Chapter 22: You Want to See Lu Chuan? Not a Chance!

Mi Zhu was left waiting outside, and he had no idea why. Just as he began to fret, wondering if some action of his had offended Lu Chuan, Lu Shui emerged from a side gate.

"Are you Mi Zhu, known as Zizhong?"

Hearing the voice, Mi Zhu turned around in haste and finally spotted Lu Shui.

"I am he. May I ask who you are, sir?"

"My name is Lu Shui, Director of the Lu County Bureau of Industry and Commerce. I am in charge of all commercial affairs in Lu County. Magistrate Lu is currently tied up with other matters, so he specifically tasked me with receiving you. Please, Master Mi, follow me."

Mi Zhu felt a surge of relief. He had heard Lady Mi and the steward speak of the Lu County Bureau of Industry and Commerce before. Although he hadn't met Lu Chuan, meeting the Director of the Bureau was a sufficient alternative. After all, his purpose in coming to Lu County was to conduct business, and dealing with Lu Shui was perfectly aligned with that goal. His only regret was the inability to meet Lu Chuan in person, which left him unable to judge the man’s character or determine if the Mi family should place a significant bet on him.

"So you are Director... Lu. It is an honor to meet you!"

Mi Zhu was still unaccustomed to the title of "Director."

Lu Shui, being a shrewd operator, took Mi Zhu directly to the Bureau of Industry and Commerce. He showed Mi Zhu his official seal, which finally dispelled any lingering doubts regarding his status. They then proceeded to discuss the Mi family’s plans to open shops and invest in Lu County.

Mi Zhu’s stance was that while he could open shops immediately, he needed time to observe before committing to any major investments. Lu Shui, having already received instructions from Lu Chuan, knew that persuading the Mi family to invest in the construction of the outer city would not be easy. Thus, he was in no hurry. He produced a topographical map of Lu County and offered Mi Zhu priority in selecting three shop locations.

Mi Zhu was grateful. As a merchant, he understood all too well the importance of location. With three prime spots and the influence of the Mi family, it would be difficult for their business in Lu County not to thrive. However, Mi Zhu noticed a problem.

"Director Lu, it seems every shop on this map is already occupied. How am I to choose?"

He could not simply evict the current tenants. Even with Lu Shui’s backing, Mi Zhu was unwilling to resort to such measures. Merchants valued harmony as the key to wealth; if he were to arrive and immediately use his status and the Mi family's influence to bully other merchants, it would contradict the very principles of his trade. He preferred to pay extra to ensure the current occupants left willingly.

To Mi Zhu’s surprise, Lu Shui dismissed this as a non-issue.

"Master Mi, you worry too much. Every shop on this map is available for you to choose from. These properties belong to the Lu County Magistrate’s Office. Magistrate Lu has entrusted them entirely to my management, and I am responsible for all the businesses within them."

Mi Zhu’s eyes widened. He took the map and examined it closely, only to discover there were over a thousand shops listed. Could the Magistrate’s Office really own and operate so many properties at once? It seemed utterly preposterous. At that moment, his gaze toward Lu Shui filled with genuine respect. He knew all too well the immense effort required to manage over a thousand shops; even he would not dare claim such a capability. The sheer number of commercial talents required for such a feat was staggering.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Mi Zhu asked, "Director Lu, besides these thousand-plus shops, have the others already been sold?"

"No, Master Mi, you have misunderstood again," Lu Shui explained. "Magistrate Lu has stated that the value of the shops in our county has yet to be fully realized. Therefore, we must not sell them now. Instead, we are leasing them to visiting merchants for temporary use."

"Leasing them?" Mi Zhu was astonished once more. He had realized that with the construction of the outer city, the commercial value of Lu County would skyrocket in the coming years. That was precisely why he had come to set up his footprint early. Yet, Lu Chuan’s foresight was even deeper. By refusing to sell and choosing to lease, Lu Chuan ensured that he could maximize his returns once the shops reached their peak market value.

Though he had not yet met Lu Chuan, Mi Zhu’s estimation of the man rose to a new height. Lu Chuan’s vision was truly far-reaching. Lu Shui was not surprised by Mi Zhu’s reaction; as a commercial talent cultivated by Lu Chuan, his own perspective was already far broader than that of the traditional merchant.

"Master Mi, please, choose your three shops."

"Yes, yes! Many thanks, Director Lu!"

Mi Zhu wasted no time and began studying the map. Within a quarter of an hour, he had made his selections. All three were located in the most prosperous center of the county, boasting large footprints and three-story structures. In terms of floor space, these three shops were equivalent to a dozen ordinary ones. It was clear that Mi Zhu was fully committed to establishing his presence and increasing his investment in Lu County.

"Director Lu, how is the rent calculated for these shops?"

Lu Shui explained, "We collect rent through a commission system, with different standards based on the type of business. For instance, for grain merchants, as long as prices remain within the range approved by our Bureau, they enjoy a very low commission—only five percent."

"Five percent?" Mi Zhu’s eyes went wide. That was incredibly cheap.

"Correct. We keep it low because our population is so large that we cannot rely solely on local harvests. We need to attract outside grain merchants. However, for non-essential goods, the rate is higher. We differentiate based on whether the goods are daily necessities. Staples like salt, cloth, and meat have lower commissions, while luxuries like silk, cosmetics, and jewelry are taxed at a higher rate."

Mi Zhu nodded repeatedly. He realized that by adjusting these rates based on product categories, Lu Chuan could silently control the development of the county’s commercial structure. The more he pondered this, the more brilliant the strategy seemed, and the urge to meet Lu Chuan grew stronger.

"Director Lu, could I perhaps pay a visit to..."

"Absolutely not!" Lu Shui turned away, having seen right through Mi Zhu’s intentions. *Wanting to see my Magistrate? Not a chance!*