Xu Gui looked at Xu Zhi's back with surprise and doubt, then glanced at Xu Tong, who also looked puzzled. Xu Gui felt more and more that her third uncle's family was not simple.
The Marquis was already waiting in the study. After Xu Zhi arrived, she gave the Marquis a curtsy. The Marquis waved his hand and said, "Ninth Girl, come here. I have a few things to tell you."
After Xu Zhi sat down to the left of the Marquis, the Marquis picked up a few sheets of paper and said to Xu Zhi, "Ninth Girl, you are about to set off tomorrow. Your grandmother has a few things to tell you."
Upon hearing the Marquis's words, Xu Zhi couldn't help but straighten her back slightly.
The Marquis said, “You can’t do things without help. Since you want to learn how to do business from the Third Master of the Zhang family, you need to have trustworthy managers. These are the managers that your grandfather has prepared for you. Your grandfather has already given instructions, and they will accompany you to Yuezhou.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhi paused for a moment, then suddenly stood up.
In any era, the most valuable thing is talent. In an era when industry was not very developed, the most important thing for any family was the manager they had trained.
Xu Zhi had once heard her brother Xu Di say that the shopkeepers in the family were all carefully trained from a young age. They often started as a small shop assistant, not only to master the industry they would be engaged in, but also to learn how to deal with all kinds of people, so that they could talk to ordinary people as well as high-ranking officials.
It's not enough for these shopkeepers to master all these skills; they also need to be extremely loyal to their masters. This is of utmost importance. Therefore, the Marquis's mansion has truly invested a great deal in training its shopkeepers.
And now? For the sake of his ideals, the Marquis is actually sending several shopkeepers with him to Yuezhou, a long journey of thousands of miles. Xu Zhi doesn't even know what level she will reach in the future, but now her grandfather is sending her several shopkeepers, a position that many people would rather die for.
Xu Zhi's voice trembled slightly as she said, "Grandfather, granddaughter doesn't need it, really doesn't need it."
The Marquis waved his hand and said, "Ninth Girl, sit down first and let your grandfather tell you in detail."
Xu Zhi calmed her flustered heart before sitting down.
The Marquis said, "Grandfather gave you these people with his own selfish motives. You know, training a manager is not an easy thing. Just doing a good job in the shop is not enough to be a great manager. To train a great manager, you have to give him a chance to gain experience. Ninth Girl, you happen to have an opportunity in the county town. Grandfather is taking advantage of you."
Hearing the Marquis say this, Xu Zhi became even more uneasy and said, "Grandfather, you shouldn't say that. It was I who used your people."
The Marquis smiled and said, "We are all family after all, so there's no need to be so polite. Ninth Girl, this is the loan information from the manager. Take this back and take a good look at it. As for what to do next, that's your own business. Your grandfather is thousands of miles away from you, so you'll have to rely on yourself for everything."
Xu Zhi accepted the few pieces of paper given to her by the Marquis and gave a deep bow.
The Marquis said, "Ninth Girl, another thing your grandfather told you about is the trip to the Zheng family's territory."
The Marquis said, "The Zheng family's territory is in Jizhou. You will pass through there on your way to Yuezhou. Once you arrive, treat the Zheng family members with courtesy, and they will not make things difficult for you."
Xu Zhi listened and nodded. The Marquis hesitated for a moment and said, "Just keep what your grandfather told you to yourself, but never tell anyone else."
Xu Zhi stared wide-eyed at the Marquis after hearing this. The Marquis said, "Although the Zheng family is now in decline, the two generals of the Zheng family once had a formidable army under their command. Not only the Pingxi Marquis's mansion, but many families had such an army. After all, it is always safer for one's sons to have such an army protecting them when they go to war. Later, like some other families, these people disappeared into the backgrounds of their households after they retired from the military."
Xu Zhi thought of the assassins from the Ming State Duke's mansion who went to Hexi to try and kill her, and asked, "Grandfather, are these people only there to protect their master's safety?"
The Marquis said, "In the later period of the previous dynasty, the court was in turmoil and the people were suffering. Many aristocratic families kept private armies. At the beginning of this dynasty, many aristocratic families relied on their own private armies to help Emperor Taizu establish this foundation. Later, Emperor Taizong went to great lengths to clean up the private armies of his brother's aristocratic families. As for now, it is really hard to say whether any family still keeps private armies or what these people are doing."
Xu Zhi nodded. The Marquis said, "The Duke of Ming's mansion is training people for the Third Prince at an estate in the suburbs of the capital. Grandfather has already had someone find out the details. We need to find an opportunity to report this matter to His Majesty in detail so that His Majesty can make a decision. Ninth Girl, don't worry. Grandfather will not let you be bullied like this."
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