Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 283 Breakthrough

Although the fertilizer production and coal mining were all prepared by Wang Xi and Huangfu Sengnian for their father, it was also a trap to lure Lady Zixia into a trap.

It could even be said that this was the battlefield that Wang Xi had meticulously prepared.

Objectively speaking, commerce is actually very underdeveloped at present, and the economy is still largely based on small-scale farming.

The characteristic of a small-scale peasant economy is that it is dominated by powerful and wealthy landlords. If you start with a small-scale peasant economy, it is impossible to defeat them because they are numerous and powerful.

There's only so much food, and they control a huge amount of resources; they're simply impossible to defeat.

Therefore, Wang Xi and his team had to build a completely new battlefield.

This battlefield must meet two characteristics.

Firstly, it had a strong attraction for Lady Zixia.

Secondly, it requires a large investment and cooperation with many families.

Whether it's fertilizer production or coal mining, it requires the cooperation of many people and has a huge influence, both on the imperial court and among the common people, which is exactly in line with Lady Zixia's interests.

However, the nameless academy holds a dominant position in this area of ​​technology.

Although their plans regarding the coal mine were seen through by Madam Zixia, causing a slight setback, this would not affect the overall situation.

As long as they are still in this industry.

Previously, Wuming Academy had formed a brand new coal mining group with the Yuchi family and the Qu family, and the rest was fertilizer production.

However, there are still some differences between the two.

Although many coal mines have been acquired by Madam Zixia, the Guanzhong region simply has a large number of coal mines, and Madam Zixia cannot completely monopolize them.

The key point is that Wang Maozhong was a supporter of the Nameless Academy, and he had left them three undeveloped coal mines beforehand.

Fertilizer production is relatively more complicated.

Because the nameless academy has no power to compete for those excrement, urine, and sludge, the only way out is to strive for cooperation with the existing fertilizer plants.

This was precisely the breakthrough point that Wang Xi had left for himself.

Under their scheme, their eight fathers established four fertilizer factories: Dou Xiguan, Guo Peng, Li Lingwen, and Li Shoude. These four men shared a common characteristic: they were all heroes of the coup d'état and had all exchanged power for wealth.

For example, Cui Shendao, although from a prominent family, did not have the financial resources to set up a fertilizer factory.

This is very, very expensive.

Of these four, Dou Xiguan and Li Lingwen did the best.

Dou Xiguan simply handed the management over to Madam Zixia, and the results were indeed remarkable. The larger and more complex the business, the more Madam Zixia's advantages could be demonstrated. If she were simply asked to sell a particular product, her strengths would not be apparent.

Li Lingwen, on the other hand, had Cui Shendao by his side to help him devise strategies, and he was doing very well.

However, the fertilizer factories of Guo Peng and Li Shoude performed only so-so.

Li Shoude is wealthy and doesn't care much about money, while Guo Peng cares about money but lacks ability.

When the four fertilizer factories were first established, Wang Xi and his team had already analyzed the situation and decided to target Guo Peng.

This time, however, Wang Xi did not go himself, but instead sent Huangfu Sengnian and Guo Peng's son Guo Jian to persuade Guo Peng.

To reiterate, their guiding principle is to uphold this lie, and given the eagle's persona, they are not well-suited for this kind of serious lobbying.

Guo Mansion.

"Young Master is back."

The doorman opened the door and saw that Huangfu Sengnian was also there, so he quickly bowed to him again.

Guo Qian asked casually, "Has my father returned yet?"

"My lord did not go out today."

As he spoke, the doorman whispered a few more words in Guo Jian's ear.

"I see."

Guo Jian nodded and asked, "Where is Father now?"

The doorman said, "I just went to the back hall."

"Ah."

Guo Jian gestured to Huangfu Sengnian, and the two of them walked along the passageway toward the back hall.

As Guo Jian walked, he whispered, "My servant just told me that the Yuan family came by this afternoon."

Huangfu Sengnian frowned slightly. "They must also be here to build fertilizer plants. Did your father agree to that?"

Guo Qian scratched his head and said, "How would he know? He's just a lowly doorman."

"However, I think something this big can't be decided in just one afternoon, so we still have a chance."

Huangfu Sengnian nodded, but in his heart he thought that his aunt was really a tough opponent, and he hoped that she hadn't gotten there first.

Although Lady Zixia did not appear, it was undoubtedly her idea.

This was something neither of them had anticipated. After all, the opponent already held a significant advantage, yet they were still putting in such effort, leaving them no way out. Upon arriving at the back hall, Guo Jian obediently bowed, "Father! Your son has returned."

Guo Peng didn't even lift his eyelids, "Get out!"

Because of the incident at the Nameless Academy, the relationship between the father and son at the Nameless Academy was actually quite tense.

Guo Jian said awkwardly, "Father, Monk Nian is here too, please give me some face."

Huangfu Sengnian immediately stepped forward and said, "Sengnian greets Uncle Guo."

Guo Peng then pretended to notice Huangfu Sengnian, saying, "Oh, Sengnian is here too."

His tone was very indifferent.

Guo Qian hurriedly said, "Father, Monk Nian has come to discuss business with our family."

"joke!"

Guo Peng was immediately enraged and said, "Your money comes from us, and you want to talk business with us? Jian'er, you can't compare to the Huangfu family and the Wang family. They only have one son, but I have several sons. I can kill one of them without any problem."

Guo Qian shrank his neck and dared not speak.

Huangfu Sengnian cupped his hands and said, "Uncle Guo, please don't take offense. Indeed, according to common sense, what is ours belongs to our fathers, but now we want to fight for our honor, so please give us a chance, Uncle Guo."

Guo Peng sneered, "You're just trying to stop a chariot with your bare hands. You're overestimating yourselves. If I were to play along with your nonsense, wouldn't I just become a laughingstock?"

He had already beaten his son, and there was nothing he could do. He asked Madam Zixia to teach them a lesson, but no matter what, they shouldn't be hanging out with a bunch of kids.

Huangfu Sengnian laughed and said, "Four or five out of ten of the most profitable businesses in the world today are related to us. I don't know why Uncle Guo thinks we are trying to stop a chariot with our bare hands and overestimating our abilities."

At least our competitors are cooperating with us; even now, they're unwilling to give up their partnership with our wineries.

Faced with the argumentative Huangfu Sengnian, Guo Peng was momentarily at a loss for words. It seemed she was right; Madam Zixia was shouting and forbidding this and that from cooperating with Wuming Academy, yet she herself was cooperating with them—that was shameless. So he said, "Fine! I'll give you a chance. What do you want to say?"

Huangfu Sengnian said, "We hope to cooperate with Uncle Guo in fertilizer production and coal mining."

Guo Peng sat up straight and said very seriously, "Do you think I would go against everyone over something like this? Your fathers didn't support you."

Huangfu Sengnian said, "Therefore, I will resolutely refuse to cooperate with them."

Guo Peng said, "Then what makes you think I would agree to cooperate with you?"

Huangfu Sengnian said, "Because Uncle Guo is a man of great principle and kind heart, in the end, it was they who bullied people, while we were standing up for justice. We are the righteous side."

These words were more palatable and true. The Linghu family were the victims, and the Yuan family were the villains. So, morally, there was a reason for it. Guo Peng laughed and said, "You're more sensible than that dog-headed vulture, but these nice words alone won't convince anyone."

Huangfu Sengnian continued, "The idea of ​​making fertilizer workshops came from us. We also have some technology. Once Uncle Guo cooperates with us, we guarantee that the fertilizer produced by Uncle Guo's fertilizer workshops will be the best fertilizer."

Guo Peng chuckled and said, "I don't doubt that, but you've overlooked one point: even good fertilizer doesn't necessarily have buyers. This fertilizer is meant to be sold to nobles, not ordinary people."

Huangfu Sengnian nodded and said, "Uncle Guo, please don't listen to slander. Please forgive me for saying something inappropriate, but those elders are not so united. If our fertilizer is better, people will definitely buy it."

Just like they now use our face masks and tooth powder, they haven't said they won't associate with us.

Guo Peng remained silent, feeling increasingly that this was unfair to him. You only shouted slogans, but you didn't give up any of your own interests. Why should I give up these benefits?

Huangfu Sengnian added, "That's secondary. The key is coal mining. This is a wealth that will be given to Uncle Guo. We will not only develop better coal mining methods, but our coal will also be the best, several times better than theirs."

"Then they won't be able to sell their coal, and we'll have to be selective in our sales. For example, the Yuan family and the Doulu family definitely won't be able to buy our coal."

Guo Peng's expression shifted. "Really?"

Guo Qian nodded and said, "Really, really, Father, no one has ever been able to match the skills of our Nameless Academy."

Guo Peng seemed to lack confidence in his son and kept looking at Huangfu Sengnian.

Huangfu Sengnian said, "If it doesn't work, we are willing to return ten times what Uncle Guo invested."

Guo Peng suddenly sighed, then adopted a kind and amiable expression, "Why are you doing this? You're putting us elders in such a difficult position."

Huangfu Sengnian said, "We are doing this for our father."

Guo Peng asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Huangfu Sengnian said, "Today, Madam Zixia can use this to deal with the Linghu family. Who can guarantee that they won't target our father?"

Guo Peng suddenly frowned.

Huangfu Sengnian added, “We students of Wuming Academy are the real family. Even after we grow up, we will still support each other. This bond is far stronger than the bond between uncles and elders.”

Yes! Their bond is far stronger than ours, and our family business will be inherited by them in the future. Guo Peng nodded with a smile, "No wonder I sent you, kid. You really are eloquent. Just for that one sentence, well, Uncle Guo will risk his life to play along with you. Jian'er."

Guo Jian hurriedly replied, "Your son is here."

Guo Peng said, "I'm entrusting this fertilizer factory to you to manage. Don't disappoint your father."

Guo Jian was extremely excited and quickly bowed, saying, "Father, don't worry, I will definitely fight for this honor."

Guo Peng smiled and nodded, saying, "Now that things have come to this, you had better win gracefully and not leave us with any mess."

Huangfu Sengnian said, "Uncle Guo, please rest assured, we will definitely crush the enemy completely."

(End of this chapter)