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Given Gong Zheng’s understanding of commerce, he just couldn’t grasp the fundamental reason for the crisis facing the Righteous Business Group. Consequently, he could only imitate other prosperous businesses.

If they have a master craftsman, we should have one too; if they have a chief shopkeeper, we should have one too.

It can’t be said that Gong Zheng’s thoughts were incorrect, just that his understanding of commerce was too superficial.

“I can supply you with an unlimited number of shopkeepers and craftsmen,” said Tang Luo in an indifferent tone.

Gong Zheng’s face lit up with joy, but before he could express his gratitude, he heard the latter half of the sentence.

” But I want you to monopolize the agricultural market of Xiling within three years, can you do it?”

The smile vanished from his face, as did the color, leaving Gong Zheng looking shockingly pale. His pupils quivered, and so did something deep within him.

In a commercial city like Xiling, no industry had been truly monopolized. What Tang Luo was asking him to do, to monopolize agriculture, was something even other noble families couldn’t accomplish. How could he do it?

“I… I can’t do it,” Gong Zheng admitted dejectedly, bitterness welling up in his heart. He felt that his demands had been excessive, so Tang Luo had countered with an even more outrageous demand.

Just a small business group, yet daring to ask the young master to utilize the Tang Clan’s resources, mobilizing craftsmen and shopkeepers. Looking back, he had overstepped. But without the help of the Tang Clan’s craftsmen and shopkeepers, how could the Righteous Business Group weather its current crisis?

Gong Zheng’s eyes were filled with confusion, like a leaf adrift on a vast sea, directionless and helpless, watching the steady decline of the Righteous Business Group.

A respected martial artist at the pinnacle of transcendence, leader of three thousand gang members, was brought to such a vulnerable state by a few family shopkeepers. It was somewhat amusing to Tang Luo: “Lift your head, don’t look like you are about to die. It’s just a few shopkeepers, the sky isn’t falling!”

Like a drowning man clutching at a life buoy, a beacon in the endless darkness, Gong Zheng heard these words. His gaze locked on Tang Luo’s face: “Young… Young Master, do you have a solution?”

I might notwin a fight, but when it comes to doing business, the folks in Xiling are all rubbish!

Tang Luo, leaning against a wall built of cyan bricks and wearing a half-smile, asked: “First, tell me why, even if you had shopkeepers and craftsmen, you would still not be able to monopolize Xiling’s agriculture?”

“Young Master, there are more and more agricultural businesses in Xiling. Last month there were only a handful, but now there are over twenty,” Gong Zheng explained, his face pained. “Moreover, they are all run by prominent families. Whether it’s farm tools or seeds, the quality is excellent and the prices are competitive with our business. Although we had the first-mover advantage and opened dozens of stores around Xiling, the business in these shops is declining. Even with the help of Tang Clan’s shopkeepers and craftsmen, we just equal other noble family businesses. There is no way we can monopolize this business.”

“Well said,” Tang Luo nodded in approval: “So, you see, even if I am willing to assign shopkeepers and craftsmen to you, it would only help you level the playing field with other businesses, negating your disadvantages. Once everyone is on a level playing field, no one has an advantage. That’s why your approach won’t create a monopoly in Xiling agriculture.”

Gong Zheng wasn’t stupid, he was just limited by his vision and environment. And now, Tang Luo was going to help him broaden his horizons: “So let me ask you, how do you think we can monopolize Xiling’s agriculture within three years?”

Gong Zheng was even more bitter. He has always known this young master to aim high, but the talk of monopolizing had genuinely startled him.

But since the young master asked a question, he couldn’t not answer, so after a long silence, he came to a conclusion: “Unless the other noble families in Xiling are forbidden from opening businesses related to agriculture, monopolization would be possible…”

“Hmm, simple and brutal,” Tang Luo replied with a smile. “Butthat’s impossible. Not even the Tang Clan could do that. So that idea won’t work. Any others?”

After thinking hard for a while, Gong Zheng could only come up with two words: “None…”

“Hmm,” Tang Luo chuckled. “Actually, monopolizing Xiling’s agriculture isn’t as difficult as you think.”

With that simple opener, Gong Zheng’s mouth opened wider and wider. He knew that he would never forget this night, even after a hundred years. Tang Luo, leaning against the cyan brick wall, explained his plan to shake Xiling with ease:

“The essence of business strategy is competition. And just like in warfare, where competition is involved, patterns can be found and laws relied upon.”

“To monopolize Xiling’s agriculture, we first need to know: how big is Xiling’s agriculture market?”

“Xiling has 1.6 million free citizens. Calculating on the basis of two to four people per household, Xiling needs about 500,000 sets of farm tools, 500,000 draft animals, and one million catties of seeds, and there are eight million acres of wasteland to be reclaimed.”

Based on the price of 300 gold per set of farm tools, can you tell me how much of Xiling’s agricultural market has been tapped?”

Gong Zheng swallowed nervously. He had always thought the prospects for agriculture were very good, but it was only a vague and general concept. He hadn’t expected Tang Luo, in just a few words, to make the market situation in Xiling so clear. He felt as though a new door had opened before his eyes, and he excitedly said: “Ten percent!”

After thinking it over, he added: “Maybe even less than ten percent. Right now, the Righteous Business Group is still the largest in Xiling, with the most shops, but it’s only been able to sell less than 20,000 sets of farm tools in the past few months. Despite the popularity of other businesses, they are selling less than a hundred sets of tools per day.”

When he thought about the untapped potential, Gong Zheng trembled with excitement. There seemed to be a light in his eyes.

“Haha,” Tang Luo laughed. “If we consider this a campaign, the total of 500,000 sets of farm tools is the territory to be conquered, and we and the other noble family businesses are the armies. Our goal is to capture as much as possible, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s right!” As Tang Luo broke things down, something seemed to be sprouting in Gong Zheng’s heart. He was eager to hear what Tang Luo would say next.

“So let me ask you, the ‘Five Mu Decree’ has already been in effect for a season, and reclaiming wasteland is when farm tools are most needed. So why have less than ten percent of people in Xiling purchased them?” Tang Luo asked.

Gong Zheng thought for a moment then said: “Because they don’t have the money, I guess. A set of farm tools costs 300 gold, a huge sum for commoners. Aside from those doing small trades who have already bought farm tools, everyone else in Xiling is struggling with labor shortages. Everyone is working hard to earn enough to buy their own set of tools and start farming. Seeing this situation, foremen have started reducing wages. Jobs that used to pay three gold per day are now paying less than one.”