I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 248 Saltpeter and Sulfur

Nia slammed her fist on the table. "Damn it!"

“General, there is an old saying in Dayu: ‘Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.’ Now we know nothing about Dayu’s new weapons, so it is not advisable to fight again rashly,” the deputy general suggested. “Why don’t we stop the war first? General, send a letter back to the capital and request the Grand General to investigate the Northwest Army’s new weapons.”

Another general disagreed, saying, "How long would that take? Why not just send someone to investigate secretly?"

"The Tibetans and the people of Dayu look very different, and they can't even enter the border of Dayu!"

"Who said to send the Tibetans? Just send the mixed-race people. Even if they get caught, they'll just die."

Those bastards who carried the blood of the Great Yu were fortunate enough to die for the great cause of Tubo.

“General, I still believe,” the lieutenant began, but was interrupted by Niya raising her hand, “that we should take a two-pronged approach. Bo Yi, write a letter back to the capital immediately.”

The deputy general received the order.

"Kunu, you personally go and select the mixed-race people and find a way to send them into Dayu."

Kunu accepted the order.

Just as the Tibetans were racking their brains to find new weapons for the Dayu, Tang Zhao was also stumped by the materials needed to make gunpowder.

Charcoal was everywhere, but saltpeter and sulfur were prohibited by the imperial court.

In other words, the sale of saltpeter and sulfur is prohibited in Chongqing.

If Tang Zhao insists on having it, he will only be testing the limits of breaking the law in Dayu.

How could Tang Zhao, an honest and law-abiding businessman, do such a thing?
Since the Great Yu prohibits the trade of saltpeter and sulfur, Tang Zhao has no choice but to try his luck with other people's products.

"Oh, my dearest friend, you finally asked me out!"

Sheri Tulimaide said excitedly, "I have sent people to Dayu several times to deliver messages, but they were driven away before they even reached the border between the two countries."

Tang Zhao shrugged. "There's nothing we can do. The war is tense right now, and we're afraid of spies."

Shari Tulimaide expressed his understanding, "What good things do you want to trade with me this time?"

Sheri Tulimaide received a letter from his wife. As expected, flower dew and flower wine were highly sought after among the Turkic nobles and, along with the glaze mirror, became hard currency.

Therefore, Sariputra was very much looking forward to this meeting.

"Sorry, I've been a bit busy lately and haven't been able to develop any new products," Tang Zhao promised, "Next time, next time for sure!"

Alright, Shariputra could only accept it, "Then why did you call me here?"

"I'd like to buy something from you."

"what."

Saltpeter!

Saltpeter?

"It is the Northern Emperor's Mysterious Pearl."

"The kind used for alchemy?"

"Yes!" Tang Zhao's eyes lit up. "Do you have any connections?"

Yes, there are, but Sheri Tulimaide asked curiously, "Dayu reveres alchemy, so why don't you trade directly with Dayu merchants instead of going through me?"

Tang Zhao explained the laws of Dayu to him.

"Oh, my dear friend, when did you become so old-fashioned?" As long as you can make money in business, that's all that matters. As for breaking the law, as long as you don't get caught, it's fine.

Tang Zhao quickly stated that he was a law-abiding citizen.

“Alright, I know a few merchants from Chongqing, I can ask around for you,” Sheli Tulimaide said, “but I don’t want your money, I just want flower dew and flower wine.”

Tang Zhao nodded. She hadn't originally intended to pay interest to the relic; bartering would have been the best option.

Sheri Tulimaide was a reliable business partner. Within two days, he found a way to get Tang Zhao to place an order for tens of thousands of kilograms of saltpeter, with delivery to be made within two months.

As for sulfur, Tang Zhao set his sights on King Xuan.

Since Tang Zhao needed help, King Xuan agreed without hesitation. However, King Xuan refused to barter, insisting on gold and silver. Tang Zhao: OK!

The wealthy Tang Zhao readily paid the full amount, and the next day, King Xuan assigned the task to Jiang Yiming.

Jiang Yiming sat up straight. "Your Highness, the art of immortality is all a myth. No one has ever truly lived forever. Taking elixirs will not only fail to prolong life, but will also cause poisoning and impotence!"

King Xuan quickly interrupted, "It's not that I want it, it's that Zhaozhao wants it."

Jiang Yiming breathed a sigh of relief and asked curiously, "What does the princess need sulfur for?"

"How would I know? I guess they're going to make something strange again," King Xuan said with anticipation.

Jiang Yiming didn't care much; as long as the princess didn't refine pills, he could buy as much sulfur as he wanted.

After the first battle, the armies of Dayu and Tubo were locked in a stalemate, separated by twenty miles. Every day, the two sides would exchange greetings with each other's generals and emperors.

Tang Zhao listened to it for half a month and learned a lot about Tibetan culture, which made him very satisfied.

"Girl, when can you recruit more medical staff for our army?" The Ghost Doctor rubbed his aching back. "The medical battalion is really too busy."

Tang Zhao asked in confusion, "Didn't we already tell you to recruit people?"

“There are plenty of people, but not enough money!” the Ghost Doctor said angrily. “I went to the logistics department to ask for money, and they only gave me enough supplies for twenty people, saying that’s all the positions available in the army.”

"Didn't Father intervene?"

"Forget about it! It's completely useless!" The Ghost Doctor rolled his eyes. "The military's budget allocation is already clearly defined, and there's simply no money to be found."

Tang Zhao felt sympathetic yet helpless, "From now on, all expenses for the military medical camp will be covered by the General's Mansion's public accounts."

With Tang Zhao's words, the Ghost Doctor completely let loose and that very afternoon erected a large sign that read: "Monthly salary of three taels, recruiting apprentices."

Wait, how much?

Three taels?

You should sign up right away!
Seeing the crowds flocking to him, the Ghost Doctor smiled smugly.

The old woman fanning herself on the side still had a shred of conscience: "An apprentice's monthly salary is three taels of silver. How much money does that cost in a month?"

"What's there to be afraid of? How many people can pass the test designed by the master?" Gu Xuan said indifferently. "Even the staff of Renxintang couldn't stand it, let alone ordinary people."

Gu Xuan guessed correctly. After registering, the people looked at the wounded corpse and the various tools beside it, and stammered, "Sew...sew it up?"

What to sew?
This corpse?
The Ghost Doctor took the palm-leaf fan and said, "Go and demonstrate it to them."

The young lady, in front of everyone, disinfected, threaded, and sewed in one smooth motion, her movements skilled and her demeanor dignified.

The people who had signed up looked at the white line that held the two pieces of skin and flesh together, and were so disgusted that they almost vomited.

"This is the only test. Whoever passes it can become an apprentice and receive three taels of silver per month. Who wants to go first?"

The crowd retreated, but a petite woman pushed her way to the front against the flow, shouting, "I'll go!"

The young woman nodded and led the petite woman through the entire process. Although the woman's technique was clumsy, she showed no fear.

The ghost doctor asked, "Why aren't you afraid?"

“My family used to be pig butchers. I watched my dad butcher pigs every day, and that’s how I learned it.”

Seeing the Ghost Doctor nod, the young lady smiled and said, "You've passed."

The petite woman was overjoyed and immediately knelt down and kowtowed before the ghost doctor.

"You bumped into the wrong person," Gu Xuan said quietly, pointing to herself. "Your master is right here."

The petite woman was startled for a moment, then turned around and kowtowed to Gu Xuan.

"What's your name?"

"Big Flower!"

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