The two of them nodded as if they were talking. They followed Li Mu, both as apprentices and as oxen and horses, not just to learn his skills? Li Mu suddenly wanted to share his experience, and the two of them couldn't help but be excited. How could they not listen?
Li Mu, drunk and confused, knocked on the table and said: "If you want to succeed in doing things, you must first cultivate yourself. Of course, what I mean by cultivation is not that you should learn from alchemists to make alchemy, but that you should be good at observation, diligent in learning, and not ashamed to ask questions.
The key point is to be willing to do it.”
Li Mu sighed and said: "After I came to Chang'an, most of the people I met gave me a very 'lazy' feeling. Basically, I didn't do anything that I couldn't do with my own hands. If
How can human hands do it? Many of my inventions are based on the discovery of a need through observation, and then in order to solve this need, I invented something. I use my own eyes to discover and my own hands to solve problems, only
Only in this way can we succeed."
"Let's take horseshoes as an example. Will young men like you study horseshoes?" Li Mu looked at the two of them and said, "No way, right? Because there are people who raise horses for you, and there are people who lead horses for you, so you don't need them.
Do it yourself, so you can't find it. Even if you find a problem, you will find someone to solve it instead of using your own brains. This is the fundamental point."
Seeing that the two of them were stunned, Li Mu stood up, patted them on the shoulders, and said: "I have told you my experience. From now on, Datang Mining and Datang Salt will be supported by you two.
As for me, I will retire after my success and retire to the mountains and forests..."
After hearing this, the two of them realized what Li Mu meant.
Changsun hurriedly grabbed one of Li Mu's arms and said, "Master, no! It's only been a day since this disciple has been under Master's disciples. He hasn't learned any skills yet. He might not be able to take on a big responsibility. Master will have to be there to take charge."
Wang Pu also said: "What the Crown Prince is saying is, Lord Marquis, Datang Mining and Datang Salt Industry are both multi-million dollar businesses, and the stakes are too high. You are the one taking the lead in this business, and we don't understand it either."
If there is any mistake in the doorway, I really can't bear it. Lord Marquis, you can't retreat."
Li Mu had no choice but to sit down again and said: "What should I do? I have promised my wife not to worry her anymore. I just do some small business, don't fight or rob, just make a living... You guys, you have to pull me in."
Getting into the whirlpool is really harmful!"
Wang Pu hurriedly said: "How can this be harmful to others? Now that the Marquis is willing to help us, it's too late for us to be grateful. Who dares to say no? I don't think he dares?! I, the Wang family of Taiyuan, am the first to refuse.
!”
"Master, don't worry. With my eldest grandson here, anyone who wants to be arrogant must think carefully!"
Li Mu ignored their expressions of loyalty and said to himself: "Now Datang Mining and Datang Salt are just starting out. If I quit at this time, no matter whether I make money or not, I will not complain. If I don't quit,
Making money will definitely damage the interests of the Shandong nobles. You have also seen those censors. It is impossible to let me go. If I lose money... Of course, this possibility is very low, but it cannot be ruled out. Some of the shareholders
People only look at the small profits in front of them, do not think about the overall situation, and are unwilling to follow my arrangements. In this way, if you lose money, I will be the one to take the blame."
Li Mu sighed, waved his hand and said: "That's all, the risk is too great, and I don't have any benefits inside or outside, so I can't do it..."
Wang Pu and Changsun Chong looked at each other and winked at each other, hoping that the other would stand up and speak. But who is the fool between the two of them? Who is willing to take this responsibility? Li Mu is obviously threatening now, and his meaning could not be clearer. If
If you want me to take action, you must listen to me, and if you listen to the meaning of his words, you may suffer immediate losses. Although his words indicate that long-term interests are still guaranteed, as long as 'losses' are involved
Two words, it is a headache. Who dares to guarantee this?
Also, Li Mu pointed out that if Datang Salt Industry and Datang Mining make profits, the interests of the Shandong nobles who are not involved will inevitably be lost. When trouble occurs, these shareholders will have to take the blame. What happened this time
It was just like this. When Li Mu got into trouble, no one supported him. He was very dissatisfied. In the end, didn't everyone go to throw shit together? The five surnames, Qi Wang, and Cong Long Zhichen were all polite and swept away.
Not even a fool understands what Li Mu wants to convey in his words. I can help you make money, but don’t think of me as a fool. There is no free lunch in the world. If you want to get it, you have to pay. We all benefit.
The risks are shared, no one can run away if something happens. You want to blame me alone? I'm sorry, I won't play with you anymore!
Li Mu looked at the two of them and winked, but neither of them meant to say anything, knowing that they could not make the decision in this matter.
We can't blame them. They are just representatives of their respective factions. The ones who can really make the decision are Changsun Wuji and Wang. Even if they agree with their chests, Li Mu may not dare to believe it. This cannot be forced out. Li Mu will fight
He burped and said: "I've eaten really full today. It's getting late. I have to go home and take medicine. You two can do it yourself. Don't go to my house if you have nothing to do these days. Let's
I'll rest in peace for a few days. When I feel better, I'll take you to the countryside. I bought a valley from Your Majesty. It's said that it doesn't freeze in winter. I'd like to go see what wonders it is and survey it by the way.
In the next year, I will go back to the mountains and forests to live in seclusion. I will see if the valley is suitable. If it is suitable, I will build a few houses and become a hermit. I think it would be good."
The two of them wanted to say something else, but Li Mu didn't give them a chance. He stood up and shouted, and Li Chongyi drove the carriage over. Li Mu got on the carriage and asked Dugujiu to call Bai Qiaoqiao and Li Zhien. The family walked into the sunset.
Went home.
Wang Pu and Changsun Chong stared blankly at the carriage of Zhuluhou Mansion, submerged in the afterglow of the setting sun, and each sighed.
Meeting such a difficult master is really a headache!
Fortunately, Changsun Chong said that Datang Salt Industry is still building workshops, and they will have to wait until the Chinese New Year at the earliest before they can start making and selling salt. As for Li Mu's salt making method, the three companies have come together to test it. The results of the test
It is effective and can indeed produce fine salt. At present, it seems that there is nothing that Li Mu can use, so he is not in a hurry.
But Datang Mining is different here. The trial mining of Shuozhou open-pit coal mine has begun. The first batch of coal has already been transported to Chang'an, but it has not been transported because it encountered a problem.
The road is bad.
The roads in ancient times were not like those in later generations. They had cement, asphalt, and in some places, there were sand and gravel pavements. In ancient times, due to various conditions, road construction did not even have sand and gravel. Even when the emperor was on patrol
, it’s nothing more than ‘loess paving the road’, which means using relatively solid loess, pounding it down, and paving it on the road. When it rains heavily, it will be just as muddy.
Coal is very heavy. It is unrealistic to transport it by human power. It can only use animal power, which is not impossible. Shuozhou originally had animal power. After coal mining, there is no need to farm the land, and the saved animals can be used to transport coal.
.
At the beginning, Wang and others thought of things simply. They thought they would build some carts with animal power and dig out the coal and transport it. But when they really got started, problems arose. The first was the problem of the carts. Commonly used wooden carts,
Unable to withstand the weight of coal, the wooden cart fell apart within a few dozen miles. Then there was the road. The coal trucks were very heavy, and the ruts dug deep ravines on the road. When they encountered muddy areas, it was difficult for people to walk on it.
It’s hard work, let alone a car?
Although the difficulties are not completely insurmountable, once these difficulties are overcome and the extra labor and fodder are deducted, basically no profit will be made, and it will be good if no loss is made.
The advantage of coal over charcoal is that it is larger in quantity, does not need to burn charcoal, and the price can be kept low. But in this case, even if the price is cheaper than charcoal, it is not much cheaper, and there is no advantage at all.
It can be said that if the problems of wooden carts and roads are not solved, this business will not be possible at all!
Wang Pu has been following Li Mu these two days, just to find an opportunity to talk to him about the problems he encountered. But Li Mu never went to this place to talk, which made him very depressed. After coming out of Jingdong, Wang Pu
He did not go back to his home, but came to the palace, told Li Mu what he wanted, and the two brothers discussed countermeasures.
Wang Pu sighed: "Brother, now I feel more and more that we have been deceived by Li Mu. He made ridiculous claims and deceived us all. We gave him the money when our heads were hot. Now it's better for him to throw it away."
Such a mess has become a threat, making it difficult for us to get off... Oh, it feels so uncomfortable to be led by him all the time."
Wang Dao: "There is nothing I can do about it. What Li Mu is using is a conspiracy. Jiang Taigong is fishing, and those who are willing to take the bait will take the bait. Aren't we coveting the interests behind this business? Look at Wei Zheng, why won't he be fooled? If you don't have desires, you will be strong, and if you ask for something, you will be strong.
, you have to give something, and Li Mu’s request is not too much to say.”
Wang Pu smiled bitterly and said, "Brother, why are you speaking up for Li Mu now?"
Wang Chui's beard glared and said: "Isn't there nothing I can do about it? Although it was Li Mu who brought up this matter, it was me who took the lead in our Taiyuan Wang family and persuaded the elders of the clan to fully support this matter. Zhaojun
The Li family and the Cui family in Qinghe were both coerced by us in the beginning, but now that they have encountered problems, they are looking for us!"
Wang Pu was unconvinced and said: "This is too unreasonable. Why don't they go to Li Mu?"
Wang looked at Wang Pu and said: "If it's on you, are you willing to find a madman? Aren't you afraid of throwing shit?"
When Wang Pu heard this, he was shocked. Today he went to pour dung with Li Mu and saw with his own eyes the miserable situation of those censors. Li Mu went crazy. He was really inhumane. A bucket of night incense was so big that a bucket of it
Filling the carriage bucket by bucket, my stomach churns just thinking about it.