The Book of Heaven

Chapter 380

When Ma Zheng "hid" in the holy hall to accept the test, the empire's pace of attacking Da Yuezhi did not stop at all.

Bashu was the first to take action.

Everyone in the world knows that the road to Shu is difficult, but in fact there is still a road that can quickly transfer materials from Ba and Shu out of Ba and Shu—the river.Through the way of river water transportation, materials can be quickly transferred, and the consumption of manpower and animal power is relatively small.

However, this method has considerable limitations. For example, in Bashu, where the flow rate is relatively fast, the cost of going downstream is only one-tenth of that of going upstream. Therefore, large ships generally carry cargo downstream and return empty.Secondly, there are also requirements for goods. Generally, anything that cannot be contaminated with moisture cannot be transported by water through rivers.

A large number of war equipment built by the Zhuge family was transported out of Bashu by water.After rigorous calculations, the imperial court found that the cost of going directly out of Bashu by land, whether in terms of people, property, or time, was more than going down the river by water and then returning to the northwest, so the final decision was still the way of water.

Facts have proved that the court's calculations were not wrong, and the Zhuge family was happy and relaxed, and sent away the war equipment that was enough to arm 30 people. In this way, not only the Zhuge family was relieved, but even the Zhuge family The workshop was also completely empty.

Zhuge Mingxin was the happiest, standing there watching, one foot still trembling slightly.

"What are you doing?"

Zhuge Yashan was beside him, knowing that his grandson was excited, but he was about to ask.

"Grandpa, you said so many things, the court should give us the final payment later, right?"

Although Zhuge’s family is a rich family, they are also nobles of the imperial court. Although Zhuge Yashan is not a prince, he is also a lord, but in fact, the imperial court ordered these instruments at Zhuge’s family. Come, and then pay [-]% of the processing fee, and then settle the balance after the final shipment is completed.

Zhuge Mingxin has not been in charge of the workshop for a long time. In fact, he has been in charge of the workshop for seven or eight years. During these seven or eight years, the sum of the odds and ends of the equipment required by the court is less than one-tenth of this time. , no wonder Zhuge Ming was so excited.

"You boy, you know that looking at the money, use your brain, I think it will be difficult to get the final payment this time!"

"what?"

The smile on Zhuge Mingxin's face disappeared immediately, and he asked inexplicably: "Why? The court has never been in arrears for a day of the usual final payment!"

This is also true, but Zhuge Mingxin forgot a very important factor - quantity.

People say that quantitative changes lead to qualitative changes. It is easy for a poor person to spend two or two meters a day, but it is very difficult to ask him to spend 30 or two meters for 60 days and a month. Maybe this poor person actually works every day to earn back One or two days of rice, I have to work every day, but I have to ask the boss for a month's credit at a time, and the boss is not willing.

After what Zhuge Yashan said, Zhuge Mingxin felt a little worried. It will be the end of the new year in a short time. At that time, the workshop will carry out an inventory, and the amount after the inventory is a measure of his Zhuge Mingxin's work performance. Although since Ma Zheng got engaged to Zhuge Mingyue, basically no one else in the Zhuge family could threaten Zhuge Mingxin's status, but if the result of the inventory loss is caused by the court's default of payment, Zhuge Mingxin himself feels that It's not good looking.

"It's not a big deal. We also have rules in our family. If the book losses are caused by the imperial court's foreign war, it is not a responsibility. On the contrary, such losses are a kind of credit."

"Credit?" Zhuge Mingxin couldn't believe that this was said by his always stern grandfather, and his books were all at a loss. How could it be a credit?

However, when Zhuge Mingxin asked Zhuge Yashan about the doubts in his heart, Zhuge Yashan said with a serious face: "Mingxin, you have to remember that although our Zhuge family was born in the production and sales of arms, we always We must not forget the roots of our Zhuge family, we are members of the empire first, and merchants second, and all our actions must not harm the interests of the empire at any time!"

Zhuge Yashan's pale face turned a little red at this time, and the volume of his voice also subconsciously increased, the silvery beard under his chin fluttered in the wind, but the two eyes in his old eyes were extremely firm!

Although this is about the Zhuge family, it is actually the truth for the vast majority of the imperial family, especially the honorable families who have received hereditary awards since the founding of the country!No one would value the interests of the empire more than the noble family, because they knew in their hearts that they would not exist without the empire, and once the empire perished, what would await them.

"Grandpa, I understand. Even if our family has lost money this year, as long as the empire is still there, as long as the interests of our Zhuge family are consistent with the interests of the empire, then sooner or later the lost benefits will be made back."

Zhuge Yashan nodded in satisfaction, and said: "You are right, but it is not enough! When the empire needs us, the Zhuge family can lose money even if they lose money, because when the empire needs us, we lose more and more. It’s amazing, and the empire will compensate us more in the future!”

Really shrewd businessmen will never only see the immediate benefits, they often take ten steps, or even a hundred steps.Zhuge Yashan may not be the most shrewd businessman, and his martial arts is not high enough, but he is smart enough, at least he has a good grasp of right and wrong, so under his leadership, the Zhuge family can gradually grow and become the behemoth it is today.

"Grandpa, I understand. Do we not want the remaining payment from the imperial court?" Zhuge Ming asked, scratching his scalp.

"How is it possible?" Zhuge Yashan put on a surprised face, stared at Zhuge Mingxin and said, "If we don't even want the final payment, how can our Zhuge family make money? Not only do we need the final payment, but we also need it." Always go to the imperial court to ask for it!"

"what?"

Now Zhuge Mingxin really didn't understand, didn't he just say that he would stand with the interests of the empire forever, why did it turn out that he often went to the empire to ask for the final payment?Isn't this contradictory?
"Brother, you still don't understand what grandpa means. What you think in your heart is one thing, but how to do it is another matter."

"Mingyue, why are you here?"

As soon as Zhuge Mingxin turned his head, he saw Zhuge Mingyue's delicate face.

"I was also a little bored in the room, so I came here for a walk. Grandpa granted me permission to enter the workshop. Big brother, don't be too nervous."

"Ah?" Zhuge Mingxin didn't know about this. He looked at Zhuge Yashan and saw Zhuge Yashan nodding. Zhuge Mingxin heaved a sigh of relief, but he still said: "There is nothing interesting in the workshop, and the goods are all sent away." Now, the craftsmen are also on vacation, what else is there to see?"

"Girl, you're probably thinking about that kid Ma Zheng?" Sure enough, Jiang was still old and hot, and when Zhuge Yashan spoke, a rosy glow flew up on Zhuge Mingyue's face, and he muttered, "How can you miss him? , I didn’t even know that I sent a letter after I left.”

He also said that he didn't think about it, and they were already complaining. Zhuge Yashan and Zhuge Mingxin smiled, and then Zhuge Yashan said: "Oh, I don't want to. I originally said to tell you about his recent situation. Since I don't want to, then forget it."

(End of this chapter)