I Can See Your Combat Power

Chapter 349: Chapter 345: Competition (Ask for monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, and reviews—)

Translator: 549690339

Hence, the Righteous Business Group has now become the most important economic pillar of the Righteous Gang. The massive association of three thousand people is supported by this business group. If any problem arose within the business group, no matter how influential the Righteous Gang is at the moment, it will immediately revert back to its initial state without financial support. No wonder Gong Zheng was so anxious to ask for this meeting.

“Don’t panic, tell me what kind of trouble you’re encountering now,” Tang Luo said calmly. In this world, anything related to profit will inevitably involve competition. If a business is too peaceful, it either does not make money or it does not make enough money. It’s just as simple as that.

Gong Zheng calmed his mind and began to voice his grievances: “Sir, formerly the Righteous Gang had established a firm footing in Xiling. However, of late, many prominent families have started to imitate us by setting up similar businesses. They sell farming tools that are better made than ours, but at the same price, and their vegetable seeds and seedlings are cheaper. Our daily revenue has already dropped from thirty thousand gold to ten thousand gold. If it continues to decrease this way, our business will exist in name only!”

“Oh, I thought it was something serious!” Tang Luo initially thought that it might be from Gong Zheng to take him down, since he knew Gong Zheng was under his control. Considering the resources of the Wind Media department familiarity with Mi Clan, the roots of the Righteous Business Group were unable to hide from the opposition. But after hearing Gong Zheng’s words, He realized that it was just a simple business competition.

This was not particularly a technology-specific business for the Righteous Business Group. Gong Zheng had ambitiously bought all the farming tools from the cities nearby Xiling, and even stole many craftsmen back to Xiling. But all these actions proved futile in the end.

Civilians would not travel hundreds of miles just to buy a few sets of farming tools and a few bags of seeds. Gong Zheng’s actions can only prevent competition from peddlers who see the opportunity, however, it can’t prevent competition from aristocratic families.

If an aristocrat’s son saw the profit earned by the Righteous Business Group, they would not sit idly by. Imitating this business model was very easy. Gong Zheng brought back craftsmen from other cities who were only blacksmiths, while craftsmen from other families not only made weapons but also farming tools. Although Xiling banned peasants from farming, there were no such restrictions on family craftsmen, so they only needed to request a treasurer and two craftsmen from their family to open a store just like the Righteous Business Group.

As for the seeds and seedlings, they were virtually cost-free and naturally very cheap.

Although Gong Zheng had taken the initiative and seized the opportunity, as long as the children of the world-renowned families in Xiling are not foolish, they would definitely establish a similar shop to start a competition. After all, starting a business is difficult, but imitating an already profitable business is much simpler.

“It’s just a few shops opened by aristocratic families, it’s just normal business competition. What are you so nervous about?” Tang Luo was a bit puzzled by Gong Zheng’s panic: “Why not just find a way to get rid of them?” “Respectable sir, all the shops are run by noble families. Even if you lend me ten thousand gall, I would not dare to lay a hand on them,” Gong Zheng replied anxiously.

“What on earth are you thinking about?” Tang Luo was speechless. He really couldn’t understand how the other party interpreted his words: “I am telling you to solve the problem of their shops, not to kill or set fires.”

This is why the head of an affluent clan must not be a warrior who is used to resolving issues with violence. Even when they are in power, when encountering problems, their solutions would most likely involve resorting to violence. Even with an army of three to four thousand people in the Righteous Gang, doesn’t anyone of them know how to use their brains?

Tang Luo was speechless: “According to your words, these shops have all been open for more than a month. Have you thought of any solutions?”

When Gong Zheng heard this, he became more bitter: “I’ve tried everything, but nothing has worked!”

“Let me hear it, what solutions have you thought of.” Tang Luo crossed his arms and leaned against the wall and asked calmly.

“Um…” Gong Zheng seemed unprepared for Tang Luo’s question and did not know how to answer, but looking at Tang Luo’s increasingly cold face, he finally said with clenched teeth: “I had people buy farming tools from other businesses and damage them, and even let them go to their doors to make trouble. Who would have known that the owner would come and buy another set of farming tools on the spot, take out a similar set from us, compare ours with theirs, and in the end, our farming tools were damaged, and theirs only had dents. Then the owner said that the damaged farming tools were nothing unusual. They could not guarantee that their farming tools would not be damaged, but they could assure everyone that their farming tools were definitely sturdier and more durable than ours, and they were also priced the same.”

Looking at Tang Luo’s face, Gong Zheng swallowed and continued: “Since then, our business’s daily sales of farming tools have plummeted, while that shop has been attracting a surging number of customers every day.”

“Stupid.” Tang Luo uttered two words coldly. Today he finally understood the saying ‘a drowning man will clutch at a straw’. If it weren’t for Gong Zheng’s ‘smart’ actions, others wouldn’t have made such a big name for themselves. Xiling is a commercial city, and the first reaction of the nobles to a new shop is to investigate its roots. Before finding the roots, even if they harbored thoughts of competition, they would not easily make a move. Gong Zheng often came and went to Star Pavilion, which was certainly known to the nobles. As Star Pavilion was his own business, even if the nobles wanted to compete, they would not actively stumble, but not actively stumbling does not mean they would not fight back. Gong Zheng’s method was like running into a bullet.

“I deserve to die.” Gong Zheng naturally knew that he had messed up. He bowed deeply, looking very humble.

Looking at Gong Zheng’s anxious appearance, Tang Luo also sighed. After all, the other party was born a street gang leader and demanding him to master business skills that would transcend those of nobles’ shopkeepers just after learning about trade was indeed too much to expect.

He had already tried his best. As the leader of the Righteous Gang and the Righteous Business Group, he managed not only the gang but also learnt about business, he had already done very well.

Considering this, Tang Luo’s frustration subsided considerably. He patted Gong Zheng’s shoulder and said, “Get up, this is not your fault.”

Gong Zheng knew he messed up the situation, but his humility was not out of fear. The livelihood of his three thousand brothers entirely depended on the Righteous Business Group. If the group were to fall, they would have nowhere to go. He came this time to ask Tang Luo for a few favors: “Sir, please assign a few treasurers and craftsmen from the Tang Clan to the Righteous Gang.”

In his opinion, the biggest difference between the Righteous Business Group and others now is the quality and price of the farming tools. But as long as the Tang Clan is willing to send a few craftsmen, this issue could be resolved fundamentally. By then, he would learn from others and use new farming tools to collide with theirs. Surely it will win him a jackpot of good fortune!