Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 365 Zhang Tang's Head is Full of Mushrooms
"You want horse armor?"

"Sure, do you want the complete set or raw materials?"

Lin Dao, brimming with confidence, made Zhang Tang, who was replacing him in the negotiations, frown with just one sentence.

He spoke in a deep voice, "Do you know how much the imperial court wants?"

"Take as many as you want." Lin Dao was not afraid of the slightly sinister gaze of the cruel official at all. "All the Han cavalry can have one set."

Zhang Tang's first reaction was, "You're quite the braggart, kid. Do you even know how many cavalry the Han Dynasty has?"

My second thought was, 'He can boast without batting an eye; he's a highly skilled con artist!'

He asked calmly, "What do you mean by 'complete set'? What do you mean by 'raw materials'?"

“The complete set is the finished product, the same quality as the sample I provided before,” Lin Dao said frankly. “The price will be a bit higher.”

He held up five fingers: "A set of five metals, gold."

According to Western Han Dynasty records, one jin (斤) was approximately 250 grams.

That's 1,250 grams of hardware. Considering the purity issue, its value in the modern world would be around 800,000.

As for the cost, it's just a few dozen kilograms of iron and some cheap inner leather lining.

The exorbitant profits from time-space trade are unsurprisingly high.

More importantly, no one can take away Lin Dao's business.

The Han Dynasty had a considerable amount of gold. According to records, it is estimated that its gold reserves at that time were over two hundred tons.

Lin Dao was extremely envious of this.

That is to give Huo Qubing face; otherwise, they might have driven a hundred-ton truck to rob him.

Without a doubt, Zhang Tang frowned.

This price is too expensive.

One gold ingot can be exchanged for 10,000 coins, which is the exchange rate set by the imperial court. Its actual value far exceeds the value set by the imperial court.

At that time, a bushel of grain cost only a few dozen coins, and a warhorse cost only a few thousand coins.

The main source of meat for nobles, a sheep cost several hundred coins.

Buy a set of armor with hardware—this armor is much more expensive than a warhorse.

Zhang Tang's mind raced, and after a moment he asked again, "What are the raw materials, and how are they priced?"

"It's just a leaf." Lin Dao is frank in business, saying bluntly, "It's a leaf that hasn't been shaped or polished."

"This one is cheaper; all the armor plates needed for a set of horse armor will only cost three gold coins."

Before Zhang Tang could speak, Lin Dao bluntly stated, "I suppose you all know that the quality of the horse armor I provide far surpasses that of the iron smelted by the Han Dynasty."

"A master craftsman must have told you that this is no longer iron, but steel!"

He held up his finger and said, "If you can forge a set of horse armor that is even stronger than my armor plates, I'll give you ten thousand sets for free!"

Given the Han Dynasty's national strength and technological capabilities at that time, forging horse armor was not a problem, but to expect Lin Dao to provide the same level of hardness and beautiful luster as the original was simply wishful thinking.

Either buy my gold, or you're capable of making your own!
Zhang Tang was clearly unaware of the technical differences involved and immediately agreed.

Huo Qubing, who was eating chocolate candies on the side, couldn't help but burst into laughter.

He waved his hand repeatedly, signaling to Zhang Tang who was looking over, "Don't worry about me, you guys continue."

Zhang Tang, who was making a chair for the first time, was clearly a little awkward.

Fortunately, he kept the emperor's instructions in mind and suppressed his impatience to discuss the price with Lin Dao.

"Finished horse armor, minimum order of 1,000 sets will receive a 5% discount."

"If you only want the leaf, you can get a 2% discount if you order 3,000 sets or more."

Zhang Tang was a cruel official.

Although he knew arithmetic, he was no match for Lin Dao.

After several rounds of negotiation, he was confused by all the different discounts, offers, rebates, and cut-offs.

He subconsciously wanted to buy thousands upon thousands of horse armors, but fortunately, a voice in his mind kept reminding him.

'It's bad!'

Suppressing his inner panic, Zhang Tang shook his head repeatedly, "The specific quantity and price still need to be reported to the Emperor for a decision."

He quickly changed the subject, "I've heard you have divine food that can make horses strong quickly?"

“Yes, there is such a thing.” Lin Dao nodded. “It’s called hormone feed.”

"This is not ordinary feed; it's feed with added hormones."

Anyway, the people of the Han Dynasty didn't understand, so he just spoke it out openly.

Of course, in the modern world, this kind of thing wouldn't be sold so openly; it would be called horse feed supplements and additives.

It contains various ingredients such as amino acids, vitamins, and growth hormones.

The price is also quite high, with better quality ones costing several thousand or even tens of thousands of yuan per ton.

"I value integrity in business."

"I won't rip you off. Each horse comes with 300 bags of Japanese food, and the minimum order is 1,000 horses."

"A 3% discount is given for consumption exceeding three thousand horses."

"An additional 10,000 bags will be given as a gift if the consumption exceeds 5,000 horses!"

"For consumption exceeding 10,000 horses, we'll be giving away 30 barrels of veterinary medicine free of charge!"

"If you're just buying veterinary medicine..."

"I can also offer a bundle deal: a full-price set of horse armor comes with 60 bags of feed as a free gift!"

"."

Zhang Tang shook his head vigorously, feeling dizzy and his ears ringing.

He had never encountered such business before; it was so confusing and bewildering.

His once-proud mathematical skills were now completely useless.

“Stop, stop, stop~~~”

He just couldn't stand it anymore.

Gasping for breath, he shook his head and stood up. "Everything is left to the Emperor's decision!"

After saying that, he ran away.

The amazing deals Lin Dao offered sounded very appealing, but I always felt like they were a trap.

He was genuinely afraid that if he agreed, it would harm the imperial court, and then things would be disastrous.

It was precisely because Zhang Tang was so deep in thought that he was able to hold onto his principles at the last moment.

If it were another one of the Nine Ministers, they would surely have signed a whole bunch of orders in a daze. Lin Dao didn't care about that, chatting and joking with Huo Qubing while laughing, and they even had a meal together.

When Huo Qubing returned to Chang'an, he was soon summoned to Weiyang Palace.

The city of Chang'an in this era was different from the cities that people in the modern world imagine.

The majority of the city's area was occupied by various palaces and warehouses.

In addition, there were government offices, military camps, and gathering places for nobles like relatives of the emperor.

There are also commercial markets, but they are not large in scale.

There were virtually no commoners in the city; the vast majority of commoners living near Chang'an lived close to the emperor's mausoleum.

This was a result of the national policies implemented in the early Western Han Dynasty.

Upon arriving at Weiyang Palace, the first question Little Pig asked was a direct question.

"Is your brother trustworthy?"

After Zhang Tang returned and reported, the little pig fell into deep thought.

After all, this was a business deal involving tens of thousands of dollars, so Little Pig was very cautious.

They must have considered just robbing him.

The problem is, how could they possibly have so many supplies in that small, dilapidated courtyard?

If there's nothing there, then there's no point in fighting for it.

But if we really bring out that many supplies, we'd offend a truly powerful and divine being if we tried to rob them.

Caught in a dilemma, I still wanted to ask Huo Qubing for his opinion.

"His Majesty."

Huo Qubing bowed and bluntly stated, "In the end, it is we who begged to buy good things."

“My brother has these things, but we don’t.”

"If you are only after gold, brother, you can go and find the Xiongnu Chanyu. He will surely have plenty of gold!"

As the saying goes, a single word can awaken a person from a dream.

The little pig raised its hand and slapped itself on the forehead.

"It is my fault; I have forgotten the most important thing."

In his eyes, the world consisted only of the Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu.

After defeating the Xiongnu, the Han Dynasty will become the master of the world.

To defeat the Xiongnu, nothing else matters; anything is worth sacrificing.

What's a little gold compared to that!
"Zhang Tang!"

The little pig immediately ordered, "Go."

"Order one thousand complete sets of horse armor, and then buy the armor plates needed for ten thousand sets of horse armor."

"As for feed, let's calculate based on 30,000 horses."

"As long as he can produce these things, I have plenty of gold here!"

He didn't even intend to ask for any discounts, rebates, or freebies.

If this person truly possesses such abilities, then he must be firmly bound to the Han Dynasty and absolutely not allowed to run off to the Xiongnu.

It should be noted that the Xiongnu Chanyu was also very generous.

Both the Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu regarded each other as their greatest adversary.

In order to weaken the opponent and strengthen themselves, they always give preferential treatment to those who come from the other side.

If Lin Dao were truly capable, why would he have gone to the Xiongnu? Little Pig felt he would be furious.

Of course, if he knew how Lin Dao treated the barbarians in other times and spaces, he would certainly not have such worries.

Having finalized the deal, Lin Dao didn't even ask for a deposit.

Once the delivery date was agreed upon, he returned to the modern world and began placing the order.

Because they were long-term partners, the machining factory directly placed an order with him, and he quickly completed the required raw materials.

Afterwards, this batch of armor leaves was sent to various places to control time and space, and craftsmen were arranged to make them into complete sets.

As for horse feed with a lot of additives, it can be bought as long as you have money.

Buyers and manufacturers aren't afraid of you ordering in large quantities; they're afraid you won't buy at all.

There is a very scientific reason why various additives can make horses strong quickly in a short period of time.

That is, humans are different from other animals.

The human body has its own muscle growth inhibitors, so without exercise, muscles are difficult to develop and become prominent.

Animals don't have this, so when stimulated by hormones, their muscles grow extremely quickly.

Lin Dao estimated that if they could get one bag a day, it wouldn't be long before the Han Dynasty could amass a large number of heavy cavalrymen strong enough to charge into battle wearing horse armor and carrying armored soldiers.

On the day of delivery, the Imperial Guards filled the Shanglin Garden.

This legion, mainly composed of good families from the six counties and orphans of fallen soldiers, protected the life and throne of the young emperor when his new regime failed and he was almost deposed. They were the troops the young emperor trusted most.

They were now scattered throughout the Shanglin Garden, because the emperor had also come.

The little pig didn't go to Changmen Palace to visit Chen Ajiao.

With Empress Dowager Dou's death, Chen Ajiao's influence instantly vanished.

Without this mountain weighing on his head, Little Pig no longer needed Chen Ajiao to act coquettishly in front of Empress Dowager Dou.

In retaliation for years of forbearance, even the Dou family was wiped out.

With the rise of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, Wei Zifu's importance far surpassed that of Chen Ajiao.

Unfortunately, Chen Ajiao, who was pampered and spoiled from a young age, couldn't understand these things.

To think that the "Changmen Fu" could win back the emperor's heart only shows that they were too well protected.

The little pig had been more than kind to her; after all, exiling her was better than keeping her in the palace and having her killed.

Even if Wei Qing and Huo Qubing didn't have this intention, there were plenty of people who wanted to help them.

The little pig on the carriage got off impatiently.

"It's already this late, why haven't they arrived yet?"

As they spoke, Lin Dao, riding his bicycle, arrived nearby, followed by a group of Imperial Guards.

Seeing that he had come empty-handed, the little pig's face immediately darkened.

(End of this chapter)