Chapter 52: A Single Word of Deception

  Last time I wrote, Jiang Zhenzi said that there are six levels of medicine leading separation

  Wang Gui said: "You're also too good at talking nonsense, this windbreaker was bought in the best store you mentioned, how can it still be divided into three or five or nine grades?"

  Jiang Zhenzi's face jiggled a few times as he slowly explained, "You're wrong, it's not that this windbreaker is divided into three to five levels, but rather I let you go and procure, go buy this windbreaker. How well you handle this matter can be used to distinguish your level."

  Wang Gui pulled out the windbreaker and stuffed it into Jiang Zhenzi's arms, saying: "Old fatty, the windbreaker is right here, tell me what level of windbreaker we bought? Let Wang Gui take a look."

  Jiang Zhenzi remained calm and composed, his left hand holding onto the cloak, his right hand raised with one finger, saying leisurely: "The first element of procurement is that the value matches. When the goods are worth more than their price, it's top-notch; when they're worth as much as their price, it's mid-range; and when they're worth less than their price, it's subpar. Tell me, did I buy this cloak at a price that's above its value or below?"

  Yue Fei heard this and felt a little uneasy in his heart, but for the time being he couldn't think of where the mistake was.

  Wang Gui and Zhang Xian exchanged a glance, smiled in agreement, "The windbreaker I bought is absolutely worth the money."

  Jiang Zhenzi also smiled and asked: "What makes you think so?"

  Wang Gui smugly told the whole story of how Lao Huo, the old partner of "Longxing Hang", misheard what Mr. Guan said, and how he took advantage of the mistake to buy a cloak worth seventeen taels of silver for eleven taels of silver.

  Jiang Zhenzi turned his face towards Yue Fei and asked: "How did Wang Gui buy this cloak, you seem to be completely unaware?"

  Yue Fei's face turned red, and before he could speak, Tang Huai interrupted, "What's the big deal? It's just buying a cloak. Wang Gui has plenty of money, let him go buy it."

  Jiang Zhenzi turned his head and asked Wang Gui: "How did you know that this large Qinghua Gongjin cloak is worth seventeen taels of silver?"

  Wang Guili said straightforwardly and loudly: "It was the accountant of 'Longxing Hang' who said that, seventeen taels of silver." The last sentence even imitated the slightly hoarse voice of the accountant, causing all the brothers to burst into laughter.

  Jiang Zhenzi also laughed, laughing particularly comfortably, with a sly look on his face, saying "That accountant said it was 17 guan, so it's 17 guan. Didn't you guys go to other shops to compare?"

  The brothers were stunned on the spot.

  "I'd better make it clear to you young folks who haven't seen the world, so you don't think you're smart." Jiang Zhenzi continued: "That old fellow and the accountant have been working together for many years. They call this trick 'the Ear-Back Method', specifically designed to deal with outsiders or those looking for a quick profit. This cloak is worth at most five guan of copper coins, but the accountant and the old fellow put on this show, and you think you've found a bargain - how could you not fall for it?"

  Wang Gui's face suddenly turned red with heat, and he stuttered: "Such an honest old fellow is actually a swindler!!!"

  Jiang Zhenzi asked his brothers: "I'll take away one dish, are you all agreed?"

  All the brothers were silent, Jiang Zhenzi clapped his hands twice, a shop assistant walked in, picked up the largest plate of beef on the table and took it out.

  Jiang Zhen raised two fingers and said, "You've been deceived in more than one way."

  All brothers look at me with eyes wide open, none of you understand what Jiang Zhen is saying.

  Jiang Zhenzi looked at Wang Gui and asked: "Where is your fabric?"

  Wang Gui suddenly woke up and asked Yue Fei: "Big brother, did you forget to bring back that fabric?"

  Yue Fei was completely unaware of what was going on and asked in return: "What fabric? I don't know what you're talking about?"

  Wang Gui hastily said: "Didn't you have a young apprentice from Longxing Store come to me and ask for five taels of silver to buy fabric at the neighboring fabric store and send it back to your hometown?"

  Yue Fei's heart sank, and he vaguely understood what had happened. He still wanted to clarify things: "At the time, there was a young shop assistant who came over, very enthusiastically serving me, introducing various clothing to me, and even asking my surname. I didn't notice at the time, so I told him my name, but I didn't ask him to do anything."

  Wang Gui listened and pointed at Jiang Zhenzi in anger: "So you led us to a black shop, a black shop that specializes in cheating people out of their money."

  Jiang Zhenzi slammed his hand on the table, making a loud "bang" sound, causing all the bowls, chopsticks, and plates to jump up. With a hint of disdain in his voice, he said: "I've already told you brothers very clearly that this is a test medicine, do you know? It's used to test your ability to handle things. Can Jiang Dabaozi's errands be easily handled? Is it three points poisonous, don't you understand?"

  All brothers were speechless and did not know how to refute.

  "Thirdly, when you went to Longxing Store, instead of handling the main task - purchasing cloaks - in a timely manner, you were distracted by the various goods on display and wasted time. Fourthly, the leader was oblivious and allowed subordinates to make decisions without proper communication between top and bottom. Fifthly, the person in charge was dishonest and behaved improperly, seeking personal gain, which led to being deceived. Sixthly, no comparison of prices was made, nor was the situation investigated..."

  Jiang Zhenzi listed seven or eight mistakes in one breath and finally said: "Is there anything worse than what you've done?"

  The brothers were so ashamed that they had nowhere to hide and almost wanted to crawl under the table.

  Jiang Zhenzi let out a long sigh and said, "I won't play dumb anymore, so I'll give you the bottom line. The 'One-Word Military Strategy' that I want to teach you is just one word: 'Deception'. This entire strategy revolves around this single word 'deception', but don't underestimate it. This word encompasses everything, is profound and complex, with endless variations. Take for example the famous 'Thirty-Six Stratagems', which of them doesn't rely on deception? Or take the 'Ear-Back Method' used by Long Xingjun, which includes stratagems like 'Deception to Cross the Sea', 'Feigned Madness but Actual Sanity', and 'Creating Something out of Nothing'.

  Jiang Zhenzi paused for a moment, put down his hand, picked up the teacup, took a deep sip, and continued: "Why did I say that Chen Qiao's mutiny was the first chapter of 'One Character Tactics' this morning? Because 'Yellow Robe Added to the Body' is the Zhao brothers deceiving the world. Why did I say that the cloak is a medicine guide? Because it can let you personally experience this 'deceive' character, and bring you into the door. Imagine when you are leading troops independently, not yet on the battlefield killing enemies, but already being deceived by the enemy to be in chaos; also imagine when you can skillfully use this 'deceive' character, playing with the enemy in your palm, what kind of situation is it? This is why I always tell you not to just look at the surface, to calm down, not to be superficial and shallow."

  These words, like the morning bell and evening drum, shocked the hearts of all brothers, and also awakened the youngest martial saint in Chinese history - Yue Fei.

  To know what happens next, look at the next episode.