"Feel free to sit!"
Sun Mo received Li Gong in the guest room. "I just came here and haven't cleaned the room yet. There's no hot water either, so please bear with me."
"Department head is too polite."
Li Gong lowered his head and stood at the side. Although Sun Mo said that he could feel free to sit, how would he dare to? He was as obedient as a baby.
As for the tea?
What a joke, how would Li Gong have the qualifications to drink tea in front of Sun Mo? Being able to enter this villa was already a great blessing.
"Speak, what's the matter?"
Sun Mo didn't force Li Gong to do as he said. This was because the Tang Empire was a feudal dynasty, and there was a hierarchy between people.
Before Sun Mo, Li Gong was a servant. This was a deeply rooted mentality of servility. If you let him sit, it would make him feel uneasy instead. He would feel that he had done something wrong and made Sun Mo unhappy.
"The Ma Clan, Wei Clan, and Zhang Clan are conspiring to raise the price."
Li Gong reported and handed over a set of information.
Sun Mo took it and quickly browsed through it while listening to Li Gong's report.
"These three trading companies are in charge of over 90% of our academy's resources. Once we raise the price, given the current financial situation of the Central Province Academy, we would run out of supplies in at most five days."
Li Gong could become the number one lackey of the former Department Head Yang Cai not only because he was good at bootlicking but also because he was too efficient in handling matters.
It wouldn't be too much to say that Li Gong was a scum in terms of character and character. However, he was indeed capable and knew people from all walks of life. His social circle was extremely wide.
"Who is the one who instructed them? Zhang Hanfu? "
Sun Mo's expression was calm. He had just become the department head, and it would be strange if Zhang Hanfu didn't retaliate.
"I don't know!"
Li Gong spoke the truth. Given Zhang Hanfu's authority, he wouldn't be able to influence the trading companies' social circle. It should be some other major characters who acted.
"Oh?"
Sun Mo's brows furrowed slightly. "Can we change it to other trading companies?"
"No!"
Li Gong explained, "The reason why these three trading companies can cooperate with us for over 20 years is because they are in charge of vegetable farmers, coal farmers, and meat farmers. They have been following our school for a living and are our foundation."
If the Central Province Academy wanted to establish a foothold in Jinling and expand its influence, not only did they need connections with the rich and powerful, but they also needed a huge foundation among the masses.
For these ordinary families, it could be said that they were completely on the side of the Central Province Academy. When their children reached the age to attend school, they would definitely choose this school.
Also, in Jinling and even Jiangnan, if there were floods, droughts, or bandits, the food, cloth, and vegetables produced by the people here would be supplied to the Central Province Academy at the first instant. Even if people from other places came to purchase them, they wouldn't be able to buy them.
Naturally, as a form of repayment, the children of these farmers, even if their talents were slightly inferior, could also enter the Central Province Academy to study.
"The Central Province Yang" to the Good "to". "Sun Mo"
"Hai" You "King". "Li Mo". "Gong" Li to say.
"Mo"
"Minister, those farmers don't know how to read. We need someone to take the lead. Furthermore, they're farmers, and they have a very strong sense of proprietorship. They're afraid of being cheated, so they only trust the three companies that have been working with them for many years!"
When Li Gong said this, his expression was filled with disdain. Those farmers felt that the three trading companies were not bad, but they didn't know how much of their profits were being taken away from them.
It couldn't be helped. This was the limitation of cognition.
"Minister, don't think about doing it yourself. The consequences of bypassing the trading company are very serious."
Li Gong hurriedly reminded when he saw Sun Mo in contemplation.
Although Sun Mo didn't know much about this, he had seen some period dramas before and knew that there were such merchant associations in ancient times. There were the Salt Clan, Cao Clan, Cloth Clan, and so on. It was very difficult for ordinary people to earn money in this industry unless they paid enough money and obtained permission.
At the same time, Jinling's market share was also divided. Whoever had more power would eat more.
The Ma Clan, Wei Clan, and Zhang Clan had the qualifications to purchase the agricultural products of those farmers and then sell them to the Central Province Academy. This was because the Central Province Academy was a major trading company in Jinling City.
"They want to raise the price. What do you think I should do?"
Sun Mo asked.
"Negotiate. Try to reduce the increase!"
Li Gong sighed in his heart. He knew that this day would eventually come.
If the Central Province Academy was one of the Nine Greats in the past, those three trading companies wouldn't dare to raise the price recklessly even if they were beaten to death. But now, the school was in dire straits. It would be strange if they didn't bully you.
(What other trump cards does the Central Province Academy have? Not allowing our students to attend school? In that case, we can go to the Myriad Daos Academy. In any case, you aren't attractive anymore.)
"I got it."
Sun Mo smiled. "You've done well this time around. Continue to monitor those three trading companies and note down any movements between the farmers."
"Roger, department head."
When Li Gong saw Sun Mo's calm expression, he couldn't help but be impressed. Look at Sun Mo's ability to maintain his composure. No wonder he could bring Yang Cai down and anger Zhang Hanfu half to death.
Ding!
Favorable impression points from Li Gong + 20. Friendly (205/1,000).
After Li Gong left, Sun Mo went to take a shower first. After changing his clothes, he left the school gate, called a carriage, and headed to Old Wolf Ren's house.
"Esteemed guest, welcome!"
Old Wolf Ren had a smile on his face as he personally went out.
"I'll have to trouble Big Brother Ren this time around."
Sun Mo went straight to the point.
"Teacher Sun is too polite. If there's anything you need, feel free to instruct me. As long as it's within my capabilities, I'll definitely do my best."
Old Wolf Ren patted his chest and guaranteed. Back then at the daoist temple, he had been shocked by Sun Mo. Sun Mo was a great teacher that even the provincial governor and Prime Minister Zheng cared about. Moreover, there was even a member of the royal family among his disciples. For such a major character, Old Wolf Ren couldn't wait to bootlick him every day. Now that there was a chance, he would naturally do his best.
Sun Mo didn't stand on ceremony and gave some instructions.
...
Trouble came faster than he had expected.
This time around, the enemy was definitely targeting Sun Mo. Because on the second day after he returned to the school, the three trading companies from the Ma Clan, Wei Clan, and Zhang Clan paid a visit together.
"Department Head Sun, the harvest this year isn't too good, and the farmers have to eat as well. Hence, the purchase price of vegetables, grains, and charcoal has to be raised by 50%."
Ma Cheng was a fat man. When he spoke, he was all smiles. Furthermore, he was always nodding and bowing, giving off a very humble feeling. However, when he spoke, it was like a sharp knife that could slice off a bloody chunk of flesh from a person's body.
"Raised by 50%? Ma Cheng, you might as well not sell it to us. "
Sun Mo's lips twitched.
Upon hearing Sun Mo calling him by his name, the expression of Ma Cheng, who was over 40 years old, changed. However, he endured it. This wasn't the time to fall out yet.
"Department Head Sun, everyone is just trying to make a living. It isn't easy for us as well."
Wei Ziyu was cultured and refined. He had a short mustache under his chin and would frequently stroke it.
Sun Mo fell silent.
"Department Head Sun, if you can't make the decision, just say it directly. We will go and talk to Headmaster An."
Ma Cheng mocked.
"I won't even raise the price by 10%. At most, I'll just buy it from someone else."
Sun Mo's attitude was unyielding.
"Hehe!"
Upon hearing Sun Mo's angry words, the three of them laughed.
"Why don't you go and buy it? If you can, just consider it my loss! "
Ma Cheng mocked in his heart. The major characters from the upper echelons had already informed them that the Central Province Academy was here to die. If any trading company dared to help, they would just have to wait to be killed.
"I'll leave my words here. The three of you, please leave!"
Sun Mo didn't wish to talk nonsense anymore.
"Department Head Sun, I hope that when the time comes, you won't kneel down and beg us."
After Ma Cheng spoke, he flicked his sleeves and left.
The three of them left the department head's office and headed straight for the headmaster's office. They were still discussing the same topic.
"Raise by 30%?"
An Xinhui frowned.
"This is our bottom line. Headmaster An, the lives of the farmers aren't easy either!"
Wei Ziyu sighed in despair.
"Can you give me a few days to consider?"
An Xinhui didn't reject because she knew that the consequences would be too severe. But if she didn't reject, could it be that she would be trampled on by others?
The crucial point was that the Central Province Academy's current cash was all used by An Xinhui to buy medicinal ingredients to concoct the giant medicine packets. Even if they agreed to raise the price, they wouldn't be able to fork out any more money.
After Ma Cheng and the other two left, An Xinhui, who was forcing herself to hold on, covered her face with her hands. She felt extremely anxious. But a few minutes later, she adjusted her mental state and started to think of a solution.
"I have to get the giant medicine packets to hit the market as soon as possible and earn a huge sum of money."
An Xinhui's thoughts were very beautiful, but reality was too cruel. Early the next morning, the attacks from the three trading companies arrived.
When the students and teachers entered the canteen, they discovered that the amount of food was pitifully little.
"There are only so many vegetables sent over today. There's nothing we can do about it."
The chefs of the canteen also felt very helpless. (Please don't scold me.)
The students couldn't possibly go hungry and could only go outside the school to look for food. However, they discovered that the stalls along the streets were all empty. Moreover, the restaurants along the streets directly raised the price, making it so expensive that it made people's hearts ache.
Everyone thought that such a situation would only happen occasionally. But who could have expected that it would continue for three days?
There wasn't enough food!
The food wasn't fresh!
The rubbish wasn't cleaned up in time, and the stench started to spread.
...
Because there was a problem with the logistics of the canteen, it directly affected the students' studies and lives. Some rumors also started to spread rapidly.
"Teacher Sun's teaching ability isn't bad, but he really can't handle logistics."
"It has only been a few days and the school has already collapsed. This is sufficient to prove that Sun Mo is trash."
"I don't want to starve!"
Food was the most important thing to the people. If they couldn't even fill their stomachs, how would they have the mood to do anything else?
Zhang Hanfu reckoned that Prince Li Zixing must have made a move. Only he would be able to do something so extravagant. Speaking of which, Sun Mo actually didn't die in the Darkness Continent. This caused Zhang Hanfu to feel very unhappy and he blamed his son for not doing things well. But forget it. It was also a joyous thing to be able to see Sun Mo in such a terrible state.
On the fifth day, Zhang Qianlin gathered all the teachers in the school for a meeting in the auditorium.
During the meeting, Zhang Hanfu first announced the severe problem the school was facing. After that, he called on everyone to tide over the crisis together. After that, he changed the target and started to berate Sun Mo.
"Department Head Sun, do you have a solution or not? In the end, this matter was caused by you. As a person, you shouldn't be too arrogant. If it wasn't for you offending the three trading companies, things wouldn't have turned out like this. "
Zhang Qianlin didn't give Sun Mo any face in front of several hundred teachers, saying that Sun Mo was a useless fellow.
"Whose dog isn't tied up properly and is running out to bark?"
Sun Mo naturally wouldn't tolerate this. He opened his mouth and bit back.
Hua!
After hearing Sun Mo's words, a commotion broke out.
"Sun Mo, what kind of attitude is this? Do you have the guts to say it again? "
Zhang Qianlin was enraged. His face was filled with disbelief. He was actually scolded in front of so many teachers? This was truly intolerable.
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