In the Ruby Kingdom in the Breeze Province in the Lightning City, now, Zixin Quon has an intelligent robust clever plan which is feigning that he found a gargantuan treasure. By this plan, Zixin kills two birds with one stone. First, he becomes the richest person in the Chinese Empire overnight. Second, he acquires a bright image in the eyes of the government for being a truthful, trustworthy and honest man who chose to share his wealth with the government.

Zixin started to carry out his plan. He has a small land that he inherited from his parents. With the aid of his four cousins, they dug a big rectangular hole in this land pretending to build a small house. They bought 100 large antiquated boxes that look from ancient times. They accumulated a large quantity of stones. Zixin then touched these stones with his magical stick and the stones were all converted to gold. Zixin and his four cousins filled the gold in the 100 boxes and placed the boxes arranged in the hole they dug. The boxes were arranged as a square of ten by ten dimensions. Zixin asked his cousins to disappear so that he claims to be the only digger of this hole. The purpose of this move is that Zixin wants to be the sole owner of the treasure in the eyes of the government.

Zixin then sent his wife, Xiulan Yongnian, to the Ministry of Finance office in the Lightning City to inform the government about finding a gargantuan treasure in Zixin's land. Xiulan went to the government's office and informed the officials about this important news. The Ministry of Finance office sent a messenger to the Ministry of Intelligence office so that they both send the required personnel responsible for verifying and tracking the treasure finding event. Representatives from both the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Intelligence arrived to Zixin's land where the treasure was claimed to be found. They examined the boxes and found them full of raw gold. The representatives were very astonished and dazzled by the big quantity of gold stashed in the boxes. The representatives summoned a large armed force to transfer the treasure to the Ministry of Finance office. The treasure was safely transferred. Now, both the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Intelligence started a thorough investigation with Zixin. Here is a snapshot of the investigation:

Investigators: What is your name?

Zixin: My name is Zixin Quon.

Investigators: Why were you digging the hole?

Zixin: I wanted to build a small house in my land with a basement and two floors so I started to dig the level of the basement and then I found the treasure.

Investigators: Did anyone help you in digging?

Zixin: No, I was working alone on that.

Investigators: Why did not you call us when you found the first box?

Zixin: I had a conjecture that more than one box might be buried in this area so I wanted to discover all what I can before informing the government.

Investigators: Do you know about the Treasure Finding Policy stipulated by the Ministry of Finance?

Zixin: Yes, I know about it and this is why I called the government to take the required actions.

Investigators: So tell us about the Treasure Finding Policy.

Zixin: To the best of my knowledge, this policy states that when a citizen finds a treasure buried in a land, he/she gets half the treasure and the government gets the other half, am I right?

Investigators: Yes, you are right. So now, we will evaluate the value of the found treasure in terms of golden taels and share half the amount with you.

Zixin: Thank you so much. I appreciate your help and support.

The government issued an order to dig all Zixin's land and the surrounding lands to see if more treasures were buried in these areas. After an arduous effort in digging, the government found nothing. Zixin, Xiulan, and the four cousins laughed a lot for the government's decision of digging. They laughed that the government swallowed their bait.

The government evaluated the value of the found treasure and they estimated that the raw gold in the 100 boxes equals two billion and ten million (2010000000) golden taels. Therefore, the government gets half of this amount while Zixin gets the other half. Now Zixin's fortune is: one billion and five million (1005000000) golden taels.

The government was reluctant to give this gargantuan amount to a single person (Zixin). When they set the Treasure Finding Policy long time ago, they did not expect that someone like Zixin might find this tremendous amount of treasure one day. After long and thorough discussions, the government decided to apply the Treasure Finding Policy in an exact precise manner. They, however, decided to keep Zixin's money with them and give him money on demand. The purpose of this procedure was to ensure and guard the privacy, safety and security of Zixin. If all the money is handed to Zixin at once, burglars, bandits, or gangs might attack his house to steal or usurp his money. They summoned Zixin and informed him about his new fortune and their intention to keep it with them to guard it from burglars, bandits and gangs. Zixin expressed his utmost appreciation to the government for sharing half the treasure with him and for their intention to guard his treasure and keep it safe for him.

The news of Zixin's treasure spread quickly across the government. The Ministry of Intelligence was aware of this news and it ultimately reached Junjie Song, the Imperial Minister of Intelligence. Junjie was astonished about this new wonder and how Zixin became the richest person in the Chinese Empire overnight. Junjie went to meet the emperor and inform him about this news and here is a snapshot of their conversation:

Junjie Song: Your Majesty, do you know Yuxuan Jingguo?

Wei Jian: Yes, he is the richest person in the Chinese Empire.

Junjie: He used to be the richest person in the Chinese Empire but he is no longer such.

Wei: Do you mean he has become bankrupt?

Junjie: No, Your Majesty. He is still rich but someone else has become the new richest person of the Chinese Empire.

Wei: Really? And who is this lucky person?

Junjie: His name is Zixin Quon. He is a magician.

Wei: Zixin Quon. But how can a magician become the richest person in China? Does magic generate such immense fortune?

Junjie: No, Your Majesty. He found a treasure in his land and according to the Treasure Finding Policy stipulated by the Ministry of Finance, he gets half the treasure.

Wei: And what kind of treasure has he found?

Junjie: He found 100 boxes full of raw gold. The Ministry of Finance estimated the value of this treasure to be two billion and ten million (2010000000) golden taels. Zixin's share is one billion and five million (1005000000) golden taels.

Wei: I am really dazzled by this news. Such event is exceptionally rare. I mean the event of becoming the richest person in China overnight.

Junjie: I am also really overwhelmed with wonder by this news.

Wei: We must thank Zixin for being truthful, honest, patriotic and faithful. His great contribution to the Chinese Empire must not be neglected. Summon Zixin Quon to meet me in person.

Junjie: As you wish, Your Majesty.

Zixin received the invitation from the emperor and he prepared himself to travel to the Jasmine City. When Zixin arrived and met the emperor, the emperor expressed his admiration of Zixin and conferred on him two badges of honor: the badge of patriotism and the badge of significant government service. Here is a snapshot of the conversation between the emperor and Zixin:

Wei Jian: Thank you, Zixin, for your significant contribution to the Chinese Empire. I and the government greatly appreciate what you did. The treasury has flourished remarkably by the treasure you found.

Zixin: You are most welcome, Your Majesty. I have done my duty. It is incumbent on me to be a truthful and honest citizen and abide by all the rules and regulations of the government.

Wei: You are an exemplar of uprightness. Congratulations for being the richest person in the Chinese Empire. What are your plans for the future?

Zixin: Thank you so much, Your Majesty. I plan to buy a palace and live therein. I also plan to start my own project that will generate continuous profits for me.

Wei: May success be your partner. I am certain that you will succeed in your endeavors.

Zixin: Thank you, Your Majesty, for all what you have done for me. I truly appreciate your kindness and generosity.

In this meeting, Junjie Song was present. After the meeting ended and Zixin left, the emperor asked Junjie about his opinion in Zixin. Junjie said: “To be honest, I did not feel comfortable with Zixin. I conjecture that his face hides guile but I have no proof about my feelings.” The emperor said: “It is strange that you felt so. I have positive feelings about him and his actions proved his uprightness. We should consider visible actions and disregard our negative feelings about someone. Judging the interior of people based on feelings can be misleading.” Junjie said: “True, Your Majesty; but conjecture can be more truthful at times than appearance. We should not always trust what people show us.” The emperor said: “You are right Junjie but take it easy. No need to worry.”

Zixin then left the Jasmine City and returned to the Lightning City. Zixin wanted to live a luxurious life and enjoy his life to the fullest. The first thing he did was buying a splendid palace. He also hired maids, servants and personal guards. Zixin also bought the finest jewelry and gifted them to his sweetheart, Xiulan. Xiulan was extremely happy to see her dreams coming true. She is now the wife of the richest person in the Chinese Empire and she must live a life that befits her social rank.

Xiulan: Wow! Our dreams are now true. We live together without separation in a beautiful palace. Everything is now at our disposal. We give orders and others obey our orders. There is no more happiness than this.

Zixin: True, my sweetheart. Our trick worked well as expected. Now our living standards have changed. We live the life of the noble and elite people. We should never lower our sights.

Xiulan: Zixin, I knew that you are smart but I did not expect that you are extremely smart. Your trick reflects your extraordinary intelligence. I am really proud of you.

Zixin: The intelligence of the mind opens so many doors of opportunity. When the right idea comes and it is executed with cleverness, fate changes for the better.

Xiulan: Are you content with what you have achieved so far? Do you aspire for more?

Zixin: Of course, I am not content with stopping here. I want to keep rising. Human dreams are endless. The more capabilities you have, the more dreams to fulfill.

Xiulan: So what are your next steps?

Zixin: First, I want to show my appreciation for my cousins who helped me greatly during different stages of my life.

Xiulan: True; You owe your cousins much and it is time to repay their favors toward you.

Zixin invited his four cousins to a banquet in his new palace and they all arrived to celebrate with him his remarkable achievements and the imperial tribute he received in the Jasmine City.

Zixin: Dear cousins, you have accompanied me through different stages of my life and you always helped and supported me to the best of your ability. I owe you financial and emotional debts and it is time that I pay off my debts. Today, I shall give everyone of you one million golden taels as an expression of my love, appreciation and loyalty. I hope this amount of money will help you live a better life and improve your living standards to some extent.

Guang: Thank you, Zixin. You are very generous. I appreciate your gift.

Jinjing: Thank you, Zixin. I am very glad to receive your gift. I am grateful for your generosity.

Shirong: Thank you, Zixin. Your gift will help me pay off my debts and live a great life.

Bingwen: Thank you, Zixin. I always believed that you have special talents and that you will be a great man one day. I truly appreciate your gift.

Zixin: It is my pleasure. Do not mention it. It is only a small gift to repay your kindness.

Xiulan: Did you like our dinner?

Shirong: Of course, you are the best cook, Xiulan.

Xiulan: [Laugh]. Actually I stopped cooking since we moved to our new palace. We hired expert chefs and they are cooking for us all the time.

Zixin: Although their food is delicious. I need Xiulan to cook for me certain meals because in my eyes she is still the best cook.

Xiulan: Thank you, dear Zixin, for your kind words. I will cook for you whatever you wish.

Bingwen: So Zixin, what are your plans for the future? Do you have anything in mind?

Zixin: I want to learn more about the trade so that I start my own business. I already have the funds but I need to learn the keys and secrets of the trade.

Jinjing: That is a great step. I encourage you to go in this direction. You are intelligent and have the tools to excel and achieve marvelous things.

Guang: Have you considered which type of trade you want to learn? There are many different kinds of trades.

Zixin: I am not sure yet. My first step now is to enroll in the Nightingale Academy because they have a complete commerce program.

Bingwen: You are wise. You want to learn things in a formal, methodical and systematic manner. I always admired your intelligence.

Zixin: One wisdom that I live by: if you want to excel at something, start with its keys.

Shirong: We wish you all the best, Zixin. We hope that you grow more and more.

Zixin joined the Nightingale Academy and enrolled in the Commerce Program. He learned so much useful information about commerce. He learned useful rules along with their application in real life. Here are 100 rules that Zixin learned and these are called: The 100 Golden Rules of the Trade.

The 100 Golden Rules of the Trade

1. A successful business satisfies one or more needs of people.

2. From the needs of people spring the greatest opportunities for business.

3. Making profit is the ultimate goal of commerce.

4. A novel idea may bring an immense fortune.

5. Do not despair of opportunities even if you are a latecomer.

6. Latecomers might surpass pioneers.

7. Be an opportunity hunter.

8. Marketing is a major ingredient for success.

9. A clever merchant avoids loss whenever possible.

10. Do not gamble with things you cannot afford to lose.

11. When loss is inevitable, minimize it.

12. Sacrifice part of the merchandise to save the rest.

13. Trading with luck might overcome trading with logic.

14. Being the first in a business lets you set the rules of the game.

15. Early birds achieves higher profits.

16. Do not rely on a single source of income.

17. Diversify your business.

18. Avoid debts whenever possible.

19. When lending someone something, assume the worst scenario that he will not repay his loan.

20. Do not save everything or spend everything. Have the right balance between saving and spending.

21. Saving money helps greatly in risk mitigation.

22. Trust must exist between business partners.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

23. Do not excessively trust your partners.

24. Partners at times betray.

25. When you have a successful business, expand and open more branches.

26. When you are the only provider of a merchandise, you have a stronger control of the prices.

27. Competition is inevitable in business.

28. Hide your plans from your competitors.

29. Distinguish yourself from your competitors.

30. Do not underestimate or overestimate your competitors.

31. Surpass your competitors with unexpected intelligent moves.

32. Be wary of the baits and the snares of competitors.

33. Lowering prices can be an effective stratagem to defeat competitors.

34. Be wary of rumors. Do not make decisions based on rumors.

35. Make decisions based on authentic truthful information.

36. Learn from the past to make wiser decisions in the future.

37. Do not commit the same mistake twice.

38. Taking the same action in a business endeavor does not always guarantee producing the same outcome or result.

39. Imitate a successful business and have your unique contribution in improving it.

40. Treat customers with the utmost respect.

41. Build a beautiful reputation based on the quality of your products and the quality of customer service.

42. Make product discounts periodically based on seasons.

43. Have a clear policy for returning purchased items.

44. Have a clear policy for debt tracking and management.

45. If you cannot fulfill a customer's need in the present, consider fulfilling it in the future.

46. In business, you need to juggle multiple balls so learn multitasking.

47. When you cannot manage multiple businesses simultaneously, sacrifice the least promising and profitable business.

48. Having a unique product may guarantee more sales.

49. If a product can be broken down, have a line of business for product repair. This opens an additional outlet for profitability.

50. Avoid rash reckless decisions.

51. A wrong decision can incur irrevocable loss.

52. When loss is inevitable, favor temporary loss over permanent loss.

53. Do not be greedy in making profit. Greedy profits can repel customers.

54. Beautify your product with superb presentation.

55. The clever presentation of a product can increase sales significantly.

56. If your business relies on perishable items, make significant discounts on those items before they expire.

57. Customer's loyalty is key to the success of a business.

58. Build a lasting relationship with your customers.

59. Employee satisfaction is key to the success of a business.

60. Reward distinguished employees with generous perquisites.

61. Maintain the loyalty of your employees with remarkable generosity.

62. Hide the secrets of trade from your employees as much as possible.

63. The leave of an employee should have minimal impact on your business.

64. Guard your business from internal and external theft.

65. Meticulous accounting makes your business immune to fraud.

66. Scrupulous employees are a treasure.

67. Make your customers marketers of your business by their good word of mouth.

68. Word of mouth is the key vehicle for building strong and beautiful reputation.

69. A small continuous profit might be superior to a big one-time profit.

70. An ill-tempered employee repel customers.

71. Find your niche in commerce to prosper.

72. Losing merchandise is milder than losing reputation.

73. Information leakage may incur loss.

74. Guard your information as you guard your assets.

75. Information hiding can give your a competitive edge.

76. Have attractive offers for your product and services.

77. Trade in a domain you know well.

78. Trading in a domain you do not know is risky.

79. A successful business must have precise accounting.

80. Building trust is more important than accumulating money.

81. If you cannot sell in cash, sell in installments.

82. Have reasonable expectations.

83. If you must sacrifice, make the cheapest sacrifice possible.

84. Localize loss as much as possible.

85. Have an ambitious vision and work hard to implement it.

86. Opportunities might be stashed in risks and threats.

87. Be accustomed to the ups and downs of commerce.

88. Do not be impulsive. Successful trade requires careful thought.

89. Be accustomed to the (winner takes all) trading scheme.

90. Anticipate failure and prepare for it.

91. Celebrate your achievements and reward those responsible for your success.

92. Good relationships are more important than money.

93. Do not tarnish your reputation with illegal actions.

94. Some trade decisions are incorrigible.

95. Time can be your friend or enemy.

96. Making profit requires patience.

97. What takes years of effort can vanish with a folly in the blink of an eye.

98. Distinguish constants from variables.

99. Be flexible and agile to increase your chances of success.

100. Do not make failure break you completely.

Zixin memorized these rules and deeply understood their examples and applications in real life. He graduated from the Nightingale Academy with excellence. After he learned commerce, he decided to also learn politics. He joined the Jade Academy and enrolled in the Politics Program. Zixin learned beneficial information about politics and its rules and principles. Here are 100 rules about politics that Zixin learned at the Jade Academy and these are called: The 100 Golden Rules of Politics.

The 100 Golden Rules of Politics

1. Politics revolve around interests.

2. Be ready for the trade-offs of interests.

3. When there is a conflict of interests, sacrifice the least profitable interests.

4. Absolute trust is a myth.

5. Union is power and disunion is weakness.

6. Do not claim what you cannot achieve.

7. You are closer to victory when you know the terrains of the land well.

8. If you cannot win every war, do not lose every war.

9. The coward might live longer than the brave but the brave is immortalized in the hearts of people.

10. Do not take by force that which you can take by negotiation.

11. A wise leader admits his mistakes and does not seek a scapegoat.

12. A nation is as strong as its army.

13. A nation is as strong as its economy.

14. A nation is as strong as its allies.

15. A nation is as strong as its brilliant minds.

16. A nation is as strong as its leaders.

17. Victory is not guaranteed when you outnumber your enemy.

18. A nation that cannot defend its land falls prey to predators.

19. A strong poor nation tends to steal the fortune of a rich weak nation.

20. Maximize your gains and minimize your losses.

21. A strong nation controls a weak nation.

22. Unite people around one cause and lead them toward one goal.

23. Differences fuel conflict and conflict fuels war.

24. The victor dictates the rules of the game.

25. Be prepared for the sudden attacks of an enemy.

26. Wage war that you are certain to win.

27. Do not wage war that you are certain to lose.

28. War might bring humiliation.

29. In times of war you distinguish your true friends from your fake friends.

30. Be prepared for surprises.

31. Victory relies on the soldiers, the weapons and the plan.

32. Greed fuels conflict and conflict fuels war.

33. Competition fuels war.

34. Deceit and trickery are strong weapons.

35. Rumors can undermine the morale of the enemy.

36. A neighboring country can be a good friend or a bitter enemy.

37. Expect the worst case scenario and plan accordingly.

38. Politics and economy are an inseparable twin.

39. When your economy relies on imports, the exporter can control you.

40. A self-sufficient economy is power.

41. Allies might let you down.

42. Allies might betray.

43. There is no permanent friend or permanent enemy.

44. Insulting a nation can cause the outbreak of war.

45. Challenging a nation can cause the outbreak of war.

46. War must be the last resort.

47. One spy might defeat one army.

48. One intelligent plan defeats one well-prepared army.

49. Do not break when you can bend.

50. Relying on false information paves the way to defeat.

51. There is more than one way to achieve something.

52. Seek the shortest route to attain your goal.

53. Flexibility solves a larger number of problems.

54. Losing once does not mean losing everything.

55. Winning once does not mean winning everything.

56. Civil war undermines a nation.

57. A civil war dissipates the fortune of a nation.

58. Weapons alone do not bring victory.

59. History is a great teacher.

60. You cannot anticipate the future but you can plan for it.

61. A single false piece of information can mislead an entire nation.

62. Everyone should be accountable for his own decisions.

63. Diversify your economy.

64. Do not base your power on a single factor.

65. Identify idle resources and use them to the fullest.

66. Nations go through cycles of ups and downs.

67. No fortress is absolutely impregnable.

68. An entire nation can be defeated by a single traitor.

69. Poverty and unemployment nurture a revolution.

70. Opportunities favor the vigilant.

71. A careless decision might cause a disaster.

72. Do not tolerate great mistakes.

73. Punishment should be suitable for the mistake.

74. Overlooking a mistake can be detrimental to a nation.

75. When you reach a dead end, it is time to change your constants.

76. An ambush can be more effective than a battle.

77. A weak nation cannot make its own decisions.

78. A weak nation follows a strong nation.

79. No agreement is engraved in stone.

80. If you want to swim against the current, you have to be strong enough.

81. Surrender only when you exhausted all your options.

82. A reckless move can be very expensive.

83. Reward those with meritorious performance.

84. An exceptional leader kills multiple birds with one stone.

85. The loser has to lower his sights.

86. An immaculate plan is the first step to victory.

87. Failing to see all the possibilities of a situation deprives you of privileges.

88. A shortsighted leader considers a few options; a farsighted leader exhaustively considers all options.

89. No goal is beyond reach with determination and hard work.

90. An invincible army is a myth.

91. Hide your weaknesses from your enemy.

92. Accurate information leads to wise decisions.

93. Do not scorn your enemy lest you see surprises.

94. An incomplete plan might cause a complete failure.

95. Losing money is milder than losing souls.

96. Do not exceed your limits.

97. Do not challenge whom you cannot defeat.

98. Realize your potential by working with your full capacity.

99. Have national dreams and aspire to realize them.

100. You cannot achieve everything on your own so seek fruitful cooperation.

Zixin also graduated from the Jade Academy with excellence and now he has the theoretical framework to engage in commerce and politics. These two degrees have raised the morale of Zixin significantly and equipped him with the necessary skills to enter the world of commerce and politics. Zixin now stands on a firm ground and is ready to apply what he learned in the two academies in the real world. In addition, Zixin formed valuable friendships and connections with his colleagues and teachers at those academies. This opens the door for him to hire the right personnel for his projects and businesses that he intends to embark on in the near future.

One night, Xiulan had this conversation with Zixin about the great progress he made:

Xiulan: Congratulations, Zixin, for completing your two degrees. You are now an expert in commerce and politics. I am extremely happy for you.

Zixin: Thank you, Xiulan. Hard work pays off. I have now solid foundations in commerce and politics and it is time to put my knowledge into practice. The two degrees I have obtained will help me greatly in my future endeavors.

Xiulan: You have a brilliant mind and unlimited money so you should be able to make wonders.

Zixin: But I cannot make wonders on my own. I need the collective help of people. I need to recruit the right people for the right tasks.

Xiulan: True, my sweetheart. People rely on one another for making accomplishments.

Zixin: With the gargantuan amount of money that I have, I am thinking about recruiting a large number of people for doing different kinds of business.

Xiulan: I am with you in every step you take. I am sure you will succeed with your hard work.

Zixin: Thank you, my love. Without you accompanying me in different stages of my life, I would not have achieved what I have achieved so far.

Xiulan: Mutual support is imperative between couples. I only did what is expected from me. Every wife must support her husband.

Zixin: But you are a wife like no other wife. You are unique and my love for you is immense.

Xiulan: Thank you, my love. My love for you is also greater than what you can imagine.

Zixin: You stood by me in times of hardships and I cannot forget your support when soothing me.

Xiulan: Our love is stronger than hardships and we survived difficult times together. Now it is time to enjoy our life away from worries. Let us live a carefree life.

Zixin: Let us go together to a dress shop tomorrow. I want to buy for you the most beautiful dresses in the market. Your beautiful body deserves the most beautiful dresses.

Xiulan: Thank you so much. I already have bought a myriad of dresses some of which you have not seen on me yet.

Zixin: The more dresses, the better. I want to see you everyday with a new dress.

Xiulan: Thank you for your generosity.

Zixin: How are the servants and maids with you? Are they obedient and performing well?

Xiulan: Yes, they are all well-trained and master what they do. I am satisfied with their performance.

Zixin: Great. I should give them attractive perquisites from time to time to ensure their loyalty and commitment to our palace.

Xiulan: I admire your wisdom. That is the right step to take.

Zixin: Is there anything bothering you in our current life?

Xiulan: No, I am happy with everything I have.

Zixin: Let us go to dinner. I am starving.

Xiulan: Today the chefs have prepared an open buffet for us with miscellaneous dishes.

Zixin: That is great. Diverse food is one of the greatest pleasures of life.

Xiulan: True. Are you missing my cooking?

Zixin: Of course, food has a different flavor when prepared by your beautiful hands.

Xiulan: I thought you forgot about my cooking skills since we hired the chefs.

Zixin: It is impossible. How can I forget your matchless cooking? Your food is blended with love and this ingredient is missing in food prepared by others.

Xiulan: Thank you, my sweetheart. I will always remember your words.