In a sense, the period when Zulong was in charge of the world was the pinnacle of the social status of merchants in the past dynasties.
Sima Qian listed more than 30 great merchants from ancient times to the Western Han Dynasty in "Historical Records: Biography of Huo Shi".
Among them, 5 people, including Wushiluo, Baqiuqing, Shuzhuo, Cheng Zheng and Wankong, were all wealthy businessmen during the Qin Shihuang period.
However, since the Qin Dynasty, the Han Dynasty has begun to have a trend of "emphasis on agriculture and suppression of commerce".
In the Eastern Han Dynasty after Wang Mang usurped the Han Dynasty, the situation became even more serious.
Liu Xiu learned from Wang Mang's lesson and not only restored the five-baht coin designed by Empress Lu, but also gradually abolished the equalization law and the central government's salt and iron monopoly policy, allowing China's industry and commerce to recover rapidly in the early Eastern Han Dynasty.
In later generations, the Eastern Han Dynasty went too far.
Although the salt and iron monopoly was not abandoned, the monopoly power was devolved from the central government to local governments, which resulted in powerful landlords becoming increasingly powerful.
After hundreds of years, at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, there were only big landowners and part-time merchants working for them in every state in the world.
It is rare to see a giant businessman like Lu Buwei during the Warring States Period who overthrew the country.
When Wang Zheng heard that the largest local rice store in Zhao County was called "Mi Ji", Wang Zheng's heart was moved, and he immediately thought of Uncle Liu Huang's cheap brother-in-law.
You must know that in these troubled times, rice is the most important store in every county in the world.
The most profitable and most involved.
Not to mention how many links a foreign trading company needs to open to expand its operations in other places, it is extremely difficult to open its doors and welcome customers under the influence of the local gentry.
Miji Mihang has achieved such extraordinary achievements.
Not only did it not close down, but it also became number one in Zhao County.
From this alone, we can already see the huge energy behind him.
In addition to Mi Zhu, a local tycoon in Xuzhou who gave away 2,000 soldiers and countless gold and silver goods when he married his sister, Wang Zheng could not have imagined that there would be a second capable person named Mi.
"It is said that he has nearly 10,000 servants and diners, and has assets worth hundreds of millions. I wonder if this is an exaggeration or an underestimation?"
While I was thinking in my mind, I looked at Mi Ling, who was sitting opposite me and was speechless for a long time.
Wang Zheng smiled and joked: "Shopkeeper Mi, the goods are not here, so it's hard to estimate them?"
After hearing this, Mi Ling looked up at Wang Zheng and smiled awkwardly, but remained silent.
Their eyes met, both of them knew it well, and Mi Ling was not hesitant for this reason.
You must know that those thirteen families are either nobles or gentry, and they have been passed down for generations. Their accumulated wealth is so huge, how can it be possible to estimate the price in a moment?
Now Wang Zheng wants to listen to what Mi Ling says, and it is not about the price.
But divided into.
This made Mi Ling tangled in his heart for a long time. The most difficult thing for him was to come up with a figure that satisfied Wang Zheng without harming the interests of the Mi family.
The initiative seemed to be in Mi Ling's hands, but it actually put him in a very passive situation.
Finally, Mi Ling secretly gritted his teeth and reluctantly said: "General, for such a big deal, I feel humble and humble, and I really can't make the decision."
Hearing this, Wang Zheng's expression remained unchanged, but he looked at Mi Ling with deep eyes and smiled: "You did it."
"Cao Cao is attacking Xuzhou at this time, but I am rebelling in the rear. This is something your Mi family is very happy to see."
As he spoke, he paced slowly in the private room, seeming to be in a mood of elegance. He was admiring the furnishings in the room and talking to himself.
"So, no matter what your status was before, at this moment, you must be the master."
As soon as these words came out, Mi Ling was startled.
Kick, kick, kick
Amidst the gentle footsteps, he looked at Wang Zheng in surprise.
These words should not come from the mouth of an ignorant countryman.
It shouldn't be...so young.
Looking up at the calm and composed General Tiangong, Mi Ling hesitated in his eyes. After pondering for a while, he stretched out a palm, pulled down two fingers, and said tentatively:
"General, what's the number?"
Wang Zheng's eyes moved and he followed the other person's fingertips to look at the fat face.
He groaned: "Thirty percent?"
Seeing that the other party was noncommittal, as if he was dissatisfied with the offer, and was afraid that Wang Zheng would not understand the deal, Mi Ling hurriedly explained, blurting out a series of words in a hurry:
"General, depending on the origin of your cargo, in order to avoid causing trouble, it must first be moved to a distant state."
"This is a long journey. How many border crossings are needed along the way? How much are the people, horses and vehicles needed to escort the goods?"
"There is also the evaluation of the goods, packaging before sale, and then finding a buyer. After finding the buyer, we also need to make guarantee commitments in response to some buyers' concerns."
"With the loss of each layer, coupled with the risks that occur when the time of each layer is extended, 30% is already what I can..."
"If you say 30%, then it's 30%."
Wang Zheng waved his hand to interrupt the other party's chatter, and nodded in agreement.
"I dare not lie to the general, it is indeed..."
When his speech was interrupted, Mi Ling naturally did not dare to speak at that time, so as not to offend the other party. He just habitually thought that Wang Zheng was dissatisfied.
This was what he expected.
No matter who you are or who you are, there will inevitably be bargaining in the transaction.
So as soon as the other party finished speaking, he immediately spoke again. Just when he was about to explain clearly to Wang Zheng, he just finished speaking a little and finally came to his senses.
The other party actually agreed to the price without hesitation.
After swallowing all the rest of the words, Mi Ling felt secretly happy in her heart, but looked at Wang Zheng with doubts in her eyes.
He was surprised by the other party's straightforwardness, and instinctively felt that Wang Zheng had other motives for doing this.
"Shopkeeper Mi, I have already made it clear," Wang Zheng looked at Mi Ling who looked surprised and repeated:
"What the price is, you have the final say."
Wang Zheng knew that what the other party just said might be true, but it must also be exaggerated.
Isn't the essence of negotiation just to ask for a high price and then pay back the money? This is the urinal nature of a businessman, and he has seen it many times in his previous life.
At this price, he must be at a loss, but Wang Zheng didn't hesitate at all. He was too lazy to argue, and he didn't care how much the other party made, nor how much he lost.
This is just a temporary gain and loss, not to mention the Mi family...
They will spit out more for me later.
He looked at Mi Ling calmly and smiled faintly, but with a vague majesty and awe that made people dare not make mistakes.
"As for the rest, it's up to me to decide."
Looking straight at Mi Ling intently, the same series of words came out loudly from Wang Zheng's mouth.
"First, to complete this transaction, I will need you to provide a piece of information first."
"Two, this transaction can only be done by barter."
"Three, objects, including various supplies, war horses, rations, weapons, armor, wound medicine, etc."
"For the specific amount, please estimate the total price first and then we can discuss it."
****
When walking out of Mihang, Wang Zheng stood at the gate, thought for a while, and waved to Xu Fang.
When Xu Fang approached, Wang Zheng said loudly: "Notify me."
"An hour later, all five members of the first battalion of the Heavenly Army gathered at the military camp."