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

In the winter of the seventh year of Guanghe, the cold in Zhuojun had penetrated to the bone.

In the following days, in a secluded valley outside Zhuojun City, the hearth fire burned day and night.

Ji Xuanyuan, wrapped in a thick fur coat, personally supervised the construction.

The valley is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with only one narrow entrance, which Guan Yu has already sent troops to guard.

A simple thatched hut was erected in the valley, and ten large iron pots were placed on brick stoves, steaming hot.

Dozens of carefully selected craftsmen and soldiers were busy at work under Tian Feng's command.

At first, no one believed that the poisonous salt mine that consumed the dead could be turned into refined salt.

"General, this...this really works?" An old craftsman shook his head and sighed, holding a grayish-white salt ore.

"I've been boiling salt for thirty years and I've never seen any edible rock salt. Even the best salt from the Hedong Pond, the Sichuan Well Salt, and the East China Sea Sun Salt is only bluish-white and has a bitter taste. This rock salt..." He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear: it was all a waste of effort.

Zhang Fei said gruffly, "If my elder brother says it can be done, then it definitely can! Just do as he says!"

Ji Xuanyuan didn't take it to heart.

He stood in front of a pot, watching as the ore was smashed into pieces and poured into boiling water to dissolve. The murky brine churned and emitted a pungent odor.

This first step, "dissolving," proved challenging for everyone—the water temperature control, the ore ratio, and the stirring frequency were all crucial; any slight error would result in either incomplete dissolution or excessive leaching of impurities.

"Stop." Ji Xuanyuan coughed and bent down to observe.

"The heat is too high. Impurities will dissolve more easily into the salt water when exposed to high temperatures. Change to a simmer and cook slowly."

He took several layers of coarse linen, folded them into a filter bag, and had the soldiers slowly pour the dissolved salt water into it.

The cloudy liquid became much clearer after filtration, but it was still pale yellow.

"Not enough." Ji Xuanyuan frowned.

He knew that in addition to mud and sand, the impurities in this salt mine were more troublesome, including soluble poisons such as nitrates, magnesium salts, and barium salts.

Simple physical filtration cannot remove these.

"Bring me charcoal," he ordered.

The craftsmen looked at each other in bewilderment.

charcoal?

Why do you need charcoal to boil salt?

Ji Xuanyuan did not explain, but ordered his men to smash the charcoal into powder and spread it at the bottom of the filter bag.

This is the simple activated carbon adsorption method he remembers. Although it is not as advanced as modern technology, it is sufficient to remove most odors and organic impurities in this era.

The brine was filtered again.

This time, the liquid that flowed out was almost transparent.

Tian Feng's eyes lit up: "My lord's method can actually turn turbidity into clarity!"

But that's only the second step. The most crucial step is "crystallization."

The brine was poured back into the cleaned iron pot and simmered over low heat. As the steam rose, white crystals gradually precipitated out along the edge of the pot.

The artisans gathered around, watching with bated breath.

The first batch is ready.

However, the scraped salt is still grayish-white, and when tasted, the bitterness is slightly reduced, but still noticeable.

"Failed?" Ju Shou frowned.

"No." Ji Xuanyuan grabbed a handful of salt and rubbed it in his hands.

"The impurities are still present because the evaporation was too fast, and the impurities precipitated out along with the salt. Next, reduce the heat and stir evenly."

The second and third batches... two days in a row, all unsuccessful.

By dusk on the third day, everyone was somewhat discouraged.

The firelight illuminated Ji Xuanyuan's pale face; he coughed violently but still refused to rest.

"My lord, you should go back and rest," Dian Wei advised.

"I'm keeping an eye on things here."

Ji Xuanyuan shook his head, staring at the gradually thickening brine in the pot.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up: "Stop the fire! Don't wait until it's completely dry; stop when there's only a layer of water left!"

As the salt water in the pot gradually cooled, a magical scene unfolded: a layer of snow-white crystals precipitated out from the bottom and sides of the pot, crystal clear and completely different from the previous grayish salt!

"It's done!" Ji Xuanyuan's voice trembled.

He had the fire extinguished, and after it cooled slightly, he carefully scraped off the layer of white salt with a wooden spoon and placed it in a ceramic dish.

Snow-white and delicate, it seemed to glow on its own in the dim winter light.

It has not a single blemish or impurity.

Dian Wei was the first to lose his temper. His big, round eyes widened, and he reached out his large, fan-like hand to grab a handful and stuff it into his mouth.

The next moment, he froze.

"E'lai? What, what's wrong?" Zhao Yun asked anxiously, fearing that the salt might be poisoned.

Dian Wei's Adam's apple bobbed as he slowly smacked his lips, then a dreamlike expression appeared on his face: "Salty...it's just salty...not a trace of bitterness! And a little...a little savory?"

He couldn't find a more elegant word, but his expression said it all.

Ji Xuanyuan laughed and scolded, "Aren't you afraid of eating too much and dying from the saltiness!"

Only then did everyone realize what was happening, and they rushed forward.

Lu Zhi picked up a small pinch with his fingertips, examined it closely, and then carefully touched it with the tip of his tongue. His old eyes widened, and his beard trembled slightly: "This...this...this is incredible! Pure as snow, with a pure and fresh taste! Let alone the common people, even the imperial cuisine in the palace, I dare say, would never find salt of such quality!"

Guan Yu's hand, which was stroking his beard, froze in mid-air, his phoenix eyes filled with shock.

Zhang Fei yelled in surprise, "My goodness! Brother, what's wrong with your brain?! Did you really turn that deadly stone into divine salt?!"

The three strategists, Tian Feng, Ju Shou, and Guo Jia, also took salt and examined it closely.

Tian Feng said in a deep voice, "Once this salt is released, the price of salt throughout the land will likely have to be redefined."

Ju Shou's gaze was profound: "Greater profits are the beginning of disaster."

Guo Jia licked his salt-covered fingertips, his eyes gleaming: "Senior brother, we've struck it rich!"

After the initial excitement, a more practical problem arose: now that we have salt, how do we sell it?

The group moved to the main hall, where the charcoal fire dispelled the chill, but the atmosphere of the discussion remained unusually heavy.

"It must never be sold in the name of our lord," Ju Shou said first, hitting the nail on the head.

"This salt is of astonishing quality, and the profits are so enormous that they could drive anyone mad. If the investigation traces back to our lord, the unauthorized mining and salt production are both serious crimes. The court, powerful families, and even other feudal lords will surely rise up against him. At that time, it's not a small matter if this salt-making method is lost; his life may be in danger."

Tian Feng nodded in agreement: "What you say is absolutely right. The state monopoly on salt and iron is the foundation of the imperial court. Even though the court's prestige has been tarnished and various regions are outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, anyone who dares to touch it in the open will become a target. We must remain behind the scenes."

Guo Jia shook his wine gourd: "Then let's find a shell company, find a powerful family to sell it on our behalf. We'll supply the goods, they'll sell them, and we'll split the profits. Although we'll have to give up a portion of our profits, the risk will also be transferred, and we'll be able to free up our hands to do more things."

"Which prestigious family should we look for?" Lu Zhi asked the crucial question.

A moment of silence fell over the room.

Tian Feng and Ju Shou both came from humble backgrounds and entered officialdom through the recommendation system, without the support of powerful clans.

Although the Guo family of Yingchuan behind Guo Jia was a prestigious family, firstly, Yingchuan was far away and transportation was inconvenient, and secondly, the Guo family passed down their knowledge of Confucian classics and may not have been good at or willing to delve into such business matters.

The Lu clan of Zhuojun behind Lu Zhi was a local aristocratic family located within Zhuojun. However, their current size was not large enough. Although they had already taken a step into the first stage of becoming a top-tier aristocratic family, most of their prestige came from Lu Zhi alone. It was not until the Wei and Jin Dynasties that they changed their name to the Lu clan of Fanyang and truly grew into a "leading clan of the northern state".

However, Lu Zhi is now "dead" and cannot show his face. He was originally from Zhuojun, but in order not to expose himself, he has not visited the Lu family. Moreover, as a family of scholars with a noble family tradition, the Lu family would probably disdain and would not easily get involved in the highly profitable but also risky private salt trade.

"What about the other prominent families in Youzhou?" Guan Yu asked.

"No." Ji Xuanyuan shook his head.

"We just managed to appease Liu Yan with gold, silver, and horses. If he finds out that we have such a lucrative business, he won't be satisfied with just that small amount of tribute. He will definitely try to get involved and even take it for himself. In that case, we will have done all the work for others and left behind a handle against us."

Ju Shou's gaze swept across the map in the hall, his finger slowly moving south, past Youzhou, and landing in the central part of Jizhou.

"Jizhou, Wuji County, Zhen family." He slowly uttered the name.

Everyone's gaze sharpened.

The Zhen family was an extremely wealthy family in Jizhou, and had been merchants for generations.

His family's businesses spanned Hebei Province, starting with the trade in grain, cloth, and horses. They amassed enormous wealth and had extensive connections.

More importantly, the Zhen family was a merchant family, not a purely scholarly family. They had no psychological barriers to making profits through business and had sufficient ability and channels to sell salt throughout the country.

"The Zhen family is indeed one of the most suitable choices," Tian Feng pondered.

"They had the capacity to consume large quantities of salt, and they also had channels to sell it secretly. Moreover, Jizhou bordered Youzhou, making transportation relatively convenient."

Guo Jia, however, raised a concern: "Merchants value profit over righteousness. Faced with such enormous profits, what if the Zhen family, blinded by greed, tries to double-cross us, seize the salt-making method for themselves, or even turn around and blackmail us? How should we respond?"

"They wouldn't dare." Ji Xuanyuan's voice was calm, yet carried a cold certainty.

"Don't forget, we are soldiers, and they are merchants."

He stood up, thin yet exuding authority: "We have nearly ten thousand capable soldiers. No matter how wealthy the Zhen family is, they are still just a merchant family. Even if they have powerful backers, they can't openly confront us. If they cooperate honestly, we will share the profits. But if they dare to harbor any ill intentions..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

In chaotic times, power is the only true measure of strength. The Zhen family are intelligent people, and they should know how to make the right choice.

"Moreover, we must firmly hold the initiative in our hands. The method of salt production must never be revealed to outsiders except for those of you present today. We will only act as suppliers, providing finished refined salt to the Zhen family. They will be responsible for sales and managing all parties. The cooperation method and profit sharing ratio must be determined by us."

"Yuan Hao, Gong Yu," Ji Xuanyuan said, looking at Tian Feng and Ju Shou.

"You are responsible for finding an absolutely secluded location outside the city to establish a genuine salt-making workshop. The manpower must be absolutely reliable, and the guarding must be as tight as an iron barrel. Initial production should not be excessive, but the quality must be consistent, without the slightest deviation."

"Yes, sir!" The two accepted the order.

"Yide." Ji Xuanyuan looked at Zhang Fei.

"You will lead five hundred elite men to assist Yuanhao and Gongyu in establishing the workshop and to be responsible for their protection. You are both rough and meticulous, and you also ran a family business in your early years, so you can be considered a semi-professional. I am at ease entrusting this matter to you."

Zhang Fei patted his chest and said in a booming voice, "Don't worry, brother! With me here, not even a fly will be able to get in and see anything!"

"Yun Chang." Ji Xuanyuan looked at Guan Yu again.

"You are in charge of the defense of Zhuojun, and you must strengthen patrols around Zhuojun and all roads leading to Jizhou. Before we reach an agreement with the Zhen family and establish a stable channel, no information about the salt mines and salt production must be leaked. If any suspicious persons try to spy on us, you may act first and report later."

Guan Yu narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly, stroked his beard, and said in a deep voice, "I understand. I will ensure that nothing goes wrong."

Finally, Ji Xuanyuan's gaze fell on Xiang Yu, Zhao Yun, and Dian Wei: "Brother Yu, Zilong, E'lai, take fifty of your most elite personal guards and come with me to the Zhen family."

"My lord, you're going yourself? That's too risky!" Tian Feng immediately tried to dissuade him.

"There are risks, but sincerity is also essential," Ji Xuanyuan explained.

"If we only send an envoy for our first contact, it will make us seem weak and it will be difficult to negotiate the most favorable terms for us. I am going in person to tell the Zhen family that we have both the strength to cooperate and the determination to control the overall situation. With Brother Yu, Zilong, and Elai around, ordinary people cannot get close to me."

Guo Jia laughed and said, "What about me? Aren't you taking me, Senior Brother? When it comes to drinking, chatting, and bargaining, Fengxiao is second to none."

Ji Xuanyuan smiled and said, "Yuanhao and Gongyu are going to take charge of salt production, so you and Lu Gong will have to take charge of all the affairs of Zhuojun."

"Yes, sir." The two accepted the order.

The crowd dispersed, each busy with their own preparations.

Gradually, only Ji Xuanyuan and Lu Zhi remained in the hall.

The crackling of the charcoal fire reflected Lu Zhi's worried face.

He remained silent for a long time before speaking earnestly: "Wenlie, the Zhen family... is not someone to be trifled with. Their family has accumulated such astonishing wealth amidst several court turmoil and the gradual chaos of the world. They must have extraordinary abilities, and they must also have a ruthless heart. Cooperating with them is no different from asking a tiger for its skin."

"I know." Ji Xuanyuan coughed a few times and turned his gaze to the window.

Before anyone knew it, fine snowflakes had quietly fallen, silently covering the stone steps of the courtyard.

He gazed at the early winter snow scene and slowly said, "But Lord Lu, we have no choice. If we want to truly establish ourselves in this chaotic world, support so many brothers who have sworn to follow us to the death, and realize the perhaps unrealistic dreams in our hearts, we need a massive and continuous supply of money and food. Salt is the fastest shortcut we can find right now."

He turned around, his pale and sickly face revealing a pair of eyes that shone with an astonishing brightness and a gaze as firm as iron: "There are risks, but it's worth the gamble. As long as we have the army and the salt-making method, the Zhen family... will just be a tool for us to make money. If we're comfortable using them, we can use them for a few more days. If they develop disloyal intentions, we can replace them."

Lu Zhi remained silent for a long time, looking at the young lord before him who was much younger than himself but had already shouldered the lives and hopes of countless people. In the end, all his words of advice turned into a long sigh: "You... it's good that you know what you're doing. The journey to Jizhou is long and arduous, so please be careful."

The next morning, the snow stopped and the sky cleared.

The north gate of Zhuojun quietly opened, and a group of more than fifty riders galloped out.

Ji Xuanyuan wore a thick white fur cloak, almost covering his entire body, to ward off the biting cold wind.

Xiang Yu led the way, Zhao Yun guarded Ji Xuanyuan's left flank; Dian Wei carried his twin halberds behind him.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they had the strongest bodyguard team in the Eastern Han Dynasty, would it?

The fifty personal guards were all veterans who had followed the army since the Battle of Zhuojun. They were elite and fierce, and silently protected the troops.

The horses' hooves shattered the thin ice and snow on the road, galloping southward, towards Jizhou, towards the negotiation that would determine their future livelihood.