novelAbuy Chapter 88 Zhuge Kongming has arrived!
Chapter 88 Zhuge Kongming has arrived!
Chapter 88 Zhuge Kongming, Here He Arrives! (Seeking first-day subscription! Thank you!!)
Lu Yong's words piqued Mi Zhu's great interest.
Mi Zhu immediately opened the jar of wine and poured a bowl for each of them.
Lu Yong picked up his wine bowl, took a sip, and said slowly, "Hoarding and speculating, buying low and selling high, are just the most rudimentary tricks."
"I'd like to hear the details!" Mi Zhu's eyes suddenly lit up, and he leaned forward abruptly.
Lu Yong put down his wine bowl, a slight smile on his lips, and said, "Let's take Wanling as an example."
If I were the person behind it all, I would first use some of my capital to open several pawnshops throughout the city, and then lend money to ordinary people at a low interest rate of 2%.
"Two percent interest—" Mi Zhu murmured thoughtfully, "The normal interest rate for loans in the market today is five to ten percent, with an annual interest rate of sixty percent to one hundred and twenty percent."
A two percent interest rate would likely attract many people.
Lu Yong nodded and continued, "Some speculators, especially those small and medium-sized families and landlords, will definitely compete to use their land and houses as collateral to borrow money."
They then resell the money to farmers or small vendors in urgent need of funds at an interest rate of five or even eight percent.
This in-and-out transaction yields a net profit of over three percent.
Some people will also use this low-interest loan to purchase land and houses.
After all, land prices in Wanling are rising every month. If you borrow money to buy it today and resell it next month, you can still make a good profit after deducting interest.
Who would let such a good thing slip by?
"In this way, most of Wanling's wealth is now in the strategist's hands!" Mi Zhu's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he said, "So, is this 'low-interest' loan from the strategist just bait?"
At the same time, Mi Zhu also gleaned a crucial piece of information from Lu Yong's words: "Grain! Strategist, are you planning to make trouble over grain?!"
Mi Zhu's understanding of business principles was indeed beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Lu Yong nodded and continued, "While these people were frantically buying up houses and goods, I was secretly purchasing large quantities of grain."
At the same time, all ferry crossings and passes were bribed to prevent even a single grain of grain from entering the country.
Within twenty days, grain prices will inevitably surge tenfold, or even dozens of times, or more!
Upon hearing this, Mi Zhu unconsciously gripped the wine bowl tightly with both hands.
"At that time, the people only had borrowed money, but could not buy a single grain of rice."
In order to survive, they had no choice but to come to me and beg me to take back their mortgaged fields, houses, and belongings at a lower price.
Then use that money to buy my expensive grain.
In this way, the money was back in my hands.
I've gained so much land for nothing.
Those commoners who lost their land, the bankrupt small families, landlords, and gentry, could only rent my land in return, paying rent to me generation after generation.
Mi Zhu remained silent.
His hands, gripping the wine bowl tightly, had lost all color from the force.
After a long while, Mi Zhu slowly spoke, "I am not completely unaware of what the strategist is saying."
Zhu had seen all of these tactics: hoarding grain to raise prices and using warehouses as collateral.
But Zhu never imagined that he could string these tricks together to create a trap that would lure people in.
In the past, we relied mostly on experience and intuition to act, waiting for the wind to blow or for disaster to strike.
Only today do I realize that the way of business is also the way of war.
At this point, Mi Zhu stood up, straightened his clothes, and solemnly bowed to Lu Yong: "Strategist, I am willing to offer ten million coins as tuition, and earnestly request that you teach me the ways of commerce in your spare time."
The Mi family has been in business for generations, and they believe they have achieved considerable success in the ways of commerce.
But after listening to the strategist's words today, I realize that what I learned in the past was nothing more than trivial details.
Zhu did not want the Mi family to stop here, and earnestly requested the strategist's permission.
Lu Yong was taken aback.
Ten million coins is no small sum.
Only a wealthy and powerful tycoon like Mi Zhu could afford to use it as tuition.
"I need to go back and think it through carefully, otherwise it would be embarrassing if I were to expose my ignorance with my meager financial knowledge—" Lu Yong felt a little uneasy.
[System Log: The host impressed the wealthy merchant Mi Zhu with his business acumen. Today's achievement +1.]
[Current Achievements Pending Settlement: 1 item.]
Lu Yong was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "I'll accept the money. But Zizhong will have to handle the finances for me."
Mi Zhu asked curiously, "What does the strategist intend to do?"
"I plan to use this money to set up a fund specifically to support the education of children from poor families and ordinary people."
Once they complete their studies and enter officialdom through the imperial examinations, they will become pillars of our government.
"Chicken Gold—" Mi Zhu was stunned.
He didn't expect that after Lu Yong received the money, his first thought wasn't to use it himself, but to use it to educate those poor and commoner students.
"Strategist, your righteousness is truly admirable." Mi Zhu bowed again. "I admire you."
Lu Yong waved his hand, gesturing for Mi Zhu to sit down.
"Then it's settled. You don't need to send the money to my residence; just arrange for a trustworthy person to manage and operate the fund."
Mi Zhu cupped his hands and said, "Strategist, rest assured, I will certainly handle this 'chicken gold' properly."
He paused, then suddenly added, "Zhu admires the strategist's righteous act and is willing to contribute another ten million coins annually to support the chicken coop!"
"Damn! They throw away ten million dollars every year for nothing, what a tycoon!" Lu Yong couldn't help but mutter to himself.
At this point, Mi Zhu asked again, "In your opinion, strategist, how should we handle the issue of housing prices in Wanling?"
After pondering for a moment, Lu Yong replied, "Firstly, the government should limit the number of houses each household can purchase, and each person should not own more than two houses."
Those exceeding this limit must be sold within three months, otherwise the government will confiscate them.
Secondly, the government took the lead in allocating land in the suburbs to build new residences, which were sold at a fair price to ordinary people and soldiers. People of other statuses were not allowed to purchase them.
Third, establish a whistleblowing system; anyone found maliciously hoarding houses or impersonating civilians or soldiers to buy property will be beaten to death!
Mi Zhu's lips twitched, thinking to himself, "Why does it seem like the strategist harbors some resentment towards these people?"
After finishing their business, the two chatted about some things related to the workshop before Lu Yong got up to take his leave.
As soon as he returned to his residence, he saw Zhuge Jin standing at the gate with two boys, one older and one younger.
The older one was quite tall, with delicate features and a maturity beyond his years.
The other one seemed a little shy and stayed close behind the slightly older boy.
Upon seeing Lu Yong return, Zhuge Jin quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Strategist, my younger brother and his family have just arrived from Yuzhang. I have brought my two younger brothers here to pay our respects."
Zhuge Liang stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Zhuge Kongming greets the strategist."
Seeing this, Zhuge Jun followed suit and bowed, saying, "Zhuge Changmin greets the military advisor."
"Kongming, Changmin, you must be tired from your journey." Lu Yong helped the two of them up and looked them up and down with a smile.
He then asked Zhuge Liang, "Did you see Commandant Jiang when we were in Yuzhang?"
Zhuge Liang nodded and replied, "I have seen you. Commander Jiang even sent men to escort us out of the city, and we were very kind to him along the way. On behalf of my family, I thank the strategist and Commander Jiang."
"No need to be so polite. Now that we're in Wanling, let's make ourselves at home. Come in and have a seat."
Lu Yong gestured for him to proceed.
"We apologize for disturbing you, strategist," said Zhuge Jin and the other two, bowing respectfully.
Upon entering the hall, everyone took their seats.
Lu Yong turned to Zhuge Liang and said, "Kongming, although you are young, I have heard from your elder brother that you study hard and have extraordinary insight."
I am currently compiling a set of textbooks for official schools, but we are short-staffed.
If you'd like, you can come and help.
Zhuge Liang did not immediately agree, but instead looked at Zhuge Jin.
Zhuge Jin could easily see that Lu Yong was intentionally teaching and cultivating him, so he quickly nodded to Zhuge Liang.
Zhuge Jin then stood up, bowed, and said, "This student is willing to go."
"Alright!" Lu Yong said with a smile, "Come find me tomorrow at 9:00 AM."
"Yes, sir." Zhuge Liang acknowledged and sat back down in his original seat.
He was just a little confused as to why it had to be the hour of Yi (9-11 AM).
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