The ministers begged me to ascend the throne

The final days of the trade conference were filled with games, Cuju competitions and polo matches. The last day is the military parade.

Polo has always been played, and it seems to have been passed down from the previous dynasties, and then became very popular in the previous dynasties.

In the previous dynasty, playing polo was a game for the nobles. In the Zhou Dynasty, polo was still a game for dignitaries, and ordinary people could not afford it because they could not afford horses. Whether in the previous dynasty or in the Great Zhou Dynasty, the minimum price of a horse was several thousand yuan. Even if ordinary people could afford it, they could not afford to keep a horse. The fodder a horse eats for a year is a considerable amount of money.

Countries such as Johor and Siam have been deeply influenced by the Zhou Dynasty since they surrendered to the Zhou Dynasty. In addition, the nobles of these countries pursued the hobbies of the Zhou Dynasty officials and nobles, and also fell in love with playing polo.

In the past, there was no recreational activity such as polo in their country. Since returning to the Great Zhou Dynasty, playing polo has become their most popular activity. Nowadays, in these countries, everyone with some status can play polo. If you don't know how to play polo, you will be looked down upon.

It is said that polo competitions are held every year in these countries. Any man or woman who wins the polo match will become very popular. If there is no marriage, the threshold of his or her family will be stepped on by the matchmaker.

I heard that in Siam, there was a daughter of a merchant family who was favored by the prince because she came first in a polo match. Then the sparrow turned into a phoenix and became the prince's concubine.

People from these countries would come to pay tribute to the Zhou Dynasty every year and play polo with the aristocratic children of the Zhou Dynasty. This is also one of the friendly exchange projects between Da Zhou and these countries. Unfortunately, their strength is not very strong and they lose to Da Zhou every year.

Even if they lose to Dazhou every year, it will not dampen the enthusiasm of these countries for playing polo. On the contrary, in the past few years, they have become more passionate about playing polo, hoping that one day they can beat Da Zhou. If you can't beat Da Zhou in a war, it would be a shame if you keep losing to Da Zhou in polo. They wanted to compete in playing polo and suppress Dazhou's momentum, but unfortunately they were never able to do so.

I learned that this trade conference will also hold a polo match. The noble children of these countries have been practicing for a long time in order to avenge their previous shame. They thought that if they couldn't defeat the nobles in the capital, they couldn't defeat the people of the Marsh Mansion. His Highness the King of Han is the emperor's biological son. If they defeat His Highness the King of Han, it will be equivalent to defeating the Emperor of Zhou Dynasty, so that they can vent their anger.

Zhao Yao can also play polo, but he doesn't really like playing polo. He finds it boring and not very fun. He preferred to play Cuju. When he was still in the capital, he would play Cuju with his four younger brothers every time he left the palace, and he would also invite the children of ordinary people to play together.

Under his leadership, the children of ordinary people in the capital all fell in love with Cuju. He also developed Cuju kicking into the military camp, and the soldiers also became fond of kicking Cuju. He also often holds Cuju competitions, which are attended by many people. As early as many years ago, Cuju was popular among people and military camps in the capital.

At first, the nobles of the aristocratic families looked down upon Cuju. They thought Cuju was too rude and not as elegant as playing polo. Furthermore, Cuju is also a civilian sport, and their noble status is not suitable for playing Cuju. Later, when they saw that the emperor also liked to play Cuju, and even the Imperial Guard barracks held Cuju competitions, they slowly accepted Cuju.

Under the influence of the emperor, Cuju replaced polo as the most popular sport in the Zhou Dynasty. Not only the children of aristocratic families played Cuju, but also the literati students. Cuju has changed from a rude and disrespectful sport to an elegant and interesting activity.

Nowadays, in addition to the capital, various Cuju activities or competitions are held in other places, and they are very popular.

Last year, Zhao Yao came up with rubber Cuju, which made kicking Cuju more interesting. Now, rubber Cuju has become the most popular thing, and Zhao Yao has made a lot of money because of it. Businessmen, dignitaries, literati and students from the capital and other places came to him to buy rubber Cuju. Dignitaries also come to him to customize Cuju.

The foreign businessmen who came to participate in the trade conference this time, in addition to buying glass, soap, medicinal materials and other things from Zhao Yao, the most important thing was to buy Cuju from Zhao Yao, and they were all large orders. However, due to the difficulty of making rubber Cuju, Zhao Yao could only limit the purchase. Due to purchase restrictions, these merchants raised the price of rubber Cuju, allowing Zhao Yao to easily make a lot of money without doing anything.

After Cuju became popular in the Zhou Dynasty, countries such as Annam and Siam naturally followed the footsteps of their elder brother and started playing Cuju.

After people from countries like Annam and Siam started playing Cuju, they found that it was more fun than playing polo, so Cuju soon became the most popular sport in their countries. However, their nobles still felt that playing polo was in line with their status.

Although the nobles of these foreign countries are more inclined to play polo, they will still send people to participate in Cuju competitions. However, they don't care about whether they win in Cuju or not, and they don't have any hope. The result of the game is not important to them, but participation is important.

Before the Cuju and polo matches, Zhao Yao sent someone to post a notice that could help businesses promote the game at the competition venue, which meant businesses could buy advertising space.

During the competition, merchants can not only purchase advertising space to promote their stores, but also become a provider of competition prizes and a sponsor of the competition.

At first, the merchants did not understand what this meant. Later, after hearing the explanation and understanding the benefits of advertising and becoming a sponsor, they were all moved and actively signed up to participate. Because there were so many people who signed up, the only option was to auction.

Zhao Yao made a lot of money again by promoting advertisements and becoming a sponsor. After the businessmen saw this operation of His Highness the King of Han, they admired his business acumen very much. They decided to do the same thing when they returned.

"Your Highness, you are really tall." Uncle Gao did not expect that a competition would allow Zhao Yao to make money in various ways.

Zhao Yao said hypocritically and modestly: "It's nothing, it's just a small business."

"This is still a small business." Uncle Gao was shocked, "Your Highness, you didn't do anything. You just made a few boards, pulled up a few banners, and wrote a few words on them during the competition, and you made money easily. After paying fifty taels of gold, is this still a small business?" This is a very profitable business. He felt that this was no different from robbing money. However, His Highness was blatantly robbing him.

"Isn't fifty taels of gold just a small business?" Zhao Yao knew in his heart that the advertising space during the game could be sold for fifty taels of gold. The merchant deliberately raised the price in order to sell him a good deal. "When Cuju competitions become bigger and more popular in the future, the advertising space will cost more than fifty taels of gold."

Uncle Gao still doesn't understand why this advertising space is worth fifty taels of gold. In his opinion, this is simply too much money and nowhere to spend it. What about sponsors? Not only do they have to spend money to become a sponsor, but they also provide prizes to the winning team. Isn’t this a loss after loss? Are all rich people stupid because they have too much money?

"Your Highness, these people should be buying it for you." He felt that the fifty taels of gold were not intended to be a sponsor, but to sell well to His Highness. "Not entirely, half of it is to sell me well, and the other half is to promote their business." Zhao Yao saw the incomprehensible expression on Uncle Gao's face and said with a smile, "Uncle Gao, it seems you don't understand the importance of publicity. .”

"The importance of publicity?" Uncle Gao looked confused, "What do you mean?"

Zhao Yao asked: "Uncle Gao, why do you think those talented people in the capital are so famous? Why are one of their calligraphy or paintings worth thousands of gold?"

Uncle Gao replied: "Because they are talented."

Zhao Yao asked again: "Why do others know they are talented?"

Uncle Gao said without thinking: "Listen to what others say."

"I heard others say that this is propaganda. If no one helps to promote that a person is talented, how will other people know about it? Don't you think so?"

Uncle Gao understood now: "This is publicity, but this publicity does not require money."

"Who said they didn't ask for money?" Zhao Yao said, "In order to make themselves more talented and famous, some people pay people to publicize their talent. If more people say it, everyone will be curious, and there will be more people. Go and ask for his calligraphy or his paintings.”

"Ah, paying someone to say he is a talented person?" Uncle Gao was very surprised when he heard about this kind of thing for the first time. "It turns out that this is how these talented people came to be. I thought they were really talented."

"This is how most talented people come. Why do you think they like to go to brothels so much? Brothels have been a favorite place for literati and poets since ancient times. They like to show off their talents in front of the women in the brothels. First, they want to pretend..." Zhao Yao almost He said the word "pretending" and quickly changed his words, "Firstly, it is to make the brothel girls worship them, and secondly, it is to let the brothel girls help them promote their masterpieces. The brothel girls like to turn poems written by literati and poets into songs and sing them , this song will spread throughout the capital, and they will naturally become very famous by then."

After hearing this, Uncle Gao said with a sudden look on his face: "Those scholars don't go to brothels just for the pleasure."

"Of course they want to be free and happy, but the main purpose is to promote themselves. They also like to hold poetry gatherings, also to promote themselves." Zhao Yao said with a deep meaning, "Once they have talent and fame, they will not only have money, but also The chance to become an official is their way of promoting themselves, do you understand?"

Uncle Gao said with a learned expression: "I understand."

"The same method is also suitable for merchants. In order to make their stores famous and attract more customers, they will also spend money to promote themselves." Zhao Yao raised an intriguing smile at the corner of his mouth, "As long as you are famous, Someone will come here because of the reputation, and with it comes money or power. I provide them with opportunities to promote themselves in Cuju and polo games, and it is in front of foreigners. Do you think they miss it? "Everyone who does business will have ambitions. They want to make their business bigger and bigger, and they also want to do business all over the world. Now Zhao Yao has given Dazhou merchants an opportunity to expand their business to foreign countries. How could they miss it? Such a great opportunity.

"You think they must have lost money after spending fifty taels of gold to buy an advertising space, but in fact, not only did they not lose money, but they made a lot of money." Zhao Yao continued, "During the game, they gave me money all the time. They publicize it and let other businessmen and foreigners notice it. If they are interested, they will discuss cooperation with them, and then the money will come.”

When Uncle Gao heard this, he understood it completely, and looked at Zhao Yao with even more admiration.

"Your Highness, you are really brilliant. I am completely convinced." Your Highness's thoughts are really...unexpected by most people.

"In future competitions, I want to sell advertising spaces one by one, and sponsors will not be sold together with the advertising spaces." Zhao Yao was thinking in his mind, or a Cuju competition could be held in Marsh Mansion next year, so that all people can participate, and then Cuju will be sold. The competition turned into a professional competition. We can also cooperate with these foreign countries to hold competitions, so that the Cuju teams from Marsh Prefecture can go to foreign countries to compete in competitions, or we can invite Cuju teams from foreign countries to compete in Marsh Prefecture.

"The publicity during the game is a business opportunity. When these people go back, they will definitely imitate my approach." In this way, there will be more and more Cuju competitions, and more and more people will play Cuju. Maybe it won’t be long before Cuju becomes a national sport.

Uncle Gao admired Zhao Yao's business acumen and said, "Your Highness, you are really amazing!"

"You can do the same thing after you return to Japan."

Uncle Gao's eyes lit up, and he said happily: "Okay, when I return to Japan, I will do the same."

"A game is full of business opportunities, it just depends on whether you can discover them."

Hearing what Zhao Yao said, Uncle Gao asked curiously: "Your Highness, are there any other business opportunities?"

Zhao Yao smiled mysteriously: "You will know on the day of the competition." During the competition, you can also sell things to make money.

Old guys, I shamelessly ask you for monthly tickets! ! !