Chapter 71 The Recommendation (1/2)

Chapter 71 – The Recommendation

Lu Zhi laughed in satisfaction while Zhang Jiao had a complicated expression. Having a high ranking official as Tong's mentor was a good news because Tong could have a bright future by studying under Lu Zhi's guidance, or Lu Zhi could write a letter of recommendation to give Tong a position in the Imperial Court. However, Zhang Jiao was still skeptical about the Han Imperial Court because he still prejudiced against the officials.

Hua Shi swept her glances at Lu Zhi and Tong. Then she yawned and continued dozing off on her working table. She did not care about any historical figure or Tong's politic scheme.

Lu Zhi helped Tong up and continued chatting.

”I almost forgot my initial question. How do you plan to rejuvenate the city?”

Tong smiled and waved his hand. A couple of soap bars and a barrel of beer was taken out from Tong's space inventory.

”W-What!? Did you just …?”

Lu Zhi was flabbergasted. From his perspective, Tong had just created several objects out of thin air. He thought that the nickname ”Immortal” was just something Tong created to intimidate his opponents. But it seemed that Lu Zhi had misunderstood. Tong might really be either a sage or an immortal.

”Master, I'm planning to create a business firm that runs by the government. For starter, I'm planning to put these products to …”

Tong narrated his business plans to Lu Zhi while Zhang Jiao also paid attention to the details.

The peasants in this era had limited types of jobs. Eighty percent of them were farmers. The other ten were professional soldiers. Five percent were merchants. And the rest were specialists, such as carpenters, bow makers, blacksmiths, physicians, Taoist priests, scholars, and officials.

As a result, the majority of people were poor and rarely use coins or gold to trade for food. They offered labors or barter-traded with their neighbors to makes end meet instead.

Because of the scarceness of jobs, and for the sake of the preparation of the future drought season and epidemic outbreak next year, Tong wanted to improve their quality of life first by giving them more variety of jobs and income.

First, he wanted the government to promote the commercial businesses by pushing the government firm as a foundation. Then he would hire more staffs and probably hire laborers, commoners, and scholars into the firm.

He would make the soap and the beer as their local specialty to promote the merchants' activities in the nearby areas. Once merchants were attracted to the local products and visited Julu City, they would bring other goods into the city to trade, which would bring prosperity and various products to the people. At the same time, it would create even more jobs and enabled the cash flows into the hands of more commoners, thus, increasing the potential tax income for the city government in the future. Furthermore, commoners with money could at least have to money to buy food from either merchants or the city government to survive next year.

The income from the government firm would also be transferred into the city treasury, thus boosting the city cash flows. Then they would be able to invest in other industries to improve the quality of life for the citizens.

Lu Zhi listened to Tong's drafted plan and nodded. The idea was confusing and too new to him. The more he listened, the more he wondered if he was the master or he was the apprentice.

From his experience in Luo Yang and Han Court management, they only focus on taxes from the grain harvest and household taxes that they would get annually. But they never dibbed their hands into the macroeconomic or businesses of the lower class societies.

The wealthy nobles that Lu Zhi knew also had merchant firms and business background. But they never utilized the economic system to benefit the city this way as they narrowed their vision into their marketing and profits, but not the big picture of the masses.

”The project is too vague and grand. Will you have enough personals for it?” Lu Zhi questioned.

Tong scratched his head in embarrassment. Lu Zhi was right. Tong did not have enough talented personals to handle his business ideal.

Seeing Tong's reaction, Lu Zhi sighed. This youngster was still naïve but he had interesting ideas.

”I know a couple good people that can help you. Want me to recommend them to you?”

”Really? Yes, please!”

”I have three outstanding apprentices. I found them when I traveled in You Province. One of them has already become the Lord of Bei Ping of You Province, so I can't recommend him to you. The second of them probably still continue studying somewhere in Xu Chang. He is quite talented and diligent. I'll write a letter to him for sure. But the other one is kind of unique. He is a useless bum at the moment, but I think he will show his potential in the future.”

Tong coughed and almost choked blood as his blood vessels within his throat almost ruptured from shock. He knew exactly who Lu Zhi was referring to.