My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

In the seventh year of Guanghe, in October, outside the city of Zhuojun.

The north wind carried a chilling atmosphere, causing the banners to flutter loudly.

Outside the city gate, a large, dark mass of people stood.

Tian Feng, Ju Shou, and Lu Zhi stood at the front, followed by a group of generals including Ran Min, Lü Bu, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Li Cunxiao, and Yang Zaixing.

They are waiting for someone.

The sound of horses' hooves came from the end of the official road, growing louder as it approached.

First came Zhao Yun, riding a white-robed horse with a silver spear; then Xiang Yu, carrying the Heavenly Dragon City-Breaking Halberd; and finally Dian Wei, with two halberds on his back, fierce as a bear.

Finally, a specially made carriage slowly drove up, the curtain was lifted, revealing Ji Xuanyuan's pale but smiling face.

"My lord!" the crowd cried out in unison.

Ji Xuanyuan alighted from the carriage with Dian Wei's help. His legs were unsteady, but he managed to stand firm. His gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Tian Feng and the other two: "Yuan Hao, Gong Yu, and Lord Lu, you've worked hard."

Tian Feng stepped forward, his eyes brimming with undisguised excitement: "It's wonderful that our lord has returned safely! The performance of 'Bring in the Wine' has shaken the world, and we in Zhuojun have shared in its glory!"

Ju Shou smiled: "My lord expressed his aspirations through poetry, and his literary fame has spread throughout Yingchuan, but..."

He glanced at Ji Xuanyuan's face, his brows furrowing slightly: "This journey has been arduous, my lord's health..."

"It's alright." Ji Xuanyuan waved his hand and coughed twice.

"We'll talk about it when we get back to the manor."

The main hall of the Prefectural Governor's Mansion in Zhuojun.

The charcoal fire burned brightly, dispelling the chill of the north.

Ji Xuanyuan, wrapped in a thick fur coat, sat in the main seat, with his generals and strategists lined up on either side. Steaming hot mutton soup and flatbread were laid out in the hall, but no one touched their chopsticks, all waiting for Ji Xuanyuan to speak.

"Let's get down to business first." Ji Xuanyuan put down his teacup.

"How is the situation in Zhuojun while I've been gone?"

Tian Feng took out a bamboo scroll and unfolded it to report: "Since returning from Guangzong, our army has incorporated 32,000 surrendered Yellow Turban soldiers. After screening, the old, weak, sick and disabled were eliminated, and 8,000 strong and capable soldiers were obtained. Among them, 5,000 have been added to various camps, and the other 3,000 are being trained by General Ran and General Lü respectively."

Ran Min stood up, a rare flicker of emotion appearing on his usually stern face: "Brother, those three thousand new recruits, I divided them into two battalions according to the method you left behind. They practice ten li of morning exercises, formation drills at noon, and combat drills in the evening. Now they are ready to form ranks for field battles."

Lu Bu chimed in, his youthful spirit high: "The cavalry has been expanded from three hundred to eight hundred, all selected from the finest horses of Youzhou. Although they are not yet capable of charging into battle, they are sufficient for harassment and pursuit. However..."

He scratched his head: "The horse feed costs too much."

Ji Xuanyuan nodded: "We can't skimp on the horses, go on."

Ju Shou continued, "Regarding provisions, of the 100,000 shi obtained by Guangzong, 50,000 have been put into storage, and the other 50,000 have been distributed to refugees and used as military rations. However, our army currently has more than 12,800 soldiers. If we calculate that each person eats two sheng of millet per day, the monthly requirement is 7,200 shi, plus horse feed, equipment wear and tear..."

He paused for a moment: "Guangzong's grain reserves can only last for a year at most."

The atmosphere inside the hall froze.

Ji Xuanyuan asked, "What are the tax rates like in Zhuojun?"

Lu Zhi spoke, his voice steady: "Yuan Hao and I have checked the household registers in the prefecture. Before the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Zhuojun had 13,000 households and more than 400,000 people. After this great turmoil, many people fled. Now there are about 11,000 households and more than 300,000 people left. According to the tax rate of one-thirtieth, we can get about 150,000 shi of grain and 3 million coins a year."

He paused, then added, "Of these 150,000 shi of grain, 100,000 must be handed over to the imperial court, and 50,000 must be left in the prefecture as salaries for officials and provisions for the prefectural soldiers. Our 12,000 soldiers are not part of the imperial court's establishment... In other words, our army must raise its own grain and provisions."

Zhang Fei's eyes widened: "What? We're fighting tooth and nail, and the imperial court isn't providing us with food?"

"Not only will I not give it to you," Tian Feng sneered.

"The imperial court is already suspicious."

He took out an official document: "Three days ago, the Governor's Office of Youzhou sent a letter. Although it was a routine inquiry, the words between the lines..."

Ji Xuanyuan took the document, glanced at it, and smiled: "It's Liu Shijun's handwriting."

"Liu Yan?" Lu Zhi frowned.

"This person..."

"This person is clever." Ji Xuanyuan threw the official document into the charcoal fire and watched it turn to ashes.

"The court's rewards to him this time are mostly due to his recommendation. Now that I command a large army, he is afraid that I will become too powerful and implicate him. At the same time, he needs me to guard Youzhou to resist the Wuhuan and Xianbei. This official document is both a reminder and a test."

He looked at everyone and said, "So, we now face three difficulties: first, the cost of maintaining the army; second, the court's suspicion; and third..."

"The foundation of the three difficulties is not yet solid," Ju Shou interjected.

"Although my lord is the governor of Zhuojun, he only truly controls a small part of the nine commanderies of Youzhou. If he wants to succeed, he will need time to manage the situation."

Ji Xuanyuan nodded: "That's right. So, the current priorities are, first, to solve the problem of money and food; second, to be on good terms with Liu Yan and stabilize the court; and third, to manage Zhuojun and accumulate strength."

He stood up, his eyes blazing: "Issue the order: From this day forward, open the granaries to provide relief to the refugees. Those who wish to settle in Zhuojun will be given wasteland and loaned grain seeds. Yuan Hao will be in charge of this."

"promise!"

"Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, each lead a thousand soldiers to wipe out the remaining Yellow Turban rebels and bandits in the surrounding area."

"promise!"

"Brother Yu, Yongzeng, Fengxian, the three of you should intensify your training. Before spring, I want to see a fighting force."

"promise!"

"As for Liu Yan..." Ji Xuanyuan pondered for a moment.

"Fengxiao, draft a humble letter for me, saying that our army is all righteous and willing to obey Lord Liu's orders to protect the peace of Youzhou. Also, prepare 100 catties of gold and 10 fine horses to send to Ji County."

Guo Jia smiled and said, "Jia understands. We must show weakness while also showing goodwill."

"Exactly."

After the discussion, everyone dispersed.

Ji Xuanyuan left behind Tian Feng, Ju Shou, and Lu Zhi.

"Gentlemen, Zhuojun has 300,000 people and over 10,000 soldiers... It sounds like a lot, but in reality, it's like walking on thin ice. A single imperial edict could strip me of my official position, and Liu Yan could cut off my supply lines in the blink of an eye. We don't have much time left."

Lu Zhi solemnly replied, "Wenlie's words are absolutely right, but haste makes waste. The most urgent task is to ensure the people of Zhuojun live in peace, to show the court the effectiveness of our governance, and to make Liu Yan feel... he cannot do without you."

"So I need money." Ji Xuanyuan smiled bitterly.

"Supporting the army, providing relief to the people, cultivating relationships... none of these things don't cost money. Guangzong has already spent most of the money and grain he received, and what's left..."

"Have you found any leads on the money-making methods I asked you to look into?"

Tian Feng and Ju Shou looked at each other and smiled bitterly.

Tian Feng said, "I have considered brewing wine, trading horses, and mining... but brewing wine has low profits, trading horses requires capital, and mining... Zhuojun has iron, but the imperial court has a monopoly on it, and mining privately is a capital offense."

Ju Shou added, "Moreover, these are all long-term plans, which are not effective in the immediate crisis."

Ji Xuanyuan rubbed his temples.

In his past life, he read time-travel novels where the protagonists always had countless ingenious ideas... But now his mind is filled with too many things, and too much time has passed. When he really needs to use them, he can't think of which ones are the most practical and profitable.

"Let me think about it some more..." He closed his eyes wearily.

Over the next few days, Ji Xuanyuan dealt with government affairs while racking his brains for ways to make money.

His letter to Liu Yan had an effect. The governor of Youzhou replied very politely, saying, "The court has already decided on the rewards, which will arrive soon. As for the suspicion of possessing troops... 'Wenlie is loyal and brave, and the emperor is wise. The words of petty people are not worth worrying about.'"

The pressure has eased temporarily, but the issue of money and food supplies remains a major concern.

On October 23, Ji Xuanyuan, accompanied by Dian Wei and Zhao Yun, inspected the city of Zhuojun.

The streets were bustling with people, though not as vibrant as before the chaos, but they were already full of life.

Settlement sites for refugees were built outside the city, with wisps of smoke rising from chimneys. Tian Feng's decree on land distribution had been issued, and many people received grain seeds, preparing to start planting in the spring.

"Brother, look over there." Zhao Yun suddenly pointed to the street corner.

An old man was curled up on the ground, convulsing and foaming at the mouth.

A crowd gathered around, pointing and whispering, but no one dared to step forward.

Ji Xuanyuan strode over: "Old man?"

The old man was unconscious. Dian Wei stepped forward to check on him and exclaimed, "General, he...he's not breathing!"

"Quickly! Take him to find a doctor!" Ji Xuanyuan ordered urgently.

The group carried the old man to the city's traditional Chinese medicine clinic.

The old doctor examined the patient for a long time and shook his head: "Poisoning."

"Poisoning?"

Ji Xuanyuan frowned: "What kind of poison?"

"It seems like... mineral poisoning." The old doctor pried open the old man's eyelids and sniffed the smell in his breath.

"Recently, there have been several cases in the county with similar symptoms, including thirst, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. The most severe cases are like this one, where the patient fell into a coma and died."

At this moment, the old man slowly regained consciousness and weakly said, "Salt...the salt from the mountain..."

"What kind of salt?" Ji Xuanyuan asked, leaning down.

The old man said haltingly, "Thirty li north of the city... there's a bald mountain... covered in white stuff... like salt... people dig it up and eat it... and after eating it..."

He fainted again before he could finish speaking.

Ji Xuanyuan was startled.

Salt mines! Poisonous salt mines!

He suddenly stood up: "Zilong, Elai, come with me to see!"

A fast horse can travel thirty li out of the city in no more than half an hour.

Sure enough, there was a barren mountain ridge, sparsely covered with vegetation, and the exposed parts of the mountain were all grayish-white rock layers.

Ji Xuanyuan dismounted, picked up a piece, found it heavy in his hand, and had salt-like crystals on its surface.

He lightly licked it with the tip of his tongue; it was salty, extremely salty!

But then a bitter, fishy smell rushed up my throat.

"It's a salt mine!"

"And it's... a toxic salt mine containing impurities!"

Zhao Yun asked in confusion, "If it's poisonous salt, why, brother...?"

"Zilong, do you know how much profit salt can generate?" Ji Xuanyuan held the piece of salt ore, his hand trembling slightly.

The Guanzi states: "A family of ten eats salt; a family of one hundred eats salt."

Who in the world doesn't eat salt?

Dian Wei scratched his head: "But this salt is poisonous..."

"It's toxic because it contains impurities such as nitrate, magnesium, and barium." Ji Xuanyuan's mind raced, and his knowledge of chemistry from his previous life flooded his mind.

"If it could be purified...if it could be purified..."

He seemed to see a golden road ahead.

According to Han law, salt and iron were state monopolies; anyone who privately boiled salt would have their left toe cut off and their equipment confiscated.

But what time is it now?

With the Yellow Turban Rebellion still raging and the borders in turmoil, the Ten Attendants were selling official positions and titles, and the court was too busy to care about anything else. Who would bother with a salt mine on a desolate mountain in Youzhou?

Moreover... this is a toxic salt mine, which is already regarded as an ominous place by the people.

If he were to mine and refine the material, it would not be competing with the people for profit, but rather turning waste into treasure.

"Quickly!" Ji Xuanyuan's voice trembled.

"Move it! Move dozens of kilograms down the mountain! No, move hundreds of kilograms! Have Zilong lead men to guard this mountain; from this day forward, no one is allowed to approach!"

"Brother, what's going on...?" Zhao Yun asked, puzzled.

We're going to get rich!

"We'll make a fortune! With this salt mine, we can afford to support not just 10,000 soldiers, but even 100,000!"

With chaos looming, what will be most valuable?

It's not gold, it's not jewelry, it's salt, it's iron, it's grain!

And he, Ji Xuanyuan, is about to grasp one of them.

That night, the prefectural government office of Zhuojun was brightly lit.

Dozens of salt ore pieces, gray and white, were displayed in the hall, gleaming eerily in the candlelight.

The generals and strategists gathered, all looking at the stones with puzzlement.

"My lord, this is..." Tian Feng picked up a piece.

"Poisonous salt mine." Ji Xuanyuan sat in the main seat, tired but with excitement shining in his eyes.

"If people eat it, they will get sick, or even die."

Everyone's expression changed.

"But," Ji Xuanyuan changed the subject.

"If it can be purified and detoxified, it will become the best refined salt."

Lu Zhi pondered, "Purification...Can Wen Lie really purify it? Since ancient times, salt has always been made from sea salt, pond salt, and well salt. This mineral salt..."

"I have a way," Ji Xuanyuan said decisively.

"However, we need to test it. Yuanhao, tomorrow you find a few reliable craftsmen, including Gongyu who knows kiln firing and boiling. You prepare a large pot, charcoal, and water. Fengxiao, you keep an eye on the city. This matter must not be leaked."

He paused, then looked at his generals: "Yun Chang, Yi De, strengthen the city's defenses, especially the north gate. Yong Zeng, Feng Xian, continue training the troops as usual, but send a thousand soldiers here. I want to build a camp at the foot of the mountain to guard the salt mine."

As orders were issued, although the crowd was still puzzled, they all accepted the orders and left, seeing how solemn Ji Xuanyuan was.