The rchants stared at Xiao Ming, and after his words fell, there was a brief silence.
Finally, Ding Wanquan was the first to speak. He said, “Your Highness said that you cannot easily agree, which ans there is still a chance for us. We hope Your Highness can clarify.”
“Please clarify, Your Highness,” the other rchants echoed in unison.
Xiao Ming glanced at Ding Wanquan. This old man was indeed good at reading people, which was why he had amassed such a fortune. However, Xiao Ming wasn’t soone who could be easily fooled.
“You’ve all seen the glass. Its value is imasurable, and I’m sure you’ve already ford your own estimates. If it were to be sold, it would undoubtedly cause a sensation across the Great Yu Empire and amass a vast fortune,” Xiao Ming said.
The rchants exchanged glances and nodded in agreent.
Xiao Ming continued, “The production cost of glass is extrely high. Handing it over to you now would result in significant losses for .”
The statent about the high cost of glass was a lie, but it was easy for those unfamiliar with the process to believe, as glass seed so extraordinary to them.
Seeing Xiao Ming’s troubled expression, Ding Wanquan said, “Your Highness, if you allow us to sell it, we will certainly not let you suffer losses. We can purchase the distribution rights.”
“That’s right, Your Highness. As long as you say the word, we have the silver,” the rchants chid in.
Xiao Ming nodded at this point. “Even so, I’m afraid I won’t be able to provide so much glass at once. To be honest, my fief lacks skilled craftsn, which is why glass production is slow.”
“Is that so? Your Highness, my Zhou family has many skilled slave craftsn. If you need them, I can send them to you,” a rchant from Prince Liang’s fief offered.
Another rchant added, “I can report this to Prince Huainan and have him allocate so slave craftsn.”
“…”
The rchants vied with each other to offer their assistance to Xiao Ming.
They all spoke of slave craftsn because it was clear that free craftsn would not be as reliable.
Xiao Ming pretended to ponder deeply for a mont, then said, “Since you are all so sincere, I can agree to open glass sales to you five months earlier. However, this will inevitably upset other rchants. How about you all upgrade to beco mbers of the chamber of comrce?”
“mbers?” The rchants looked puzzled.
Xiao Ming smiled. “This is a policy the chamber of comrce is preparing to implent. I will categorize rchants in the chamber based on their contributions into ordinary mbers, interdiate mbers, advanced mbers, bronze mbers, silver mbers, gold mbers, stewards, elders, and vice presidents.”
“What do these contributions refer to?” a rchant asked.
Xiao Ming explained, “This chamber of comrce was created by
to promote the prosperity of my fief and build a free comrcial city. Contributions naturally refer to contributions to the construction of this comrcial city. There are many types of contributions, such as the total amount of silver traded within the chamber, providing craftsn, grain, ore, and so on. Once the contribution value reaches a certain level, you can be promoted to a higher-level mber and enjoy more benefits from the chamber.”
Upon hearing this, the rchants fell into deep thought.
Xiao Ming continued, “Vice presidents, elders, and stewards will have priority access to all goods from Qingzhou, enjoy maximum discounts, and even have partial managent rights within the chamber. Specific policies will be handed over to Li Kaiyuan.”
The mbership system was a highly profitable modern model designed to maximize profits while attracting high-quality consurs.
Xiao Ming was applying this thod now. Given his current capabilities, he couldn’t cater to every rchant, as the cost would be too high. Instead, he needed to focus on a group of high-quality rchants who would then collaborate with smaller rchants.
Moreover, the introduction of the mbership system would drive these major rchants to climb the ranks desperately to secure greater profit margins. However, the contribution values required to move up the ranks would be substantial.
By the ti they climbed to the top, Xiao Ming would have already reaped enormous profits.
Furthermore, once they were “in,” these rchants would be tied to the chamber of comrce, effectively using the entire rchant class of the Great Yu Empire to work for him.
“Imdiate access?” So rchants were already tempted.
Xiao Ming continued to sweeten the deal. “Not only will you have first access to goods, but in the future, certain technical processes will also be sold based on mbership levels.”
This temptation was too much for the seated rchants to resist.
The sale of technology ant that higher-ranking rchants would gain access to technology first, leaving lower-ranking rchants to envy them.
Xiao Ming calmly observed the rchants, waiting for them to “recharge.”
After a while, Ding Wanquan suddenly stood up and said, “Your Highness, I am willing to donate two million taels of silver, one hundred thousand bushels of grain, and five thousand skilled slave craftsn to the chamber.”
“Impressive, Manager Ding! Such generosity! Based on your contribution, you will be directly promoted to an advanced mber. This ans you can access the glass in two months,” Xiao Ming said, giving Ding Wanquan a thumbs-up. Ding Wanquan was essentially buying his way up the mbership ranks rather than climbing step by step through chamber transactions.
Xiao Ming hadn’t expected Ding Wanquan to be so impatient.
“Two months?!” The other rchants were in an uproar. They were not yet mbers and would have to wait six months to access the glass.
Ding Wanquan was delighted and glanced smugly at the other rchants.
“I’ll also donate two million taels of silver!” one rchant shouted, standing up.
“I’ll donate ten thousand craftsn!”
“I’ll donate one hundred thousand catties of iron ore!”
“…”
One by one, the rchants stood up, vying to donate their most valuable resources to the chamber in exchange for higher mbership levels.
Xiao Ming maintained a calm exterior, but inside, he was laughing maniacally. The modern mbership strategy was indeed effective. Driven by the desire for special status and greater benefits within the chamber, the rchants were thoroughly ensnared.
“One at a ti, please. No need to rush. Luluo, take notes on what each rchant is donating and hand them over to Li Kaiyuan,” Xiao Ming instructed.
Luluo picked up a brush and began recording beside Xiao Ming. She was still sowhat confused, not understanding what thod Xiao Ming had used to make these rchants so eager to donate money and resources.
After the commotion died down, Luluo had recorded all the donations from the seated rchants. Xiao Ming tallied them up and was shocked.
All of them had reached the advanced mbership level, which ant he would have to open glass sales to them in two months.
However, for Xiao Ming, the resources he had gained were more than enough to offset his losses. Nine million taels of silver, five hundred thousand bushels of grain, a considerable amount of wrought iron, thirty thousand skilled slave craftsn, one hundred thousand labor slaves, five thousand bolts of silk, one thousand horses, and various other items—he had struck gold.
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