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As night fell, the city of Nanjing was utterly silent, except for the newly built supply and marketing cooperative warehouse on the banks of the Qinhuai River, which exuded an unusual tranquility and order.

The third watch gong had just sounded, and the "accounting room," a special area specially set up in the warehouse, was brightly lit, but not a single human voice could be heard.

Inside the store, more than a dozen figures dressed in uniform indigo cotton clothing were working silently.

Their movements were precise and efficient; wiping shelves, counting goods, and checking labels, they worked together like the most sophisticated machines.

Upon closer inspection, these "shop assistants" appear no different from ordinary people, but their eyes are overly focused and calm, lacking the emotional fluctuations that ordinary people should have.

They are the AI ​​humanoid robots that Suning retrieved from its portable industrial space.

The head "manager," codenamed "Su Yi," had a barely perceptible blue glint in his eyes as he conducted an internal communication in a flat tone: "System self-check complete, product data updated, shelf display 100%. One hour before opening, entering standby power-saving mode."

All the "shop assistants" instantly stopped moving, as if frozen in place, standing quietly beside their respective posts. Only the extremely faint sound of their energy cores operating in their chests proved that they were not sculptures.

Meanwhile, in a completely enclosed "general accounting room" on the third floor of the supply and marketing cooperative, Suning was monitoring all the data and images downstairs in real time through a huge transparent light screen from the industrial space.

Standing behind him, Zhou Zhengjie felt his throat go dry, even though he had already witnessed his cousin's various "miracles".

“Anbang, are these… these ‘buddies’ really reliable? Where did you find them?” Zhou Zhengjie asked with concern.

Su Ning smiled confidently and explained nonchalantly, "Cousin, don't worry. They are all highly skilled personnel I secretly trained. They are absolutely loyal, absolutely efficient, hardworking, and will not make mistakes. They will not embezzle funds or leak secrets. This is our core competitive advantage against those deeply entrenched old merchants in Jiangnan."

"That's good! As long as they are our trusted confidants, that's fine."

"After the success of the main store of the supply and marketing cooperative, we will immediately begin preparations to open a branch in Yingtianfu. We want to seize the Ming Dynasty market as quickly as possible."

"Understood! My concern is that we won't have enough supplies and manpower."

"Don't worry! I've trained enough people, and the supply of goods is guaranteed."

……

The following morning, the Daming Supply and Marketing Cooperative's main store officially opened.

Amidst the sound of firecrackers, the gates opened, and the people of Yingtian Prefecture, whose appetites had been whetted by the prior publicity, flocked inside.

The sight before them left them speechless.

The store was more spacious and bright than I had imagined. The goods were categorized and neatly arranged, and each item had a clear paper price tag with a fixed price.

What surprised them even more were the "waiters" in the store.

No matter how crowded the customers were or how many questions they asked, the waiters in blue uniforms always wore standard, slightly stiff smiles, moved quickly, answered clearly, and showed no impatience whatsoever.

The entire process of receiving money, giving change, and handing over the goods was smooth and seamless.

"Wow! This speed is unmatched even by ten seasoned accountants!"

"And she never makes a mistake! I deliberately added a penny more than I should have, and she pointed it out immediately!"

"These guys, the shop owner must have hired them from overseas, right? How come they're so well-behaved and capable?"

The discussions were filled with surprise and admiration.

This unprecedented shopping experience, along with the astonishing efficiency and order displayed in the store, quickly became the hottest topic in Nanjing.

……

Of course, the booming business of the supply and marketing cooperatives has attracted attention from all sides.

In particular, the Ministry of Revenue in Nanjing and the Taxation Bureau responsible for collecting commercial taxes.

On this day, the tax commissioner, accompanied by several clerks, swaggered into the "Ming Dynasty Supply and Marketing Cooperative".

Zhou Zhengjie had already received instructions from Su Ning, and greeted him with a beaming smile.

"The ambassador's presence is an honor to our humble abode! Please come inside for tea."

"Mr. Zhou, there's no need for such formalities." The tax commissioner glanced sideways at the bustling crowd and said with a forced smile, "Your business is booming, making a fortune every day! As for the taxes..."

"Don't worry, Ambassador!" Zhou Zhengjie immediately replied, while gesturing for Su Yi to bring over several thick ledgers. "Although our business is newly established, we deeply understand the principle that 'not a penny of imperial grain and national tax can be missed.' These are all the purchase invoices and sales details since the business opened. Please take a look, Ambassador. The city tax, stall tax, and transaction fees payable have all been calculated clearly and accurately. We are just waiting for the Ambassador to come and verify them."

The tax commissioner took the ledger with suspicion and began to look through it.

The handwriting was neat and printed, the entries were clear, the numbers were accurate, and every entry and exit was recorded clearly, making it impossible to find fault.

The old accountant he brought spent a long time calculating, but couldn't find a single fault with it.

"This... your accountant is truly skilled!" the ambassador said with a complicated tone.

Zhou Zhengjie smiled and said, "The Governor often teaches that integrity is the foundation of business, and paying taxes according to the law is a merchant's duty. How could our company dare to disobey?"

These words, though seemingly gentle, carried a firm undertone, highlighting the underlying context.

The tax commissioner, recalling Su Ning's infamous reputation for even sending bribes directly to the capital, shuddered and forced a sincere smile: "Master Zhou is truly righteous, I admire you! Admire you! Tax it according to this amount!"

……

That evening, in the general accounting office.

The screen displays today's operating data: revenue, gross profit margin, customer traffic, loss rate... every item is perfect.

“See that, cousin?” Su Ning pointed to the almost negligible losses and data. “This is the intangible advantage they bring. No one embezzles, no one makes mistakes, no one slacks off, and no one leaks secrets. Every penny of tax we pay is real and can withstand any investigation. In the eyes of the emperor and the court, this is what makes us ‘model law-abiding citizens.’”

Looking at the astonishing profit figures, Zhou Zhengjie was finally completely convinced and said excitedly, "Anbang, I understand! This leaves all those who want to sabotage us with nowhere to attack, especially on the two most common points of attack: 'accounts' and 'taxes'!"

“That’s right.” Su Ning stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze deep. “What we need to do is to make money honestly and pay taxes transparently within the framework of the laws of the Ming Dynasty, using advanced technology and management. When our business practices are impeccable, the wealth and influence we accumulate will be the most stable. This ‘Ming Supply and Marketing Cooperative’ is just the beginning.”

Outside the window, the city of Nanjing was dimly lit.

Inside the Daming Supply and Marketing Cooperative, the tireless AI shop assistants continued to silently organize the shelves, preparing for the new day's business.

Their existence is a remarkable achievement that Suning has planted in this era. They are quietly changing the rules of business in a seemingly compliant yet unparalleled way, laying an indestructible foundation for its future grand ambitions.

……

The unprecedented success of the Nanjing headquarters of the "Daming Supply and Marketing Cooperative" was like a boulder thrown into the calm Jiangnan business world, and the ripples it stirred up quickly spread to every prefecture and county.

Meanwhile, other branches in Nanjing were also opening for business, and the supply and marketing cooperatives quickly entered the homes of ordinary people in Yingtianfu.

Standing before the map in the governor's office, Su Ning's gaze swept across Nanjing, landing on the prosperous cities of Suzhou, Songjiang, Hangzhou, and Yangzhou. The blueprint for a commercial empire was already unfolding in his mind.

Unlike ordinary businesses that rely on experience and personal connections to open stores, Suning's expansion strategy is full of "data-driven" features that are ahead of their time.

Late at night, the governor's office study has quietly transformed into a "business decision-making center."

On the huge virtual screen, detailed maps of the various prefectures in Jiangnan were displayed, with different colored dots flashing on them.

"Master, based on recent freight data, population density, canal transport nodes, and official road traffic model analysis, the priority expansion recommendation is as follows," the AI ​​manager "Su Jia" reported in a flat, electronic voice, while several dots on the virtual screen suddenly magnified.

Suzhou: "A silk and textile center, a gathering place for artisans and wealthy merchants, with huge consumption potential. It is recommended to establish large-scale supply and marketing cooperatives, focusing on high-end fabrics, clothing and cosmetics."

Songjiang: "A major cotton textile town, a nascent port, and a key point for grain transport by sea. It is recommended to open warehouse-style supermarkets, focusing on bulk commodities and general merchandise from both the north and south."

Yangzhou: "The stronghold of salt merchants and a trendsetter for luxury consumption. It is recommended to open a boutique supermarket, focusing on exotic Southeast Asian treasures, glassware, and high-end cosmetics."

Hangzhou: "As the capital of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, Hangzhou is rich in culture and tourism. We suggest opening an experiential supply and marketing cooperative that integrates shopping, tea, and bookstores."

Suning knew that in order to expand rapidly, it had to establish a system that was as disciplined as an army.

All branches adopt the unified "Daming Supply and Marketing Cooperative" logo, unified indigo blue staff uniforms, unified shelf layout, and unified settlement process.

The design drawings were generated from the industrial space, while the construction was completed by a team of craftsmen recruited by Zhou Zhengjie and who underwent rigorous screening, ensuring both efficiency and quality.

With Nanjing as the central warehouse, and relying on the Grand Canal and the initially established maritime trade fleet, a logistics trunk line connecting various prefectures and counties was constructed.

AI robots are responsible for warehouse management and scheduling, ensuring the smooth flow of goods with minimal loss.

In each new store, core positions, from store manager and accountant to cashier and inventory manager, are all filled by a new generation of more sophisticated AI robots.

They synchronize data with the Nanjing headquarters through their internal network to ensure absolute consistency in operating strategies and service standards.

Locally, only a small number of laborers are recruited to handle heavy tasks such as moving and cleaning, and they are strictly isolated and unable to access core operations.

On the opening day of the Suzhou branch of "Daming Supply and Marketing Cooperative" on Guanqian Street, Suzhou.

The familiar spaciousness and brightness, the familiar wide variety of goods, and those familiar "staff" with standard smiles and precise, efficient movements.

The people and gentry of Suzhou were surprised to find that this store was exactly the same as the Nanjing flagship store, and even the waiter's slightly accented Mandarin was exactly the same!
"This 'Great Ming Supply and Marketing Cooperative' is truly remarkable! The branch stores are exactly the same as the head office!"

"I've heard that Governor Su is behind this, and it seems that's true. Such regulations cannot be implemented without the power of the government."

The rapid expansion of the "Daming Supply and Marketing Cooperative" severely impacted the existing commercial landscape in various regions.

Cloth shops, grocery stores, grain stores, cosmetics shops... business plummeted.

Several major merchants, led by Suzhou Silk Company, could no longer sit still and joined forces to try to fight back.

They joined forces to lower prices, attempting to squeeze out the newly established "Daming Supply and Marketing Cooperative".

However, the "Daming Supply and Marketing Cooperative" easily drove down prices even further and improved quality by leveraging the low prices of rice and grains from Southeast Asia and the cost-free sources of goods from industrial spaces.

The price war lasted for half a month, and the old trading company suffered heavy losses and was the first to give up.

They spread rumors that the "Daming Supply and Marketing Cooperative" used sorcery, that its employees were not human, and that its goods came from unknown sources.

He even encouraged some scholars to write poems and essays criticizing it for "ruining the livelihoods of ordinary people and being morally corrupt."

In addition, they bribed local officials, hoping to seize the goods under the pretext of "disrupting the market" or "unexplained origin".

On this day, after receiving a large bribe, the Suzhou prefect reluctantly sent his yamen runners to surround the Suzhou branch of the "Daming Supply and Marketing Cooperative".

However, the store manager, "Su San," remained calm and presented a thick, impeccable ledger and tax payment certificates.

“Sir, all goods in our shop have legal proof of origin, and all taxes have been paid in accordance with the law, without a single penny missing. As for disrupting the market…” Su San replied calmly, “Our shop offers genuine goods at fair prices, and is convenient and beneficial to the people. How could there be any disruption? On the contrary, some people are colluding to manipulate market prices. I wonder if this violates the Great Ming Code?”

"This……"

"Our Great Ming Supply and Marketing Cooperative neither provokes trouble nor fears it. We hope that you will not provoke those you should not provoke."

"..."

At the same time, an official document from the Yingtian Governor's Office was also delivered to the Suzhou Prefect's desk.

In the official document, Su Ning used strong language, reprimanding local officials for "protecting legitimate merchants and strictly prohibiting local bullies from engaging in market manipulation," and mentioning that "stabilizing prices is the duty of the governor."

The Suzhou prefect was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat. He immediately withdrew his yamen runners and instead severely punished the gentry who had spread the rumors.

The old merchant guild's counterattack was utterly defeated by the "Da Ming Supply and Marketing Cooperative's" absolute commercial competitiveness, impeccable compliance, and powerful political backing.

In just one year, the banner of the "Daming Supply and Marketing Cooperative" was planted all over the major prefectures and counties in Jiangnan.

Its existence has not only brought citizens an unprecedented shopping experience and benefits, but has also profoundly changed the commercial landscape of Jiangnan.

The transparent pricing and stable prices of the "Daming Supply and Marketing Cooperative" became the anchor of the market, making hoarding and price gouging difficult to sustain.

The high-quality, standardized goods they provide have forced local artisans to improve product quality in order to survive.

Although the core role is in AI, logistics, construction, local chores and other areas still create a large number of job opportunities.

More importantly, it became one of the largest taxpayers in Jiangnan, which greatly enriched the government treasury.

Zhou Zhengjie excitedly reported the latest performance to Suning: the number of branches, profit growth... the figures were astonishing.

Su Ning listened to the report, but his expression remained calm.

What he saw was not just a flood of wealth, but also an efficient and controllable commercial circulation network that was initially being built with "supply and marketing cooperatives" as nodes.

This network is not only the cornerstone of his personal wealth, but will also become a powerful tool for him to promote economic reforms, acquire resources, and even influence people's livelihoods in the future.

The sparks that ignited in Jiangnan have already spread like wildfire.

And this flame is spreading to even more distant places.

Suning knew that this was only the first step in his efforts to transform this ancient empire using modern business thinking.

There is an even wider world waiting for him to conquer.

...(End of chapter)