A few days after the New Year, a group of hundreds of carriages and horses arrived at Lan City under the escort of soldiers. From afar, they saw Zhang Junzheng and a few others waiting at the city gate.
This group of people were mostly burly men, ranging in age from 17 to 70 years old. All of them looked tired. Although they had arrived at their destination, they didn't look excited. Instead, they felt uneasy.
"Second Uncle, it must have been hard on you for the long journey." Zhang Junzheng brought Zhang Heqi and Zhang Heju to greet them. A white-haired, exhausted old man came down from the carriage.
This group of people were the craftsmen of the Zhang family. Many of them were well-known figures in the manufacturing industry. After Zhang Junzheng lost the bet, they received the letter and discussed it before heading to Lan City. After traveling through many places, they finally arrived after a month.
The old man didn't answer. He first looked up at Lan City, which was close at hand, and then said, "Let's talk after entering the city."
He turned to a burly man riding on a fork-horned cow and said, "Thank you for escorting us all the way. Someone, bring the things here."
As he spoke, someone brought over a plate of silver ingots.
"Thank you for your hard work these days. This is a small token of my appreciation. Please have a drink." The old man smiled.
The burly man looked at the plate of silver ingots and waved his hand to let someone take it. "It was the Protector General who ordered us to escort you. Otherwise, I'm afraid you wouldn't have reached Lan City."
After saying that, he ignored the group of people and left with them.
After a while, Zhang Junzheng brought everyone to a house that had been prepared beforehand. Then, the old man brought six or seven people to sit with Zhang Junzheng in a house.
"I have already read the letter. Tell me more in detail," the old man said.
Then, Zhang Junzheng explained the details of the bet. After that, he carefully took out a heavy box from the cabinet and placed it on the table. After opening it, there were torsion springs of various sizes inside.
"Second Uncle, look. This is what he made."
A few people beside the old man couldn't help but take out the torsion springs and examine them carefully.
The old man observed for a long time before sighing. "Amazing. I didn't expect someone to do this better than thousands of craftsmen of the Zhang family. Since we have lost the bet, we have to be willing to accept the loss. The Zhang family will work for this person. However, this matter involves the safety of thousands of our Zhang family members. In your opinion, what do you think of this person? "
Zhang Junzheng pondered for a moment before he slowly said, "Although he looks ordinary, there's a universe in his stomach …"
"Your evaluation is not low."
"This person looks ordinary and doesn't stand out at all. However, his methods were indeed very vicious.
Putting everything else aside, just the title of Poison Warrior alone was exchanged for countless lives.
Furthermore, they were also very proficient in manufacturing machinery. Last year, when Great Xia attacked, if it weren't for those extremely powerful machinery, Great Xia wouldn't have been defeated so quickly. With the addition of the Yun Nation, the situation might have been completely reversed.
Uncle already knows about forging, dyeing, and brewing. He even founded Black Bamboo Academy to impart algebra and other knowledge. "
"I already know that. He is indeed an extraordinary person." The old man nodded. "You know what this old man wants to know. The lives of so many people in the Zhang family are all on him. He can't be careless."
"There's something Second Uncle doesn't know. Last year, he made a trip to Tianjing Basin and returned with thousands of immigrants from the Hao Nation. The imperial glass shop and spice shop that he runs have these immigrants working there. In addition, there are also a few in the Imperial Beast Garden and the palace.
I once inquired with those Hao Nation immigrants, but the information I obtained was very limited. From his actions, it seems that he wants these Hao Nation immigrants to live together with the aboriginals. "
"It seems that he prefers to use people who aren't aboriginals. After all, he isn't an aboriginal," the old man said.
"As for his temperament, he doesn't seem like a cold-blooded person. However, the most important thing is whether our Zhang family is valuable or not. Second Uncle still needs to see for himself, "Zhang Junzheng said.
"We have to meet him since he is here. Make the arrangements," the old man said.
In fact, Ren Baqian already knew of their arrival before they entered the city. He received the visiting card the next day and met them in a teahouse.
In addition to Zhang Junzheng, his second uncle, Zhang Zishan, and several old craftsmen from the Zhang family were there. Seeing that Ren Baqian was so young, even though everyone already knew about him, they still had doubts in their hearts. How could someone so old learn so many things?
"Principal Ren, I'm Zhang Zishan. This is the first time we've met, and we're here to discuss the Zhang family's matters." Zhang Zishan stood up to welcome Ren Baqian.
Ren Baqian nodded and sat opposite everyone.
"I'm a boorish man who doesn't know much and can't speak. I just want to know how Principal Ren intends to settle the Zhang family. What can you give us? "Zhang Zishan went straight to the point and placed himself in a lower position.
Ren Baqian laughed, looked at them, and said, "Isn't it too late for you to ask about a bet and a loss?"
After Ren Baqian finished speaking, their faces immediately changed.
Zhang Zishan's expression changed, and he said, "Principal Ren, you misunderstood. The Zhang family isn't bargaining, but we want to know how we will be settled. After all, this concerns the lives of thousands of people in the Zhang family. There are many opinions in the Zhang family, and we just hope that Principal Ren can make it clear so that we have some ideas."
"Senior, you're not a boorish man!" Ren Baqian laughed.
"Dayao lacks everything, including talent and ordinary skills. You will naturally have a place to use your skills here. Whatever the Zhang family knows, you have to bring over and develop this industry.
However, Dayao isn't the Yun Nation, and I can't bring over the Yun Nation's methods. It's impossible to control all aspects because the best things are in my head.
The specific method is that there must be a certain number of aboriginals participating in every industry, and both sides will contribute money and effort. The aboriginals will need to account for 70 to 90 percent of the industry. It doesn't seem like much, but if it goes any higher, I'm afraid that people will be jealous. Furthermore, this is an entire nation, and only our two sides are doing it. What does this represent? This is a monopoly, a monopoly of a certain industry in a country. Of course, this will slowly be liberalized in the future, but that's a matter for the future. "
"If we do this, I'm afraid that the Zhang family will be swallowed alive in a few years," Zhang Zishan said in a deep voice. The others didn't look too good either.
According to Ren Baqian, it was equivalent to the Zhang family handing over all their skills and owning a small portion of each industry. After a few years, when these industries developed in Dayao and the aboriginals thoroughly grasped them, the Zhang family would really have nothing to do with it.
"I said before that the best things are in my head and not in your hands. Don't think too highly of yourself," Ren Baqian said unhurriedly. In fact, he understood the Zhang family's concerns, but his words weren't forgiving at all.
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