The Zhen family has recently been overwheld with happiness. With the New Year approaching and the ongoing conflict between Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao, many rchants doing business in Jizhou have beco disinterested. They also heard that the Zhen family had made a significant profit recently, so many rchants, fearing the spread of war to Jizhou, sold their goods to the Zhen family at prices far below market value, nearly at cost.
The Zhen family, being wealthy and powerful, welcod this windfall with open arms. Other rchants worried that the flas of war might reach Jizhou, so they quickly offloaded their inventories to the Zhen family.
As a prominent family in Jizhou, the Zhen family knew far more than the average rchant. They were well aware that the conflict would not reach Jizhou. Although Gongsun Zan had impressive military achievents against the Wuhuan in the north and the Yellow Turbans in the south, the Zhen family understood that this was superficial. They knew that as long as the Yuan family's extensive resources were directed towards Jizhou, the tide of the war could easily turn.
Thus, the Zhen family began a sweeping acquisition campaign across Jizhou. Confident in their eventual victory, they did not fear significant losses to their business. They continued to purchase all available goods from rchants who wanted out, at cost price, and often at the raw production cost.
Despite this, most rchants in Jizhou sold their entire inventories, including land, to the Zhen family at rock-bottom prices. The land was sold at break-even, but the inventory was offloaded at cost, leading to significant losses for the rchants.
Jizhou, being a large province with a population of five million during relatively peaceful tis, provided a robust base for Yuan Shao, making him second only to Dong Zhuo among the regional lords. With Jizhou's stabilization, Yuan Shao's power quickly rose, rivaling his brother Yuan Shu.
A province with such a large population naturally had nurous shops. Many rchants fled, leaving the Zhen family to purchase everything. After acquiring a significant portion of Jizhou's comrcial assets, the Zhen family realized their funds were running low. However, anticipating a prosperous future, they decided to use their reserves to continue buying.
The Zhen family's longstanding reputation and creditworthiness in Jizhou allowed them to negotiate favorable terms. So rchants agreed to delayed paynts, trusting in the Zhen family's promise, while others demanded imdiate cash or requested to exchange their Jizhou properties for Zhen family holdings in other provinces.
In this way, the Zhen family managed to acquire almost all comrcial properties in Jizhou. This enormous windfall even tempted Yuan Shao. However, knowing that the Zhen family specialized in comrce and considering the complexities of direct intervention, Yuan Shao decided to indirectly benefit from the Zhen family's ventures.
anwhile, Mi Zhu was hosting a tea gathering with trusted mbers of his comrcial association. Recent dealings had gone smoothly, with minimal losses, allowing them to acquire desired properties from the Zhen family at favorable terms. The association's strategy of spreading disinformation helped conceal their true intentions, and they managed to earn a tidy profit.
One elderly mber, Zhao Zun, praised Mi Zhu's leadership, expressing gratitude for the profitable guidance and support they had received. Mi Zhu, aware of the delicate balance between personal gain and collective trust, accepted the accolades modestly. He then presented a sample of wool yarn, sparking imdiate interest among the rchants.
"How is this made?" an elderly rchant asked, inspecting the yarn with a keen eye.
"This is wool yarn, made from sheep's wool," Mi Zhu explained, understanding the imnse potential of this new material.
The rchants, recognizing the massive profit margins compared to traditional linen and silk, were eager to explore this new venture. Wool yarn, with its versatility and high demand, promised substantial returns.
Mi Zhu revealed the different types of wool yarn produced from coarse, fine, and combed wool. This innovation, though initially t with skepticism, quickly garnered excitent as rchants envisioned the lucrative opportunities ahead.
The Zhen family's current acquisitions in Jizhou had inadvertently created an advantageous position for Mi Zhu and his associates. As they continued to expand their operations and explore new markets, the potential for significant financial growth beca increasingly apparent.
With the Zhen family deeply involved in consolidating their gains, Mi Zhu's association seized the opportunity to capitalize on their strategic position, setting the stage for future success in the ever-evolving landscape of regional comrce and power.
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