Chapter 47 What is Dividend Distribution

  Liu Ze burst out laughing and lowered his voice, saying: "We brothers are not outsiders, so I'll speak from the heart today. Whether it's tens of millions or hundreds of millions of assets, to me, Liu Ze, they're just fleeting clouds. Four years later, the world will be in chaos, and that's when heroes will rise, and it will be our stage to shine, to conquer the world! Third brother asked about dividends, but at that time, we'll be kings and nobles, enjoying the world, and everything today is just a foundation for future success. With money, you can recruit more soldiers and horses, with money, you can buy better equipment, with money, you can hire more talent... Today's efforts are just the stepping stone to tomorrow's success."

  Liu Ze spoke with great passion, and Guan Zhang listened with rapt attention. Jian Yong bowed deeply and said: "Your ambition, my lord, is a grand one indeed! Today I have finally come to understand that your aim is to unite the world under heaven, and that your heart encompasses all within the four seas. I am willing to devote my entire life's abilities to help you achieve this great undertaking."

  "In the future, we need to focus on running this stall well. The nationwide uniform price issue that Xianhe and Fang just mentioned is a brand new chain business model. No matter where you are, the goods and services you enjoy are equal, which can make people trust and rely on the goods, and it has great benefits for the popularization and promotion of the goods. Xianhe, you must grasp this work practically, strictly review the qualifications of agents, and unconditionally cancel the agency qualifications of those who do not meet the agent qualifications and violate the agreement. Each state's branch should be managed by a capable person. I admit that under current conditions, the transportation cost pressure of coal stone sales to Qingzhou and Xuzhou is very large, we have to consider not making money or losing money, but from a long-term perspective, this business model has great prospects, and it is also the most effective way for us to cover all counties in the north with coal stone in the shortest time. Next year, I have planned to open several new coal mines in Pingdingshan, Yuzhou, Zaozhuang, Qingzhou, and Bianzhou, so that all branches can get coal stones nearby in the future, and the profits of each place will also tend to balance."

  Just as they were talking, the scout sent from Yangquan returned with news.

  The situation in Yangquan was what Liu Ze was eager to understand. After Left Feng and others took over the coal mine, they sent out a large number of miners for excavation. The initial excavation went relatively smoothly, but not long after, a mysterious massive explosion occurred inside the mine tunnel, igniting a raging fire, with thick smoke billowing out from the wellhead, lasting for several days without stopping. None of the miners who entered the tunnel came out alive.

  Then multiple mine shafts exploded one after another, causing more and more casualties among the miners. Many people were reluctant to go down into the pit to dig coal again. However, Zuo Feng and others disregarded the lives of the miners and ordered them to enter the pit for production by force.

  Later on, for some reason, many of the tunnels were flooded with water and could no longer be entered, so Zuo Feng and others gave up.

  "There is no ventilation in the mine, and the gas in the pit is getting thicker and thicker. It's only a matter of time before it causes a major explosion disaster. I just didn't expect that Lao Feng and his men would be so reckless with people's lives, and yet they still force the migrant workers to go down into the pit despite the frequent accidents. It's truly inhumane." Liu Ze had long since decided not to have anything to do with them again.

  Zhang Fei burst out laughing: "Well done, those bastards stole our coal mine, now they've got what's coming to them. How about it, are they staring blankly at the flooded mine shafts now?"

  The scout shook his head and said, "None."

  Zhang Fei was stunned and said: "Can't they have any other way?"

  They brought in a vehicle-like thing and pumped out the water inside the mine through pipes.

  Liu Ze was taken aback, then suddenly thought of: "Water cart? Do you know how they got the water cart?"

  "It's said that it was made by Zhang Rang, the chief eunuch of the palace."

  Liu Ze thought to himself, how could I have forgotten this? During the Eastern Han dynasty, Emperor Ling's time, eunuch Zhang Rang invented the waterwheel. Later, after Zhuge Liang's modification, it was widely used in Shu. It seems that Zhang Rang did not invent the waterwheel for agricultural production.

  Zhang Fei saw White and was delighted for a moment, but couldn't help feeling somewhat depressed. "Big brother, it seems your plan is going to fall through."

  "This is also nothing, even if the waterwheel can drain some of the water in the mine, but a large amount of underground water keeps accumulating, and they have no effective way to solve the problem of gas explosion, the coal production must be limited, the cost of coal mining is too high, plus the long distance, until they transport the coal to Luoyang, only then will they realize their foolishness."

  What happened afterwards was exactly as Liu Ze had expected, without a single deviation. When Zuo Fengxing rushed to transport the produced coal to Luoyang to report his achievements to Zhang Rang, Zhang Rang calculated the cost and almost fainted. Not to mention the selling price, even the cost was much higher than the current market price of coal in Luoyang. The coal they had worked so hard to obtain was actually a money-losing business.

  Zuo Feng came up with an idea, saying that they should take over Liu Ze's coal mines in Jingxing and Shangdang again. Zhang Rang slapped him hard on the mouth and scolded him, "What kind of stupid idea is this? We've already taken back Yangquan Mountain and are enjoying ourselves, what's the point of taking a few more?" Zhang Rang's mind was no longer on such troublesome and unprofitable things, he had already thought of an easier way to make money - inciting the Emperor to openly sell official positions.

  The old year is ending, and the new year has arrived. Liu Ze and others are gathered at Fuyuan Village, warming themselves by the fire. Jian Yun's abacus is clicking away non-stop. This year, business has been booming, and after the price adjustment, coal sales have continued to be hot, with branches in various places frequently reporting stockouts. Coal is no longer a luxury item exclusive to the rich.

  Due to the price being similar to charcoal, but with a much higher calorific value than charcoal, more and more ordinary people have also accepted this new way of heating. Coal has gradually entered thousands of households, and is likely to replace firewood as one of the seven necessities for starting a business. Although the selling price is only half that of last year, the wholesale price is even 30-40% less, but due to the wide market coverage and large number of users, profits have actually increased by tenfold compared to last year.

  The sales of Shu brocade were already sold out in the summer, but the sales of porcelain far exceeded Liu Ze's expectations. Originally, Liu Ze listed porcelain as an export commodity and handed over a large quantity of porcelain to Lukas for sale, only instructing Jian Yun to find a storefront near Fuyuan Village to display the porcelain.

  The rich people of Luoyang indeed have the ability to consume, and although the price of a piece of porcelain with two or three taels of gold is not cheap, buyers are coming in continuously. Now, if a noble family in Luoyang does not have some blue and white porcelain plates, dishes, cups, and bowls, it would be embarrassing to invite guests for dinner. A set of blue and white tableware has gradually become the exclusive product of the aristocratic families in Luoyang City. Many blue and white porcelain decorations are also sought after by scholars and officials because of their elegant and subtle beauty. Even the eunuchs in charge of procurement in the imperial palace would occasionally run to the porcelain shops to see if there were any new products on the market.

  At first, Jian Yun told Liu Ze the good news, but Liu Ze did not show any joy, instead he shook his head and sighed. Jian Yun was puzzled and asked why.

  "Fine porcelain is expensive," said Liu Ze, "those who can afford it don't need it, and those who need it can't afford it."

  Jian Yong was even more puzzled, and Liu Ze asked him: "Xian He, have you taken a close look? Who are the people who come to buy porcelain? Are there any princes or high-ranking officials?"

  "Most of those who buy porcelain are minor officials and wealthy merchants, with no princes or high-ranking officials."

  "Would these minor officials and businessmen use Qinghua porcelain tea sets and tableware worth several hundred or even thousands of taels to drink tea and eat?"

  Suddenly enlightened, he said: "The master's intention is that these people bought porcelain wares not for their own use, but to give them as gifts."

  Liu Ze nodded and said, "Low-ranking officials want to get promoted, businessmen want to make deals, so they naturally spend a lot of money buying these exquisite rare items to bribe high-ranking officials. The popularity of Qinghua porcelain in Luoyang is not helping to reduce corruption, is it?"

  "My lord worries too much. Even if there were no Qinghua porcelain, those who should give gifts would still give them, and those who should receive bribes would still receive them. What does the Qinghua porcelain have to do with anything?"

  "Nowadays in Luoyang, everyone takes pride in getting a set of Qinghua porcelain. When it comes to bribery and gift-giving, even sending money or gold can't compare to sending Qinghua porcelain. If this continues, the social norms will gradually decline, what a pity."

  Before long, Jian Yun had handed over the well-calculated account book to Liu Ze's hands, with a beaming smile on his face, apparently this year's revenue was better than expected.

  Liu Ze, however, seemed somewhat disinterested and glanced at the account book before handing it back to Jian Yong, saying: "Let's just follow tradition and give everyone red envelopes with a three percent increase from last year, so everyone can have a happy New Year."

  Jian Yong nodded and put away the account book, then went down to prepare.

  Liu Ze stood by the window, watching the snowflakes falling outside, and pondered in his heart. The Guangxu year was approaching, and there were only three years left before the chaotic era arrived. There were also only three years left for him to do things for himself. What could be done in these short three years? With a thousand threads tangled together, Liu Ze didn't know where to start.

  Before he knew it, Guan Yu had quietly appeared behind him. Liu Ze let out a sigh and said, "Yunchang, you're here."

  "Big brother, are you worried about something?" Guan Yu asked, seeing Liu Ze's troubled expression.

  Liu Ze shook his head and said, "Nothing is on my mind, I just feel a little sentimental. Yun Chang, do you have something to say?"

  "The wine and dishes are already set in the main hall, everyone is waiting for Big Brother, we must get drunk with Big Brother before we can rest."

  The New Year's Eve dinner is a annual tradition of Fuyuan Village, and this year there are many new people joining in, making the dinner party even more grand.

  Liu Zei swept away the gloom on his face and smiled: "Alright, let's get drunk and forget our worries!"

  After the Chinese New Year, Liu Ze immediately got busy and set out to live in Zaozhuang, Qingzhou, Pingdingshan, Yuzhou, and Jinyang, Pingshun and other places to survey the terrain, find mineral sources, recruit workers, open mines and dig coal.

  Fortunately, opening mines and digging coal had become a familiar routine. After traveling through several states in succession, when all the local coal mines had produced coal stones, the capable personnel organized production, and Liu Ze, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and his party returned to Luoyang, which was already at the end of spring.