This book recounts in detail the legendary life of Hu Xueyan, the red-hatted merchant, and depicts his transformation from a bank apprentice into a business magnate whose wealth surpassed all others. It describes his wisdom and strategies in both business and politics, and how he leveraged the influence of the powerful to establish his enterprise and realize his ambitions. It also reveals how he amassed wealth amid turbulent times and the good deeds he performed to help the people. Through Hu Xueyan's life and deeds, readers can appreciate the archetypal image of a traditional Chinese merchant, as well as the complexities of his life against the broad historical backdrop of semi-colonial, semi-feudal China in the modern era.
