Kyogoku Takamasa never believed that someone would be courteous for nothing, let alone a businessman like Yoneda Sonrokuro.
Businessmen have always been people who can't afford to do anything early. If you want to make them "treat money as dirt", it is probably more difficult than killing them.
Yoneda Sonrokuro's sudden show of goodwill can only mean one thing, and that is that there is something he wants from the Kyogoku family, or that he wants to get something from the Kyogoku family.
However, Kyogoku Takamasa is eager for the other party to have needs, which is a good thing.
"I have always been an outspoken person, and I have never understood the meaning of hypocrisy and coercion."
"Sun Liulang is willing to give up such a heavy gift. I think he has something to ask for. Please speak up and I will do our best to help."
What Sonrokuro Yoneda wanted was this sentence, "I don't like to mince words when doing things. Since Sakyo has already said this when he entered the palace, I can speak directly."
"Omi Country is rich in products. The aquatic products of Lake Biwa, the timber from Ibuki, Niki, Nanao, and Kidaka Mountains are inexhaustible. More importantly, the food output is extremely abundant."
"The villain is a grain merchant. If the Kyogoku family can hand over all the products in the territory to the villain for sale, then the villain will have nothing else to ask for."
Hearing Yoneda Sonrokuro's words, Kyogoku Takamasa smiled slightly: "It's just these, I'm afraid it's not enough?"
"Of course, if the Kyogoku family can grant me monopoly rights and allow me to open markets in various castle towns within the Kyogoku family territory, I will be grateful."
This is what Sonrokuro Yoneda really thinks.
Although Omi is a land of heavy production, the Kyogoku family's stone height is only about 200,000 koku after all. How much grain can it sell to Yoneda Sonrokuro in a year?
As for the aquatic products of Lake Biwa and the timber of Omi, where are these things not found? There is no trade advantage.
What Sonrokuro Yoneda really values is dumping goods in Omi. In order to obtain maximum trading profits, it is particularly important to obtain exclusive rights.
As long as he has this monopoly right, Yoneda Sonrokuro will be able to form a monopoly on Kitaomi's trade, and other merchants will have to work harder to get involved.
"What kind of product does Sun Rokuro want to have the exclusive right to sell?"
"The villain mainly deals in food, seafood, wine, cloth, Wu clothing and silk. He also has weapons, equipment and war horses. He also has commercial contacts with the Western Kingdom, Shikoku and other places. As long as the Kyogoku family can allow the villain to enjoy these goods within the territory If the Kyogoku family has exclusive rights to sell goods, I will definitely do my best if the Kyogoku family has errands in the future."
"Would you like Sonrokuro to become the royal merchant of our family?" Kyogoku Takamasa suddenly raised his head and looked at Yoneda Sonrokuro.
Yoneda Sonrokuro was stunned at first, and then he happily promised, "Since Sakyo invites me to the palace, I am willing to do my little bit."
Royal merchants are mainly responsible for the daily supplies needed by famous people, as well as providing various supplies and weapons needed for combat during wartime. After becoming a royal merchant, the merchant's safety will be guaranteed and he will enjoy certain privileges within the daimyo's domain.
For example, the right to sell goods, the right to enter and exit, etc.
For merchants, becoming a royal merchant is a reflection of their own strength and identity. Yoneda Sonrokuro was the royal merchant of the Wakasa Takeda family before, but he still thinks that he has too many identities?
"You must have seen it, Sonorokuro. Our family wants to vigorously develop the castle town in Imahama Castle, and I'm afraid we will need Sonorokuro's support at that time."
"Don't worry when Sakyo comes to the palace. I am willing to provide five hundred servants, and in addition I will offer a thousand gold coins to contribute a small amount to the development of the castle town." Yoneda Sonrokuro was obviously very wise, and he immediately expressed his intention. manner.
Hearing this, Kyogoku Takamasa knew what he was thinking, so he turned to Kyogoku Takahiro and said, "Father, Sonrokuro is a loyal man and a person worth getting to know. I think that Sonrokuro can be the leader of our family." As a royal merchant, I wonder what your father’s wishes are?”
How could Kyogoku Takahiro refuse Kyogoku Takamasa's proposal.
Even if it was for the thousands of dollars that would be waived, Kyogoku Takahiro would try his best to facilitate this matter.
"Since it was recommended by Sakyo Jin, my family is naturally happy to see his success."
With that said, Kyogoku Takahiro turned his head and looked at Yoneda Sonrokuro and said, "Sonrokuro, I want to appoint you as the merchant department. I wonder if you are willing?"
Merchant Division?
Hearing this title, Yoneda Sonrokuro immediately lost his composure.
The so-called Merchant Division is the "merchant leader", which means that with this status, all merchants in the Kyogoku family will fall under the banner of Yoneda Sonrokuro. In a sense, becoming a merchant is becoming the "acting official" of the Kyogoku family in business.
Becoming a royal merchant will only make it more convenient and legitimate for Yoneda Sonrokuro to do business within the Kyogoku family. But if he becomes a merchant, Yoneda Sonrokuro will be able to "dominate the family" in the Kyogoku family.
Thinking of this, Yoneda Sonrokuro immediately bowed down in front of Kyogoku Takahiro in excitement, "Thank you Kyogoku-den for your kindness. I will work hard in the future to manage the merchants in my territory for Kyogoku-den."
Kyogoku Takahiro nodded, "I'll have Rokuro Sunori in the future."
"ha!"
...
"The main hall."
"Lord."
"The Merchant Department has a very important relationship. I and Sonrokuro have just met, so is it too sudden to hand over such an important task to Sonrokuro?" After Sonrokuro Yoneda left, Matsunagahide said with some worry.
Kyogoku Takamasa waved his hand and said nonchalantly: "My family has no business foundation before. If we don't take the wrong approach, it may be difficult for the business within our territory to develop rapidly."
"And none of the retainers have any talent in business. In that case, why bother looking for someone who knows the business?"
"Even so, why did you single out Sonorokuro Yoneda?" Matsushita Nagahide still felt something was wrong.
"But besides Sun Liulang, where can I find anyone else?"
Although he knew that Matsunaga Hide's worries were reasonable, Kyogoku Takamasa was also quite helpless.
Previously, the Kyogoku family lived in a corner, guarding one-third of an acre of land in Sakata County and relying on the sky to make a living. Now that you suddenly have a large territory, if you want to develop it, you will have to waste all your efforts.
There are only so many stone heights in Kitaomi, and no matter how much development is done, it will only increase the stone height by tens of thousands of stone, and it cannot be achieved in a short time.
Therefore, if you want to quickly improve the strength of the Kyogoku family, it is particularly important to develop business. The Kyogoku family has no capital of its own, so they can only find a strong and capable person to do things for the Kyogoku family.
Yoneda Sonrokuro is rich and capable. The most important thing is that this man is ambitious and self-aware, and he knows what the bottom line is.
Although it was a bit hasty to let him serve as the royal merchant and merchant department of the Kyogoku family, there was no other way.
As long as he was still on this three-acre piece of land in Kitaomi, Kyogoku Takamasa still didn't believe that he, a businessman, could rebel.
However, before doing anything, you must leave a way out. Kyogoku Takamasa turned his eyes and said to Matsunagahide, "Hikorokuro has been a businessman before and has some understanding of business. This is something that all retainers do not have."
"I would like you to take up the post of head of the Imahama Castle Castle Town. You will not only take into account the task of developing the castle town, but also keep an eye on Yoneda Sonrokuro at all times for my family."
"If the other party does anything strange..."
Having said this, Kyogoku Takamasa's eyes flashed fiercely, and he scratched his neck with his right hand.
"Kill without mercy!"
