Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 128: A gamble to get something for nothing? (The third update)

Luo Gan, Zhang Yuan and others looked at each other, their faces filled with bitterness and struggle.

They admitted that they were moved.

They couldn't help but be tempted. Not to mention whether they could become an official, even if they were just an "official", it would be a chance to change their family's destiny. Merchants have always been lowly. Although they can earn a lot of money through business, they have no power and influence. Any local official can bully them.

Corvée labor and other labor were also conscripted first, and those who performed them were the hardest and most tiring labor.

It's impossible for them to have no ideas.

Moreover, Xia Zhibai has promised to absorb all the people in their hands. Isn't this also finding a job for the tribesmen to make a living?

Again.

Xia Zhibai has issued a notice.

From now on, the salt markets in Shouzhou Prefecture and Chuzhou Prefecture will all be under his control.

They cannot compete in the first place, but they have to find a way to make their family livelihood. As for engaging in other businesses, that is indeed possible. However, as Xia Zhibai said before, all commodities related to people's livelihood will be gradually brought under the control of the court. How can they withstand such a great turmoil?
If they could really become an "official", the fate of their entire family would be changed.

Long thought.

Luo Gan blushed slightly and asked seriously, "Master Xia, are all of what you said true? Are we, the merchants of lowly origin, really qualified to be officials? The Ming Dynasty law clearly states that we, the lowly origin, are not allowed to change our place of origin."

"You can only be a slave for generations."

The other salt merchants also looked at Xia Zhibai nervously.

This news was too shocking for them.

Can't be cautious.

Xia Zhibai nodded seriously, and said with a smile: "I, Xia Zhibai, have always kept my promises. Since I dare to make such a boast, it is certainly not without purpose."

"Do you remember what I just said?"

“The barbaric ecology of industry and commerce in the past is bound to end.”

“That’s not such a bad thing.”

"Because instead, business will be completely brought under the supervision of the imperial court, which also means that business will become more and more institutionalized and standardized."

"In the past, merchants were considered lowly, mainly because they were difficult to supervise by the court. They evaded taxes seriously, and committed all kinds of crimes in private, such as forced buying and selling. If the court did not suppress merchants, wouldn't it make them even more rampant?"

"If merchants are brought under the supervision of the imperial court like ordinary people, they will naturally be given some leniency in other aspects."

"But the 'official' I'm talking about is different from the 'official' you think of."

"in my opinion."

"The 'clerks' of the Kyoto Salt Shop can only be regarded as 'business-level', that is, they are only interested in making money. If you want to reach the level of 'clerks' working in local government offices, you should reach the level of 'administrative-level', that is, become the manager of a large salt enterprise under the governor."

"But your status will definitely improve."

"I can guarantee that."

Luo Gan and others looked at Xia Zhibai deeply, but did not dare to make a decision easily.

This means giving away all the foundation that you have worked so hard to build. If you are cheated, you will lose everything and never have a chance to turn things around.

They had to be careful.

Xia Zhibai picked up the tea bowl, took a sip leisurely, then put it down and said calmly: "It's normal for you to have concerns. I won't rush you to give me an answer. If you don't want to, I will give you another choice."

"In the future, if you want to make money related to people's livelihood, you can only earn hard-earned money."

"You should also know this."

"Kyoto Salt Shop has only been promoted to the county level. As for the villages and towns below, Kyoto Salt Shop has not been promoted."

"You can occupy this part of the market, but you can only buy salt from the Kyoto Salt Shop in the future. However, if the demand is large, the Kyoto Salt Shop will give you a certain discount, which is a little lower than the market price. You can earn some hard work fees by tinkering back and forth."

"besides."

"That's what I said before, creating high value-added products."

"Get some salt with special effects. You can decide the price of this salt."

"How much you can earn depends on how many people you can convince."

“It all depends on my own ability.”

"If you feel embarrassed about this, you will have to wait a little longer."

"Wait a few months, and my iron mine in Shuntian Prefecture will officially go into production. At that time, some new farm tools and transportation tools will be produced. You can continue to be middlemen, or find someone to design some things and let my craftsmen help build them. Then you only need to pay the labor and material fees."

“There’s not a lot of choice.”

"And the final choice is up to you."

"But you have to hurry up. My time is very tight. I will leave for Shuntian Prefecture in a few days and then start to build the Shouzhou and Chuzhou salt fields. If you haven't given a clear answer before then, I will assume that you have given up and will directly hire people from the nearby people."

“The reputation of Kyoto Salt Shop has been established.”

"People in many nearby prefectures hope to sell their salt to Kyoto Salt Shop."

"As an official of the Ming Dynasty, I should be considerate of the people."

"So we can't wait, we can't delay."

"Please forgive me."

Xia Zhibai bowed to several people and apologized.

Luo Gan and the others hurriedly returned the greeting and whispered, "Master Xia, can you give us a few days? This matter concerns the future livelihoods of dozens of people in the clan. I really dare not make a decision easily. I can only reply to you after discussing it with the elders of the clan."

"I hope your Excellency will forgive me."

"I hope you will forgive me, sir." Zhang Yuan and others also bowed.

Xia Zhibai smiled and said, "Of course."

"I, Xia Zhibai, respect all the choices you make." "I will never have any opinions or views on the choices you make."

"Some things just happen to be done because you are in the right position and at the right time."

"Please forgive me, too."

"It's getting late, so I'll leave first."

Xia Zhibai had already informed everyone of everything he needed to know. Continuing to stay in the teahouse would only put pressure on Luo Gan and the others.

Luo Gan and others quickly stood up and respectfully saw Xia Zhibai off.

After Xia Zhibai walked away and disappeared completely, Luo Gan and the others sat down again, their faces full of confusion and helplessness. What Xia Zhibai said today had a huge impact on them.

It also made them realize the huge gap.

There is a world of difference between them.

Everything they were proud of was a joke in the eyes of officials and could be easily crushed as long as the government had the idea.

Just like the sudden emergence of Kyoto Salt Shop.

As long as the government puts in some effort, they will be completely defenseless.

Now the government has begun to prepare to regulate business.

Their situation has completely changed.

Zhang Yuan came back to his senses, looked at the people around him who were still in shock, and said, "Everyone, now that Lord Xia has left, who of you can tell me what we should do? Should we really go and seek refuge with Lord Xia? Or should we just earn some hard-earned money in the future?"

"I have absolutely no idea what's going on right now."

Zhang Yuan looked dejected.

The whole person is like a deflated ball.

His eyes were dull and listless, as if he had suffered a great shock.

The others gradually came to their senses, and their faces were also filled with solemnity. Someone said, "Brother Zhang, you really think too highly of us. We are also in a state of confusion right now, but I am really not sure if we can really become 'officials' if we defect to the government? Can we change our status as 'lowly' people?"

The others frowned.

Xia Zhibai's reputation is indeed very good.

But this is not something Xia Zhibai can guarantee.

If what Xia Zhibai said was false, then they would lose all their money.

All the results of decades of hard work were given away to others, and oneself was also put into the hands of others.

This will really become a joke for all eternity.

"Brother Luo, what do you think?" Zhang Yuan looked at Luo Gan.

Among them, Luo Gan is the oldest, the most shrewd, and has experienced the most.

Luo Gan stroked his beard, looked at the eyes gathered around him, and said in a serious tone: "As for whether we can become an official, in my opinion, it can be true or false. It depends on whether we dare to take the gamble."

"Brother Luo, what are you talking about? If it's true, it's true. If it's false, it's false. Why are you still betting on it?"

Luo Gan took a deep breath and said seriously, "I didn't say anything wrong. It was a bet. I was betting on whether Lord Xia could rise to a higher position in the future and change the household registration system of the Ming Dynasty by himself. If he wins the bet, he can become a 'business official' like Lord Xia, not to mention an official."

"If you lose the bet, then it's naturally fake."

"Just like what Master Xia said."

“This is politics.”

"I've heard about some things in the court before. The political struggles among the officials in the court were intense."

"If we choose to stand with Lord Xia, we can only go this far. If Lord Xia wins, we will be able to rise to prominence. Not to mention being delisted, even merchants can become officials in the future. But if Lord Xia loses, everyone who stands on Lord Xia's side will be purged, one by one."

"There was only one outcome then."

"It's death!"

"What we are betting on is Mr. Xia's future."

Luo Gan's voice echoed in the box, and everyone fell silent.

They all understood what Luo Gan said.

This is a big gamble.

They took all the wealth and lives of their family members to bet that Xia Zhibai could realize his ambition. If they won the bet, as the first people to surrender, how could they miss out on benefits? But if they lost the bet, the whole family, young and old, would probably be killed.

In ancient times, there was a man named Lü Buwei who had a lot of rare goods.

Now they are forced to face such a choice.

The temptation is great.

But the risks are equally high.

However, there has never been a shortage of gamblers among businessmen since ancient times.

As long as the rewards are big enough, there will still be businessmen who will continue to come forward even if there is a risk of being beheaded.

This is the profit-seeking instinct of businessmen.

Luo Gan licked his dry lips. For the first time, he felt that the decision was so difficult. He didn't know whether Xia Zhibai could succeed, but the only thing he knew was that such a gamble was destined to never happen again in his life.

bet.

Still don't gamble.

After struggling for a long time, I finally made a choice.

He is a businessman!!!
(End of this chapter)