No title, no marriage? Do you think I'm some kind of lapdog?

Time flies when you're asleep.

The check-in system was lazy again this time, only giving Su Chuang ten lollipops.

I wonder how Lin Ruxue is doing; I haven't seen her for some time.

"I've finished writing today's story."

As the morning light shone into the study of the Duke of Xin's mansion, Su Chuang was already sitting behind his desk.

He held a few newly written chapters of a storybook in his hand, but his gaze was fixed on the corridor outside the window.

"My lord, Master Mi Zhu has arrived."

Zhao Yun pushed open the door and entered, stepping aside to let the person behind him pass.

The man was around thirty years old, dressed in a blue robe and cloth shoes, with a refined and scholarly appearance, but his eyes were strikingly bright.

He carried a worn-out bundle on his shoulder and held a thick booklet in his hands. He bowed deeply as he entered the room.

"This humble subject, Mi Zhu, pays his respects to Your Excellency, the Duke."

No need for formalities.

"sit."

Su Chuang put down the paper and pointed to the chair opposite him.

"Here you are."

Mi Zhu sat down as instructed, but did not speak immediately. He first presented the booklet with both hands before explaining.

"This is a list of the main trade routes for tea, silk, salt and sugar in the seven prefectures of Jiangnan, with a total of 43 large merchants and more than 200 small and medium-sized merchants."

"Each company's main product categories, annual throughput, the personality and preferences of its leader, and the negotiable cooperation rates are all recorded here."

Su Chuang took the booklet and casually flipped to a page.

The characters are written in tiny, dense script, and the entries are clearly written.

Not only the trade routes, but also the checkpoints along the canal and the backgrounds of local powers are marked.

"The Mi family of Jiangnan has a long history of commerce. Since you are a direct descendant, why have you come north to join me?"

"I am neither a member of the royal family nor a high-ranking official."

"Following me offers almost no future."

He looked up at Mi Zhu

Three reasons.

Mi Zhu responded with neither servility nor arrogance.

"Firstly, the Mi family had reached its peak in Jiangnan and wanted to find a new master to open up trade routes in the north."

"Secondly, I have tasted and read the Duke's wine and storybooks, and they are all pioneering and unique items."

Thirdly…

He paused, lowering his voice slightly:

"This humble citizen wants to break down class barriers and rise from merchant to scholar!"

Su Chuang's gaze narrowed slightly.

The study fell silent for a moment.

"good!"

Su Chuang closed the booklet, pulled out three account books from under the table, and shoved them over with a thud.

"These are my properties: a winery, a storybook shop, and a sugar factory that will open in three days."

"Currently, the daily income is about three thousand taels, and the channels are limited to the capital and the three surrounding counties."

Mi Zhu took the ledger and quickly flipped through it.

He flipped through the pages extremely quickly, but would pause briefly when his eyes swept over the numbers.

In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, the three account books were reviewed.

"The distillery can expand its production threefold, so a branch distillery needs to be built in Jiangnan to use local spring water."

"Storybooks can be printed using woodblock printing, which can reduce costs by 70%, and distribution can be spread throughout the country."

"Sugar mill".

Mi Zhu's fingertip touched one of the pages.

"Although this method of sugar production is refined, it consumes a great deal of firewood."

"Sugarcane grows in the south and sugar beets grow in the north; we need to start planning our raw material supply channels immediately."

Su Chuang smiled. This is exactly the kind of talent we need!

Indeed, everyone has their own area of ​​expertise.

"From this day forward, you are the head manager."

"You are fully responsible for all business operations, personnel allocation, and channel development."

"I need to see the net profit when I submit the accounts at the beginning of each month."

"There is only one requirement: the money must be quick, stable, and readily available in large amounts of cash."

Su Chuang trusted those he employed and did not employ those he did not trust, and quickly made arrangements.

"Zhu will certainly not fail the trust placed in him by our lord."

Mi Zhu stood up and bowed deeply.

"Go ahead and get busy. A courtyard has been prepared for you in the east wing of the mansion. Hire whatever manpower you need."

Su Chuang waved his hand and added another sentence.

"Find Jia Xu to hand over the reins; he's in charge of these matters now."

"The sooner the better!"

When Mi Zhu left the study, his steps were a few paces faster than when he came in.

……

afternoon.

Su Chuang practiced shooting in the courtyard, and before he could even wipe the sweat from his brow, a familiar figure appeared at the other end of the corridor.

"My lord!"

Jia Xu was still wearing that gray cloth robe, and he walked silently.

He was carrying a wooden tray with a pot of tea and two cups on it.

"Wenhe's return is just in time."

Su Chuang sheathed his knife and gestured for him to go into the study.

Zhao Yun consciously stood guard outside the door and closed it behind him.

Fill the teacup to seven-tenths full.

"What advice does Wenhe have for me when we negotiate with the Xiongnu the day after tomorrow?"

Su Chuang didn't touch his teacup and spoke directly.

"Reporting back to our lord!"

"Wanyan Zongbi is brave and fierce, but lacks patience."

"He came to Beijing this time burdened by internal pressure from his tribe. The grasslands are cold this winter, and many cattle and sheep have frozen to death. He urgently needs food to reassure the people."

Jia Xu tucked his hands into his sleeves and bowed slightly.

"Go on."

Su Chuang said thoughtfully.

Therefore, their negotiations must be swift.

"My lord, you may do the opposite."

Jia Xu's voice was calm, yet each word was clear.

"The first step is to show weakness."

"At the outset, we can concede a couple of insignificant terms, such as the location of the trading post or the number of people in the delegation. Let them become arrogant."

He held up one finger.

"And the second step?"

Su Chuang pressed for an answer.

"When they think they have victory in their grasp, they reveal their trump card."

"My lord may 'casually' mention that a batch of smuggled crossbows was recently seized in the capital."

"The markings on the crossbow seem to resemble the marks of a workshop under the command of a certain Xiongnu prince."

"One more thing, it's a pity that the prince is now weak and will probably be abandoned by the tribe."

Jia Xu raised his eyelids and spoke slowly.

"Um…"

Upon hearing this, Su Chuang tapped his fingertips on the edge of the table.

Wanyan Zongbi was not without political enemies within the Xiongnu.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard had already learned of this, but had never brought it to the forefront.

"What if he gets angry and flips the table?"

Su Chuang countered with a question.

"Then let's move on to the third step."

Jia Xu lowered his eyes.

"My lord only needs to sigh and say, 'His Majesty was lamenting yesterday that the Second Prince's treason case has caused a great uproar in the court for war.'"

"Although I wish to negotiate peace, the generals in the army are all shouting that they want to use the heads of the Xiongnu to sacrifice to the flag."

Su Chuang remained silent for a moment.

This is pushing the pressure back.

It's not that I don't want to talk, it's that my men want to fight.

If you don't want to talk, that suits me perfectly!

"Let's proceed with this plan."

"Let them go first, then capture them."

"Wenhe!"

"How to use someone else to do your dirty work!"

He finally spoke, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

"My lord, that curved scimitar with the character 'xiao' on it is the perfect murder weapon!"

Jia Xu quickly threw the evidence that the Embroidered Uniform Guard had picked up on the ground.

"There's one more thing."

"The old soldier in the manor who lost a finger has been properly taken care of."

"He muttered after drinking that the arrow came from behind him at Luofeng Slope back then."

He thought of something and quickly said it.

"understood."

"Go..."

Su Chuang waved his hand, and the teacup gently landed on the table.

Jia Xu bowed and withdrew, his figure disappearing around the corner of the corridor.