Chapter 65: Confusing and Puzzling

Actually, this is also a very simple marketing strategy.

It is just that in this era, people still cannot grasp the logic behind it.

Of course, products in this era also have distinctions in grade; there are expensive ones and cheap ones. But people often overlook one thing, and that is packaging! Enterprises can use different packaging for products of different tiers and grades, or one could even understand it as using different packaging for different consumers! This makes the style of the packaging commensurate with the quality and value of the product. This strategy can highlight the characteristics of the product, is easy to form into a series of products, and is convenient for consumers to choose and purchase.

But in Liu Zheng's view, creating this in this era is actually more important for providing the highest degree of coordination with the "strict hierarchy" mindset of the people of antiquity!

Human psychology is just this strange.

When you walk into a store and see a product with the same effect divided into three price points, the wealthiest will definitely choose the most expensive one, which is to say, the best one. And the middle class will choose the more moderate ones.

Those with shallow pockets, the lowest tier, will consider choosing the most inferior kind.

But...

Isn't the efficacy all the same?

People will think this way: if you can use it, why can't I? You use the most expensive, I use the most inferior, but at the very least, we are both using it, aren't we? It is even possible that after we use it, the scent on our bodies is about the same; what can you distinguish?

Within this, it involves another aspect: product "branding," which needs no further elaboration.

Simply put, once these two marketing methods are combined, one can make this analogy. In later generations, young people who buy Nike all feel it is a high-class enjoyment. But if I can't afford the three-thousand-yuan one, what if I buy a three-hundred-yuan one? Isn't that also pursuing the brand and pursuing the enjoyment?

If I can't afford the three-hundred-yuan one, what if I buy a high-quality imitation for over one hundred?

Doesn't that also wear the "class" of Nike?

People all have this kind of psychological vanity. Then, combined with multi-faceted promotion and marketing, only in this way can one truly open up the low-to-mid-tier market!

Zheng Yueru's eyes shone as she listened: "Does Brother Liu mean..."

Liu Zheng laughed and said: "First, branding; from now on, products produced by our Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce will all be stamped with a special mark to prevent counterfeiting! Second, tiered packaging to control costs. Third, advertising, advertising, advertising!"

Zheng Yueru listened with great excitement, and seeing it was late, she went back to her room to rest.

Only then did Liu Zheng's expression slightly darken.

Jiang Xuan did not leave and stood to the side, because he knew Liu Zheng definitely had something to say to him.

"Jiang Xuan!"

"Young Master, I am here."

Jiang Xuan's spirits lifted.

Liu Zheng glanced at him and said indifferently: "Analyze it: how many possibilities are there for the people who assassinated us?"

Jiang Xuan wanted to speak but stopped, hesitant and indecisive.

Liu Zheng said: "Speak freely..."

Jiang Xuan said: "Young Master, I will just state my own conjecture; if there is any deviation, don't blame me... I believe that given the current situation in Liangzhou, there are two possibilities!"

Liu Zheng told him to continue.

Jiang Xuan took a sip of water before continuing his analysis: "First, it is what you and Sister Yue Ru guessed: that it was the work of the Baiya Army! Although the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce is not large in scale, it is not impossible that this model and our products have aroused the wariness of the Baiya Army!"

Liu Zheng nodded.

Jiang Xuan continued: "But I believe that the Baiya Army assassinating the County Marquis is still somewhat justifiable... but targeting Sister Yue Ru is a bit illogical."

Liu Zheng watched him quietly.

Jiang Xuan gave a dry laugh: "This matter must have something to do with the Empress who has returned to visit her family!"

A flash of brilliance crossed Liu Zheng's eyes.

"Let us make a bold assumption: if Sister Yue Ru were truly assassinated and died, if the Baiya Army framed the Liangzhou Prefecture, what benefit would that be to them? The Baiya Army is not a legitimate armed force to begin with; could it be that they could rely on their own strength to take down the Liangzhou Governor?"

Jiang Xuan said mockingly.

Liu Zheng took a deep breath, slapped his thigh, and exclaimed: "You mean to say that behind this matter, it is even possible that the Empress gave the order?"

This conjecture was too terrifying! Liu Zheng even looked at Jiang Xuan with surprise; he had to admit that he himself had never thought in this direction. After all, Zheng Yueru was the Empress's own person; for the Empress to want to kill her, how incredible was that? Sure enough, this kid Jiang Xuan had the spirit of a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger; even the Empress he dared to question!

This was the kind of talent he needed!

Jiang Xuan sneered: "If Young Master thinks this way, it makes sense... Sister Yue Ru, to put it bluntly, is only a granddaughter from a branch of the Empress's family. If the Empress has a scheme upon her return this time, what does it matter if she sacrifices one Sister Yue Ru?"

Liu Zheng urged: "Speak quickly!"

Jiang Xuan took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with brilliance: "I believe that the Emperor in Jinghua must be on his deathbed and has little time left! The Empress's return to visit her family this time is not as simple as it appears! Young Master, this assassination is very likely the work of the Baiya Army. I mean, what if the Empress is uniting with the Baiya Army this time?"

Boom!

Liu Zheng felt his scalp tingle and his hair stand on end.

These words from Jiang Xuan had instantly pierced through this puzzle-like situation!

The Emperor is critically ill and will likely pass away before long. The Empress is anxious to seize power and has returned to Liangzhou to seek help. The Liangzhou Iron Cavalry dominates the world, and the Baiya Army is the world's number one horse farm, with military strength rivaling the Liangzhou Prefecture! In this way, the Empress favors the Baiya Army, then orchestrates a frame-up of Chen Ping of the Liangzhou Prefecture, and it is even possible that through this move, she could seize Chen Ping's military power!

By that time, with the Liangzhou Prefecture added to the Baiya Army, thirty thousand iron cavalry would all be in the Empress's hands; looking west toward Jinghua, who could contend with her?

Heavens!

Liu Zheng's whole body shook; he stood up and fiercely washed his face with cold water.

Jiang Xuan also praised: "What a chain of schemes! Young Master, this Empress truly cannot be called benevolent or righteous!"

A thousand thoughts flashed through Liu Zheng's mind.

Coming to Liangzhou this time, he had absolutely never thought the situation would be so complex. Only after being reminded by this guy Jiang Xuan, who clearly held "hawk" views, did he realize the situation had become this urgent.

"Jiang Xuan!"

"Here!"

Liu Zheng took a deep breath: "In these next few days, you are to investigate for me, starting with the Weaponry and Equipment of the Liangzhou Prefecture; you must confirm for me the fact that the Baiya Army committed the assassination!"

Jiang Xuan knew this was very difficult, but in order to make Liu Zheng look at him with new eyes, he agreed immediately.

Liu Zheng chuckled, took out a stack of Silver Notes, and handed them to Jiang Xuan: "Whether you and I can return alive this time, or rather, how we return, depends on you! Take this money, find a few clever subordinates in the city, and it would be best to build me an intelligence agency right here in the Liangzhou Prefecture, understand?"

Jiang Xuan was overjoyed and understood immediately; without wasting words, he took the money and disappeared into the night.

Liu Zheng watched his retreating figure, his eyes narrowing slightly.

He truly had not trusted the wrong person in this Jiang Xuan; this guy's insight was much sharper than his own. But he was not yet suitable to serve as a grand commander in the army, so why not let him cultivate a secret force for him? As the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce and the Yinzhou Army grew larger, this agency had to be established. It would be used to gather intelligence, and even supervise subordinates; when necessary, one could act first and report later! A Special Agent Squad—if this were done well, it would be a great help to Jiang Xuan's growth.

Thinking of this, Liu Zheng could not fall asleep for a long time.

His thoughts surged, and his mind was in turmoil.

He had not expected that just as he had begun to develop, he would be drawn into such a massive struggle for imperial power... although he was only drawn into the periphery, but...

A sudden surge of lofty aspirations and immense ambition erupted within Liu Zheng.

He stood up abruptly and paced back and forth in the room.

Since Liangzhou was about to fall into chaos, and since he knew of all these overt and covert conspiracies, he must at least obtain the greatest benefits from them! For him to want to participate in the struggles of the world right now was naturally a pipe dream. However, for this trip to Liangzhou, securing the position of State Marquis was the absolute minimum! If possible, he wanted even more!

Just then, someone suddenly knocked on the door.

Zheng Yueru ran in, flustered, and looked at Liu Zheng with a grave expression, saying, "Brother Liu, I have remembered the matter you asked me about that day!"

"What is it?"

"In the Northern Border Army, there is a Pingdi General who is a direct subordinate of the Empress!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Zheng's body jolted, and he took a deep breath.

It was just as he thought!

The Empress's return to visit her family this time was not that simple!

In this way, Jiang Xuan's speculation was becoming increasingly close to reality. As a major general in the army, the Pingdi General was a legitimate third-rank general who did not even need to kneel before Chen Ping; although he was under the jurisdiction of the Liangzhou Prefecture, his status was completely on par with Chen Ping!

Add the Baiya Army to that, and then take down the Liangzhou Prefecture!

"I understand."

Liu Zheng looked at Zheng Yueru's delicate and pretty face, and suddenly felt a pang of pain in his heart. This competitive girl probably did not even know that she had almost been killed by the Empress whom she revered so much!

"Brother Liu, do you have something on your mind?"

Zheng Yueru asked curiously.

Liu Zheng forced a smile and said, "It's nothing, nothing. Go and rest quickly. Tomorrow, we shall go to Fengming Tower in Liangzhou to take a look!"

Zheng Yueru rolled her eyes at him: "Is it to see Miss Manqing? Brother Liu has quite a few confidantes in Liangzhou; can you still remember Manqing?"

Liu Zheng was instantly extremely embarrassed and did not know how to answer.

Seeing Liu Zheng's embarrassment, Zheng Yueru looked triumphant, covered her mouth, and giggled: "Brother Liu will likely be disappointed! Tomorrow, we are invited by the Liangzhou Merchant Guild to discuss matters regarding the Top Courtesan Competition, and Brother Liu should go along too!"

Liu Zheng was stunned: "Discuss? Hasn't it already been decided?"

Zheng Yueru smiled bitterly: "Because of the Empress's visit to her family, the Top Courtesan Competition will be postponed for a few days. Since it involves the Empress, the Merchant Guild feels the scale is insufficient, so tomorrow, they are going to squeeze some more silver out of us participating merchants!"

Liu Zheng was stunned to hear this.

Insufficient funds?

And then split evenly?

Liu Zheng asked curiously: "Does this Top Courtesan Competition not have any sponsors?"

Zheng Yueru was stunned: "What is a sponsor?"

Liu Zheng was overjoyed: "Go tell the Merchant Guild that there is no need to split the costs; our Fengming Tower will cover it!"

"What?"

Zheng Yueru looked completely bewildered.

【Author's Note】

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