Chapter 0002: Persuading the Wealthy Merchants
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People should learn to make more friends and to make new friends! The merchant Tao smiled and patted the old steward on the shoulder: Today, let those two go free. Let's go to Mi Zhu's residence
Therefore, sometimes merely conserving one's strength is not entirely correct
Tao Shang nodded and said, "That is what Mi Zhu mentioned."
As the saying goes, mutual benefit and reciprocity, Mi Zhu felt that the deal he made with Tao Qian was quite advantageous.
Such a person should not be treated casually or taken lightly; at the very least, one should not deceive him as if he were a fool
The pottery merchant nodded, as it is customary to reciprocate in courtesy, a common sentiment among people. This Tao Hong is quite capable in handling matters
However, the ideas are abundant, while the reality is stark; today's pottery merchants cannot give a thumbs up to Tao Qian
The insincerity is indeed quite obvious; is this child treating his biological father as a fool
The chief steward looked at the potter with a somewhat bewildered expression, yet he felt it was inappropriate to disobey.
Thus, Mi Zhu fixed his gaze on the two sons of Tao Qian, hoping to establish a friendship with them, which could serve as a foundation for the future
The fragmented memories in Tao Shang's mind allowed him to recognize that this was the old steward Tao Hong from the residence, who had followed Tao Qian for many years
The second lesson that the potter learned upon arriving in this world is that those who can leave their names in historical records must be significantly stronger than the average person. Even someone like Tao Qian, who is regarded as having mediocre abilities in the mouths of later generations... This so-called mediocrity in ability depends on whom one is compared to; when compared to the feudal lords, it is considered mediocre, but when compared to the common people, it is the common people who appear more foolish.
Alright, then I will trouble Uncle Hong. Additionally, please prepare another invitation letter to be sent along with the gift, stating that I, Tao Shang, am paying a visit, so that they can be prepared.
The merchant spoke after a moment: "Father, since the Yellow Turban Rebellion and the subsequent turmoil, the central government's control over the localities has significantly diminished compared to the past. Now, with Dong Zhuo usurping power and the emperor being young, the influence of local governors and officials has begun to rise. In my humble opinion, regardless of whether the campaign against Dong Zhuo succeeds or fails, the local powers in the Guandong region will inevitably start to expand. Furthermore, in order to survive amidst the chaos, the local aristocratic families will also begin to align themselves with different warlords. At this critical juncture, if we in Xuzhou wish to ensure our own safety, we must continuously strengthen our power, which includes not only our own capabilities but also our reputation..."
The so-called "Biejia" refers to the position held by Tao Qian, who is essentially the governor of a province, while Mi Zhu serves as his secretary general
I mean to say... the eldest son has arrived, brothers must not be negligent, quickly follow me to go out and welcome him
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Mi Zhu, Zhao Yu, Wang Lang... It seems that in order to persuade Tao Qian, it is necessary to enlist the help of these three individuals.
If I say that these words are my own, would you believe it
Tao Qian's eyes began to widen; although there is some truth to this statement, it is not particularly surprising. However, what Tao Qian never expected was that these words would actually come from Tao Shang's mouth
Perhaps these results are beyond the expectations of the lords themselves, entirely a case of unintentional efforts yielding fruitful outcomes
Of course, every businessman hopes to sustain their business for a longer duration. Mi Zhu is a shrewd businessman who wishes to ensure that the trade between the Mi family and the Tao family continues to flow steadily, not just for the generation of Tao Qian, but also for the next generation. Ideally, he hopes to carry this business forward for countless descendants.
To speak frankly, Tao Qian's perspective is highly recognized by Tao Shang. The ability to possess the insight and mindset of benefiting from the conflict between the clam and the snipe is one of the essential qualities of a successful individual. Old Tao Qian tactfully joined the Alliance of Discussion and Debate, and his idea of being adaptable to various situations greatly appeals to Tao Shang. Thus, he praised him with the term 'cunning,' a word that Tao Shang generally does not use lightly to compliment others, reserving it only for those close to him.
My child, who taught you to say this
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Using the deep-rooted foundation of the Mi family in Xuzhou as capital to support Tao Qian, Mi Zhu's condition was the promise of beneficial official positions
Although Mr. Mi recognizes you, Young Master, it is merely a nodding acquaintance. You have never had any dealings with him. How about this: I will prepare a few gifts and send them in your name first, and then we can pay a visit to his residence, which would not seem too abrupt.
Mi Zhu was a wealthy merchant from Xuzhou and the head of the Mi family. His ancestors had been engaged in reclamation for generations, amassing a fortune exceeding 100 million. In simple terms, he was a landlord and a powerful figure. Although Tao Qian was the Inspector of Xuzhou, he had only been in office for two years. To establish a firm foothold in Xuzhou, it was essential for him to win over the Mi family. Therefore, upon taking office, he immediately appointed Mi Zhu as his deputy.
Tao Qian is a good project, but his two sons... are worthless
Xuzhou, Mi Mansion
Could it be that using official documents to wipe oneself could yield wisdom? ... ... I suppose I shall have to secretly try it myself one day.
It was primarily the person delivering the items who was quite astonished
The potter shook his head: "Just do as I say, being humble is not a bad thing"
Who does the father think said this?
Tao Shang continued, "Father, this campaign against Dong Zhuo is an opportunity to enhance the reputation of our Tao family. As long as we can stand out in this coalition against him, we will surely gain the support of the Han loyal families, which will greatly benefit your future stability in Xuzhou."
The chief steward seemed somewhat incredulous as he said: "Young Master, the two young gentlemen, Sun and Zhou, have been inviting you for an outing to compose poetry for several days now. You have never delayed such matters before."
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Tao Qian's son ...! ... How should I put it, it is truly his mother's lack of wisdom
Ah? Mi Fang was a bit confused upon hearing this
In the entire Xuzhou, from my perspective, only a few individuals such as Mi Zhu, Zhao Yu, and Wang Lang possess such insight
My son, continue to speak; say whatever you wish, it matters not
Mi Zhu's eyes were fixed on the gifts in the hall; he was not particularly concerned about them. After all, the Mi family was one of the wealthiest in the region, and in the Central Plains of the Han Dynasty, there were only a handful of people who could rival his wealth. These items truly did not catch his interest.
Tao Qian feared the loss of the fearless; he only saw the economic benefits, but he did not recognize the social benefits. Historically, many figures such as Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Sun Jian, and Gongsun Zan gained fame through the campaign against Dong Zhuo. Particularly in local prefectures and counties, they garnered substantial support from the imperial clans and aristocratic families. In the subsequent expansion of warlords, each of their strengths advanced rapidly.
In any case, he is not a person who engages in serious matters
Observing Tao Qian's current performance, it appears that during this campaign against Dong Zhuo, he intends to adopt a strategy of minimal effort. It is necessary to find a way to alter this mindset of his
The reason is quite simple, which is that the pottery merchants come from later generations and are very clear about the benefits brought by this joint campaign against Dong...
Of course, I do not believe it. Tao Qian said decisively
The eldest son of the Inspector, Mi Zhu, is certainly known to me. Two years ago, when Tao Qian had just taken control of Xuzhou, he recruited the four great powerful figures to serve him, helping himself to establish a firm foothold in Xuzhou, among whom was Mi Zhu.
After getting a clear understanding of the two young masters of the Tao family, Mi Zhu decided to abandon the necessity of further investment in these two young men. As a businessman, he only focuses on projects that can yield returns.
Ceramic merchant: "... ..."
Breech baby, get out!
The issue is that after only a few encounters, Mi Zhu became disillusioned
Upon arriving at the rear courtyard of the governor's office, the merchant was immediately approached by a stout man with a ruddy face, dressed in simple attire, who bowed respectfully in greeting
The potter curled his lips, observing the meager achievements of his predecessor: unable to hunt a tiger, why not hunt a fox, a wolf, or a deer... Why must one insist on hunting rabbits, and even prefer them above all else
I will not engage in idle matters today; prepare the car to take me to the residence of Mi Zhu
The pottery merchant searched his heart and mind, and it was not easy for him to express this statement in its entirety.
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Tao Qian did not expect that his son would have so many thoughts and opinions today: "What do you mean by this, my son?"
Even one's own father cannot be trusted; it is truly necessary to pull back the soul of one's former self into the body and give it three hundred lashes to reflect properly
The larger the business one operates, the greater the political background one requires
Father, the child does not fully support your opinion on this matter
The chief steward frowned upon hearing this and said: "Although you, the eldest son, are not in official service, you are still the son of the governor. Is it not a bit too humble to send an invitation to Mi Zhu?"
In the center of the hall, there is a gift presented by the ceramic merchant. Standing beside it is a middle-aged man who appears to be in his thirties. He has a refined appearance, with a neatly trimmed short beard on his chin and his silk attire is also impeccably clean, without a speck of dust. It is evident that he is a person of great self-discipline
Mi Zhu stroked the short beard on his chin and muttered to himself: "The trash has arrived..."
The same words, when spoken by different individuals, will undoubtedly have different effects
After all, it is about asking others to do something, so it is better to adopt a more humble attitude first. It is not yet the right time to show off.
What an irresponsible father, even when the situation is urgent, you still care about who said this. If that mouth on your backside were any bigger, you could pull your heart out.
Young Master, the carriage is ready. Are we going for an outing today, or are we going to hunt the rabbits you enjoy shooting the most?
Tao Qian's complexion appeared somewhat dark
Elder brother
A round and chubby man, with a joyful expression on his face, hurriedly ran into the hall. He cupped his hands in front of Mi Zhu and, panting, said: "The son of the governor has sent a greeting card and has come to pay a visit. Brother, what do you think we should do about this?" The person who entered was Mi Zhu's younger brother, Mi Fang.
Through the previous conversation, the potter realized that although his words had slightly moved Tao Qian, his previous self had never been involved in political affairs, and thus Tao Qian did not trust him
His two sons are not only dull and stiff, but also foolish and aimless. Day after day, they show no ambition. As the sons of a governor, they do not seek to associate with the dignitaries and nobles of Xuzhou, but instead spend their days indulging in frivolous pursuits, composing poetry, and engaging in falconry and hunting dogs
Regardless of whether in ancient or modern times, benefits can generally be divided into two types: one is economic benefits, and the other is social benefits
Through the previous conversation, Tao Qian mentioned the names of three individuals, which suggests that these three people hold a different significance in his heart compared to others