Zhu Nao

After returning to the state capital to rest for a few days, Zhu Nao gathered the merchants involved in the grain trade in the city to discuss the future plan of the grain trade.

The success in Yuzhou this time made the merchants participating in the grain trade very happy.It should be noted that although the profit of grain is thin, as the saying goes, "If you want to grow money, you will get rid of grain."This business has small profits but high turnover, extremely fast turnover, and is very stable-no matter what kind of world, ordinary people have to eat food.And other operations have ups and downs, and there is no such stability.

Therefore, the businessmen who saw the potential of the grain bank had no reservations, and expressed their willingness to invest more, and worked together to run the grain bank well.

After getting the firm statement from the merchants, Zhu Nao said: "I will no longer personally participate in the operation of the grain bank. I am the biggest owner of the grain bank, and I will supervise and direct the operation of the grain bank—naturally, you all It's the owner, if there is any decision, I will discuss it with you and get your consent before making a decision."

Merchants have no objection to this point.Of course they hope that Jun Nao can continue to participate in the business. Jun Nao's level of business is obvious to all. With Jun Nao around, he will definitely help them make a lot of money.However, Zhu Nao is now the state shepherd, so it is impossible to spend so much time in the business. With him to supervise and command, although it is worse than his own management, it is always reassuring.

Seeing that everyone had no objection, Zhu Nao said again: "Then let's discuss and select the candidates in charge of management in these few days. If you have good candidates, you can also recommend them to me. However, although the managers in charge have the authority to play by ear , There are also many rules to follow.” Then he reiterated the types of food, pricing methods, quality control and business strategies operated by non-traitor grain companies.

When he finished talking about all the rules, the faces of the merchants were not so good.In the final analysis, the purpose of the merchants is to make money. The rules and regulations established by Zhu Nao can be regarded as conscience for the common people, but there are many restrictions on the profits of the merchants.

Relying on the fact that his elder brother Li Xiang has made great contributions in Yuzhou, Li Shen has been quite proud recently.So he was the first to speak out against it.

"Zhuzhou Mu, our price is too low, isn't it?" Li Shen said confidently, "The profits of other grain merchants are at least [-]% higher than ours. Even if we want to lower their prices to seize business, [-]% lower is still low." , why is it so much lower? Isn’t this just letting money go?”

Zhu Nao smiled and said, "It's only [-]% lower, and the common people can't detect the difference, they will just think it's price fluctuations. Other grain merchants will immediately lower their prices to compete with us, which is not conducive to the rapid expansion of non-traitor grain businesses."

Li Shen was stunned.

Indeed, their purpose is not to make money quickly in a short period of time, but to first establish the reputation of the non-traitor grain company and become the largest grain company in Sichuan, and then seek long-term benefits.If the price is only a little bit cheaper than others, the competitors will definitely follow suit to lower the price immediately, and they will not be able to achieve their goal, so they have to lower the price again; but if their profit is much lower than others from the beginning, then other grain merchants may need to wait and see for a while To decide whether to follow the price reduction.And this time of hesitation and wait-and-see is a good time for the rapid expansion of non-traitor food.

And when the business is robbed by them, other grain merchants have no choice but to compete with the price cuts, and it is too late-after the common people are used to buying grain from non-traitor grain stores, they often don't bother to change unless there are huge benefits.

Thinking about it this way, Junau’s pricing strategy is indeed very reasonable.This is a price that merchants can accept although they are a little uncomfortable, and it is conducive to the rapid expansion of grain companies.This was not something that Junao came up with all at once, but a decision he made after weighing the pros and cons.

Li Xiang was still struggling with how such a method would make them lose much money in the short term, but Zhu Nao said meaningfully: "Brother Li, you should take a long-term view when doing business. A short-sighted loss is enough. You can't fall back and forth in the same pit."

Li Shen: "..."

During the banquet, everyone was stunned for a moment, some could not help but snort, and some laughed out of embarrassment.

Li Shen is indeed not good for business, if he hadn't met Zhu Nao, maybe he would have done well.Thinking that the ancestors of his Li family opened a medicine shop in Langzhou for generations, and passing it into his hands would be enough for him to live a prosperous life.As a result, Zhu Nao came, and within two years his business was so run that it almost went bankrupt.Not only was the ancestral business not doing well, but in the past two years, every time he tried to get in trouble with Zhu Nao, it was himself who was unlucky.

He was so angry, but he had nothing to refute - the facts have proved time and again that Junao is more talented in business than him, and Junao's vision is farther than him, so what's wrong with saying that he is short-sighted?

Li Shen held back for a long time, stared and gritted his teeth, and finally shook his head pretending to be cool, and said, "All right, anyway, I don't need this little money now. Then wait for the non-traitor grain business to grow and monopolize the grain business." It’s better to raise the price again.”

He pretended to be indifferent, but actually sat back with his face flushed.

Zhu Nao smiled and said nothing.

The current profit is indeed very low. After the smooth expansion of the food industry, the price can be raised.However, if the price is raised too much by relying on the monopoly operation, and the non-traitor grain business becomes a profiteer grain business, then a second non-traitor grain business will appear soon to defeat the profiteer grain business.

But that's for the future, so there's no need to discuss it with Li Shen right now.By then, there will be smart people who know how to do smart things.The most important thing right now is to quickly open the grain line.

During the banquet, there were several people who had the same idea as Li Shen.Li Shen asked the question first, and was laughed at by everyone, and those few people didn't dare to mention it again.

Seeing that everyone had reached a consensus, Zhu Nao said again: "In the future, when we operate in various states, we may not necessarily kill all the local grain merchants. If they are willing to cooperate with us, operate according to our rules, and put up our signs, we can also cooperate with them. Profit."

As soon as this remark came out, the merchants were startled again.

They were both excited and worried when they saw Zhu Nao flexing his muscles in Yuzhou and beating the grain merchants in Yuzhou to the ground.Of course they want to beat the competition, but it will not be easy.Merchants from all over the world have intertwined relationships in various places. Although not everyone is as domineering as Wu Liang, they each have their own abilities.If you blindly fight to the death, even if you can succeed, you may lose your vitality in the end.

But what Zhu Nao said, they acted in a much gentler way.It's easier to do, though it may involve sharing profits with more merchants.

Zhang Xiang worried: "Here, let them use our signboard and follow our rules, will they be willing? After all, our profit is much lower than they used to manage by themselves."

Zhu Nao asked back, "If it were you, would you be willing?"

Zhang Xiang thought for a while, but remained silent.As long as the non-traitor grain business can really do a good job, there are only two paths left for other grain merchants: either cooperate or give up.The answer is already clear.

Zhu Nao said a few more things, setting all the rules of the non-traitorous trade, and only waiting for the specific implementation.

The merchants were convinced of Jun Nao and had no more doubts, so after the discussion was over, Jun Nao went back home.

……

Zhu Nao returned to the state capital, and was about to go to the backyard to rest, when Dou Ziyi hurried up to meet him: "Zhou Mu, I found some information about those refugees who robbed the barn."

"Oh?" Junao immediately stopped and asked, "What did you find?"

Dou Ziyi said: "I have investigated many incidents of villages and farms being looted by refugees in the past few months, and I have sent people to question some refugees, and found that this is not the first time that group of people committed crimes. Counting the granary in Liujia Village , this should be their fourth crime.”

Zhu Nao suddenly became interested and motioned him to continue talking.

Dou Ziyi said with a serious look: "This group has expanded rapidly. When they committed the crime for the first time three months ago, there should have been only three or four people. Now they probably have around twenty people."

Junao nodded.Refugees are like this, living without a fixed place, and doing everything for their livelihood.It is easy for them to form gangs. After all, there are more people and more strength, which is more convenient for robbery and theft.But the gathering is fast, and the dispersion is fast, and the number of people will not be too many.After all, with one more person and more mouths, it is more difficult to survive.Therefore, twenty or so people is already a big team, which shows that the leader is capable enough.Moreover, so many refugee teams are already a great hidden danger to public security.

Zhu Nao said: "Who is the leader among them, have you found out?"

Dou Ziyi nodded: "The name of the leader is Wei Yue. Several refugees from Jianzhou have seen him and said that he is only in his twenties, thin, and so tall." As he said, he raised his hand and gestured. Taller stature.

"Those people said that based on his accent, he should be from Jianzhou. I have sent people to Jianzhou to investigate, and I don't know if we can find out his background. Anyway, it will take some time."

Junao nodded.Although the information was not specific enough, it was not easy for Dou Ziyi to find out so much in just a few days.

He thought for a while, and said: "Since this is not their first crime, then you can tell me the details of each robbery they committed before."

Dou Ziyi said: "It's been sorted out, and then I will send it to Zhou Mu."

Zhu Nao immediately grinned in satisfaction: "Boss Dou, thank you for your hard work."

……

Beifuzhong.

A group of teenagers lined up in several rows in the yard, and Cheng Jingzhe stood at the front of the crowd and looked around.

He said: "During my absence, you have not been lazy, have you? Have you made any progress in practicing?"

The teenagers answered the words one after another, and there was a commotion in the yard.

"I'm not lazy, I practice hard every day."

"Brother Jingzhe, you've only been gone for a month, how much can we improve?"

"Brother Jingzhe, is Yuzhou fun?"

"We can go out to perform missions anytime..."

These dozens of teenagers were the orphans that Zhu Nao recruited from the bandits and refugees after Zhu Nao rectified the bandits. Because it was difficult to resettle, he simply vacated an empty house in the city for these teenagers, and asked Jing Zhe to teach them how to read. Practice martial arts.The reason for this arrangement is not that Jing Zhe is good at teaching others, in fact, he himself is half a bottle of water, teaching and learning at the same time, Zhu Nao also arranged some other teachers to teach the teenagers.And his purpose is nothing more than to cultivate influence for Jing Zhe, these young people will be Jing Zhe's confidants in the future.

These teenagers are both orphans and have unfortunate backgrounds. Most of them were silent and vigilant when they first came.However, after a few months of hanging out with their peers, the psyche of the teenagers was stimulated again, and they gradually gained vitality.Now Jing Zhe is very familiar with them, and has established a prestige among them.

Cheng Jingzhe raised his hand to stop the noisy people, and said: "I heard that you have been practicing marksmanship this month, show me your marksmanship, and let me see how much progress you have made."

Boys, you look at me, I look at you, and I don't know who to start with.

Suddenly, Pei Ziqi came out from the crowd and said, "I practiced very hard this month when you were away, how about we compete and see if I have improved?"

Cheng Jingzhe glanced at him, and said cheerfully: "Okay, come."

That day when Zhu Nao asked Cheng Jingzhe to lead the group of teenagers, the rest of the teenagers obeyed obediently, only Pei Ziqi was dissatisfied, he had a boxing contest with Cheng Jingzhe, and only joined the team of teenagers after losing.In the past few months, he has been practicing very diligently, and he has to compete with Cheng Jingzhe every now and then, not for the sake of learning, just to win him.

It should be known that Pei Ziqi has a good foundation in martial arts, and his strength is not much worse than that of Cheng Jingzhe. Winning or losing is not a certainty.Ordinarily, Cheng Jingzhe should avoid the battle as much as possible, otherwise, if he accidentally loses a round, it will damage the prestige he has so easily established.But why do young people think so much in their hearts?He was still glad to have someone of equal strength to accompany him on the drill, so the two ran to the weapon rack.

The two took two unsharp spears, saluted each other, and started.

Cheng Jingzhe's personality is relatively calm, and he is not in a hurry to attack, but puts on the defensive vigilantly.Pei Ziqi took two steps around with his spear in hand, suddenly raised his breath, shouted, and rushed towards Jing Zhe on his own initiative!

The long spear aimed at Jing Zhe's head, Jing Zhe did not panic, raised his gun to meet him, the two gun bodies collided with each other, there was a "ping", the gun body bent, splashing sawdust.

Pei Ziqi's attack was fierce and fast, if he missed a hit, he immediately returned his spear and attacked again, chopping and slashing, stabbing first and then sweeping, so that Cheng Jingzhe had no chance to breathe, he repeatedly resisted and could not retreat.

Just at the beginning, the competition went on so hotly.The teenagers on the sidelines all held their breath and watched without blinking.

After several moves, although Cheng Jingzhe resisted in a bit of a panic, he didn't let the other party get any advantage. The two retreated a little and adjusted their breathing.

After this confrontation, the hands of the two teenagers holding the guns were numb, and their expressions were more serious than before.

A moment later, it was still Pei Ziqi who attacked again.He swept across with a stick, directly attacking Cheng Jingzhe's foot.Cheng Jingzhe looked for the right opportunity, suddenly swung Pei Ziqi's gun away, launched a counterattack, and stabbed Pei Ziqi's chest with the spear!

Pei Ziqi's eyes sharpened, and he immediately pulled back. Cheng Jingzhe stepped forward, and at the same time sent his palm forward.The two retreated and chased at the same pace, but Cheng Jingzhe's small movement of sending the gun made the tip of his gun move a few inches faster than Pei Ziqi.And these few inches are the most critical distance!

Seeing that the tip of the gun was about to hit Pei Ziqi's chest, the teenagers surrounding him immediately exclaimed nervously!

At the critical moment, Pei Ziqi suddenly turned his body around, and the point of the gun slashed across his front, but he avoided the blow.

The hearts of the onlookers have not yet returned to their stomachs, and they were shocked by the next scene and exclaimed again.

——Cheng Jingzhe missed the stab, and used the wooden spear as a long stick, and slammed Pei Ziqi's chest.This time Pei Ziqi had no time to block, he was hit by the stick, and he staggered back a few steps.Before he could stand still, Cheng Jingzhe's spear caught up again and stabbed at him again!

Pei Ziqi hurriedly swung his gun to block, although Cheng Jingzhe's attack was parried again, but a few traces of cold sweat had already leaked from his forehead, and his breathing was a little messy.

There are many factors that determine the outcome of a martial arts competition.Strength, speed, familiarity with weapons and moves... There is also a very critical point, which is rhythm.In the beginning, Pei Ziqi attacked frequently, Cheng Jingzhe was a little embarrassed to resist, because he was not yet familiar with Pei Ziqi's rhythm.After getting acquainted, he launched a counterattack.

Now it was Cheng Jingzhe's turn to attack frequently.He missed the first stab, he stabbed, swung, and chopped... Pei Ziqi could only keep resisting.Every time he resisted, he seemed more flustered than the last time.From the eyes of others, it seemed that he was about to run out of strength, but in fact only he knew it because his rhythm had been completely disrupted.

Cheng Jingzhe's attack, even if he could block it, it was very uncomfortable for him to block it, and he couldn't find a chance to counterattack.

How to do?

Before Pei Ziqi could figure it out, Cheng Jingzhe's unsharpened spear point had already stopped an inch before his throat - until he clicked, he lost.

Jing Zhe retracted the gun, nodded and said: "There is progress, it seems that you are not lazy."

It's okay to lose, and this is not the first time he has lost.However, this sentence made Pei Ziqi's face change suddenly - he was not just lazy?He simply practiced day and night, diligently and tirelessly!It's a pity that every time he competes with Jing Zhe, he falls a bit short.No matter how much progress he feels he has made, he is always still a little short!

Because Cheng Jingzhe, like him, is a diligent person.Even if he went to Yuzhou with Zhu Nao, whenever he had free time, he never stopped practicing and improving.

Pei Ziqi rubbed his chest that was hurt, and said with a complicated expression: "Did you really only practice for two years?"

Jing Zhe nodded: "After Zhou Mu took me in, he asked someone to teach me, and then I started to practice martial arts."

Pei Ziqi's expression was more complicated, with envy, dissatisfaction, and unwillingness.He is different from Cheng Jingzhe, he has practiced martial arts since he was a child, but unfortunately the current situation is bad, his relatives died, and he was reduced to a bandit at a young age.He practiced for many years, only two years did not practice.And Cheng Jingzhe only practiced for two years, but now he can't compare.

After a while, he whispered: "Your life is really good."

Cheng Jingzhe was stunned for a moment, before he had time to say anything, suddenly an official came running into the yard.

"Jing Zhe, Zhuzhou Mu wants to see you."

Cheng Jingzhe hurriedly put the spear back on the weapon rack, left a sentence "you practice it yourself", and hurriedly followed the officials out.

Pei Zi looked forward to his back running away quickly, his eyes flickering.After a long time, he sighed.

=====

Cheng Jingzhe came to the state capital and entered Zhu Nao's official residence, where Zhu Nao was sitting in front of the case and flipping through official documents.

Hearing the sound, Zhu Nao raised his head, only to see Cheng Jingzhe was panting, his face was slightly red.In winter, the wind is strong, and his nose is also blown red.

"So fast?" Zhu Naoqi asked, "Did you run over here?"

Cheng Jingzhe nodded.When he received the news, he ran all the way over.

Zhu Nao laughed and said, "What are you in a hurry for?"

Cheng Jingzhe didn't speak, but walked to his side with bright eyes.

"What do you want me to do, son?"

Zhu Nao pointed to the volumes of official documents on the table, and said, "Look at this first."

Cheng Jingzhe hastily dragged a chair and sat down beside him, holding the official documents in his arms and looking through them.He looked at only two lines, was stunned for a moment, raised his head and glanced at Zhu Nao with some doubts—these were the files of all the cases that Wei Yue and his group of refugees had just sent from Dou Ziyi.

Zhu Nao signaled him to continue looking down with his eyes, and Jing Zhe lowered his head to look seriously.

After a while, he finished reading all the files, and looked up at Zhu Nao again.

"Have you finished watching?" Zhu Nao said, "Go and help me capture this group of people after you have finished reading. If you want to capture them alive, it's better not to hurt anyone unless it's absolutely necessary."

"Huh?" Cheng Jingzhe was a little surprised.This task came too hastily, and he was not prepared at all. "Now? Where to catch it?"

Jun Nao spread his hands: "I don't know either."

Cheng Jingzhe was dumbfounded: "No, I don't know?"

"Yes." Zhu Naoyu patted his shoulder earnestly, "You have grown up, it's time to learn to catch the enemy by yourself."

Cheng Jingzhe half-opened his mouth, and wrote all over his face in a sluggish way: "...Huh??"