bookrandom Chapter 65 2 Jin of Refined Salt
Chapter 65 2 Jin of Refined Salt
Qin Xuan's question startled Gulna.
He naturally already knew the contents of the Jurchen emperor's letter; it was the result of a discussion between him and the Jurchen emperor.
But when Qin Xuan said that, he pretended to be confused and said, "I don't understand what Your Highness means."
"Your Majesty mentioned a cooperation in his letter, hoping that my city of Beining can provide a large quantity of refined salt to your country within the next month."
Upon hearing this, Gulna's expression changed slightly: "The refined salt from Beining City is of superior quality, so it is normal for me to purchase it from the Prince."
"Besides, which country hasn't lacked refined salt throughout history? Why does Your Highness need to scare me?"
"I'm not trying to trick you, I'm just stating the facts."
Qin Xuan knew that Gulna wouldn't tell the truth, so he simply went straight to the point: "As far as I know, the Jurchen Kingdom has two salt fields. Although your salt mining technology is indeed not very efficient, you wouldn't buy 200,000 catties of refined salt from me at once, would you?"
The Jurchen Kingdom had two salt fields, one producing sea salt and the other producing mineral salt, which was sufficient to meet daily needs.
But now the Jurchen emperor suddenly wants to purchase 200,000 catties of refined salt, which is certainly not for the people's livelihood, but most likely for the preparation of war.
In ancient times, besides food, salt was also an essential resource for military campaigns.
Typically, each soldier needs to be equipped with three liters of salt as part of their marching supplies.
Of course, this salt is not for direct consumption, but for pickling salted fish, salted meat, and various pickled vegetables.
After all, soldiers at this time were generally malnourished, and if they could not replenish their salt in time, they would easily become weak in their limbs.
Gulna knew that Qin Xuan was a military genius, and seeing that he spoke so directly, he no longer hid anything: "Your Highness is indeed insightful, but please forgive me for not knowing the specifics. I am only responsible for purchasing. If Your Highness refuses, I can only purchase from other countries."
"I didn't say I wouldn't sell!"
Qin Xuan laughed.
If war were to break out in the Jurchen Kingdom, the most likely cause would be an internal conflict.
Unlike the Great Qi, where military power was largely concentrated in the central imperial court, the Jurchen state was dispersed among the Eight Banners.
Simply put, the Eight Banners were vassal kings who always held military power and wielded considerable influence.
"Is Your Highness truly willing to sell refined salt?"
Gourna was somewhat surprised.
Qin Xuan nodded: "One pound of refined salt and five taels of silver will be delivered to the Jurchen Kingdom within a month."
"what?"
Gourner's expression immediately changed.
Coarse salt usually costs only fifty to one hundred coins, while refined salt, according to the current market price, costs only one tael of silver per catty.
Qin Xuan's asking price was five times higher.
"Your Highness is taking advantage of our misfortune!" Gulna's face darkened, his tone displeased.
Qin Xuan didn't take it seriously: "You're asking for 200,000 catties of refined salt within a month. Even with Beining City's salt production speed, that's impossible to achieve."
"Therefore, I have to send more people to produce salt day and night, which costs a lot."
"Besides, one and a half pounds seems expensive, but Grand Preceptor, don't forget that you are buying time with money."
"As the saying goes, time is money, and my price is already very cheap."
A few words left Gourna speechless.
Although they knew Qin Xuan was just taking advantage of their misfortune, as Qin Xuan said, the Jurchen Kingdom was currently in dire need of refined salt, and time was of the essence.
"I will immediately send someone back to the Jurchen Kingdom to report to His Majesty."
Helpless, Gurna could only mumble in a low voice.
But Qin Xuan seemed to have the Jurchen Kingdom completely under his control, and further suggested, "If the Jurchen Kingdom is unwilling to spend silver, they can exchange it for warhorses. Twenty catties of refined salt for a warhorse would be a good thing for you."
Upon hearing this, Gourner couldn't help but feel a little tempted.
The Jurchen Kingdom had countless warhorses, but no silver mines in the country, so silver was naturally more precious in comparison.
The mere mention of warhorses immediately brought to mind the Shence Army. If the Shence Army were equipped with the warhorses of the Jurchen Kingdom, their fighting strength would probably double.
"Please allow me three days to consider this, Your Highness. After three days, I will give you a satisfactory answer."
After much hesitation, Gourner was still unable to make a decision and could only say this.
Qin Xuan nodded: "Then the Imperial Advisor can stay in Beining City for the next three days without worry."
"Strategist, if the Grand Preceptor wants to wander around, you should accompany him."
"Your humble servant obeys." Zhuge Xuan nodded with a smile, then turned to Gulna and said, "Grand Preceptor, please come with me. I have already arranged accommodations for you."
"Thank you for your help, Mr. Zhuge."
Gulna nodded, and then the group left the palace.
That evening, Gurna sent someone back to the Jurchen Kingdom to report the news, and at the same time wrote down all the prosperity he had seen in Beining City in the letter.
He believed that the Jurchen emperor Fuchahar would make the right decision.
The following morning, Gurna again requested to visit Beining City.
Zhuge Xuan didn't think much of it and followed Qin Xuan's orders to take Gulna for a stroll until they arrived at the Northern Wilderness, where Gulna finally stopped.
"Mr. Zhuge, I remember this place used to be mostly wasteland, but it has changed so much!"
Gurna followed the Tulan army and had stormed into the city many times, so he knew every blade of grass and tree in Beining City very well.
He and Tu Lan had been to this place before, but only passed through. Tu Lan even said at the time, "Beining City is big, but there are too many wastelands like this. I wouldn't want them even if they were given to me."
But now, what they considered a useless wasteland is now being frantically reclaimed by hundreds of thousands of people.
"The prince gave an order for the refugees to clear land and cultivate crops and build their own homes, which is why we have the magnificent scene we see today."
Zhuge Xuan smiled smugly.
“Your prince is indeed a man of extraordinary talent and great ambition. Gunnar admires him greatly.”
Gunnar sighed sincerely, but at the same time his gaze was fixed on the new houses under construction.
Zhuge Xuan noticed his gaze and took the initiative to introduce, "Those are the Prince's latest design for housing, called apartment buildings. Each building is twenty meters high, with five units on each floor, in order to save land."
"Twenty meters?!"
Gourner was somewhat surprised.
This height doesn't mean it's impossible to build, but it would require a huge cost; for example, the logs alone would need to be so thick that two people would have to hug them.
However, these logs are all located deep in the mountains and forests, and the costs involved in logging, transportation, processing, and final utilization are already incalculable.
This is why in ancient times, tall buildings were usually owned by the royal family, and ordinary families, even merchants, could not afford them.
"Such a tall building, is it just built up by piling up these stones and pillars?"
"Gourna asked curiously."
"Does the Imperial Advisor see the black mud in the wooden buckets next to those bricklayers? That's the latest cement developed in Beining City, specially used for building houses."
"This substance has extremely strong adhesive properties and can solidify and function in the shortest amount of time."
"As for the so-called stone pillars you see, they are not actually made of stone, but are made of cement mixed with other materials, making them more than ten times stronger than pillars and beams made of ordinary logs."
As he spoke, Zhuge Xuan, fearing that Gulna might not understand, led him directly to the bricklayer.
At this moment, Gulna's heart pounded like a drum, filled with immense excitement and nervousness.