Chapter 11: Cooperation can achieve win-win results
In the Acropolis of Ningyuan, there was a big banquet at the residence of Governor Ji Liao. Many people were extremely drunk.
Zhang Cheng drank happily during the banquet, and even distributed a large box of "Yunzhou Brand" refined cigarettes to all the generals, deputy generals, generals, and even the guerrillas.
share.
In various border towns in the northern part of the Ming Dynasty, especially Liao Town, which is a bitterly cold place in the frontier fortress, tobacco smoking is extremely popular among the military. From generals to soldiers, everyone smokes tobacco.
In fact, in the twelfth year of Chongzhen's reign, Emperor Chongzhen also issued a ban on smoking: "Ji Mao, a decree is issued to ban it, and those who violate it will be punished with death."
Not long after the anti-smoking order was issued, there was an out-of-town criminal who went against the trend and committed a crime. He brought cigarettes to Beijing secretly and secretly sold them at a high price. As a result, he was caught on the spot by anti-smoking officials and was executed in the West Market the next day. This shows that the court was determined to ban smoking.
The law is so great and the law is so strict.
The reason why Emperor Chongzhen, who lived high in the palace, banned smoking was rooted in a nursery rhyme.
According to Wu Weiye's records in "Sui Kou Jilue", as early as the Tianqi reign of Emperor Xizong of the Ming Dynasty, a nursery rhyme began to circulate in the market, which included the sentence "The world is full of soldiers and smoke is everywhere."
Later, the rogue bandits became more and more fierce, and the Tartars also invaded the capital's important areas many times. This saying gradually became popular among the people.
People have said that the emperors of the Ming Dynasty after Yongle were all descendants of the Zhu family from the lineage of King Zhu Di of Yan, and the capital was formerly known as "Yanjing", and because "Yan" and "Yan" are homophonic, there is a popular rumor among the people that "
"Eating smoke" means "eating swallows".
Emperor Chongzhen was in a precarious situation and was repeatedly tortured by bandits and Tartars. His nerves were too sensitive, so he strictly banned tobacco several times because of a nursery rhyme. Unfortunately, he gave up halfway every time.
When this severe ban on smoking was issued, Hong Chengchou happened to be the governor of Jiliao. When he came to Jizhen and Liaozhen, he found that in order to resist the bitter cold, almost everyone in the local officers and soldiers smoked, and he felt that he was unable to stop it.
The next year, he sent a letter to Emperor Chongzhen, saying that Liaodong was located in the north, and the soldiers had been suffering from cold for a long time. Eating tobacco could not only refresh themselves, but also help the soldiers to resist the cold. It would be very beneficial to the local frontier troops in Jiliao to defend the territory against the enemy. I hope
Emperor Chongzhen was able to sympathize with the soldiers and allow them to eat tobacco.
Hong Chengchou said this for both official and private reasons. At this time, it was completely impossible for soldiers on the Liaodong border to stop smoking. If they did it forcefully, it might even cause a mutiny.
For personal reasons, he himself was actually a chain smoker! He just took advantage of Chongzhen's need for Liaodong soldiers to defend the territory and resist the enemy, and made this request to Emperor Chongzhen very euphemistically and skillfully.
Although Emperor Chongzhen was suspicious by nature, he also knew that what Hong Chengchou said was true, and compared to banning tobacco, he needed the Liaodong soldiers to loyally defend the Ming Dynasty and defend the enemy, so he relaxed the ban on smoking in the army.
As a result, private cigarette growing and smoking gradually resumed.
Just now, Fu Yingchong, Zhang Guangda and others had let out several rounds of cigarettes at their respective seats. At this moment, Zhang Cheng distributed a large box of Yunzhou good cigarettes, and the official hall was suddenly filled with clouds and mist, like a fairyland.
Zhang Cheng even lowered his head and whispered in the ear of Governor Hong Chengchou: "Governor, I have ordered someone to deliver a box to the inner house."
Hong Chengchou stroked his beard and said nothing, but smiled and nodded at Zhang Cheng with a kind expression.
Although Zhang Cheng's three brands of cigarettes were only developed in the twelfth year of Chongzhen, they had already passed through the Ming Dynasty's health system and business network and became popular in Xuanda and Jiliao towns.
It was Zhang Cheng who first took advantage of his wedding banquet to distribute cigarettes to the officials and generals of Xuanda University who came to attend the wedding banquet. From then on, it became an indispensable part of their lives, and Yunzhou cigarettes became an instant success in Xuanda University.
Immediately after Hu Dawei mobilized the defense and security forces, Yunzhou cigarettes opened up sales in southern Ji, and soon spread to various military units in Ji Town and Liao Town in northern Ji, becoming the best-selling product in the north.
Even Wang Pu, Wu Sangui and many other town commanders and big business gangs tried to imitate them, but the cigarettes they made could not compare with Yunzhou cigarettes in terms of quality and taste, and could only be slightly circulated among ordinary soldiers and people.
Ultimately unable to compete with Yunzhou Cigarettes.
Wu Sangui, who was originally a little cold towards Zhang Cheng, changed his normal attitude at this moment. He had three more bowls with Zhang Cheng very enthusiastically, as if he was hesitant to speak.
In fact, Wu Sangui's toast just now was just to set an example for the generals of Liao Town, and to show to the governor Hong Chengchou that he was not exclusive and would work together with the generals and soldiers of the towns who came to aid.
But seeing Yunzhou Yan at this moment, a new idea flashed in his mind. He seemed to think that Zhang Cheng might have something to cooperate with, so he came to propose a toast with enthusiasm for the second time.
How could Zhang Cheng not know about his little thoughts? However, he was also looking for partners everywhere. Yunzhou cigarettes were always in short supply. Even if he opened a second workshop in Chicheng Castle, it still could not meet the market demand.
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Many people have come to him to discuss cooperation, but Zhang Chengcheng is unwilling to put his most profitable project in a place that is currently beyond his control.
However, on the way to Liaodong, he had a new idea, which was to cooperate in building a factory. He would send his own craftsmen and workers to take charge of production matters, and have his own people responsible for the safety and security inside the factory.
As a partner, you only need to be responsible for purchasing raw materials and ensuring the external safety of the cigarette factory. As for the share, according to Zhang Cheng's idea, it is 30-70. However, if you meet a high-quality partner, 40-60, or even 50-50 will be fine.
Five cents is not impossible.
At this time, Zhang Cheng drank three glasses of wine with Wu Sangui, poured him another full bowl, and whispered softly: "I have something I want to discuss with my elder brother in detail."
Just when Wu Sangui was stunned, wondering what kind of medicine Zhang Cheng was selling in his gourd, Zhang Cheng handed over a Yunzhou cigarette. At the same time, he gave Wu Sangui a meaningful look and said: "Yunzhou cigarettes, I don't know if Brother Zhang is interested in them."
no?"
The words were spoken in such explicit terms, how could Wu Sangui, as a human being, not understand that what he had been dreaming of fell from the sky at this very moment.
A charming smile appeared on his handsome face, he raised his left hand and stroked his nose, and chuckled: "Easy to say, easy to say. Let's talk in detail tomorrow, how about?"
Zhang Cheng said with understanding: "It's a deal. Cheers!"
"Hahaha!"
Amid the astonishment of those around them, the two of them laughed in unison, raised their wine bowls, and drank down the wine in one gulp.
Hong Chengchou, the governor of Jiliao, had no other arrangements today. After all, he was here to help all the troops and horses. After a big banquet, he would make plans to break the siege of Jinzhou.
After the banquet, everyone went back to rest. However, before leaving, Zhang Cheng always felt that Hong Chengchou seemed to be depressed in his heart.