Chapter 5: "Financial Prospects"
This man is Liu Mingchuan, the third brother of Liu Shuangcheng, a guard of Yinzuo. Although he can be considered a banner person, due to his status as a concubine's son, he not only lacks inheritance rights but also has little share in the family estate when it is divided. He has received an education, but his talent in this area is quite limited; at over twenty years old, he has not even managed to become a xiucai (a type of scholar). However, he possesses considerable skills in business. Relying on the connections of his ancestors and his innate business acumen, he has managed to do quite well in commerce. While he cannot compare to the major merchants, he is nonetheless one of the more well-known traders in the capital. Recently, he has been trying various means to become a disciple of Yinzuo, but Yinzuo has not given a definite answer. It was only after sending someone to investigate this man's background and learning that he is relatively trustworthy and not overly talkative that Yinzuo finally agreed, leading to the meeting at Wangyue Tower.
A headache, a severe headache. Today, school ended early. After lunch, Yingzuo lay on the bed, lost in thought. The sun was about to set, yet he still couldn't come up with a reason. How frustrating! How frustrating! Could it be that he would play the same game as the other princes, engaging in the practice of dry shares? In this era, merchants hold little status; even the wealthiest among them lack social standing. To earn money safely, one must find a powerful backer. Those with little capital can only seek the support of a minor official, while those with a bit more money might approach a county magistrate or a prefect. The wealthiest individuals must seek out top officials like Suo'ertuo or Nalan Mingzhu, or prominent princes, employing the method of offering dry shares to find a reliable support.
Reflecting on those time-travel novels from previous lives, the protagonists, upon their arrival in new worlds, are all exceptionally capable. They engage in glass-making, steel production, and the creation of firearms and cannons. They open taverns and brothels, and at the very least, they can concoct gunpowder or brew liquor, exuding an air of authority and making money swiftly. However, at this moment, glass and liquor have long become commonplace, and steel? That is beyond our expertise. As for brothels? Well, that is a morally questionable endeavor, akin to having children without proper means, so it is best to avoid such matters. Gunpowder and firearms are indeed within our understanding, but if one were to engage in such activities privately, the consequences could be severe. Moreover, we are currently in a peaceful era; what purpose would there be in meddling with such things? Engaging in commerce? Not only is it true that the prince cannot personally engage in business, even if he could, Yinzhu has never done so and lacks confidence in this regard.
Yes, my lord, this servant understands!
The idea is in place, and there are no significant issues with manpower, as there are plenty of people in this world eager to serve under a master. At this moment, Yinzuo is sitting grandly in a private room of Wangyue Tower, with a shrewd-looking man in his thirties kneeling respectfully before him, waiting for his instructions
Upon hearing that Yinzu had promised positions for three children, Liu Mingchuan immediately became extremely agitated—these days, aside from holding an official position, there is no future in anything else. Even if a merchant is wealthy, it is ultimately illusory; if one offends the powerful, a fortune can vanish in an instant. With the influence of the prince, placing a gatekeeper in the officialdom is as easy as child's play. Which prince does not have a multitude of officials among his subordinates? Liu Mingchuan replied with a choked voice: "Thank you, Young Master, for your support; I will repay you with my life."
"Young Master, it is time for dinner." Yi Hong, the most beautiful among the palace maids assigned to Yin Zuo, entered the room with a hint of playfulness
Ah, by the way, wwwhetushu.com, and also soap. Just thought of toothpaste, and suddenly, Yingzuo remembered that at this time in the palace, they were still using lye soap made from plant ashes to wash clothes, and had not yet evolved to the stage of using scented soap. Hmm, first, let's create a voltaic battery, then electrolyze saltwater to produce caustic soda, and then mix in animal and vegetable fats, along with fragrances, and this soap will be born. Wow, long live money! Hmm, first, let's create a voltaic battery, then electrolyze saltwater to produce caustic soda, and then mix in animal and vegetable fats, along with fragrances, and this soap will be born. Wow, long live money!
"Alright, get up. I came to find you today because I have something valuable for you." Yin Zuo said with a smile as he handed over samples of a toothbrush and toothpaste. The toothbrush was crafted by Yi Honghua over the course of half a day; it consisted of a smoothly polished wooden handle with several rows of neatly drilled holes, filled with pig bristles, resembling a rather peculiar little brush. As for the toothpaste, Yin Zuo had gone to great lengths to obtain it from the Imperial Medical Institute, even causing his own teeth to ache from brushing so hard. After much effort, he finally managed to produce some samples, which were contained in a gilded wooden box, exuding a certain air of luxury.
Yin Zuo did not take out the soap because, firstly, the manufacturing process of soap is quite complex and involves many aspects. Although Yin Zuo has a general understanding of how to produce soap, he has not yet fully mastered it. Furthermore, one cannot put all their eggs in one basket; it is necessary to evaluate Liu Mingchuan's capabilities before proceeding. Most importantly, the matter of the elder brother engaging in industrial ventures must also consider the court's reaction, especially that of Emperor Kangxi. The toothpaste and toothbrush can be seen as a stepping stone; whether they succeed or not, the investment is only two thousand taels of silver, which is not enough to risk losing the entire family fortune.
"As long as you understand. After giving a slap, one must offer a sweet date; this principle is still known to Yinzuo. Help this noble son well, for this noble son will not treat you poorly. You alone cannot manage; your three children are quite clever. When they grow a bit older, if they possess some ability, this noble son will certainly find them a good position."
Yihong stood quietly to the side, waiting for Yinzuo to finish his meal, and then handed him the green salt and tea for rinsing. Ugh, more green salt; this thing is of no real use at all. Sigh, I really miss toothpaste and toothbrushes from my previous life. Hmm? Toothpaste? Toothbrush? Ha, there's an idea! These two items are not difficult to produce. If everyone in the country had a toothbrush, that would be a huge profit! Ha, and with toothpaste added, wow, that would be amazing! Just thinking about that wonderful "money prospect" made Yinzuo's eyes shine brightly, his mouth wide open, and he nearly drooled.
Not understanding? It's perfectly fine not to understand. If you understood everything, what would we be doing here? Yin Zuo cheerfully explained the uses and manufacturing processes of the two items in detail, inevitably discussing modern assembly line operations, price skimming (launching new products at a high-end route to maximize profits, which is called price skimming), advertising strategies, distributor systems, and so on, making Liu Mingchuan, a seasoned veteran in the marketplace, listen with wide-eyed fascination. He inevitably discussed modern assembly line operations, price skimming (launching new products at a high-end route to maximize profits, which is called price skimming), advertising strategies, distributor systems, and so on, making Liu Mingchuan, a seasoned veteran in the marketplace, listen with wide-eyed fascination.
In the end, Yinzuo took out two thousand taels of silver notes and the formula as capital, holding 70% of the shares. Liu Mingchuan contributed manpower and additionally provided four thousand taels of silver for 30% of the shares. Liu Mingchuan originally hesitated to accept Yinzuo's capital, willing to invest all the funds himself, with all the shares belonging to Yinzuo. This was, after all, something a subordinate should do, but Yinzuo, coming from a later era, was not fond of bully behavior. Firstly, he did not want to take advantage of others; secondly, if one wanted the horse to run, one must ensure the horse is well-fed. Therefore, he insisted on a 70-30 share split, which deeply moved Liu Mingchuan, the big man, to tears, making him eager to pledge his loyalty.
Yin Zuo is not lacking in money, at least not at present, but no one would ever complain about having too much money. Moreover, Yin Zuo plans to become the Prince of Peace in the future and enjoy himself, which will require a substantial amount of silver. He does not wish to engage in corruption or bribery, as that is a shady business. Relying solely on the monthly stipend would not lead to a very comfortable life, would it? However, he is currently at a loss regarding how to make money; there is no clear idea at the moment. Nevertheless, making money is akin to a woman getting married; one must act early.
Oh, it's time to eat! Life and death are trivial matters, but eating is of utmost importance; one must never shortchange oneself. In those dramas from previous lives, they often spoke of the Manchu-Han Imperial Feast, and advertisements frequently claim that hotels have some secret imperial recipes. In reality, those are all nonsense. Having been in this Qing dynasty for nearly a year, the meals are always lukewarm, neither salty nor bland, merely visually appealing, but the taste is truly lacking. At first, I was somewhat interested, but now, for Yinzuo, eating has become merely a means to fill the stomach, with no thought of enjoyment whatsoever. Only occasionally sneaking out of the palace to the hotels allows for a few indulgences, addressing the issue of culinary satisfaction. Unfortunately, I do not have much money, and I have not dared to visit large venues like Wangyue Tower. Thus, I am in a hurry to make some money.
This noble lord has but one requirement of you—loyalty. From today onwards, whatever you think must be in accordance with my wishes, and whatever you do must be for my benefit. Should you go against my intentions, well, you can ponder the consequences for yourself. At this moment, the young face of Yinzuo was as serious as a book, devoid of even the slightest hint of a smile.
Master, this servant is dull-witted and truly does not know what these two items are. I humbly request that you enlighten me.
Not long ago, several royal merchants sought connections and found their way to Yinzuo through various twists and turns. However, Yinzuo had no intention of accepting those shares. It was not that he was pretending to be high-minded or incorruptible; who wouldn't want to be corrupt under favorable conditions? The problem is that the next emperor, Fourth Master, is not to be trifled with. His two greatest pleasures in life are: first, beheading corrupt officials, and second, making things difficult for his own brothers. He can dig up old grievances faster than flipping through a book. If he were to accept those shares now, he would surely remember it, and when the time comes, well... Although it is still early for that master to ascend to the throne, he has a great memory. Ha, safety first, peace first.
A toothbrush is quite simple, isn't it? It is merely a wooden handle with some bristles made from hog hair or horsehair. As for toothpaste? Well, that is somewhat more complicated. The modern formulas and processes from later generations cannot be utilized at this moment. However, this does not pose a challenge for Yin Zuo. As a master's graduate in chemical engineering from a previous life, he is familiar with the earliest toothpaste formulas. The formula consists of 1 ounce of rock salt and dried iris flowers, 2 ounces of mint, and 20 grains of pepper (1 ounce is approximately 31 grams), all ground into a powder. This is then mixed evenly with slaked lime and animal fats. If some cooling herbs like two-leaf needle and licorice are added, the effect would certainly not be inferior to that of modern toothpaste.
Having settled matters with Liu Mingchuan, Yinzuo hummed a little tune as he slipped back to the prince's residence from Baizi Gate, accompanied by the two guards, Liu and Hai. Just as he entered the room and had not yet had a moment to catch his breath, Yihong hurried over, saying, "My lord, you have returned. The Grand Eunuch has come by twice already, and His Majesty has summoned you to the study for an audience."