plumnovel Chapter 98 Testing the Waters of Maritime Trade
Chapter 98 Testing the Waters of Maritime Trade
Lu Ji Carriage and Horse Shop, Jinan Prefecture.
After the first snowfall, the world was covered in a blanket of white.
Lu Yan sat in the warm pavilion in the back hall, with a pot of hot tea in front of him, and a middle-aged man in his forties sitting opposite him.
This man's surname was Zheng, and his given name was Zheng Haisheng. He was a merchant from Dengzhou. His skin was dark, and his hands were rough, clearly indicating that he had spent most of his life at sea. However, his eyes were extremely shrewd, revealing a cunning characteristic of merchants.
"Manager Zheng, please have some tea."
Lu Yan personally poured him a cup.
Zheng Haisheng was flattered and quickly accepted the gift with both hands.
"Lord Lu, you're too kind. I'm just a merchant who travels by sea; how could I possibly deserve your personal service in serving me tea?"
"Manager Zheng is too kind," Lu Yan said with a smile. "Although I hold an official position, I am still a businessman at heart. There's no need for such formalities among businessmen."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Haisheng's expression softened slightly.
"Lord Lu is straightforward."
"Manager Zheng, I heard from Manager Hu that you've been doing maritime trade in Dengzhou for over ten years?"
"Your Excellency, my ancestors were seafarers. Starting with my grandfather's generation, they've been doing this business in Dengzhou."
"So you must be very familiar with the market conditions at sea?"
Zheng Haisheng nodded and lowered his voice:
"What does the gentleman want to know?"
Lu Yan put down his teacup, his gaze sharpening.
"I want to know, just how large are the profits from maritime trade?"
Zheng Haisheng pondered for a moment, then held up one hand and gestured a number.
"ten times."
"ten times?"
"To be frank, sir, a ship carrying silk from Dengzhou to Japan can yield at least ten times the profit. If it's shipped to Southeast Asia, the profit will be even higher."
Lu Yan gasped.
Ten times the profit!
He'd been in business for so many years—transportation, warehousing, trade—and the highest profit margin he'd ever made was only 20-30%. A tenfold profit was simply a pipe dream.
"With such high profit margins, why aren't there more people involved in maritime trade?"
Zheng Haisheng gave a bitter smile.
"My lord, you are unaware of the true nature of maritime trade. While the profits are high, the risks are also significant."
"First, the sea is unpredictable; a single storm can wipe out your entire fortune."
"Secondly, with pirates rampant and no armed guards available, goods are constantly at risk of being robbed."
"Third, the imperial court has a ban on maritime trade, making it nominally illegal. Although they turn a blind eye, if someone reports it, the consequences range from a fine to imprisonment."
"Fourth, and most importantly—there's no way in. Maritime trade isn't something you can just do on a whim; you need ships, people, and connections. In Dengzhou, the maritime trade is mostly controlled by a few large families; for outsiders to get involved is as difficult as climbing to the sky."
After listening, Lu Yan seemed to be deep in thought.
"Who are these big families?"
Zheng Haisheng glanced around and lowered his voice:
"The largest family, surnamed Li, is called the Li family. They've been operating in Dengzhou for over a hundred years, with people in the navy, garrisons, and government offices. Half of Dengzhou's maritime trade comes from them."
"Secondly, there are several mid-sized merchants, each with their own connections and territory."
"Small businessmen like us can only scrape by on leftovers, barely making ends meet."
Lu Yan nodded and memorized this information.
"Manager Zheng, aren't you afraid of offending people by telling me all this?"
Zheng Haisheng sighed.
"Sir, I have no choice. In recent years, the Li family has become increasingly domineering, blocking the livelihoods of small merchants. If I don't find a powerful backer, I'll be swallowed up by them sooner or later."
"I've heard that you're doing very well in Jinan, sir, with both an official position and connections with eunuchs. I dare to ask if I could curry favor with you, sir."
Lu Yan looked at him and remained silent for a moment.
"You want me to help you deal with the Li family?"
"No, no, I wouldn't dare," Zheng Haisheng quickly waved his hands. "I just want to do business with you, sir. If you have goods to transport, I can help. If you want to get involved in maritime trade, I can guide you."
"As for the Li family..." he lowered his voice, "I'm just reminding you, sir, that the waters of Dengzhou are treacherous. If you intend to develop your business there, be careful."
Lu Yan's lips curled up slightly.
"Thank you for the reminder, Manager Zheng."
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the snow scene outside.
"Manager Zheng, you can go back now. I'll send someone to Dengzhou after the New Year, and then I'll contact you again."
"Yes, yes." Zheng Haisheng quickly stood up, bowed, and took his leave.
……
After seeing Zheng Haisheng off, Lu Yan sat alone in the warm pavilion, lost in thought.
Maritime trade.
Ten times the profit.
This is a gold mine, a huge gold mine.
However, this gold mine was controlled by a few large companies, making it extremely difficult for outsiders to get involved.
Especially the Li family.
They have been operating in Dengzhou for over a century, with their people present in the navy, garrisons, and government offices.
Such local tyrants are not easily shaken.
But Lu Yan wasn't afraid.
He had connections with eunuchs, official status, and the protection of armed forces.
Given the opportunity, he could pry open the door to this gold mine.
"Master."
Hu Jingshui pushed open the door and entered.
"Zheng Haisheng is gone?"
"He's gone." Lu Yan turned around. "What did you think of him?"
"This man is shrewd, but also honest," Hu Jingshui replied. "Most of what he said is true. The maritime trade in Dengzhou is indeed controlled by a few powerful families. The Li family is the largest and has deep influence."
How do you know him?
"He's a relative of one of my fellow villagers. He came to Jinan a few days ago to buy goods and asked someone to introduce him to us, hoping to do business with us."
Lu Yan nodded.
What's your opinion on the maritime trade matter?
Hu Jingshui thought for a moment and said:
"The profits are indeed high, but the risks are also great. Our current base is in Jinan, and venturing into maritime trade rashly might be beyond our capabilities."
"However," he changed the subject, "if the owner can establish a foothold in Dengzhou, then maritime trade might be worth considering."
"Gain a foothold?"
"Yes." Hu Jingshui lowered her voice, "I heard that the position of Prefectural Magistrate of Dengzhou might change next year. If our master can secure that position..."
Lu Yan's eyes lit up.
"Where did you hear this news from?"
"I have a friend who works in the Ministry of Personnel. He said the current Vice Prefect of Dengzhou is getting old and may retire next year."
Lu Yan pondered for a moment.
Prefect of Dengzhou.
Rank 7.
It's one rank higher than his current position as a prefectural official of the eighth rank.
Moreover, Dengzhou was an important coastal town, and the power of the Tongpan (assistant prefect) was much greater than that in the inland areas.
If we can secure this position, things will be much easier in the maritime trade.
"There's one more thing," Hu Jingshui added. "I've learned that the Cui family of Qinghe is interested in a marriage alliance."
"The Cui family?"
"Yes. The Cui family of Qinghe is a prominent family in Shandong. Although they are a collateral branch, they are still a respectable gentry family. They have a daughter, twenty-four years old, who is still unmarried. I've heard she is beautiful, well-educated, and sensible."
Lu Yan frowned.
Why do they want to arrange a marriage between me and them?
"The master of the house has achieved academic success, holds an official position, and has connections with eunuchs; his future is limitless. Although the Cui family is a prestigious clan, they have declined somewhat in recent years. They want to find a promising son-in-law to revitalize their family business."
Lu Yan remained silent.
Marriage.
This is a common tactic in officialdom.
Through marriage alliances, one can establish relationships with gentry families and gain their support and connections.
But marriage also means responsibility and entanglement.
His current status is not high enough to marry a woman from a prestigious family.
"Let's put this matter aside for now," Lu Yan said. "We'll consider it again after I've been promoted further."
"yes."
After Hu Jingshui left, Lu Yan sat alone in the warm pavilion, looking at the snow scene outside the window.
Dengzhou.
Maritime trade.
Cui family.
These three things are like three lines, intertwined and pointing in the same direction.
He had to go to Dengzhou.
That was his true stage.