Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 235

Chapter 235 Split The Spoils
Qin Mubai and Li Ke’s reputation in the Land of Jing Xiang was greatly disturbed by the breakthrough of the Water Ghost case, and their prestige was immense!

The Water Ghost Party that had been left behind by the Sui Dynasty for decades to bring calamity to the Han River was completely destroyed. Du Chengyuan and Wei Taochen, the two Earth Overlords, collapsed overnight. Duan Rongji and Ouyang Jun, the two local gentry, were taken down in one move. All of this seemed to have happened overnight.

When the news spread, Jing Xiang rumbled, deafening!

To the ordinary people, a country Baojia and Li Zheng were all “big shots”. A casual sentence from someone else might change the fate of a family. As for county magistrates and military officers, they were all people who ate royal food. They could only be used to look up to them. For many years, Wei Aochen, Du Chengyuan, and the others were uncrowned emperors in the eyes of the people of Jingxiang. Many people only knew about Wei Du, not about the Son of Heaven.

Before they could remember the names of Li Ke and Qin Mubai, Wei Du and the others were all taken down by the two of them!

Such speed, decisiveness, was like a sharp knife slicing through a raging fire. Under the lightning, one was caught off guard and was shocked to the heart!

Overnight, the names of Li Ke and Qin Mubai resounded throughout Jing Xiang.

The people’s gossip souls seemed to come from their ancestors. At this moment, the gossip souls of the people of Jing Xiang began to burn. From the day of the incident, many versions of the story began to spread by word of mouth among the people. Under the influence of some talented gossip kings, the story of Li Ke and Qin Mubai fighting against water ghosts was widely spread. In different versions of the legends, Li Ke and Qin Mubai either transformed into Zhuge Liang’s “multi-wisdom almost demonic” staff, or transformed into an enhanced version of Li Kui that beat a hundred people and cut down ten streets without changing his expression or breathing. In short, they were extremely exaggerated. They almost imagined the two of them to be devil-like characters.

In the leisure area of the Restaurant Song Workshop, there were also various songs that were used to chant the deeds and virtues of the two of them, telling stories that were more than a hundred times exaggerated. There were also some young officials or official scholars who were so idle that they began to write countless poems of praise and exclamation, either in the form of ink, or directly on the walls of scenic spots, famous shops, and luxurious restaurants, for people to read and look at.

The power of the Eight Gossip Soul was formidable, and the efficiency of the Eight Gossip Cultivator’s word of mouth was not much inferior to the efficiency of modern high-tech media. Not long after, Li Ke and Qin Mubai, two figures with mortal bodies, were about to be deified by the people of Jing Xiang, turning into a brilliant “legend”, reaching a height that could only be looked up to.

What was even more noteworthy was that the affectionate Jing Xiang woman had two more people in her dreams that she could miss. King Wu Li Ke, who was so handsome and confused that his bloodline and background were incomparably noble; Similarly, Qin Mubai, a young hero who was also elegant and intelligent, had countless women and girls whose hearts trembled when they heard the name of the two of them. In the middle of the night, she tossed and turned, feeling even more lonely.

At this moment, Qin Mubai, who was one of the legends, was living the same life as usual. After the commotion, he enjoyed the current calm. He stayed in the barracks for a few days and was busy cleaning up the military affairs in the barracks.

The case of the water ghost was solved, and many people were implicated in the Xiang Province’s military mansion. More than ten officials were dismissed and held accountable, and more than half of the Zuoying Navy was dismissed. The entire battalion was jittery and panicked.

Qin Mubai knew that this was the best time to rectify the military mansion and build up its benevolence. Breaking through and then standing was equivalent to starting from scratch. It was in his best interest to completely break the old leather trap.

Hence, Qin Mubai issued the military mansion order and recruited the mansion soldiers from the lower rankings. A major personnel change had taken place throughout the entire manor. In fact, it had subverted the personnel system of the entire military manor, and it was a reborn reconstruction. Although a black sheep had emerged from this batch of Baiji from Chang’an, it did not affect their status and abilities, nor did it affect Qin Mubai’s trust in them. Among the remaining 30 people, apart from Pang Fei, who had already served as Guo Yi’s commandant, more than half of them had been appointed as team leaders, brigade commanders, and captains, or were in charge of the core confidential departments of Qi Cao, Liang Cao, and Zhou Cao.

Even Du Chengyuan and Zhao Chong had been uprooted. Who would be able to challenge Qin Mubai in the military manor? Therefore, Qin Mubai was practically dictatorial in all of this. Either with a wave of the pen or with a flick of the lips, the matter was settled without any doubt.

The Great Tang was a martial country, and there was never a shortage of soldiers. Within two days of the announcement, under Qin Mubai’s prestigious summons, the camp was instantly filled with trouble. Because there were too many people joining the army, they could only choose and choose from among the elites. At the same time, a batch of old, young, disabled, and weak soldiers in the General’s Mansion were sent away, and a great change of blood came.

After being reborn and reborn, the Xiangzhou Military Manor instantly became full of vitality and vitality. Qin Mubai ordered the entire battalion, be it veterans or new recruits, the more they rode, the more they recruited soldiers, or the more ordinary soldiers of the manor, to start practicing again. Naturally, the subjects he practiced were all completely new and had been personally verified by Qin Mubai. The elite soldiers of Baiji infiltrated into every detail of the military mansion, giving full play to their superiority in technical warfare and military affairs, and driving the entire military mansion to flourish.

Qin Mubai put in a lot of effort to rectify the military manor. Because he knew that his job was to be a general. If he didn’t do anything militarily, it wouldn’t make sense for his other tricks to be too good. He didn’t expect to train these ordinary commoners of the Xiang Prefecture’s military manor to be like Baiji. However, at the very least, they had to become “the elites of the government troops.”

Qin Mubai didn’t want to reach the peak of the Ancient Shuo Gold realm, but he was always a little bit more diligent and outstanding than others. This had always been Qin Mubai’s habit.

After a few days, Qin Mubai, who had been busy for a long time, was finally able to sneak out and take a stroll under the premise that the situation in the military manor was stable and everything was on the right track.

King Wu sent a letter yesterday saying that Zheng Anshun hadn’t shown up since he was rescued. He stayed in Jingzhou for a long time. With the help of the local military and government offices, he was responsible for dealing with a “great calamity” left behind by the water ghost. Recently, he was finally busy, so he came to Xiang Prefecture. No matter what, I still need to see him.

Moreover, this’great calamity ‘really surprised Qin Mubai. That was, the Water Ghost Party had accumulated an enormous amount of official grain and salt in the past few years. Li Ke invited Qin Mubai to meet him to discuss how to deal with this pile of things.

Qin Mubai handed over the military affairs to Pang Fei, packed up briefly, and left the barracks for the Prefecture. Along the way, he thought for a while. Although Pang Fei was loyal, obedient, and able to handle the things he had told him, he still felt that he was not capable enough at the moment. He felt a little worried if he wanted to stand on his own side. If only he had a strong right arm next to him. Think of a way to “borrow” Xue Rengui to the military manor and use it. In any case, he was also an officer of the Royal Palace. There was no difference between a military official and an officer of the Royal Palace, so it was normal for them to be allowed to move around. As long as he and Li Ke nodded and reported to the Ministry of War symbolically, he would be able to accomplish the task.

Arriving at the backyard of the secretariat’s mansion, Li Ke’s hearty laughter could be heard from afar. He and Zheng Anshun sat in the hall, not knowing what they were chatting about. They were exceptionally speculative and happy.

“Look, Hero Qin is here, haha!” The two of them stood up to welcome him.

Qin Mubai quickly walked forward and smiled, “Ann dares to trouble His Highness King Wu and Eldest Young Master Zheng to come out to greet him?”

“Heh! Jing Xiang’s most famous hero has arrived. Who would dare not welcome him?” Li Ke laughed loudly, “This is truly a great honor!”

“Alright, stop mocking me.” Qin Mubai smiled and turned around to greet Zheng Anshun. “Brother Zheng, I’m really ashamed that I caused you to suffer a period of imprisonment!” He said.

“No problem, no problem.” Zheng Anshun smiled and waved his hand. “Even though I was imprisoned, I didn’t suffer any undue abuse. It was delicious and tasty. There was someone to serve me, but I didn’t have His Highness to drink with Brother Qin. I was very depressed for a while.”

“Haha, then you must be drunk today!” Li Ke laughed loudly and walked into the hall with his left and right shoulders, saying, “Speaking of which, I’ve been looking forward to today for some time.” After the water ghost case was solved, I was busy taking care of the government affairs and reorganizing the government. Mubai went back to the camp to reorganize the military camp. Brother Zheng was also cleaning up the aftermath in Jingzhou. This hope was more than half! Today, the three of us have finally gathered together. There’s no need to say anything. Sharing the table, using the big gun! ”

“Listen carefully to Jun Ming!” Qin Mubai and Zheng Anshun both laughed loudly.

Sharing a table was not a simple matter of putting together a table to eat. Great Tang emphasized etiquette, respect and inferiority. Even if a family were to eat together, it would still be an orderly arrangement of the elders and children, with everyone sharing a table and eating. Not to mention the royal family. No one dared to take half a step over the lightning pool. Thus, there was the most polite and honorable way to treat people like “sharing a table”. For example, in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Guanzhang and the other two brothers shared the same table and bed.

The table was put together, and soon the good wine and dishes were brought up. Qin Mubai’s stomach growled and he laughed, “Haha, I’ve eaten dried fish and brown rice in the military camp for half a month. Today is a tooth sacrifice. The chefs in your mansion can do it. Your Highness, these are all famous dishes only in the palace!”

“Of course, you don’t need to see who you’re entertaining!” Li Ke smiled and said, “We are all from Chang’an. When we arrive in a foreign country, our stomachs should miss the dishes of Chang’an, right? Haha, come, move your chopsticks, we must eat and drink well today!”

“Please!”

After half-full meals and three rounds of drinks, the three of them cried out in pain.

“As the saying goes, you know how to drink. I haven’t drunk in the barracks for a few days, so I’ll open my stomach and have a good drink with you two today.” Qin Mubai raised a large glass and came to toast.

“Don’t be in a hurry. Don’t drink too fast. Otherwise, it won’t be good if you fall to the ground drunk.” Li Ke waved his hand. The two knew that he had something to say, so they put down the cup and listened to him.

“Today, I have something to discuss with you while I’m enjoying the wine.” Li Ke said to Qin Mubai, “When you weren’t here just now, I had already discussed a rough idea with Brother Zheng. I want to hear your opinion now.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Li Ke said, “Although the water ghost case has been solved, Xiangzhou has actually suffered heavy injuries, especially in the commercial port.” First of all, the Zhengchang Grain House and Yongye Salt Square have collapsed. There is a problem with the transfer and distribution of grain and salt. I have personally sent government officials to temporarily manage them in the near future. However, the government was not a businessman after all. Without their mature management methods and management methods, the results were not ideal. Adding on the fact that Duan Rongji and Ouyang Jun, the two leaders of the business world, had been defeated, many of the businessmen in Xiangzhou who were related to them were either shocked by the news, or closed their doors to avoid the limelight, or moved their families to another place to make a living. I have sent people to appease him many times, but the results have not been very good. If this continued, it wouldn’t be good. Xiangzhou’s commercial ports and docks had always been the most important source of revenue. If we don’t reopen the commercial port as soon as possible, the people’s livelihood and tax revenue of the entire state will definitely fall into a big trouble. ”

“That’s why I consulted Brother Zheng. Originally, my opinion was that the Zheng Clan would take over the official grain and salt factories in Xiangzhou.” Li Ke said, “With the prestige and ability of the Zheng Clan, I believe it will be able to rebuild the commercial port in a very short period of time.”

“That’s right. Indeed, there is no one more suitable than the Zheng Clan.” Qin Mubai nodded, “Is there anything else to discuss?”

“But Brother Zheng refused.” Li Ke shook his head and smiled bitterly, “Quickly help me persuade him.”

Zheng Anshun smiled and said, “Your Highness, didn’t I explain everything to you clearly? Brother Qin, it’s better for you to keep your mouth shut.”

Qin Mubai frowned doubtfully, “Brother Zheng, can you give me your reason for refusing?”

“Of course.” Zheng Anshun nodded straightforwardly and said, “Traders have always had their own rules and customs. Although our Zheng Clan has done 90% of the business in the Tang Dynasty, we have never touched this place in Xiang Prefecture. As for the reason, I have explained it to you two before. In a word, the merchants of Xiang Zhou have always held a hostile attitude towards our Zheng Clan in Chang’an. Now, although Duan Rongji and Ouyang Jun, the two leaders, had been defeated, it was not so easy to change the minds of the businessmen of Xiangzhou. The most important thing in running an official business was the channels and connections. If the local squire hates us, business will be hard to do. Whether or not they could earn money was secondary. Materials like grain and salt could not be delayed any longer. If there were delays and stagnation in the process of transshipment and distribution, it could mean tens of thousands of people facing famine and salt shortage, or the army running out of food. This kind of risk is not something anyone can afford. ”

“How could it be?” Li Ke frowned and said, “Could it be that you won’t be able to distribute and distribute the official grain and salt in your hands? Are all the businessmen from various channels no longer making money?”

“Not so, Your Highness.” Qin Mubai said, “Although I am an outsider of the business world, I have learned a bit about the ways of the world when I was with Wu Meiniang.” As the saying goes, peers are jealous. Apart from win-win cooperation, there was also competition and competition among businessmen. If you make a lot of money, people will be jealous and want to earn more than you, and maybe even use some sinister tricks to ruin your business. Even if they may not be able to earn more, they are happy to see you earn less. Although it was a minority, there was no lack of such sinister people in the world. If the Xiangzhou merchants were hostile to the Chang’an Zheng Clan, the situation would be even more difficult to say. As Brother Zheng said, whether or not to earn money is secondary. If you still bear unexpected potential risks because of this, then it is indeed not worth it. Businessmen, especially those like the Zheng Clan, paid more attention to whether the profits were abundant or not, and whether the risks and costs of the business were commensurate with the profits. Am I right, Brother Zheng? ”

“Indeed, Brother Qin is truly a fellow cultivator.” Zheng Anshun nodded and smiled. “It’s not that I don’t have the confidence to do business in Xiang Zhou. It’s that I really can’t achieve the results His Highness said.” In other words, I can’t reorganize the paralyzed Xiangzhou trading port in an extremely short period of time. I suggest that His Highness choose a Great Lord with experience, strength, potential, and a stranger to the local businessmen of Xiangzhou to replace Duan Rongji and Ouyang Jun as the leader of the trading port of Xiangzhou. “This person should be younger and more decisive. Furthermore, His Highness should provide him with the full support of the government. Only in this way can he be the most effective.”

Qin Mubai nodded and smiled. He thought to himself, Zheng Anshun is really a talented businessman. His words sounded simple, but they contained a business philosophy that was well known in the 21st century-the catfish effect.

Fishermen carry sardines, but they are too delicate and often die from lack of oxygen during transport. Obviously, dead fish were not worth more than live fish, so the fishermen tried their best to think of a solution. Finally, they came up with a wonderful recipe–to keep a carnivorous catfish in the barn where the sardines were transported!

In this way, during the transportation process, the lazy and quiet sardines had to swim and flee in order to escape the prey of their natural enemies. Thus, the problem of fish dying from lack of oxygen was solved. Moreover, “Life is about exercise.” The sardines that frantically moved under the stimulation of their survival instincts were even more lively than when they were first caught!

Thus, in the management of enterprises and personnel, this catfish effect is widely used. In a lifeless group, the introduction of a strong competitor, thereby stimulating other members to “counterattack”, so as to achieve the effect of activating the entire group. Practice has proved that this move is far more effective than the internal rectification and the system reform to stop the boiling of the soup.

Qin Mubai brought a batch of Baiji from Chang’an, and then cut down the old members to recruit new recruits into the military manor. In fact, he was using the “catfish effect” to rebuild the military manor.

Of course, Zheng Anshun had never learned this kind of thing before, but he had learned this from his family’s experience of nurturing and doing business. This kind of concept may be considered ordinary to us, but to the ancient people who worshipped the mean, it is really very advanced. It can be said to be beyond the times.

Otherwise, how could the Zheng Clan in Chang’an become the richest man in the Great Tang? If it weren’t for the fact that there were some exceptions, how could this be?

“Mubai, what’s your opinion?” Li Ke asked Qin Mubai after hearing Zheng Anshun’s words.

“Brother Zheng’s words are very good. I raise my hands to express my approval.” Qin Mubai nodded and praised, “The Zheng Family’s knowledge is indeed extraordinary. I admire them!”

“What? Brother Qin praises me absurdly.” Zheng Anshun smiled modestly. “Compared to Brother Qin’s bravery and magnanimity, this trick of Zheng’s is really not on the stage.”

Li Ke was upset and muttered, “If I want a businessman with experience, strength, potential, and courage, where can I find him for the time being?”

Zheng Anshun smiled confidently, “Your Highness, why are you searching for a candidate? Isn’t there one right in front of you?”

“Me?” Qin Mubai immediately laughed, “Stop joking, how is that possible!”

“That’s right, he’s a general. How can a general do business! … Wait!” Li Ke reacted quickly. His eyes suddenly lit up and he laughed loudly with a punch, “Right, right! How could I not have thought of that!”

Qin Mubai grinned, “Why do I smell a trace of conspiracy?”

“Wu Meiniang!” Zheng Anshun and Qin Mubai said in unison before clapping their hands and laughing loudly.

‘”Indeed” Qin Mubai shook his head, “I knew it. You didn’t have any good intentions when you called me here. You still have to spread this mess over my head and let me clean it up.”

“There’s no need for nonsense. You’re the only one.” Li Ke rubbed his hands and smiled wickedly. “Wu Meiniang, you have experience, strength, and potential. She is a business genius that even the Zheng Clan’s old master praises endlessly. More importantly, she was young, courageous, and had the courage to risk her life. This was the most wonderful thing. In addition to this place in Xiang Prefecture, with the support of this Prefecture Monarch, and with the help of a respected general like you, what else could she not do? It’s settled! Tomorrow, I will send someone to Chang’an to pick up Wu Meiniang! ”

The corner of Qin Mubai’s mouth twitched a few times and he muttered, “Then what about her business in Chang’an? As far as I know, he just closed his shop a few years ago and had no money left in his hands. How can he still come to Xiang Prefecture to do business? Don’t count on me, this general has two sleeves and is an honest official who is poor to death!”

“Haha!” Li Ke and Zheng Anshun both burst into laughter. Finally, Li Ke said, “The Qin Immortal Pavilion is just a wine shop. No matter how well it is run, is it comparable to the people in the entire state eating food and salt to help her earn money? There are still people in the Wu Clan, so leave the wine shop to someone else to manage! As for the capital to do business in Xiangzhou-Young Master Zheng is here, there is no need to worry about money.”

“Isn’t that bad?” Qin Mubai said, “How can I take the Zheng Clan’s money and do my own business?”

“Let me tell you this, Brother Qin.” Zheng Anshun smiled and said, “Your Highness has been discussing with me for a long time about how to deal with the large amount of grain and salt left behind by the water ghost. Previously, Your Highness wrote to the Emperor to follow the Sacred Will.” As a result, the Divine Will issued, saying that this batch of stolen goods was originally belonged to the official family, so they should be returned to the owner of the public report. Originally, it was supposed to be shipped to changan, luoyang, tun in the imperial court storage. However, the amount was simply too large to be transported and kept. Therefore, His Majesty decided to leave half of it in Xiangzhou and sell it on the spot in the form of official grain and salt. After returning to the profit, the grain tax and salt tax will be paid one after another. In other words, half of the hundreds of thousands of stones of grain and official salt were now given on credit. The merchants who were going to take over the official grain shops and salt labels would sell them first, and after they sold the money, they would pay the taxes. Moreover, out of reward and comfort, the emperor decreed that within two years, the official grain and salt merchants in Xiangzhou would only collect half a tax. Brother Qin, this is probably the best business in the world. “To put it bluntly, it is a business without capital, and the profits are huge and steady.”

How could Qin Mubai not understand? For a moment, his eyes widened. “There’s such a good thing? I dare say that you two have been cheating together for a long time, but you’re actually giving me a taste of the sweetness!”

“Haha, you finally understand!” Zheng Anshun laughed loudly and then said seriously, “Brother Qin, not only is His Highness grateful for your assistance, I am grateful for your kindness to save your life, even His Majesty the Emperor intends to reward you. Isn’t the tax reduction of the Imperial Court the benefit of His Highness’s secretariat office?”

“That’s right.” Li Ke smiled and said, “Half of the tax on hundreds of thousands of stones of grain and salt is so huge that I dare to take it all by myself? Other than you, Qin Mubai, who else is qualified to share it with me?”

“So, to put it bluntly today, the three of us are sharing the spoils?” Qin Mubai smiled.

“Haha, almost!” Li Ke also smiled and said, “Brother Zheng is responsible for shipping half of the grain and salt to Guanzhong. At that time, it will be distributed through the Zheng Clan. Brother Zheng is a kind-hearted person who is always happy and contented. After making this sum, he has no mood to steal from us. What are you thinking, Mubai? Money is good stuff, why don’t you ask your Mama to come and help us split the money?”

“Roger that!” Qin Mubai snapped her fingers, feeling so happy in her heart!

This trip wasn’t in vain!

From today onwards, I, Qin, am going to become an explosive person! Moreover, it wouldn’t be long before Wu Meiniang would become the king of the business world in Xiangzhou, a land of abundant financial resources, without any suspense.

It was really hard not to have great wealth after such repeated tossing and turning!