Great Qin Emperor

Chapter 9
"A man's virtuousness is like a mouse, it depends on his own ears!" Zhou Chong thought for a moment, then blurted out his answer.

Zeng Yao was using an analogy to wake up Zhou Chong. He thought that no one would know about this analogy except him and another person, but what he never expected was that Zhou Chong would actually tell that person's In the original words, the small mouth was wide open in surprise, and a pair of very good-looking eyes looked at Zhou Chong, didn't know how to turn, and asked, "How do you know this?" Immediately, he realized that the words were inappropriate, and hurriedly covered up: "Brother Zhou, my brother has learned the lesson."

"Isn't it clearly recorded in "Historical Records Biography of Li Si?" Zhou Chong gave the answer in his heart, and immediately thought of Zeng Yao's expression, he was very surprised, and wondered if he was Li Si, a famous official of the generation?Li Si has a handsome face, and so does Zeng Yao in front of him, but Li Si is very tall, while Zeng Yao is so thin that he can be described as petite. The two have nothing to do with each other anyway, and said with a smile: "My little brother is stupid once he gets it." , I dare not enter Brother Zeng's eyes, so I ask Brother Zeng for advice."

Li Si is a native of Shangcai in the state of Chu. He works as a small official in the county. When he goes to the toilet, he always sees rats fleeing in a hurry. He also goes to the granary to see the rats. Not afraid, he said with emotion that "the virtuous of a man is like a mouse, and it depends on his own ears".No longer being a petty official, he worshiped the great scholar Xunzi as his teacher, learned the art of becoming a king, and lamented the inadequacy of the six kingdoms of Shandong after he finished his studies, so he went west to Qin, and finally became a generation of famous ministers.

"Brother Zhou understands the reason, so why not do what you want?" Zeng Yao asked back, "From my point of view, these villagers took so long to get a job, and their hearts are very firm and sincere. Brother Zhou Could it be that he has a heart of iron and stone, without any kindness?"

His words were quite sharp, Zhou Chong smiled bitterly and said: "I understand what you mean, you mean that they have no oil, they are like rats in the toilet, but they have oil, they are like hamster rats, although they are also rats, they have lived It’s quite different.”

Zeng Yao nodded in agreement and said, "Brother Zhou is smart!"

Zhou Chong spread his hands and began to pour bitter water: "Brother Zeng is a master, you should know that this matter cannot be accomplished by one person alone. Even if I agree to them, there is no way to recover."

"Brother Zhou is not without kindness, it's just that he can't do enough. If the younger brother can help Brother Zhou solve this problem, will Brother Zhou agree to them?" Zeng Yao looked at Zhou Chong expectantly.

The ancients were inferior to modern people in science and technology, but their wisdom was not inferior to modern people. Zeng Yao is very smart. God knows what kind of idea he will come up with. Zhou Chong said skillfully: "Brother Zeng, please tell me, if it works then do."

Zeng Yao laughed, and said: "My little brother's idea is not a brilliant idea. Brother Zhou can hire a few helpers and make more stone nests, won't it solve the problem?"

"The ancients, they had to do it as soon as their brains were hot, and they didn't even calculate the cost. It was cost-effective." Zeng Yao's idea was not unexpected. It was just a rural place with a sparse population. Where did the market come from? It was only for the villagers. Once their request is met, shouldn't these things be left idle?Zhou Chong, who was born as an operating officer, was well aware of the harm, and said euphemistically: "Brother Zeng's idea is certainly reasonable, but oil is a tool for food, not food, and the amount used is small. In rural areas, the population is not large, and it is difficult to support dozens of stone nests. "

Obviously, this question was beyond Zeng Yao's expectation. After thinking about it for a while, he said, "Brother Zhou's high opinion, my brother has opened his eyes. However, I still have a plan. Brother Zhou can sell oil here and go to the city to sell it. You can also produce oil in the city and sell it to the countryside. If there is not enough manpower, you can hire some sensitive people to help and open oil shops in nearby villages. In this way, people in eight villages have oil to eat. And Brother Zhou doesn’t have to worry about the lack of manpower.”

"You are really creative, you actually want to open a chain store, but do you know that modern people have to find the first pot of gold in business? I am new here, penniless, how can I raise so much money? As long as I ask, Uncle Sun He will give me the thatched cottage, but it’s not worth a lot of money.” Zhou Chong said with bitterness in his heart, “Brother Zeng’s words are not unreasonable, but this matter requires a lot of capital, and it’s hard for me to cover my stomach. Dare to have such an extravagant hope.”

Zeng Yao smiled slightly, showing his white teeth like plaid shells, and said: "Brother Zhou, don't worry, I still have some connections in this matter. If Brother Zhou agrees, I will take care of this matter."

Old man Sun just came in, and said to Zhou Chong: "Nephew, Mr. Li sincerely helps you, you have to think about it. This is a great charity, if it can be successful, it can be regarded as accumulating virtue to the old man."

Zeng Yao nodded in agreement and said, "Old man's words are reasonable, what do you think brother Zhou thinks? In my opinion, this oil is indeed necessary for the people's life, and it won't be long before the people in Xianyang, Guanzhong, and Daqin will know it all. At that time, brother Zhou will be lying on the golden mountain and sleeping."

If the business is done well, it is not impossible to become a monopoly. Zhou Chong agrees with this point, saying: "My little brother is not a person who is unscrupulous, nor is he a person who seeks profit. If he can do something good for the people, then that's fine. Brother Zeng, please worry more."

Zeng Yao said happily: "Brother Zhou, don't worry, this matter will be handled by my younger brother. This is really great. If the people of Daqin have oil to eat, their bodies will definitely be great, then Daqin's army must be invincible , the day of the Dingding is not far away."

Qin State was ridiculed by Confucianism as a country of tigers and wolves. Confucius left an instruction that "Confucians should not enter Qin". Xunzi did not abide by this instruction, went west to Qin, and predicted that it would be Qin who would unify the country. In the end, he did not enter the Confucian ancestral temple.

At that time, many insightful people analyzed the general situation of the world and traveled westward to enter Qin Dynasty.And Qin State also made great use of these talents, such as Zhang Yi, Fan Sui, Li Si, and Meng Ao.It can be said that the six kingdoms of Shandong were not destroyed by the hands of Qin, but by the talents they abandoned.

It is the general trend for Qin to unify China, and there are not a few people who applaud it. Zeng Yao can also speak for Qin, but he has expressed worry and anger several times, and he is willing to do the same for Qin.Zhou Chong knew a certain fact: Qin's army was invincible without you, and finally unified the country.With oil, it will greatly help the people of Qin to improve their lives. This is inevitable, but Zhou Chong really dare not think about raising it to the level of a military country.

And Zeng Yao's appearance is indeed too suspicious, Zhou Chong said: "Brother Zeng, I have an unsolicited request, please don't decline."

Zeng Yao was overjoyed, and immediately agreed: "Brother Zhou, please tell me, I will try my best to help."

"Brother Zeng, this matter is a matter of little effort." Zhou Chong said very skillfully: "I think, brother Zeng has contributed a lot to this matter, and the profit is only fifty or five cents. You pay the money, and I will contribute the skills. What does Brother Zeng think?" ?”

It's fair to divide the account like this, Zeng Yao smiled and said: "Brother Zhou is worrying too much, the younger brother is just contributing a little bit, and has no intention of sharing profits. If Brother Zhou feels sorry, he can make it bigger and let more common people If you benefit, the younger brother will be satisfied."

If he agrees to share the profits, Zhou Chong's doubts will be reduced a little bit. As a result, Zhou Chong's suspicions will rise, and he said indifferently: "Brother Zeng's benevolent heart is appreciated by my younger brother. In the future, we will cooperate and work together, and we will inevitably understand each other. Can I ask brother Zeng to tell me where I am from?" Zhou Chong's original intention was to investigate Zeng Yao's background.

(End of this chapter)