The Young Dragon of the Ming Dynasty: Bound to an Industrial Blueprint from the Start

Shopkeeper Guo, whose real name is Guo Sheng, has a life story that can be described as a tale of struggle in the marketplace.

My ancestors were small grain merchants in Beiping, and they had a modest fortune.

He attended a private school for a few years in his youth, was good at using an abacus, and had high aspirations.

Unfortunately, her father died young, and the family business was seized by her uncles and local officials in collusion, causing her mother to fall ill and die.

After his family fell on hard times, he worked as an accountant, ran errands for the grain transport gangs, witnessed the corruption of officialdom, and experienced the dangers of the martial arts world.

Once, he was kicked out of his job for refusing to falsify accounts and cheat his employer. While he was destitute on the streets, he was spotted by Li Wei, who was looking for manpower in the city.

Li Wei valued his clear accounting skills and efficient work style.

When he first joined the company, Guo Sheng only knew that he was managing the charcoal business for a "benefactor" who was extremely influential.

He was careful and meticulous, managing the charcoal business flawlessly.

When he was summoned to the secret chamber of Xishan Manor and met the rumored "prodigy eldest grandson of the emperor," and heard his plans and arrangements far beyond his years, he was deeply shocked.

The moment he pressed his fingerprint, he saw the hope of turning the tables and getting revenge, and the possibility of revenge!

After becoming the "General Manager", Guo Sheng rented a small courtyard with two sections in a less conspicuous alley near the west side of the Imperial City.

He used the sign "Xishan Goods Store" in the front yard as a cover for doing some small business selling general merchandise from both the north and south; the back yard was his real office and meeting place.

He became increasingly low-key, dressed simply, and spoke modestly, but his eyes became even sharper, scanning the market like an eagle.

His report was detailed and clear.

It not only records how many coal briquettes and stoves the charcoal shops sell each day, their income, and pre-order status; but also includes market fluctuations in firewood and charcoal prices, brick, tile, wood, and stone prices, the types and quantities of goods arriving at the canal wharves, and even rumors about the preferences of certain officials' families and unusual activities of major businesses.

Zhu Zhanji's instructions, given through Chuntao, were often concise yet crucial:

"I heard that the Tonghui River will be dredged; keep an eye out for lime and granite."

"The official granary needs a large amount of straw mats for moisture protection, and the reeds from Henan are cheap."

"A certain official in the Construction Department is a connoisseur of antique inkstones. He has a batch of damp Huizhou ink in the warehouse, which he is selling at a low price. You may examine it carefully and then present it to him as a gift."

Guo Sheng understood immediately and took action.

He was already familiar with the ways of the city, and with the support of a small amount of secret funding provided by Li Wei, he acted swiftly.

By hoarding limestone and sand, buying up unsold grain at low prices, and cleverly using gifts to smooth things over, he not only fulfilled Zhu Zhanji's "instructions" but also opened up several additional small but stable avenues for making money.

The "Xishan Goods Store" gradually gained a reputation among certain low-level officials and merchants for its "good connections and reliable service".

Zhu Zhanji conveyed a vague message through Chun Tao: "Major construction projects are about to begin, and timber is the priority. The key to transporting timber from the south to the north lies in the grain transport."

Based on the information he had gathered—that timber merchants from all over the south were flocking to the canal, but the dispatching of grain transport ships was chaotic and the needs of various government departments were unclear—Guo Sheng judged that the opportunity lay in "information gaps" and "integration capabilities."

Without making a sound, he sent his only two reliable men south to timber distribution centers such as Zhenjiang and Yizhen to find out the sources, prices, and freight rates; the other mingled among the clerks and gatekeepers of various government offices in Beijing to inquire about any small needs.

Half a month later, he took the initiative to find a disgruntled official in the Ministry of Works and offered a timber supply plan of "overall procurement, segmented water transport, and delivery to the capital warehouse", promising that the price would be half a percent lower than the market price and guaranteeing on-time delivery.

He already had the willingness of some southern merchants to offer low prices, as well as several sections of canal shipping space that he had secured through his connections with Li Wei.

The official was in a terrible predicament when he saw that the plan was detailed and seemed to be well-founded, so he gave him a small trial order of five thousand taels of silver with some skepticism.

Guo Sheng devoted all his efforts to coordinating the delivery of goods from the south, the transshipment via the Grand Canal, and the acceptance in Beijing. He personally handled every step of the process and even personally escorted the last batch.

Ultimately, the timber arrived in Beijing three days ahead of schedule, of excellent quality, and the accounts were clear.

The trial order was successfully completed. The official received praise from his superiors, Guo Sheng earned his first considerable commission, and more importantly, he managed to pry open a tiny crack in the behemoth that is the Ministry of Works.

Afterwards, he handed over half of the extra profits through Chuntao.

Zhu Zhanji sent Chuntao back with a message: "If things go well, keep an eye on Vice Minister Chen Gui of the Ministry of Works and Chief Clerk Li Qing of the Ministry of Revenue, as the two often argue over money and grain."

Guo Sheng stood in the courtyard, clutching the slip of paper with two names on it, remaining silent for a long time.

As the spring breeze blew by, he felt a chill mixed with excitement and trembling.

Despite being deep within the palace, the young prince not only has an excellent grasp of the market situation, but also a keen understanding of the subtle relationships between officials in various departments! Just how capable is this master?

at the same time:

The study in the Crown Prince's residence became another "treasure trove" for Zhu Zhanji to obtain crucial information.

Zhu Gaochi was ordered to remain in Beijing to oversee the military and political affairs in the north. He was responsible for most of the complex preparations for the relocation of the capital.

His study thus became a small decision-making center.

Zhu Zhanji's "eagerness to learn" and "quietness" became his best cover.

He often held a copy of the "Thousand Character Classic" or "Elementary Learning Classic" and curled up on a low couch in the corner of the study, seemingly reading attentively, but in reality, he was listening intently, writing down every word of his father's and his ministers' discussions.

On this day, Zhu Gaochi summoned Chen Gui, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, Li Qing, the Principal of the Ministry of Revenue, and Zhang Wu, the Commander of the Guards who had just returned from an inspection of Juyong Pass, to discuss important matters.

Chen Gui was over fifty years old, with a lean face and three long wisps of beard. He spoke in a measured and methodical manner: "Your Highness, the blueprints have been sent from Nanjing. The foundations for the three main halls have been determined. The required amount of golden nanmu and giant cypress is staggering. If we rely entirely on Sichuan for procurement, the mountain roads are treacherous and the water transport is difficult. I'm afraid it will be difficult to gather enough in three years."

Although the timber from Huguang (Hubei and Hunan provinces) is of slightly lower quality, its access to waterways may provide some immediate relief; however, its price is also quite high.

Li Qing immediately chimed in. He was a lean middle-aged man with bright, alert eyes: "What Vice Minister Chen said is quite right! However, the Ministry of Revenue is short of funds. The Northern Expeditionary Army's rewards, the repair of the border wall, and the grain and provisions for the transport troops are all desperately in need of funding."

"Timber prices in Huguang have risen by 30%. If we buy them all, where will the money come from? It would be better to have Sichuan double the number of laborers conscripted. Although it will be slower, it will save most of the cost of purchasing timber."

Zhang Wu, a burly man with a dark face, couldn't help but say in a rough voice, "Steward Li! We still haven't found the lime and bricks for the construction of the border wall! Last winter, the Tartars sneaked in and almost kicked open Baiyangkou!"

The Ministry of War is urging us to hurry, but the Ministry of Works is dragging its feet. My brothers can only barely manage to make do with frozen soil and gravel! The timber is important, but the side wall isn't?" His voice was loud and clear, making the window paper rattle slightly.

Zhu Gaochi sat at the head of the table, rubbing his temples, his tone gentle yet weary:

"Commander Zhang, please be at ease. Border defense is of utmost importance. Vice Minister Chen, we need to make a thorough comparison between Sichuan timber and Huguang timber. Chief Clerk Li, you still need to raise funds and reduce expenditures in various ways to manage finances and grain."

"The plan to relocate the capital was personally approved by my father, and it must be pushed forward no matter how difficult it may be." He turned to another matter, "How is the expansion of the Tongzhou granary progressing? The autumn grain tribute must be stored without any loss."