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

He drew three pieces, then drew a circle next to them and wrote "Mingyue Trading Company":

"Who will buy these three items?"

He looked at Qian Lai: "Manager Qian, you will be the head manager of Mingyue Trading Company, specifically in charge of sales."

Qian Lai took a deep breath.

He had a premonition, but when those four words were actually written on paper, he still felt a heavy pressure.

"Master," he began, his voice slightly hoarse, "may I ask, how big does this business aim to become?"

Zhu Zhanji did not answer immediately.

He closed his eyes, as if sensing something.

A moment later, he opened his eyes. "Manager Qian," he said softly, "have you heard of 'Huitong Tianxia'?"

Qian Lai was taken aback.

"It's simply a matter of sending the silver from Beiping to Nanjing without actually escorting it," Zhu Zhanji said. "It can be done with just a piece of paper."

Qian Lai's pupils constricted slightly.

He was a businessman, so he naturally understood what this meant.

No silver carriages, no escort agencies, no risks on the road—that's what merchants dream of.

"Master, is this... is this really possible?"

"Not now," Zhu Zhanji said, "but in the future."

He didn't continue speaking, but instead looked at Guo Sheng:

"Manager Guo, you've worked in the canal gang, so you know the ins and outs of north-south freight transport best. The first thing our Mingyue Trading Company needs to do is sell our goods to Jiangnan."

Guo Sheng nodded emphatically.

Zhu Zhanji finally looked at Sun San, Wu Langzhong, and Lin Xiuniang: "The three of you just focus on making good products. Leave the sales to Manager Qian and Steward Guo. If you have any new ideas, feel free to share them."

His voice suddenly became solemn:

"From today onwards, Mingyue Tower, Mingyue Workshop, and Mingyue Trading Company are one entity. Let's work together to make this business a success."

The Listening Snow Pavilion was completely quiet.

Then, Qian Lai was the first to stand up, walk up to Zhu Zhanji, and bow deeply: "Master."

Guo Sheng stood up and clasped his hands in greeting: "Master."

Sun San, Wu Langzhong, and Lin Xiuniang also stood up and bowed in their own way.

Zhu Zhanji sat at the head of the table and did not yield.

He looked up at the four people intently: the restaurant owner, the logistics manager, the chief craftsman, the barefoot doctor, and the widow of a military family member.

He knew this was just the beginning.

But he also knew that some things, once started, cannot be stopped.

After the meeting, everyone else left, but Qian Lai stayed behind.

"Master, Madam Shen came again yesterday." He took out a brocade box from his pocket and presented it with both hands. "These are samples of spices from Southeast Asia that she brought."

Zhu Zhanji opened the brocade box.

A strange fragrance, unlike anything I'd ever smelled before, wafted towards me.

The aroma was strong yet not pungent, carrying an exotic richness and mystery.

"She said the Shen family owned merchant ships in Quanzhou Port, which traveled to and from Southeast Asia every year. These spices weren't rare locally, but they could fetch more than ten times the price when transported to Beiping," Qian Lai said.

"She asked us if we needed the Shen family's help in purchasing the raw materials for the floral water and perfume."

Zhu Zhanji looked at the spices without saying a word.

Qian Lai then said, "She also said something that I have remembered."

"What did you say?"

"The world is so vast, there are always places where the imperial court cannot intervene, but merchants can. Your esteemed master must have much to do in the future."

Zhu Zhanji raised his head and looked at Qian Lai.

Qian Lai took out another piece of paper from his sleeve: "This is the price set by Madam Shen. The raw materials are 20% cheaper than the market price. Payment will be settled every three months, and the goods can be used as payment."

Zhu Zhanji took it and read it carefully.

Then he closed his eyes.

The resource map slowly appeared in my mind.

Around Beiping, several points of light flickered: coal from the Western Hills, clay from Mentougou, iron ore from Zunhua...

But further away, everything was a blur.

Southeast Asia is too far away.

But the Shen family owns a boat.

"Manager Qian," he opened his eyes, "tell Madam Shen that we can discuss the purchase of raw materials, but we also have conditions."

"Please speak, sir."

"First, the raw materials purchased by the Shen family can only be sold to us, not resold to others."

"Secondly, we may need to use the Shen family's trade routes in Southeast Asia in the future. I won't go into details about when or how we will use them now, but Madam Shen must agree."

"Third," Zhu Zhanji added, "have Madam Shen inquire whether there are any special minerals or artifacts in Southeast Asia, the stranger the better."

Qian Lai was taken aback: "What does the boss need all this for?"

Zhu Zhanji smiled, but there was something unfathomable in that smile:

"I want to learn how others do business."

He wasn't telling the truth.

Some of the technical diagrams in his mind were grayed out and could only be unlocked by "seeing the actual object".

The minerals and artifacts of Southeast Asia may inspire something new.

Qian Lai secretly made a mental note of what his employer wanted; there must be a reason for it.

"I'll take care of it right away."

Yang Pu arrived at dusk.

He brought only one attendant, entered through the front door of Mingyue Tower, ordered a pot of tea, and sat in a corner of the lobby to slowly drink it.

Upon receiving the news, Qian Lai personally brought over a plate of snacks and asked in a low voice, "Lord Yang, shall we invite the master over?"

Yang Pu shook his head: "No need, I just came to sit for a while and see what kind of business you have here."

Qian Lai didn't dare ask any more questions. He retreated to the counter and secretly kept an eye on things.

Yang Pu sat for about 15 minutes, finished a pot of tea, and then got up to leave.

As he reached the door, he suddenly turned back and said to the money behind the counter:

"Tell your master that I have spoken to Chief Clerk Li of the Ministry of Revenue, and the money from the Ministry of War will arrive within three days."

After saying that, he stepped out the door and disappeared into the twilight.

Qian Lai paused for a moment, then immediately turned and ran to the backyard.

Zhu Zhanji listened without saying a word.

He walked to the window and looked in the direction Yang Pu had left.

This Uncle Yang never said much, nor did he ask many questions.

But he had thought of everything.

"Chuntao," he said softly, "remember, from now on, if Uncle Yang needs anything, big or small, tell me immediately."

"Yes."

Zhu Zhanji stood there for a while longer.

As dusk fell, Mingyue Tower began to receive guests.

The sounds of clinking glasses and laughter drifted from the front hall, just like in any ordinary restaurant.

But in the backyard, the lights of Mingyue Workshop were already on.

Sun San, along with two old craftsmen, was debugging the newly cast distillation apparatus.

Dr. Wu squatted in the corner, recording today's experimental data by the light of the lamp.

Lin Xiuniang sat by the window, carefully sorting the newly arrived jasmine flowers by the last rays of daylight.

Zhu Zhanji looked at the lights and suddenly smiled.

"Chuntao, let's go back."

The horse-drawn carriage rumbled out of the back alley.

He leaned against the car wall and closed his eyes.

In my mind, a resource map quietly unfolds.