Chapter 2179
Hearing his tone, Ma Zhengping was anxious and couldn't help but misunderstood his intentions. He quickly responded: "I have prepared a generous gift for General Shi a long time ago. I hope Sir Duan can introduce it to me!"
Duan Tiancheng said: "Boss Ma has misunderstood. How can a big shot like General Shi care about the benefits you can give?"
Although Duan Tiancheng's tone was a bit domineering, Ma Zhengping did not dare to refute at all, and quickly responded: "Yes, yes, I was rude, I don't dare to offend General Shi... I hope Master Duan will tell me clearly what I should do." Good?”
In fact, from Ma Zhengping's perspective, if Shi Diwen meant to ask for money, then things would be much easier to handle. In daily operations, salt merchants inevitably have to deal with officials of all sizes, and some of them will be aggressive and ask for high remuneration, but as long as they ask for a price, they will have room for bargaining. Moreover, the price itself expresses an attitude, which means that this matter can definitely be done, it is nothing more than the price.
Before Ma Zhengping came over this time, he had discussed with the other seven surnames. If General Shi from Zhoushan could be persuaded to intervene in the dispute with the Shanxi salt merchants, then no matter how much Shi Diwen finally offered, the Huizhou The salt merchants have to share the cost equally. If the military expenses needed for Haihan to send troops will be involved in the future, the same process will be followed.
It's just that Shi Diwen's status is respected, and foreign businessmen like Ma Zhengping, who had no previous connections in Zhoushan, have no qualifications to ask for an audience, so they can only use roundabout ways to obtain opportunities to communicate with Shi Diwen. Although the chance was slim, he still hoped that Duan Tiancheng could help him matchmaking and let Shi Diwen meet him once.
But listening to Duan Tiancheng's tone, Shi Diwen didn't seem to care about how much personal benefit the Yangzhou salt merchants could bring him, but wanted something else, which made Ma Zhengping a little confused.
Ma Zhengping believes that offering money on his own initiative represents his sincerity. It has worked for Duan Tiancheng before, but the sincerity required by Duan Tiancheng's boss seems to be a little different, and there must be something other than money. So what exactly is it? What?
Duan Tiancheng revealed the answer: "What the general wants is not just an agent to help us sell salt, but a true partner. The general believes that if you cannot meet the corresponding conditions, there is no need to help you again." , even if your opponent controls Yangzhou Salt Industry in the future, it will just be a different agent for us. No matter who takes the position, they will definitely not refuse the low-price refined salt provided by us. You can. Think about it carefully, is this true? ”
Ma Zhengping didn't need to think carefully, he could come up with the answer now. If the Huizhou salt merchants eventually lose power in the competition and are expelled from the Yangzhou salt market, then the Shanshan-Shaanxi salt merchants will definitely return to cooperate with Haihan and replace their previous private salt sources with the low-priced refined salt provided by Haihan.
As for the previous festival conflicts, the benefits of real money and silver are not as important. In the face of huge interests, businessmen will definitely choose more practical benefits instead of the so-called integrity. What's more, the Haihan people are obviously more powerful. Presumably the Shanshan salt merchants will not be really stupid enough to fight against the Haihan people by then.
But Ma Zhengping still doesn't understand what the "real partner" Shi Diwen calls a standard is, or in other words, he is unwilling to take the initiative to think in that direction.
If you can make money while standing, who would be willing to take the initiative to kneel down?
"What General Shi said is absolutely true, and I deeply agree with it. I also want to be your country's partner. But... what should we do to make General Shi agree?"
Since the other party is not simply asking for money, Ma Zhengping must be more cautious and not take the initiative to make an offer. He wanted to wait for Duan Tiancheng to reveal his conditions first, so that he might still have some room for bargaining.
Duan Tiancheng said: "Then ask yourself first, besides selling salt, what else can you do for Haihan? The so-called cooperation must be based on mutual benefit. Cooperation in salt industry management requires both of us. You can make a lot of money from it, which is mutual benefit. If you want us to intervene in the competition between Yangzhou salt merchants and help you defeat your peers, this is a deeper cooperation. Our country has to bear greater risks, and of course there must be more. Just make more money. Let’s be honest, you and your salt merchant friends must obey the arrangements and serve our country from now on.”
Ma Zhengping's legs went weak and he almost slipped off the chair. He responded hurriedly: "Master Duan, please don't joke. I am a citizen of the Ming Dynasty. How dare you rebel and cause trouble!"
"Why are you panicking? I'm not asking you to rebel!" Duan Tiancheng said disdainfully: "You can't even defeat your colleagues in Yangzhou, how can we expect you to fail to raise troops in Yangzhou?"
"Yes, yes, Lord Duan is right." Ma Zhengping quickly raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead. Discussing this kind of topic is an absolute taboo in the Ming Dynasty. If someone eavesdrops on the wall, then maybe he will have to Being accused of the serious crime of colluding with foreign countries to commit rebellion, several heads are not enough to be chopped off.
Ma Zhengping was secretly glad that he had withdrawn his subordinates when Duan Tiancheng arrived, otherwise Duan Tiancheng would have had no inhibitions and would have had to think about how to silence his subordinates after he finished talking.
As long as it's not a rebellion, it doesn't seem to be a big deal. Ma Zhengping thought again that Haihan was even unwilling to send troops directly, so he must have been overthinking it.
Then Duan Tiancheng continued to say: "Following the arrangement means that if we arrange for you to sell salt, you should sell salt well. If we arrange for you to do other things, such as recruiting immigrants, buying off officials, and controlling trade routes, then you must also follow the arrangement." Like salt, try your best to complete it. If you do well, you will be the best in Yangzhou from now on. If you do not do well, someone will naturally take your place."
Ma Zhengping wanted to say something, but didn't know where to start. The demands Duan Tiancheng made were not too outrageous, and some of them were even things he had been doing. However, doing things for yourself and working for others are two different concepts.
Ma Zhengping felt uncomfortable mainly because of Duan Tiancheng's condescending attitude. As the most powerful class in Yangzhou, except for a few high-ranking local officials, big salt merchants like him would not take anyone else seriously. If he wasn't afraid of Haihan's force, he might not even look down on people like Shi Diwen and Duan Tiancheng. But now that the Haihan people had to lower themselves to obey their orders and work hard for them, Ma Zhengping suddenly It's really hard to adjust your mentality.
You can give money, any amount. In Ma Zhengping's opinion, it is at least a certain degree of equivalent exchange. It is fair to exchange money for Haihan's support. After all, Huizhou salt merchants currently lack the ability to protect themselves. The powerful weapons Haihan possesses can just make up for this shortcoming.
But now the Haihan people don't want money. They just want to work for them in exchange for their protection. This inevitably makes Ma Zhengping feel humiliated. Even the civil and military officials of Yangzhou Prefecture can never call him. To serve as a servant? "This... I'm afraid it's not appropriate, right?" Ma Zhengping tried to calm down his emotions and responded with a forced smile: "The request made by Mr. Duan is really a bit embarrassing!"
Duan Tiancheng looked at Ma Zhengping's expression and responded with a sneer: "I have no intention of forcing Boss Ma to agree, I am just proposing a cooperation plan. If Boss Ma really feels embarrassed, there is no need to force it. Our business cannot be done without benevolence and righteousness." , even if you don’t cooperate, we won’t harm you. You can slowly consider my suggestion. If one day is not enough, just two days. If one month is not enough, just two months. When you have figured it out, you can come back to us to talk about cooperation. The door will always be open.”
Duan Tiancheng stood up and said: "But I want to remind Boss Ma that next time he comes to find me, things may not be as easy to negotiate as now. There are some conditions. After passing this village, there will be no such store!" ”
Seeing that he was about to leave, Ma Zhengping quickly stood up and persuaded: "Master Duan, don't be anxious. I only said that there are difficulties, but I didn't say that I would not agree! Please sit down, Master Duan, and we will discuss it slowly."< br>
Duan Tiancheng said: "Duan is still busy with official duties. I'm afraid I don't have time to discuss it slowly with Boss Ma. By the way, I got a piece of news last night. I regard it as a thank you for Boss Ma's previous hospitality. This news is given for free." ”
Duan Tiancheng lowered his voice and said: "According to the information we obtained in Hirado, at least one hundred and eighty muskets were sold from Hirado Port to Yangzhou this year. As for who got these muskets into the hands, it's unclear. It’s very clear. In short, after Boss Ma returns, he must be careful when going out.”
Ma Zhengping was shocked when he heard that the situation in Yangzhou took a turn for the worse last year because the enemy formed a musketry team and secretly sabotaged the salt transportation plans of the Huizhou salt merchants. Later, at the end of the year, Haihan sent people to Yangzhou to destroy the musketeers. The Huizhou salt merchants were also happy, thinking that the situation might turn for the better.
But the news given by Duan Tiancheng confirmed what they were most worried about. The opponent may have organized a new musketeer team, and the operations of the Huizhou salt merchants will be passive again.
If Haihan had not intervened, the situation in Yangzhou would probably have followed the same pattern as last year. Shanshan and Shaanxi salt merchants are still strong, while Huizhou salt merchants will once again become the targets of beatings.
Ma Zhengping did not doubt whether Duan Tiancheng's news was true and reliable, because before he came to Zhoushan this time, certain signs had appeared in Yangzhou, which were consistent with Duan Tiancheng's "warning". So now he has to consider a very practical question. If Haihan does not provide support to his side, how long can his side last in Yangzhou?
According to their calculations before Haihan took action last year, Shanxi-Shaanxi salt merchants may take one to two years to destroy their transportation routes and supply. , and there is no way to continue to gain profits from operating the salt industry, so we can only withdraw from Yangzhou in despair.
But after the Shanshan-Shaanxi salt merchants suffered a big loss at the hands of Haihan last year, they probably won’t be as patient as before and will probably attack with thunder and leave no room for the Huizhou-based salt merchants. Breathing room to prevent Haihan from ruining a good thing again.
We can still sit together and discuss the possibility of cooperation now, just because the situation in Yangzhou is not yet clear, and Haihan believes that Huizhou salt merchants are more worthy of wooing. But if the Huizhou salt merchants were completely defeated, Haihan would certainly not be able to save a loser, and the Shanshan salt merchants would become the only partner Haihan could choose to cooperate with at that time.
The pros and cons involved are too complicated, and Ma Zhengping cannot calculate them clearly in a matter of seconds. But one thing Ma Zhengping can be sure of now is that he cannot let Haihan, the only life-saving straw, slip away from him.
"Master Duan, I am definitely willing to cooperate with your country. There is no need to doubt my sincerity, right? I can agree to the conditions that Master Duan just mentioned, but to implement them in place, we must also consider that our opponents will hinder us. Son, so we still have to find a way to get rid of those who may be in the way.”
Ma Zhengping decided not to think about it so much. He would first agree to the conditions proposed by Duan Tiancheng in his own name and see if Haihan could provide sufficient support. If Haihan's support is only verbal, then the partnership is worthless.
Duan Tiancheng looked at Ma Zhengping's expression and confirmed that he was not joking. Then he nodded slowly and sat back on the chair: "I know that Boss Ma is a sensible person, so I made an appointment with you again." Interview. As long as you are willing to cooperate well, there is no need to worry about competitors driving you out of Yangzhou.”
Ma Zhengping said: "But Mr. Duan said before that your country cannot send troops directly. How can we combat the arrogance of Shanxi salt merchants?"
Duan Tiancheng said: "If you don't send troops, there are many other ways. Since your opponents can form a musketeer team, of course you can follow suit. We provide military training and weapons and equipment, so you are worried that you can't defeat them. Those bumpkin musketeers?”
Ma Zhengping said happily: "Is this really possible? I have to thank Mr. Duan for making it happen."
Duan Tiancheng said: "I'm just a business person, you don't need to thank me."
Ma Zhengping understood and quickly added: "Yes, yes, you have to thank General Shi! Please tell General Shi, Mr. Duan, that if this can be facilitated, I am willing to donate 10,000 taels of silver to General Shi every year as military supplies!" ”
Ma Zhengping didn't care whether the money would become military supplies or flow into General Shi's personal pocket. He was just looking for a reason to donate money. Although General Shi does not seem to be a money-grubbing person, who would dislike having too much money flowing into his pocket?
As for how much this training process and the purchase of weapons and equipment will cost, Ma Zhengping has no intention of asking the detailed amount now. Anyway, just spend the money and it will be done. When have the salt merchants ever been short of money?
(End of chapter)