Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

In the back garden of the Zhen Mansion, although it was late summer, the heat had subsided a little.

In addition, the garden is full of tall and graceful trees and lush green plants, which largely block out the late summer heat.

A pair of young men and women with dazzling looks, who looked very well matched, were strolling on the path in the garden and talking to each other.

Behind them followed a cute and clever little girl, who would occasionally pick a flower bud from a passing branch and play with it in her hands.

This scene should have been charming and beautiful, but the content of their conversation became increasingly solemn and serious.

The future situation of Xinchunhao mentioned by Zhen Fangqing is also what Jia Cong has always been vigilant about.
The reason why he delayed reporting the annual profit of Xinchunhao to Emperor Jiazhao for half a year was that he delayed the reporting to Emperor Jiazhao for half a year.

It wasn't that he was disloyal to the emperor.

In fact, from another perspective, although Emperor Jia Zhao was full of calculations for imperial power, he first did not confer any title on him, and then he came up with the trick of replacing the crown prince, trying his best to separate him from the Jia family as much as possible.

But in the end, he still made Jia Cong the hereditary earl, whether it was for the purpose of mediation and balance in governance or to win people's hearts.

But in the final analysis, this was also the emperor's great favor to him. Even though he had a natural resistance to this kind of imperial power conspiracy, he had to admit it.

But he had the experience and knowledge of two lives, as well as what he had seen during his time as an official, and the teachings and influence he received from Liu Jing'an.

He understood more deeply than many people how dangerous the officialdom was and how ruthless and cruel the imperial power was.

At first, Xinchunhao was just a small perfume shop in Shenjing. Because of its booming business, it was coveted and persecuted by people like Jia Zhen.

When Xinchunhao becomes a large business with an annual profit of 500,000 taels, even with the protection of the Imperial Merchant status of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who can guarantee that it will not be coveted by various forces?

He just wanted to gain greater security and living space for himself and those close to him.

Therefore, the half year he bought for Xinchunhao was the room and bottom line he left for himself. It was the space he could maneuver.

Moreover, through Lin Ruhai's connections and using Xinchunhao's own strength, they opened branches in Gusu and Yangzhou and paved trade routes.

Cleverly avoiding the intervention of officials from the Imperial Household Department was another way for him to create room for the future.

However, the world is ever-changing, power shifts, and who can predict what will happen in the future? It is probably not possible to rest easy just by relying on these retreat routes and plans.

……

Zhen Fangqing continued, "The Zhen family has been engaged in maritime trade for many years, and we know better than many people that although the Great Zhou is vast and rich in resources, we can see a more vast and boundless world across the sea.

In recent years, I have been paying attention to the management methods of Xinchunhao. I don’t think that those weird and novel marketing methods are all from the hands of the shopkeeper Qu. "

Zhen Fangqing smiled and glanced at Jia Cong, and said: "Yu Zhang is a young man who is extraordinary and rare in the world. It is not surprising that he has strange ideas that ordinary people cannot imagine.

With Xinchunhao's current momentum, perhaps in another two years, or at most three years, it will surely become the leading imperial merchant of the Imperial Household Department of the Great Zhou Dynasty, but where will it go after that?

If we go one step further, I'm afraid many people will be wary or covetous of us. This has always been the case in this world."

After hearing what Zhen Fangqing said, Jia Cong felt a chill in his heart. What she said was absolutely correct.

In just three years, Xinchunhao transformed from a small perfume shop with an annual profit of 50,000 taels into a giant with an annual profit of 500,000 taels.

What would it be like if Xinchun was allowed to develop for another three years?

He was a hereditary earl and an official appointed by the imperial court, yet he controlled an increasingly huge commercial force, which was truly extraordinary and shocking.

I'm afraid that the fear and covetousness that Zhen Fangqing mentioned will first come from the emperor in the palace of Shenjing.

A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind; a pile that stands out on the shore will be washed away by the current.

The world is difficult and has always been like this, and no one is immune.

Zhen Fangqing added: "Those who achieve great things and protect themselves in this world are either cunning rabbits with three burrows or nine out of ten graves with doubts. It is better to explore new paths and create a retreat.

In two or three years, Xinchun will become the leader of the incense industry in Dazhou. With the convenience of being an imperial merchant, the annual profit will be very shocking, and the risks will also double. Instead of doing something that is full of flowers and fire, it is better to retreat with honor, avoid the sharp edge of the world, avoid external constraints, and then find a new way.

I know that Mr. Qu and Miss Qin have been using foreign ships to sell incense products to the Southeast Sea Country in the past two years, but it seems that there has not been much progress?"

Jia Cong was secretly shocked after hearing what Zhen Qingfang said.

It is really amazing that a girl has such foresight and planning, and that every word she says makes sense, and even has a strange power of persuasion.

No wonder she, a daughter, could be in charge of the Zhen family's huge maritime trade business and even earn the Zhen family the reputation of Zhen Half City.

The stone path in the garden was winding. Zhen Fangqing passed by a jasmine branch, picked a bud and put it in her hair. In the bright sunlight, she looked even more graceful, with a face as beautiful as jade, and beautiful and charming.

……

She added: "I think that Manager Qu and Miss Qin must have done this with Yu Zhang's instructions. I think Yu Zhang probably agrees with me on this matter.

Even outside of the Great Zhou, there are still thousands of miles of sea and sky, and countless countries. If the Xinchun wants to survive for a long time and not be controlled by others, the best way is to take another ocean trade route!"

Zhen Fangqing smiled and looked back at Jia Cong, only to see that he was also looking at her with a pair of eyes as deep as autumn pools, flashing with depth and clarity.

The two looked at each other for a moment, and could feel a vague collision in each other's eyes.

But this is not the spark of sexual desire between men and women, but a flame of harmony in the pathways of thought.

For a later soul like Jia Cong, he is well aware that when a group or a country develops and expands to a certain extent, it is inevitable to take a long sea journey.

It is not surprising that he could understand this truth, which is based on the information explosion in later generations.

But Zhen Fangqing was just a weak woman. No matter what her purpose was, the fact that she could see and say these words was enough to surprise Jia Cong.

Jia Cong even had absurd thoughts in his mind, fortunately she was just a woman...

……

Jia Cong said: "The third lady has a broad vision, Jia Cong admires her very much. Although Xinchunhao has begun to sell incense products overseas.

But they were all sent to other countries for sale via foreign ships.

These foreign merchants either wanted to protect the interests of their own country's incense industry or to squeeze the price of Xinchun's spices.

There were great restrictions on the quantity of incense products that Xinchun could export. In addition, Xinchun was only established a short time ago and had not yet opened up overseas trade routes. It was simply selling goods abroad.

All the key points are in the hands of others, and there is no spare energy to fight for them. It will be difficult for them to become a major force in maritime trade in a short period of time."

Zhen Fangqing said: "The Zhen and Jia families are old friends, and it is right for them to help each other and support each other.

The second branch of the Zhen family owns the largest maritime trade fleet in Jinling. After years of maritime trade business, they have also established many trade routes and connections in the southeastern countries.

If Yuzhang wants Xinchun to make a breakthrough in maritime trade, I am willing to help. Xinchun can make the most of the fleet and overseas trade connections of the second branch of the Zhen family."

Jia Cong understood in his heart that Zhen Fangqing's words, after a series of twists and turns, finally hit the key point.

From a business perspective, she was not only providing huge profits to Xinchunhao, but it must also be of great benefit to herself, otherwise why would she lobby herself like this.

Moreover, Jia Cong sensed an obvious idea from Zhen Fangqing's words. She had been emphasizing that the second branch of the Zhen family was willing to help.

It’s not the entire Zhen family, nor does it include the Zhen family’s main branch…

Jia Cong himself came from a prominent family. No matter the former East and West Mansions of the Jia family, or the two branches of Jia She and Jia Zheng in the Rongguo Mansion, how many secret struggles were there among them.

So he could probably guess some of the Zhen family's private secrets, and even taste Zhen Fangqing's well-hidden anxiety from her seemingly calm voice.

He smiled and replied: "Miss San's hospitality, Jia Cong is very grateful." (End of this chapter)