Post by Wen Chou on Jun 22, 2010 6:56:36 GMT
Musings - 5 Years Ago
The Consortium - 5 Years Later - Present Day
The papers, the reports, the complaints. Why the hell did no one mention finances were so hard?! Wen Chou collapsed on the desk, crumpling all of the papers beneath his heavy head. Luckily Ba Zeng was in the room to help him, the warrior-monk also had a mind for finances - of course - and he studied the papers Wen Chou already went through.
He made the classic: Tsk. Tsk. Tsk Ba Zeng frowned and looked at the defeated Wen Chou thoughtfully, it was almost amusing.
"Master Chou you used the wrong stamp, you filed this paper as a transaction, it's actually a modification provision."
The words all went over Wen Chou's head. "Why did my Lord Yuan Shao put me in charge of this?"
"Yuan Yi claimed sick today." Ba Zeng responded calmly.
"Claimed?"
"I saw Ju Shou, Feng Ji, and Yuan Yi enjoying themselves at a tavern."
"What!?" Wen Chou stood, instantly furious, but then he realized he shouldn't be so angry. He fumed, but calmed down, sitting on a chair. He looked up at Ba Zeng, looking for help for his inept ability to deal with paperwork.
"Yes I'll help." Ba Zeng said warmly, he sat down at the table, inspecting all of the papers, "But really, this is one botched system, if you let me in here more often I could really change things."
Wen Chou was not really listening intently, but payed mind to what Ba Zeng was saying. It was as if his tutor was getting at something. "You're saying the system is flawed?" The general wasn't sure what 'system' he was talking about. It was some vague reference to the lax economy system. Ba Zeng was already halfway done with the paper work, he paused and his eyes showed that he was thinking thoughtfully.
The orange sun was retreating behind the horizon, and the treasury room glowed with a soft ambient light. It engulfed the room in a soothing intangible presence. The view of Ye from the second story of the palace was quite stunning in the dusk. Wen Chou was impressed by Yuan Yi in one manner - his exuberance and exquisite tastes. Two large windows spanned the length of the treasury room, and they were both fitted with clear glass. It was very impressive, and Wen Chou was sure it was one of it's kind.
"Well, no," Ba Zeng tried to explain in a simpler fashion, "I'm just saying that there is more room for exploitation. Because the economy is not dreadfully centralized, there is room for an organization to do so. A merchant's guild, or a trading company, perhaps, I'm just musing."
"And how long have you had this idea Ba Zeng?" Wen Chou could sense that this idea was well thought out.
"Six months." Ba Zeng shrugged, "You never let me do any real work."
For the rest of the night Ba Zeng and Wen Chou went over the specific details about what Ba Zeng had proposed. They even came up with a name: Northern Merchant Consortium. Northern - because of their location on the map, merchant - because of the profession of the clients they would be serving, and consortium - Ba Zeng had to explain, was a gathering of like-minded people. Ba Zeng finished the paperwork, he then went on to explain the rest of his plan.
The Northern Merchant Consortium would serve merchants who want to grow and run their trade lanes more efficiently. The company would need an initial investment, which Wen Chou hesitantly decided to provide with some encouragement from Ba Zeng. The Consortium would make sure trade deals were signed with clients with the influence of Yuan Shao's court. In return, their clients would pay a rather generous portion of their profits to the Consortium. A third of the profit would flow straight into the palace coffers; whilst the other portion would be money the Consortium would use to further it's ventures. Thus, the company would grow exponentially in the following years.
Not only using the court influence in Ye and Nan Pi, Ba Zeng predicted that a fourth of Consortium employees would be soldiers. It is in this way that the Consortium would hire out soldiers to Merchants who needed escorts for trade caravans-
"Wait," Wen Chou asked, his voice hinted at his fatigue, the candle light dimly illuminating his face, "Why would the merchants hire our men rather than their usual mercenaries?"
"Well," Ba Zeng explained, still sounding completely awake, he poured Wen Chou a cup of tea, "The Consortium would hire only soldiers from Yuan Shao's reserve force - here in Ye - we would basically be hiring the garrison forces to work extra hours, except for the Consortium instead of their garrison posts...."
"This won't interfere with their duties?"
"Naturally the soldiers cannot work for the Consortium, that is, running patrols on trade lanes, whilst they are patrolling the city. Therefore, we shall only hire volunteer soldiers who either need the extra pay, or do not work for the watch that day. It is in this way that the merchants can stop relying on mercenaries, that may just turn out to be crooks. Perhaps in the future the Consortium will have its own barracks, and fund its own private army."
"Hmm..." Wen Chou liked that thought. His own private army....
"I understand you will be away, the siege of Bei Ping will start soon, so I shall take care of the Consortium whilst you are away. Tomorrow we shall go to the market square, and buy the biggest building available."
"I'm providing the funding..." It wasn't a question.
"Yes." Ba Zeng said, with an open palm.
The Consortium - 5 Years Later - Present Day
The day the Yuan host re-entered Ye was a day of celebration. Wen Chou was very eager to check on his friend Ba Zeng and the Consortium. Wen Chou was at the head of the column on his white stallion, idly waving to the people as they cheered. Mid-day, the entire city would be alive until night with life and parties. It had been a long five years, fighting the mighty Gongsuns, no doubt word of Wen Chou's prowess had reached Ye and further. Wen Chou was a legend. He glowed in their cheers, everyone loved him, even his armor shined.
As the parade marched deeper into the merchant district he noticed a distinct change in the enviroment. Where five years ago - there were run-down houses, stalls, litter on the streets, and now...an air of... cleanliness. It was a subtle difference, but five years away, and it was clearly noticeable. This was definitely Ba Zeng's doing, the civilians even looked more prosperous, cleaner, wearing nicer clothes.
The parade ended, soldiers returned to their families, and Wen Chou dismounted at the palace. No sooner that he did he was bombarded by greetings by officials and close friends. He met them with smiles and good-hearted talk. Yuan Yi jumped from the crowd and embraced him.
"Master Chou! You are such an incredible person!"
Wen Chou was stunned for a second, he had never been one to embrace other men, and neither was Yuan Yi, but perhaps the minister was overjoyed that he was just alive-
"Where did you find that magnificent Ba Zeng!?" He withdrew to look up at the general, "That man is brilliant!"
"I.." Wen Chou gaped, not sure what to say, "Nice to see your alive as well Master Yi."
"Come you must see!" Yuan Yi grabbed Wen Chou's arm and beckoned him into the merchant district once more. "You have seen this district yes?"
"Yes- during the parade, I was going to visit Ba Zeng after-"
"No time!" Yuan Yi interjected, they were soon at their destination.
"This isn't the building I bought five years ago..." Wen Chou was awestruck by what he saw, he bought a two-story building that was in dire need of renovations when he left Ye five years ago.
Now he was looking at a four-story mansion. It was such a stately residence he almost felt jealous - then he realized that he owned the place. Suffice to say - the place had grown over the past five years. Ba Zeng had even incorporated a small garden in front of the building to give it a warm homely feeling. And all of the windows were clear glass. It was mouth-watering.
Wen Chou had wondered where his mentor was, but the door to the building had suddenly opened. Ba Zeng exited with a warm smile, "Like what I've done with the place?"
"Ba Zeng this is incredible! How did you add the extra two stories?!"
"Well I drew the architectural plans myself, the building relies on five support beams," It was only natural that Ba Zeng had architectural knowledge, "of course I didn't start the renovations until this year - the coffers had a ridiculous surplus."
"So a resounding success? Please show me around."
"Of course, the first two stories are used for office space and to make deals with clients, the next two stories are dedicated to the soldiers - their barracks." Ba Zeng smiled.
Wen Chou smiled, it had happened, the Consortium had its own soldiers, despite how small the contingent of men were, it was still impressive. Ba Zeng took no longer explaining the outside, he beckoned for Wen Chou to enter the place. They did so, and Wen Chou was immediately impressed.
It was amazing what Ba Zeng could turn a lump sum of gold into after five years.
There was a receptionist, a young voluptuous woman that also held an air of intelligence. Ba Zeng knew how to hire employees. Wen Chou knew instantly that she was popular with clients. There were a number of merchants in the lobby that were previously talking about their recent deals or even hostile buy-outs of other merchants. The finance world was like the wild in a way, survival of the fittest - in a sense - existed in such a way. The merchants instantly paused on their discussions and the room brightened as Wen Chou entered, everyone offered their praises and Wen Chou offered thanks in return.
"Welcome Master Wen Chou." The woman at the counter bowed, "Master Ba Zeng has informed me to inform you that your suite in the top floor is ready."
Wen Chou turned to Ba Zeng, the monk shrugged, "Thanks I suppose for keeping me entertained for the past five years."
Ba Zeng showed Wen Chou around the entire place, and barracks. The soldiers were surprised to see Wen Chou, but it raised their spirits plenty. They all reported that Ba Zeng was perhaps one of the best people to work with. Wen Chou was glad, Ba Zeng was an enigma. The two went into the main office, Yuan Yi was already loitering around.
"I'm sort of Ba Zeng's part-time secretary." He conceded. Ba Zeng smiled and offered, "Well there are a lot of things we have learned from each other."
Wen Chou was only partially listening whilst he looked over the papers currently on Ba Zeng's desk. Everything pleased him. "You have a client in Goguryeo?!" Goguryeo was a far-away land in proximity to Ye. The Consortium's reach had obviously stretched even out of Yuan Shao's empire. "The merchant was quite pleased with the company, he promised to return with a caravan filled with his goods. I have sent Yu Ji to accompany the caravan to make sure it comes back. There are apparently a lot of things outside of China that we would like to get our hands on."
Ba Zeng and Wen Chou continued their tour, Ba Zeng explained that the Consortium was even doing charity work, and Ba Zeng had become known around the Empire as quite the philanthropist. The monk explained how this year he started the 'poverty control' programs in Ye, and starting even in Nan Pi. The program was quite impressive. Homeless individuals could request for the Consortium to build them a house, and in return they would lend a member or two of their family to provide labor to the Consortium as an indentured servant. Wen Chou then inquired as to what work the servants could provide? Ba Zeng replied that the Consortium had bought acres of farmland outside of Ye. It was a brilliant idea, and many people were then taken off the streets.
By the end of the day Wen Chou was throughly pleased with Ba Zeng's work during the past five years.
