Chapter 576: The relationship between merchant caravans, bandits, and escort agencies

Gao Feng's eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost.

This rebellious son of his was actually this kind-hearted?

Did the sun rise from the west today?

But Gao Tianlong said coldly, "You can give up that idea. These battle-hardened veterans don't want to rely on others; they don't want to live under others' roofs, which is why they went to escort shipments. If I could just give them money, would I need to ask you?"

"Besides, is this brat of yours truly kind-hearted, or are you raising dead soldiers here?"

Gao Tianlong rolled his eyes and said irritably.

What ordinary people think of as dead soldiers are those without parents, trained cruelly from childhood, killing their way out of piles of dead bodies, and growing up to be servants in the house, like dogs, who have to stand up and block knives at critical moments, willing to die.

If you really train dead soldiers in this mode, the first person they would kill is the master.

True dead soldiers are, as Gao Yang said, treated with courtesy by the master, regarded as honored guests, served with good wine and meat, and not only that, they are paid on time every month, enjoy family happiness with their families, are given beauties when they go to brothels, and are promised that their descendants will be taken care of!

Under these circumstances, when a formidable enemy appears or the master encounters a fatal danger, anyone with a bit of self-respect would risk their lives to block it!

Hearing Gao Tianlong's words, Gao Yang smiled guiltily.

Gao Feng's face turned black.

"You beast, what are you doing raising dead soldiers?"

Gao Feng reprimanded immediately.

"I don't have that intention at all; I just can't bear to see battle-hardened veterans who have spent their lives on horseback having to run around for a living in their old age." Gao Yang explained.

"You'd better be."

Gao Yang quickly said to Gao Tianlong, "Actually, wanting to make the Shenwei Escort Agency composed of battle-hardened veterans return to life is not difficult, and I even have a way to make them rely on their own ability to live a good life."

"It's just that it requires a change in thinking!"

"Being too upright is not suitable for doing business."

Gao Yang's eyes flickered as he looked at Gao Tianlong.

Gao Tianlong frowned and muttered to himself, "Return to life, change thinking?"

"Exactly!"

"Grandfather, have you ever thought about why the Shenwei Escort Agency's business was okay in the first two years, but got worse and worse, and now it's living beyond its means and on the verge of closing down?"

Gao Yang continued to ask.

"Why is that?"

Gao Yang's words were exactly what Gao Tianlong didn't understand.

"I'll give an example, Grandfather, and you'll understand. Suppose there are two brothers at the border of Da Qian who want to get married, so they want to escort shipments. After all, high risk means high reward, so they joined an escort agency."

Gao Tianlong looked at Gao Yang, waiting for the rest.

"These two brothers have practiced martial arts since childhood and are extremely skilled. Ordinary people can't get close to them. The escort agency saw this martial arts skill and agreed immediately, and sent the two brothers to lead people to escort a shipment. As long as this escort is done beautifully, getting married won't be a problem!"

"The two brothers were very excited and set off immediately. On the way, they encountered a group of bandits coming to rob them. The two brothers were worried they wouldn't have a chance to show off, so without hesitation, they drew their blades and killed them!"

"The bandits were terrified and fled in panic. The two brothers didn't feel satisfied, so they left one person to guard and the other took people to chase and kill the bandits, turning them upside down!"

"After the two brothers finished escorting, they were very proud and felt that this matter was definitely settled, but the escort agency was furious, gave them a sum of money, and drove them out!"

"Grandfather, do you know why?"

After finishing, Gao Yang looked at Gao Tianlong.

In an instant, Gao Tianlong was stunned.

The two brothers were skilled in martial arts, the escort was not only successful, and when one went to chase the bandits, the other stayed to guard the goods. It could be said they were both brave and resourceful, but why were they driven out?

Gao Tianlong couldn't figure this out.

Gao Feng flicked his sleeves, looking dissatisfied, "You beast, you're talking nonsense again. The two brothers were not only skilled in martial arts but also brave and resourceful. How could they be driven out?"

"Was the escort agency blind?"

"Father, you are wrong. This story does have some logical problems, but the truth behind it is solid, because what the two brothers did was to pull up the roots of the escort agency!"

Once these words were out, Gao Feng was stunned.

But Gao Tianlong seemed to realize something and asked, "Are you saying that the two brothers killing the bandits to the last man was pulling up the roots of the escort agency?"

Gao Tianlong felt his brain buzzing, as if he had grasped something very important!

"Exactly, killing the bandits to the last man is the important reason why the two brothers were driven out!"

"Grandfather, try to imagine, why are there escort agencies in this world?"

A sharp edge flashed in Gao Tianlong's eyes, "Because of these bandits?"

"Exactly. The relationship between merchant caravans, bandits, and escort agencies is very subtle. Because merchant caravans transport goods that are extremely valuable, bandits come to rob them. And because bandits rob goods and kill for money, merchants will share a portion of their profits to find experts to escort them!"

"This is an important reason for the birth of escort agencies!"

"If the world were peaceful, and there were no bandits plundering merchant caravans everywhere, killing for money and acting ruthlessly, why would merchants need escort agencies and share a portion of their profits for nothing?"

"This is the most important point in doing business in the world—demand!"

Once the words fell, it was like a gale sweeping across the earth, stirring up countless fallen leaves, making one feel as if they had been enlightened!

Even Gao Feng, who didn't understand business at all, seemed to suddenly understand!

Demand determines everything!

Gao Yang continued to straighten his body and said faintly: "Only when the demand is large enough is the profit large enough. Conversely, if there is no demand, where does business come from?"

"The two brothers chasing and killing bandits looks brave, but in reality, they are pulling up the roots of the escort agency. The best way for an escort agency to deal with bandits is to negotiate if possible, fight if they can't, but driving them away is enough."

"Otherwise, once they are killed to the last man and there are no bandits to rob the road, how can the escort agency have business?"