Two people, two pots of tea, sat facing each other, chatting animatedly.
Cao Sanxi, a great Jin merchant from Taigu, Shanxi, now has businesses spread across the Northeast, North China, and Northwest, extending into Mongolia and Siberia.
Years ago, he was just a farmer who ventured alone to the Three Pagoda Village in the Northeast, making a living by growing vegetables, raising pigs, and grinding tofu.
Life was tough at first, but after accumulating a little wealth, he used the locally abundant sorghum to brew liquor, making the brewing industry the first sector for the Cao family's development.
He was very thrifty.
He was reluctant to spend money and instead continued to invest in other industries, so his business reach quickly expanded into the grocery and pawn industries.
Centered in the Northeast, it also expanded to other regions, including the West Desert.
He was very wise.
With a flexible mind, he was the first to apply the concept of circular economy.
He first rented land to grow vegetables and soybeans, then opened a tofu shop, turning soybeans into tofu, and then used tofu dregs to raise pigs, turning tofu dregs into pork, and pig manure as fertilizer to grow vegetables, soybeans, and sorghum again, constantly recycling, greatly increasing wealth.
To motivate his employees, he also implemented a shareholding system, where employees could invest and, if their performance was outstanding, could even receive “skill shares,” which meant investing based on their skills and contributions.
By tying the interests of the employees to those of the owner, they became a community of shared interests, so all the employees were loyal to the owner.
He had strict rules, was impartial, and trusted the people he employed.
There was once a branch manager who lost seventy thousand taels of silver, but he felt there were objective reasons and not only did not blame him but also gave him another batch of capital.
As a result, the manager lost money again.
He asked the manager if he dared to continue, and the manager firmly replied that as long as the owner trusted him, the employee would definitely continue.
As a result, he gave the third batch of capital, and this time, the manager was indeed successful, not only earning back the losses from the first two times but also making another profit.
He was particularly trustworthy, and the chits (credit notes) he issued had excellent credibility.
One year, the great Jin merchants, the Qiao and Liang families, issued too many chits, leading to a run on their banks.
The two families asked him for help.
Some people suggested he not help and take the opportunity to crush his rivals.
But he did not listen to the crowd, announcing that all Cao family banks could redeem the chits of the Qiao and Liang families for cash.
After the crisis passed, the Qiao and Liang families were endlessly grateful to the Cao clan, and the Cao clan's reputation among Jin merchants grew higher and higher.
Of course, he also had his flaws.
To make money, he was smooth and had good relationships with various forces, including the Qing dynasty, Rebel Army, Qing, and Mongol, treating everyone who came as a guest, entertaining sixteen parties.
Ji Jike, a Great Ming Dynasty martial artist.
He once studied under a master on Mount Zhongnan and learned the Yue Wu Mu boxing manual, being particularly skilled in the great spear technique.
He was proficient in the Six Harmony Spear technique "Pointing to the Eave Rafters Skill," which allowed him to ride a warhorse at high speed and instantly wield a great spear to accurately stab the rafters under the eaves.
Later, he developed Xingyi Quan from the Six Harmony Spear technique, becoming the ancestor of Xingyi Quan.
Because of his exceptional martial arts, he joined the army and became an officer, fantasizing about killing enemies to serve the country and securing honors for his family.
Then, rebel armies rose everywhere, with beacons of war lit in every direction.
For the Qing dynasty, he bravely suppressed them, but the Rebel Army grew larger with each defeat.
Ultimately, he suffered a defeat, lost his position, and was punished.
Losing one's position and being punished in the Great Ming Dynasty could be a big or small matter.
To put it in a big way, not only would he lose his position, but he would also lose his head.
To put it in a small way, a demerit would suffice, and it was common to be reinstated to one's original position.
The key was to find the right person to smooth things over.
Ji Jike had a previous acquaintance with Cao Sanxi.
He knew that these great merchants all had deep backgrounds, so he asked the Cao clan for help.
Cao Sanxi admired his martial arts, and while agreeing to help, he wrote a letter inviting him for tea.
He knew that this martial arts master did not like to take the usual path and preferred to climb over walls, so he waited silently in the rain.
“Brother Ji, there is news about your matter.
The Ministry of War's document will arrive soon,” he said with a slight smile to Ji Jike.
“Thank you, Brother Cao,” Ji Jike said, full of gratitude.
Cao Sanxi took a sip of tea.
“However, your humble brother still has one more request.
I would like to ask you, virtuous brother, to escort three friends to the West Desert.”
Sitting at home with the door closed, happiness came from the sky!
In Yingsuo River City on the Yulduz Grassland, Sultan was handling official documents in the warm pavilion of the Great Taiji Residence when he was suddenly informed that his Mongol tutor, Liu Haogu, had arrived.
He was so happy that he ran out without even wearing his jacket.
“Master Liu,” Sultan’s eyes were red.
“It’s been a few years, Great Taiji has grown taller and stronger,” Liu Haogu also shed tears.
When golden maples and jade dew meet, it surpasses countless moments in the human world!
The two people reminisced for a while.
Liu Haogu pointed to his two good friends beside him and said, “Great Taiji, these two are my good friends, rare talents in the world.
The first is Xue Zongzhou, courtesy name Wenbo, from the Hedong Xue Family.
He is well-read in historical records and possesses strategic wisdom.
The second is Fu Shan, courtesy name Qingzhu, from Taiyuan.
Besides history and classics, he is also well-versed in the pre-Qin philosophers and is skilled in calligraphy, painting, medicine, and Taoist classics.”
Sultan was not very impressed with Xue Zongzhou, but Fu Shan's name was like thunder to him.
He knew that he came from a scholarly family and had superb medical skills.
His medical works, such as “Bian Zheng Lu,” “Da Xiao Zhu Zheng Fang Lun,” and “Shi Shi Mi Lu,” have been passed down through the ages.
This is truly wonderful!
The Oirat Mongol had poor medical conditions, and herdsmen could only seek help from samans when they fell ill.
Although those samans knew some medical skills, they were not specialized doctors after all, and countless people died from illnesses every year.
With this great talent, the medical level of the Mongol will surely advance by leaps and bounds!
“Oh, it is truly a blessing from heaven for our Huit Tribe that these two grand secretaries are willing to come!
I wish to appoint Master Liu as the Langzhong (Doctor) of the Ministry of Rites' Protocol Department, Grand Secretary Xue as the Langzhong (Doctor) of the Ministry of Revenue, and Grand Secretary Fu as the Head of the Tai Hospital.
What do Master Liu and the two grand secretaries think?”
Sultan looked at these three great talents with a smile.
Unconsciously, the fifteen-year-old him now possessed the aura of a king.
“Your subject is willing to obey the Great Taiji's command,” Liu Haogu was naturally willing.
“Ministry of Rites, Ministry of Revenue, Tai Hospital?
Why are the official titles of your tribe the same as those of my Great Ming Dynasty?”
Xue Zongzhou and Fu Shan were greatly surprised.
Liu Haogu smiled slightly.
“My two virtuous brothers do not know, but a few years ago, the Great Taiji, under the banner of restoring the Yuan dynasty system, reformed the official system of the Huit Tribe.
All official systems are extremely similar to those of my Great Ming Dynasty.”
Upon hearing that even the official system of the Oirat Huit Tribe was similar to that of the Ming dynasty, the two men, Xue and Fu, felt their resistance to the foreign race fade considerably.
They exchanged glances and bowed in unison, saying, “Your subjects are willing to serve the Great Taiji!”
“Oh, everyone, please rise quickly.
With the help of you, my ministers, I am truly like a tiger with wings!”
Sultan was overjoyed at the news.
Suddenly, he saw another person with extraordinary bone structure, bulging temples, and eyes like lightning, and asked curiously, “What is this strong man’s name?”
“Great Taiji, this is Ji Jike, a righteous man sent by the Taigu Cao clan to escort us.
His martial arts are astonishing, and he killed many villains along the way, thus protecting us,” Liu Haogu said with a smile.
The more Sultan looked, the more he liked him, and he asked warmly, “Strong man Ji, are you willing to pledge allegiance to my Huit Tribe?”
“I am a Han and truly do not wish to leave my homeland!
Please forgive me, Great Taiji!”
Ji Jike politely refused, neither humble nor arrogant.
Everyone has their own aspirations and cannot be forced.
Sultan did not force him either and ordered the cooking of beef and slaughter of sheep to entertain everyone.