Chapter 66

"Sorry, sorry, I spoke out of turn," Wang Ju repeatedly bowed and apologized.

However, something still didn't seem right.

Li Wan yuan finally couldn't hold back and ran to one side to laugh.

"You little rascal," Li Yuanwai whispered, then said, "Since you're here, there's no need to bring so many gifts. Come in quickly."

Lv Shi, seething with anger, also followed and entered.

Qin Shi also came out to greet them.

At first, she had some reservations about this marriage, but the more she knew, the less she opposed it. As Wang Ju began studying under Zhang Zai, he gained economic means, which surprised her greatly.

Therefore, she politely asked the servants to prepare tea and fruit.

Lv Shi was still sitting on the side.

Wang Ju said again, "Aunt, please don't be angry."

Li Wan yuan almost burst out laughing again.

"Brat, you!"

"Aunt, the main reason I came this time is to solve the issue with the jade salt."

Immediately, Lv Shi stopped being angry and looked at Wang Ju nervously.

"Salt..." Li Yuanwai rubbed his head.

"Father-in-law, the higher the position, the more troubles one has. If one doesn't have the ability to be a prime minister, it will be a torment. The same goes for merchants; the larger the scale, the more problems one has."

A simple truth: eat according to your appetite, carry according to your strength, and do according to your ability.

This ability not only includes the wisdom of commerce but also a powerful backing.

How many of these merchants from Yanzhou would have a powerful backing outside Yanzhou?

Without a backing, Zhu Huan and Zhao Li and other merchants found it increasingly difficult.

"Wang Ju, what you said is true."

"There is a way to solve it. Father-in-law, call Zhao Yuanwai and Zhu Yuanwai to discuss it."

Li Yuanwai instructed the servants to invite Zhu Huan and Zhao Yuanwai, then asked, "How are things on your side?"

"Fine," Wang Ju nodded. Although Yunyan County was small, Wang Ju was actually happy. He couldn't think of how much reading the current classics would help the country, but he knew that without reading, he couldn't achieve wealth and honor. This required a quiet environment, and where could be better than where he was now?

"What are your plans for the future?"

"Study for a while longer. It's a rare opportunity to learn from Master Zhang," Wang Ju replied.

This was his sincere answer.

Initially, entering the county school in Yunyan County was very helpful to Wang Ju, but after a year, he found it less beneficial. It wasn't that he had surpassed the old scholar in the county school, but the teaching pace was too slow. The county school in Yunyan County was like this, and he suspected it wouldn't be much better in Yanzhou or Weizhou, as these regions were culturally backward in the Song Dynasty.

But with Zhang Zai's additional teaching, the problem was solved.

"How about the autumn examination?" Qin Shi asked with concern.

Wang Ju smiled but didn't answer.

Actually, he had a good chance of passing the local examination last year, but he had no confidence in the provincial examination, so he had actively given up on the examination last year.

However, after another year of study, could he still lack confidence? The only shortcoming was poetry, but Wang Ju believed that after another year, this weakness could be overcome.

He didn't answer, but Qin Shi understood.

Li Yuanwai smiled.

The servants brought a few bowls of chicken noodle soup, and after they finished eating, Zhu Huan and Zhao Yuanwai arrived.

"Let's go to the study to talk."

"Okay."

Lv Shi said from behind, "Don't forget my nephew."

Outside, Er Niu said to Li Fei'er, "Sister-in-law, he's really a corrupt official."

Li Fei'er was also amused.

The four of them went to the study.

"Wang Xiaolang, there's no need to offend my cousin. The magistrate of Huayin County is a fellow student of Magistrate Qin..."

Li Yuanwai hinted, as his prospective son-in-law was clever and cunning.

Salt couldn't be transported to Yanzhou for processing, as the transportation costs would be astronomical. But it couldn't be processed in Jiezhou either, as that would attract too much attention. Therefore, it should be processed in several places not far from Jiezhou, including Huayin. A county official was more powerful than a county magistrate, and although some of the shareholders had backgrounds, there was no need to offend the county magistrate.

"Understood, Father-in-law, rest assured. We are still relatives, and even without the connection to Magistrate Qin, I wouldn't offend her."

The four of them sat down.

Wang Ju said, "The salt issue isn't too big. In fact, no other family has managed to replicate it, which is a pleasant surprise."

The fine salt used was mostly from Jiezhou, with some private salt from Western Xia, but they didn't dare to use too much. Cheng Kan also knew this, and as long as it wasn't excessive, he would turn a blind eye. The saying "too clear water has no fish" was taken to the extreme in the early Song Dynasty, and it also belonged to the principle of moderation.

However, the sales and processing were not in Yanzhou, so the control of Yanzhou merchants was severely lacking.

"We use our own people."

"Can you ensure that no one will be bought off?" Wang Ju countered.

The three of them couldn't answer.

Over time, someone would inevitably be bought off.

"It's not a long-term solution. The main technology is still relatively simple, but that's not the issue. The problem is that it might offend many people."

"Yes," the three of them sighed simultaneously.

"Let's try a different approach. Split the profit in half. You only handle the processing, and let the local large households handle the sales, or divide the regions and assign each to one person."

China had early forms of joint-stock workshops, known as "chiguo." Small-scale ones were certified by local elders, while large-scale ones were certified by county or prefectural magistrates. Once established, these had a certain legal effect, though the legal system at the time was limited.

Wang Ju took it a step further, essentially creating agents and representatives. This wouldn't guarantee that the technology wouldn't be leaked, but it wouldn't offend people. Managing both production and sales required a large scale, and the merchants of Yanzhou lacked the capability.

The three of them immediately understood. This was similar to the "maipu" system in the Song Dynasty.

The merchant guilds in the Song Dynasty had a similar nature. Merchants in each city formed guilds to purchase goods uniformly and distribute sales, to prevent malicious competition and to control the prices of suppliers.

"This is a good idea," Zhu Huan clapped his hands in admiration.

"It's not a great idea, but it won't last long. Since it won't last, there's no need to offend people excessively. But I have a new business idea."

Wang Ju took out several sheets of paper from his chest and handed them to the three to read.

"There are three points. First, the development time will be long, possibly lasting until this year or next, and it will cost tens of thousands of strings of cash."

The three nodded. After the Xia sword and the fine salt, they no longer doubted him. However, it seemed a bit far-fetched, so the research difficulty would be high. Of course, the more complex the technology, the less likely it would be to leak. Unlike salt, this would not be in a gray area but a permanent business opportunity.

"Second, we need to invite three young masters with backgrounds similar to Master Cheng to join the chiguo. They must be from the north, but they don't need to share the research costs."

These backgrounds didn't necessarily mean the sons of officials like Cheng Kan, but could include nephews, cousins, or clan members. Without a backing, it wouldn't work. Three from the north would create a balance, preventing them from taking over. Not sharing the research costs meant they couldn't control the technology.

Wang Ju didn't explain, but the three understood.

"Third, I won't divide my money and silk, but will also contribute to the costs. Additionally, I want to send a few people from Wangjiazhai. Father-in-law, patron, and Zhao Yuanwai, what do you think?"

Zhao Yuanwai smiled bitterly, while Zhu Huan and Li Yuanwai laughed. Zhu Huan said, "You're growing up."

Wang Ju spoke tactfully, but in reality, this time it wouldn't be a 2% dividend. Growing up meant a bigger appetite.

"Alright," Zhao Yuanwai said.

"Also, since you've been cooperating for so long, you can select seven or eight families from Yanzhou to join. More people mean more strength, but they must be reliable."

"Why choose Hangzhou? The time is too tight."

"We need the water and bamboo from there."

The four of them discussed for a while longer before dispersing.

Wang Ju still had one thing to do: the horse society. Not the horse society, but what was Cheng Kan preparing to do?

But after some thought, the time was too tight, so he left Er Niu and his younger brother at Li Yuanwai's house and hurried back to Wangjiazhai.

When he arrived at his own cave house, he stopped.

The door was unlocked, and the sound of reading aloud came from inside.