Chapter 99

In the end, Zhang Han laughed first, and the others followed suit. Zhang Han's laughter was the most relaxed, but the others were not so at ease. Everyone was pondering the meaning behind Zhang Han's words, but for a moment, none of them could fully grasp it.

Sun Jingting, the youngest, reacted the fastest. As the others furrowed their brows in deep thought, Sun Jingting said first, "Master Zhang's idea is to establish an expanded version of the Dongshan Association, but unlike the Dongshan Association, which only sets up a few furnaces for everyone to mix and earn a living, this new association will integrate employment, iron production, forging, transportation, pricing, and final sales. All the masters will be members of this guild, and then share the benefits together?"

"Exactly, that's the idea," Zhang Han smiled, his features relaxed. It was always easier to talk with intelligent people.

"Then," Li Dayong continued, "how will Master Zhang manage everyone? What if they don't listen to the coordinator, or if they say one thing but mean another? What punishment will there be?"

"This is simple," Zhang Han said in a straightforward and clear tone. "Those who violate the rules will be expelled from the association. Once expelled, they will not be allowed to participate in any technical, labor, transportation, or pricing matters, nor will they be allowed to join in."

His words were calm, but everyone could sense the firmness behind them. If this association were established, the masters of the large and small iron furnaces would become council members, working together in every aspect from transportation and mining to employment and final pricing. They would all work together to make money. If someone were expelled, they would be excluded from the system, left to fend for themselves, and it would be difficult to survive under such circumstances.

In fact, by forming this guild, Zhang Han aimed to unify the entire iron industry in Lingqiu. If everyone followed his commands at every step, it would be as if he had taken over the entire iron industry in Lingqiu. Words alone were not enough; joining the association was the real hard criterion. Once someone joined, over time, shared interests would inevitably lead to internal power struggles, but externally, they would definitely unite. This was evident from the development and growth of various guilds in Europe.

European wealth did not fall from the sky. From merchant guilds to craft guilds, each had its own sphere of influence, wealth, and political status. They had a strong voice and considerable pricing power. The accumulation of wealth could be fast or slow, but controlling the market and pricing was equivalent to a monopoly, and such profits were the easiest to earn.

From the grain trade guild to this Lingqiu steel guild, Zhang Han was trying to take a completely different path in the Ming Dynasty. His mindset had subtly changed, and while the goal of making money through smuggling remained unchanged, with his current strength and vision, it was uncertain how far he could go.

Sun Anle and Sun Jingting, the uncle and nephew, made the quickest decision. They had already decided to fully support and rely on Yuxing, and this new guild was even more in their interest. The two looked at each other, then bowed to Zhang Han, calling him "Guild Master."

Li Dayong pondered for a moment, then also bowed, calling Zhang Han "Guild Master."

With these few leading the way, Ma Huaxian sighed slightly, almost imperceptibly, then smiled and also bowed, addressing Zhang Han as "Guild Master."

Zeng Yongxian and the others had nothing to say. Zhang Xueceng, watching from the side, though he did not fully understand, knew that Zhang Han had gained a rare status. At least in Lingqiu, where iron mines and ironworks were the mainstay, Zhang Han was considered a standard gentry leader, a powerful figure whom the new county magistrate would visit upon arrival.

The Zhang family from Puzhou would not be proud just for gaining such a status in one county, but after Zhang Swei, this was a new starting point and peak for the Zhang family of Puzhou, and it was entirely the result of their own struggle and effort, not the legacy of their ancestors.

It was a source of pride and a reason to be proud!

Of course, they could not continue talking on the street. Fortunately, Zhang Han's residence was not far away. Taking advantage of the enthusiasm, Zhang Han invited everyone to his house. He served them fragrant tea and pastries, and they continued to discuss the establishment time and details of the steel guild. Zhang Han explained that he would need to leave the border for a while, for one to two months, or even three to four months, and he hoped to return to Lingqiu before the New Year. Before his return, he would entrust Cai Jiu with the full authority to handle all guild matters. No one objected to this, as Zhang Han's business scope was much larger than that of the others, and everyone understood that he could not stay in Lingqiu permanently.

"I will also return to Puzhou in a few days," Zhang Xueceng said, seizing the opportunity. "I have nothing to do here now, so I might as well go back and talk things over with the clan."

Zhang Han knew that some people in Puzhou were plotting against him, mostly the idle and bored elders of the clan. He did not take them seriously, considering them mere "worms" in modern terms.

Since they were worms, they did not need to be taken seriously. If they caused trouble, they would be dealt with directly. However, this matter still needed to be resolved through Zhang Xueceng. When Zhang Xueceng first arrived in Lingqiu, he helped Zhang Han establish a foothold, meeting people and hosting banquets, which was indeed a lot of hard work. Now that the situation in Lingqiu was stable, he could return to Puzhou.

"Uncle, it would be good for you to rest for a while," Zhang Han said thoughtfully. "Once you are well-rested, would you come back to Lingqiu to help me manage things?"

Zhang Xueceng shook his head. "I have seen clearly on this trip that the world is complex, and it is not something a scholar like me can understand. I do not have the ability to handle it... Wenlan, you are different. You are naturally suited for these tasks. I have seen it in these days, and I am truly pleased."

Zhang Han was speechless for a moment. Zhang Xueceng's help was purely for the family and out of admiration for him. His role might seem insignificant, but without Zhang Xueceng and the support of the Puzhou Zhang family, it would not have been so easy to gain acceptance and integration into the local gentry when he first arrived in Lingqiu.

"Uncle, I really have no way to repay you..."

"What are you saying, we are family," Zhang Xueceng said. "I am just an incapable person. If Xuzong and Xuwén can help you, I will be very happy."

Zhang Xuzong and Zhang Xuwén were Zhang Xueceng's grandsons, of the same generation as Zhang Han. Though they were from the same clan, they were already quite distant, not even considered "close relatives." Zhang Xueceng had previously mentioned to Zhang Han that he wanted these two grandsons to learn from him. Both were scholars, under twenty years old, with bright futures. Zhang Han had thought Zhang Xueceng was joking, but it turned out to be a real arrangement, and he was deeply moved. He nodded repeatedly, agreeing to have Xuzong and Xuwén go to Xinping Fort to learn from Zhou Fengji at the main store.

This arrangement was very appropriate, and Zhang Xueceng was very satisfied, nodding and smiling in agreement.

After discussing until the first watch, everyone bid farewell. Zhang Han saw them off at the door, sending each of the masters away. In the coming days, many more ironworks masters would likely seek him out, as once the news spread, anyone with a bit of intelligence would understand the importance of the guild.

The Sun family uncle and nephew were not convenient to go out, so Zhang Han did not send them back to their residence in the city. He kept them to continue the conversation.

He had someone warm a pot of wine and prepare a few small dishes, and they talked late into the night by candlelight.

"The share of Jin iron in the north can be expanded, but not too much in the short term..."

As they sipped their wine, Zhang Han revealed a bit more to the uncle and nephew.

"The northern barbarians have been quiet for several decades," Sun Anle said indifferently. Sun Jingting, raising his glass to Zhang Han, added, "Actually, the court's restrictions are a bit too strict and rigid. What harm would it do to sell more iron pots and knives? If the Tartars can invade with these, it is due to the incompetence of our officials and border commanders."

The more Zhang Han talked with Sun Jingting, the more he felt that beneath his graceful and heroic exterior, there was a sense of frustration and unfulfilled ambition.

"Xiaozheng, brother," Zhang Han called him by his courtesy name, smiling, "if you say these things, those who are stuck in the past will surely have strong opinions!"

"Them?" Sun Jingting's handsome face first showed a look of disdain, then he said indifferently, "If I cared about them, I wouldn't be helping my uncle manage the Dongshan Association."

Sun Anle told Zhang Han, "Xiaozheng may seem carefree, but he is actually very serious. Last time, during the Gansu and Ningxia mutinies and the great disaster in southern Shanxi, he could not bear to see the injustice. He submitted memorials to the court, but they were like stones thrown into the sea. He tried to gather like-minded people to submit memorials together, but everyone called him a fool. In a fit of anger, he stopped taking the examinations and gave up on becoming a scholar. People say he held me back in my career and future, but I think his nature would only bring trouble if he became an official. It's better for him to work hard with me and at least live a peaceful life."

Sun Jingting suddenly said, "Master Zhang, if you are going out to the border, I will go with you. What do you think?"

Zhang Han was taken aback. For this trip to the border, he planned to bring many people, at least dozens of attendants. The grasslands were vast and sparsely populated, and the Mongol tribes occupied a much larger area than in later times, extending to Central Asia and the far north, as well as what would later become Xinjiang and Ningxia. At that time, these areas were all occupied by the Mongols. To the east, they occupied Liaodong and the Greater Khingan Range, and what would later become Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and the three northeastern provinces were all Mongol territory. The Jurchens had just risen, occupying only a small area beyond the Liaodong border wall. Nurhaci had not yet conquered the Yehe tribe, and his unification was not yet complete. Compared to the Mongols, who had resisted the Ming for over two hundred years, the Jurchens were still a minor force. Many Mongol tribes were still in a state of hostility, and Zhang Han's target customers were still very weak in the eyes of the Mongols. This trip was risky, with many uncontrollable factors, and he could not ensure Sun Jingting's safety.

Zhang Han said in a very tactful tone, "Xiaozheng, brother, this trip may encounter enemy attacks..."

"Then forget it."

Sun Jingting was somewhat displeased and said, "Consider it my overstepping."

This person's temper, upon closer contact, was indeed very bad, and he did not give Zhang Han a chance to explain. After saying this, Sun Jingting stormed out.

"Master Zhang, forgive me," Sun Anle, who seemed rough but was actually very meticulous, repeatedly apologized to Zhang Han. However, the atmosphere was ruined, and he no longer wanted to drink. It was past the second watch, so they had to disperse.

When Zhang Han returned to his room to rest, Sun Jingting was still awake. Through the window, he saw the light still on, and Sun Jingting was leaning against the window, polishing his sword. Zhang Han shook his head, thinking that this person still had a strong scholar's temperament.

"Drunk, I light the lamp to look at my sword, dreaming of the bugle calls in the camp..."

As he passed by, he heard Sun Jingting reciting, and Zhang Han smiled slightly.

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