novelraw Chapter 156
Chapter 156
Actually, what Wei Yu had in mind was also cooperation.
After all, if these noble families really joined the Merchants’ Alliance, then later when they went to Great Liang, wouldn’t it be embarrassing for him to set them up and use them at the front again?
“If what you’re thinking is cooperation, then that makes things simple.”
Wei Yu straightened up and said with a smile, “On the road from Great Wei to Great Liang, with me around, you don’t need to worry about border issues. I will petition the Emperor and get special privileges for the Merchants’ Alliance. Not only will you not be blocked at the borders, but you’ll also be escorted by troops along the way. If you cooperate with the Alliance, you’ll receive the same treatment.”
Indeed, the hardest parts about doing business in Great Liang were, first, border crossings, and second, the fear of being robbed along the way.
With the Wise King backing them, these two issues were basically no longer problems, and what’s more, they could travel openly and legally without fear of being blamed afterward.
Xie Liang: “If it’s cooperation, and the Merchants’ Alliance ensures our safety, then how should we repay the Alliance?”
There were too many rules for joining the Alliance—things like franchise selling, renting shops, handing over a percentage of profits yearly… Xie Liang still wasn’t too clear on all of it.
But just from what he’d heard, he knew the Merchants’ Alliance must be a huge entity!
He wasn’t sure if the members who joined would make money, but one thing was clear: the Wise King who founded the Alliance definitely would! Why go to all this trouble to set up a Merchants’ Alliance if it wasn’t profitable?
Just listen to those rules—clear and precise. Who knew how many years had gone into planning this… Tsk. So young, yet so scheming. Truly worthy of being a prince.
Unaware of what Xie Liang was thinking, Wei Yu calmly held up one finger.
“Not much. I’ll only take ten percent of the total sales value of the goods you sell to Great Liang as a protection fee.”
Ten percent of the total sales price? But then there’s still border taxes, and won’t there be fees along the road to Great Liang too?
Xie Liang was about to haggle right away, but before he could speak, Wei Yu added, “I won’t interfere with how you operate in Great Liang—what price you set, how you sell. As long as you can sell the goods, I won’t get involved. And if something happens, I’ll send people to help as appropriate. If there are good sales channels, I’ll even introduce them to you. How’s that?”
Xie Liang: …
The rebuttal was on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed it silently.
He couldn’t help it—Wei Yu was offering too much.
Look at what the Wise King was saying—wasn’t this basically taking care of their personal safety and trade channels, leaving them to just take the goods over?
Great Liang was such a vast, brand-new market. Without interference from the court, their sugar business would work just as well there…
That’s what he thought, but Xie Liang still didn’t agree on the spot. He asked Wei Yu for two days to discuss the matter carefully with Sun Xizhao.
Wei Yu agreed.
After the others left, Wei Yu picked up his teacup and started gulping down water.
He’d talked so much his mouth was dry.
Now that the outsiders were gone, the Second Prince could finally interrogate Wei Yu properly.
“What is this Merchants’ Alliance?”
This was the first time the Second Prince had heard of it. He’d been in Yuanyang handling affairs and only knew that the Eighth and Ninth Brothers were working on white salt and white sugar in Ziyang County. He really had no idea Wei Yu was up to anything else.
Wei Yu blinked and used his teacup to cover half his face, peeking up at his Second Brother with an innocent look. “Nothing much. It’s just, didn’t Father Emperor send me to Ji Prefecture to make money for the treasury? So, I found some capable people and did some profitable business. Isn’t that normal?”
Second Prince: …
No, that’s not normal.
Gongsun Yi could see his cousin’s speechlessness and couldn’t help but smile. “Your Highness the Ninth Prince, whose idea was this Merchants’ Alliance?”
“Oh, a merchant named Deng Zhengde.”
Wei Yu didn’t hesitate at all to sell the guy out. His face showed no sign of lying.
Wei Yu said, “Actually, I told Father Emperor about the Merchants’ Alliance a long time ago. He thought it was a good idea and even told me not to interfere with Deng Zhengde’s plans, to let him shine in Ji Prefecture. Oh right, the person behind the Merchants’ Alliance isn’t me either—I’m just the figurehead. All the money gets handed over, so Second Brother, you get it, right?”
Hmph.
The Second Prince looked at him with a half-smile. “Ninth Brother, there’s a saying—when a scholar has been away for three days, he should be seen with new eyes. On this trip, Second Brother really sees you in a new light.”
Oh no, that tone.
Wei Yu pursed his lips, his previously innocent eyes now pitiful. “Second Brother, I’ve always been clever, you know. Even Father praised me…”
So what do you mean by “seen in a new light”?
Are you calling me dumb?!
The Second Prince understood Wei Yu’s implied meaning. He turned his eyes away, deliberately avoiding that pitiful look, trying to suppress the goosebumps on his arms.
“Since the Merchants’ Alliance is something Father already knows about, then I won’t interfere. Ninth Brother, make the most of it—this is a great opportunity to earn merit. Don’t miss it.”
Heh, Second Brother was dodging the question!
Not wanting to miss a chance to tease his Second Brother, Wei Yu leaned closer and put on a tearful expression right under his brother’s nose.
“Second Brother, do you dislike me? I knew it. From childhood to now, you’ve always been distant. You must think I’m dumb. Sigh, no wonder I can’t get your love…”
The Second Prince’s head hurt.
He really shouldn’t have said anything earlier!
The Second Prince took a deep breath and said helplessly, “Alright, Little Nine, just tell me what you want. Second Brother will…” make it up to you.
Before he could finish the words “make it up,” a piece of warm jade was trembling but firmly held out in front of him.
The Second Prince looked up silently.
Sure enough, his Ninth Brother was staring at him with a pair of pitiful yet scheming eyes.
“Second Brother, the jade. I’m poor.”
Second Prince: …
Two pieces of jade from outsiders weren’t enough—he wanted more.
Had his Ninth Brother fallen into a pit of greed?
—
Holding the top-quality black jade he had swindled from his Second Brother, Wei Yu lay on the couch with a long sigh.
“Rich people, everywhere.”
One trip out, and he’d snatched three fine jades—Wei Yu was very pleased.
That’s how a little private stash slowly grows.
Wei Yu put the three jades away, then called out toward the door, “Fang Sheng.”
Fang Sheng came in and asked what was needed.
Wei Yu: “Go find out where those two noble family heads are staying. Once you get the address, go to the Salt Bureau and fetch two bottles of salt, and two bars of soap to give them.”
Ever since Fusheng had made soap, Wei Yu had started using it.
When it didn’t exist, he’d make do with substitutes out of laziness, but now that something new had appeared, of course he had to use it!
Wei Yu could clearly guess what those two noble family heads would be thinking once they got back—likely worrying whether cooperating with him would bring trouble to the aristocrats of Yizhou.
Wei Yu couldn’t be bothered to argue with them. He would just show them some novel items to demonstrate the capability of the Merchants’ Alliance—and the court. Whether they got the message or not was up to them.
After all, noble families—the times were changing.