Chapter 62 Merging Stocks (Part 2)

  The origin of Shanxi merchants' shareholding system dates back a long time.

  Each business gives some dry shares to capable shopkeepers, apprentices and famous martial arts instructors as retainers. When the business is doing well, there will be dividend distribution at the end of each year. Of course, those who can get dry shares are all the backbone of the business.

  But there are not many business households that have merged in Shanxi, the most famous one is Wuji House from Jixie, which is one of the eight big business households in Zhangjiakou. The Wu and Ji families were both once the top salt merchants in Shanxi, they had intermarried for generations, but later their businesses declined and it was hard for them to continue on their own, so they merged their businesses and entered the market in Zhangjiakou, with the Wu family holding 60% of the shares and the Ji family holding 40%. After merging, although they did not regain their former glory, they gradually got out of trouble and became one of the top business households among Shanxi merchants.

  Joint venture, the most important thing is trust. The business name of the joint venture, the size of the shares held is very important, but the most important position of the big boss, that is the controller of the business, the direction of operation, and the details of the account are all in hand.

  Deep in the night, Ping Kui's mansion was quiet, with candles burning dimly.

  Di Zhe, Liu Quan and Ning Sheng had a simple dinner and then sat up late into the night talking. Trust comes from understanding, after deciding to cooperate with Liu Quan, Di Zhe no longer hid his true strength.

  "After the trade route is unblocked, the Han Department of Tumote will be under my control. Whether there are horse thieves outside the Kuihu mouth will depend on what I say!"

  Dai Zhe's words were straightforward, making Liu Quan feel a bit more at ease after reluctantly agreeing to take only 10% of the shares.

  To cooperate happily, the value of both parties must be reflected. Di Zhe knew that business was not his strong suit, so he tried to tie down Liu Quan and said: "I know that one percent of shares is a bit difficult for the Liu family, but as long as the business is successful, I promise to transfer another one percent of shares to the Liu family in ten years."

  "As long as the boss can hold on in the prairie, business will surely be booming!" Liu Quan was overjoyed and full of confidence, and said: "I have an idea, please consider it, boss!"

  "With the strength of De Xiangkui and Ping Kui, I want to control Zhangjiakou. To be honest with you, Mr. Di, it's indeed a bit difficult at present. If the eight business households in Zhangjiakou can unite as one, why can't those in Zhanghuakou? If you, sir, could release some more shares and introduce several business households to form an alliance within Zhanghuakou, wouldn't that restore the competitive situation between Dongkou and Xikou?"

  "Please tell me more!"

  "De Xiang Kui's business has improved a lot in recent years under the care of Dong Jia, but now time is pressing, the amount of goods needed on the grassland is too large, and only by introducing more silver can we ensure that there will be no loss."

  After all, it's still a matter of insufficient capital. Liu Quan knew his own weight, and De Xiangkui thought that swallowing this business alone was no different from a snake swallowing an elephant. From the moment he agreed to take over 1% of the shares, he had been thinking about it.

  "Introduce multiple business households?" Zhai Zhe thought for a long time and asked: "How can I ensure that the businesses are in my hands?"

  "The bigger the business alliance becomes, the more benefits the boss can get!" Liu Quan glanced around and changed the subject, he had his own thoughts.

  "A snake cannot move without its head, a bird cannot fly without its wings." Zhai Yan gently adjusted the wick of the lamp, which was as small as a bean.

  "Even the emperor of this great Ming dynasty cannot control everything." Liu Quan chuckled and said, "I heard that in the previous dynasty, Emperor Wanli favored Zheng Guifei and wanted to make Fu Wang the crown prince, but in the end, he couldn't overcome the opposition from the ministers, and Fu Wang was still exiled to Henan. Now, Master Dong can control the grassland trade route, and the merchant alliance needs to rely on you to benefit, so why bother with this?"

  Di Yan closed his eyes, feeling the scorching flames of the candle fire sweeping across his fingertips. Indeed, he was too entangled in his own thoughts. Business operations were all about profit and loss; if one day he couldn't grasp the reins, no matter how well he spoke now, it would be nothing but a fleeting illusion. Just like the Lu family from Zhangjiakou a few years ago, who vanished into thin air after the defeat of the Dongtu Muteer tribe - an unsolvable situation.

  Liu Quan keenly sensed that Zhai Zhe's mind was somewhat active and asked, "Has the master heard of the Donglin Party of this dynasty?"

  Di Zhe nodded.

  During the Tianqi era, the Donglin Six Gentlemen led by Yang Lian died at the hands of Wei Zhongxian, leaving a resounding reputation among the people. The Donglin Party has always been a symbol of loyalty to the emperor and love for the country, and Emperor Chongzhen of this dynasty appointed many of them to the court when he first took office. Of course, there are no simple inside stories, and behind any group is deeply hidden power and interests. The Donglin Party was just a reflection of the power of Jiangnan officials in politics.

  Di Zhe was often able to get in touch with some inside information about the politics of the Ming Dynasty when he was in Zhangjiakou. However, for the past two years, he had been isolated from news on the grasslands and was not familiar with changes in the current situation, but since Yuan Chonghuan, the Governor-General of Ji-Liao, was a member of the Donglin Party, he still knew about it.

  "After Yuan Chonghuan was executed, wasn't the Donglin Party already greatly weakened?"

  Liu Quanke wasn't thinking of talking about the politics of the Ming dynasty with Zhai Yan, but he said: "The Jiangnan officials supported the Donglin Party, but in the struggle for power, they never gained an advantage. Whether it was the Tianqi Emperor of the previous dynasty or Your Majesty today, both ultimately took the path of suppressing the Donglin Party. Do you know why?"

  A bright light flashed through Di Yan's mind and he said, "The power of the Donglin Party is too strong!"

  "Not bad!" Liu Quan was excited, as if he had suddenly found a kindred spirit. "Today, six or seven out of ten scholars who pass the imperial examination are from Jiangnan, and six or seven out of ten of the empire's revenue comes from Jiangnan. If His Majesty were to reuse the Donglin Party again, then there would be no one left alive in the world except for those in Jiangnan."

  The Donglin Party was suppressed precisely because it was too powerful, and if used slightly carelessly, it might backlash against its master. There were many scholars and officials from the Donglin Party as a backing force. The Donglin Party's resistance to the imperial edict was countless. From the Wanli period onwards, every change in court politics involved the Donglin Party. At that time, all the scholars in the world called for Li Sancai, the leader of the Donglin Party, to enter the cabinet as the chief assistant, but the emperor refused to see him, and it was precisely so.

  Di Yan didn't know why Liu Quan said this.

  "Can Donglin Party have a leader? And who is in control?" Liu Quan finally got to the point after beating around the bush.

  "In the Donglin Party, whoever has a great reputation, strong financial resources, and many disciples and former officials will be the leader. Indeed, it is not something that can be manipulated by one person." Zhai Yan fell into deep thought.

  "The business alliance is just like that. Now, you and I have taken the lead, and the Dong family has almost controlled the overall situation. Why are we still afraid of outsiders joining? Even if someone makes the business alliance bigger one day, you and I will be the ones who benefit the most. What's there to fear?" Liu Quan's emotions were completely stirred up, speaking boldly and passionately, and it was true that the Jin merchants had never lacked adventurers.

  "Good!" Zhai Yan was also inspired by Liu Quan's ambition. In the early years, he dared to enter the Russian Khan's camp alone on the grassland, but now facing Liu Quan, he seemed a bit petty. However, this situation was what he had fought hard for with all his might, and his mood was different, so he didn't want to share it with others.

  No letting go means no return! Di Zhe guessed Liu Quan's mind, but Ping Kui was too shallow. If you want to borrow a chicken to lay eggs, you must make the chicken feel that there is something to gain and safety is guaranteed.

  "With the promise made by Dongjia just now, the initial equity of Shangmeng will be divided between you and me in a ratio of 2:8. One-tenth of Dexianggui's share will be transferred after ten years, and one-tenth will be added to the capital with 100,000 taels of silver."

  "If it's not necessary, don't expand too much!" Zhai Zhe came from a business family and had experienced Zhangjiakou, so he had an instinctive vigilance towards businessmen.

  "That's natural! Every expansion of the business will have to be approved by the East House. After the business alliance expands, we can form our own merchant team and head to Jiangnan, and even acquire tea mountains there, so that our goods won't always be controlled by others." Liu Quan couldn't hide his excitement, he had grown up in Youyu County, taken over Daxing Kui with great ambition, but the idea of monopolizing the Hu Kou business route had never occurred to him before.

  "Dongkou has eight big families, Xikou has Shangmeng!" Zhai Zhe secretly sighed. The Zhai family and the Fan family would eventually end up on opposite sides of him. As the Chahar people retreated, he would soon face the Jurchen people directly in the south of the grasslands. Liu Quan's suggestion reminded him that if he couldn't quickly expand the power of his business, his lifeline would always be controlled by the eight big families.

  "You're in charge of the business. Ning Sheng will be the second manager, and he'll take care of the accounts for me. But I have one condition: our merchant group can't leave without guards, and all of Merchant Alliance's guards must be under my control." This was Di Zhe's trump card, as he wanted to grasp the movements of Merchant Alliance, and taking control of the guards was the most convenient way; besides, in a chaotic world, swords were the most reliable guarantee.

  Liu Quan hesitated for a moment and nodded in agreement. In this world, no one is a fool.

  The establishment of the Kill Hawk Mouth Merchant Alliance temporarily tied the interests of De Xiang Kui and Di Yan together. Di Zhe can extricate himself from business operations, busy with prairie affairs, Liu Quan found a reliance outside the pass, allowing his family to step into the Kangzhuang Avenue, each taking what they need.