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{\an8}[Legend of the Magnate]
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{\an8}[Episode 39]
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Cut the nonsense.
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Mr. Richard
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needs to discuss
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the specific details of the cooperation
with you.
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You need to send someone out
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to sign on behalf of Liangjiang.
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I assure you
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it'll be quick
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and won't take up much of your time.
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You little brat.
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When you bite someone,
it goes straight to the bone, huh?
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Gu Pingyuan.
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Yes, Your Excellency.
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Since things cannot be undone now,
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I now grant you full authority
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to act on behalf of
the Liangjiang Viceroy's Office
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in all external negotiations
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as well as financial and grain matters.
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All the manpower and resources
of Liangjiang
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are at your disposal,
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and all officials of Liangjiang
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are ready to follow your orders.
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You handle it!
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{\an8}[Righteous and Diligent]
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We need to confirm
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your qualifications.
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We need to confirm
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your qualifications.
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What qualifications?
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What qualifications?
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We've been accustomed to
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dealing with the Qing Dynasty's officials,
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the ones with peacock feathers
behind their hats.
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I'd like to ask
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if Xianghe Trade House
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is a government institution
of your country?
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If not,
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and if
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what we are negotiating now
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is purely a commercial matter,
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then what right do they have
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to demand that
our imperial court officials
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attend?
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Do you have the authority
to sign a contract
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on behalf of Liangjiang?
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Of course.
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I believe that before I arrived,
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the official documents
from the Liangjiang Viceroy's Office
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had already been delivered to you.
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Alright.
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Chinese people are not that trustworthy.
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He said Chinese people
are not trustworthy.
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But our country would never
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go to war to protect opium.
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That's the difference
between our two countries.
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The title deeds for
all the salt fields and salt shops
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are in order.
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What's next?
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These title deeds for land are effective.
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And then?
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He said he wants to acquire
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all the shares of
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our Lianghuai salt industry.
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Is there a problem with that?
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The salt industry has always been
a state monopoly under the imperial court.
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In your country,
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do they allow merchants
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to sell salt freely?
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{\an8}[Elements of International Law]
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The Elements of International Law.
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I specifically had someone
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translate your country's commercial law.
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According to your law,
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for any industry that is
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exclusively operated and sold
by the government,
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the government naturally
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holds a certain share.
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If he has any disagreement
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on this point,
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we can resolve it
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through official channels.
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Isn't that ironic?
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He said
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isn't that ironic,
talking about commercial laws
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in our Qing Dynasty?
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Then let's take this to their country.
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I believe if we pursue this lawsuit,
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spending 4 or 5 years on it
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shouldn't be a problem.
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It's just I'm afraid that by that time,
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whether Mr. Richard
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will still hold his current position
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at Xianghe Trade House
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is hard to say.
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By that time, if Li Qin's account
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cannot be settled for too long
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and becomes a bad debt,
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I'll feel concerned on his behalf.
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He said
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our Xianghe Trade House believes
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that we have the right to claim
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ownership of our collateral.
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There's no dispute about that, right?
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No.
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But I want to remind him
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from a merchant's perspective
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that all business transactions
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should be based on freedom
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and voluntary participation.
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If he enters
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the Qing Dynasty's commercial market
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with this attitude,
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it would be a complete mistake.
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The title deeds
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he currently holds for those salt fields—
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I can guarantee
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that once he sees them, he'll realize
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they're nothing
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but flat rocks.
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No one will be willing to work for him,
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and the so-called deeds
to those salt shops
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are nothing but empty buildings.
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No one will be willing to
run a store for him,
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and he'll
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gain absolutely nothing.
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Oh, I have many ways
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to make my collateral profitable.
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He said
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they have many ways
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to make
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their collateral profitable.
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They can sell it to other countries
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or
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sell it to our imperial court.
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In short,
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in this world,
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we Chinese care too much about dignity.
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They don't believe we can
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achieve our business goals
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through patience and delay.
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If there's a cannon
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pointing at my doorstep,
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then whatever means I use
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would be beyond reproach.
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If a cannon faces our home,
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I cannot be blamed
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for anything I do.
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Until the goal is achieved,
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the cannons shall not be withdrawn.
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Until the goal is achieved,
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the cannons shall not be withdrawn.
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But maybe
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we can
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continue our negotiations in one month.
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He said perhaps we can come again
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to continue our negotiations in one month.
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Because he knows
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the Emperor and Empress Dowager
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have set you a deadline.
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Maybe in one month,
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I shall be seeing
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your head on the city wall.
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Maybe in one month...
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He'll see
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your head on the city wall.
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Li Qin,
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how could you say such things?
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He's right.
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Perhaps we should both take a step back.
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If Li Qin wants to mortgage
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all the title deeds of
the salt fields and shops
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that he currently holds,
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I believe you're also aware
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that in principle, he's not qualified.
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To gain complete control,
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he has to wait a bit longer.
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We
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made a bet before,
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about which one would be more profitable,
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the Lianghuai Salt Industry Guild
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or his Li family.
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I remember that this bet
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has less than a month left,
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and its outcome
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will determine the ownership
of the salt industry.
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You're telling me
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that you wanna compete
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with an international trade company?
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Are you sure?
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Of course.
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I need to ensure
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that the account audit
is accurate and valid,
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that the competition is fair,
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and that the results
are mutually confirmed.
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I need a contract.
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We need a contract.
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Anything else you want to say?
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If I sign it now,
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someone will
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go to the capital
and raid your house tomorrow,
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and the mighty Li family
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will be gone.
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Mr. Gu.
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There's no need to remind him.
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If someone is determined
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to be a traitor,
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even gods can't save him.
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I don't want it anymore.
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{\an8}[Contract Signatory: Gu Pingyuan]
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{\an8}[Righteous and Diligent]
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The Viceroy is stepping down.
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The Emperor and Empress Dowager
are furious.
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The traitor issue is troublesome.
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Indeed.
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{\an8}[Righteous and Diligent]
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Your Excellency.
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No need for formalities.
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Everyone,
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as you all know,
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the Xianghe Trade House
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is planning to meddle in
the Lianghuai salt industry.
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I've entrusted Mr. Gu
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with full authority over
Liangjiang's financial and grain affairs.
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His orders are my orders.
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This matter concerns our very lives,
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so everyone must be cautious.
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Yes, Your Excellency.
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{\an8}[Clear Rivers and Ringing Shrines]
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{\an8}[Righteous and Diligent]
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If anyone dares play dumb
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or collude with
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foreigners in private,
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I'll hold them fully accountable!
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Mr. Gu,
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please take the seat of honor.
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Please.
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Come on.
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Come on, please.
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{\an8}[Clear Rivers and Ringing Shrines]
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Gentlemen,
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even if I don't say it,
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you're all well aware
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that the Lianghuai salt industry
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is the economic lifeline of Liangjiang.
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{\an8}[Righteous and Diligent]
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No matter which merchant holds it,
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it's still under government supervision.
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But once it falls into
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the foreigners' hands,
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there will be serious trouble.
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Now that we've decided
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to wage a war against the foreigners,
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we must
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00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:18,299
prepare for it with all our might.
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In the Liangjiang region,
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the most abundant product is silk.
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Now, I need you
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to collect raw silk in large quantities
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to encourage private production,
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especially high-quality silk embroidery.
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I know you already have
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a lot in stock,
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but I need even more.
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{\an8}[Clear Rivers and Ringing Shrines]
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You must do your utmost to collect it.
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I'm counting on all of you.
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{\an8}[Righteous and Diligent]
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I need you to compile
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an exact inventory of
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all the raw silk
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you can collect this year,
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including silk in stock
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and local specialties for me.
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The sooner, the better.
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The desks are all prepared for you.
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If you can't recall
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or don't know the numbers,
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quickly send someone back to check.
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Everything must be submitted to me today.
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Yes, Your Excellency.
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{\an8}[Righteous and Diligent]
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Go on ahead.
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{\an8}[Clear Rivers and Ringing Shrines]
286
00:13:11,909 --> 00:13:13,509
Get up. Let me sit for a while.
287
00:13:14,860 --> 00:13:16,409
It actually feels quite comfortable
sitting here.
288
00:13:16,409 --> 00:13:18,669
I have a stomachache seeing you sit here.
289
00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:19,389
Get up.
290
00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:21,149
But if you don't sit there,
291
00:13:21,149 --> 00:13:22,960
His Excellency will have a headache.
292
00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:24,200
His health just can't be good.
293
00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:25,149
Alright, shut up.
294
00:13:25,149 --> 00:13:25,750
Get up.
295
00:13:26,850 --> 00:13:28,580
Wait, I have a question for you.
296
00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:31,549
What do you need all that silk for?
297
00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,399
That's a secret I cannot reveal.
298
00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:37,960
I still have to meet
299
00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:39,080
some important guests.
300
00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:39,740
Gentlemen,
301
00:13:40,149 --> 00:13:41,149
please excuse me.
302
00:13:53,389 --> 00:13:54,389
Mr. Li.
303
00:13:55,750 --> 00:13:56,879
You look so relaxed.
304
00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:03,000
You won't let me lose to
305
00:14:03,149 --> 00:14:04,879
that Chinese fellow, will you?
306
00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:09,029
You have steamships.
307
00:14:10,389 --> 00:14:11,389
You can sell your goods
308
00:14:11,389 --> 00:14:13,320
all over the world.
309
00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:16,559
Can't the East India Company
310
00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:19,080
defeat
311
00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:21,009
the Liangjiang Viceroy's Office?
312
00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:25,220
Do you think
313
00:14:25,269 --> 00:14:27,000
this Chinese man surnamed Gu
314
00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:29,200
can beat me?
315
00:14:33,789 --> 00:14:35,509
He might be able to beat you,
316
00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:39,259
and he might be able to beat me,
317
00:14:40,750 --> 00:14:43,240
but he can never beat this ship.
318
00:14:51,580 --> 00:14:56,340
{\an8}[Huizhou Prefecture]
319
00:14:59,029 --> 00:15:01,279
Our "Top Tea Under Heaven" is back!
320
00:15:02,750 --> 00:15:04,440
-Mr. Gu!
-Mr. Gu!
321
00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:06,509
We've been waiting for you, Mr. Gu!
322
00:15:06,509 --> 00:15:08,370
You've had a long journey, Mr. Gu.
323
00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:17,389
Old Master Hu.
324
00:15:17,389 --> 00:15:18,120
You're back.
325
00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:19,480
Please, this way.
326
00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:34,600
These are the accounts
327
00:15:34,870 --> 00:15:36,870
of our business with foreigners
over the years.
328
00:15:36,870 --> 00:15:38,440
Look through them carefully.
329
00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:40,669
We've heard
330
00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:43,269
that you're challenging the foreigners
331
00:15:43,269 --> 00:15:45,120
and you plan to beat them in business.
332
00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:47,360
Just tell us what you need.
333
00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:49,120
If money is needed, we'll provide money;
334
00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:51,389
if manpower is needed,
we'll provide manpower.
335
00:15:51,389 --> 00:15:52,720
That's right.
336
00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:54,509
-Yes.
-Everyone.
337
00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:56,840
I won't waste time with words of thanks.
338
00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:58,500
I need this year's spring tea.
339
00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:00,070
From now on,
340
00:16:00,149 --> 00:16:01,360
it cannot be sent to other tea shops,
341
00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:02,720
especially first-grade
and second-grade tea.
342
00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:03,389
Keep it all for me
343
00:16:03,389 --> 00:16:04,649
and wait for my orders.
344
00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:06,269
Okay.
345
00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:08,370
Everyone's agreed, right?
346
00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:09,960
If anyone can't make ends meet,
347
00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:10,690
come find me.
348
00:16:11,389 --> 00:16:13,789
Don't ruin our grand plan.
349
00:16:17,139 --> 00:16:20,360
{\an8}[Pingyao, Shanxi]
350
00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:28,000
Mr. Li!
351
00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:30,100
I've been waiting for you all day.
352
00:16:36,570 --> 00:16:38,029
That ride has been so bumpy
353
00:16:38,389 --> 00:16:39,629
that my bones feel like
they're falling apart.
354
00:16:39,629 --> 00:16:41,090
Quick, get in and sit down.
355
00:16:43,139 --> 00:16:43,919
Alright.
356
00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:45,750
You know, after I said
I'd come pick you up,
357
00:16:45,750 --> 00:16:47,809
I saw this carriage outside,
358
00:16:48,870 --> 00:16:50,600
and I felt I had to give it a ride.
359
00:16:50,860 --> 00:16:51,960
Haven't driven one in decades,
360
00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:53,759
but I'm still quite steady at it.
361
00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:56,200
So,
362
00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:57,549
dare to ride with me?
363
00:16:57,549 --> 00:16:59,389
Sure. Just keep it steady.
364
00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:01,120
You're quite picky, huh?
365
00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:15,250
Remember Wang Tiangui?
366
00:17:16,338 --> 00:17:17,430
How could I forget?
367
00:17:18,029 --> 00:17:19,348
He had no children,
368
00:17:19,799 --> 00:17:20,598
and after he went missing,
369
00:17:20,598 --> 00:17:21,750
only a few creditors
370
00:17:21,789 --> 00:17:23,269
were looking for him every day.
371
00:17:23,269 --> 00:17:25,598
What about his draft banks and pawnshops?
372
00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:27,720
Only heaven knows.
373
00:17:28,549 --> 00:17:29,609
Only heaven knows?
374
00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:33,069
Do you know
375
00:17:33,069 --> 00:17:34,789
what the truth about wealth is?
376
00:17:34,789 --> 00:17:36,750
It belongs neither to you nor me.
377
00:17:37,450 --> 00:17:39,230
It circulates among people.
378
00:17:39,509 --> 00:17:41,109
Whoever keeps it longer
379
00:17:41,750 --> 00:17:43,029
is favored by heaven.
380
00:17:53,569 --> 00:17:58,240
{\an8}[Pine and Bamboo Contain Charm]
381
00:17:55,269 --> 00:17:56,750
I thought you were
382
00:17:56,750 --> 00:17:58,750
doing some big business in Nanjing.
383
00:17:59,029 --> 00:18:00,690
Now that you're back, how come
384
00:18:00,829 --> 00:18:02,549
you're eating like
a starving ghost reincarnated?
385
00:18:02,549 --> 00:18:03,440
I don't know why,
386
00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:04,349
but as soon as I saw you guys,
387
00:18:04,349 --> 00:18:05,480
I got really hungry.
388
00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:06,240
I was too worried to eat
389
00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:07,700
back in Jinling, you know?
390
00:18:10,329 --> 00:18:11,990
You've eaten so many noodles—
391
00:18:12,549 --> 00:18:14,029
so when do you plan to tell me
392
00:18:14,029 --> 00:18:15,690
that Chang Yu'er's pregnant?
393
00:18:17,029 --> 00:18:17,509
Right.
394
00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:18,920
What do you mean "right"?
395
00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:19,720
Are you planning to wait
396
00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:20,640
until after the child is born
397
00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:22,039
to thank the matchmaker?
398
00:18:23,029 --> 00:18:24,200
Madam, I was wrong.
399
00:18:24,589 --> 00:18:25,599
I even told Yu'er
400
00:18:25,750 --> 00:18:26,720
that once the child is born,
401
00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:28,309
we'll have him recognize you
as Godmother.
402
00:18:28,309 --> 00:18:28,789
If it weren't for you
403
00:18:28,789 --> 00:18:29,920
giving me those few hints,
404
00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:30,480
who knows
405
00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:31,960
how long I would have remained confused?
406
00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:32,920
That's absolutely true.
407
00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:33,940
Of course it is.
408
00:18:34,269 --> 00:18:36,200
Otherwise, I wouldn't let you off.
409
00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:37,690
Come on, sit.
410
00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:38,960
But
411
00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:40,369
how did you find out?
412
00:18:41,700 --> 00:18:44,029
We sent someone to deliver some medicine.
413
00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:45,619
He doesn't know anything.
414
00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:46,829
Since your mother passed away,
415
00:18:46,829 --> 00:18:48,960
you've been having a hard time, right?
416
00:18:49,509 --> 00:18:50,039
Alright.
417
00:18:50,549 --> 00:18:51,000
Buddy,
418
00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:53,160
let's get down to business.
419
00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:54,819
What big deal have you brought?
420
00:18:54,819 --> 00:18:55,549
You have no idea
421
00:18:55,549 --> 00:18:56,720
how exhausted I've been
these past 10 days.
422
00:18:56,720 --> 00:18:57,400
First,
423
00:18:57,400 --> 00:18:58,880
I visited all the silk factories
424
00:18:58,880 --> 00:18:59,880
in the Huzhou and Jinling area.
425
00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:00,509
Then
426
00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:01,349
I went to visit
427
00:19:01,349 --> 00:19:03,029
the Anhui Tea Merchants' Association.
428
00:19:03,029 --> 00:19:04,359
After leaving here,
429
00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:07,029
I still have to go to Hangzhou
to meet with Wu Caishen.
430
00:19:07,029 --> 00:19:08,549
He's been in the silk business for years,
431
00:19:08,549 --> 00:19:10,160
so he must have plenty in stock.
432
00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:12,349
After that, I also need to
go to the capital
433
00:19:12,349 --> 00:19:15,109
and pay a visit to
the Office of General Management.
434
00:19:15,109 --> 00:19:15,750
Why?
435
00:19:16,799 --> 00:19:17,549
Recently,
436
00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:19,789
I've been studying
the "Elements of International Law."
437
00:19:19,789 --> 00:19:21,269
It states that
438
00:19:21,349 --> 00:19:23,079
trade is free in all countries.
439
00:19:23,309 --> 00:19:25,009
Our country's exports
440
00:19:25,079 --> 00:19:29,470
{\an8}[Pine and Bamboo Contain Charm]
441
00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:26,559
to India fall mainly into
442
00:19:26,750 --> 00:19:28,750
4 categories:
443
00:19:28,750 --> 00:19:29,880
tea, silk, medicine, and porcelain.
444
00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:31,400
I don't know much about porcelain,
445
00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:33,349
but I have some connections
for the other three.
446
00:19:33,349 --> 00:19:35,200
I plan to follow my previous plan:
447
00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:37,400
I want to bypass the East India Company.
448
00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:40,309
You want to transport
449
00:19:40,309 --> 00:19:42,269
the goods directly to India?
450
00:19:43,650 --> 00:19:44,640
If possible,
451
00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:45,839
I want to go even further.
452
00:19:45,839 --> 00:19:47,680
All the way west across the Indian Ocean
453
00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:48,440
to sell to the British
454
00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:49,500
and Americans.
455
00:19:49,789 --> 00:19:50,829
Since they can come to our country,
456
00:19:50,829 --> 00:19:52,759
why can't we go to their countries?
457
00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:55,349
Come on, let's have a drink.
458
00:19:55,349 --> 00:19:56,809
That's a bit frightening.
459
00:19:57,400 --> 00:19:58,279
I'll drink too.
460
00:20:02,349 --> 00:20:04,150
I heard you have a 6-month bet
461
00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:05,349
with Xianghe Trade House
462
00:20:05,349 --> 00:20:07,309
over the salt field property rights.
463
00:20:07,309 --> 00:20:08,269
How could you still have time
464
00:20:08,269 --> 00:20:10,329
to deal with all these other matters?
465
00:20:10,349 --> 00:20:12,069
Madam, do you think I can win?
466
00:20:13,079 --> 00:20:13,950
You can't?
467
00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:16,109
Given the current situation,
468
00:20:16,109 --> 00:20:17,440
I definitely can't win.
469
00:20:17,859 --> 00:20:18,880
If you want your business to grow,
470
00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:19,960
the market has to be big.
471
00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:20,720
Our market
472
00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:22,680
is limited to 13 provinces,
7 in the south and 6 in the north.
473
00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:23,880
Except for the 5 salt-producing regions,
474
00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:24,829
in the remaining provinces,
475
00:20:24,829 --> 00:20:26,700
the scale and profits of salt shops
476
00:20:26,700 --> 00:20:28,160
are basically saturated.
477
00:20:29,069 --> 00:20:30,240
So where does Xianghe Trade House's profit
478
00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:31,630
come from?
479
00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:33,349
From hand to hand, basically.
480
00:20:33,349 --> 00:20:35,549
They sell directly to
the East India Company.
481
00:20:35,549 --> 00:20:37,480
They want to get capital into
the salt industry,
482
00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:39,829
and they're willing to spend more money
to do so.
483
00:20:39,829 --> 00:20:40,920
As for who the East India Company
484
00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:41,769
plans to sell to next—
485
00:20:41,769 --> 00:20:42,829
only heaven knows.
486
00:20:43,349 --> 00:20:44,950
But with their market scale,
487
00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:46,160
this amount of salt
488
00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:47,640
is still manageable for them.
489
00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:48,269
Buddy.
490
00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:50,029
You're trying to take on
491
00:20:50,029 --> 00:20:52,029
the East India Company by yourself—
492
00:20:52,509 --> 00:20:54,170
do you think that's possible?
493
00:20:55,349 --> 00:20:56,720
You're trying to use one man's power
494
00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:58,119
against a whole country.
495
00:20:58,180 --> 00:20:59,779
Your ambition is admirable,
496
00:20:59,920 --> 00:21:01,519
but it's simply impossible.
497
00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:03,920
You know that when I went abroad before,
498
00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:05,490
I also sold to local agents.
499
00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:07,509
The profit was indeed a bit higher.
500
00:21:07,509 --> 00:21:09,480
But since we still rely on
the foreigners' ships,
501
00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:11,509
opportunities to go abroad
still aren't frequent.
502
00:21:11,509 --> 00:21:12,480
If you want to establish
503
00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:14,539
your own business foundation there,
504
00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:17,250
even 10 or 20 years wouldn't be enough.
505
00:21:17,549 --> 00:21:19,009
I don't have 10 or 20 years.
506
00:21:19,230 --> 00:21:20,160
It can't be done.
507
00:21:20,829 --> 00:21:22,089
It's just impossible.
508
00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:24,299
Human capability has its limits.
509
00:21:25,349 --> 00:21:26,670
Besides, in this era,
510
00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:28,119
this kind of business
511
00:21:28,269 --> 00:21:29,960
can no longer be considered
ordinary commerce—
512
00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:32,690
it's more like a competition
between countries.
513
00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:35,170
You're being too unrealistic.
514
00:21:37,029 --> 00:21:38,369
The raw silk,
515
00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:38,970
tea,
516
00:21:39,269 --> 00:21:40,200
and other goods you bring in—
517
00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:41,920
how much capital do you need to tie up?
518
00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:43,240
The Qing Dynasty explicitly prohibits
519
00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:44,160
merchants from
520
00:21:44,180 --> 00:21:45,349
doing business abroad freely,
521
00:21:45,349 --> 00:21:45,750
right?
522
00:21:45,769 --> 00:21:47,769
You'd be breaking the imperial law.
523
00:21:48,089 --> 00:21:50,029
And you even want to charter
British merchant ships.
524
00:21:50,029 --> 00:21:51,359
Would customs approve?
525
00:21:51,450 --> 00:21:53,250
Would the merchant ships agree?
526
00:21:53,309 --> 00:21:54,170
As far as I know,
527
00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:56,269
the merchant ships in Shanghai
528
00:21:56,269 --> 00:21:58,670
are mostly owned by
the East India Company.
529
00:21:59,109 --> 00:22:00,170
And one last thing.
530
00:22:00,589 --> 00:22:01,680
Even if you overcome
531
00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:02,789
all these difficulties
532
00:22:02,789 --> 00:22:04,789
and get the goods transported to India,
533
00:22:04,789 --> 00:22:05,589
let me ask you:
534
00:22:05,630 --> 00:22:07,029
where will be your warehouse?
535
00:22:07,029 --> 00:22:08,589
Where will be your headquarters?
536
00:22:08,589 --> 00:22:09,589
Where will be your branch stores?
537
00:22:09,589 --> 00:22:11,480
Who will be the manager
and who will be the staff?
538
00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:14,140
You'll be completely in the dark.
539
00:22:14,509 --> 00:22:16,039
Who will you sell to, buddy?
540
00:22:17,650 --> 00:22:19,079
Also, tea and silk
541
00:22:19,109 --> 00:22:20,509
are both perishable.
542
00:22:20,750 --> 00:22:21,640
At most, you'd have
543
00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:23,319
only 2 or 3 months to sell them.
544
00:22:23,509 --> 00:22:25,369
Tea ages, and silk deteriorates.
545
00:22:25,509 --> 00:22:26,480
One small mistake
546
00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:28,210
and you could lose everything.
547
00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:31,240
Madam.
548
00:22:32,069 --> 00:22:33,069
You don't understand.
549
00:22:33,069 --> 00:22:33,829
Of course I understand.
550
00:22:33,829 --> 00:22:34,289
Well...
551
00:22:34,509 --> 00:22:36,240
His plan is to send a warning shot,
552
00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:37,480
forcing the East India Company
553
00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:38,829
to return the salt field ownership
554
00:22:38,829 --> 00:22:40,349
they took.
555
00:22:41,029 --> 00:22:42,160
But the question is,
556
00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:45,440
can you really achieve that
by following the same method?
557
00:22:56,960 --> 00:22:57,869
This place
558
00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:00,440
doesn't look like a merchant's residence.
559
00:23:04,069 --> 00:23:06,269
Before my father became a businessman,
560
00:23:06,349 --> 00:23:07,609
he used to be a scholar.
561
00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:12,200
So why didn't he become an official?
562
00:23:13,029 --> 00:23:14,069
Don't all Chinese people
563
00:23:14,069 --> 00:23:17,069
want to take the imperial exams
and become officials?
564
00:23:20,339 --> 00:23:21,109
It was because he felt that
565
00:23:21,109 --> 00:23:23,509
holding an official position was useless.
566
00:23:25,750 --> 00:23:27,809
Because the once-proud Qing Dynasty
567
00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:30,380
had already come to an end.
568
00:23:34,109 --> 00:23:34,750
Young Master,
569
00:23:34,750 --> 00:23:35,549
they're here.
570
00:24:17,349 --> 00:24:19,079
My respects, Your Excellency.
571
00:24:21,700 --> 00:24:22,349
Li Qin.
572
00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:24,829
I'm here on imperial order to
raid your house.
573
00:24:24,829 --> 00:24:26,029
Are you aware of that?
574
00:24:26,789 --> 00:24:29,309
Please elaborate, Your Excellency.
575
00:24:32,269 --> 00:24:33,509
You mortgaged the salt field title deeds
576
00:24:33,509 --> 00:24:35,160
to Xianghe Trade House,
577
00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:37,880
severely damaging Liangjiang's economy.
578
00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:40,519
I went to the capital
to offer a humble apology,
579
00:24:40,890 --> 00:24:42,950
but the Empress Dowager was furious.
580
00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:44,829
In my opinion,
although you and your father
581
00:24:44,829 --> 00:24:46,960
both bought your official positions,
582
00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:49,960
you're after all
subjects of the Qing Dynasty.
583
00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:51,640
If you repent now,
584
00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:53,329
we can still negotiate.
585
00:24:53,750 --> 00:24:54,589
Otherwise,
586
00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:57,200
don't blame me for being ruthless.
587
00:25:08,029 --> 00:25:08,880
You've wanted to raid my house
588
00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:10,480
for a long time, haven't you?
589
00:25:11,109 --> 00:25:12,589
Ever since my father died,
590
00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:14,930
countless people have been eyeing
591
00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:17,119
our Li family's fortune.
592
00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:20,789
According to
the "Great Qing Legal Code,"
593
00:25:20,789 --> 00:25:22,960
I'm also going to have you arrested.
594
00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:25,509
Stand up.
595
00:25:27,309 --> 00:25:28,509
Mr. Li Qin
596
00:25:29,269 --> 00:25:30,829
is now
597
00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:33,109
a partner of Xianghe Trade House.
598
00:25:33,269 --> 00:25:35,349
You have no authority to arrest him.
599
00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:39,200
This
600
00:25:40,069 --> 00:25:41,509
is the identity certificate
601
00:25:41,509 --> 00:25:43,480
our envoy issued for him.
602
00:26:00,829 --> 00:26:01,509
Li Qin.
603
00:26:02,549 --> 00:26:05,009
Are you even abandoning
your ancestors now?
604
00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:23,529
I have no ancestors.
605
00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:25,519
Nonsense!
606
00:26:25,750 --> 00:26:27,640
Did you spring from a rock?
607
00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:29,109
What do you mean you have no ancestors?
608
00:26:29,109 --> 00:26:30,039
Utter nonsense!
609
00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:33,160
Do you expect me to acknowledge
610
00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:35,490
those people surnamed Gu as my ancestors?
611
00:26:38,029 --> 00:26:39,400
I don't even know if my father's surname
612
00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:40,960
was Li or Gu.
613
00:26:44,309 --> 00:26:45,269
No one ever told me
614
00:26:45,269 --> 00:26:46,599
where they were buried,
615
00:26:48,069 --> 00:26:50,329
and I have no idea who they actually were.
616
00:26:53,069 --> 00:26:54,589
After my father died,
617
00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:58,440
I suddenly realized that in this world,
618
00:26:59,269 --> 00:27:01,069
I'm actually completely alone.
619
00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:04,789
So save your breath.
620
00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:14,349
Are you sure
621
00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:17,299
you don't want to reconsider?
622
00:27:21,549 --> 00:27:23,880
You've said everything you needed to say.
623
00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:25,509
Let's go.
624
00:27:33,329 --> 00:27:34,730
Confiscate everything!
625
00:27:39,109 --> 00:27:41,589
What a fine and virtuous person
you once were—
626
00:27:41,589 --> 00:27:43,309
how did you end up a traitor?
627
00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:05,250
Such a wonderful home,
628
00:28:05,589 --> 00:28:06,549
gone like that.
629
00:28:08,029 --> 00:28:09,750
My home was long gone—
630
00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:12,920
back when my father
631
00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:14,549
lied to me.
632
00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:17,359
For the rest of my life...
633
00:28:19,349 --> 00:28:20,400
For the rest of my life,
634
00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:22,130
I want to be a different person.
635
00:28:22,789 --> 00:28:23,349
Li,
636
00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:26,400
come and join the East India Company.
637
00:28:27,109 --> 00:28:27,960
In 6 months,
638
00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:29,559
you'll be able to control
639
00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:32,349
the Qing Dynasty's
most important industry.
640
00:28:33,160 --> 00:28:35,160
You can buy a even better house then.
641
00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:38,779
Can you really win?
642
00:28:39,549 --> 00:28:40,720
That buddy of mine
643
00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:43,700
is extremely cunning.
644
00:28:47,029 --> 00:28:49,240
It's useless to be cunning.
645
00:28:50,349 --> 00:28:53,000
In business, we don't rely on
cunning—
646
00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:54,569
we rely on strength,
647
00:28:55,240 --> 00:28:56,400
and on cannons.
648
00:28:57,720 --> 00:28:58,680
Could your buddy
649
00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:00,720
be even more powerful than
650
00:29:00,720 --> 00:29:02,049
the East India Company?
651
00:29:22,690 --> 00:29:25,900
{\an8}[Hangzhou]
652
00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:27,920
Mr. Gu!
653
00:29:32,069 --> 00:29:32,509
Here.
654
00:29:34,549 --> 00:29:36,750
I've been hearing so much about you lately
655
00:29:36,750 --> 00:29:38,950
that my ears are nearly deaf from it all.
656
00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:39,789
Well, we businessmen
657
00:29:39,789 --> 00:29:41,200
pray to the God of Wealth every day.
658
00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:43,269
If that caused deafness,
I'd be deaf long ago.
659
00:29:43,269 --> 00:29:45,130
Come on, let me show you the goods.
660
00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:50,900
Please come in, Mr. Gu.
661
00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:52,000
Open it.
662
00:29:58,029 --> 00:30:00,029
Let's take a look at the goods first.
663
00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:09,410
This is simply...
664
00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:12,240
What do you think?
665
00:30:15,069 --> 00:30:15,789
I've always considered myself
666
00:30:15,789 --> 00:30:17,920
someone who has seen fine embroidery.
667
00:30:18,309 --> 00:30:20,509
But after seeing your goods, I realized
668
00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:21,509
everything I'd seen before
669
00:30:21,509 --> 00:30:22,509
was just garbage.
670
00:30:24,869 --> 00:30:26,519
The embroidery from Huizhou
671
00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:28,319
is certainly quite good.
672
00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:30,200
However,
673
00:30:30,269 --> 00:30:31,640
compared to the embroidery
from Hangzhou and Suzhou,
674
00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:32,440
it definitely
675
00:30:33,069 --> 00:30:34,440
can't match up.
676
00:30:35,809 --> 00:30:37,740
Also, check out our embroiderers.
677
00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:40,359
They've all served in the imperial palace.
678
00:30:41,029 --> 00:30:42,029
Since childhood,
679
00:30:42,190 --> 00:30:44,079
apart from using chopsticks,
680
00:30:44,160 --> 00:30:45,880
they've never done any other manual work
681
00:30:45,880 --> 00:30:46,880
with their hands.
682
00:30:47,269 --> 00:30:47,960
Why is that?
683
00:30:51,509 --> 00:30:53,109
You see, these hands of ours,
684
00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:55,930
if they do even a bit of rough work,
685
00:30:56,240 --> 00:30:58,569
they lose their smoothness and softness.
686
00:30:59,349 --> 00:31:00,690
Our embroiderers here
687
00:31:00,740 --> 00:31:02,309
have learned embroidery since childhood
688
00:31:02,309 --> 00:31:04,269
and have been waited on hand and foot.
689
00:31:04,269 --> 00:31:05,470
To be honest with you,
690
00:31:05,509 --> 00:31:08,839
they use the finest wax
to take care of their hands every day.
691
00:31:11,390 --> 00:31:13,250
Only this way can they work on silk
692
00:31:13,589 --> 00:31:15,960
with thousands upon thousands of stitches
693
00:31:15,960 --> 00:31:17,470
without leaving any trace
694
00:31:17,789 --> 00:31:19,470
or causing
695
00:31:19,549 --> 00:31:21,349
any pilling on the silk surface.
696
00:31:21,509 --> 00:31:22,269
These are all
697
00:31:22,269 --> 00:31:23,799
big secrets of our silk industry.
698
00:31:23,799 --> 00:31:24,549
I'm only telling you this
699
00:31:24,549 --> 00:31:26,750
because you aren't in this line of work.
700
00:31:27,829 --> 00:31:28,630
God of Wealth,
701
00:31:29,059 --> 00:31:29,880
you've truly mastered
702
00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:31,009
the art of business.
703
00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:31,839
Unlike me,
704
00:31:32,150 --> 00:31:33,880
biting off more than I can chew.
705
00:31:34,549 --> 00:31:35,279
Come on, sit.
706
00:31:36,440 --> 00:31:37,440
You may leave now.
707
00:31:45,269 --> 00:31:46,309
I heard
708
00:31:46,640 --> 00:31:48,769
something big happened in Jiangning,
709
00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:52,359
that you've gotten into a conflict
with Xianghe Trade House?
710
00:31:53,349 --> 00:31:54,920
I heard that you, God of Wealth,
711
00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:58,119
have business dealings
with Xianghe Trade House, right?
712
00:32:00,589 --> 00:32:02,529
In the silk business,
713
00:32:02,589 --> 00:32:03,720
Xianghe Trade House
714
00:32:04,160 --> 00:32:04,880
is indeed my
715
00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:06,200
biggest competitor.
716
00:32:07,349 --> 00:32:09,210
That Richard is a cunning old fox.
717
00:32:09,309 --> 00:32:11,109
You may not be able to outwit him.
718
00:32:12,549 --> 00:32:14,309
Even if I can't, I still have to fight.
719
00:32:14,309 --> 00:32:15,640
Those foreigners are trying
720
00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:18,200
to monopolize the entire salt industry
of Lianghuai.
721
00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:19,000
God of Wealth,
722
00:32:19,509 --> 00:32:20,410
no matter what,
723
00:32:20,789 --> 00:32:22,079
you must lend me a hand.
724
00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:29,680
Our two families
have been competing for decades.
725
00:32:29,890 --> 00:32:31,019
Tell me,
726
00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:32,920
what good strategy do you have in mind?
727
00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:34,160
If it's truly workable,
728
00:32:34,160 --> 00:32:36,690
I'd certainly be happy to
enjoy the benefits.
729
00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:38,710
I want to know
730
00:32:39,269 --> 00:32:40,400
if the Xianghe Trade House
731
00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:41,829
is the East India Company's
732
00:32:41,829 --> 00:32:42,509
only institution
733
00:32:42,509 --> 00:32:44,240
stationed in our Qing Dynasty?
734
00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:46,109
Of course not.
735
00:32:46,880 --> 00:32:48,240
So is the East India Company
736
00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:49,200
the only
737
00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:51,569
British commercial company in India?
738
00:32:52,200 --> 00:32:53,480
No, this East India Company
739
00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:54,720
is just one of them.
740
00:32:54,829 --> 00:32:56,589
But in terms of scale,
741
00:32:57,069 --> 00:32:58,470
it is indeed the largest.
742
00:33:01,069 --> 00:33:03,029
I don't need the scale to be very large.
743
00:33:03,029 --> 00:33:04,289
Actually, this method
744
00:33:04,349 --> 00:33:07,789
is something I learned from
the "Strategies of the Warring States."
745
00:33:07,789 --> 00:33:09,079
It can help you, Mr. Wu,
746
00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:10,759
sweep away your competitor.
747
00:33:12,349 --> 00:33:13,880
What do you mean by that?
748
00:33:15,029 --> 00:33:16,289
I need the finest goods
749
00:33:16,349 --> 00:33:17,609
you have in your stock.
750
00:33:18,069 --> 00:33:18,920
That's easy.
751
00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:20,700
Just tell me what you want
752
00:33:20,829 --> 00:33:22,000
and where you want it shipped.
753
00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:24,059
I'll hire a ship to deliver it for you.
754
00:33:24,640 --> 00:33:26,240
We can't use ordinary ships.
755
00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:28,240
I want to contact a British company
756
00:33:28,240 --> 00:33:29,750
and use the foreigners' ships
757
00:33:29,750 --> 00:33:30,789
to transport the goods to India,
758
00:33:30,789 --> 00:33:32,390
or even directly to Britain.
759
00:33:32,759 --> 00:33:33,549
I also need you
760
00:33:33,549 --> 00:33:35,009
to come with me to Shanghai
761
00:33:35,480 --> 00:33:37,920
to meet Mr. Hart from the Customs Office.
762
00:33:38,509 --> 00:33:39,789
I plan to set sail westward
763
00:33:39,789 --> 00:33:42,589
and use
the "Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao" strategy.
764
00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:45,160
I'm afraid I won't be able to
rent such ships.
765
00:33:45,160 --> 00:33:47,589
Someone else will help me rent them.
766
00:33:48,440 --> 00:33:48,960
I know
767
00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:50,480
you're on good terms with Mr. Hart,
768
00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:51,240
so I must
769
00:33:51,240 --> 00:33:52,509
take you with me.
770
00:33:58,029 --> 00:33:58,589
Buddy.
771
00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:01,000
Do you really mean
772
00:34:02,509 --> 00:34:04,029
your words?
773
00:34:04,920 --> 00:34:06,380
I've made a solemn pledge.
774
00:34:07,400 --> 00:34:08,800
This is no joking matter.
775
00:34:09,579 --> 00:34:14,130
{\an8}[Hart's Residence, Shanghai]
776
00:34:10,510 --> 00:34:12,190
I expected you'd come,
777
00:34:12,230 --> 00:34:13,920
but I didn't expect it to be this late.
778
00:34:13,920 --> 00:34:14,519
Is that so?
779
00:34:14,920 --> 00:34:16,110
I wasn't referring to you.
780
00:34:16,110 --> 00:34:17,639
I didn't expect you to come.
781
00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:18,969
But it was only right
782
00:34:19,030 --> 00:34:19,840
that he came.
783
00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:22,800
I'm taking the blame for someone else.
784
00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:23,659
I had to come.
785
00:34:23,760 --> 00:34:25,420
This mess has gotten serious.
786
00:34:25,570 --> 00:34:27,840
I've received an imperial edict
these past days.
787
00:34:27,840 --> 00:34:29,150
The Empress Dowager
788
00:34:29,150 --> 00:34:30,550
has strictly ordered
the Viceroy of Liangjiang
789
00:34:30,550 --> 00:34:32,110
to reclaim the salt fields.
790
00:34:32,150 --> 00:34:33,550
What on earth is going on with you guys?
791
00:34:33,550 --> 00:34:35,809
You've provoked the East India Company?
792
00:34:37,230 --> 00:34:38,889
I'll put in a good word for you.
793
00:34:39,550 --> 00:34:40,610
Business like this
794
00:34:40,670 --> 00:34:41,550
can't be done
795
00:34:41,550 --> 00:34:43,010
through personal favors.
796
00:34:44,150 --> 00:34:45,949
If I were the East India Company,
797
00:34:46,150 --> 00:34:48,210
it wouldn't matter who came begging.
798
00:34:49,360 --> 00:34:50,400
Did you receive the information,
799
00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:52,480
or did you figure this out on your own?
800
00:34:53,550 --> 00:34:55,440
Sir, you've already
gone to negotiate with them, haven't you?
801
00:34:55,440 --> 00:34:56,710
As soon as I received the edict,
802
00:34:56,710 --> 00:34:57,630
I went to negotiate,
803
00:34:57,630 --> 00:34:58,690
but it didn't work.
804
00:34:59,510 --> 00:35:00,510
Apart from opium,
805
00:35:00,550 --> 00:35:02,349
it seems that the Chinese market
806
00:35:02,710 --> 00:35:05,110
isn't welcoming to British goods.
807
00:35:08,070 --> 00:35:09,070
Your Excellency.
808
00:35:12,280 --> 00:35:13,150
Greetings, Your Excellency.
809
00:35:13,150 --> 00:35:14,750
Come sit here and let's talk.
810
00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:20,679
Let me ask you:
811
00:35:21,280 --> 00:35:22,590
how many salt shops
812
00:35:22,590 --> 00:35:23,760
does your
813
00:35:23,760 --> 00:35:25,510
Salt Industry Guild currently control?
814
00:35:25,510 --> 00:35:27,480
In response to your question,
Your Excellency,
815
00:35:27,480 --> 00:35:28,630
including the newly opened
816
00:35:28,630 --> 00:35:30,039
117 shops,
817
00:35:30,110 --> 00:35:32,550
there's a total of 305.
818
00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:34,650
With these 305 shops,
819
00:35:34,960 --> 00:35:35,670
not counting
820
00:35:35,670 --> 00:35:38,360
the money you've invested in
newly opened shops,
821
00:35:38,360 --> 00:35:40,360
at your most profitable time,
822
00:35:40,360 --> 00:35:42,489
could you make 10 million taels a year?
823
00:35:45,590 --> 00:35:46,989
Not that much, I suppose.
824
00:35:47,320 --> 00:35:49,599
By my estimate, it's only about
825
00:35:49,710 --> 00:35:50,639
9 million taels,
826
00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:52,460
with little fluctuation.
827
00:35:52,510 --> 00:35:54,230
The point is this is just gross profit.
828
00:35:54,230 --> 00:35:54,550
It's...
829
00:35:54,550 --> 00:35:55,880
That's not right.
830
00:35:57,030 --> 00:35:58,030
What's not right?
831
00:35:58,880 --> 00:36:00,690
Your boss Mr. Gu
832
00:36:00,880 --> 00:36:02,150
has been making big moves recently.
833
00:36:02,150 --> 00:36:03,679
Didn't you know about that?
834
00:36:05,360 --> 00:36:06,489
Are you referring to
835
00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:09,590
Mr. Gu going to Anhui to collect tea?
836
00:36:10,480 --> 00:36:12,679
It's far more than just tea collection.
837
00:36:12,840 --> 00:36:14,360
Silk, medicine—
838
00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:15,960
he's dealing in everything now.
839
00:36:15,960 --> 00:36:16,960
Besides,
840
00:36:17,320 --> 00:36:19,190
he's now openly saying
841
00:36:19,190 --> 00:36:21,719
he's going to ship a batch of goods
to Britain.
842
00:36:23,920 --> 00:36:25,320
I want to contact a British company
843
00:36:25,320 --> 00:36:26,440
that competes with
844
00:36:26,440 --> 00:36:28,000
the East India Company
845
00:36:29,070 --> 00:36:30,280
and partner with them
846
00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:31,760
in tea, silk, medicine
847
00:36:31,760 --> 00:36:32,880
and other businesses.
848
00:36:32,880 --> 00:36:34,230
I'll have this British company
849
00:36:34,230 --> 00:36:35,190
handle my sales,
850
00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:37,760
and I'll be the supplier
allocating the goods.
851
00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:38,619
I can guarantee
852
00:36:38,960 --> 00:36:40,420
that all goods from my side
853
00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:42,150
are of the highest quality,
854
00:36:42,150 --> 00:36:44,150
and I can guarantee to
procure it at the lowest price.
855
00:36:44,150 --> 00:36:44,800
If we can
856
00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:45,840
carve out a market of our own
857
00:36:45,840 --> 00:36:47,360
within every commercial sector
858
00:36:47,360 --> 00:36:49,090
the East India Company covers,
859
00:36:49,320 --> 00:36:50,110
we can force them
860
00:36:50,110 --> 00:36:51,440
to come and negotiate with us.
861
00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:52,400
With a monster like this—
862
00:36:52,400 --> 00:36:53,530
a commercial giant—
863
00:36:53,630 --> 00:36:54,760
gentle persuasion is useless.
864
00:36:54,760 --> 00:36:56,000
You have to make them scared,
865
00:36:56,000 --> 00:36:57,360
make them feel threatened.
866
00:36:57,360 --> 00:36:59,090
I've made a rough calculation.
867
00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:01,320
The cost of this shipment of goods
868
00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:02,250
is equivalent to
869
00:37:02,760 --> 00:37:04,400
what your Salt Industry Guild
870
00:37:04,400 --> 00:37:05,480
makes in 3 years.
871
00:37:06,320 --> 00:37:08,320
Where is he getting that money from?
872
00:37:09,190 --> 00:37:10,519
You're producing salt,
873
00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:12,550
not mining gold.
874
00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:15,000
Your Excellency.
875
00:37:15,480 --> 00:37:16,440
I've also
876
00:37:16,510 --> 00:37:18,170
caught some rumors out there.
877
00:37:18,190 --> 00:37:19,320
Some friends of his
878
00:37:19,659 --> 00:37:20,940
gave him the goods
879
00:37:21,190 --> 00:37:22,849
but didn't collect the money—
880
00:37:22,880 --> 00:37:25,190
said they'd settle it
after the goods are sold...
881
00:37:25,190 --> 00:37:26,920
If this batch of goods
were to be transported
882
00:37:26,920 --> 00:37:28,480
from Shanxi to Shandong,
883
00:37:28,960 --> 00:37:31,289
I could understand delaying the payment.
884
00:37:31,590 --> 00:37:33,320
With Mr. Gu reputation,
885
00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:34,800
it wouldn't be a problem.
886
00:37:35,840 --> 00:37:38,300
But this is going overseas
across the ocean.
887
00:37:38,510 --> 00:37:40,710
This is a completely different matter.
888
00:37:43,440 --> 00:37:45,440
I have something to instruct you on.
889
00:37:47,150 --> 00:37:48,150
Your Excellency,
890
00:37:48,150 --> 00:37:49,230
please give your instructions.
891
00:37:49,230 --> 00:37:51,159
I did ask him to compete with Li Qin,
892
00:37:51,670 --> 00:37:52,840
but I never expected
893
00:37:53,150 --> 00:37:54,320
he would go this far.
894
00:37:54,960 --> 00:37:56,590
Our Qing Dynasty has its
official factories
895
00:37:56,590 --> 00:37:58,280
and the Office of General Management.
896
00:37:58,280 --> 00:37:59,590
Who does he think he is,
897
00:37:59,710 --> 00:38:00,969
selling goods abroad?
898
00:38:02,230 --> 00:38:04,199
If we let him set this precedent,
899
00:38:04,550 --> 00:38:05,840
will the laws of the Qing Dynasty
900
00:38:05,840 --> 00:38:07,320
have to be rewritten?
901
00:38:09,710 --> 00:38:11,710
You're all experienced and mature.
902
00:38:12,030 --> 00:38:13,829
Don't follow his reckless path.
903
00:38:14,760 --> 00:38:16,480
Keep the Salt Industry Guild
904
00:38:16,480 --> 00:38:17,610
in good order for me.
905
00:38:18,670 --> 00:38:19,750
Do you know
906
00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:20,920
why the East India Company
907
00:38:20,920 --> 00:38:22,030
has become
908
00:38:22,030 --> 00:38:22,800
so powerful?
909
00:38:23,110 --> 00:38:24,030
Look down there.
910
00:38:24,030 --> 00:38:25,550
All the merchant ships on this river
911
00:38:25,550 --> 00:38:26,409
belong to them.
912
00:38:26,630 --> 00:38:28,590
May I ask how you plan
913
00:38:28,590 --> 00:38:30,190
to transport your goods to India,
914
00:38:30,190 --> 00:38:31,360
or even to Britain?
915
00:38:32,400 --> 00:38:33,460
I'll use warships.
916
00:38:34,030 --> 00:38:35,230
British warships?
917
00:38:35,920 --> 00:38:36,760
I have my way.
918
00:38:37,280 --> 00:38:38,400
My transportation costs
919
00:38:38,400 --> 00:38:40,199
will be lower than all of theirs.
920
00:38:41,150 --> 00:38:42,800
Then let me ask you another question.
921
00:38:42,800 --> 00:38:44,800
The East India Company
has been doing business
922
00:38:44,800 --> 00:38:46,190
with the Qing Dynasty for years.
923
00:38:46,190 --> 00:38:47,360
I believe the goods they acquire
924
00:38:47,360 --> 00:38:48,630
come at
925
00:38:48,760 --> 00:38:50,510
extremely low prices.
926
00:38:51,110 --> 00:38:53,510
So what advantage do you have
against them?
927
00:38:55,230 --> 00:38:56,019
I have contact with
928
00:38:56,019 --> 00:38:57,670
all the tea merchants in Anhui,
929
00:38:57,670 --> 00:38:58,480
the finest silk
930
00:38:58,480 --> 00:39:00,510
and raw silk in the Liangjiang region,
931
00:39:00,510 --> 00:39:02,230
and medicinal herbs from Shanxi,
932
00:39:02,230 --> 00:39:04,360
things like rhubarb and goji berries.
933
00:39:04,360 --> 00:39:05,710
I can procure all of these goods
934
00:39:05,710 --> 00:39:07,110
at the lowest prices,
935
00:39:07,400 --> 00:39:08,730
ensuring ample profit.
936
00:39:10,920 --> 00:39:12,110
The lowest prices?
937
00:39:13,070 --> 00:39:14,800
Can you really guarantee that?
938
00:39:15,920 --> 00:39:18,119
Merchants do seek profit, that's true.
939
00:39:18,320 --> 00:39:19,150
But this time,
940
00:39:19,630 --> 00:39:20,880
I don't want any profit,
941
00:39:20,880 --> 00:39:22,440
nor do my friends.
942
00:39:23,030 --> 00:39:24,280
Though our Qing Dynasty is weak,
943
00:39:24,280 --> 00:39:25,400
we must never let others
944
00:39:25,400 --> 00:39:26,730
control our lifelines.
945
00:39:33,320 --> 00:39:34,480
It simply means that this year,
946
00:39:34,480 --> 00:39:36,590
our silk business in Jiangnan
947
00:39:37,360 --> 00:39:38,800
will operate without profit.
948
00:39:38,800 --> 00:39:40,110
I can guarantee this.
949
00:39:40,840 --> 00:39:42,099
What about the others?
950
00:39:42,360 --> 00:39:44,630
Do the tea and medicine merchants
951
00:39:44,630 --> 00:39:45,960
also think the same way?
952
00:39:46,480 --> 00:39:47,110
Mr. Hart.
953
00:39:48,400 --> 00:39:49,920
Don't underestimate us
954
00:39:50,159 --> 00:39:51,670
unarmed merchants.
955
00:39:52,440 --> 00:39:53,699
In the way of commerce,
956
00:39:53,960 --> 00:39:55,510
petty schemes serve oneself,
957
00:39:55,510 --> 00:39:57,420
but great strategies serve the nation.
958
00:39:57,420 --> 00:39:58,880
Even in business battles,
959
00:39:59,110 --> 00:40:01,039
one can still serve their country.
960
00:40:05,630 --> 00:40:06,760
What does this mean?
961
00:40:06,920 --> 00:40:08,369
Are these merchants really going to
962
00:40:08,369 --> 00:40:09,110
join forces
963
00:40:09,110 --> 00:40:10,739
t-to defeat that guy?
964
00:40:12,230 --> 00:40:14,070
Whether they'll defeat him or not
965
00:40:14,070 --> 00:40:15,199
is still uncertain.
966
00:40:15,760 --> 00:40:18,090
But at the very least,
we must let them know
967
00:40:18,110 --> 00:40:19,570
that we Chinese merchants
968
00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:21,230
can make money
969
00:40:21,880 --> 00:40:23,539
even without using gunboats.
970
00:40:51,670 --> 00:40:53,070
Thank goodness we got out.
971
00:40:53,070 --> 00:40:53,670
It felt like hell
972
00:40:53,670 --> 00:40:54,840
in there.
973
00:40:56,480 --> 00:40:57,480
Those foreigners
974
00:40:57,480 --> 00:40:59,000
aren't used to our opera.
975
00:40:59,440 --> 00:41:00,440
All that clang clang clang—
976
00:41:00,440 --> 00:41:02,369
they think the gongs are too noisy.
977
00:41:06,550 --> 00:41:07,349
Let me ask you.
978
00:41:08,320 --> 00:41:10,280
Are you doing this out of spite,
979
00:41:10,280 --> 00:41:11,369
or are you serious?
980
00:41:12,550 --> 00:41:13,880
What do you mean by that?
981
00:41:15,880 --> 00:41:17,920
If you're just doing this out of spite,
982
00:41:17,920 --> 00:41:19,360
we can work together
983
00:41:19,510 --> 00:41:21,320
to scare this East India Company
984
00:41:21,320 --> 00:41:23,119
into retreating, and that's it.
985
00:41:23,880 --> 00:41:25,630
People travel far for profit.
986
00:41:25,880 --> 00:41:27,840
No one truly wants to make enemies.
987
00:41:28,590 --> 00:41:30,250
But if you're serious,
988
00:41:30,960 --> 00:41:32,159
then it's dangerous.
989
00:41:32,920 --> 00:41:34,360
This is something that's never happened
990
00:41:34,360 --> 00:41:35,590
in 3,000 years.
991
00:41:39,150 --> 00:41:40,150
What if I tell you
992
00:41:41,480 --> 00:41:42,480
that I am serious?
993
00:41:44,320 --> 00:41:46,110
Stop joking.
994
00:41:48,590 --> 00:41:51,320
You're not actually
planning to do this, are you?
995
00:41:52,030 --> 00:41:53,230
This is the Qing Dynasty,
996
00:41:53,230 --> 00:41:54,190
not England.
997
00:41:54,440 --> 00:41:55,320
If you really get a ship
998
00:41:55,320 --> 00:41:56,360
and transport the goods overseas,
999
00:41:56,360 --> 00:41:57,710
where does that leave the imperial court?
1000
00:41:57,710 --> 00:41:58,480
The "Great Qing Legal Code"
1001
00:41:58,480 --> 00:41:59,940
has no provision for this.
1002
00:42:02,070 --> 00:42:02,710
Mr. Wu.
1003
00:42:04,710 --> 00:42:06,000
I have something I want to say,
1004
00:42:06,000 --> 00:42:07,530
but I'm not sure if I should.
1005
00:42:08,150 --> 00:42:08,590
Go on.
1006
00:42:08,760 --> 00:42:09,590
I'm all ears.
1007
00:42:11,070 --> 00:42:12,840
I think the problem is that our country
1008
00:42:12,840 --> 00:42:14,500
has had emperors for too long.
1009
00:42:16,150 --> 00:42:17,539
Don't talk nonsense.
1010
00:42:18,110 --> 00:42:19,039
This kind of talk
1011
00:42:19,760 --> 00:42:21,159
could cost you your head.
1012
00:42:21,730 --> 00:42:23,389
Look at the ships on the river.
1013
00:42:25,070 --> 00:42:26,070
These foreigners
1014
00:42:26,230 --> 00:42:28,230
brought cannons and gunpowder here
1015
00:42:28,590 --> 00:42:30,650
to protect their country's business
1016
00:42:31,230 --> 00:42:33,190
and mobilized their entire national army
1017
00:42:33,190 --> 00:42:34,789
to protect their merchants,
1018
00:42:35,190 --> 00:42:37,190
determined to sell their goods
1019
00:42:37,250 --> 00:42:38,400
to our country
1020
00:42:38,440 --> 00:42:40,150
and seize our domestic market.
1021
00:42:40,150 --> 00:42:41,920
I believe that
when these merchants come in,
1022
00:42:41,920 --> 00:42:43,380
the influence behind them
1023
00:42:43,550 --> 00:42:44,710
far surpasses
1024
00:42:44,710 --> 00:42:45,840
the power of an army.
1025
00:42:48,030 --> 00:42:49,289
In the way of commerce,
1026
00:42:49,480 --> 00:42:51,480
great strategies serve the nation.
1027
00:42:51,800 --> 00:42:54,059
We have to find a way
to compete with them.
1028
00:42:54,190 --> 00:42:55,400
It would be best to go to their countries
1029
00:42:55,400 --> 00:42:56,480
and do business there.
1030
00:42:56,480 --> 00:42:57,739
Let people make full use of
their abilities,
1031
00:42:57,739 --> 00:42:59,590
and let goods flow to
where they're needed.
1032
00:42:59,590 --> 00:43:01,050
Perhaps only by doing this
1033
00:43:01,510 --> 00:43:02,320
can we find
1034
00:43:02,320 --> 00:43:03,110
a way out.64641
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