all over the country and tries to do any business." Qin Mubai replied with a smile, "This is my first time in Xiangzhou. I saw that business and tourism here are active, so I went to the city for a walk. I saw the grain number, so I Come and have a look.”
The man looked Qin Mubai up and down - a noble man with luxurious clothes and pampering; then he looked at the group of people behind him, the calm, capable, respectful and obedient servants Sanwu, then his expression became more enthusiastic and said: " Would you like to come into the shop and talk to our shopkeeper? It’s the beginning of spring, so the price of food is soaring, and it’s time for business.”
"That's fine." Qin Mubai responded readily, "I wonder what you would call me?"
"Don't dare. Sir, just call me Wang San'er. The younger one is a handyman in this grain house. Please!" Wang San enthusiastically led Qin Mubai and his party into the main hall of the grain house.
The main hall is quite large, with a long counter where several businessmen are talking. An eye-catching wooden sign is placed in the middle, with a few large black ink characters on it - "Nine coins per bucket of rice".
"Sure enough, the price of food has increased. I just came to Xiangzhou from Chang'an, and the white rice in the West Market there only sells for ten yuan per bushel." Qin Mubai said in confidence, "But the land in Xiangzhou also sells for nine yuan. "
Wang San nodded and bowed and laughed: "Lang Jun is really a big shot in the world, and he specializes in big business. Our small shop is naturally incomparable with the big shops in Chang'an West City. What kind of place is Chang'an? Wuhua Luxury is the most expensive in the world. The price of white rice in a small shop is nine yuan per dou of rice. The price of the white rice in the West Market Bank must be more than fifteen yuan per dou of rice. Sir, please sit down for a moment and have tea. I will ask the shopkeeper to talk to you later. ”
"Okay, I'll help you." Qin Mubai sat down swaggeringly.
Pang Fei and the others behind him laughed, and a guard whispered: "General Pang, why do you think that second brother thinks that the general is here to discuss big business, not just to watch the show or buy three or five dollars?" Just leave with a pound of rice?”
"Wang San'er is a businessman, and his eyes are specially designed to attract customers and earn copper coins. Our general pretends to be whatever he looks like. At first glance, he looks like a big customer who comes and goes for business. Of course he wants to attract business. Pang Fei said with a smile.
Qin Mubai smiled: "Don't tell me, we will buy three to five kilograms of rice and leave soon. I would like to see the shopkeeper's expression."
"Ha ha!"
"My boss, Wang San'er is back."
Qin Mubai looked back and saw that there was a middle-aged man in his fifties who came with Wang San'er. He had a round face, thin strands of beard, and his facial features seemed to be smooth. They squeezed together, smiled very kindly, and bent down to Qin Mubai and held his hands in his hands: "Lao Qi, I'm in the lower section. It's a pleasure to meet your husband. I wonder what I call you?"
Wang San'er next to him took over and said: "Lang Jun, this is one of the shopkeepers of our Zhengchang Liang Company in Xiangyang, known as the Seventh Shopkeeper."
"Zhengchang Lianghao is really a big store, and the shopkeeper is ranked seventh." Qin Mubai stood up and said with a relaxed teasing smile, and returned the gift with his hand, "I'm Chang'an Wu Yuanqing, nice to meet you, nice to meet you. "
Pang Fei and others behind Qin Mubai couldn't help laughing - he actually pretended to be his brother-in-law!
"Oh, it turns out that Mr. Lang is your noble lord from Chang'an. How disrespectful!" Duan Laoqi said in awe and hurriedly raised his hands, "Mr. Wu Lang, are you interested in having tea with me in the back hall?"
"Being respectful is worse than obeying orders. Shopkeeper Seven, please!" Qin Mubai responded readily.
"Please!" Duan Laoqi looked happy and led the way personally.
The businessmen from Chang'an are not ordinary, they must be doing big business. If a deal can be negotiated, there will be no need to mention the profit; even if the deal cannot be negotiated and the transaction cannot be concluded, it would be good to make one or two friends in Chang'an.
Businessmen have always been like this. Zhengchang Lianghao is able to achieve such a large store because it is very clear about this business philosophy.
Qin Mubai and his party followed Duan Laoqi to a plain room in the back hall, where a portrait of Fan Li was placed in the middle. Duan Laoqi first lit incense in front of the portrait, and after offering incense to Qin Mubai, they separated the guest from the host and sat down to serve tea.
After sitting down, Qin Mubai held the tea bowl with his right hand, lightly scratched the tea surface with the lid of the cup, took three sips, and then placed it on his left side. Duan Laoqi read it carefully, and after reading it he laughed out loud: "Wu Langjun is indeed a great trader from the north to the south, and a big business owner. It's been a long time since I've seen the big boss of Yin Tea Tea in the Right Hand!"
Qin Mubai smiled and said, "It's just that I'm used to it. Shopkeeper Seven doesn't have to worry about it. In Chang'an, when businessmen approach big business, they are used to opening like this. Holding the tea in your right hand and taking three sips first, to show sincerity and respect."
"Mr. Lang is so kind, I'm so disrespectful!" Duan Laoqi also held up the tea like Qin Mubai, drank the whole cup slowly and then put it down, laughing loudly, "Okay, We can talk about business openly and honestly!”
It was an eye-opener for Pang Fei and others. Qin Mubai, a general who had never done business before, was so familiar with handling these things without any carelessness or awkwardness, and they all secretly expressed surprise in their hearts. This line is like a mountain, and you can't pretend to be anything you want.
Fortunately, Qin Mubai had been getting along with Wu Meiniang for a long time and learned a lot from her in this area. Otherwise, without the diamond, he would dare to take on the porcelain work
"Seven shopkeepers, to be honest, I went south this time just to buy a batch of grain to sell in Beijing." Qin Mubai said, "Jiangnan is a rice-producing land. The price of rice has always been low and the quality of rice is excellent. I was expecting I went to Huyang area specifically to pick rice and pick some Husi silk. Unfortunately, I was in a hurry, so I settled in Xiangyang. The grain and salt from the north and south are transported here, so I guess I can get a good price. , I don’t have to worry about going to Huyang anymore.”
"Mr. Lang is really shrewd. If you come to Xiangyang to purchase goods, you have come to the right place!" Duan Laoqi's eyes shone with excitement when he heard this, and he said with all his heart, "To be honest with you, Xiangyang The rice here is no more expensive than that in the Huyang area! Firstly, our land in Jingxiang produces our own rice, and the quality is not bad; secondly, the official rice and military rations going south and north are all transshipped at Xiangyang Port. This rice is more than , the price has naturally come down. But... I can't just sell my rice to whoever I want. I think Mr. Wulang must know this rule?"
"That's natural." Qin Mubai smiled and said, "Since I dare to come into your Zhengchang Lianghao to discuss business, I must be able to afford this business. To tell you the truth, I will talk to Chang'an Zheng My family had some business dealings, so I asked them to take care of it and gave me a grain store to run in Xianyang County, Gyeonggi Province. "
"Ah, the Zheng family of Chang'an?" Duan Laoqi exclaimed, "Is this what Mr. Wu Lang is talking about, Zheng Fengchi of Chang'an?"
"Not bad." Qin Mubai smiled.
Duan Laoqi inadvertently took a breath, his eyes widened, and he said in surprise: "The Zheng family in Chang'an... those are the court unloaders! They are responsible for more than half of the grain and salt business in the world. Can they?" If you have even the slightest connection with them, it will be difficult to make a lot of money every day!”
"Haha!" Qin Mubai smiled casually and said, "That being said... the Zheng family is a wealthy family after all. We small businessmen and hawkers will not starve to death if we follow them, but if we want to make a fortune, we will not starve to death. It’s extremely difficult. Because all we earn is the little bit of money they earn. Take my grain account in Xianyang as an example. When the grain was distributed, the Zheng family withheld it first. "How much money can I make?"
Duan Laoqi is an old man who has been in the business field for decades. Hearing Qin Mubai's words, he immediately felt excited and understood what he meant. He thought to himself: I'm afraid this Wu Yuanqing is too jealous of the food given by the Zheng family. It was expensive, so I went out privately to pick up a batch of grain to purchase, and then made some profit from the price surplus. This is a very good idea. Firstly, it has the grain management rights granted by the Zheng family, and secondly, it has its own cargo channel, which reduces costs and increases profits!
"Haha... Mr. Wu Lang, you are such a shrewd businessman!" Duan Laoqi smiled knowingly, "But if you do this, aren't you afraid of offending the Zheng family?"
"It's okay." Qin Mubai smiled and said, "I am a close friend of Zheng Anshun, the young master of the Zheng family. I actually got his approval for this trip. In fact... if I can get the low-priced official rations from Da Zhu , The Zheng family is also happy."
Duan Laoqi was excited and said hurriedly: "Lang Jun's words... I don't quite understand."
"Haha, Shopkeeper Seven is a smart man, why do you need to make your words clear?" Qin Mubai said with a smile, "Businessman, who doesn't want cheaper goods?"
"That... makes sense!" Duan Laoqi nodded thoughtfully, blinked a few times, and asked, "How much food do Wu Langjun plan to ask for this time?"
Qin Mubai smiled and stretched out a slap: "Everything must be the best Huyang white rice!"
"Five hundred stones?" Duan Laoqi said with some joy.
For an average county-level grain account, if the business is good, the monthly purchase volume is only about three to four hundred shi. The Tang Dynasty was based on agriculture, and most of the people were self-sufficient in growing food. The purpose of official grain is mainly to distribute official salary, supply the army or national storage. Really, the proportion of grain purchased by urban residents for food is not very heavy.
Qin Mubai smiled and shook his head.
"Do you want... five thousand stones?" Duan Laoqi was a little surprised.
Qin Mubai still shook his head and smiled without saying a word.
"Fifty thousand?!" Duan Laoqi was shocked.
"Haha!" Qin Mubai said with a smile, "Stop the joke, Shopkeeper Seven. I am a businessman from Beijing after all. Would you make a special trip to Xiangzhou for a mere tens of thousands of shi of food? - Five hundred thousand shi. Huyangbaimi!”
"Five hundred thousand!!!" Duan Laoqi was shocked and thought: This, this... We have never encountered such a big customer before!
"You heard that right, it's five hundred thousand." Qin Mubai smiled and said, "Let me tell you the truth, my own shop really can't eat such big brown food. You understand the implication. ”
A layer of cold sweat broke out on Duan Laoqi's forehead, and he nodded suddenly.
Qin Mubai's words were quite clear. The implication was that he was helping the Zheng family "smuggling"!
The largest businessman in the Tang Dynasty wants to "smuggle". This sounds a bit shocking, but in fact, it is not surprising to the businessmen.
It is said that there is no business without treachery, and all business people understand the truth, that is, a horse will not grow fat without night and grass. Those who are truly honest practitioners who dare not go beyond the limit will end up either living a mediocre life for free, or they will lose all their money and be eliminated.
If you don’t speculate in business, don’t knock down targets, and don’t hoard and smuggle goods, how can you make a fortune? Didn't Zheng Fengchi rely on political speculation to curry favor with Li Yuan, and thus became the imperial merchant of the Tang Dynasty and suddenly became the richest man in the world? He even dares to speculate on the national destiny. Is it any wonder that he smuggles a few bags of rice
Duan Laoqi is a businessman, and he understands this principle, or in other words - business rules.
With the grain management rights granted by the Tang Dynasty, while collecting official grains distributed by the government and selling them in the business, they also secretly collected cheap grains from all over the place to replenish their stocks and sold them at genuine market prices. The profit difference comes out. Having said that... there are several grain and salt companies in this world, why don't they do this? This has almost become an unspoken rule in the grain and salt industry.
Seeing Duan Laoqi stunned and silent for a long time, Qin Mubai smiled and said, "Can't the seventh shopkeeper be the master?"
Duan Laoqi took a deep breath: "To be honest with Mr. Wu Lang, I really can't make the decision on such a big business privately. How about going down and inviting the big boss to have a detailed discussion with Mr. Lang?"
Qin Mubai frowned with displeasure: "Let's wait another day!"
After that, he got up and left.
"Mr. Lang, please stay!" Duan Laoqi hurriedly stood up to stay. "Mr. Geng, please forgive me. I don't know your true face. I'm so negligent! We should have directly invited our big boss to discuss with Lang Jun."
"I don't blame you." Qin Mubai put on some airs and said calmly, "I'm still busy with secular affairs, so I'm very busy. Come to your house again to discuss it someday, please!"
"Mr. Lang insists on leaving... Why don't you leave an address? When our big boss comes back, he will definitely visit you!" Duan Laoqi asked eagerly.
Qin Mubai stopped and frowned in embarrassment: "I will come to you again, please don't disturb me, thank you!"
After that, he raised his feet and left, followed closely by Pang Fei and others.
Duan Laoqi swallowed hard and hurriedly called a few servants and ordered: "Follow this group of people and be sure to find out where they live!"
Half an hour later.
These boys all came back in disgrace, saying they had been disgraced. Duan Laoqi was so angry that he wanted to cry without tears. He really wanted to look up to the sky and scream. Now there is no other way but to wait for this "big boss" to take the initiative to visit again.
In the inn, Qin Mubai, Pang Fei and others laughed and changed their clothes. Qin Mubai tore off the fake beard that was attached to his mouth and said with a smile: "That Duan Laoqi must be very troubled now. Let's let him go for three days. We will see the situation after three days."
Pang Fei smiled and said: "Master, you are so good at pretending to be a businessman! Even a veteran like Duan Laoqi can't see the flaw. Now his appetite must be whetted, and he only hopes that you will come to visit. I It’s strange, why didn’t you agree to meet with his big boss right then and there?”
"This is called play hard to get, a commonly used tactic in the business world." Qin Mubai said, "The bigger the deal, the more cautious you should be and not be impatient. When you are impatient, people will know that you are eager to get the goods so you can lower the price. ; And if you are not careful about such a big deal, it will look fake. Besides, we are dealing with illegal business, so we must be cautious when making a decision to cooperate with someone for the first time. We are not waiting to be ripped off. , just being suspected.”
"That's it!" Pang Fei chuckled: "My disciple has learned something new again!"
One of the guards smiled and said: "The general is indeed an outstanding person. You just pretended to be the businessman. Even those of us around you have to believe that you are the real big patron of Chang'an. Also, that Duan Laoqi actually sent someone to follow you. We...haha! It’s so funny that someone wants to follow Baiqi!”
"Haha!" Everyone in the room laughed.
"What are you laughing at? Are you so happy?" Chen Yan walked in and said with a smile.
"Are you awake?" Qin Mubai stepped forward and smiled, "Is your injury feeling better?"
"Okay." Chen Yan nodded and smiled, looked at the clothes they threw aside, and said with a smile, "I bet you guys went to visit me privately incognito again?"
"No, and I had a lot of fun visiting this time." Qin Mubai said with a smile, "We will go to Baguidu for a military parade later. Are you interested in coming and taking a look?"
"No. That kind of occasion is not suitable for me." Chen Yan said, "I'm here to say goodbye to you. I'm going to Tanzhou."
"What, you're leaving again?" Qin Mubai frowned, "You're seriously injured, you should heal before you leave. Besides, the military registration file I applied for you hasn't been delivered yet!"
"No." Chen Yan smiled and said, "Every time I meet you, I have to cause you a lot of trouble. I'd better leave quickly."
"No." Qin Mubai glared at her domineeringly, "This time you must listen to me, stay in Xiangzhou, recuperate and not go anywhere. You want to retire from the world and return to your hometown to be a good woman, and I won't stop you. You. But I can't let you go now. Didn't you say that since we are friends, we should do everything for the other's benefit? Don't worry, you can't cause me any trouble now. I’m not talking nonsense, how can I get into trouble here in Xiangzhou? And I have something else that I might need your help with!”
"Haha!" Chen Yan smiled, "It's rare to see you so nervous and talking at length."
"That proves that I regard you as a good friend and I care about you, doesn't it?" Qin Mubai said with a smile.
Pang Fei hurriedly waved his hand and led a group of people around the corner to sneak out.
Chen Yan looked back at Pang Fei and others, and couldn't help but smile: "If you do this... it will be misunderstood."
"What's the misunderstanding?" Qin Mubai smiled indifferently, "You give me peaches, and I'll repay you with plums. I'll treat you how you treat me. Isn't this normal? There's no need to talk about it anymore. Don't worry. Stay here to recuperate. I will ask Pang Fei to rent a private house for you to stay alone. It will be cleaner and more comfortable than living in an inn. "
"You still understand me." Chen Yan smiled gratefully, "I'm used to walking around alone. But... this will cause you a lot of trouble."
"Don't keep saying this." Qin Mubai said, "What's the trouble? There are so many people under me, doing nothing all day long, I just want to find something for them to do!"
"Haha!" Chen Yan smiled, looked at Qin Mubai, and said softly: "Thank you, Mubai..."
"If you really want to thank me, just take good care of yourself and recover from your injuries. There will be times when you can help me." Qin Mubai said with a smile.
"Okay." Chen Yan smiled slightly and nodded.