The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 138 The History of Wu Dazhuan’s Family

In the evening of that day, Zhu Xiu got on the carriage and, escorted by a group of soldiers, returned to Anding County overnight.

There are still a lot of affairs in Jingzhou waiting for him to deal with. This time, he is also worried that Hu Siluo's death will cause chaos in Changwucheng, Zhang Yijun's various small actions cannot be concealed, and he and Wang Shou'en will completely break up.

Once Wang Shou'en sends troops to guard the valley road and cut off this shortcut to Jingzhou, Zhu Xiu's immigration plan will fail.

Fortunately, they were well prepared and forced Wang Shouen to retreat.

Once he leaves, he will no longer have the chance to take care of his old neighbor's crazy robbing behavior.

Jingzhou can leave sufficient time to respond.

Two days later, Zhu Xiu met with Wu Dazhan, a merchant in the county town, at Jiedu Mansion.

"Young people pay homage to the Young Envoy!"

In the official room, Wu Dazhuang bowed respectfully.

"No need to be polite, please get up!" Zhu Xiu smiled and gestured for him to get up.

Wu Dazhuan stood aside with a low eyebrow.

"Merchant Wu, you have done a great job in recommending Shi Libu, and I would like to express my gratitude to you!" Zhu Xiu said with a smile.

Wu Dazhuan said in fear: "Young envoy, you are destroying the common people! As the common people are from this county and the people under the rule of the Zhangyi Army, it is natural for them to serve the Jiedu Mansion! If you can make Jingzhou rich, it will be considered a small one." The people contribute their meager contribution!”

Zhu Xiu praised: "Merchant Wu said it well. With a sincere heart, he should set an example for Jingzhou merchants!"

Wu Dachuan didn't dare to say anything, but his eyes showed joy.

Zhu Xiu fiddled with the tureen: "Remember Merchant Wu said that his family used to be in the woolen goods business?"

Wu Dazhuan said hurriedly: "Young Envoy has a very good memory. Xiaomin's ancestors started their business by making woolen goods. It has been passed down to Xiaomin's generation. Due to the persecution of the Xue family, the business has been suspended for three or four years."

Zhu Xiudao: "The Xue family no longer exists, have you considered picking up this business again?"

Wu Dachuan was stunned and said cautiously: "Xiao Min only has this initial idea. If the young envoy wants to send someone to take over, Xiao Min can completely withdraw."

Zhu Xiu waved his hand and said with a smile: "You misunderstood. I am not Xue Xiuming, and I will not engage in vicious monopoly. What I want to ask you is that making woolen goods requires a large amount of saltpeter. You must have had a way to get a large amount of saltpeter before. Now, Is the road still there?"

Wu Dachuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly replied: "The output of saltpeter is the largest in the Bashu area and the texture is the purest. Our ancestors have been in business for many years and have several old friends in Sichuan who are engaged in the saltpeter business. Although we have broken off contact for several years, as long as we If you go there in person, you can start buying saltpeter again."

"Great!"

Zhu Xiu clapped his hands, "I don't want your fur business, but I want a lot of saltpeter, sulfur, charcoal, and preferably red phosphorus. The purer the quality, the better!"

Wu Dazhuan said in surprise: "Young Envoy, could it be that you want to produce Huo Cun?"

The fire inch is the most primitive match, also called a candle, which uses a wooden stick to smear sulfur, and rubs it with a wood block or stone coated with phosphorous powder to ignite an open flame.

The history of making candles can be traced back to the Han Dynasty. By the early Song Dynasty, after improvements by alchemists, it had already become a popular fire starter among the people.

Zhu Xiu shook his head and said: "The production of Huocun is a small profit, and there is no need to compete with the people for profit. Just get it for me, no need to ask more, you will know in the future."

Wu Dachuan thought for a while and said: "The output of these things in Jingyuan and Yuanzhou is small, but ordinary people have ways to get them from other states."

"Okay! It's settled then! I'll give you five hundred guan in advance and try to buy as much as possible." Wu Dazhuan hurriedly agreed.

Zhu Xiu looked at him and smiled again: "Do you know the Wen family's hemp twisting workshop?"

With a bit of envy, Wu Dazhuan said with a smile: "The Wen family opened ten hemp twisting workshops in a row and adopted a new twisting method, which caused a sensation in the county. How could the common people not know about it! The common people also specially asked for connections to visit the new twisting method. The hemp yarn produced by this practice is white, soft, and full of toughness, and the price is more than twice as high as before!"

Zhu Xiu smiled and said, "Do you want to get involved in this business?"

Wu Dachuan was stunned and said, "You have no intention of enlarging your Majesty."

Zhu Xiu said calmly: "The new twisting method was given to the Wen family by me. If you also want to do it, I can give you the complete process."

Wu Dazhuan was surprised and happy. He hesitated and rubbed his hands vigorously: "Isn't this not good? If Mr. Wen knew about it, I'm afraid he would hold a grudge in his heart."

Zhu Xiu casually took out a few pieces of paper from the drawer and pushed them to Wu Dazhan.

"Since we are doing business, we should abide by market rules. Healthy competition is not something that one family can monopolize!"

Wu Dachuan smiled and quickly picked up a few pieces of paper, as if he had found a treasure, his face burst into laughter.

"Thank you, Young Envoy, for your kindness!" Wu Dazhi bowed down and thanked him sincerely.

Zhu Xiu smiled and said: "But let me remind you in advance that the technology of twisting hemp is developing rapidly. It won't take long for similar skills to be thoroughly understood, so you can only make quick money for a while. In the future, similar workshops will sprout up in other states. Do it. If there are more, the price will naturally decrease, and the profits in the later period will not be too high.”

Wu Dachuan carefully gathered the paper and said with a smile: "Thank you, Young Master, for reminding me. I understand this principle. Make some money first, and then see how the market responds. If it doesn't work, then change your career."

Zhu Xiudao: "Yes, it's rare for you to have this kind of mentality. After a while, I will be free to teach you a unique technique, which is guaranteed to make more money than twisting hemp yarn! Of course, the premise is that you have to help me get the necessary s things."

Wu Dachuan was full of curiosity, but Zhu Xiu picked up the tea cup and drank tea. Obviously he was not prepared to reveal too much, so he could only suppress the doubts in his heart.

Wu Dachuan rolled his eyes, hesitated and raised his hands, "I am a small citizen working for the young envoy. I wonder in what capacity?"

Zhu Xiu frowned, quickly understood what he meant, and said with a half smile, "Why, do you want an official status?"

"No, no!" Wu Dazhuan hurriedly denied, "I don't dare to think about it if I can't become an official. It's just that these days are chaotic and chaotic. I want to seek protection for my family and get the care of Zhang Yijun."

Zhu Xiu couldn't help laughing, this Wu Dazhuan is really a smart person, with a scheming and foresight, amazing!
He wanted to be officially recognized within the Zhangyi Army, with a title or something, as a talisman.

Zhu Xiu thought for a moment and said: "From now on, you will be the chief purchaser of the Zhangyi Army! I will set up this position separately to engrave a seal for you. The account bookkeeper will be handed over to the judge Pei Jin for review. You will be directly responsible to me for all matters!"

After a pause, Zhu Xiu said with a smile: "In other words, from now on, you will be the official and businessman of Changyi Army."

Wu Dachuan pursed his lips, knelt down, kowtowed and said excitedly: "I am willing to serve you to the death for the Young Envoy!"

After a few words of comfort, Wu Dachuan resigned and left.

Zhu Xiu leaned tiredly on the imperial chair and stared at the beams in a daze.

The Wen family and Wu Dachuan were the two tools he used to integrate Jingzhou merchants.

It is impossible to monopolize business. Only the government is qualified to operate a monopoly.

In the Chang Yi Army, he represented the government.

(End of this chapter)