Chapter 610: Sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight
Returning to Jiangning after inspecting Hulu Valley, the fiery construction scene in the valley aroused Li Mu's ambition to a certain extent.
Taking advantage of the floods and cheap land prices, Li Mu spent more than 20,000 taels of silver to buy several hills near Hulu Valley and six to seven thousand acres of wasteland between the hills.
Naturally, these wastelands cannot be cultivated. They are just wastelands that can be seen everywhere in the mountains. It takes a lot of effort to open up wasteland and it takes several years, even ten years, to turn wasteland into fields. Otherwise, it would not be so cheap.
Li Mu didn't need these wastelands to be turned into fields. He bought these hills and wastelands. Firstly, he wanted to ensure the secrecy of Hulu Valley and prevent people from accidentally breaking in from the mountains. Secondly, they could also build workshops. These places belonged to Hulu Valley.
On the outskirts of the country, some noisy, polluting and low-tech workshops can be built on these wastelands.
Thirdly, as a future training base, Calabash Valley is mainly used for production. Although the space in the valley is very large, even if a large number of workshops are built, it is more than enough to leave a piece of land to train guards.
However, after all, it is a private military training, and the training is still elite. It is okay to have dozens or hundreds of people. If the number increases to thousands or even more, the craftsmen of Hulu Valley will inevitably feel guilty and suspect that their boss wants to rebel or is engaged in a beheading business.
If such a misunderstanding really occurs, it will be difficult to say whether you can work properly. There may even be people who secretly escape or expose you.
Although the Wulie Army, the largest military force near Jiangning, was controlled by Li Mu, it would not cause much harm to him if exposed. It would be better to avoid it if possible.
Li Mu is still in a low-key development period, he needs time to accumulate strength, and he doesn't want to cause trouble.
On the other hand, with the Wu Lie Army as cover, it will be very convenient for Li Mu to expand his army near Jiangning in the future. It is not impossible to build and transform the newly purchased hills and 6,000 to 7,000 acres of wasteland to train tens of thousands of elite soldiers.
At that time, the Wu Liejun brand will be displayed externally, and several Wu Liejun camps will be stationed near Hulu Valley. Even if there is some commotion here, it will not be a big problem.
Considering the future material flow in Hulu Valley, the importance of the river leading to the Yangtze River two miles away is undoubted, both in terms of convenience and practicality.
Li Mu didn't think about it for too long, and spent another twenty thousand taels of silver to buy all the land between Hulu Valley and the river, a total of more than 1,600 acres of land, just over one square kilometer.
At the same time, a group of disaster victims were recruited to repair and expand the pier, and build a road from Hulugukou to the pier.
In this way, everything from production to transportation and shipping is within your own territory, and security and privacy are guaranteed.
…
Here in Hulu Valley, a large number of disaster victims have been hired and construction is going on vigorously.
On the other side, Xi Junyu, the shopkeeper of the Su family's cloth shop, came to a restaurant that day. He looked around, but no one paid attention, and quietly walked into a private room. Inside was Wu Qilong, the eldest young master of the Wu family, and his second son.
Young Master Wu Qihao.
The Wu family and the Su family are both in the cloth business and are one of their enemies. In the past, Wu Qilong, the eldest son of the Wu family, often boasted about his admiration for Xi Junyu and even tried to win over Xi Junyu many times.
Xi Junyu has always been unmoved, but for some reason, he came secretly to meet him today.
Half an hour later, the two parties seemed to have discussed something, and they toasted and drank together. Xi Junyu then stood up and said: "You two gentlemen, Jun Yu still has something to deal with. How about we have a drink after the matter is done?"
I’ll take my leave today.”
Wu Qilong smiled heartily: "Brother Xi is right. Let's have a drink after the matter is completed."
After a few more polite words, Xi Junyu walked out of the restaurant in a low-key manner.
In fact, he didn't want to do this. The Su family and the Wu family were rivals in the business field. In the past, the competition was fierce. As the shopkeeper of the Su family, today he went to the Wu family behind the Su family's back.
However, in the past, he had thoughts about the Su family, so he naturally rejected the Wu family. Now that he no longer thinks about it, whether the Su family is prosperous or declining has nothing to do with him.
Thinking of this, a beautiful figure could not help but appear in my mind, it was Su Tan'er who would be in charge of the Su family's business in the future.
Back then, when he had just become the shopkeeper, Su Tan'er, who was just fourteen years old, showed good business talent. Under the deliberate training of Mr. Su, he began to let Su Tan'er work with him and the other shopkeepers.
Discuss various business strategies.
The girl is very smart, occasionally has amazing ideas, and has a soft and gentle personality. She is polite to everyone, even to the servants.
Others did not see her angry because she was a woman and she was out in public doing business, saying strange things and gossiping.
Even though he felt aggrieved, he just pursed his lips and remained silent.
Xi Junyu thought that there was such a beautiful and intelligent woman in the world, and he admired her endlessly.
Speaking of which, Xi Junyu also came from a difficult background. His family background was not good since he was a child. His mother died young and his father was sick and an alcoholic. Although he was very talented since he was a child, he only studied for a few years before he could no longer study.
Later, he found a way to make a living, working in the Sujia Clothing Store to earn some pocket money to support his family. He showed great abilities in the Sujia Clothing Store, and was quickly promoted and trained, becoming a member of the Sujia Clothing Store.
The youngest shopkeeper has a somewhat obscure reputation in Jiangning's business circles and is considered a good young talent.
At that time, many business firms came to poach him, including the Wu family, but he was not tempted and has been working there until now.
The kindness and generous treatment provided by the Su family are just one of the reasons. The main reason is because of that girl.
At that time, when he became the shopkeeper, he and the young girl who had already made a name for herself worked very well together. Su Tan'er could make up for her occasional omissions in time, which forced him to have some unrealistic thoughts.
Especially one day, he heard that Old Madam Su didn't want Su Tan'er to marry outside, and was interested in choosing a husband for Su Tan'er to marry into. His heart was moved, and he didn't object to marrying into Su Tan'er.
His family background is poor and he has a bad background. These innate factors cannot be changed. Even if he has some talent in business, what can he do? He is still working for others and making wedding clothes for others.
Thinking about it this way, there is actually nothing unacceptable about getting married.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! In addition, the two have worked together for many years and understand each other's abilities and personalities. With such a tacit understanding, they will also be ideal partners after getting married.
Even if someone uses his status as a son-in-law in the future, he doesn't care. As long as he is given time to show his abilities, others will naturally look at him with admiration. One year, two years... everything will change everything.
It's a pity that nine out of ten unsatisfactory things happen in this world, so how could he proceed according to his wishes? The marriage was already over before it even started.
He knew that the Su family should have considered him, but in the end they silently eliminated him. The old lady made the decision and chose a scholar who did not understand business affairs.
When he was frustrated, he silently asked countless times why he and Su Tan'er worked so well together, had worked for the Su family for so many years, and his abilities were second to none, so he was obviously the most ideal candidate, so why did he give up on him and choose a scholar.
Finally, he came to the answer that the Su family did not need a son-in-law like him who was too capable, ambitious and difficult to control.
Being too capable has turned out to be a flaw, he often thought to himself with ridicule, quite unconvinced.
When he first learned the news, he had wanted to go directly to Su Tan'er and express his love for her, but when he got there, he realized that this girl had always kept a distance from others. She may be gentle and intelligent,
It may be playful and humorous, but many times, you will keep yourself in a neutral and bystander attitude, observing and learning at the same time.
At that time, he suddenly felt that he could not express those words of admiration because people were not as kind to him as he imagined.
Later, Su Tan'er got married, and his son-in-law, who he originally thought was just a weak scholar, became a great talent. The two of them became husband and wife, and their love was extraordinary. The thoughts in his heart finally stopped, and he had the idea of leaving the Su family.
However, after serving the Su family for so many years, he was really unwilling to leave like this, which is why the scene just happened.
With these thoughts in mind, a carriage came over quickly, and the coachman said: "Shopkeeper, where are you going next?"
Xi Junyu thought for a while and said, "Go to the Su Mansion." After getting on the carriage, the driver shouted and the carriage disappeared down the long street.
In the Su family's living room, Xi Junyu is reporting the business progress to Su Tan'er.
"The matter of Siqingfang has been negotiated with Shopkeeper Yu over there. We can provide them with goods before the sixth day of September..."
After talking about Siqingfang, the recent disaster, and the impact on the Su family's business, he knew that Su Tan'er was more concerned about these things.
Su Tan'er was indeed listening intently with her tea cup in hand, occasionally nodding her head and asking a few questions.
After chatting for a while, Xi Junyu hesitated for a moment and suddenly said: "My boss, there are some things I shouldn't ask originally, but there have been a lot of changes in the business recently. I still want to ask, do you want to be a royal merchant with Gong Yin?"
?”
Su Tan'er looked at him in surprise, as if she didn't expect him to ask such a question.
Xi Junyu shook his head and said: "If you don't answer, I can guess that Su's various places have been withholding funds for such a long time. Obviously you are already making preparations. I don't know when you had this idea, maybe
A few years ago, I was thinking about getting a palace title and becoming an imperial merchant. But, it’s not that simple.”
Since the Tanyuan Alliance, since the annual coins that need to be delivered to the Liao Kingdom include cloth and silk, the demand in this area has always been a headache.
The annual demand for cloth of 300,000 pieces of silk is not a small amount. However, for such a huge demand for cloth, the court cannot pay for it, and it is even much lower than the market price.
Of course, becoming an imperial merchant will definitely bring you certain privileges, so some large commercial houses will make small profits but quick turnover, or simply don't consider making money, just take orders for a few years old coins, and use the privileges given by the imperial court to develop other businesses.
The Su family has insufficient financial resources, so they may be able to accept a small number of orders for Sui coins, but when the royal order comes, they will deliver the goods no matter what buffer time you need, when the time comes.
If you don't want to affect the original business, you need new workshops and new sources of materials, which require huge investment and very little profit.
Unless we improve technology, reduce costs, and increase profits. Or we can take advantage of the opportunity of becoming a supplier of Sui coins to use higher quality silk and better dyes to capture some of the higher-profit high-end demands in the palace and build a reputation.
However, whether it is improving new technologies, reducing costs, or developing better dyes, it is very difficult to meet the high-end demand of the palace.
Xi Junyu said, looking at Su Tan'er and paused briefly.
"I know that you are improving new technologies in order to reduce costs and increase profits. You can also make money by taking orders with Sui coins. If you did this a few years ago, I would definitely support it, but have you ever considered that there will be unexpected situations after next year?
Does the imperial court still need new coins?"
Su Tan'er finally spoke: "Shop Manager Xi, you... don't think the court will need the coins next year?"
Xi Junyu shook his head and said: "My boss, look at the current situation in the world. The Liao and Jin countries are on the verge of breaking out. Once a war breaks out and the two tigers fight, one of them will be injured. I am waiting for work in leisure. Do you still need to pay me the coins in the future? But just
It’s hard to say.”
"If there is no need for Sui coins anymore, or there is less demand for Sui coins, and you build a lot of new workshops... there is nothing to produce, what about the deficit caused by investing so much money?"
Su Tan'er was silent for a moment and suddenly asked: "Shopkeeper Xi, what do you think of Jin and Liao?"
Xi Junyu was slightly stunned: "He is ambitious, vulgar and cruel, a barbarian."
Su Tan'er said: "We all know that they are ambitious, vulgar and cruel, so why do you think that the winning side will cancel the annual coins!"
Xi Junyu said: "Two tigers are fighting each other and are exhausted. I am waiting for work in leisure, how can I dare to ask for the coins?"
Su Tan'er sighed and said, "But since I was born, we have been giving you coins every year."
"Some things are unpleasant to say. Of course I hope we can defeat the Liao and Jin people, but... we haven't won!"
"The Alliance of Tanyuan more than sixty years ago, the Alliance of Blackwater seven years ago, and now there is another Jin Kingdom. What will happen if they fight? Do you really don't need to pay more coins?"
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! As she spoke, her tone was a little low: "I also hope that I can win. If one day the army is deployed, my grandfather and father are already prepared to help the army."
Money. But if you can’t win in the end, then... what should you do? Will you want more coins?"
Looking at Xi Junyu who was silent, Su Tan'er continued: "Of course, if two tigers fight and both lose, my government does not need to give any more coins, which is naturally the best. Our Su family will be willing to lose. Besides,
The improved looms have lower production costs, have more competitive advantages, and can seize more markets. Even if they lose money in the short term, they will still make money in the future. It is other cloth shops that should worry!"
Xi Junyu was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect that the other party had this kind of idea, and it did make sense.
He sighed and stopped talking about this topic, and then vaguely expressed that he could join Su Tan'er's plan. As one of his generals, since he already knew the plan and wanted to join, Su Tan'er naturally couldn't refuse.
, Moreover, when the technology matures in the future, Xi Junyu will inevitably participate.
After receiving the agreement, Xi Junyu breathed a sigh of relief. He was originally not optimistic about Su Tan'er's plan and had no intention of participating. After all, he no longer planned to work in the Su family.
Today I went to see the eldest son of the Wu family, but the Wu family told him that the technical improvement team chaired by Su Tan'er has made a huge breakthrough, and has even developed an excellent dye to open up the high-end technology in the palace.
need.
He was asked not to leave the Su family for the time being, but to join in and get the dye formula, for which he was promised an attractive position and generous rewards.
Since he no longer wants to stay in the Su family, it is logical for him to take revenge before leaving and get back all his efforts over the years. After all, without Su Tan'er's thoughts, he has nothing to do with the Su family anymore.