In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 641 Too Early to Be Happy
The next day, at the beginning of the Si hour, which is around 9 a.m.

Ya Rong, the manager of Kanglelou Restaurant on Anhe Street, and the manager of the Mi family on Yiren Street arrived at the capital by carriage.

The two met at the entrance of the military headquarters. Mi Chen forced a smile and greeted him, but then appeared somewhat uneasy.

I don't understand what happened, or why I was summoned to the headquarters.

Seeing Ya Rong, who was tall and poised, made Mi Chen even more flustered.

"Could it be that this woman has her eye on the Mi family's business?"

Prepare to let the commander-in-chief seize it by trickery and force.

Mi Chen had done this kind of thing many times, so he was familiar with the business involved.

But he didn't know how to resist.

If it were an ordinary adult, it wouldn't matter.
But the man before her was none other than Liu Heiying, who was in charge of the affairs.
And the Mi family wasn't exactly clean either; a single decree could make him submit.

"Sigh," Mi Chen sighed softly, silently muttering to himself:

"Things will work themselves out; let's meet first and see what happens."

Before long, the two arrived at a slightly smaller reception room of the military commander's office, guided by the clerk.
The place is quaint and charming, with carpets on the ground and a bronze stove in the corner emitting a warm glow.

There were four chairs on each side of the center of the room, and two chairs at the head of the table.

Enter it
A solemn and dignified atmosphere began to permeate the air.

Unlike Mi Chen's anxiety and fear,
Ya Rong appeared very composed. She took off her cloak and hung it on a clothes rack to the side.
Taking the tea from the clerk,
He sat quietly in the chair on the left, sipping his tea gently.

Mi Chen glanced at her briefly, his heart sinking.
The more composed Ya Rong appeared, the more flustered he became.
The scene before me looks exactly like preparations for a cunning and forceful robbery.

In this strange atmosphere, hurried footsteps could be heard outside the reception room!

The two looked in the direction of the sound and immediately stood up when they saw who it was.
The group entered the reception room, led by an adult who was incredibly young.

Tall and handsome, it was Lu Yunyi.

Following behind him was Liu Heiying, a dark-skinned and burly man.

His small eyes were sharp, and his gaze swept across the room gently.

Behind him was a middle-aged man nearing thirty.
He had the air of a soldier, but at this moment he was dressed in a fine robe, like a merchant in the city.

Ya Rong glanced at it briefly and then ignored it.

Instead, he looked at Lu Yunyi and Liu Heiying.
His eyes flickered, a strange feeling welled up inside him, and distant memories seemed to become clear at this moment.
The people and events within the Northern Yuan court gradually emerge.
Her eyes were lowered, and she saw the expensive carpet spread on the floor.

The once powerful Northern Yuan dynasty has vanished, replaced by the mighty Ming dynasty.

And she became the manager of this Ming Dynasty store, but time had passed and things had changed.
A long-lost sense of bewilderment quietly surfaced in my heart.

After the two were seated and the guards stood at the four corners of the reception room, Ya Rong bowed slightly and spoke softly:
"This humble woman pays her respects to Lord Lu and General Liu."

Mi Chen also spoke up, "Greetings to both of you."

Lu Yunyi sat on the left side of the head table, placed the document on the square table in the middle, and gestured for it to be placed down.

"sit."

After taking his seat, Lu Yunyi picked up the documents and said with a smile:
"Gentlemen, please do not be nervous. I have summoned you here today to introduce someone to you two managers."

Lu Yunyi pointed to Dai Qiufeng, who was sitting at the lower end of the table, and said:

"Dai Qiufeng, a hundred households in Qingzhou"
Now, he has come to Daning to manage business affairs and is the manager of the Daning branch of Wanshou Sugar Workshop.

Dai Qiufeng stood up with a smile, cupped his hands in greeting to the person at the head of the table and to Ya Rong and Mi Chen, and then sat down.

Mi Chen's heart skipped a beat, and he inwardly groaned.

In the past, when he was in Beiping, the adults he knew always started their conversations like this.
The people who introduced them were either scions of powerful and wealthy families or managers of influential merchant guilds.
Without exception, they all ultimately share the same goal: to divide the money.

As for who gets their share, it goes to whoever is present.
Currently, there are only five people seated.

The four of them were a family, and he was the only outsider.
Mi Chen sighed inwardly, his expression growing increasingly listless, unable to muster any energy.

But after Dai Qiufeng sat down, the atmosphere in the room turned cold.

Seemingly somewhat embarrassed, Mi Chen reluctantly raised his head and tried to lighten the mood with a few words.

He looked at Lu Yunyi at the head of the table and forced a smile as he asked:

"May I ask, Lord Lu, what important matter brings you here today?"
If you have any instructions, please feel free to ask.

Lu Yunyi laughed, glancing at Mi Chen with some surprise.
Thinking to himself that he, a man from the grasslands, must have some real skills to be able to establish himself in Daning City.

"Manager Mi, there is indeed a small matter that I have summoned you all here today."

Mi Chen's face stiffened.
"I knew it!!!"

But he remained unfazed and continued to smile.
"Please give your instructions, Lord Lu."

Lu Yunyi nodded, took the document from his hand, and said in a deep voice:

"That's right, the Wanshou Sugar Workshop was originally a business within the Yingtian Palace."
When I was in Yingtian, I was favored by His Majesty.
This sugar factory is hereby bestowed upon me.

Now that we've opened a branch in Daning, we hope the two managers will patronize it.

Ya Rong's expression remained unchanged; she already knew the reason behind it.

She nodded with a smile, exuding the charm of a mature woman:

"Thank you, Lord Lu and General Liu, for giving me such an opportunity to make money."

On the other hand, Mi Chen was on the verge of tears, his face contorted in distress.
But he still had to pretend to be nonchalant.

He felt that his acting skills had reached their peak.

"Thank you, my Lords."

Lu Yunyi nodded with a smile, then took the document from beside him and looked at Feng Yunfang:
"Let the managers see this."

"Yes!"

Feng Yunfang took the document and distributed it, one copy to each of the three managers.

Mi Chen took it and examined it eagerly.
[Daning White Sugar Inclusive Business Plan]
The large characters that came into view startled him.
"Inclusive benefits?"

Mi Chen hurriedly flipped through the book to take a look, and the first sentence that caught his eye left him completely stunned.

Wanshou Sugar Workshop has mastered the technology for mass production of white sugar, reducing production costs by 85%.
"what?"

Mi Chen almost cried out in surprise, his eyes widening suddenly, almost in an instant.
His eyes were already filled with the gleaming silver.

His breathing became rapid.

Others may not know how precious white sugar is, but he certainly does.

Smuggling salt, sugar, and tea with Shiramatsu was an extremely profitable business.

The most important of these is tea.
But the most expensive item is sugar, because it's scarce!

Even though he had many old friends in Beiping and was considered very influential,
The amount of white sugar we get each year is limited.

Moreover, the quality is not very good.

Even so, he was able to dominate the Baisong tribe and earn a huge amount of money.

And now.
Mi Chen didn't know how to describe this situation.
It's practically a rooster that lays eggs!

Mi Chen quickly glanced through it.
The above describes the plans of Wanshou Sugar Mill and the Dusi's control and response to white sugar.

But Mi Chen knew that things were definitely not that simple.
Because he had already received the news.

A few days ago, several hundred horse-drawn carriages came from Beiping, carrying sugar!
Although it was advertised as brown sugar, he couldn't help but wonder if it was actually white sugar.
Thinking of this, Mi Chen's face flushed slightly, and a hint of madness flashed in his eyes.
If all the sugar from those hundreds of horse-drawn carts were sold to the grasslands...

He wouldn't have to blow sand in Daning anymore.
You can go to Beiping and live the life of a wealthy man!
At this moment, Lu Yunyi, who was at the head of the table, spoke in a deep voice:
"Have both of you finished reading?"

One month later, that is, a few days before the Chinese New Year,

Wanshou Sugar Workshop will be selling white sugar in Daning.

Ya Rong smiled and nodded gently.
"Lord Lu's actions are for the sake of the country and the people. On behalf of the people of Daning, I thank Lord Lu."

Mi Chen cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, his expression becoming solemn:
"May I ask, Lord Lu, how are they sold? And what role can we play in this?"

Lu Yunyi looked at Liu Heiying, signaling him to explain.

Liu Heiying opened the document in his hand and said in a deep voice: "Wanshou Sugar Workshop's Daning branch does not participate in sales; it is only responsible for production."

The actual sale will be conducted through a bidding process between Ya Rong's newly established Kangle Trading Company and Mi's Mi Trading Company, with the highest bidder winning.

Of course, this is just a preliminary plan, not a final decision.
In the end, dozens of merchants in the city may compete for the bid.

Today, I have summoned the two managers.

It's because whether it's Manager Ya Rong or Manager Mi...
They are all indispensable partners of the Commander, and the Commander has an obligation to inform them in advance.

As soon as she finished speaking, Mi Chen's eyes turned red.

My hands trembled uncontrollably; the surprise had come too suddenly!
He initially thought he was being taken advantage of, but now...

But he became the luckiest person and won the grand prize!
He is now quite certain,
Dusi came specifically to tell me this news!

Mi Chen was so excited that he couldn't control himself and stammered as he spoke:
"General Liu, if I may ask, are there any restrictions on the price or quantity of these items?"

Liu Heiying pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice:
"The selling price must be limited, after all, this is a measure to benefit all people."

We must ensure that all the people of Beiping Commandery can eat clean and pure white sugar.

As for the quantity, that depends on the output of Wanshou Sugar Mill, which cannot be predicted at present.

Mi Chen was overjoyed; this was enough!
He understood the principles of dealing with government officials.

It's true that I want to make money for myself, but I also want the government and the people to benefit as well.

Only when all three parties are satisfied can the business last.

After calming his breathing slightly, Mi Chen asked in a deep voice:
"Could it be resold? I mean, could it be sold to Beiping?"

Liu Heiying was somewhat surprised:
"I must remind you..."

The Prince of Yan's residence also mastered this skill.

However, the price of white sugar in Beiping remained high.
"If Manager Mi were to rashly intervene..."

Liu Heiying did not continue speaking.
But Mi Chen understood: some powerful and influential people in Beiping also relied on sugar to make money.

Even if costs are reduced, prices will not be lowered.

Selling cheap white sugar from Daning there would certainly make money, but it would also offend people.

After much thought, the only option left was to sell it to the people of the grasslands!
Mi Chen even suspected that...
Liu Heiying's words were a reminder to him that he could sell it to the grasslands!
At this moment, Lu Yunyi spoke with a smile:
"Manager Mi, Manager Ya Rong."
The two managers should prepare plenty of silver upon returning home, in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Furthermore, please do not disclose today's events to anyone.

After all, we must treat the Commander-in-Chief and others the same.

Ya Rong lowered her head slightly: "Yes, I understand."

Mi Chen's breathing was slightly rapid, and he nodded repeatedly:

"Thank you very much, Lord Lu. I am deeply grateful."

He was extremely excited, compared to others,
He had more time to raise the money.

He'll be able to produce the silver, while others won't.

The right to sell this sugar is practically a piece of cake!
Alright, that's enough for today.

After the Commandery sets out the specific auction rules,

Wanshou Sugar Workshop will send documents to each household; please have the two managers check them.

After speaking, Lu Yunyi stood up.
The three shopkeepers present immediately stood up and bowed.
Afterwards, Lu Yunyi and Liu Heiying left quickly.

Ya Rong chuckled softly and then left.

But Mi Chen looked at Dai Qiufeng opposite him, his face full of excitement, and quickly stepped forward:

"I admire you greatly for achieving so much at such a young age, Manager Dai."
I'm hosting a luncheon today; would the manager do me the honor of joining me?

Dai Qiufeng had never seen such enthusiasm from merchants.
But having served as an official himself, he nodded slightly.
"Then I'll have to trouble Manager Mi."

"Very well, very well. We'll meet at Sanming Tower at noon today. I'll send someone to fetch Manager Dai then."

"Thank you."

Ya Rong, who had left the reception room, did not leave the headquarters.

Instead, they strolled around the commander's courtyard.

He slipped into the right wing of the back hall without leaving a trace, which was Liu Heiying's office.

Upon entering, she immediately noticed the documents scattered throughout the room.

And the general who had just put down his documents and was making tea!
A glint of cunning flashed in her eyes. Like a young girl, she tiptoed behind Liu Heiying and covered his eyes with her hands.
A bright and gentle voice asked, "Guess who I am?"

Liu Heiying laughed:
"Xiao Rong, your fragrance is always so unique, I will never forget it in my life."

"what"

Ya Rong withdrew her hand in surprise, a hint of sweetness flashing in her eyes.

"General, your words are so sweet, they always make me feel so happy."

Liu Heiying stood up and helped her tidy her slightly messy hair.
"Come on, let me taste if Xiao Rong's mouth is sweet."

"Well"

Ya Rong blushed, her face showing a hint of reproach, and patted his chest lightly.
"General, this is the government office, and there are guards outside."

"What's there to be afraid of? There are no outsiders here."

Liu Heiying didn't take it seriously and sat down with his arm around her.

Ya Rong sat on his lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and murmured:

"My lord, why go to the trouble of calling Mi Chen over?"

Didn't you and Lord Lu already agree that I would be the one to sell this sugar?

Liu Heiying laughed:
"This is called leaving a record of your work. Selling sugar on the grasslands is a capital offense."
If we don't gather some people to do some face-saving work,

"If the imperial court investigates later, even if you only bought it from the military headquarters, you will still be implicated by Mi Chen."

"I only sell cheap white sugar."

As for Mi Chen being sold to the grasslands, what does that have to do with me?

A hint of doubt flashed in Ya Rong's eyes as she rested her head on Liu Hei Ying's shoulder.

She was nothing like the ruthless woman rumored in the city; instead, she seemed like a delicate young woman.

"Hey~ don't worry about that, all of this is to protect you."

On the day of the auction, no matter how much money Mi Chen bids, you will still have the upper hand.
As for how he sells that sugar to the grasslands afterward, that's none of our business.

At this point, Ya Rong's cheeks flushed, and a hint of secret joy flashed in her eyes:

"Thank you, General."
Just now, I could tell how happy Mi Chen was.
They probably thought the matter was already a sure thing.

Liu Heiying laughed and nodded:

"Let him be happy for a while; this matter is of great importance."

If it were handed over to someone else to manage, they would inevitably have to use a deceptive tactic, selling it to the people of the grasslands.

But we, Yun'er and I, are quite at ease leaving it in your care.

Ya Rong rolled her eyes at him:
"General, I will not ruin my good life for such a small amount of money."
If I run out of money, I'll just ask you for it.

"I don't have any money."

Liu Heiying laughed heartily, put his arm around Ya Rong's slender waist, and then said:
"However, my dad is rich."

"If you bear a son or daughter for the Liu family, he'll give you whatever money you want!"

Ya Rong's face flushed, and she understood what he meant. She gently bit her red lips and looked around.
"General, this is the government office."

"Nothing to do today, come quickly."

(End of this chapter)