Cao Cao followed what Jiang Ji said and directly raised the tariffs on Shu brocade and Shu salt to curb Liu Bei's wool harvesting.
Jiang Ji's insidiousness lies in boiling the frog in warm water.
He did not raise tariffs all at once, but gradually.
Faced with the slight increase in tariffs, the Mi brothers who were in charge of the caravan did not take it seriously at first.
After knowing that my subordinates were constantly reporting, I realized that the profits from each business trip were declining significantly.
The prices previously negotiated with buyers have become less profitable due to rising tariffs.
Mi Zhu knew how important a merchant's credit was and did not increase the price to the buyer.
Although Mi's caravan maintained its credit, it also made several loss-making transactions.
"Brother! If this continues, what business will we do? We will lose money to death!"
"Those naughty Central Plains nobles clearly negotiated the price, but in the end they temporarily raised the tariff!"
"Why don't we just sit down and raise the price to see who is afraid of who? Damn it!"
Mi Fang cursed angrily. This was the first time he felt angry after so many years of doing business.
No matter how it looked, his caravan seemed to be targeted.
Although the entire Central Plains gentry knew who was behind Mi's caravan, when everyone was doing business, who would care so much?
Now that the other party is playing such a trick, it is really disgusting.
"Second brother, I think this matter has nothing to do with the Central Plains nobles."
"People from the Xun family once revealed to me that the increase in tariffs was caused by Jiang Ji."
"Every time we run a business, the price goes up slightly. If this continues for a long time, we will no longer be able to make a profit."
"In particular, it concerns Shu brocade and Shu salt, which are the main commodities for our army to obtain profits."
Mi Zhu thought about it again and again. They had just left Wancheng and did not return directly to Chengdu, but changed to Jiangling.
After all, that man is in Gangneung!
…
Jiangling.
Liu Mang was assisting Zhu Rong in reading and literacy at this time. He supported Zhu Rong's jade arm, and then he wrote four words - Revitalize the Han Dynasty.
Later, he coached Zhang Xingcai and Guan Yinping in martial arts.
I have a lot of fun playing with the three girls every day, but there is only one shortcoming.
That means Zhao Yun has returned to his old profession and must urge Liu Mang to practice spear practice for an hour every day.
Liu Mang was both in pain and happy.
Although Deng Ai's shoulder was seriously injured, fortunately it was not serious and he only needed to rest.
"Your Majesty, Mi Zhu Mi Fang is here to visit."
Pang Tong held the wine gourd, but the rare peace now made him feel uneasy.
What we have in front of us is by no means a real peace, but a false truce.
If he makes one wrong move, Cao Cao may open the gap.
Pang Tong kept thinking about ways to enrich the country and strengthen the army, and even wrote to Zhuge Liang.
"The two uncles are here? I'll go right away."
Liu Mang took advantage of the situation and patted Zhang Xingcai's increasingly plump buttocks.
Zhang Xingcai's pretty face turned red, and in front of everyone, she could only suffer a secret loss.
"Uncle, why do you come to Jiangling to see me when you have time?"
Upon seeing Liu Mang coming, Mi Fang and Mi Zhu quickly bowed and saluted.
At the moment in Jiangling Hall, they are not just relatives, they are also divided into monarchs and ministers.
"I'll wait to see the crown prince!"
"If you don't speak the same language as one family, please don't give up gifts!"
Liu Mang took Pang Tong, Zhao Yun, and Deng Ai to sit down. It was obvious that Mi Zhu had to discuss the matter that must have given her a headache.
"Mang'er, you don't know something. The stubborn Central Plains nobles are so shameless!"
Mi Fang was outspoken and told Liu Mang all the grievances she had suffered.
In particular, the other party's practice of raising tariffs a little each time made everyone angry.
If you say this is not a deliberate attack, I am afraid no one will believe it.
"Mang'er, we might as well slightly increase the prices of Shu brocade and Shu salt. What do you think?"
Mi Zhu cautiously put forward his own opinions.
Businessmen pursue profits, especially government businessmen like him, and they want to obtain profits for Liu Bei.
Pang Tong, Deng Ai, Zhao Yun and others all nodded, feeling that there was nothing wrong with raising the price.
"If my uncle acts like this, he may play into Cao Cao's trap."
"If this continues for a long time, I am afraid that the Shu brocade and Shu salt of my great Han Dynasty will no longer have a market in the Central Plains."
"By raising tariffs, Cao Cao is not only disgusting us, but also tempting us to overdraw our credit."
Overdraft credit?
Everyone looked puzzled, Liu Mang poured tea for them, and then started talking.
"Mi's caravan has a good reputation since the founding of Xinye."
"If my prediction is correct, in the face of a temporary increase in tariffs, my uncle would rather lose money than increase prices, right?"
"This is also the reason why the Central Plains nobles are willing to provide information in return."
Mi Zhu nodded. It was because of intelligence factors that he would rather not make money than raise the price temporarily.
"If we take the initiative to raise prices, those buyers will not consider the so-called tariff factors, and will only say that our businessmen are selfish in pursuit of profit."
"Once this sentiment spreads, they only have two choices."
"One, bear with our price increase and continue to buy; two, look for slightly inferior alternatives."
"Especially for ordinary people, they are struggling for survival all day long. If we increase the price even slightly, their livelihood will be affected."
Liu Mang's implication was to tell brothers Mi Zhu and Mi Fang that although Sichuan brocade is valuable, it is only a favorite of a few people.
Shu Salt's profits may seem meager, but its sales can grow like crazy.
"Mang'er... we can't stop making money and shouting!"
Mi Fang sighed, "I think this was done deliberately by Cao Cao, targeting our Shu brocade and Shu salt!"
Pang Tong nodded and said with a smile: "Sir, it seems that this is what you call economic warfare! Cao Cao has already taken the lead!"
Although Zhao Yun and Deng Ai didn't understand what economic warfare was, they also understood that Cao Cao was holding the Mi family's caravan by the throat.
"It's actually not too difficult to deal with this matter."
"Mi's caravan directly stopped providing Shu salt and Shu brocade to the people of the Central Plains."
As soon as Liu Mang said this, Mi Zhu Mi Fang was even more confused on the spot.
"Mang'er... our military expenses are all earned from Shu brocade and Shu salt!"
"And the good wine you brewed before! If you stop all these..."
Mi Zhu didn't dare to think that doing business with the Central Plains nobles would be extremely profitable, so he couldn't give up easily.
"Uncles, I wonder if you understand what the principle of supply and demand is, hunger marketing."
Liu Mang chuckled: "On weekdays, we serve them so well that we give them the illusion that we are all beggars."
"It's a pity that they were wrong. If my prediction is correct, Cao Cao must be trying to find new products to replace Shu brocade and Shu salt."
"It's just that they haven't found it yet! As tariffs rise, we will have to raise prices sooner or later! As long as there is salt that is just the same, people will compromise!"
"So, I want to be the first to overturn the table before they have any substitutes!"
Everyone suddenly realized that Liu Mang's move undoubtedly put Cao Cao into a passive position!
Tariff blockade? I don’t want to play anymore!
