Zhang Anshi nodded, and then said: "I have issued a military order to Your Majesty. The result will be within two or three days. You can just take care of it in these two days."
As soon as he heard about the military order, Chen Li's expression suddenly changed and he became worried.
Seeing Chen Li's worried look, Zhang Anshi smiled and said, "Don't worry, I have my own ideas."
After hearing this, Chen Li said: "Yes."
In Hezhou City, things were just as before.
The excitement here is different from that in Qixia.
The bustle of Qixia is not only the frequent commercial activities, but also the busyness of all kinds of traffickers and the vitality brought by the workshop production.
But here, although there is frequent business, there is always a sense of leisure that Qixia does not have.
The man holding the words was slightly out of tune with the shopkeeper's shouting.
There are few people wearing gold and jade here, but there are more people wearing silk shirts on the road.
At this time, Ma's Ship Line seemed to suddenly have a lot more manpower.
In the back room of the shipyard, a large number of accountants and shopkeepers transferred from Qixia are already busy.
Ma San rushed in to report to his young master about the various visitors.
Ma Yu then handed over a matter, and the shopkeepers and accounting clerks hurried away after receiving the instructions.
On the other side, there are some people in charge of writing affairs, who are responsible for handling letters for Ma Yu.
The scale of the boat trip has grown, and it is no longer the same as before.
In the past, most of the people recruited were illiterate sailors or coolies doing menial work.
However, as the scale grew, Ma Yu recruited 30 to 40% of the manpower. They became accountants who could write and do calculations, clerks who were proficient in writing, and technical personnel who graduated from various universities.
These chores are naturally left to them.
But it doesn't mean that Ma Yu is a hands-off shopkeeper. He knows very well that with such a large family business, what he has to do is not to micromanage everything, but to find ways to let the people below him perform their duties.
He has his own way of managing things.
The rest of his energy was devoted to making friends through literature.
In his view, the ultimate goal of studying is to become an official, and the way to become an official lies in the ability to negotiate and adapt.
The ultimate goal of doing business is to make money, and the way to make money lies in negotiation and flexibility.
In these days, he has visited countless people, let alone participated in countless cultural gatherings.
Whenever someone asked him about his livelihood, Ma Yu could talk endlessly.
If anyone else were to explain this to the gentry and scholars, they would definitely be scoffed at.
But the dignified Zhuangyuan Gong explained these, and mixed in some quotations from scriptures to help the other party understand. Occasionally, he would add some words and make some witty remarks. Although some people felt sorry for Ma Yu to go into business, there were also many people who could.
I quickly understood its meaning.
The fundamental reason why the so-called estrangement between scholars, farmers, industry and commerce is so deep is that they cannot communicate effectively with each other.
This is actually easy to understand. If a businessman and a scholar have a conversation, the ideas and values of the two parties themselves will not match, and it will be even harder to communicate with each other. Even the way they speak and their understanding of affairs are incompatible.
They are so different, it would be strange if they could talk about it together.
Ma Yu is different. He has a good understanding of the psychology of these two groups of people. What's more valuable is that after many years of business, he has long developed the ability to talk to people and talk to ghosts.
When he left today, it was already getting late, so he hurried to Wu's house.
Wu Tong from Fuzhou had already become a close friend with him.
There are quite a few scholars here today, more than twenty of them, all of whom have already made appointments.
Of course, there are also a few people who have not met Ma Yu yet, but most of them have heard of Ma Yu's reputation.
A single champion is enough to make people awe Ma Yu.
Everyone came to Wu Tong's study and chatted with each other, talking about various characters, and everyone looked happy.
One of them said to Ma Yu: "Mr. Ma, I still want to ask you something, but...it's really hard to say it."
Ma Yu had a smile on his face and said humbly: "It's okay to say it."
This man was young, with a bit of vigor on his face, and said: "Why did Mr. Ma go into business? You know..."
As soon as these words came out, everyone fell silent, and the scene suddenly became strangely quiet.
Obviously, this issue falls into the more sensitive category.
Everyone can't help but feel a little embarrassed. After all, in people's eyes, merchants are a lowly profession. If Ma Yu hadn't been the number one scholar, I'm afraid not many people would look down on him as a scholar.
So now, in everyone's eyes, this scholar is just poking Ma Yu's lungs.
Ma Yu's expression was quite calm and calm, and he even said with a bit of a smile: "Then, do you know why I don't become an official?"
A high-ranking scholar who has a bright future but chooses to go into business must have his own reasons.
This is the thinking of a scholar.
Since Ma Yu asked, the scholar explained his understanding: "In the court, traitors are causing trouble, and your majesty is deceived by others. He kills loyal people and makes all officials fearful. Since Emperor Taizu and Emperor Gao, he has been punished.
Zhongliang, I don’t know how many people there are. Ma Gong was very disappointed with this, so he would rather stay in the wild. I don’t know... is what the student said correct?”
Ma Yu still smiled.
Wu Tong and others looked at Ma Yu, looking forward to his answer.
In fact, there are different opinions about Ma Yu, and scholars also have their own interpretations in private, but it is just inconvenient to ask in person.
Finally, Ma Yu said: "Hey... things are really unpredictable."
Scholars are reserved and will never be straightforward.
Ma Yu's emotion needs everyone to interpret it individually.
However, most people still sympathized with Ma Yu.
Such a person should have risen to prominence and become a prince, but it is a pity that he encountered such a world, so that's why.
There must be some pain in his heart. This is something that is difficult to describe. He wants to express it but cannot, which makes people sympathize.
Otherwise, isn't Han Chuang studying hard just to become an official? Why didn't he even become an official in the end?
Ma Yu smiled and said: "As for going into business, it's not that I have to do it. It's just that there are always people who say that a scholar is useless. This sentence is really difficult for people to agree with."
After a pause, he continued: "Mou Ma has read countless books, and if I say it without humility, he is full of knowledge. Could it be that Ma Mou is not as good as a businessman? This is also a lesson to others. Even if a scholar is engaged in other businesses,
He is still stronger than others. This reading makes one's will clear and his reason clear, but this is not an empty lie."
After everyone listened, the atmosphere seemed to gradually become more relaxed, and everyone even laughed, especially Wu Tong. In order to ease the embarrassment, Wu Tong said: "What the wise brother said is really true."
Ma Yu added: "Let's talk about the business of this boat shop. Two or three years ago, Ma only had a mere thousand taels of silver, but now? But he is making gold every day. After a year, casually, the business income is as much as
What is in Ma’s hands is tens or millions of taels of silver.”
"At the beginning...the people who invested in this shipping company together with Ma Mou, all of them have increased in value a hundred times, from ten taels to one thousand taels, and from one hundred taels to ten thousand taels of silver. Just these are enough for those people to no longer dare to look down on them.
There are so many scholars in the world.”
What Ma Yu talked about was turnover, but did not involve gross profit and net profit.
Therefore, a million taels of silver is enough to make people gasp.
Wu Tong couldn't help but said in surprise: "Brother Xian, how can this boat business make such huge profits?"
Ma Yu said: "It's actually simple. It's the same as farming. With land, people can cultivate it, harvest, and rent. Therefore, you can slowly accumulate family property. The same goes for this boat shop, but,
The foundation of shipbuilding lies in ships. These ships are like farmland. Money can be earned by exchanging what is needed."
Now everyone can understand it easily.
Then they all showed signs of sudden enlightenment.
It turns out that this is the case. Isn’t a business similar to collecting rent? I understand this too.
But Ma Yu's eyes flashed and he said with a smile: "It's just that there are differences."
Wu Tong was very curious and said: "I would like to hear the details."
Ma Yu said: "There are tens of thousands of arable lands in the world. In just one county, there are tens of hectares of arable land. There are countless people who own a lot of land. Everyone makes farming their profession, and the food they get is countless.
But sea-going ships are different. How many people in the world have sea-going ships? How many people can own a fleet?"
"Not to mention other things, just talking about the trading houses with hundreds of ships, as of now, there are only seven or eight in the world. Therefore, although the huge profits from the exchange of goods are coveted by everyone in the world, in reality
It is only managed by these seven or eight shipping companies."
Ma Yu said again: "It's like, the cultivated land in the world is only a hundred thousand hectares, but there are only seven or eight families who can own ten thousand hectares of farmland. So... I dare to ask you, who are the seven or eight families who have ten thousand hectares of fertile land?
What’s your net worth?”
Everyone was stunned when they heard this.
If it weren't for their poor language skills, they would have exclaimed, "Fuck!"
This principle... they also understand.
If you monopolize a business, wouldn't it mean that in a disaster year, your family is the only one who has stocked up on food?
It turns out... the so-called shipbuilding business... is to rent out land. The scary thing is that the biggest advantage of this kind of land management is that as long as you stock up on food, there will be disasters every year.
Many people here can't help but admire Ma Yu invisibly. No wonder Ma Yu's business is so big.
Ma Yu smiled and said, "It's really embarrassing to talk about these superficial things."
Wu Tong shook his head and said with emotion: "Since the profit is huge, why...there are only seven or eight shipping companies that have ships?"
Ma Yu said: "After all, operating a sea-going ship is not about land. The land only needs to be rented out. But a sea-going ship needs to hire a large number of sailors, someone needs to do accounting, it needs to distribute the goods, and it needs a warehouse to store the goods. Therefore,
As it involves overseas affairs, it is necessary to establish warehouses overseas and establish contacts with overseas vassals. After all, what is needed is not just a ship, but also many human connections, some special business skills, and the most important thing is
…It requires a lot of capital investment in the early stage.”
Ma Yu paused and continued: "On the one hand, the large amount of goods in hand requires a large amount of gold and silver turnover. On the other hand, a large ship is worth ten thousand gold, which is not something ordinary people can afford."
."
"When Mr. Ma had little capital, he relied on raising funds. Together with everyone, it can be said that everyone is adding fuel to the flames. Since then, everyone has also made huge profits. As for ordinary people, how can they have such courage!
"
Wu Tong and others were amazed when they heard this.
Ma Yu added: "Just like these days, Ma is planning to raise funds and do another big thing. He wants to raise a large amount of money and order 300 sea-going ships. If he wants to do it, he will be the best ship in the world."
If the business does better, I will directly place an order for 500 seagoing ships..."
"So many..." Wu Tong and others were surprised.
Ma Yu said with a smile: "The more ships there are, the more profits will be made every year. In recent years, those who followed Ma's dividends have relied on this to count their money at home."
Wu Tong and others all laughed. They immediately understood that the more ships there are, the more food is stored during successive disasters. I understand this too.
Then some people's eyes were burning and they began to have thoughts.
Wu Tong couldn't help but said: "I wonder how much money we need to raise, dear brother? Wu really wants to help Brother Ma."
The others were immediately moved, and they all looked at Ma Yu without blinking.
Ma Yu said with a smile: "This... this... it's hard to say. You also know that the shareholders who followed Ma... have already had this intention. A few days ago, Ma also made an agreement with them, and then everyone will work together."
To raise money, if Ma gets involved with other people, I'm afraid... there will be someone to blame."
Wu Tong immediately said: "Brother, when they joined your shipbuilding company, they certainly had friendship with you, but you and I are from the same sect. Isn't this relationship profound?"
Everyone then said: "That's right, Mr. Ma can't favor one over the other."
Ma Yu frowned and said in embarrassment: "In that case...this...is fine, but...this is a serious business, but it has a set of regulations. Tomorrow at noon, the shipyard will release shares and teach people to lead them.
The money is used to deliver the shares and sign the contract. This is the rule spread from Qixia... By doing this, everyone can feel at ease, and it is also guaranteed. If Brother Xian is free at that time, he can also come and give advice. But..."
As he spoke, Ma Yu's face became solemn, and he continued: "If I tell you all the wise brothers about tomorrow's matters today, it will be a sin of ten thousand deaths. There must be someone to blame. Please help me with this matter."
He Xiandi should keep his mouth shut and must not leak the information. Otherwise, those former business partners will find out and blame Ma for not keeping his word."
Everyone laughed and said one after another: "Easy to say, easy to say, who does Mr. Ma think we are?"
It was getting late and night had fallen. Ma Yu said goodbye and returned to the boat.
Then, he called Zhang San and said calmly: "Go and do the three things immediately."
Ma San was used to the young master's decisiveness, so he immediately said: "The young master gave orders."
"First, news immediately spread that the shipping industry will issue shares tomorrow. This matter must be done quickly."
Ma San glanced at the dark night sky outside and couldn't help but frown and said: "It's getting late now. I'll release stocks tomorrow. Is it too hasty to get the news out now? I'd have known that the young master would release stocks later..."
Ma Yu smiled calmly and said: "What do you know? The more urgent the time, the safer it is. If people can think about these things clearly, someone will come up with a workaround. You are too underestimated.
I’m a scholar now.”
Ma San nodded as if he understood. Anyway, for him, it was right to listen to the young master, so he asked: "What about the second thing about the young master?"
"The second thing is that some of the 'actors' recruited from Qixia have arrived in Hezhou."
"Already arrived." Ma San said: "The eldest young master has personally tested their acting skills over there. They are all capable. Now they have settled down and there will be no mistakes."
Ma Yu said cautiously: "You have to read it again to make sure everything is perfect."
Ma San said seriously: "Yes."
"The third thing..." Ma Yu said: "The prince of Wuhu County has always refused to see me, but... he was disrespectful about the shares given to Qixia Trading Company. With this, I can rest assured. However, the share issuance is like this
This is a major event. Qixia Trading Company is the major shareholder, but we still need to provide Qixia Trading Company and His Highness the Prince with our share release regulations. This is a rule."
"yes."
"Go ahead."
Ma San nodded and hurried away.
Ma Yu stood by the window with his hands behind his back, looking at the night sky filled with stars, but he breathed a long sigh of relief.
He looked a little tired, but at this time he was too excited to sleep.
Over the past few years, he has deeply understood the principle that there is no businessman without treachery.
All kinds of business methods have been practiced for a long time.
At this time, he thought that if the next thing could be done, then Ma's Shipping would soon become the number one shipping company in the world, and would even leave other shipping companies far behind. He couldn't help but feel a little excited.
Now, we just have to wait for tomorrow.
…………
Early the next morning.
Wu Tong got up early.
After dressing up and having breakfast, he went to the study room to supervise his children's studies as usual.
You know, a family like the Wu family values this the most.
Before Keren could go to the study room, someone hurriedly came over and said, "Master, Master, I heard... there are rumors going around outside about the shipping company releasing shares, and everyone is talking about it..."
"What?" Wu Tong, who originally looked at ease, was slightly shaken.
Of course, he had been thinking about this matter, but after all, the stock placement was at noon, so he was not in a hurry.
But after hearing this, his expression changed drastically. He never expected that the news would be leaked.
Immediately, Wu Tong had annoyance on his face, and couldn't help but sigh: "Hey...Yesterday Brother Ma Xian also warned me again and again, saying that it was not allowed to be spread to outsiders, and everyone here agreed. Who would have thought that, overnight,
In the meantime, the city has become stormy. If brother Ma Xian knew about it, he would blame us for not keeping secret. This is harming him. He is really ashamed."
Then he said angrily: "It's really hateful. I don't know who leaked the news. It's really harmful to others and myself. Come on, hurry up and prepare the carriage and horses. Oh, prepare the money...I'm going to the boat shop now."