Mythical Version of Three Kingdom

“This item was developed under the command of General Liu Bei by Chen Zichuan. So, please calm your family’s desires,” Mi Zhu clearly saw the greed in everyone’s eyes. Vast wealth can be tempting, but only those with sufficient strength or heritage can suppress such greed, and Liu Bei happens to have an imperial lineage. This lineage is enough to make northern aristocratic families cautious.

With Mi Zhu’s warning, the merchants reluctantly suppressed their greed. Liu Bei’s name still carried some weight; after all, only Liu Bei and Cao Cao had the courage to pursue Dong Zhuo, and they both hailed from Yanzhou, earning them considerable reputation.

“However, since I’ve brought this item out, it means I don’t intend to monopolize it. You are all representatives of northern aristocratic families, so I propose we join forces to control the wool production in the north. General Liu will take half the profit, and the rest is for you to divide among yourselves. I have other matters to attend to, so any further issues should be directed to Kexing (Zhao Zun).” With that, Mi Zhu left, effectively endorsing Zhao Zun’s position as vice president. However, whether Zhao Zun could secure the role depended on his ability, as many others eyed the position. Mi Zhu could only assist up to this point.

Once Mi Zhu departed, the merchants exchanged glances, pocketed the wool samples, and prepared to report back to their respective families. They were only representatives, and the real decisions would be made by their families. Mi Zhu was well aware of this, hence his decision to hand over the wool samples directly to them.

This move ensured that no single family could monopolize the wool industry, leading them to form alliances instead. Chen Zichuan was curious to see if these aristocratic families would collude to usurp Liu Bei’s share. If they didn’t, it indicated a potential for peaceful coexistence; if they did, it meant that relying on the aristocracy was a bad idea.

Historically, difficult transportation made it easy for officials and factions to form region-centric groups. The Han Dynasty saw persistent conflicts between the north and south, and Chen Zichuan wouldn’t mind some infighting to weaken both sides. Even if they did seize Liu Bei’s share, the loss wouldn’t be significant.

Chen Zichuan suspected they wouldn’t easily replicate the wool processing technique. While they were told the wool was sheep’s wool, it was actually made from high-quality cashmere. Once they realized they couldn’t duplicate it, they would likely settle for being distributors rather than producers, which suited Chen Zichuan perfectly.

By offering the northern families a carrot and the southern families a sweet reward, Chen Zichuan hoped to incite conflict and create opportunities for Liu Bei to consolidate power. Mi Zhu understood this, trusting that Chen Zichuan wouldn’t let their wealth be usurped.

The Zhen family was already in a precarious position. If Mi Zhu’s merchants sold goods in Jizhou at prices lower than the Zhen family’s, they could bankrupt the Zhen family within months. By April, the promissory notes would be due, and the Zhen family could be driven to ruin.

While there might be some political maneuvering, Yuan Shao would be reluctant to confront Liu Bei, knowing the latter’s strength and potential alliance with Gongsun Zan. In a few years, Liu Bei could control the entire Qingzhou region, gaining enough power to challenge Yuan Shao directly.Gongsun Zan was a formidable opponent, especially with Liu Bei’s logistical support. This could extend Gongsun Zan’s resistance from three to five years, giving Liu Bei ample time to solidify control over Qingzhou and prepare for further expansion.

“Zizhong, you’re back,” Chen Zichuan greeted the travel-weary Mi Zhu, who had just returned in time for the New Year.

“I’ve completed the task you set, but it’s a shame about the Zhen family,” Mi Zhu sighed. “I plan to move my family to Taishan. As for the salt trade, I’ll gradually shift it to the hands of southern and northern merchants. The price shouldn’t be too low.”

“How about 800 coins per stone? That’s five times the price of millet here in Taishan. For internal use in Taishan, the price will match that of millet, but limited to a month’s supply per purchase,” Chen Zichuan suggested, ensuring that no one could profit excessively from reselling salt.

“That’s reasonable. By the way, I received news from my trade association about 3,000 to 4,000 warhorses up for grabs at 30,000 coins each. I’ve paid a deposit, but it’s risky to transport them. Do you have any ideas?” Mi Zhu shared some promising news.

“30,000? That’s incredibly cheap, even for border horses, which usually cost 60,000 coins each,” Chen Zichuan was astonished. “Whose horses are these?”

“They belong to Dong Zhuo. The northern traders fear repercussions, and neither Yuan Shao nor Cao Cao can afford them right now. They’re asking for cash or grain in return,” Mi Zhu explained.

“How much was the deposit?” Chen Zichuan asked.

“One million coins,” Mi Zhu replied nonchalantly, as if it was a trivial amount.

“I’ll write to Hua Xiong and have him take the horses by force,” Chen Zichuan decided, seeing an opportunity in the desperation of Dong Zhuo’s forces.

Mi Zhu felt a bit uneasy, fearing this might tarnish their reputation. “Are you sure about this?”

“We’re just recruiting the sellers, who happen to be former comrades of Hua Xiong. It’s not robbery,” Chen Zichuan assured, though the moral ambiguity was clear.

Realizing the practicality, Mi Zhu agreed. They couldn’t afford to let this opportunity slip, especially with the horses being critical for their military.

Thus, plans were set in motion to seize the warhorses, using Hua Xiong’s influence and the pretext of reunifying former allies. It was a bold, albeit morally grey, strategy to secure the much-needed resources for Liu Bei’s burgeoning power.