Chapter 10 Section 4 Unheard of business war stories

But when Lu Buwei and Fan Ju returned to Tianji Yu, they were speechless for a while.Fan Junian was approaching his sixtieth birthday and drank for days on end, and once he let go, he would be limp and drowsy.Lu Buwei didn't say much, he just put Fan Ju in a quiet bedroom, sent a fine young servant to take care of him, and then hurried to Tianjiyu's study. "Sir, the convoy to Handan is ready, can we leave on time?" Lu Buwei just opened his desk to report the incident, and a hale and hearty old man with white hair walked in lightly. "Boss, can we leave ten days later?"

"The caravan going to Zhao is a big business, and the delivery date has been negotiated in Handan." The old man just said briefly. "That's right." Lu Buwei pondered for a moment and resolutely agreed, "The boss arranged for the motorcade to leave the day after tomorrow. After ten days, I will make a part-time trip northward, and we can probably meet in Puyang, how about it?" "That's very good. The old man will lead the team northward first, and the sir only needs to arrive on time to deliver the goods." "No." Lu Buwei shook his head, "The boss is old, so he can only sit in Chencheng to take care of him. The Handan caravan will let brother Jingyun work hard."

"Sir," the old man seemed to be hesitant, "the caravan is on a public trip, the customs inspects and inspects the body, the righteous man of Jingyun..." "Boss, don't worry, I'll settle this matter." After saying that, he suddenly left his seat, "Let's go, check the caravan." Then he and the old man hurried out of Tianji Apartment and came to the tall warehouse area in the front yard. The long convoys are neatly arranged under the tree-lined road outside the high-rise warehouse, forming a huge fan around the lake.Each cart is a large cart with iron leather wheels. The brown cowhide covers the goods tightly, and the thick hemp rope binds the cowhide firmly. The distance between each cart is two feet. It is a huge business caravan.The boss said: "A total of 300 iron-wheeled carts, loaded with 1,000 things, are waiting for the final inspection by the master."

Lu Buwei nodded, then casually walked in front of a car and slammed it with his shoulder. The huge truck about three feet long and one foot high didn't move at all, and he smiled with satisfaction: "Horizontal load!" Plain packaging, the boss's method really worked." The boss said solemnly: "Sixteen master craftsmen did it by themselves, and it was assembled for three consecutive days and nights, ensuring that it will not be damaged by thousands of miles of bumps." "Okay!" Lu Buwei turned and strode away Going up to the pavilion by the lake, "This one deal alone sets a precedent in Shandong. How about making five or six deals?" Hey!" Lu Buwei looked at the caravan by the lake from a distance and said with a smile: "Boss is too careful. I will let go of this kind of business, but other companies can do it?" Wealth does not come together in one family, and a large business is limited to one transaction. We must leave a favorable path for our peers, so as not to kill each other. Sir, he wants to do all the six countries, but this old man is hard to accept." Lu Buwei suddenly turned around and laughed: "Boss How far-fetched it is! Business is like a war, and my father is Song Xianggong, the leader of the business war. Merchants don’t fight for profits, just like military strategists don’t fight for land. If there is no way to establish a business, how can we talk about the rules of profit?” The old boss retorted: “Mr. It is said that righteousness is the foundation of all profits. If a family takes all the wealth of the world, what is the righteousness of business?" Lu Buwei was a little bit dumbfounded, and waved his hand: "Two things, let's talk about them later. Are the oxen and cart drivers all ready?"

"Four hundred strong chariot drivers and eight hundred Qinchuan bullocks camped outside the city for three days, resting their spirits well." "Food and fodder along the way?" "The seven stations in Shangqiu, Taoyi, Puyang, Chaoge, Anyang, Handan, and Julu all have sufficient food and grass." "The pass along the way?" "Thousands of miles north, the twenty-three gates of the four countries of Chu, Wei, Han, and Zhao were all cleared, and it cost 12,000 gold." "That's good." Lu Buwei smiled relaxedly, "Boss, just take care of the foundation of Chencheng. There must be no difference between logging in the mountains and building workshops. I will take care of the escort team going north." After saying that, he strode down. After leaving the mountain pavilion, I walked into the vast Populus euphratica forest by the lake.

There is a quiet small courtyard deep in the Populus euphratica forest. When Lu Buwei stepped on the forest path and saw the roof of the courtyard, he whistled loudly.While whistling, there was a short and low whistling sound. When Lu Buwei approached the gate of the courtyard, a mighty black dog with an iron chain was already squatting on the side of the hall, silently sizing up the visitor .Lu Buwei smiled and cupped his hands: "Brother Mastiff, can I go in?" The black dog shrugged its nose majestically, and rushed into the hallway with a clatter, its head was hit, and the two heavy wooden doors slammed open . "Thank you, Brother Mastiff." Lu Buwei cupped his hands again and walked in, and the black dog crouched under the hallway with its head held high, motionless like a stone statue.

Half an hour later, a man in a black robe and a black cloth mask escorted Lu Buwei out, stopped at the door and asked, "Mr. Lu, can I bring the jing mastiff with me?" Brother Jing." The masked man in robes said: "This mastiff is very miraculous. It is very useful to find Chencheng after being separated from me for six years." Lu Buwei bowed solemnly to the black dog: "Brother Mastiff is so Loyalty, Buwei admires him so much." At this moment, the black dog had already crouched by the door, and shook both front paws at Lu Buwei.Lu Buwei couldn't help laughing and said: "Brother Mastiff, you are accompanying, and the first one is to protect the master. Brother Jing made a mistake, but I asked you for someone." The mighty black dog snorted sharply and turned around Even Lu Buwei didn't even look at his face. "Mastiff, don't be rude to your benefactor." The robed masked man scolded in a low voice, and the black dog immediately crawled to the ground, with its head facing Lu Buwei.Lu Buwei cupped his hands and said with a smile: "Brother Mastiff sneered at my advice, which shows that the gods are unparalleled, what is the crime? Don't dare to do it." He turned back and said, "Brother Jing is such a god dog, why should Brother Jing be imprisoned with chains?" The man in a long robe mask He sighed and said: "Jingyun has committed a great crime, but benefactor treats me as a righteous man, so he should hide himself. If it is free, it will patrol the entire manor. If it accidentally causes trouble, how can Jingyun face benefactor?" "Brother Jing is out of order!" Lu Buwei suddenly said in awe, "Brother Jing punished the evil officials and eliminated harm for the people. He was a man of chivalry. If you don't help Wei, it is also for the righteousness of the world. You and I are both frank and open, why bother?" Hiding? Even this divine mastiff, don’t let it be wronged, wouldn’t it be a great thing to have brother mastiff patrolling day and night in such a big business war valley?”

"Okay. But it's up to Mr. Lu." Jing Yun walked over and patted the head of the black dog, "Mastiff, Mr. En has opened the chain for you." Hearing the sound, the big mastiff got up abruptly.Jing Yun lifted up his robe and took out a dagger from the leather boots, with a flash of blue light, he picked up the iron chain and leather strips.As the iron chain clattered to the ground, the big mastiff rolled two times at Lu Buwei with two barks, then swished out and disappeared into the woods. "Brother Jing, I'm going too." Lu Buwei laughed loudly and cupped his hands, leaving the Populus euphratica forest.

Two days later, the caravan meandered northward, and Lu Buwei personally delivered it to the suburban pavilion ten miles outside the north gate of Chencheng for Jing Yunzhuang, who was just starting out on the business road.After all the affairs were over, Lu Buwei returned to Tianji Yu to visit Fan Ju in a hurry.Fan Ju woke up after three days of sleep. After taking a bath, he wore a loose robe and his hair was fluffy. He was pacing leisurely in the corridor.Lu Buwei cupped his hands and smiled and said: "Brother Fan, it's so refreshing." Fan Ju couldn't help stretching his waist, turned his head and said cheerfully: "No Wei, the joy of being born, the light of Zhonglian, begins today Isn’t it a pleasure to be enlightened?” Lu Buwei said, “It’s rare that Brother Fan is so clear-eyed, let’s go, Old Chen Tang is waiting for you under the pavilion.” Fan Ju said good, and followed Lu Buwei to the place with his sleeves fluttering forecourt.

Three layers of Populus euphratica forests on all sides cover the hot summer sun, the grass is green, the breeze is blowing, and the wine and food in the Maoting Pavilion are really tantalizing.Fan Ju strode forward and took a look, then shrugged his nose: "Hey! This smell is unique, like sour and sweet, with a strange meaty smell, which is unheard of!" Lu Buwei couldn't help laughing: "It's a good product, Fan Ju Brother only appreciates the old soup, it’s a master." Fan Ju is also very particular about food etiquette, thinking: "How particular about old soup? Is it old soup?" Lu Buwei shook his head and smiled: "Brother Fan also has the blindness of not eating. Rare and rare! Old Chen Tang is not old Chen, but Chen Guo, do you know?" "Oh——" Fan Ju saw things very quickly, and suddenly realized, "It must have been created by the court of Chen Guo and circulated among the people. Is it delicious?" "Finally it's clear." Lu Buwei pulled another Chu saying, "Chen Linggong has nothing but talent for food and sex, good wine every day, beauties every night, and the country will perish in one day. , but only this drunken soup was left, and the survivors of Chen State called it "Old Chen Tang"." Fan Ju couldn't help smiling: "In this way, this is the soup of the subjugated country, and you are not afraid of bad luck?" Lu Buwei couldn't help but He laughed loudly: "Okay! Then the bad luck will be shared." Then he opened the huge copper tripod wrapped in silk in the middle of the stone case, "Come, have a taste."

Fan Ju saw the snow-white, emerald, green, and golden puddle in the tripod, so he picked up the slender wooden spoon in the large wooden plate next to him, and carefully poured half of the spoon into his own jade bowl. The three-day stomach immediately made a loud noise, and I couldn't help but exclaimed: "What an old soup, it's wonderful!" , a large cauldron was actually empty. "No more, let's go again!" Fan Ju called out as soon as he stretched out his spoon. Lu Buwei couldn't help laughing: "Brother Fan, old Chen Tang will heal a pot in three days, I'm afraid it will be too late to do it now." Fan Jupin sipped the soup at the bottom of the bowl and said in surprise, "One trip for three days, is it so neat?" "Just listen." Lu Buwei snapped his fingers, "Three combinations of polished rice, one liter of taro, one combination of dried red dates, one bamboo shoot, six ducklings, eight liang of Fengze elk meat, ten liang of ginger, and ten fresh onions 2. Wuhe of bitter wine, 1 mix of well salt, 5 mixes of black bean sauce, and three leaves of Huainan orange peel, all prepared in this way, first made into vegetarian soup and broth soup, and then recombined, simmered over Jiwen charcoal fire to get six Time, put it in the ice cellar for six hours, and then you can get a bucket of old soup. One bucket and two tripods, but it's a pity that Jing Yun and I were very drunk the night before, so I bought him a trip after waking up to avoid delays." "Who is Jing Yun? Are you so lucky?" "My dear friend, I ask him to escort the caravan north." "Oh, the caravan went north, but why didn't you leave?" "After Brother Fan meets Shicang, it won't be too late for me to go north." Fan Ju was silent for a while, and then drank some warm and mellow Chu State Lanling wine with Lu Buwei. After a long time, he sighed: "Buwei, although I don't do business, I have been in the country for many years, and I know a little bit about business. I heard: The businessman is not righteous. It is not unrighteous, but it is a dilemma between righteousness and profit. You value a word of righteousness so much, and you are like this for everything, but you can stand shoulder to shoulder with the world's four great merchants. It is unimaginable." Inadvertently, but There are concerns and doubts. "Brother Fan, would you like to hear from Buwei about the way of business?" "I can't ask for it." Fan Ju said with emotion, "I am the Prime Minister of Qin, and my shortcoming is doing business in a rich country, otherwise I really don't want to recommend Cai Ze. Although I have not learned at the time, I would like to learn from the old master Confucius: Hearing the Tao in the morning, dying in the evening It's okay!" "As long as Brother Fan is willing to listen, I will tell the whole story." Lu Buwei couldn't help being very moved when he saw Fan Ju sincerely blamed himself for his modesty. , and he started talking. Thirteen years ago, Lu Buwei took over his father's business and joined the business traveler.At that time, Lu's family business only consisted of three linen workshops in Puyang and a thousand dollars of living money, and he was only a third-rate well-off among business travelers.The old man sticks to his line all his life, and only observes the order to collect hemp and make hemp, and then weave hemp and sell cloth.Lu Buwei was very dissatisfied with this small livelihood, so he changed his course at the beginning of taking over, leaving an old deacon to maintain the Mafang, and brought two young and shrewd deacons to Chencheng, a place of business travel.After wandering around the market workshop for three days, Lu Buwei rented a courtyard facing the street in the most prosperous old street in Chencheng at a high price of 100 annuities.The two young deacons were perplexed, what kind of business did Shaodong do, he sold out without seeing a single client, was the eight hundred principal worth the trouble?But Lu Buwei ignored it, and only ordered the two to investigate carefully, find out all the lucrative and big deals, and report them.The two deacons have been running around for days, and when they come back to report every night, they don't see Shaodong. One month later, Lu Buwei suddenly came back in the middle of the night and woke up the two deacons to listen to the report.The two deacons talked in detail for more than half an hour, and finally they all said one sentence: "There are a lot of big businesses, and those who make the most profits are the first to recommend soldiers, iron, and salt. Our family has very little capital, so we still buy ramie for the old business. The best policy." The dusty Lu Buwei asked: "What is the profit of collecting ramie with 600 principal?" The deacon who held the account replied: "60% profit for linen, 600 gold for raw material, and more than 300 gold for shipment. The biggest business of our family is very stable." Lu Buwei asked again: "How long will it take to make a profit of one hundred thousand gold?" Suddenly, the two deacons stared wide-eyed, and they only stared at Lu Buwei in a daze. "How, can't you figure it out?" Lu Buwei chased after him, and the deacon who held the account murmured: "The annual production of ramie is one thousand gold, and the annual profit is about six hundred gold, and the profit is one hundred thousand. Yes, it will take about a hundred and fifty years." Lu Buwei snorted and sneered, "One hundred and fifty years, five or six generations, is worthy of being a stone snail polished by Lao Dong, and I don't think it wasted the world of great struggle. !" The shipping deacon has a sharp personality, and couldn't help asking: "Shaodong's intention, don't make linen?" I want to see ten thousand in one year!" The account holder moved his lips and couldn't speak, his face flushed for a long time and Qiqi Ai said: "Shao, Shaodong wants to do three major businesses, yes, yes, how much capital do you have?" "How much is the capital, don't you know?" Lu Buwei laughed angrily. "I originally thought that Shaodong had raised a huge amount of money. If the capital remains the same, I advise Shaodong not to dream." The deacon who held the account suddenly woke up and spoke neatly. It is extremely difficult for ordinary private businessmen to get involved in patent business. Not to mention the rest, the first hurdle is to obtain a government license. Our family has no relationship with the governments of various countries, and a mere six hundred gold is not enough to open up the joints. Salt, protecting salt, transporting salt? For Lumen's long-term plan, Shaodong should just be a linen merchant honestly." "No." Lu Buwei shook his head, "I've already planned the number of sea salt routes in Qi State, and I can buy it with only three hundred principal." "Forgive me for not daring to follow orders." The deacon who held the account blushed, "My old master, Donglin, told me before I leave: I will not pay for the big danger." Lu Buwei suddenly realized that this deacon had the power to monitor him on the fly. He couldn't help laughing at the old father's pedantry, thought for a while and sighed: "If that's the case, what can I do? I can only do the linen business." The deacon saw the master Returning to the right way, he felt a little guilty: "If Shaodong buys ramie, he should have used up all his principal." Lu Buwei said sadly: "I'll do some reconnaissance tomorrow." After saying that, he left the two of them and went to the dormitory. At noon the next day Lu Buwei woke up leisurely, washed up and had breakfast, it was already the time of day.Just as he was about to go out, he saw the shipping deacon rushing into the yard, saying that the two of them had already found a large amount of good raw hemp, and the account holding deacon was standing there, asking Shaodong to go and make a decision.Lu Buwei smiled lightly and said, "I've made a deal for the best goods, you eat first, and then follow me when you're done." The delivery deacon didn't say anything, picked up a few pounded rice cakes and urged Lu Buwei to leave. In the early morning of the next day, the two hurried back. While Lu Buwei was taking a bath, the delivery deacon explained to the account holding deacon in detail how good the raw hemp goods Shaodong had ordered in the two counties of Huaibei, and how low the price was. The head of the pavilion bought it directly from Ma Nong, and it took some time and effort.The deacon holding the account waited for a day and a night. He was a little aggrieved at first, but he smiled comfortably after hearing it: "The linen business is small and the profit is small, and the most important thing to save is the purchase of raw materials. Shaodong can go to the market to buy hemp without hesitation. It’s really Lu Men’s great fortune, maybe you and I will do our best to help.” After the meal, the three of them discussed, and Lu Buwei made a distribution: he and the shipping deacon brought 600 gold to Huaibei to collect the hemp, and the account holding deacon stayed in Chencheng to take care of the shipment. The raw hemp came and hired 300 ox carts. Once the raw hemp was collected, the three of them escorted the cart back to Puyang together.Such allocation was originally an old rule of the merchant, and naturally no one objected.That night, Lu Buwei put six hundred gold into the copper box of the black car, and took the delivery deacon to rummage in high spirits. As soon as he left the south gate of Chencheng, Lu Buwei's car did not go to Huaishui, but rushed to the state of Qi in the northeast. However, Lu Buwei visited the Chencheng commercial market for many days, and he has already keenly sensed the key points of the market under the eyes of the ghosts of Tianfu: the four goods of salt, iron, horses, and leather are rising day by day, and the stocks of several big stores have already seen the bottom of the warehouse. They are all competing to raise their prices; even so, they are still being swallowed up by the mysterious consignors!Lu Buwei was careful and careful, so he became a scholar in Southern Chu cloth clothes for a study tour, and went to the most luxurious Nanguo wine club every day, and within ten days, he became friends with a black and thin bearded businessman who often went in and out of big shops. drinking buddies.Every time they drink together, the merchant Hu generously pays the bill.On this day, Lu Buwei insisted that he should be the host to invite his elder brother to drink.Hu Shangda was very displeased: "My little brother is studying and traveling, how hard is it to earn a few dollars, what can you do in this place where you spend a lot of money? Do you dislike your old brother for being too copper-stink?" Lu Buwei smiled gently: "Friendship is about friendship, old man Even if the elder brother piles up gold into mountains, how can the brother accept it calmly? If you don’t cut your flesh once, how can you get together again?” Hu Shang laughed loudly: “Scholars really have the way, good! The little brother will cut the flesh once, and the old brother will accept it. !" Lu Buwei looked ignorant of business travel, and while drinking, he asked Hu merchants for advice on Chen Cheng's business customs, so as to discuss academic topics.Hu Shangde's younger brother, a scholar, asked for advice, and was very pleased, so he talked about the secret in his endless chatter: it is Qi and Yan who control the world's business market at present; Yan wants revenge, and Qi wants to dominate , Each wantonly expanded their armies, and once they received the goods for the army, it was eye-catching; the officials and cities of the major countries had extremely strict control over the supplies of the army, and Chencheng, which is full of ghosts and ghosts, naturally became the best place for the three big companies to swallow.At the end, Hu Shang patted Lu Buwei on the shoulder and laughed: "Little brother, you have learned a lot, and you can get a hundred carts of sea salt, which is your lifetime drinking money!" Lu Buwei blushed and laughed: "Brother has some spare money, I just don’t have a way out, so don’t you know how to do it?” “Tricky!” Hu Shang laughed again, “In what age, the little brother looks like an unearthed antique! The old brother clearly said that the big buyer’s belly is so empty that he’s screaming. As long as you can get any one of salt, iron, horses, and leather, someone will chase you to buy it. What kind of way do you want?" "Brother, don't ask for it." Lu Buwei looked confused, "old brother just said that officials from various countries The market is tight, for example, my brother bought a few cars of sea salt in Qi, did he get out of the pass? The old brother said that the big buyers were chasing after him, but why did the brother not see a single person talking about buying and selling here?" "Stupid, stupid!" Hu merchant said again Laughing angrily, "The checkpoints and doorways are all for over 300 vehicles of large-scale goods. If they are all stuck, who will do the business? How do countries get money? How do civilian goods circulate? As for the big buyers, hehe, old man The elder brother is one!" Lu Buwei was surprised: "Didn't you say that Qiyan merchants are big buyers? Old brother is just a Linhu merchant, how can he become a big buyer?" Hu merchants sneered: "It is said that scholars have Learning, I don’t think shit is as good as shit.” Lu Buwei said with a chuckle: “If brother is not shit, who will the elder brother scold?” Hu Shang couldn’t help laughing: “Little brother has a good temper, but he can enter business!” That day, the two of them separated until midnight.When the maid at the tavern brought an exquisite bamboo slip on a copper plate, Hu Shang glanced at it with a serious expression on his face: "Little brother, twenty gold is worth half a lifetime for ordinary people, you..." Lu Buwei picked it up The bamboo slip said with a smile: "The appointment comes first, old brother can just drink." Turning around, he smiled at the maid and threw a huge copper key, "Lu's chariot in the chariot and horse farm, opened the cash box to get it." Hey!" Hu Shang sighed in astonishment, "Little brother is a rich man!" Lu Buwei laughed loudly: "If you have money and don't spend it, you also have no money. If you don't have money and dare to spend it, you have money. My brother thinks so." No?" "Of course!" Hu Shang slapped the case with great emotion, "Little brother, you have a bad temper with my old brother! Remember, if you want to change money in the future, you will come to my old brother!" After saying that, he took out a slap from his leather boot Throw something big to Lu Buwei's desk, "No matter which restaurant in Chencheng, as long as you put this thing on the desk, someone will come to you within half an hour." After this night, Lu Buwei already had an ambitious plan in his heart. He didn't want to be blocked back by the deacon who was loyal to his old father before he crossed the threshold.However, how could Lu Buwei retreat in spite of this difficulty?The next night, he brought the shipping deacon back to Nanguo Wine House, and while drinking, he talked generously, and finally convinced the simple, shrewd and loyal young deacon, and vowed to follow Shaodong for a long time.Thus, there was a story of "Huaibei Buying Hemp" in which the two conspired to deceive the deacon who held the account into withdrawing money. After traveling for five days, Lu Buwei finally arrived at Jimo, an important business town in the eastern part of Qi. Jimo near the sea is the distribution center of sea salt in Qi State. Almost half of the shops in the city are salt shops, and more than half of the salt shops are private shops.The official market of the State of Qi has a long history. Since Duke Huan of Qi appointed Guan Zhong to govern the country in the Spring and Autumn Period of Jiang Qi, he first established the largest official market in the world, and incorporated all the basic materials of national economy and people's livelihood such as salt, iron, grain, weapons, cloth, mountains, forests and water into the official camp. Even the new brothels were run by the government.Guan Zhong’s unification of the government and the market seems to have corrected the disorderly private business in the Spring and Autumn Period and effectively protected the state’s taxes. In fact, it restored the extreme government and market system of the Western Zhou Dynasty, which greatly restricted the booming private business trend. .But in this way, after the death of Duke Huan of Qi, Guan Zhong, the unified government and market collapsed, and the private economy of Qi State permeated and grew stronger irresistibly.When Tian, ​​the largest private force, replaced Jiang's monarch, Qi's unification of officials and markets came to an end forever.Entering the Warring States period, Qi State's private business travel flourished. Before the reform, it became the first big country to get rich through business. Together with Wei State, which took the lead in reforming to get rich through agriculture, it became the two centers of the Central Plains civilization in the early Warring States period. When Lu Buwei first arrived in Qi State, it was the time when King Qi Min called the Eastern Emperor Qi State was in full swing.At that time, well salt in the middle of Shu in the state of Qin had not yet been mined, sea salt in Liaodong in Yan state and Wuyue, which already belonged to Chu, were rarely shipped.Under such a general situation, Jimo sea salt is almost 70% of the world's salt production, and Jimo salt market is naturally the world's first salt market.From the point of view of the salt industry, Qi State is the lifeblood of the world. If Qi State forbids the export of sea salt, the world will fade away!However, Qi State insisted on not daring to do so because of the lack of iron in Qi State.In the Warring States Period, iron commanded the new army, and more iron and less iron often directly determined the strength of the new army.Although South Korea is small, because of the world-famous Yiyang Iron Mountain, it has strong soldiers and sharp weapons to become "Strong Korea".Although Qi is big and rich, iron deficiency is a fatal flaw.There is no army without iron, and the great war powers have taken aim at this fatal flaw of Qi State, and in fact reached a tacit agreement to restrict Qi State: if Qi State bans salt, other countries will ban iron.Just because the general situation is clear and picturesque, Qi State has always been semi-official and semi-private to Yanshi-official stores are on the inside, private stores are on the outside.Nine out of ten so-called private salt shops are foreign salt merchants, and more than half of the foreign salt merchants are official businessmen, that is, the government stationed in Qi State in the name of private merchants to protect the salt road for the country.Among them, the largest private salt merchant is the Yidun family, a giant merchant in Chu State who started his business in salt management on the Wuyue seashore, and everyone in Jimo salt merchants knows that the salt industry in Yidun is the salt road of Chu State. After walking down for three or two days, Lu Buwei had a good idea of ​​the number of roads in the Jimo salt market, and then carefully surveyed the various salt prices with the shipping deacon. After six days, Lu Buwei decided to make a move: go straight to the seaside salt field and buy a large one at a time. Two hundred and sixty carts of refined salt! This salt market is also quite particular.In the words of salt merchants, it is "the price is divided into three classes, and the goods are divided into five colors".The so-called three-class price is: one price for government and private merchants who open salt farms to dry salt on the seashore, one price for direct purchases from seaside salt households, and one price for those who buy salt in large quantities at the Jimo Salt Market and ship it to other countries.In terms of local prices, salt prices are the lowest in salt farms, slightly higher in salt households, and most expensive in salt markets.However, no matter what method is used to buy salt, in terms of profit, the three are ultimately comparable.The reason for this is that although the price of salt farms is low, the quantity is huge; the price of salt households is slightly higher, but most of them are refined salt from small farms, and buyers will increase their prices by a large margin; It saves the cost of shipping from the seaside to Jimo.The so-called five-color classification of goods means that direct-sun salt is divided into three colors according to the particle size: large-grained salt is called refined salt, bean salt is called coarse salt, and pink salt is called ground salt; workshop-made salt is divided into two colors: printing salt and floral salt .Indian salt is a salt block refined through multiple processes. It is square and crystal clear, just like a white jade official seal.Flower salt is spread on the slate roof, add an appropriate amount of water and expose it to the hot sun. The salt juice hangs down like stalactites, and it is called flower salt because of its different shapes.The price of this specially made printed salt and flower salt is the highest, and most of them are taken by royal families, nobles and wealthy businessmen from various countries. In addition to the consideration of price and goods, there is also the consideration of money. In the Warring States period, business travel transactions were regarded as business wars, which were rich, changeable, intense and complex, and were far from comparable to the business of later generations.The most direct reason is the combination of multiple currencies, multiple prices, multiple barriers, multiple customs, multiple laws, etc., and each business of each businessman may end differently due to various factors.Based on the current sea salt business theory that Lu Buwei is currently conducting, on the one hand, the price of the goods is different, and on the other hand, the currency system is different. The Lu family was originally a small businessman in the Wei state. The Wei state was small and weak, and it was difficult for the country's currency to pass through the world. The merchants in the Wei state mostly used Wei coins or Chu coins.The "gold" accumulated by Lu Buwei's father is the "Lu Jin" of Chu State.Lu Jin is a kind of cake gold cast by the state of Chu in the middle of the Warring States Period. The round gold plate is shaped like a cake, and people at that time called it gold cake.There is one or several circular marks on the gold cake, and the word "Lu Jin" is engraved in the mark. "Lu" refers to the land of gold produced in Chu, and it is connected with "furnace", which means the gold refined by the furnace fire cast in Lu.This Lu gold is used together with the cake gold "Ying Yuan" minted in the early days of Chu State, and they are two kinds of gold coins of Chu State.In the late Warring States period, the state of Chu moved its capital to Chencheng, and a new gold coin called "Chen Yuan" was minted. This is a later story. At that time, the currencies of various countries were different, and the Qi State still used the sword coins that were no longer minted by the countries in the Central Plains.There are two and three types of knife coins in Qi State.The so-called two kinds, one is Qi Dao, and the other is Jimo Dao.The so-called three styles, Qi Dao is divided into two styles: one is the knife coins minted in the early days of the founding of the country, and the inscription is "Qi Jianbang made legalization"; the other is the Warring States Qi Dao, and the inscription is "Qi Fahua".Jimo knife is a knife coin specially minted by Qi State in this important salt industry town, and the inscription is "legalization of saving ink".Those who are legal, the law is also the norm.The person who transforms takes the head of "goods", and the goods are also. "Legalization" means "legal goods", which is the legal standard currency.The Qi State has always only used Dao coins, and the value of the currency has rarely changed for hundreds of years. It has a high reputation in the world and strong purchasing power.In the year of Wuping, a Jimo knife can buy 22 and a half catties of sea salt and more than 250 catties of millet. Jimo is a major commercial city, and currencies from various countries can be used.Generally, business travelers are included, but for business with more than 100 cars, they must be paid in gold coins.One is that gold coins are valuable and easy to carry, and the settlement is quick and easy without picking a few cents; the other is that it saves the trouble of exchanging.However, Lu Buwei was shrewd and thoughtful, thinking that since he went directly to the seaside salt field to buy salt from salt households, it would be a small business. First, one after another, the price is close to the Jimo market.Having made up his mind, he immediately found the largest Tian's Salt Society in Qi State, and exchanged 300 gold coins for 60,000 Jimo knives according to the price offered by the salt society.Seeing that the young businessman was decisive and did not bargain at all, the old deacon of Tian's Salt Society appreciated it very much. He made an exception and dispatched two iron carts and a team of 100 horses from the Salt Society to escort Lu Buwei and Liuwan Jimo Dao to the seaside salt field.Seeing that the old deacon was also a loyal elder, Lu Buwei paid fifty gold and entrusted the old deacon to hire 260 ox carts on his behalf, and sent 50 carts to the salt farm every day.The old man agreed generously, and insisted on only charging thirty gold. The shipping deacon had never done such a large business before, but he was at a loss for what to do when faced with the momentum of Jimo's ocean-like salt market.Now seeing that Lu Buwei solved the biggest problem of transporting goods in half a day, he couldn't help admiring this Shaodong, and when he arrived at the seaside salt field, he suddenly became alive and well, and his salt business was done neatly and accurately. It went well beyond expectations.Within ten days, the master and servant rushed back to Jimo, and 260 salt trucks were neatly parked in the Yanshe yard, covered tightly with big cowhide thatch, and no water seeped through the two heavy rains. Lu Buwei was grateful, so he invited the old deacon to drink at the largest restaurant in Jimo.Unexpectedly, the old deacon smiled apologetically: "My lord, please don't invite me. My lord is coming back and is about to invite you to a banquet." Lu Buwei said: "I have never met my lord, so how can I deserve a word of invitation?" A faint smile: "Businessmen have no hypocrisy. If you are invited, you will have something to do. Why not take it properly?" Lu Buwei couldn't help laughing: "The old deacon said so, so I will bother you." When I got back to the apartment, the shipping deacon was very nervous, saying that the people of Qi are greedy and courageous, and they must plot against Shaodong.Lu Buwei laughed loudly, but he also had some doubts in his heart, so he told the deacon of the inventory: If he didn't return after three shifts, he would immediately notify the reporter of the Weiguo Commercial Company.After the settlement was settled, it was twilight, so Lu Buwei boarded the old deacon's pick-up car and left as promised. Naturally, Lu Buwei already knew that this Tian's Salt Society was the property of the famous Jimo Tian's.In the entire Jimo Salt City, this salt company is the largest private salt merchant in the state of Qi.Since the Tian family is a branch of the royal family, although it is engaged in business, it actually plays a huge role in assisting the government to control the salt market.However, the Jimo Tian family is a big business in the world, with businesses spread all over the world, and the Tian family headquarter is also located in Linzi. In fact, the Jimo Salt Society is just a branch of the foundation, and the patriarch, Zhu Dong, rarely comes here. The matter is usually handled by the old deacon.Lu Buwei believed that the master's return to Jimo was definitely not because of a small business of his, a small businessman, but because he heard the old deacon's report and decided to see him on the fly.What I can't figure out is, why would such a well-known owner of the Tian family want to invite him, and it's in a private mansion?Since the decision was made on the spur of the moment, the current business was the only reason. However, what's wrong with this business?Lu Buwei thought about it all the way, but he couldn't get the point. The black car went straight into the mansion, but there was a clothed man standing in the porch, dark and calm, with a straight body, clearly in his early thirties.The old deacon just said in a low voice: "The corridor is the owner of my family." The clothed man came up to greet him, cupped his hands and laughed, "I'm in Xia Tian Dan, I'm not far away to welcome you." Lu Buwei was surprised that the head of the Tian clan Even though Dong was so young, he signed up for the ceremony with a smile, and was invited into the brightly lit main hall by Tian Dan. After a few greetings at the banquet, Tian Dan went straight to the point and said, "It's two things to invite you today. Fortunately, my lord, you don't mind." I am a landlord, but it’s okay to say it.” But there was a tactful warning in the words: If you bully me with the power of a landlord, I may not be afraid of it.Tian Dan said with a smile: "It is precisely because the Tian family is a landlord that we need to talk about this matter. First, the young master exchanged Lu Jin for a knife. The old deacon's offer was not bad, but it was an old price a year ago. , according to the current Lujin price comparison, it should be exchanged for 66,000 Jimo Dao, and I will make up for it today, and I will apologize to the young master." After finishing speaking, the old deacon brought in a large iron box with two strong servants, and it was deep. With a deep bow: "Master Mingjian, this matter was originally deceitful by the old man. The master made a decision: make up the six thousand dollars for the young master, and refund thirty commissions as an expression of apology. The old man then transported the money box back to the young master's apartment." "Wait a minute!" Lu Buwei suddenly stood up with a blushing face, bowed his hands to Tian Dan and continued, "I am ashamed of your judgment, sir. Buwei is new to business, and even more so to the state of Qi. Unfamiliar, afraid of falling into a trap and being plotted by others, I just wanted to exchange money in your company in order to make a profit. I knew the exchange price, but I only wanted to exchange it for 58,000 yuan. My original intention: Although the loss Eight thousand knives, but I got the help of your company, and I was guaranteed to be undefeated at the beginning, which was a big profit. When the old deacon offered 60,000 yuan, Buwei thought it was a benefit for both sides, so he agreed, and asked the old deacon for fifty gold Hired a car team, but the old deacon only charged thirty gold. The way of business warfare is based on profit-making.毫无关涉。不韦请先生收回成命，否则在下立即退宴！”吕不韦愧疚难当，一席虽是辞色激昂，额头却是汗水涔涔。 “且慢。”田单惊讶地盯住吕不韦上下打量，“足下初入商道？初入齐国？” “正是。”吕不韦粗重地喘息了一声，“在下初接父业，操持第一笔生意。” “来！为足下初展鸿图，干此一爵！”田单慨然举爵，与依然红着脸的吕不韦汩汩饮了一爵，拱手诚恳道，“足下若不介意，能否见告：为何初出商道便来涉足盐市？” “在下却要先问先生。”吕不韦执拗地涨红着脸，“双方已然得利，先生却要退金补钱，既是得不偿失，又是小题大做。在下不明：田氏若素来如此，分明便是有违商道，何以竟能成为天下大商？” “足下以为，我社此举乃得不偿失小题大做，且有违商道？” "Exactly." 一阵默然，田单起身一拱：“足下请随我来。” 在两盏硕大的风灯导引下，田单领着吕不韦来到正厅之后的大庭院，院中古树参天森森然笼罩着一座巍然石亭。田单一摆手，两个仆人的风灯便举在了亭口。明亮的灯光之下，只见亭下一柱青石大碑，碑上赫然八个大字——商德唯信，利末义本！ “这，这出自何典？”一阵愣怔，吕不韦有些惶恐了。 “此乃田氏族训，先祖所立，至今已经二百余年。”田单面色肃穆，语气缓慢而沉重，“田氏根基原本在陈，以商旅入齐，在即墨治盐而立足。其时齐国商风败坏，商家惟利是图，多以白石颗粒碾碎，再以海水浸泡后入盐牟取暴利。久而久之，天下便传出商谚：'咸不咸，即墨盐，五石两水三成盐。'各国官市为避坑害，纷纷禁止本国私商涉足盐业，而一律以官商进入即墨，自建盐场采盐。齐国畏惧列国断铁，竟是不能拒绝。不到二十年，赫赫大名的即墨海盐便臭名昭彰，列国一律拒收，国人则唾骂有加。倏忽之间，'即墨盐商'在天下便成了无信无义之同意语，惟有奄奄待毙。眼睁睁看着如此巨大之盐利尽行让列国瓜分，齐国便将即墨盐业统归官营，将私家盐商悉数赶出即墨。饶是如此，齐国官商的海盐列国还是拒收，官市盐便只有卖给齐国人自己了。足下精明过人，当可以想见，对齐国赋税，此乃何等惨痛之一击也！”田单长长地叹息了一声，看看目光闪烁脸色不定的吕不韦惨淡地一笑，“那次，田氏也被赶出了即墨，被迫改做了布帛生意。先祖痛切自省，族长断指立下了这柱血字碑，并为族中留下了一条戒律：田氏子孙但有一人一事欺心牟利，死后不得入族墓族庙……此后几近百年，田氏之诚信商道才渐渐为天下所知。大父回迁即墨重操盐业，便也将这柱血碑移回了即墨，以戒后世永不欺心。” 吕不韦听得惊心动魄，一时间竟是无地自容，不由自主地对着大碑便是深深一躬，回头对着田单也是深深一躬，躬罢竟是回身便走。 “且慢。”田单扯住了吕不韦衣袖笑道，“足下的故事尚没说，竟能去么？” “先生……”吕不韦眼中噙着泪水，“卑微之心，何颜面对泰山沧海？” “足下差矣！”田单诚恳地笑着，“纵是圣贤，孰能无过？人能自省，愧色便是赤心。走，你我再痛饮一番！” 重回正厅，感慨唏嘘的吕不韦从进入陈城说起，一口气说了自己初掌商事一个多月的经历，末了道：“不韦十五岁便随老父奔波商旅，一心只要改换门庭，使濮阳吕氏成为天下大商，以为只须对商家牟利之种种机巧揣摩透彻，便可翻云覆雨伸我鸿图。今日得遇先生，方知商战有大道，不循大道，终将败亡也！” “足下尚未加冠？”神色专注的田单突兀问了一句。 “在下今年十九岁，明年行加冠大礼。” “足下悟性之高，实属罕见也！”田单拍案赞叹一句便笑了，“不韦何愧之有？田单今年三十有六，二十岁前读书，二十岁后入商，跌跌撞撞八九年，才悟得了一些商战之道。两年前接掌田氏商社，我才开始做万金之上的大宗生意。你方入道，便是一掷万金挥洒自如，且眼见竟是做成了。如此大手笔，他日必是商旅奇才也！”说着便举起了大爵，“来，为足下少年大才，干此一爵！” “先生奖掖后进，在下却委实汗颜也！”吕不韦举起酒爵红着脸便先自汩汩饮尽，“若非今日得先生教诲，吕氏败亡也只在早晚之间。若蒙先生不弃，不韦愿投师门下，追随先生修习商道。” “不韦差矣！”田单爽朗大笑，“你乃天赋之才，非学而知之者也。方今天下大争，商旅之道更是陵谷交替瓦釜雷鸣。当此之时，师法天地可也。入身田氏此等数百年老商，种种戒律束缚之下，鲲鹏何能展翅九万里！” 吕不韦见田单绝非推托，而是真心对他寄予厚望，便也不再坚持，只惋惜叹道：“在下只是心仪先生，盼能多有裨益也。” 田单淡淡笑道：“守本同道，便是知音同心，又何在乎名分？” 吕不韦倏地站起：“不韦立誓：终生与先生同道守本，但违商德，天诛地灭！” “好！”田单拍案大笑，“如此我便来说第二件事。” 正在此时，三更刁斗随风传来，吕不韦蓦然想起临行时对出货执事的叮嘱，匆忙便要告辞，却又不好对田单公然说明，脸便红得重枣一般。田单也不多问，立即亲自送吕不韦回去。宽大的缁车中，田单便说起了今日请吕不韦的第二件事。未及说完，便到了寓所门口，进了寓所竟直说到四更。田单离去，吕不韦却是无论如何也不能入睡，竟在寓所小庭院中直看着残月褪尽东方发白。 原来，田单给吕不韦的生意指了一条匪夷所思的路径—— 其时，齐燕交恶之势已经彰明。眼见燕国朝野仇视齐国意欲复仇，齐湣王便下了一道诏令：齐国官商私商全部撤出燕国，封锁齐燕通商的全部关隘。即墨田氏有王族支脉的名号，只有奉命离燕，蓟城总社只留下了几个执事善后。齐燕两国的商旅往来便这样突然一朝终止了。说起来，燕齐两国都是老诸侯，自西周立国，便是华夏东北的两大屏障。两国的国计民生也是互相契合补充，切入极深。齐国的海盐、布帛、粟谷、兵器、海鱼等，向来是燕国的主要进路。燕国的皮革、木材、马匹、牛羊等，也历来都是齐国的主要货源。齐威王之后，齐国日见强盛，燕国日见衰落，燕国对齐国的依赖便更深了，实力雄厚的齐国商旅几乎占据了燕国商市的十分之七八。如今齐国突然禁绝市易，燕国顿时便捉襟见肘了，不说别宗，单是盐路断绝，燕国就难以撑持。本来，燕国的辽东在西周与春秋早期也是海盐产地，但后来被林胡部落占据，中原商旅断绝，辽东海盐场也就自然停顿荒芜了。战国中期燕国驱逐林胡收复辽东，本欲重新恢复辽东盐业，奈何燕国屡经内乱，又被齐国趁着平乱之机大肆劫掠了一番，国府空虚私商乏力，拼尽全力也只是恢复了两个最小的盐场，产盐有一搭没一搭，连辽东庶民都嗷嗷喊淡，何能供得举国之盐？ 田单建言的路径是：以大船装盐出海，直下辽东，为燕国新军供盐！ “辽东冰天雪地，能有燕国大军？”吕不韦大是惊讶。 田单讳莫如深地笑了：“燕齐交恶，便有奇能异士从中斡旋探察，此等大事断无虚言。足下若是不信，我也不能多说。” “我非疑虑先生消息，只是惊奇而已。”吕不韦笑着开释一句又皱起了眉头，“此事于我有两难：一则无巨金做本，打造海船，雇用一应水手，首买一船之盐，少说也得六千金之上，而我目下只有三百活金可用。二则我无海路生意之阅历，对辽东从来陌生，既不通关隘，更不识燕军辎重大将……” “不韦只说，这桩生意本身如何？”田单叩着书案打断了吕不韦。 “大手笔，大谋划，一本万利！” “好！”田单拍案赞叹，“你有此断，我便细说了此事根底。”及至田单侃侃说完，吕不韦竟是愣怔无话，良久默然，方才站起来对着田单深深一躬。 海路输盐原本是田氏盐社的大宗生意之一。田氏拥用三条大海船，一通辽东，一通吴越，一通高丽与东瀛，数十年从无间断。齐国突然禁绝了与燕国通商，田氏的北上海船自然便停顿了下来。目下，田氏便想将这艘海船交给一个可靠而又有能事的商家继续运营。其所以如此决断，在于齐国的有识之士以为：齐国君主暴虐多行不义，已成外强中干之势，在齐燕交恶中极可能面临亡国厄运；未雨绸缪，与其让燕国对齐人深恶痛绝，以齐国封锁盐路为名发动合纵灭齐，不若改头换面维持燕国盐路，一则不激起战国公愤使燕国合纵难成，二则使燕军将士有感于齐人与齐国君主有别而仇恨稍减，万一齐军战败，齐人可免被大肆屠戮的劫难。惟其如此，田单与有适之士计议，决然出动海船下辽东，维持燕国盐路！ 田单坦言，选中吕不韦是临机决断。他说了三个因由：其一，卫国小邦，卫商不易引起列国猜测；其二，吕氏在商旅道无名，云集即墨的各国盐商也不会在意；更要紧处，吕不韦初出商道便有能事之才、罕见悟性与愿循商旅大道的一片赤心。末了，田单便是一声感喟：“与君而言，此事虽有一举成名之利，也有一朝湮没于兵灾之险。君若为之，诚为商旅义士也。君若不为，田单亦当引为同道之交也。君自断之，毋得介怀矣！” “我做。”吕不韦平静地点了点头，声音却有些谙哑，“生身一世，何处无险？刀兵连绵之世，初出商道便能追随先生，为生民免遭涂炭尽一己之力，不韦何其大幸也！” 从此，吕不韦便成了卫国盐商，在海滨专开了一个吕氏大盐场，专一的做辽东海路盐生意，三年下来，竟成了赫赫有名的后起盐商。按照约定：吕不韦与田氏盐社对半分成，六年之后视情势再定。可在第四年开春之时，燕国合纵五国联军大举南下，一时战云骤起齐国人心惶惶。便在此时，田单赶回了临淄，派出快马执事星夜赶赴即墨，将田氏盐社的库存三万金并两车刀币全数装车交给吕不韦，催促他立刻离开即墨。田单的泥封密书只有短短两行：“齐国危矣！田氏与国共存亡。全金交君，毋得推辞，即速海船出齐，切切此意！”没有任何约定，没有任何叮嘱，吕不韦要赶赴临淄与田单告别，快马执事却是坚执摇头冷冷道：“齐军告败，流民塞道，公纵一死，与事何益！”吕不韦噙着泪光一跺脚：“走！”便装金上船连夜南下了。盐社的田姓族人全数留在了危城即墨，与吕不韦同行的只有非田姓的三十一个执事仆人。 就是这样，吕不韦重新回到了陈城。两年之后，一个不速之客风尘仆仆地来匆匆登门，不意竟是大名鼎鼎的鲁仲连。鲁仲连告诉吕不韦：田单在即墨孤城抗燕，目下陷入了极大困境，极需外援，他虽联结楚国海路援齐，却是力不从心。鲁仲连给吕不韦带来了一封密书，破旧的牛皮纸上只有寥寥两句：“不韦但能援手，即墨生民之福。田单顿首。”骤然之间，吕不韦泪如泉涌，二话不说便担承了全部采购适宜。那时，楚国也在观望胜负，说好援救齐国只以库存器物为限，不能大肆购买而开罪列国。齐楚国情原本两样，如此一来，即墨需要的器物楚国往往没有，楚国多余的陈货即墨又不需要，开援两年，竟只运去了两船破破烂烂的兵器甲胄与一百石发霉的稻谷。鲁仲连气得吐血顿足，楚国君臣却是无动于衷。 吕不韦没有慷慨激昂地宣示，只与鲁仲连约定每三月起运一次货物，由他的吕氏商社直运到琅邪装上海船，由鲁仲连押运北上。三言两语一说，吕不韦便匆匆去了，半月之后，鲁仲连便在琅邪接收了第一船物资。看着骤然精瘦黝黑满面风尘的吕不韦，看着满荡荡一船救战救命的货物，鲁仲连哽咽了，一句“真义士也”尚未说完，便挥泪去了。 从此，吕不韦便在商道大显身手，兵器甲胄、布帛粟菽、酱醋烈酒、菜蔬干肉、皮革猛火油甚或牛马草料，举凡困境所需种种，吕氏商社都尽行收购，且件件都是长流水的大宗生意。一时间，这天府鬼蜮的万商之城便是议论蜂起争相猜测。郢都楚王得报，顿时大起疑心，为怕开罪于气势正盛的燕国，竟给陈县令下了一道密诏：立即驱逐吕不韦！正在此时，鲁仲连闻讯兼程南下，向楚王痛陈利害，才说得楚王勉强赞同放手。经此一挫，吕不韦索性便操起了游商生计，一车驷马，马不停蹄地奔波在中原各大商市之间，各色货物照样源源不断地运往琅邪装船。如此这般只出不进，三年多之后，偌大的吕氏商社便是山穷水尽了。堪堪此时，田单火牛阵大破燕军，齐国复国了！ 消息传到陈城，吕不韦顿时瘫倒卧榻，竟是三月未起。 春暖花开的时节，鲁仲连来了，已被封为安平君的田单的特使也来了。形销骨立的吕不韦被隆重接到了临淄。新齐王要吕不韦做客卿颐养，吕不韦婉言辞谢了。田单要吕不韦入丞相府总掌商市，吕不韦也辞谢了。田单不解，吕不韦笑道：“义举不图报，士之道也，商之德也。不韦正在盛年，何愁不能自立于商道？为官累君，不韦不为也。但能揽得即墨重建生意，不韦足矣！”田单默然良久，便是一声感喟：“昔日弱冠之吕不韦，今日果成商旅大士也！”说罢当即书令：即墨官市之大宗物资，统经吕氏商社进出。 此后，吕不韦重开商路，三五年间便又蓬蓬勃勃地发了起来。 所不同的是，经过援齐搜购的几年锤炼，吕不韦对兵、铁、盐三大行洞悉备至，重入商旅便专做这三大行生意。即墨重建一了，吕不韦便将总社又迁回了陈城。说到底，他赞赏这个万商云集居南北枢要的古城，驻扎在这里，他便顿生运筹商战的勃勃雄心…… 故事完了，吕不韦疲惫地靠在石柱上闭上了眼睛。范雎却听得心潮难平，径自饮了一爵便兴致勃勃问道：“如此说来，你的十万金雄心已经成功了？” “十万？”吕不韦睁开眼睛摇摇头，脸上漾着难以琢磨的微笑，“不瞒范兄，截止目下，吕氏商社累金已逾三十万，作坊店铺四十余家遍及七大战国，执事雇员两千六百余人。” “三十万？”范雎惊讶得胡子都翘了起来，“一个韩国存金尚无三十万，你……” “不可比也。”吕不韦悠然一笑，“邦国财富在土地、城池、大军、官吏、庶民，岂是区区几十万金可比？若比活金，莫说韩国，便是目下秦国，也未必有三十万，是么？” “如此说来，天下四大巨商都是数十万金之富了？”范雎立即跟上一句岔开话题。 “我来数数。”吕不韦也是浑然不经意般笑着掰着指头，“楚国猗顿氏煮盐起家，目下已是第六代盐商，累金当在五六十万之间。赵国卓氏，主做战马生意，兼及木材石料布帛，目下第五代，累金当在四五十万之间。秦国寡妇清，主做车船生意，兼及采玉木材丝绸，目下第四代，累金当在六十万上下。魏国白氏，以铁行起家，兼及酒店珠宝，白圭时几为天下首富，目下第五代已经大为衰落，仅以祖先盛名跻身四大巨商。要说活金，实则已在十万之下。” “即墨田氏都算不得天下巨商么？” “自然算得也！”吕不韦喟然一叹，“范兄有所不知，所谓几大巨商者，也是天下士人的一种大体揣摩罢了，何能丝丝入扣？天下大商，惟独即墨田氏是王族支脉。惟是王族有顾忌，便素来不事张扬，然做得却都是实实在在的盐铁大生意，仅海盐一宗，便是天下最大盐商。如此十余代，你说累积财富有多少？若非六年抗燕打光了家底，田氏才算得真正的天下第一巨商。” “不韦，你为何不愿做官，当真志在经商？”范雎突兀了一句。 “说不清楚。”吕不韦笑了笑，“那时，只觉得我不是田单，我只是个商人。” 话语如流，不知不觉间夜色降临，初升的月亮已经挂在了胡杨林的树梢。