Chapter 207

Zhang Jie recalled the production efficiency of the glass workshop and said:

"If the glass workshop produces at full capacity, not to mention thousands, but hundreds a month is still possible.

By the way, we can also produce glass mirrors as tall as a person.

However, because of the craftsmanship, the output of such glass mirrors is not high,

if you are lucky, there are probably a few, if you are unlucky, there may be none."

Although he had taught all the craftsmanship and improved a little according to local conditions,

the workers were still not very familiar with it, resulting in a low finished product rate of large glass mirrors.

Wang Lun understood, and fanned the feather fan in his hand:

"Lord, we have to choose a suitable, um, partner."

"Indeed."

Zhang Jie nodded slightly, agreeing with Wang Lun's words.

Small glass mirrors were made, and the output was not small,

so it was time to consider how to sell and earn the greatest profit.

However, sales channels were a weakness for Liang Shan:

Du Qian, Song Wan, and the others were all rough people,

who used to live by collecting protection fees and robbing passing merchants.

The candidate on Liang Shan related to commerce was Zhu Gui.

However, his main business was just opening a tavern or something,

to inquire about intelligence for Liang Shan, and he had no dealings with formal chambers of commerce,

let alone doing business in a place as prosperous as Bianliang.

If he were to go out, I'm afraid he would be eaten up by the local snakes in Bianliang.

And among the people Zhang Jie brought to Liang Shan, Lu Zhishen was a flower monk,

Lin Chong was a low-level military officer of the Imperial Guard, Chen Wenyun was a scholar who had been addicted to the imperial examination for many years,

none of them had any connection with commercial trading.

Even the few caravans of the old Zhang family where Zhang Jie was located were focused on medicinal materials,

grain, cloth, etc., and had no big connection with luxury goods represented by glass mirrors, such as jewelry.

And before Zhang Jie became famous, the old Zhang family was just a local landlord,

it was difficult to do things without anyone in the court, and the caravans were just spinning around in a few counties like Yanggu and Qinghe in Shandong,

making it difficult to reach Bianliang, the capital of the Great Song.

"Lord, then I will go and contact the managers of several chambers of commerce."

Wang Lun was still fiery and about to act.

Liang Shan broke Zhu Family Manor, and subdued Li Family Manor and Hu Family Manor,

obtained a large amount of spoils, and then recruited troops and bought horses, and built ordnance,

naturally it had to communicate with the outside world, buying raw materials and fuels such as copper, iron,

wood, coal, and ore.

And such strong demand naturally attracted many chambers of commerce organizations,

now there are several chamber of commerce representatives stationed outside the water park,

convenient for docking with Liang Shan at any time and verifying the demand for various commodities.

What, Liang Shan is a green forest force composed of mountain bandits and water pirates?

Those merchants who only have money in their eyes will not care about these,

they only care about whether there is money to be made.

Marx pointed out long ago in "Das Kapital":

If there is 10% profit, capital is guaranteed to be used everywhere;

with 20% profit, capital becomes active;

with 50% profit, capital takes risks;

for 100% profit, capital dares to trample on all human laws;

with 300% profit, capital dares to commit any crime, even risking the gallows.

As long as there is enough money, you can buy the rope to hang them from the merchants.

In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, for enough profit,

the Shanxi merchants sold the entire Great Ming to the Manchu Qing!

It can be said that the Manchu Qing's successful entry into the pass was "indispensable" to the Shanxi merchants.

And this also brought hundreds of years of glory to Shanxi

—after the Manchu Qing entered the pass, they rewarded merits, and several of the Shanxi merchants were enfeoffed as "Imperial Merchants."

"Not yet."

Zhang Jie stopped Wang Lun, who was full of excitement.

"Lord, do you already have a candidate in mind?"

Wang Lun, who knew that Zhang Jie would never shoot without a target, asked with some surprise.

"Exactly."

Zhang Jie nodded slightly, admitting it.

"Which family? Could it be Zengtou City?"

Wang Lun thought of Zhang Jie just rejecting his proposal to attack Zengtou City, so he guessed.

After asking, he analyzed thoughtfully:

"If it is Zengtou City, it is indeed a good choice.

The Zeng family's caravans travel between the Great Song, Great Liao, and Jin Kingdom, and can sell glass mirrors to various countries."

Zhang Jie shook his head: "Zhengdao,

Zengtou City is not our Liang Shan's ideal partner."

Local armed forces like Zengtou City are tumors that he must eradicate in the future,

how could he let the Zeng family sell valuable things like glass mirrors,

isn't this helping the enemy and finding trouble for his future self?

"Then who are you talking about, Lord?"

Not the caravan currently cooperating with Liang Shan, nor the Zengtou City, which is quite powerful,

and also smooth in several countries, Wang Lun was completely confused now.

Zhang Jie picked up the porcelain cup on the table, took a sip of clear tea, and smiled:

"Zhengdao, you are confused by being in the situation!

How did you get on Liang Shan in the past?"

"Lord, are you talking about 'Little Whirlwind' Chai Jin?"

Wang Lun, who received the reminder, suddenly realized.

Back then, after he failed the imperial examination repeatedly, he angrily went to the green forest, and it was Chai Jin who gave him a lot of financial support.

Otherwise, how could he, an outsider with no foundation, no money, and not high personal martial arts,

suppress the unruly Du Qian, Song Wan, and others, and become the previous Liang Shan leader?

Zhang Jie put down the teacup in his hand and affirmed:

"It is indeed Chai Daguanren."

Although Chai Daguanren and Ximen Daguanren are both respected as "Daguanren,"

but Chai Jin's status is much higher than that of Ximen Daguanren, who had no title,

and was just a local landlord in the county town like the old Zhang family before.

Chai Daguanren's surname is Chai, this Chai is the Chai of Chai Rong, Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou.

He is the direct descendant of Chai Rong, Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou, because of the virtue of yielding the throne at Chen Qiao,

Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin bestowed the Dan Shu Tie Quan (Iron Certificate) in his home, asking the Great Song court to treat these descendants of the Later Zhou royal family well.

A smile appeared on Wang Lun's face: "Lord, this candidate is wonderful!

Chai Daguanren is righteous and generous, likes to make friends with heroes from all over the world, and is known as the Meng Chang Jun of the present age.

Most importantly, he has the Dan Shu Tie Quan bestowed by the Taizu Emperor of the Great Song,

those officials in the Song court dare not bully him too much,

and the caravans under his command are unimpeded throughout the Great Song!"

"That is exactly what I mean." Zhang Jie replied.

However, what he didn't directly tell Wang Lun was that he chose Chai Jin,

besides Chai Jin being a descendant of the Later Zhou royal family and having the convenient status of Dan Shu Tie Quan,

most importantly, Chai Jin was very dissatisfied with the Great Song in his heart.

Chai Jin liked to help heroes and good men, and had helped Lin Chong, Song Jiang, Wu Song, and others.

When Lin Chong was exiled to Cangzhou, Chai Jin not only treated him with thick gifts, but also wrote to the Cangzhou magistrate,

and the camp manager to take care of Lin Chong, making him avoid a hundred killing sticks.

After Song Jiang killed Yan Poxi, he fled to Chai Jin, and Chai Jin let Song Jiang live in the manor with peace of mind,

even saying "I dare to hide in the manor even if I killed a court official and robbed the treasury's wealth."

This behavior of making friends with "heroes and good men" who like to be exiled and run away after committing crimes,

to say that Chai Jin had no resentment toward the old Zhao family who took away his Chai family's country, Zhang Jie couldn't believe it even if he thought with his elbows.

And this kind of playing on the edge of the Great Song law was one thing,

Chai Jin later actually joined Liang Shan, which was almost openly going against the Great Song court,

and was only one step away from openly rebelling.

During the Liang Shan Great Assembly, Chai Daguanren ranked tenth, corresponding to the "Heavenly Noble Star,"

and together with "Pouncing Heaven Eagle" Li Ying, who had already surrendered to Zhang Jie, served as the "leader in charge of money and grain."

When accompanying Song Jiang to watch the lanterns in Tokyo, he was even bold enough to disguise himself as Wang Banjie and mix into the inner court,

sneaking into the Ruisi Hall to scrape off the four characters "Shandong Song Jiang," saving Song Jiang from a disaster.

All these things can only show that Chai Jin was indeed very dissatisfied with the Great Song.

And for Zhang Jie, the leader of Liang Shan who was preparing to take the place of the Great Song,

Chai Jin was really an ideal partner:

No need to worry about him surrendering to the Song court after knowing some secrets,

nor need to worry about the wealth he earned falling into the hands of the Great Song and helping the enemy.