Chapter 38

On the road from Anyang to the imperial capital Wuyang, a massive convoy advanced in grand procession, with over three hundred large cargo wagons and more than five hundred valiant and spirited guards. Among the convoy, one could see the banners of the Li, Yuan, Shangguan, and Zhang families.

Needless to say, this was of course Li Xian's convoy. Faced with such a large convoy, no bandits dared to collect "tolls." Even the local officials along the way were cautious in restraining their subordinates—temporarily, they couldn't afford to provoke these four families.

In the convoy, Li Xian was imparting new ideas to Xu Ren.

"Master, please listen to me. First, let's talk about technology; the leakage of technology isn't necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, deliberately leaking technology is the greatest conspiracy.

By deliberately leaking technology, we allow others to imitate us. Imitation, however, will rob them of their ability to innovate and develop, and they will never surpass us! Unable to surpass us, they will always be at our mercy and continue to imitate us! In the end, they will fall into an inescapable vicious cycle. This is the superiority and guidance of technology."

"Hmm? That makes sense, but the world is vast, and there are countless talents. How can you be sure that others will imitate us? They might study other technologies."

"That brings us to the second point," Li Xian smiled confidently, "this is called capital. We need to show others the benefits of technology. With benefits, there will be pursuit; and with benefits, we can use them to guide and expand the market.

I admit that many technologies are better, but not all technologies can be profitable!

Technologies that fit the market, meaning those that can be profitable, are good technologies. So, as long as we guide the market, we can naturally eliminate countless technologies. We guide and expand the market through technology, and then use the market to counteract technology.

Meanwhile, we secretly acquire or learn from failed technologies, experiences, and even recruit the talents behind them. Or, we can control and support some promising enterprises through investment.

In this way, we can rapidly expand.

The business model of a merchant guild is too narrow. The group development model is the best way for industrial expansion. As long as scientific research, industry, capital, and the market work together, the group can expand tenfold overnight!"

Xu Ren did not ask this time but turned pale, partly because he was stunned by this new business warfare mindset, and partly because he was trying hard to think and absorb these ideas. Following Li Xian, Xu Ren felt immense pressure.

It wasn't until half a day later that Xu Ren asked some minor questions, and Li Xian patiently explained. By evening, Xu Ren began to ask more detailed questions.

"Third, if we want to rise and not be discouraged, we need to rally those on the same side. Therefore, for our own survival, we must appropriately release some technologies to share with the world.

Sharing brings respect; sharing brings support!

Fourth, I believe the imperial capital is already in chaos, and my three good brothers must have disassembled the loom. How can we let them have all the glory? I want everyone to know that it was our Brilliant Stars Merchant Guild that invented the engine, and we personally initiated the industrial revolution.

Fifth, third-rate merchant guilds sell products, second-rate merchant guilds build brands, first-rate merchant guilds create markets, and top-tier merchant guilds set standards. We want to be the top-tier merchant guild, the king of industry.

To be the king, we must share some things to unite a group of people."

Xu Ren respectfully opened his notebook and recorded the relevant matters. Li Xian's ideas gave Xu Ren a strong sense of crisis—Xu Ren could already feel that he was falling behind Li Xian! To avoid being left behind, he could only humbly learn.

Of course, Xu Ren was also confident. In fact, the strategies of business and technology are not fundamentally different from general strategies. Once the veil is lifted, Xu Ren would still be the strategist who could manipulate the entire political arena.

The next day, the convoy continued to advance, and Li Xian and Xu Ren began a new discussion. "Master, I plan to hold an exhibition. The exhibition will showcase all items, but the purpose is for promotion. I'm hesitating whether to hold it alone or in collaboration with others.

The situation of the exhibition is roughly like this..."

As he spoke, Li Xian roughly introduced the format of the exhibition. Xu Ren was still amazed by Li Xian's innovative ideas and then began to comprehensively analyze the pros and cons. This exhibition was not just about business; it would inevitably involve politics—considering Li Xian's identity and the engine, he couldn't avoid political storms, which required Xu Ren's help in planning.

——

As Li Xian's group headed for the imperial capital, hundreds of officials gathered in the palace to discuss the Caiyi Cloth Guild.

Many officials who came to report were dissatisfied. They came to the capital for routine duties, but now they had to discuss the Caiyi Cloth Guild. The real issue wasn't the Caiyi Cloth Guild itself, but the four major power players behind it!

The Yuan family, with Yuan Yong, a Grand Marshal of the first rank; the Shangguan family, with Shangguan Guang, a Grand General of the first rank; the Li family, with Li Yulong, a Censor-in-Chief of the second rank; and the Zhang family, with Zhang Yuan, a Minister of Revenue of the second rank. These four power players held key positions and wielded real power. The four families controlled military, political, and financial powers!

On the other side, the Wang family, needless to say, had the support of Chancellor Ouyang Wubing, a Chancellor of the first rank, who demanded an investigation and punishment of the Caiyi Cloth Guild.

In short, neither the plaintiff nor the defendant was simple, and it's no wonder the officials who came to report were dissatisfied—they couldn't afford to provoke them.

The emperor sat high on his throne: "Chancellor, your choice this time is quite surprising. Tell me, what are you thinking?"

Countless eyes turned to the chancellor, all curious. The chancellor was usually very upright and couldn't tolerate any wrongdoing; this time, his support for the Wang family in accusing the Caiyi Cloth Guild had shocked many.

Chancellor Ouyang Wubing stepped forward, "Your Majesty, I do not oppose the Caiyi Cloth Guild, and I even hope they can sell cloth at a low price. To be honest, I had my servants buy two bolts of cloth. The quality of the Caiyi Cloth Guild's cloth is uniform and excellent.

In my humble opinion, considering the quality, the price of the Caiyi Cloth Guild is only 80% of the market price, truly good value for money."

The emperor's curiosity grew: "Oh, if it's so good, why do you oppose it?"

"Your Majesty, as the saying goes, cheap grain harms farmers. Such low-priced cloth will seriously affect the lives of the people. I suspect the source of the Caiyi Cloth Guild's cloth is problematic. This matter must be investigated.

Moreover, the Caiyi Cloth Guild's current strategy of scarcity marketing is severely disrupting the market. Almost all cloth shops in Wuyang are having problems, further affecting the livelihoods of the people behind them.

After much consideration, I must request that Your Majesty temporarily close the Caiyi Cloth Guild and investigate the source of their cloth."

The emperor turned to Li Yulong, "Minister Li, the Caiyi Cloth Guild is Li Xian's creation, right? Can you explain why?"

Li Yulong also stepped forward, "Your Majesty, I swear the source of the cloth is absolutely not a problem."

Wang Chuan sneered, "Minister Li, His Majesty asked for the reason, not for you to swear."

Li Yulong frowned slightly, "Your Majesty, this involves some business secrets. Could you give me two days? My son will return to the capital in two days."

"Very well, I will give you two days. However, the Caiyi Cloth Guild will be temporarily closed."