Mythical Three Kingdoms

”We have indeed verified that prescription, and it truly is a technology that benefits the world. Though we are horse merchants from Zhongshan, and not skilled in the salt industry, business after all has its similarities. We plan to buy land in Qingzhou to manage the salt industry,” Su Shuang laughed heartily, without any intention of concealing his ambitions. After all, this opportunity promised endless profit, and while there might be times when horses don’t sell, salt has never been known to suffer from sales slumps throughout the four hundred years of the Great Han State.

Chen Xi gave a hidden smirk. What does ’business has its similarities’ even mean? You’re clearly planning to make a killing. Even if other salt merchants gave up their capital to compete with your prices, you would still be in profit. In such a business that is virtually equivalent to robbery, as long as you’re not assassinated and your technology is not stolen, even squeezing the entire salt industry of the Great Han Dynasty and eventually gaining a monopoly wouldn’t be a problem.

”I reckon you also understand how profitable this industry is, so don’t even think about taking it all for yourselves. You wouldn’t want to end up like in the era of Han Wu, having all your property confiscated and being enslaved, and the principal people executed and abandoned, would you?” Chen Xi said nonchalantly, bringing up issues that would make any merchant’s hair stand on end.

”Of course not,” Zhang Shiping said weakly before wiping the sweat from his brow. ”Haven’t we been doing business all our lives just to leave something for our descendants? Even if they are unworthy, they can squander for a day or two more. I’d consider that I’ve done my best for them as an ancestor.”

Chen Xi raised an eyebrow, looking at Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping. These two were certainly no fools, bringing the sentimentality regarding descendants into what was essentially a business matter.

”Indeed, none of this is easy. Everything one does today can hardly be separated from considerations for the future generation. Since we all share the same mindset, let’s not dwell on it further and proceed to the courtyard to discuss this matter in detail,” Chen Xi expressed with a look of compassion, signifying that everyone was making considerations for their future generations.

”Please lead the way, Deputy of Chen Commandery,” Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping breathed a sigh of relief, their desire for immense wealth making it hard to keep their composure, and inevitably betraying their intentions.

Chen Xi smiled and turned to enter, with Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang following him in single file. To the ancients, what awaited them was immense wealth beyond measure, whereas Chen Xi was barely moved by it. Right now, what he lamented most was paper...

Chen Xi yawned, pulling out a white cloth from under a pile of bamboo slips and tossed it casually to Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang, ”Before you two arrived, I’d put together the contract during my spare time. If there’s anything that needs to be changed or isn’t suitable, just point it out, and we can negotiate further.”

Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping accepted the white cloth and started to read. After briefly glancing over it, they breathed a sigh of relief, finding the terms reasonable and in no way as overbearing as government business deals, nor as advantageous as they had feared.

However, Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping were somewhat troubled by the penultimate and antepenultimate clauses; one was about dividing the salt industry, indicating which territories they were allowed to sell to, and the other required registration for all subordinate channel dealers and agents. As for the last clause, the original agreement stipulated that the final custody and interpretation rights lay with Prefect of Mount Tai Commandery, Chen Zichuan. Although they did not fully understand it, wasn’t this to be expected? It was never written before, and now that it’s spelled out, it felt quite considerate.

”Deputy of Chen Commandery, we don’t understand this second to last clause,” after much thought, Su Shuang still couldn’t understand it, so he pointed at the second to last clause and said.

”Oh, this is just to let me know whom you’ve sold your salt to. Have them sign their names and press their fingerprints so I can lend a hand if something happens,” Chen Xi explained nonchalantly.

Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping frowned a bit at this; didn’t such terms expose all their business veins under the watchful eyes of the government officials? If anything went wrong, it would be easy for them to be wiped out in one fell swoop.

”Don’t worry, it’s not about wiping you out in one fell swoop. What I want is the internal sales channels of the Great Han Dynasty. As for the area beyond the Great Wall, do as you please. Of course, we have the first right of refusal for anything you bring back. What I’m asking for is not the final distribution channels,” Chen Xi saw Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping furrowing their brows slightly and took a moment to explain.

”I’m only asking for the first three layers of channels, meaning you sell the salt to the major salt merchants of the provinces, who need to sign their names, and then these major salt merchants distribute to the provinces and counties, where those merchants also need to sign their names. After that, it doesn’t matter anymore,” Chen Xi looked at Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping and said. Upon hearing this, Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping visibly relaxed, realizing that Chen Xi was not after their own sales channels, but those of the agents instead.

”As for your concerns about me wiping you out all at once, I can let the salt you sell become government salt. This way, as long as you don’t break the law, no one will touch you. This is my bottom line,” Chen Xi said with a much more serious demeanor, almost ready to say outright that if they continued to be unreasonable, he would simply negotiate with someone else and that the technology would still attract lots of merchants even if he got rid of the two of them.

Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping exchanged a glance and nodded slightly. The terms were already very favorable, and persisting in their obstinance would only anger Chen Xi, possibly bringing about a situation worse than not getting any lamb and having their troubles for nothing.

”Good, then let’s sign right now,” Chen Xi said as he noticed Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping eager to proceed.

”Alright,” Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping nodded, each taking up a brush and signing their names on the white cloth, then, without using printing ink, they bit their thumbs and pressed a fingerprint onto the fabric.

”Alright, I was going to put this away, but now that I’ve signed and added my thumbprint, you two should keep it for safekeeping,” saying this, Chen Xi pulled out another white cloth from under the pile of bamboo slips, signed his own name with a brush, and pressed his thumbprint using printing ink onto it. As for biting his own finger, such a painful idea was not something Chen Xi was willing to entertain.

”Check it against each other to ensure there are no issues, then put it away,” Chen Xi handed over the duplicate for Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping to compare. Once they confirmed everything was correct, each party secured their own copy.

”Governor of Chen Commandery, a hundred thousand dan of grain will be delivered in two shipments. The first shipment of twenty thousand dan will be sent along the land route to Fenggao within three days. As for the subsequent eighty thousand dan, the Zhen Family will send it along the coastal route to Qingzhou, then up the Yellow River to Jinan, before being transported overland to Mount Tai Commandery. Prefect Chen, please make sure to receive it,” with a flush on their faces, Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping pocketed their copy of the contract and gave Chen Xi a formal bow.

”The Zhen Family, eh?” Chen Xi nodded, ”I suppose you’re both eager to get to Qingzhou to buy land and start your salt production. I here wish you both a bumper profit on your venture. And I imagine neither of you would want me to hold you back.”

”We gratefully accept Deputy Chen Commandery’s kind words. We won’t stay here any longer. Managers from the Zhang and Su families will come soon to take care of other matters,” Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping were clearly in a hurry, having got what they wanted and seeing that Chen Xi was letting them go without further ado, they quickly bowed and left.