I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

In front of Yaodong Trading Company's Datong Branch.

Before Shen Nian, Zhang Jingxiu, and Qi Hu had even stepped inside, a clever-looking waiter dressed in a gray jacket came to greet them.

"Welcome to Yaodong Trading Company's Datong branch, gentlemen. May I ask if you are here to purchase or sell goods, or to rent a fleet of vehicles?"

Shen Nian smiled and said, "Shall we go in and take a look first?"

"Of course!" the young shop assistant said with a bright smile, and then welcomed Shen Nian and the other two into the shop.

After the three sat down, hot tea and dried fruit were immediately served. Then, the gray-clad shopkeeper picked up a book, looked at Shen Nian sitting in the middle, and said, "This is the list of goods my business sells and the prices for renting a fleet of vehicles. Please take a look!"

Yaodong Trading Company has two main characteristics.

Firstly, the service is warm and welcoming; secondly, the prices are transparent.

Shen Nian flipped through the book, paused, and suddenly took out two bright gold leaves from his sleeve, flashed them at the shop assistant, and then put them back. He lowered his voice and said, "Young man, we have eight cartloads of tea, but the quality may not be very good. Do you know how to get it through inspection? If it's done, I will definitely reward you handsomely!"

Upon hearing this, the waiter's smile vanished.

"Gentlemen, according to the rules of Yaodong Trading Company, anyone who offers bribes privately will be expelled. Please, gentlemen!" the waiter said loudly, gesturing for them to leave.

Seeing Shen Nian still sitting in the chair, he said with a livid face, "Gentlemen, if you do not leave, we will have to resort to violence. Yaodong Trading Company is an official company and a company for all the people. We will never ruin our reputation and bring shame to His Majesty and our two former owners!"

As he spoke, several men stepped out from the side, brandishing sticks.

Shen Nian suddenly laughed.

“Employees of Yaodong Trading Company have the duty to drive away employers who attempt to bribe, transport, or sell counterfeit or substandard goods with sticks.”

This rule was set by Shen Nian back then.

Shen Nian knew that the selected clerks of Yaodong Trading Company were unlikely to accept bribes; what he was testing was whether the clerk dared to expel the unscrupulous merchants.

In the business world, employers have always held a high position, and employees dare not provoke them.

But Yaodong Trading Company is an exception.

At this moment, he was very satisfied with the waiter's performance.

"Gentlemen, just kidding, just kidding! I just wanted to test whether the sixty-third rule of Yaodong Trading Company was valid. The two former owners of Yaodong Trading Company are my father and my father-in-law. I am Shen Nian!" Shen Nian revealed his identity.

Qi Hu, standing to the side, puffed out his chest and said loudly, "Grand Secretary Shen is inspecting Datong Town and is passing by this merchant guild. You all should quickly pay your respects!"

"Young Master!" one of the shop assistants couldn't help but call out.

They knew that Shen Nian had come to Datong Town, but they did not expect that Shen Nian would come to Yaodong Trading Company's Datong branch.

Immediately, some people noticed that Shen Nian resembled Shen Yaoshan, and they all knelt down in respect, their hearts filled with excitement.

"No need to kneel, no need to kneel. I just happened to be strolling around and thought I'd drop by. You guys did a good job!" After saying that, Shen Nian helped the gray-clad waiter up and asked, "What's your name? How old are you?"

“Reporting to the young master… no… reporting to the elder, my name is Sun Fu, and I am eighteen years old.”

"Not bad, you have a bright future!" Shen Nian patted him on the shoulder and said.

Upon hearing this, the other workers looked on with envy. Shen Nian's words could save Sun Fu from taking a detour for at least ten years and make his family's ancestral graves emitting auspicious smoke.

"Call your manager out; I have something to ask him!" Shen Nian said.

"Yes!"

The two men quickly ran towards the backyard.

Shen Nian has been at the trading company for so long, but she has never seen the manager. It's not that the manager is lazy, but that Yaodong Trading Company implements a system of reception by the clerks.

The shop assistant is responsible for negotiating business deals, while the shopkeeper is responsible for inspecting goods, signing contracts, and handling subsequent execution matters.

This was done so that the workers could earn more money.

Good management must be built on sufficient funds; otherwise, all rules are useless and amount to nothing more than exploitation.

After a while.

A middle-aged man wearing a dark blue robe ran over quickly.

"Bai Dachun, manager of the Datong branch of Yaodong Trading Company, pays respects to Grand Secretary Shen, and to... the former... young master!"

Shen Nian smiled and said, "No need for formalities! Manager Bai, I would like to see the accounts of the Datong branch for the past six months!"

"I...I'll go get it right away!" Bai Dachun strode towards the counter.

As an official-merchant entity, Yaodong Trading Company enjoyed a high degree of autonomy. However, the local official or the supervising eunuch would periodically review the accounts to ensure that there was no embezzlement or misappropriation.

Shen Nian was looking at the accounts, not auditing them.

He simply wanted to know about the commercial situation in Datong town over the past six months and which goods were best-selling.

Soon, Bai Dachun handed the accounts to Shen Nian.

Shen Nian slowly began to read it.

About fifteen minutes later, Shen Nian looked at Bai Dachun and asked, "Manager Bai, have any caravans been heading out of the city to the market recently?"

"Yes, it will be available tomorrow. I will personally lead a team to Deshengbao Horse Market to sell the eight cartloads of silk we have stockpiled!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Nian's eyes lit up, and he said, "I was just planning to go to Deshengbao Horse Market tomorrow. How about I follow you around tomorrow?"

Traveling incognito is more effective at uncovering problems than conducting inspections with fanfare.

"With the Grand Secretary backing us up, we're likely to get a very high price this time!" Bai Dachun said with a smile.

……

The next day, the sky was bright.

Shen Nian, Zhang Jingxiu, and Qi Hu, along with a group of guards, followed the Yaodong Trading Company's convoy toward Deshengbao Horse Market.

Deshengbao Horse Market, located 80 li north of Datong Town and 3 li south of Deshengkou, a pass on the Great Wall, was a major trading hub between the Ming Dynasty and the Tumed tribe.

Besides horses, there were also sheep, furs, silk, tea, beans, rice, and other traded goods.

Previously, the Deshengbao horse market would be open for several days after the 15th of each month, open during the day and closed in the evening.

However, due to the prosperity of trade in the north of the Ming Dynasty, there are now markets every day, and some Mongolian merchants who frequently do business can stay in special merchant rooms in Desheng Fort at night.

In the past two years, Deshengkou has been a bustling hub, with merchants and camels crowding the roads.

However, a few days ago, Shen Nian made public the letter he wrote to the Tumed tribe, causing the Tumed leader to admit his mistake and take away the eighteen Mongols who had launched the first attack on the Ming soldiers. He also had to give an attitude of whether to fight or make peace. After that, Deshengbao City became somewhat desolate.

Once war breaks out, Deshengbao will definitely be a must-attack location for the Mongols.

Some businessmen are worried about losing both their money and their reputation.

In the afternoon, Shen Nian and the convoy of Yaodong Trading Company finally arrived at Deshengbao Horse Market.

The entrance to the horse market is called Jade Emperor Pavilion.

It is a building with a city gate on the first floor and a drum tower on the second floor, which serves as both a market gate and a defense structure.

The official market and the private market were concentrated in the market fort (also known as the four castles), where a military commander was stationed to have the highest jurisdiction over the market.

Currently, the official market mainly consists of large-scale trade between the Ming government and the leaders of various Mongol tribes. Due to Shen Nian's open letter, the official market has almost come to a standstill, while the private market remains bustling.

Most of the markets in the city were open-air markets.

Merchants would set up a table, hang up a sign advertising their goods, and those in need would contact them.

As for the price, it was subject to official supervision and was determined by the price agreed upon by merchants from both the Ming and Mongolian sides.

After arriving at the designated location, Bai Dachun, the manager of the Datong branch, set up the stall.

Before long, a tabloid appeared in front of Shen Nian.

Where there are people, there is intelligence; where there is intelligence, there is a need for tabloids.

Although Deshengbao is not large, the daily prices and categories of goods are the focus of attention for merchants, which led to the creation of the Deshengbao Gazette.

This tabloid is currently circulating wildly among businessmen.

Because there was an article above that predicted the future relationship between Ming and Meng and the situation of Deshengbao Ma City.

The article is titled: "[The Cold War Between the Ming and Mongolia: When Will the Markets of Deshengbao Be Peaceful?]".

No signature.

The article states that after the Datong garrison's burning of wasteland on the frontier clashed with the Mongols, Minister of War Shen Nian's open letter, though forceful and domineering, was not intended to incite war, but rather to intimidate the Tumed tribes.

In order to maintain the new policies and stabilize trade in the northern border, the Ming Dynasty was unwilling to start a war and therefore had a very high tolerance for conflict.

The current leader of the Tumed tribe has not yet been determined, so neither San Niangzi nor Huang Taiji would risk their lives alone.

If they admit their mistakes and compromise, they will face resistance from multiple lords within their tribe; if they respond forcefully, it could potentially ignite a war between the Ming and Mongol empires.

Therefore, neither San Niangzi nor Huang Taiji will appear within the next month. They will negotiate with the Ming Dynasty after resolving their internal conflicts.

Therefore, the market town of Deshengbao will likely close a month later, and the Ming and Mongolia will not go to war, but will only fall into a cold war.

Because neither side wanted to fight.

Whether Deshengbao Horse Market will regain its current prosperity in the future depends on whether the Ming Dynasty will take the initiative to bestow the title of Prince Shunyi upon the new leader of the Tumed tribe, or whether the Tumed tribal leader will propose peace talks to the Ming Dynasty after his position as leader is stable...

This analysis convinced many merchants in the Ming Dynasty, leading them to predict that the Deshengbao horse market would close in a month.

So they started lowering prices to dump their stock.

Mongolian merchants also began to lower prices and sell off their goods, but their efforts were far less aggressive than those of the Ming Dynasty merchants.

The reason why Ming Dynasty merchants lowered prices and dumped goods was extremely significant.

This was because many merchants, seeing the potential of border trade, began importing goods and shipping them to border towns after the Lantern Festival.

Merchants gathered in Deshengbao had stockpiled a large amount of goods, intending to sell them over six or even eight months, but now they may only have one month to sell them.

Once the market in Deshengbao closes, the storage and transfer of goods will cost a lot of money. Therefore, they choose to lower prices and sell them at 70-80% of the previous prices, so that they can at least break even.

After Shen Nian learned of this news, she happened to see Bai Dachun walking over with a furrowed brow.

"Manager Bai, what's wrong?"

Bai Dachun smiled helplessly and cupped his hands towards Shen Nian, saying, "I just went to ask about the price, and it's 30% lower than I expected. I'm afraid we'll have to lose money to sell these eight cartloads of silk!"

After finishing his complaint, Bai Dachun rolled his eyes and added, "Your Excellency, I have no doubt about your decision. Your letter was very well written. If the Mongols do not apologize and clarify whether it is war or peace, we will not do business with them. The interests of the nation are above all else. I support closing the market!"

Shen Nian suddenly laughed.

Bai Dachun truly deserves to be the manager of a state-owned commercial firm; his awareness is indeed high.

At the same time, Shen Nian also guessed that some businessmen might be cursing and saying bad things about him for inciting conflict!

Shen Nian looked at Bai Dachun.

"Manager Bai, don't sell the silk yet! Have you considered that this tabloid's analysis isn't explaining the situation in Mongolia at all, but deliberately inciting panic among merchants, making them afraid of being stuck with their goods and forcing them to sell off their stock hastily? Their aim is to buy up the goods at high prices, then gamble that the Deshengbao horse market won't close, and make a fortune!"

"Then this must have been done by the Mongols. Are they... are they that clever?" Bai Dachun scratched his head.

At this moment, Zhang Jingxiu couldn't help but speak up: "It's possible, it's extremely possible!"

"Siwen, please continue!" Shen Nian smiled and looked at Zhang Jingxiu.

"This tabloid article is seriously flawed. The author believes that our market closure is merely a cold war with them, and that once they resolve their internal conflicts, they will reopen as long as they bow to us. However, if we close our market, the markets in Xuanfu, Datong, and Shanxi will also close, the Tumed tribe will no longer be a friend of the Ming Dynasty, and the Ming Dynasty will no longer have a Shunyi King! If they do not bow down and express their attitude within a month, our correct solution is to take advantage of their internal strife and directly intervene militarily, either annihilating them or installing a submissive Shunyi King. Therefore, they will definitely bow down and apologize within a month, and the Deshengbao horse market will continue to operate..."

"Well said! Siwen, next you write an article to alleviate the anxiety of our merchants and get them to raise prices!"

"no problem!"

As a second-class Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), Zhang Jingxiu was capable of refuting a tabloid article riddled with errors, thus boosting the confidence of the Ming Dynasty merchants in Deshengbao.

Then, Shen Nian turned to look at Qi Hu.

Qi Hu was taken aback at first, then said, "I will immediately investigate the person who hoarded a large amount of our low-priced goods. Perhaps this tabloid article was written by someone he ordered!"

"You've finally started using your brain!" Shen Nian couldn't help but praise Qi Hu.

……

Early the next morning.

An article titled "A Cold War Between the Ming and the Mongols? How Dared the Tumed Tribe?" written by Zhang Jingxiu circulated in Deshengbao.

Zhang Jingxiu not only refuted the views in the tabloids, but also claimed that the leader of the Tumed tribe would have to apologize within a month. Otherwise, it would not be a cold war, but the destruction of the Tumed tribe. Deshengbao Mashi would transform from a Ming-Mongolian border city into a Ming-Ming inner city and become even more prosperous.

Around noon, because of Zhang Jingxiu's article.

Prices of goods such as silk, tea, and grain in the market returned to normal immediately, and some even increased. Many Ming Dynasty merchants were no longer in a hurry to sell their goods!

Zhang Jingxiu was very excited; he had finally understood the power of trade wars.

This is the thing he has accomplished most since he was born.

He immediately wrote a letter to his father, Zhang Juzheng, and included this article in the envelope, believing that Zhang Juzheng would be proud of him. (End of Chapter)