Pawn Crossing the River

Qi Xuansu didn't understand Chen Shuwen's thinking, so he could only say: "I would like to hear the details."

Chen Shuwen continued: "I said that Nanyang United Trading Company is like a country, but it is not a traditional Central Plains dynasty."

"First of all, the traditional Central Plains dynasty was actually closed. It could only reduce expenditures but could not increase revenue. Therefore, land annexation determined that there would be no world for three hundred years."

"But look at the current Daxuan Dynasty, which has been in existence for more than 200 years. How can there be any signs of troubled times? Instead, it is still in an upward stage. Why? It's very simple, because the Daxuan Dynasty is not a closed dynasty and can open up the world. "

"Take Nanyang as an example. In order to effectively control Nanyang, a large number of Central Plains people come to various countries in Nanyang every year. The Daxuan court and Daomen feel that this is not enough. They also encourage immigrants and even semi-force people who have lost their land to come to Nanyang. Under the guidance of this trend, the powerful are no longer keen on annexing land. Instead, they are selling their land and going overseas to build their businesses. Under such circumstances, how can there be a contradiction between more people and less land in the Central Plains? "

"To put it bluntly, in a closed environment, it actually restricts the powerful, forcing them to make fuss only on the land."

"Secondly, the technological stagnation of the ancient Central Plains dynasties was what Xuansheng and Xu Zu called the big pie problem. It was impossible to make the pie bigger and feed more people. It was not until Taoism replaced Confucianism that rapid development began. If we really make the pie bigger, we can feed most people.”

"Instead of saying that the Nanyang United Trading Company is like the ancient dynasty under the Confucian sect, it is better to say that the Nanyang United Trading Company is more like the Daxuan Dynasty under the Dao sect."

"There is also a line here: technological development, going overseas to seek cheap resources, and then expanding. However, in the process of expansion, the technological advantages begin to be lost, resulting in the gradual loss of cheap resources, rising costs, difficulty in transitioning from luxury to frugality, fiscal deficit, and step by step into conflicts similar to land annexation, and eventually the entire system began to collapse.”

"The Daxuan court is still in the expansion stage, and it still has unparalleled technological advantages compared to surrounding areas. The Daxuan people can build armored ships, firecrackers, artillery, glass, and steel, but the Nanyang people do not have such craftsmanship. They only It can provide some raw materials, such as ore, wood, rubber, etc., which do not require technology and cannot be sold at high prices. And they need Daxuan's high-end products, so they can only use a large amount of cheap raw materials in exchange for Daxuan's products. It’s Daxuan’s cheap resource.”

"However, during this process, the Nanyang people also began to gradually learn the advanced technology of the Daxuan people. One day, they will catch up with the Daxuan people. After reaching this step, the Daxuan people have lost their ability due to various reasons, such as being close to the source of raw materials and low labor prices. Waiting for a while, the workshop industry will be relocated from Daxuan to Nanyang, which will indirectly accelerate the technological improvement of Nanyang people, which means that the technological advantages will begin to be gradually lost. "

"On the surface, Daxuan has gotten rid of the three-hundred-year law of rise and fall, but in fact the law of rise and fall must exist, but it is no longer like the previous Confucian dynasty. Unless Daxuan's technology can continue to develop and maintain its advantage, But we all know that this is impossible. When a person reaches a certain level of cultivation, the world will not tolerate it. Can Daxuan leave this world?"

"One day, there will be no difference between Daxuan and Nanyang. Nanyang people will directly make what they want instead of exchanging cheap raw materials for Daxuan's products, so Daxuan loses its cheap resources."

"Nanyang United Trading Company seems to be a company in Nanyang, but it is actually a company based in Daxuan. The logic is the same. Nanyang United Trading Company is not only a transshipment trade, but also relies on its technological advantages to rely on large quantities of cheap goods. Resources have been developed rapidly.”

"The Supreme Taoist Patriarch has a saying: if you hold on to it and make it rich, it will not be as good as before; if you hold it and sharpen it, you cannot keep it for a long time. If the house is full of gold and jade, no one can keep it. If you are rich and arrogant, you will bear the blame. Retire after success, the way of heaven. Also. What Taozu means is that rise and fall are inevitable. When you are prosperous, you must know how to restrain yourself, so that you can survive for a long time."

"This has nothing to do with morality. If a hegemon always uses force to suppress others and seems to be proud for a while, it is actually overdrawing its own national power, credibility, and prestige, which will naturally shorten the time of hegemony."

"People are always short-sighted. They know that short-term interests will harm the long-term future, but they still can't help but strive for short-term interests. This is the case for powerful people to annex land, and the same is true for workshop owners to move their workshops overseas. Today's wine is drunk today, It’s up to future generations to worry about the future.”

"This is like a person who spoils his body in various ways when he is young. At that time, he was young and strong, and nothing seemed to happen. But when he gets old and his strength fails, it will gradually become apparent. The same is true for the Nanyang United Trading Company. When it was at its peak, it was not Knowing how to restrain and act recklessly has damaged the foundation and laid countless hidden dangers. When it is prosperous, it is invisible, but when it goes downhill, these hidden dangers will become big problems that are difficult to solve. "

Qi Xuansu listened very carefully and understood clearly.

He had to admit that Chen Shuwen had real information, and it was worthy of his visit in person. Chen Shuwen was using Nanyang United Trading Company to talk about the general trend of the world. It was not some vague luck, but to reveal the essence of many things. open.

This also gave Qi Xuansu a firm idea. Confucianism is right. The root of most problems is human nature. Whether it is the advancement and development of technology or the continuous improvement of various systems, as long as it is based on people, it cannot solve the problems of human nature. Disadvantages. It is a pity that Confucianism has seen the essence of the problem and proposed that changing human nature can create a world of great harmony, but it still cannot find a solution to the problem of human nature.

Qi Xuansu asked: "Is it because of this that Mr. Chen left Nanyang United Trading Company?"

Chen Shuwen did not deny it: "Although Qi Zhenzhen wiped out the top management of Nanyang United Trading Company, it is like changing an emperor at the end of the dynasty. It is of little significance. The roots are rotten and we have to start over."

After saying that, Chen Shuwen stared at Qi Xuansu closely.

"Mr. Chen wants reform?" Qi Xuansu asked again.

Chen Shuwen no longer hides his intentions: "It depends on whether the real person is willing to delegate power."

Qi Xuansu said: "So this is Mr. Chen's condition."

Chen Shuwen said nothing, which was regarded as acquiescence.

When talking about reform, Qi Xuansu couldn't help but think of Zhang Yuelu, who was a reformist.

She wanted to change the Taoism, but she didn't say anything about creating a new Taoism.

Qi Xuansu did not agree immediately, but asked: "What do Mr. Chen plan to do?"

Chen Shuwen said: "Reform cannot be promoted by relying on machinations. It needs imminent internal and external pressure as a push, a clear planning route as a guide, and relevant interest groups who work hard for it as a foundation. Huge benefits distributed, and a firm leader and core force.”

"All of these are indispensable, and Machiavellian tactics are just a way to reduce resistance. They are tactics but not Tao."

"Take thrust as an example. If there is no internal or external pressure, then there will be no motivation to make reforms. Everyone has something to eat and everything is harmonious. Why take risks to change the existing situation?"

Qi Xuansu asked: "Where does this external force come from?"

Chen Shuwen stretched out his hand and pointed at Qi Xuansu: "It's the real person."

"Me?" Qi Xuansu was startled.

Chen Shuwen said: "Qi Zhenren wiped out the top management of Nanyang United Trading Company with thunderous means. If Nanyang United Trading Company is regarded as a country, then it is as if the capital of the country has been breached and the royal family has been wiped out. This is external pressure."

Qi Xuansu asked again: "What about the internal pressure?"

Chen Shuwen replied: "Looking at a country, internal pressure often comes from dissatisfaction at the bottom. Every large-scale uprising will prompt the top to make changes. Over the years, the Wang family and the Sun family have taken and taken away, which has made the company's The bottom class are very dissatisfied, but they dare not speak out. Now is a God-given opportunity to turn these dissatisfied bottom groups into relevant interest groups for reform. If there are no interested groups, then all reforms will be just castles in the air, and they will eventually fall into a group. In a situation where one person is acting alone.”

Qi Xuansu understood: "Improving the benefits of lower-level employees will make them support the reform. But where does the money come from?"

Chen Shuwen said: "The top level has been solved, the bottom level has also been solved, and only the huge middle level is left. In a dynasty, there are numerous bureaucrats, aristocratic families, dignitaries, and clans. This is the big head. They are not only huge benefits that can be distributed, but also Many hidden dangers in themselves.”

"Over the years, the Wang family and the Sun family have relied on nepotism and placed a large number of cronies in the company. They have nothing to eat. They must be operated on to completely solve the hidden danger. Now that the Wang family and the Sun family have all been executed, in the past The close interest alliance is broken and the company is in chaos. This is the time when they are frightened and confused, and it is also the best time to take action. If they miss it, it will be difficult to take action again after they settle down again. "

"Then there is a leader who is firm enough. If he changes his orders from day to day, he will always be led by short-term interests, and in the end he will just stand still."

After Qi Xuansu listened, he fell into silence.

This is undoubtedly a big move, but if done well, the benefits are needless to say.

After a long time, Qi Xuansu asked: "I can support you, or I can delegate power to you, but you have to give me a clear time."

Chen Shuwen held out three fingers: "Three years, Master Qi will give me three years, and I will give Master Qi a brand new Nanyang United Trading Company."

Qi Xuansu stretched out his palm and said, "Okay, let's make a three-year agreement."

Chen Shuwen and Qi Xuansu high-fived and made an appointment.

After Qi Xuansu had an in-depth discussion with Chen Shuwen, he granted Chen Shuwen the title of Taoist Priest of the Fourth Grade Liquor in the name of Borneo Taoist Government, and appointed him to represent the Borneo Taoist Government as the chief of the board of directors of Nanyang United Trading Company.